An okayish attempt of mixing too many genres ....or maybe it was just a political drama

Times starts as a fantasy plot where a daughter is trying to save her dad with the help of another reporter who’s also connected to them indirectly …..the first 4 eps were really to my liking …the thrill of changing the past and creating a new future keeps you hooked.
And then suddenly the writer changes from fantasy to politics….even though the change doesn’t feel forced, it feels a tad bit abrupt. For the next few episodes, it feels quite draggy and heavy ….all due to the sudden shift to politics and journalism. Slowly you adjust to it turning to a political mess and then you are again abruptly handed a change of perspective for I appreciate the idea of having the focus on only ML or FL at a time and giving them time to develop as individual characters who you grow affectionate towards; which is quite rare in drama land to see... but again if it wasn’t that abrupt. I would like to see something of this sort happening again where different narratives are given equal importance.

The actors did a great job knowing that they did not shoot together for most of the time ...they managed to bring us really good chemistry ….and no romance angle could be seen as perks of the show ….
To be honest, I don’t know what went so wrong ...it did have me hooked in the initial eps even after the introduction of politics as the main narrative ….though I am not a big fan of the genre in itself I still did want to continue the show ….but towards the end, I found myself uninterested in everything ...neither the characters seemed appealing nor did the storyline felt surprising... everything was down to okay ..yaa that was supposed to happen what next ….oh are we finally done ...good then let’s go watch something more interesting now.

It did have good points ….it felt quite realistic at times even after being a fantasy ….for it raises questions that you won’t be able to find answers to ...for everyone wishes to change the world ..to turn it into a better place but when you actually hold the power does the wish remain same ….? Is saving a life at the cost of another life right ? There exists a right answer but when it’s up to you to decide is the choice that simple ….let me not hype you so much when it’s not that great or maybe let me leave you to decide ….
In short, the drama had potential ...in terms of writing and the actors could have shined more if not for the plot that sadly dragged everything down even after having so many fresh moments and creative ideas ….
It wasn’t a waste of my time but I expect more from an OCN “thriller” ….but do give it a try for if you love political stuff as for fantasy and other things just watch the first 4 eps or find another show…that might be all I wish to say about the drama I hope you enjoy watching.

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Doubt - blinds

"When you truly want to understand someone, but you can't, you end up having doubts. You can't trust your own judgement but you can't help it. "

Kicking off 2025 with this absolute gem -easily the best decision I made in 2024. It’s gripping, magical, and downright thrilling -I was hooked the whole way. The acting? Flawless. And the cinematography? Absolute fire! With a show that defines itself with every episode here you really trade deals with doubt.

When your dad’s a criminal profiler, what do you master? Lying like a pro. Doubt dives into the tangled web of a father-daughter duo who share nothing but a million lies. As they tackle a case that only deepens their divide, the daughter becomes the prime suspect for her own profiler dad. Intrigue, tension, and a family in freefall - sold!

Patience isn’t really my thing, and waiting for things to unfold? Definitely not me. But this show shattered all my theories at every step. Some twists you might see coming, others you simply buy into because the narrative sells it so well. It’s not your typical adrenaline-fueled thriller - it thrives in unthinkable layers, driven by the intricate web of human relationships. And let me tell you, it’s executed with absolute perfection, down to every last detail!

The acting, the gloomy cinematography, the emotional chaos in every character, and a storyline that ties it all together seamlessly—it’s a masterpiece. Just when you think you’ve figured out how things will unfold, you might be right, but the journey to get there? Oh, it’s something else. Sign me up to endorse all such shows !

But I must say Doubt isn’t for everyone - its slow-burn style might test thrill-seekers. But for those who crave psychological depth and intricate storytelling, it’s unmatched. With deliberate pacing that builds suspense while keeping you hooked, Doubt cements itself as a must-watch in its genre.

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Is “Check Out the Event” worth checking out ??

Well I’ll leave you to decide if you wish to watch the drama or not ...also as you see I am writing this review so of course I’ll assist you in the decision making process (that goes only if you read further ...lol)
Okiee so it’s a simple after breakup story where the FL after getting dumped asks ML to visit jeju island with her since they had won a couple competition and she requires some time so she can get a closure for their 5yr long relationship. At the trip they meet 2 other couples and a tour guide (SML) each of them having their own short story ...one of which was really touching.

First of all lemme just break it to you the reason why ML wants to break up with her is quite a stupid one ….like seriously stupid !! (but his actions somewhere always made me feel that he loved her ….he did)

As for FL her actions were sometimes a bit unreasonable and cringy (while you ask for reason ..you don’t even allow them to speak )...but it’s not that I find her unreasonable overall ...of course I can see why she’s clinging on to ML ...it’s not like a 5 year long relationship can end with just a few words ...and I’d find myself more surprised if she did not cling on ...it’s love ..you can’t just let go like this …(keep up the fight ...our ML is quite handsome to just give up like this ...lol)

The drama is just 4 ep ...so I have tried to analyze it that way only ...cuz after watching so many long dramas you obviously expect everything related to every character even side characters ..but practically it’s not possible for a 4 ep drama to have it all ...as for what they give is in these 4 eps is really good ….the story is centered around leads and they have most of the screen time but it’s not like the side stories weren’t well written or gave a feeling that they weren’t important …they contributed to the drama in a quite beautiful way.( I wish older couple had more screen time …)

I do not have much to mention for there's just this small plotline and everything revolves around it ...but I think the point that writer is trying to make is ….trust ,communication and transparency are important in a relationship …not having these can ruin it ...bring you to the point there’s no going back from. Keeping things from your loved ones ...assuming you are protecting them from hardship ...I don’t think that’s how love should be ...you endure it together ...you share happy and sad times together ...you go through everything together ...that’s what relationships are for … It’s more about being together.... than just staying together…!

