Story: A boy gets "saved" by a life-guard who mistakenly thought that the swimmer was in dire danger. However, Wu doesn't protest and lets himself be assisted by the lifeguard to shore. Wu fantasizes about this encounter, especially when their bodies were touching. He tries to dispel these carnal thoughts by meditating, but this doesn't seem to work when he finds out that the lifeguard also happens to be a patient at his father's clinic.

Wu incorrectly assumes that the lifeguard's frequent visit is due to mutual attraction, and therefore is present whenever the lifeguard was there. Whereas Wu wasn't motivated before to study acupuncture, with the lifeguard's presence at the clinic, he becomes fascinated with the different types of therapy that his father uses on his patients.

Acting: The actor who plays Wu is expressionless, despite his supposed infatuation with another male. The other actors were even less memorable.

Music: Ho-hum.

Rewatch Value: Once is enough.

Overall Impression: Not abysmal enough to get a 1, but still a snooze-fest. The film was trying to be profound until it got convoluted in its attempt at symbolism.

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Started out as creepy, and ended up as not so creepy, and through no fault of the story really, but I blame the production company on this.

First, why didn’t they cast an appropriately-aged actor to portray ML’s teenage self, when they did so for the FL and 2nd ML? All those screaming “Pedo” would have no grounds to stand on, if this was done, and frankly, not as disturbing to watch a 12 yr old smiling infatuatedly at a 35 yr old at the start of the drama.

Second, why they didn’t dub Yang Mi’s voice so it doesn’t come across as whiny and annoying throughout the show?

Third, why do production companies insist on casting actresses who cannot even clearly pass as a guy unless you are totally daft and oblivious? There are probably more androgynous-looking actors out there that they could have chosen.

I continued watching anyway, as I love a forbidden romance between Master and Disciple, but man, was it ever frustrating! By the nth time Jian Ming pushed Hai Shi away, I was actually rooting for her to end up with someone else and I would have been happy. You would have thought that Jian Ming was a green flag due to all his self-sacrificing intentions, trying to put Hai Shi out of harm’s way, but he is not doing her any favors as she keeps coming back. Why would she be hopelessly clinging onto somebody who doesn’t prioritize your happiness, but would always choose the country over you?

And don’t get me started on the emperor! Tilan clearly has a case of Stockholm syndrome! Actually Di Xu’s bromance with Fang Zhu looks more sus with all those half-naked, pact-making rituals and fussing over their bestie’s pale-looking lips.

The third coupling may seem the least toxic of all the pairings here, even though Zhou Ying was prone to peeping over the courtyard where Zhe Liu was working. Stalking seems to be the least of all evil here, so the show gave it a pass.

The drama also throws in half-baked villains with some half-baked back stories, expecting you the swallow the Kool-aid that they only did what they did. To watch this show to completion, you need to suspend your disbelief, and throw away logic, or better yet, hang on to that remote control. You need that FFWD button.

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This drama is cool without being cliche, as it guides viewers through the sexual development of youth. Despite being naïve about certain things, the characters were willing to learn about the different sexual concepts that aren’t necessarily traditional.

It is refreshing to see how the three friends differ in their outlook on love, lust, and beyond. While some are shy, they still communicate their concerns and thoughts to each other, albeit ironically, in a very public restaurant.

I find this drama highly entertaining and educational without being preachy. It’s certainly hilarious how things kept falling out of Sakura’s bag, and how shocked she is at finding things she deemed “dirty” are actually a normal part of human sexuality. I am stanning also for the ace and bi rep, especially after both Tsumugi’s and Yu’s speech.

Even with only nine brief episodes, this drama thoroughly explores everything related to sex, including, but not limited to pregnancy, birth control, consent, periods, etc. The show thoroughly examines these subjects and handles them honestly, without disguising the truth. It certainly is a progressive approach to education in an Asian country, mostly perpetuated by conservative principles.

And as one teacher suggested, it is important for schools to provide proper sex education so that students can make informed decisions and not make assumptions about sex. Highly recommend this drama as it dispels the misconceptions and myth about sex.

