It´s a series to ENJOY if you let your guard of "I need high content" down

YES, It was not high quality, I do admit that but after all, this series made me light up. I really liked the easy storyline and the almost parody-like "twists", it really made the whole series so unique. Why do I think so?

There are some "bad" (BL) dramas out there, which don´t seem to have much effort included during filming BUT this series feels like, they didn´t have much but they created something beautiful with it. I mean, it was extremely fun to watch. I was wheezing because of some scenes. For example, the perspective when they had beaten someone up, the perspective. Quite hilarious. It had some emotional scenes as well but in the end, the plot cracked up, after all, it was such a relaxing time to watch.

Nevertheless, the chemistry between the actors was very charismatic and they must have had fun filming it. You could see it. Except for the -clapping- part, that must have been a little awkward.

After I had finished it, I realized that sometimes the quality doesn´t matter as much as the effect it has on you. For myself, I am going through a lot, but watching this was cheering me up. Also reminded me of my short movies when I was younger.
I believe that, in the future, there will be even more Chinese BLs to be proud of! Cheer up everyone.

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Expressive Action In Neon Lights

Korean Action Movies are impressive in their visual components, it´s mostly the lack of subtleties in a catchy plot that causes movies to not gain attention/ not be seen as a masterpiece. "Yaksha" does not necessarily have any crucial parts that bothered me, except for the confusing and a bit insufficiently precise written multinational mix-up. I very much enjoyed watching Park Hae Soo in another main role. The performance of the entire cast was admirable, especially the well-portrayed/displayed tension between the very different members of the group. However, not only the cast has delivered an impressive piece of work, thus judging from the filming and editing quality, the responsible crew was consisting of a mainly reliable and talented crew. After all, "Yaksha" is a nice pick for an adventurous movie night but nothing I´d rewatch.

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The Bromance In The Embers Of My Mind

We have all been at this decent, imaginative intersection before, unsure whether to continue a title or drop it. Each path will eventually lead your way and you´ll most likely not spend too much time on the decision either. I´ve been processing my thoughts and decided to continue this walk with Shiro and Ichiro - until the very end.

You might be wondering what led me to change my mind?

The seductive feeling of both betrayal and approval - a raging embrace - they press tightly together, but they don´t touch. The sensation escapes the senses, plunges into a story without depth, again it wants to rise. But something is holding back, holding you. Two eyes that have one goal, one reality and one purpose. A vibrant display of bromance, isn't it tempting? You´re lured by the vibrant red that burns like the fire in Shiro's heart and held by the appealing sight of Ichiro not only investigating the case but being a faint breath away from devouring the embers. This feeling alone is what held me.

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Again My Sleepless Nights

If you´re considering watching this series, let me convince you to go for it.

Except for the daily dose of Lee Joon Gi, one also needs innovative dramas. "Again My Life" proves its potential with the first two episodes. After the praised masterpiece "Flower of Evil", will we be gifted with another masterpiece? Let´s stay tuned.

Production / Music >> 9.0
The alternative rock opening already sets a good atmosphere and impression of "Again My Life" and the audience can assume another emotional journey with this series. The usage of rock music, BGM, etc. fits the main character Kim Hee Woo. As expected of an SBS production, the montage of each shot/scene is well-paced and has clean cuts. Overall, with each set scene, the chosen locations and some extremely beautiful moments, the work of the crew is remarkable. I also want to praise the art department who is in charge of all the details, such as Joon Gi´s young appearance. He´s the only man in his 40s to pull off a character who´s in his mid 20´s without making it awkward. This actor is a good example of what a healthy lifestyle can enable.

Plot >> 9.0
Eventhough the beginning was a little transparent and predictable, it still served as an efficient introduction to the storyline which was enabled by the slow but well-timed pacing. I also enjoy the comedic parts of the plot and I am quite convinced of the innovation behind this series. Even after only two episodes I already have the feeling that this will be a favoured series of mine. I also have a few theories for further plot developments/twists and I am excited to see if they prove themselves to be accurate.