(sometimes the drama feels like it’s going round and round in circles ...but it’s actually what I like about it ...they have this same conversation time and again ....cuz neither of them wants it to end …so it could be either you find it beautiful or frustrating ...depends)

As for the ending ….I like the way they end and give a small closure to all the stories ...and I liked the closure for the second couples stories more than the main couple ...

It had amazing cinematography and ost ...acting was decent …some good dialogues ...overall worth a try if you ask me. And pls don’t expect out of the world stuff in just 4 eps ...be realistic ...I am sure you’d enjoy it !!

And here maybe I am bribing you to watch it ...some amazing dialogues from the drama …

“You have always, invariably, without fail, meant hope to me.”
“This is how we live , being loved and loving ….hoping that the person in front of us doesn’t change their feelings.”
“Sometimes sad, sometimes longing and sometimes looking forward to the time to come ....as if you were given homework of life from the moment you were born ….you solve it by being whole hearted in your way.”
"I never thought there would be nothing left of me just because you left."
“I think it was only after we broke up I realized I was loved ….I think it was only after we broke up that I learned how to love.”

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I was embarrassed for the girl when even she wasn't !!!

In the first ep - I was really uncomfortable by the FL because she was hell bent on embarrassing herself and that doesn't really make it likable generally but man she did win my heart with the same - and before the guy was in love with her I was !!!

This was my first Philippines drama and I am so looking forward to them ! -

The chemistry is top notch and the characters make you fall in love ! - it's just a beautiful ride full of unnecessary cliche's but put together with a lot of love -the basic plot line- girl falling for a person then chasing him left and right only to make him fall in love and live her cinderalla romance but the clock is always ticking !

The good part -

- FL cries without reserve and tho madly in love she asks the right questions every time we need her to - which really makes up a character for me !
- and the girl gang which was too much to handle are no better - it's like a dumb people squad where they all are just aware of each other's nonsense and still so into it that it kind of drags you along in their fun !
- The ML is hot AF!!!! and a whole green flag character except for some secretive cherry on top , he has an interesting friends circle too - which is pretty useless bec they never help on time - would delay discussing imp stuff as if waiting for the world to end but tell just in time to save it from exploding!


the bad -

- kio - ML's cousin i thought he'd be some sort of wingmen but sadly he got no use ! - so did FL's bestie !
- ML's mother was so much of a nuisance but her change of heart is pretty quick - too quick to even see !
- The misunderstandings are so so repetitive that when you have come across a few eps of build up you expect something out of that sorting convo but sadly that never happens !
-The whole roommate arc had a messed up timeline - makes no sense what so ever !

overall I enjoyed the show and given I finished it in one go ! - I sure fell in love with the main leads ! Do try it in case you are trying to get over a slump like me !

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maybe coincidence ....maybe fate

Instead of running away from something, why not look at it as running towards something else? Did I, deep-dive, into philosophy after watching this? Well, I’m not sure, but that's the thought I had while watching...
The drama is not perfect....it need not be ....also if you are complaining about too many coincidences happening....driving it far from reality ....then I have to remind you that it's a drama also this was already mentioned in the synopsis...
Tho there were some elements I skipped through ....but I do that all the time ....so you need not worry ....the drama isn't draggy ...and you won't have any trouble keeping up with its timeline .....
Some stories aren't about a beautiful ending ....it's more about the journey to the end .....it's the same here ... There are multiple stories....which explore many different aspects.... and all of them beautiful in their own way .....talk of dreams....they say you have to work hard ...is it enough to just work hard ...? At times you need to make some decisions you don't want, to keep doing what you love ....is it wrong to do so ...? Is planning the next time being insincere about today's goodbyes....? Is it too late to do what you want...??
The drama talks about all these questions, it looks at things differently and tags you along in the same.....that's what makes it special....every character is uniquely flawed that's what makes them more human and easy to relate to .... just like how people you meet in life have an influence on you the characters influence each other as well ....helping each other deal with problems is maybe a process of finding solace in the world where we're all alone and together at the same time .....
I enjoyed the side characters as much as I enjoyed the main characters....for everyone had their own decision and everyone dealt with the consequences that follow....just like everyone else they'll have to face it ....they are just deciding when and how.... it might look like they were running away but that's not it ...when you look at their side of the story you'll find that they were just trying to make things work for them ...

For people who are still wondering if you should try it or not ....I'd suggest you, try it cuz it has something for everyone...
And here maybe I am bribing you to watch it ....with my favorite quotes from the drama
"You just have to trust yourself, the world will fall for it too..."
"The fact that we can smile at small hopes is the greatest joy..."
"To have the opportunity to be together next time is such a precious thing…
To be able to smile comfortably and talk about the past
To be able to endure today and tomorrow thanks to the person by your side.... having all this is such a blessing"
And at last, lemme tell you that they have shot at really beautiful places...so you're about to be blessed with some beautiful scenery .....and a lot of mixed emotions .....
For me, it was a good experience watching this .....I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did .....and for that you’ll have to try it …..which I hope you do …!!

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tries to be everything and fails at being itself ; cliche edition!

This is gonna be a short review - (is what I am hoping) before starting to sing about my disappointment !