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I thought that with only 14 episodes, I could blow through this without a hitch. But I was wrong. The drama started out strong; I especially loved the flirty friendship between the main couple. Elvis Han has the suave financier down pat, while Elvira Han oozes smarts and sexiness as the hardworking, no-nonsense lawyer. And oh, the sizzling chemistry between Tang Ying and Zi Quan really lit up the screen. But that’s about it.

Because when both are at work, they’re being played by their colleagues, supervisors, and both seem to work on projects that failed (through no fault of their own, but by the machinations or neglect of other people). Setbacks are inevitable, as they are part of life, and it’s how you overcome these obstacles thrown your way that counts. The show imparts more than a few nuggets of wisdom, but by the 10th life lesson, it became too preachy.

The drama also introduces so many random characters, but none of them really fully fleshed out. Most are one-dimensional, like the bratty sister whom I cannot stand, and her cringey boyfriend. She only became interesting towards the end when she ditched her possessive BF and moved in with a younger guy (her landlord). I feel the drama brought in all these randos just to prove a point, like the sugar daddy equates women with useless barns or the socialite who sinks her teeth on Zi Quan once she learns he’s no longer single. The main leads used a lot of these side characters as teachable moments, especially when they aim their gaze at the audience. But mostly, I was so bored to death that I couldn’t fake liking it.

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Picked up this drama because the premise sounded interesting: a virgin meets another virgin and enters a FWB contract. Occasionally adorable, but mostly predictable is that they both caught feelings after having coitus a couple times. Of course, a drama cannot do without a rival love interest or two, who obligatory part ways for the leads to end up together. Despite the sexual tension Takada and Totsuka bring to the screen in the beginning episodes, it did not carry towards the end. Waste of talent, especially Izuka’s. And I certainly didn’t expect the weak-a$$ peck that fell short after the enormous buildup. Watch only if you want to pass the time, but not necessarily.

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I enjoyed this rom-com more than I expected. Perhaps it may be because of its short run typical of Japanese drama that allows all the essence to be compact without being draggy., unlike the long and drawn out fifty-episodic offerings from other countries.

First, it shows the typical Japanese work culture where everyone is worked to the bone and doing overtime is common and even expected. Shikamori Umi is no stranger to this and continues to run around until she reaches a limit.

Second, the drama demonstrates that change is possible when Umi gets recruited as an intern at an agency, where a very different and refreshing work culture has been established.

Suzuki Airi is a natural, transitioning from a bare-faced, exhausted employee to a spritely, newly motivated worker who wants to try her best at everything, even over-extending herself sometimes. But she realizes that just fell back into the habit of over-pleasing others.

Her coworkers, her new boss and especially Kazao, and even Hina manifest ideas that shape Umi’s worldview, in that working hard is commendable, but also is taking time for yourself. The cast was supportive of Umi’s endeavors and she finally learns to be independent.

This drama was delightful and gratifying. Also neat was the trivial fact that three of the male actors in this show were in other BL dramas that I’ve watched. I did not even recognize Izuka Kenta in that whatchamacallit hairstyle.

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This is one of those dramas where I would have been fine without the two leads ending up together. It’s not that I had an issue with watching student-teacher relationships, as I’ve seen tons. But the execution, and the backstory towards the end of when Murai first fell in love with Tanaka wasn’t sitting well with me. I actually would have preferred if Tanaka end up marrying her colleague Yamakado, whom she had more chemistry with.

The romance feels very one-sided, or perhaps this was the show’s intention I don’t know. But I think it was really more of an escapism on Ayano’s part, and only after confronting her own ambiguous feelings for Murai did she break free of her illusion from Hitotose, an online game character who she has been obsessed with, as his eyes reminded her of her friend’s (Really weird if you ask me, if you find out who). I wasn’t also keen on the second couple, where there was lack of development, nor rhyme or reason why Yayo-chan should be with Hirai.

The only saving grace about this drama is that it keeps reminding us that it is wrong to be in a relationship with a minor, from Ayano herself who tells Murai this, to Yamakado reminding Ayano that this is one line people shouldn’t cross, to the ending that thankfully does not show any further skinship between the two.