Cast >> 9.5
If it was for Lee Joon Gi only, I´d give this guy all the acting awards on this planet. Let alone my obsession with his acting with his beautiful sharp eyes which is beyond my capability of describing with words, you have to feel it. As I said before, Lee Joon Gi is the only man in his 40s to pull off a character who´s in his mid 20´s without making it awkward. Kim Hee Woo was destined to be played by him, I´m convinced that Lee Joon Gi is one of the few actors who truly seem to feel and deeply understand their roles, as shown in "Again My Life".

However, Lee Kyung Young, who portrays the antagonist, should also be praised for his portrayal of the passive-aggressive evil and power-obsessed Cho Tae Seob. Portraying these sorts of characters is rarely done in a thrilling way but in my opinion, he has succeeded in convincing the viewer of his "motives", without making me justify them of course. Therefore Cho Tae Seob does, in my eyes, categorize as a well-written villain. Kim Ji Eun and Jung Sang-Hoon, the very charismatic "partner in crime" of Hee Woo, also deliver solid performances and contribute to this series being this addictive.

Rewatch Value >> 8.0
Don´t get me wrong, so far everything this series has shown me is to my liking, however, 16 episodes with 60 minutes each is never an easy cake, it´s a big chunk. I will either rewatch it many times or never again. E.g.: I have watched "Flower of Evil", which is about the same length, 4 times in a bit more than one year, however, not many series with these durations have me rewatch them, except if they are really addictive and thrilling, which is possible to be the case with "Again My Life".

OVERALL everything about this series has come to my liking with some things standing out more than others.
I´m excited and thrilled about the upcoming episodes!

[will edit this review and add critique once it finished airing]

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I am [a bit] ENCHANTÉ [D]!

Have you dropped this title? If the answer is yes, you´re missing out.
If you dropped it because it was too slow-paced and boring,
I understand, but you´re still missing out.
If you ask me why I didn’t drop this title, I will answer you:
I didn´t want to miss out and I felt it had a lot of potentials.
Why? Read below.


Production / Music 9.5 >> 10 >> 9.0
One of the main reasons why I fell in love with this series is its outrageous cinematography. Love the use of candles and the colouring of each scene, especially at the night, I cherished each one of these moments. Some of the scenes are so beautiful, that I want to capture each one of them and hang them in my room. The cinematographer really knew what they were doing. The music fit the overall vibes of the series. The storytelling was a bit slow-paced in the beginning, I agree, but if you stopped at Episodes 2 or 3, you missed the rhythm change in Episodes 4 and 5. Beginning from there, the time that seemed unrewarding started to pay off at its best. The story finally got the chance to flourish and with it, the actors did too. Those who were not admirable at all became even less admirable and those who were appealing became even more appealing. Everything starts to unfold and flourish if you just give it a fair chance. However, the story/ plot twists is a bit what they lacked in.


Plot / Story 8.5 >> 7
If you want the portrayal of realistic love in an unrealistic scenario, Enchanté is exactly what you´re looking for. I have already reduced the rating because of the slow-paced start, I am not ignoring important factors of a series like how catchy it is and if it can keep the viewers. However, once the story unfolded, as well as their characters Theo and Akk, I was convinced that it will only get better. Why? They did not simply convert into the “perfect main leads”, they started to show their weaknesses and imperfections to the audience. Natural trades even made them less attractive but more human. I could emphasize more with each one of them more because their humanity was shown. The entire harem of Theo convinced me as well, even though it was a cliché scenario. The delivery was fresh and exciting. Love started to unfold… I just wish they had not made some predictable decisions, then I would have enjoyed it even more and could have given them a better rating.

Cast 8.5 >> 10 >> 9
Outstanding performance by Force and Fluke. Especially Force´s portrayal of Akk was on point, every facial expression was so relatable and well-fitting. His eyes were the most magnificent actors in the series. I know he also received a lot of criticism because of his “over the top” / exaggerating portrayal of Akk. I disagree here, I think his delivery of Akk´s personality trades were not unfitting at all. On the contrary, if his character would be missed on them, “Enchanté” wouldn’t have been this catching for me. Theo and the harem had solid acting and they all fitted into their roles, with everyone having their individual touch to them. However, Force (Akk) is still my personal highlight of this series, I wish I had as friends as reliable as him!