ＮＯ　ＤＩＲＥＣＴ　ＳＰＯＩＬＥＲＳ

The start was fun and that's about it - it wasn't good or perfect but just was my taste - i loved the petty bickering and I still care for you but imma make a fool of you and then i don't remember when they move to the lovey dovey stuff but I am sure that's where everything went WRONG ...! It is a perfect example of a drama that I knew would never get better, yet I still stuck with it till the very end for the love of humanity ig (clown face emoji)

first of all them assuming that the translation industry is so significant - I am sorry but it's too asumptious to be real !
then the ML being able to do all the things like magic ... he's good at AI okay, he's good with medicine ? he creates scents ? wtf ??? - like he's the company all by himself ...?? no specializations no departments ...he's touring the translators themselves ...don't they have work ? Also don't they have hot secretaries ?

Also the only problem ML's company faces in this 36 hour boredom is media articles and public opinion....like tf....no effort what so ever was put in even thinking about anything else.

the only practical bg is given to wei tian - someone who works hard is striving to be in the industry and someone who will never make it to upper management, a true friend , also the casting is top notch there ! - he's literally the guy they want him to be !

the side characters are too cliche, stereotypical and forgettable to even just be bare min likable and their plot line is like all over the place - be it the cousin or the sml which I believe moved on in the blink of an eye ! - oh what pretty love is ! - and when does the cousin have a change of heart and nature ! everyone here seems to be having a switch - press it and they become someone else !

I think the director is wasting too much time on everything except the things that actually matter - the ml and fl share a lot of screen time with side characters that seem to have a very stupid story line themselves and no time is given for the misunderstandings that drives people apart for 30 fucking years ! Then there are random twists in the story that should have made the characters seem more complex, but it just made the story more of a hot mess.

The last 4 eps did try to be more engaging than the whole second half but tbh I do not like the ending the ML is not even interested in how the FL is feeling and he's just so full of himself to think that the solution he is trying to use to help FL is the only thing that should or can be done. Like dude talk to her that's also a great option you didn't give a fuck about. And the end - I am not even disappointed bec what did I even expect. I could maybe increase a 0.5 rating but I don't want to bother doing so!
---

Overall, I feel pretty comfortable telling people to skip this one because they have no idea themselves about what they wanted to create !
PS. There was a lot that was pretty unlikable but I did not hate the show ! - i do not care about the ending bec ik it's gonna be what everyone knows it's gonna be.

- only likable part was machine v/s human translation ! - which was lost as soon as the romance kicked in !
Watch for the leads or as a side show ! - nothing much to miss out on !

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it's short and worth the time it takes !!

I don't think many people have watched this one ...and I think I wouldn't have either if it wasn't just 16 eps ...the plot is nothing more than what's mentioned in the synopsis ...so I don't think there is more for me to add ...!!
so jumping directly to the que - do I rec it ? yes I do
REASONS :
it's short ..lol ...
SML's daughter is just too too good ....adorable , cute and got some great lines ..!!
nothing is annoying or draggy ...so you won't need to skip much ...and me being someone who has befriended fast forward button this one is definitely gonna get the credit for making me stay away from skipping scenes...!!
the story line is simple but has got a lot to do with flash backs ...which I don't actually look for ...but then as I already mentioned I wasn't into skipping this time so you don't need to mind that a lot ...!!
the FL wasn't stupid ...(that's imp) and the leads trusted each other ...wow rare combination ...!! lol
the ending was really predictable and that got it down to 8 otherwise I would have rated it higher for sure ...!!
both couples had some great chemistry and they fit well, so casting I think was on point .

They did give proper time for things that actually needed time at the same time keeping it short and this is what makes it a worth watch ....do give it a try for sure you won't be disappointed if you already know that the ending is gonna be predictable.
and in a short time 16 eps 30 mins each, you get some good laugh (SFL and SML's daughter) a great friendship ( FL and SFL , ML and SML) a cute, smart and witty character (SML's daughter ) and 2 great couples ...!!

all in all I didn’t expect I would like it so much! ...so I am quite happy that I gave it a try !!
I hope you enjoy watching this one ... give it a try !!

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Ghosts can’t match humans even when it comes down to being evil !!

So great shaman Ga Doo Shim ...presents you a ride in the world of a teenager shaman...set in a highschool ( free of serious bullies ….and full of ghosts) is a decent attempt at being a horror drama …okay if you are in for scary stuff ...then pls expect disappointment ….but if you get scared even at the slightest ...well then why in the world choose to watch this ….

A perfect binge watch material with 12 eps and 20 mins run time ...compact writing and great cast ...this show is all in to be a worth watch which I can say it is .
Few illogical stuff scattered here and there ( I am gonna mention at the end for people who finished cuz it could be a potential spoiler ...but I got to rant for sake of my mental peace)

The story in a nutshell ...is about a high school student Doo Shim with shaman abilities but no interest in shamanism and her potential husband or love interest at present Woo Soo (this romance angle I tell you ...they got to drop it everywhere as if dramas can’t exist on friendship ..but it’s not the time to complain) and their fight against evil.

Character development was given quite less time overall and most of it was just about the FL ….which I appreciate ...at least someone got it to an extent ...than having all of them failing together just for the sake of equal division ( good decision)

ML was just a typical romance driven character (in my opinion)...he did not have much character depth or development ...but to be honest that does dwell well with the drama because it was obviously supposed to be more about FL.

The side characters were just doing their jobs without being out of the place …(much appreciated)

The small but important roles like that of grandmother, mother, principal, good ghost(Hyun Soo) all were really good ofcourse the respective actors nailed it ...as expected from them.

The whole point of grades and pressure on the students even after being the main point sadly felt underdeveloped ...and that’s what I assume is the result of less runtime. Can’t really blame anyone for that cuz they did do the best possible with what was given.

