Sorry but nope.

I watched this drama purely for Sung Hoon (ML) but unfortunately this made it to the “dramas that I do not recommend list”.
While I understand this drama was a remake from “Jane the Virgin” (which I didn’t watch), I am not sure I understand the plot at all.
I lost focus on the drama (and had been fast forwarding parts) because I felt that the drama tried to cover too much. There wasn’t much emphasise on the lead characters. Even if there were focus on the lead characters, there wasn’t enough depth.

Frankly, the drama was quite tiring to watch after a while, so I fast-forwarded to the last episode and yet it was disappointing.

I don’t recommend this drama at all.

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Time Travel Rom-Com

Story: The plot was quite interesting initially, with the FL obtaining the ability to time travel back in time to save the ML. The rom-com story plot also have some thriller element, though this thriller element continued for a good portion of the drama (which I am not sure if it should be that relevant). The plot was also too heavily focus on the ML and FL, that I think the supporting characters lacked depth. I also don't think there was too much character growth of the ML and FL overly the episodes.

Acting: Kim Hye Yoon (FL) and the Byeon Woo Seok (ML) did a good job acting as their respective characters. I think Kim Hye Yoon was exceptional in delivering the FL's role, especially with all the crying scenes in the drama.

Music: The OST was great! I personally like the songs from the band, and the was really good.

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A dazzling start, a disappointing dive

The Story of the Pearl Girl initially captivated audiences with its stunning visuals, a compelling female protagonist, and an exploration of societal constraints. However, the narrative loses its focus in the latter half, diluting the impact of what the characters had created till the western region arc.

The early episodes are a visual feast, particularly the underwater sequences that showcase the arduous life of Duan Wu, a pearl diver. Her life as a pearl diver had been difficult, but she never lose hope of having a shop of her own. Her journey allow her to met new people along the way, such as merchant Yan Zijing and Noble Zhang Jin Ran. The drama was enjoyable to watch, and there was a balance between the quest for revenge and for romance to blossom between Duan Wu and Yan Zijing.

Unfortunately, the end of the western region arc and the start of the Yangzhou arc derails the well written narrative. The excessive number of new characters and subplots introduced in the Yangzhou arc diluted what kept the story interesting in the first place. The focal point of the later part of the drama was on the FL and her Jewelry shop, and how she pit her wits against other shop owners in Yangzhou. While they try to link it back to the main plot (which involved the ML), it was quite weak and the change in focus resulted in the ML's airtime (and the romance between the FL and ML) to be reduced.

The conclusion of the drama was slightly bizarre, and there were questions unanswered, which made it disappointing.

Rosy shines as Duan Wu and Su Mu Zhe. As Duan Wu, she is a spirited and resilient woman who defies societal norms. She is someone who will do whatever it takes to protect herself and those around her, which Rosy delivered through her acting. At the latter arc, when the name change from Duan Wu to Su Mu Zhe, she delivered perfectly all the heart-wrenching scenes.

Liu Yuning also delivered a compelling performance as Yan Zijing, a complex character who sworn to revenge against those that wronged his family and later as someone who wants to protect Duan Wu/Su Mu Zhe. Yuning's emotional performance throughout the drama, particularly in the latter half (even with the reduced airtime) is impressive and was what that got me through the end of the series.

As this wasn't the first drama that Rosy and Yuning acted as a couple, I find that their chemistry was great and they were very comfortable with each other in the show. I personally do wish there were more opportunities to show their romance in the drama (especially at the latter arc), where the romance was almost non-existent.

I personally like the OSTs of this drama, particularly the song performed by Liu Yuning which further enhances the emotional depth of the drama whenever I hear it.

Despite the story plot that didn't manage to sustain its interesting level, The Story of Pearl Girl is still a great drama, which I recommend those with the time to give it a go.