Overall, I will give it a 9.0 >> 8.5 >> 8.0

because it fits my taste, meet my expectations and the portrayal was on point. They turned a harem cliché romance story, which I usually despise, into something I want to cherish and therefore convince people of its worth. My time does not feel as if it was wasted at all. In contrary, I’ve found a new actor I want to support throughout his career. :D

This show is mostly enjoyable.

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Let´s Appreciate Dong-Eun´s Glory

This has been a hell of a ride, but that did not disappoint me. I had desperately waited for the release of the second part, and I have found myself satisfied with how the story went on. An incredibly difficult story to portray and produce by the director and their crew, but also for the actors and actresses. Their performance was overwhelming and splendid. I loved how deep the glimpse into the rotten souls of the antagonists was. I wish that shows with topics like this could always go viral, so that the range of attention for this cruelty can be spread nationally and internationally - keeping bullies more under control and maybe even reaching their conscience. The smallest effect of a show about bullying on society is already something treasurable. That is exactly why I´m glad The Glory went viral. I couldn´t be happier with Dong-Eun´s Glory. What about you?

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Imperfect Perfection / Get´s better the more you watch and understand it

Even though I agree with some of your negative reviews, I also have to disagree with the bad description of Haru´s background in "Secret". As you may know, he was chosen to only be a side character in the story, which we all know from mangas, manhwas etc., and in those, there was never an explained background about a simple side character either.

That´s what it is about. Main Characters portraying Side Characters.

The writer never intended to make a big story about him, that´s why he also has no home. He is that guy who just fills the background scenes. He just lives for the protagonists. Nothing more. (At first)

If you talk about after he came back as Baek Kyung´s friend, then I agree. At that point, he should have had at least a bit of background because he became an extra there. Someone who could influence an important character.

Also, I can explain myself the open ending:

Haru disappeared, they finished the "Secret" Comic and went to the next. But she kept her memories, at least got them back when she saw the drawing, and then they found each other again. Under the Tree. Where they wanted to meet again.

The reason the writer wasn´t mentioned, he/she/them don´t know anything about the changes, because he/she/they maybe don´t even know his characters have an ego nor that the shadow exists. So Haru and Dan-Oh will find themselves always, in secret. Since they are somewhat connected, they can´t ignore the connection they build during their last comics.

To me, it made sense that they had an open-end since creativity has no end too and maybe there will be even more comics after. We don´t know. But it was never questioned before with other side-characters who really were JUST those.

Okay, so the point I tried to make clear was:

They are side-characters - main characters in the series - who try to change someone's fate. Still, they always continued being "only extras", and most of the time, extras don´t get their own end.

I hope you could follow up on my thoughts, at least a little bit...

Also, I recommend you to rewatch it, once you know the whole plot, then you will see Haru a lot more often in the beginning, since he had his ego all along.

xoxo Lin

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Blooming Moments Full Of Butterflies

Awesome emotional LGBTQI+ Show to binge watch in 2022! <3

This adapted series had me taken aback in many ways and hit me unknowingly. After we were gifted with the adaption of "Semantic Error" I thought it will be unlikely to get another LGBTQI+ series of this standard but I was wrong. "Blueming" is living up to these standards and truly gifted me with an awesome evening full of butterflies.

Production / Music >> 8.0
The "Blueming" was directed and edited under a strong and talented crew and displayed by some very good acting. The natural lighting was able to set a certain mood with calm and warm colours. The cinematography was on point and resulted in incredible moments being captured, which made the short-seeming episodes so much more powerful and impactful.

Plot >> 8.0
First impressions were rather weak but it kept improving and had me captivated starting from the 3rd episode. It´s a fresh university love story with misunderstandings from Si Won´s side, which originate from his self-doubts. Despite a few common twists, the entire story gets undermined with a comedic undertone which makes the series lighter and more relaxing to watch. Overall, the harmony of Da Un and Si Won made this rather ordinary plot, well ..., extraordinary!

Acting/ Cast >> 9.5
Personally, Jo Hyuk Joon´s portrayal of Da Un was the highlight of this series. He totally made this calm and reflected character come to life and not only enchant Si Won, but also the audience. Da Un´s caring and goofy personality match well with the reserved and a bit helpless Si Won. The actor's harmony had a huge impact on the overall effect of this series. The supporting cast was also delivering a knowledgeable performance and should not be left out of the praise.