Overall the things presented were worth it ...no plot holes, great pacing ...an okay reason for a villain to be evil ( if you need me to play a critic here ...then it wasn’t really creative but then the rest of the thing put together makes it work. )

With moments that make your heart flutter ( you saw me complaining about romance now what’s with this ...I wish romance wasn’t there but who said I did not enjoy it), this one definitely makes a mark because of the leads.

As always ...time for my fav dialogues …(this time it’s -meaningful lines with reference to the drama and life in general)

I had forgotten that, I have to deal with more than just evil spirits. (told yaa humans are more scary)
I had forgotten that there's someone on my side.
I can’t see the future no shaman can ..if they claim they do it’s a lie but I trust you ...I believe you, will live a long and happy life.
Don’t worry, all is well ...everything will be fine. (repeat it for yourself every time there's trouble)

if you are wondering whether to try it or not....then I'd say go for it ...it's worth your time !!


Here spoiler and rant alert …
ref to ep 10 ......
come on seriously she worked hard to get the lowest score and failed in doing that ....like if you want to get the lowest score then you don't make guesses that are likely to be right ...you make guesses that are sure to be wrong ....it's a simple option elimination game ....
dramaland problems ...they are failing in failing ....wow ....and here we are ...working our ass off to pass but still fail
now that's actually something I can't get over ...dropping the rating by half star for this illogical stuff ...that's written just to make things work and they call it a twist ...sorry but that’s quite impractical and something to laugh at !!

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let's live happily now !!

so there are already a lot of reviews for this drama so then why am i writing another ...you can assume i have a lot of time to kill ...so this is gonna be a long review...if you want it short then i'd probably say the synopsis is all you can tell about the drama everything else is just a spoiler ...this show actually has no story but it makes a hell lot of sense ....go watch it don't waste your time reading reviews ...

this show is juat so pefectly done that i could even justify his wife's affair ...it doesn't have a central story line or nothing more than what you read in synopsis ...but then after every episode you want to know what's next , what more can you explore with such a narrow plot ...by the end you can connect all the dots and almost everything that happens makes sense ...i don't know if i'll call it a happy or sad ending ...cuz not everything can be described as either balck or white ...the cast was on point , dialogues i think that's what the drama is about ...
it's not something that will keep you at the edge of your seat but it's something that will leave you yearning for more ...


i'll brief you (just in case you want to know a bit of details )...SPOILERS AHEAD....

Ji An our FL is a murderer she behaves coldly to everyone around because she doesn't want to be a burden or be hurt by anyone , she doesn't like two faced people and mostly spends her time alone working part time jobs in order to repay lee kwang ll whose father is the one whom she killed ...the story passes by as the ML and FL's characters get more involved after the bribery incident and things come to the point where she starts working for joon young (ceo) and ends up tapping ML's phone following his life everyday ...as the story unfolds you get to know why the characters are doing what they are doing ...

it's a heartfelt story ...be ready to shed tears as there are great lines coming your way that are going to hit you hard ...
the story is basically about bright side of ordinary people ...it's close to reality where cold behavior of characters makes you feel warm ...even the side stories do a great job as a matter of fact

as to now why is it a 9/10 and not 10/10
I am not a very patient person ...i skip scenes whenever i feel like ...as to i did that with this drama as well ...i wasn't able to connect to park gi hoon's character that was to the point i started avoiding him on screen ...
at some point in the middle of the drama i started to wonder why am i still hooked on to them ...i don't know why even till the end but other than that i think i don't have any issues ..and i'd also add that i have never had such a satisfactory ending for any show yet ..it's just the perfect closure to a masterpiece
the show brings in real emotions ..tells you what it truly means to be a family ...i am happy that it doesn't create any unnecessary bonds and does not create a definition for relationships ...the characters always stay in limits but reach out beyond limits ....as a matter of fact human emotions will always remain complex and the show potray's it beautifully ...

the show leaves you wondering if you know everything about the person you claim to know ...do you really know what's going on in the life of people close to you , the people who are a part of your everyday life ...it tells you not to judge anyone and asks you to go and reevaluate your relations , address your fault , communicate and to hang on cuz things will get better .

There are lines that i just want to hear on repeat a 1000 times as in the emotion they hold just makes them shine and makes us value them and not just look at them as a mere collection of words
i'll quote some of them ..."the feeling that i am not the only one rolling forward " ..... "no matter what i am subjected to it doesn't matter as long as my family doesn't know "...the kindest words i have ever heard him say are " want me to buy anything on my way home? " ......" you are the only person who helped me more than 4 times " and all the small interactions between Ji An and her grandmother ...

so as to sum it up this show stands up to it's ratings maybe it deserves more ....keeping aside the regular cliches and bringing us our own everyday life is what this show is about ...it's gonna make you cry along with the characters and you'll empathize with them , you'll feel happy when they do ...
tip : just skip the scenes in the first few ep's if you don't like the pacing ...don't give up on the show as a whole ..it's a good journey marching towards the end ...this has a whole different vibe something of it's own don't expect anything and dive in ...you'll learn to swim with tears in your eyes and a smile on your face ...and remember it's the story you are in for ..it's the characters try to feel them ...you'll have a better experience !!
it's not a must watch but it's definitely a worth watch ....
i don't rewatch shows and i won't say i'd rewatch this but if someday i rewatch something then it would probably be this one ...
forgive me if i went a bit overboard cuz this is my first review ....i hope you enjoy the show as much as i did !! have a good time ...