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This series managed to pack a decent plot in such a short length. I was dubious at first how the face-swapping could be achieved in this scenario, fearing that it would lead to much confusion, but surprisingly it did not. Although I would have liked the reverse happened, with Kay Song portraying Shi Qi and Ke Ying to be Shen Qin, the current casting also worked well in this case. I became more intrigued the more that I watched, especially wanting the ML's to discover the switch. But I was mildly disappointed towards the end when Shi Qi did not get her face back. The plot twist was not nearly as unexpected but it was definitely a good effort.

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This drama starts off with a cliché, over-bearing CEO who is wooden and unemotional, finding how to interact with a quirky, happy-go-lucky child psychologist.

It’s the second time I’ve seen Wei Zhe Ming in this type of role and frankly, there was no difference from his stint as Zhang Si Nian in Perfect and Casual. He has the same robotic expression but fortunately for him (or rather his character), that he’s rich, handsome and powerful and that this can be easily overlooked.

Hu Yi Xuan is not too shabby as Qin Yi Yue, especially in the first half of the drama, where she had more spunk and personality when she goes against Qiao Yan’s dictatorial demands framed as requests. She flies by the seat of her pants when dealing with her personal life and makes decisions based on feelings.

The two are a match made in heaven as they counterbalance each other, but the catalyst between them is certainly the adorable munchkin Xiao Bao who seems to be unanimously voted by the viewers as the star of the show. For his debut drama, Lennon Sun is a natural as he delivers a performance rarely seen in kid actors, especially in those beginning episodes where he had no dialogue to speak of.

The rest of the cast try their best to work with the script as they guide their one-dimensional characters through development. Ruo Wei and Wen Gu act as sounding boards to the lead characters while navigating their own romance. Whereas a contract binds the leads together, a bet stands between the SML and SFL to see who falls for the other first. Another cliché where the strong-willed female manages to tame the spoiled-rich, playboy into submission.

Add in a calculating aunt (in the absence of an evil mother), a self-entitled childhood friend (in place of a clingy ex-girlfriend), or a brooding third male lead bearing unrequited love. Throw in an accident or two, and some tropey plot device like amnesia or disability, then you have your basic ingredients for a C-drama recipe. For added flourish, mix in a glimpse of a tragic past or some form of trauma. Also don’t forget the coincidence of all coincidences.

Surprisingly, I didn’t touch the fast forward button on this one, despite the few times where I almost gave in to that temptation. The first half was certainly stronger than the back half where the resolution seems rushed towards the end. Also, I found quite a few loopholes where the drama introduced some of the character’s backstory without it ever having fully explored or concluded. The show also tried to force a third pairing in the last two episodes where I see no rhyme or reason to do so. Some of the conflicts to me seemed unnecessary and weak.

Despite this lackluster review, “Unforgettable Love” is a decent watch and entertaining if you don’t take its faults too seriously. To its credit, the show also teaches you the importance of found family, as well as gathering the strength to move on from the past and how to live in the present.

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What can I say about this highly entertaining drama? That it's certain exceeded my expectations and it’s a hoot!

Park Jo Hyun’s performance as the crazy swindler was on point, as her character goes about the world jumping in sticky situations and getting out the next with her out-of-the box thinking. Ye So Rang’s highly observant skills and wealth of knowledge aided in her portrayal of the dead princess’ lost spirit that the King believed her powers of shamanism to be real.

For his part, Kim Young Dae tried to be his best as the brooding widower Lee Heon, who pines for his dead wife even after years after her death. So when he hears of the possibility that he can see his wife’s spirit, the King eats up So Rang’s lies as a kid eating candy. Hilarity ensues as Ye So Rang weaves her tale larger than the last, and the oblivious Lee Heon could not determine whether he’s speaking to So Rang or to the dead princess, and lines get blurred.

But there’s someone who probably knows So Rang’s secret: the King’s best friend, right hand man, Lee Shin Won, who is relegated to his role as the second fiddle, third wheel in the love triangle. Kim Woo Seok is decent as the second male lead, as his stoic stance, quiet demeanor completes his loyal-to-a-fault, kicked-puppy-dog look, that he can only be So Rang’s really good friend at best.