Rewatch Value >> 9.0
Because this emotional series was RATHER light to watch there is no reason for me to not come back. Definitely, a series to come back to once in a while to enjoy some second-hand-blushing :) "Blueming" made my creativity bloom and is a show I´d highly recommend watching.

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Addictive and Enjoyable

2019 Review: My love ranges so much, that I bought a big wallpaper of Lee Jong Suk and hang it over my bed for 1 year. I currently took it off due to some changes to my room but it’s still present next to my television. The story touched my heart because I dearly love the plot. I’ve read many cartoons in my life & always dreamed to be part of one, to fall in love with a cool guy such as Lee Jong Suk. Much love to everyone who worked on this I am looking to watch more dramas as awesome as “W”, but this one will always be deep in my heart. Thank you.

2020 Edit: God that was a bit childish and also awkward to read but until this day, I love the drama. Even though I think it has some cringe potential and also follows some cliches, which is totally fine with me, the plot itself will always blow my mind and be the sugar to my coffee. Also, I admire Lee Jong Suk for his hard work and the rest of the cast executed their roles well too.

2021 Edit: I still recommend watching this drama.

xoxo Lin

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Sweet Awaited Home: Depth That Makes The Heart Ache

Are we monster-like humans or are the monsters human-like? In this series, this gap becomes narrow, as fighting for survival brings out the worst and most deadly primal parts of us.

Finally, Lee Eung Bok and his team of staff, outstanding actors, and editors have provided us with the long-awaited second season of "Sweet Home". Needless to say, I was one of those waiting for a continuation. I´m glad the day has eventually come. The sadness and tragedy of the first season have found their revival in the second season. This time, however, the location isn´t as limited anymore as before, which results in even a less predictable outcome. If you wanted a lowkey introduction to the second season, Netflix has a surprise for you: An immediate invitation to watch full of excitement, as they lead you into a world of horror and chaos. No time to spare brutalities when humanity is facing its last trial.

The only mentionable "minutiae" would be that the plot gets a little confusing because there are many characters introduced and it´s not easy to decipher their importance. The more information one has to consider, and the more demanding this series is to remember a lot of details, the more it could lead to a wave of confusion. However, I do see that the screenwriters were trying to deliver and portray various sides of this hell of a dystopian world and needed various characters to do so.

"Surprisingly hopeful and at times heartwarming tone for a show full of monsters and death" (Kate´s words in her review of the first Season - recommended read if you haven´t done so yet); watch for yourself if these words are still the case in Season 2, as the circumstances have taken on a dramatic extent. What I love about this series is that the monsters also get a personality and "humanlike" attributes. There is no good or bad, we humans are always on a spectrum of both trades, which is prone to quick and at times unexpected shifts. The implementation of this makes "Sweet Home" more than just any other series with monsters.

The acting is disturbingly good, and I am speaking of almost all longtime on-screen performances. Song Kang´s portrayal of Cha Hyun So is still an eye candy. The same goes for the entire main lead, including Lee Jin Wook as the unpredictable Pyeon Sang Wook and Lee Si Young as the unyielding firefighterSeo Yi Kyung who tries to not become as inhuman as all the others. Honestly, I could spend hours and hours naming all these actors, as each one of them gave me goosebumps at one point or another.

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Lost In The Future

The HIStory franchise has grown again; this time with a series about a clumsy time traveler. Out of the last three HIStory series, this one couldn´t quite catch me but I still somehow enjoyed watching it nonetheless. Sometimes when stories get out of control there is a charm to the chaos of it. "HIStory 5" isn´t one of their best works but definitely is not one of their worst either.

STORY 5.5
Time traveling is the fundamental trope of this series. However, despite this being the extraordinary basement, they didn´t quite play around with this special situation and the various options coming with it. Having a theme that is so difficult to portray, they of course made the best out of it. However, it just felt a little rushed and incomplete to me when it came to the "time-traveling" aspect. I also had some difficulties with how the romances evolved and how some of their problematic behaviors were not criticized by the people around them.