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Damsel in distress who apparently knows revenge

"My whole life was put in front of me like an album and I did not have even one memory I wanted to hold on to. I am going to change that ! "

I am writing this review without watching the end because I wanted it to be about how I enjoyed and not about how it ended.
To me this genre is not one I frequently visit. I just started it because my curiosity got the better of me and then oppa being oppa you just start with one and then - just one more ep and I'll sleep ...just one more and here we are.

Let me first brief you about the not so unique revenge plot - so we have a damsel in distress who gets a chance to turn back into time and redefine who she is to not just herself but the world. She is aided by our prince who apparently is head over heels for her- for no good reason but I guess we'll all just nevermind that. lol

So the plot is pretty simple our FL is the ideal for all the wives who have been cheated on - with a fantasy twist.
(to spoil the fantasy twist is ML's role model ... epitome of goodness "chaebol family" lol)

what I like about this show is that it has a pace and quite bravely answers all the questions it puts forward and a great cast that performs steadily well throughout the journey.

There's a lot this show offers - A FL willing to change. Yes this good girl all her life now wants revenge and she knows what it means.
A chaebol family that you wish to be a part of . - I just love how ML'S mother reacts to the news everytime - watch out if you are yet to visit the show.
A paced revenge with all the answers. And a couple that shine on the screen with no annoying or screen time wasting side characters.!

OVERALL THIS WAS A VERY ENGAGING WATCH !
I love how everything is crafted between small moments and how everything is given a reason. I know that this show is not a new storyline but it has a new execution a great one. The chemistry stands out and so do the dialogues. The relations stand out and so does the drama. I hope you all try it once...to me this was a worth watch even tho the production is small it does not have a lot of runtime but the show does well in terms of what it has to offer. It does not mean to stand apart in terms of bringing something new to dramaland. IT JUST WANTS TO BE A GREAT ORDINARY DRAMA and it did try it's best!

since this was the first time I went through this type of a drama I made notes of how I felt after every ep.
@1 - The FL SUCKS ! - get her a brain!
@2 and @3- I like how this is going! She's been hurt and now she will lead the hunt. THE CHEMISTRYYYY UFFF!
This is a dreamy revenge in all aspects possible lol.
Could the ML be anymore sweet ? omfg they both just ..awww ufff oh yay !
@4 - We know what is going on but do we...this is going predictable is it really just this.
@5- I love how she tries to be an example and in the process gets herself destroyed as i may put due to lack of words... she looks like a brave warrior paving a new way of looking at things !
@6 and @7 - I knew no one dies in dramaland lol ...eps were just sweet and heart warming !
@8 and @9 - At least listen to her ...omfg you all be literally trusting the wrong people blindly ...like wtf !
@10 - it's not time yet ...so we don't have to worry lol ....idk i am just guessing ..the 2 eps won't be ml plotting revenge they can't be right !
@11- She lied as well come on ...but i get it she's been lied all her life I don't want to blame her but she lied as well ...you both just sort it out. A relationship takes two !!!!
oh hello why can't you come ..why call him ....aaaaa not this pls this is too cliche !!!
@12 - They have it too easy. I am happy with how the drama went. But the climax ...I would have preferred more intense!

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER -
I wasn't enraged anytime throughout ...I'd have liked that !
the character development arc for FL could have been better.- she still has a long way to go
the villains could have had brain. it was too one sided!
the ex bf arc....like legit ...the hell .
the romance could have been a side plot, here it seems like the main plot.
IDK why he loves her ....but I hope i did.

MY FAV SECTION - DIALOGUES !!!
This show has some amazing writing - i love a lot of lines ...imma drop a few here -

"I had to go through all of that for no reason ! "
"What kind of home one grows up in determines who they are. "
"This is unlike you .
- you don't get to decide what being myself is."
" you look like this is the last time, like someone trying to get the most out of it. "
"you work hard at everything. When I see you I want to cheer you on. "
"Being normal is the hardest thing for me.
I've never lived like that before. I never will."
"use me as much as you want. coming from you I'll take it all. "

To conclude I loved my time feeling everything around this drama and liked all it had to offer. It does deserve a spot in your watchlist for it is exactly what it claims to be - an extraordinary everyday watch!

thank you for reading !

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And maybe I'll pretend I never saw the end(last 2 eps) !

A note to myself - enjoy while it lasts ...not everything has to have a perfect ending !

So the much awaited journey comes to an end and it was pretty much a train wreck but as much as I loved this show, that deeply it has inflicted upon me that endings are often not that beautiful as the journey ! This review is for those who appreciate a critical examination of art, even if it means challenging their favorites. For those who might struggle with differing viewpoints, perhaps a lighter genre would be more enjoyable right now.

So the show is about the most illogical things of all time - someone pretending to be someone else for revenge and that too in front of a whole fucking town and they buy it ! and so will you ! I promise you will !
As nonsensical as it sounds that's what it is -- but let me sing to the glory of this show -

Top notch Aesthetics that scream oh you need to stare at it again ! - How they use clothes - they have given a new meaning to it and it's no more just props it's got life !
The amazing portrayal of women -- oh man the cameraman gave them wings !!
Chemistry that gives you butterflies ! -they stare at each other and you go crazy toppling and turning on your bed !
Villains that make you loathe them - curse them you'll wany to kill them without a thought -- but they have great backstories and motivations for the things they did - disgustingly good as can be said.
The characters the props - you'll love everything about it down to the details - as we take up on each and everything one by one you'll love it more with each ep until you won't be able to forgive the makers for what they do to you --

Let's talk about our very hot "ALL TALK NO SHOW" most charming gege who loves "side eyes" and "taking a seat" every time we fucking hope for him to flip a fan at the very least but i think fan was just the most charming prop who's master never got around delivering to his potential !
Look first thing he waited till the water went above the head and when my patience was taking last breaths -- our poison princess fought better than Duke Su! (yes I said it ) !
I mean what was that fight even (with king's brother)- like for a min atleast I wanted to see that strong man I had been dreaming of - ERROR 404 - NOT FOUND !