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A Riveting Drama with Stellar Performances

Story: This drama is a well-crafted narrative filled with intricate mind games between the female lead and the two male leaders, each manipulating and using one another from the very first episode. As the story unfolds, the plot thickens, and the characters' schemes - or at times, their support for one another becomes even more intriguing. The romantic dynamics are also interesting, with a clear contrast in how the two male leads interact with the female lead, adding depth to the story.

The supporting characters also added colors to the drama. This is one of the dramas where I don't really think some of the characters were redundant, as they all put in their own weight for this drama.

Acting: I was drawn to this drama because of Ren Jia Lun, who plays Wei Zhao. Having seen his previous works, including the Blue Whisper (Parts 1 and 2) and the Burning Flames, I knew he was an exceptional actor. This was my first time watching Landy Li (Jiang Ci) and Jeremy Tsui, and I found their performance impressive as well. Special recognition goes to Jeremy Tsui for his portrayal of Pei Yan.

OST: The soundtracks were fantastic. Part of the lineup include my favorite OST singer Liu Yuning. Additionally, Curly Gao were also part of the line up.

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In my opinion - Unexpected

The first few episodes of L.U.C.A was interesting because:
- certain topics highlighted was thought-provoking
- characters were interesting

I honestly thought this drama would end just as how it started. However, towards the end of the drama, the drama turned out to be uninteresting and stale. Despite all the action scenes that the drama painstakingly prepared, it was highly repetitive. The choices made by the characters towards the end were debatable. The ending was not something that I fully understood either, which ended up as a disappointment for me.

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Interesting drama with good pacing

was on my to watch list because of Yoon Chan Young.

With a total of 8 episodes, I felt that the drama was paced quite well, there wasn't any parts of the show that I felt bored or could be removed from the show entirely.

I personally like to watch "revengy" dramas, so this drama suited me well, as it shows how Yi-Heon slowly starts to fight back against those who bullied him (even though it was through Deuk Pal's spirit and consciousness).

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Acting wise, this is my 3rd drama of Chan Young, so I expected a stellar acting from him (which he delivered as always). I personally think Bong Jae Hyun also did a great job as Choi Se Kyung as well.

I do recommend the show if you are interested to watch some "revengy" drama that is not too heavy, though some might not prefer the fact high school bullying and domestic abuse are topics that were discussed in the drama.

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Interesting mix of genre

Flex X Cop is a drama that has an interesting mix of crime, action and comedy.

The story plot focus on Kang Ha Police Station's Team 1 (consisting of FL Lee Kang Hyun, Park Joon Young, Choi Kyung Jin and the new addition chaebol ML Jin Yisoo) solving a series of crimes together. Yisoo, despite being a newly appointed detective, tried his best to solve crimes with the rest of the Team 1 using his connections and power as a Chaebol.

What I enjoyed about this drama was how some of the crime cases were cleverly weaved together as the stepping stone for the subsequent episodes. There are also plot twists within the drama, which makes Flex X Cop interesting to watch. I also liked how the drama show both the FL and ML personal backstory.

Acting wise, I personally enjoyed the synergy between the FL (Park Ji Hyun) and ML (Ahn Bo Hyun) and their skills were great.

I am excited to see what Flex X Cop 2 would be able to showcase in the future.

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Not what I expected

Do I recommend this drama:
If you like light-hearted shows, this is NOT for you.

Story:
is a drama that focuses on Xiao Bei Chen (Shawn Dou) and Lin Hang Jing (Chen Du Ling)’s lives during the 20th century.
I had high hopes for this drama but was pretty disappointed as the plot progresses. The constant misunderstanding between Xiao Bei Chen and Lin Hang Jing made it rather hard to watch. Given the genre, I know it would be difficult to place emphasise on the romance between the main leads. However, having them pit against each other for almost every other episode; repetitively didn’t made the drama enjoyable at all.

The actions made by the characters as well for some part of the drama was questionable as well. Lin Hang Jing’s character in the drama made me puzzled half of the time.