ACTING / CAST 8.0
The acting was not disappointing, I just felt that I was watching an older series in terms of exaggerated expressions and behavior, which could have been, of course, a mindful choice by the director because the series leaned towards comedy. It just felt a little out of place and awkward sometimes. All in all, I enjoyed their playfulness in testing the given space for brave and expressive acting.

MUSIC 7.5
I grew fond of the OST and I liked the general choice of music in this series.

REWATCH VALUE 3.0 >> OVERALL 6.5
I just doubt that I will come back to watch it as one of my priorities in the future BUT I can still recommend giving it a try. It has some very sweet and heartfelt moments and it got me hooked on watching for further development. My disappointments might not be your disappointments. So, give it a go :)

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Nerve clenching + heart warming Dating Show

First of all I think the production did a real good job choosing the "Dream Guy” and the contestants. There are various kinds of personalities and aesthetics in one spot, which makes the elimination rounds way more interesting and thrilling. Speaking of which: You can never guess the decisions made by Chudjane, but I really liked that he is a considerate person who puts a lot of thought into who he will choose. Except for one contestant, who stayed there surprisingly long, despite his nonsense actions and talks. (Take a guess who I am talking about)

The most beautiful aspect of this show, which really got my whole sympathy, was the friendships and emotions that build among the contestants. No useless drama. Instead they offered respect to each other and were there for one another when times got rough. Sean really got me hooked in how special his personality is and how one should never judge a book by it’s cover. Except for lies - you can judge liars. You can also judge Tee (the MC) in episode 5 (or the whole production who thought entertaining viewers is more important than the mental well-being of a contestant, who is the most soft-hearted and brought them the most views).

I can only recommend to watch this show, but be prepared for a emotional journey. Because saying goodbye is always the hardest thing to do. Huge respect for everyone . I wish that all of them will find a partner who treats them with the love they deserve.

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Is There A Justification For Revenge

Watching this title, a viewer has not only the responsibility to look after themselves and their mental strength to cope with what seems to be fiction but is pretty close to reality, but also to reflect on this show and prohibit something like this from ever happening again. Usually, we don´t get this structured and thoroughly planned type of behavior from a victim of bullying. Most of us don´t even act on what was done to us at all. So watching this show actually portraying someone who devoted their life to take revenge is something weirdly fulfilling but warning at the same time. What is portrayed in "The Glory" shouldn´t be happening at all, there is no justification for ruining someone´s life for reasons such as boredom and the feeling of entitlement over others. Ignorance doesn´t protect a bully. Many don´t even know what long-term, lifetime wounds they have inflicted. The Glory is a rather radical and enlightening series revolving around what fury can cause and what bullying can destroy that the viewer can take as a lesson to learn from.

STORY / PLOT 9.0
The screenwriting is amazingly done. Compared to other Korean dramas, I even got the feeling that they found the perfect pacing here. Not too fast and not too slow most of the time. However, in some moments I personally desired that they dragged the moment a little further, then I would have totally bragged about this production. Moving from screenwriting and storytelling to how the characters are actually written also intrigued me, even though I wished there was a little bit more depth in one, or two characters (but that might be happening in the second part). All in all, I think the story is very well written and to my surprise makes a lot of sense and is not that unrealistic.

What really satisfied me was the cinematography in this series. I just wished that it would never end so I could watch these beautiful shots forever. The lighting in the most vulnerable and dynamic scenes inflamed my interest in those areas again.

ACTING / CAST 9.0
The story left aside, the acting is superb and I´m loving the tip-toeing in theatrical facial expressions, Sa-Ra (Kim Hi Eo Ra) taken as an example: The actress portrays a lot of histrionic reactions, most work done with her widely opened eyes. It undermines the traits of her character's personality, who has issues when it comes to identity and solid life. Her crazy facial expressions in her unstable and chaotic lifestyle just fit very well, without making things uncomfortable for me to watch acting-wise.

Song Hye Kyo´s (Moon Dong Eun) acting did not disappoint, she´s got the skills and talent to portray such a conflicted and deepest sorrowful, and from agony suffering woman. I don´t have to mention that her acting carries the series. On one hand, she is, of course, the main character but on the other hand, her acting is on-point. Every emotion she portrays is shown just in the right amount, making it even more stirring to watch.