My dearest assistants of duke su I am sorry the writers and makers did that to you ! you two deserve all my love for never disappointing me... man I am so mad to even feel bad -- they were too good to just die of random arrows ! Imma pretend they still alive and they be asking - my lord are you going to or should i do it !

i mean to think about it SYR and XFF spend more time together than Duke Su and Li or should say XFF spends more time in SYR's arms in the last eps than duke su in all the eps combined ! SFUODSBLBVJNDFLXN!
and that candle light kiss -- oh my out of the world cinematography I love how you make me hate a candle!

And don't remind me of that king pls - what in the tomfoolery was that person - to protect him who does nothing exactly in the show we have so many people sacrificing ! I mean that consort li has a better role than him and for fucks sake she did die amazingly oh brave women !
and not to mention even the maids and gardener's have more role than him - i wanted to say curtains too but then you'd just say I was being mean and wouldn't believe me !

Lets talk about the best of the lot -- Wanning there you girl - you shattered my heart into pieces you deserved every bit of torture but it was not for you to die like this and make me love you ! - the best end served !

Now my girl A Li - my double edged sword my heart breaks for everything you have suffered and I am so proud of everything you have done -- tho your humor was not my taste but your strategy was until you began your patriotic speech in the middle of a war ! making the show all more miserable ! - I love how you think of JL and the dead girl pops up from her grave I believe you even then but you tell me how am I to buy it that you shoot SYR twice in front of a whole army that is under SYR's command who's job is to protect him -? i mean that's what I think the seal means - or was i just delusional ?

Let me not go around rubbing salt on your wounds with poor Tong Er dying to serve no purpose and that absolute insane of dance , what was that even... not to mention they don't even look at the direction of voice coming from - let alone how they mimic a kid and the way to find if a person is possessed or not is a debate between that person and that monk !

ps . If I have to go on nitpicking on everything in the name of logic I should stfu and not watch dramas - there, said it for you. !

but again as much as I love how wanning's arc ended ..I hate how other characters were treated -And the thing is that the deeds of the dead are not going to speak from the grave ...why was anything not handled officially but then again the king was for tomfoolery !

and tho I hate to admit I must say ---
I LOVED IT TO EVERY BIT DOWN !

AND I HOPE A LOT MORE DRAMAS LIKE THIS ARE MADE !!!

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Journey of Atypical Family to A typical Family !

A lot of you enjoyed the show only to be disappointed by the ending ...most of you loved the romance and the equations that developed by the end ...but here's me who needs a S2 so that I can witness possibly the best use of all their powers ....I wish for a money heist with these characters ...i mean just think about it we have the best swindlers in town under the roof --

A perfect plan by do da hee and her mother , researched by her uncle and sister, all the possible combinations of past present and future studied carefully by gwi jo and his mother and in case something goes wrong ...just jump off the building and fly away ! the perfect escape but alas the kdrama writers lack so much in terms of creativity that now I don't even end up disappointed -- i am only surprised if they don't disappoint which rarely happens !

Story -- bok gwi ju who belongs to a family of supernatural beings falls for a seemingly ordinary girl and chaos follow !
is this girl the end to their misery (due to lost powers) or is she going to add in the lot ... watch to unravel !

The first half of the drama promises a lot more suspense than the second half pretty much of which focuses on already built equations between characters and caters to the romantic aspect of drama-- by the end things get wrapped up rather quickly adding to the shitty-ness of already written mediocre script !

that being said I liked the drama a lot even tho i sounded otherwise till now - I love the character development for every character and the over all setting i love everything about gwi jo's family ....
every person is so unique and so is their story line -- i loved the dynamics of I-na and do da hee , of her sister and ML's sister , between do da hee and her mother , between do daa hee and ml's sister ! -- all of which i'll cherish despite the ending !
I also love the aspect of gwi joo going to past it is well thought of ! -- even tho a lot of questions still remain I think it is a pretty great watch even then !

ps. i also ship do daa hee's sister and gwi jo's sister !

I do not have a lot to say about it but it was definitely a pleasant surprise !

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When the phone rings - block the number !

Ok you all can call oppa the plot and be very happy with all the juicy scenes that were put forth but what in the world was this "LOGIC LEFT THE CALL" !! There are already 125 people giving out cents on this one so why did I decide to engage in the chatter bec - I am not okay unlike you all ! I can not accept this as it was !

Okay look at me in the eyes and say (only for people who care about what's being served to them) is this what you wanted to see ? Is this how you imagined things would go? (Enny things will not go how you want them to - it's not a drama for you , Enny if you have that much talent write one yourself ) I might as well ...and trust me I'd do a much better job ! Bec for me the whole show was - I might just throw my phone in the same pond where they throw kids - no loss bec everything gets recovered ... does that not sound sensible ? I thought it very much was a 10/10 pitch!

Okay okay initial eps - banger ! Drop dead gorgeous people making me drop dead and crave for more !
Oppa as Hot, Possesive, Toxic and Domineering husband - just hit all the notes that somehow felt untouched through all the kdrama journey !
The whole calling aspect - nailed down very well.

Until !