Cast:
The cast is superb and have done a splendid job. Personally I love Shawn’s acting in this; especially towards the end of the drama, where he needs to portray a lot of raw emotions. In fact, Shawn’s acting throughout the entire drama was what kept me going, more so from the 2nd half of the drama when I was getting tired of the series.
Notable mentions also include: Leon Lai, Hu Jun, Dong Xuan.

Note:
Perhaps I was expecting too much for a drama that was set in the 20th century so I was hoping for a slightly better ending (with some fluff). I might have to watch other dramas with similar genre to see if genre works for me.

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Appreciating the little things in life that makes you happy

Do I recommend this drama:
For those who prefer light-hearted dramas, I do not recommend this as the drama.
For those who are considering to watch this, I do recommend watching them with tissues on hand.

Story:
Per Netflix introduction, is drama where made half-human, half-spirit by accident, a young man was employed by a company of grim reapers in the underworld to carry out special missions. These special missions are to go to the land of the living to prevent humans from committing suicides.

Suicide is a sensitive topic, so it did came as a surprise that a drama was released with that topic in mind. This 16 episodes drama were broken down into mini story arcs (typically one case every 1 to 2 episodes). As the topic is a heavy one, the drama included elements of fantasy (grim reapers which special mojo) and comedic moments (when it is appropriate).

While the drama was thought-provoking; I felt that there are parts lacking. Personally, I was hoping for the drama to explain or emphasize more on Choi Jun-Woong (by Rowoon). Given Netflix's introduction, I was under the impression that his involvement would be a whole lot more than what the drama eventually portrayed.

Acting:
The cast did an amazing job in this drama; and not just the main cast. Every single cast in the mini story arcs did a fantastic job in portraying the required feelings of the character, which made this drama unforgettable. I have never watched a drama that I teared every single episode.

Note:
If someone told me before I started watching this drama that the content would be such a heavy one , I might watch this drama in the first place.
However, after completing this series, it does make me remember the importance of appreciating the little things in life that makes me happy.

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Interesting blend of thriller/mystery with fantasy plus romance

Disclaimer: I started to watch this drama because of the catchy title and the female lead being Park Shin Hye (whom have a lot popular works previously).

Story: was certainly an interesting blend of crime solving with fantasy elements. Each mini arcs were interesting, the criminals depicted in the drama were certainly rotten to the core (in my opinion) so it was super refreshing (for me) to see how the female lead take matters in her own hands to ensure the criminals gets what they deserved. I also thought the drama was quite nicely written to piece all the mini arcs into a bigger puzzle that focus on the female and male leads' choice and how their choices affect their lives. It was also great to see that this drama had some romance element as well, which makes the drama slightly more light-hearted to watch.

Cast: As always, Park Shin Hye delivers her character perfectly, and this time it was a demon (Kang Bit Na / Justitia). Her acting was amazing, whether it was action scenes or emotional scenes. I didn't expect she will not be able to deliver her character perfectly. It's my first time watching a drama from the male lead (Kim Jae Young) and I was quite impressed with his acting. I also thought the chemistry between Shin Hye and Jae Young was quite good. The acting of the supporting casts were good as well. In fact, their casting was really good (whether its the supporting casts or the guest roles)... In fact, I wasn't expecting Shin Sung Rok to take a guest role in this drama.

OST: I personally liked the most from Sunmi - Crossroad. I always felt a little emotional when the song appears during the drama (especially when its the emotional scenes between the male and female lead).

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A tale of intrigue and love

The Rise of Ning offers a captivating blend of intrigue and romance, skilfully balancing the narratives of its two central characters. Luo Yining, the resilient female protagonist, returns to the Luo Residence after years of being away. As she decides to stay in the Luo Residence for good, she was determined to defy the mistreatment she endures. Meanwhile, Luo Shen Yuan, the enigmatic male lead, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind a wrong committed against his revered teacher.