The acting overall is very satisfying and pleasing to watch. There are a few exaggerations here and there, especially when it comes to Jae Joon. Despite his aggressive outbursts matching his choleric and inhumane nature and those exaggerations probably being a conscious choice of the director/ screenwriter to get its image stuck in the memories of the viewer, it felt a bit unnatural to me. (e.g.: when he met Ye Sol at the crosswalk)

MUSIC 8.0
I´m a fan of the intro, as well as the OSTs and songs that were chosen for this series. Most soundtracks set and fit the vibe of the series and I have no complaints about those.

REWATCH VALUE 7.0
Despite being a well-produced and written series, the triggers are very strong. It´s not an easy show to watch, especially when you know that Moon Dong Eun is one of many victims of bullying and the images and acts of inhumane violence against a schoolmate shown were hardly exaggerated.

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This is The Sign: TO WATCH

2023 and 2024 have shown to be such swoon-worthy years of LGBTQ+ Dramas from South East Asia. Episode by episode, series by series, they leave me baffled. Especially "The Sign" has been playing a big role in this immensely well-written and successful plotting.

Sometimes I’ve been just sitting there, pausing the drama and contemplating about my life and how a series can fuse all aspects and tropes I’d love to see displayed. I know that there are generally a lot of different and individual affinities, but this series has BLOWN MY MIND.

I am fond of this show, however, the trigger warnings are too soft. "The Sign" has brutal elements, therefore it should not be watched carelessly and it should also be less accessible for underage humans.

STORY/ PLOT 9.5:
The story has started strong but didn’t give away what this series by IdolFactory would be about just that easily. The portrayed story is a well-fused mixture of action, suspense, fantasy (mythology, paranormal activity) and, of course, a very gentle kiss of romance.

ACTING / CAST 9.0
We’ve come such a long way in micro-acting that I have hardly anything or anyone to criticize fiercely. I would say at most, it would be some of the supporting cast, some "over-expressive" ‘antagonists’ and Tack’s comic relief character Khem. But that’s just something that I thought of after a while, and over-expression is also a nice tool to carry the plot.

I was so invested in the story that my nerves were on a string, many characters came alive and their behaviour started to enlighten and annoy me. As a viewer, you often have a better insight into what’s happening, so it’s so nerve-wracking when characters seem to be so ignorant and oblivious to it. I mainly had my issues with Tharn when it came to the described obliviousness. EDIT: Everyone, not just Tharn, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E ...

My all-time favourite cinematographic scene is the transition of Tharn´s grandmother in episode 11. That was next-level pleasing to the eye of a drama-obsessed viewer. I could argue that this is one of the most terrifically beautiful implementations of breathtaking cinematography I have seen in this genre for a long time.

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YOU MATTER - An Oportuniy to Reflect on Oneself and the World

I highly recommend watching this series, especially if you have been struggling with mental health or don´t know much about the daily lives of those struggling. However, I´d also make sure that you have someone to talk to while watching this series, as the topics are really heavy and serious and may trigger you.

I have already acknowledged many of the reviews for "Daily Dose of Sunshine" and I think that most writers share the same opinion: This series offers more than just entertainment. It opens the door to a world that is usually (purposely) hidden from most. A door that shouldn´t be forced shut, but unfortunately is in many areas of the world. Mental Health is a topic that necessarily has to be brought up in schools and any faculties. Educating about how important self-care and empathy are in a world like this seems about time to be implemented in every section of life.

This is also one of the reasons that made me like "Daily Dose of Sunshine" so much. They have portrayed several serious and not so uncommon occuring mental illnesses from both the professional outside, as well as the personal inside. I´m sure the writers and the entire set of people have done their best to give an insight on several topics of high importance, while also offering a slight bit of comic relief with the lore of Dr. Dong. As someone struggling with mental health for more than half of my life, this series made me feel more certain in continuously upgrading and adapting my self-care routines.

I´m truly thankful for everyone who made "Daily Dose of Sunshine" happen. Especially airing it at a time when the temperatures usually drop and the weather shifts, which results in unstable/ affected persons feeling more drained and down, this series is a major gift in entertainment, education, and AWARENESS.

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