Hi my cute "perfect husband material straight out of a fairytale romance male lead"- Why were you pretending to be something that you are not, for no good reason - just be the childhood bestie you are and say I love hong hee joo I am a fool in love and otherwise too, and trust me I would perfectly love you for that ! I swear I will !
Because the way you led me into believing that "not all kdrama men are the same" - I mean I love green flags I just hate being misled !

There are just so many things that are fucked up about this that I don't think I will ever be possibly able to curate a list but for the sake of saying it ...
I wish they would do something like - "REACTING" when they find out something - like hong hee joo is the blackmailer - oh my god I love her so much more - bruh hee joo can talk - yeah she's been wining singing competitions ever since she was a kid did you not know - Like seriously ??? - I am so pissed off at the way 90% of the ep is a filler ...and at how they choose the worst way possible to reveal anything ....and when it is revealed ...they do "nothing" ....oh wait 3 eps later they discuss this and sort it out ! - "sensible people" ...but did I sign up to watch sensible people ? NO
Wasn't this about angst and thrill and planning plotting??

also ...when the "phone" rings - the phone is out of picture ...we ain't even half way and the phone just doesn't matter ...! At this point I am really concerned -- what matters ?? jagganim ? They be going on field trips with the blackmailer out lose ...and quite frankly for someone who killed when he was a kid ...the villain was just for tomfoolery no offence but he could do way better than that ! I am to buy you this lunatic kid murderer as a grown up adult couldn't murder a mute girl who mostly has no protection and the one ep she does they don't seem to be working very hard - Like are they even for real !?

Also let alone the consequences of the calls - hee joo doesn't even have any consequences of THE FALL ! Let me see the dramatic fake blood and unreal bandages all over ...come on what the fuck !

Trust me I hate it , even tho I am keeping aside how pissed off I'd be if I also turn on my moral compass and realize that Hong hee joo deserves not a sorry but a good bye from all the people in her life - literally every one bec all of them have wronged her - she can talk and they let her pretend to be mute ! - she's neglected for 3 yrs straight in her marriage and he's been in love with her for 20 yrs and I am to buy that the girl just chooses to die for him instead of killing him - thriller where ?
Okay the girl got no spine but like literally just everyone treated her like trash - even at work

- in the initial eps - the sfl paid no heed to her and one day she suddenly starts crying -
I don't exactly remember when they became besties ...have I missed a few eps of them going on shopping spree and bitching about men ? - Like why make two characters be dead concerned when it could just be - okay I know you, I have spare time, I can look for you ?

The sissy comes back to say I know you could talk but it made me feel better so I am just going to let you suffer ...Quite frankly I really do like her - cause she left when she realized what was going on, got herself fixed, came back to save her sister, asked her father to take action, and supported her sister when she was alone. GIRL -got brain ! I wish hee joo did too but nevermind!
Let's not even go about to how trash her mother's arc turned out ...

Also stop making a big deal for the bare min that the ML does - learning sign language he should have done that years ago - he did not need tell her - he could very well be secretive about it like he was about other things ...!

Also the sml arc - was good but so unnecessary !

Has the rant been too long ? No guys we haven't even reached to the no brainer messed up story of the decade -
What in the world ...his mom holding hee joo captive , the real villain working under someone else ... hee joo's brother killed by the oldiee oh my I have no words ! And he's the son of oldiee - Explain pls - with whom, where is his mom ? what the fuck happened ? why did the dna report show otherwise ??
instead what we get ...car accidents after car accidents and literally nothing happens - it's just so annoying and repetitive !

At this point I have no brain cells to spare
the only thing I liked was the angle of the secretary and nothing more.

Tho with all of that I was wondering what more could go wrong - until they did show me exactly what they are capable of -
When you have a serial killer on loose, out to kill you, following you since last 10 eps and you have a car in which the love of your life urgently requires hospitalization you don't go out negotiating with the killer - you run over him - too much to expect... I agree, but what can be said when he just out right disappears and is found in a war zone among the rebels !

boy you built a beach house for yourself there.... property rates????- and you got your girl from the rebels without a gun let alone a plan - make it believable at the very least - atleast act like you are putting efforts !
Not gonna lie - with how illogical it was - I couldn't care less about the treat that was put forth !
in short "They should’ve scrapped the unnecessary sociopathic serial killer mess and made the story about him, her and the phone."

If you found this (bec I can see a lot of downvotes and it being kicked to the last page of reviews) and are still reading - hugs and a lot of love from the bottom of my heart !

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Becoming normal , I've come too far for that !!! - JCW

To begin this review let's all raise and stand in praise of all the actors (JCW oppa especially )!!
The show belongs to it's actors and it's definitely one of the best career performance by everyone !

SYNOPSIS - JCW oppa sneaks undercover in a gang to trace the origins of a drug cartel and in the process becomes someone who he fails to recognize aswell.

Chaos unwind and soon everything is shattered to pieces. With a strong narrative

ACTING and CAST -
OMGGGGGG!!!!!!!! 200/100 performance ...
This by far is the best acting I have seen in any Kdrama and mind you even tho I haven't recieved my first time watcher badge I got a lot under my sleeve. JCW'S eyes speak for him his face is too expressive to be normal ...hence the headline lol".

ACTION AND VISUALS -
I would just say that it was too realistic and way believable bec even when you feel like this can not be happening it actually works bec you just get so immersed in their expressions. Visuals ...umm JCW oppa looks smoking hot and I didn't bother about other visuals lol .