This show has a good, solid ensemble cast, from the courtyard couple Royal Nanny and Chief Eunuch to the band of Mosuldan’s (probably incels in today’s world). Everyone has their own little part of the story and are quite interesting characters in their own right, like the cunning fortune teller, the erotic author, and other people who give color to this drama.

The Forbidden Marriage is equal parts romance, drama, comedy, and politics, not one aspect too overpowering to take over another. Even the villains are not so villainy like in other dramas where I want to throw their heads against the wall, although sometimes I feel it’s justified only to wipe the smug grins off their faces.

Though it became a tad serious at the end, and lost a little bit of steam, this drama is an enjoyable watch.

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I am a sucker for friends-turned-lovers type of drama and this one certainly fits the bill. Soundtrack #1 tells the story of Eun Soo, a struggling lyricist trying to come up with meaningful words to accompany a song but she comes up short. The lack of emotional depth that she uses in her lyrics was the main issue according to the music producer. She believes this is the case because she hasn't experienced a love strong enough to conjure up those feelings (or so she thought). Meanwhile, her best friend of twenty years Sun Woo is the epitome of unrequited love, pining for Eun Soo in ways that everyone notices except for the oblivious target.

I almost did not recognize Park Hyung Sik from SWDBS as he broods quietly on the sideline, while Song Hye Kyo's doppelganger Han So Hee is decent as the object of his affections. I also liked the fact that the production team used music and imagery to reflect the different stages of the MCs' relationship. Alternatively, this isn't a drama that needed a whole thesis deconstructing the plot devices or in person narratives due to its short length. It is meant to be enjoyed as it is, a bittersweet journey of two people finally finding love after two decades.

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I did not have high expectations going into this aside from passing entertainment,, but this drama surprised me in many ways. The premise of an employee pining for her boss is a familiar trope, with the hopes that someday she will end up happily with him. But upon living with strangers, the FL learned that there is life outside of work, and that she does not have to be "on" all the time. The other characters in the share house each provide a representation of life view.

There is Shun who lived minimally after a set-back, despite aspiring to have his own restaurant. Then there's Ryuhei who gives advice to everyone but does not do well managing his own love life. There's Ayaka, the dream chaser, who does not know that it's okay if things don't turn out as they planned. Then there's Sachi the boss, who realizes too late, that somebody who is always at his side, does not mean she will be there forever. There's also the landlady, Kuoko, who does not cater to traditional views and become complacent in her situation when the absentee husband is nowhere to be found until after their marriage dissolved.

This drama turned out to be much more meaningful than just a light-hearted rom-com. It imparted life lessons on how we should live our life to the fullest, but also learn how to stop and smell the roses.

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Story: A slut meets a stalker. It looks like somebody really wanted to tell this story enough to make a short film out of it, but since there’s nothing much to go by, just throw in some weird sex. Whelp, apparently that was good enough of a plot (but we know it ain’t).

Acting/Cast: Looks like they picked randos on the street, or maybe these actors volunteered for their 14 minutes of fame, or rather obscurity.

Music: Didn’t even notice, but maybe they should the background noise to “creepy”

Rewatch Value: Sure, if you wanted to see pasty white skin or the improper use of cuffs.

Overall: Probably the moral lesson it wants to impart is not to dismiss stalkers, as they may actually save you from rapists. It’s like yay! But really, no.

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Story: A coming-of-age story set in the future, where people can choose their gender when they reach the age of majority. The conflict of choices from the main character, whether to go with what he feels like or whether to decide his gender based on the preference of his love interest, was warring on screen.

Acting/Cast: Nothing remarkable to note.

Music: Nothing remarkable to note.

Rewatch Value: Maybe if only to clarify some of the scenes that suffered from poor editing or script writing.

Overall: The short film attempts to deconstruct gender stereotypes, by imagining a world where we can choose our gender as a part of a standard program, where identifying with another gender that you are born with, will be the norm, but the execution falls short of its aim.

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