This drama is particularly engaging as it delves into Yining's clever yet dangerous schemes against her adversaries, aided by resourceful brother, Shen Yuan. As their journey unfolds, a surprising revelation emerges: they are not blood-related. This unexpected twist sets the stage for a blossoming romance that adds depth (and the romance) to the already intricate plot. the focal point of the drama had always been on the central characters, which made people hooked on to the show.

While the early parts of the drama are full of suspense and intrigue which caught the viewers attention, the later episodes became somewhat predictable. The character of Lu Jia Xue, the second male lead, suffers from an obsession with the female protagonist, leading to repetitive and tiresome plot lines. The extended runtime towards the end results in some redundant scenes that could have been trimmed have also lead to some fatigue towards the end of the drama.

Despite these minor flaws, the performances by the lead actors are commendable. Zhang Wan Yi, a rising star (in my opinion), delivers a strong performance as Shen Yuan, effortlessly embodying the character's strategic mind and martial arts prowess. Ren Min also did a spectacular job as Yining, capturing her complex character with both strength and vulnerability. Ci Sha also did a great job as the obsessed Lu Jia Xue, who was willing to do whatever it takes to get Yining by his side again.

Overall, the Rise of Ning is a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dramas, offering a compelling blend of romance, revenge and mystery.

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Intense drama that me people hooked

I started to watch Blood Free due to the casting of the ML (by Ju Ji Hoon) and FL (by Han Hyo Joo), actors/actresses that I really liked and I am happy that this drama did not disappoint.

The drama revolves around ML Woo Chae Woon trying to seek the truth of an accident that happened to him while he was in the army. Now, serving as a bodyguard, he ended up being employed by FL Yoon Ja Yoo and together, both of them worked together in seeking the truth of what happened to both of them previously..

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What makes Blood Free interesting was the creative story telling, which I had not seen so far in the K-dramas that I had watched. The cultured meat that Blood Free was well known for (part of the drama summary) sets the overall tone and the direction of how the drama progresses.

The drama was fast paced, filled with a lot of action (scenes by the ML) but at the same time, was able to show the backstories of the characters (in this case, the ML and the FL).

The casting for Blood Free was solid, and the actors and actresses were just amazing.

The only thing that I thought was a bit disappointing was the ending, which was like a cliff-hanger that left more questions unanswered. It would be good if Blood Free has a sequel that helps to address the questions.

Otherwise, it was still a great drama to watch, one that I will recommend.

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A flawed Sequel

Zombieverse: New Blood (ZNB) is a continuation of last year's Zombieverse. Picking up from the open-ended Season 1 finale, the remaining survivors - Dex, Lee Si Young, Din Din, Tsuki and Patricia managed to escape teh zombie-infested Seoul.

ZNB introduced a fresh batch of cast members to the apocalyptic chaos: Taeyeon (SNSD), Sungjae (BTOB), Jo Se Ho, Defconn, Code Kunst, Kwon Eun Bi, Kim Seon Tae and Chef Andre.

However, the show's format takes a significant departure from its predecessor. Instead of the gripping narrative of survival and escape, ZNB adopts a more game-like approach, with quests like subduing zombies, rescuing stranded members, and battling the undead in a gymnasium.

This shift in focus dilutes the intensity and character development. While Season 1 highlighted Dex's resourcefulness and his physical capabilities, ZNB struggles to give him significant screen time. Sungjae shows promise, but his character arc feels rushed. In contrast, Code Kunst shines throughout the series, demonstrating bravery, impressive problem-solving skills, physical abilities and composure.

The large cast size also present challenges. Some members, seemingly added for comedic relief, undermine the show's survivalist premise. Moreover, a member only appeared in the show for 1 episode raises questions about the initial purpose of such a large ensemble.

While ZNB may appeal to fans of Code Kunst, it falls short of the gripping narrative and character-driven storytelling of its predecessor.

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