WHY MUST YOU WATCH -
The story line has a soul of it's own even tho it's not a very new kinda story line but the plot is gripping enough and no useless side characters distract you all the time. Everything in the narrative serves a purpose which unfolds beautifully.
The show touches the darker side of human emotions and the ending brings a sense of satisfaction that is unmatched.
The most realistic ending the best of acting and a good narrative that maybe predictable but is definitely interesting and full of raw action sequences and swoon worthy JCW oppa is what this show offers.

MY FEELINGS AS A VIEWER-
As a critique I could easily say that the show is not new to drama world and stories like these are more often than not brought to the screen for spy dramas. Infiltrating in an gang is a very common drama-land phenomenon. But this show has a lot of emotions at stake. By the end you do not side with good or bad because the line that creates that distinction really just blurs out and that's what makes this an interesting watch !

----SPOLIER ALERT ---

For those who have already finished I got a few things to talk about.
I read a comment that said that "The biggest difference between ki chul & Eui Jung VS that of Joonmo & BIBi relation was that, in Joonmoo & Bibi relationship Joonomo never accepted her love but Eui Jung was somewhere looking for that love she did have a chance with." - To quote some examples Joonmo never said any affirmative words to Bibi and always had a wall up front every time they met. which even Bibi pointed out in the course of the show. While Eui Jung literally fell for him and tried to change him as a person through her love. By the end she became negligent of Joonmo's emotions and only cared about Ki Chul she did not do it to fulfil her husband's mission but rather wanted her love to walk the right path.

Ki Chul's character was a very fine written sketch where he constantly had this dilemma of who to trust and who to choose. He made decisions with his heart and brain and the way that the switch from heart to brain happened was so natural to me that I could easily see that things weren't his fault.

Joonmo's dilemma and pain that he went through was so evident in JCW's acting which I shall call shear brilliance. The way he felt when he couldn't be there for Eui Jung's mom's funeral the way he reacted to murder before him. the way he looked when he killed people trying to protect Eui Jung and the dialogue - "there's someone I want to protect in my heart". was a literal treat to eyes. !!!

I shall applaud Im Sae Mi for giving life to Eui Jung as she literally had us all in the process of falling for Ki chul ...bec even when we know she's not true to her husband and his cause she was true to herself and her love. Till date I have never liked a disloyal character but ig we have an exception now.

The side characters and BIBI have literally worked as good as the main cast ...Kudos to them !
but the Detective's role felt rather random and forced. His obsession with Ki chul was too much and he wasn't handled well by the writers but his story ended well ...

Music wasn't really the most memorable but it didn't become a bother so I'd give decent points to it !

OVERALL - MUST WATCH FOR JCW FANS AND PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE GOOD ACTING !
ps . the name of the show didn't really fit tho !

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Juggling too many hats while spicing up the menu!

Synopsis - I am a tad bit confused as to what they actually wanted to present to the viewers was it romance that blooms out of nowhere? or was it a love triangle for sake of being one - which turns out as the most well acted bit !? or was it dilemma of each underdeveloped individual? But one thing for sure is that it wasn't a sports drama !
Was it bad ? - NO
Was it good ? - I can't say that either
but we can definitely discuss as to what went wrong !
As is said "In a drought, don’t critique the rain" - so if you are looking for a sports romance just like me - well then you have no obligation to read further !

What went WRONG !!!
-EVERYTHING !
as per the synopsis they were supposed to grow together and in my right mind I was hoping to go on that journey with them but - I think they grew as people/athletes off the camera bec we as viewers barely get to see anything - be it getting to the provincial team or the national team, preparing for the world championship or street race it's all just a 2 sec announcement and cut to the medal ceremony ! I agree I am looking forward to who will win but if i do not want to watch a race I'll skip it myself give me a fucking choice to do so !!!!!!

Okay my fellow people if we did not get to see sports competitions did we get a lot of ideas for dates and new romance positions iykyk - but hell no the romance ...where in the world was it. Boy comes back after 10 yrs of no contact and falls for a girl he wants to be with for life at 8 and in just a race where they barely see each other ! AGUFGKAJBCK the what now !? but again who am i to say, I found the love of my life (ice creams) when I was 4 or 5 something, in just a bite! I guess one can really be decisive when it comes to love.

And there goes their cliche romance out of the window bec quite frankly that straight face guy with a girl who gives no fuck but loves him like hell rubs me in all the wrong ways. but again what can be said when she doesn't even look at his bestie for days straight and is busy idling around all lovey dovey only to disappear at every minor inconvenience. uhm uhm

The only thing that I liked were the fresh perspective in terms of problems ...like not being able to overtake for the fear of injury, or the thoughts of covering for a genius and not getting the chips ...or making friends outside the rink with whom you are fighting with all you have ....a lot of undeveloped potential in terms of writing ...if only they focused on these instead of taking another pie before they ate the first one!

Out of no where injuries, operations, unexplored relations, growth , trauma, pain, recognition, insecurity...umm don't bite more than you can chew ...you have a certain runtime stick to things let there be depth
also the fact that there's almost no consequence of any action bec oh you know the coach is like a friend to us ....THE FUCK bruh ...national team members need to behave a certain way ...or atleast I believe so that there's no spot for mistakes there ...you have to pay with all that you have been granted there ...it's not some ...come as you will and stay as you please kind of place !

I still have a lot to say and will probably edit it out after i have calmed down but this was not it ....as a viewer I demand more ...
pls for fucks sake ask the guys to act ...one has a straight face for 20 eps straight...mind you there are only 20 eps ....a girl who has no idea how to act ...pampered princess - get your act together! a second lead who barely has any screen time or effect in the story line - if he's the character who is the center of my interest then dude ...something is seriously wrong !

stay tuned ...bec Ik my rant is far more entertaining than the show !

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