Despite its lackluster execution, a one time watch if you are too intrigued with the premise!

This drama left me with mixed feelings. The series revolves around the relationship between an anti-social man named Yi Ping and a robot/AI gifted to him by his uncle, Ever 9. The premise had promise, yet I found myself somewhat disappointed.
The robot/AI portrayal struck me as overly 'human'. It seemed too emotionally aware from ep 1.
I kind of anticipated Yi Ping's growth in overcoming his anti-social tendencies intertwined with the AI's exploration of human emotions which unfortunately didn't fully happen.

The series had lighter, more romantic first half and angst-ridden second half. While both leads delivered decent acting performances, some emotional scenes fell short and lacking (for me). Also, I am not a fan of time skips especially 7 years, but I do understand its necessity for technological advancements.
Uncle's character was such a sore point for me. He felt downright cruel toward Yi Ping and his abrupt change of heart after seven years seemed so unconvincing but did give us a happy ending.

Despite its flaws, it wasn't all bad!! It had its moments of charm in the chemistry between the leads especially the eye contacts and the music also complemented the scenes nicely.

Overall, a one-time watch but with some missed opportunities and uneven execution.

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Distractingly handsome leads,yet couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing

High school students involved in running a mafia??!! It was very difficult to connect and engage with the story, as certain actions just felt like unnecessary plot devices and fillers.
Profusing love and promising to stay together, then vanishing by writing a mere note seemed too lame and underwhelming, especially when repeated throughout the story. While portraying them as confused teenagers might have worked, their involvement in the adult mafia business made their behaviour less believable.
The editing and colour scheme of the drama leaned towards melancholy, even during supposed happy scenes like those at the beach.

Although the leads were stunning, their acting felt somewhat lacking at times, lacking depth and coming across as one-dimensional. They did have their cute little moments but it was a hit-and-miss for me throughout.
Additionally, the choice of OST was confusing and sometimes too loud, making it difficult to hear the dialogue clearly.

Overall a big miss for me. If I have to summarise- A BL with distractingly handsome leads who couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing of the story! Had this been my initial BL, I would have rated it higher.

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The Trainee : Needed more attention and less mess!

I had high expectations with this drama but perhaps that was a mistake.
Honestly, this drama was a mixed bag for me. I wanted to enjoy it, but the questionable character developments didn't quite work for me.

The first half was carried out by the friendship between the interns and them adjusting to the office culture with their respective mentors. That was the highlight for me. Those office struggles, the mishaps due to nervousness and the mistakes felt so relatable. The genuine challenges of starting a new job and those moments of vulnerability and growth were showcased very appropriately and with humour.
But the second half failed to carry that momentum.

Ryan and Jane had great chemistry and moreover, a good mentor-mentee relationship where they openly voiced their concerns about each other and their work. However, the last 2 episodes felt like a very dramatic shift, where we were seeing different characters. The sudden time jump in their relationship felt completely unnecessary. Jane, who had been portrayed as a tough but responsible mentor with clear communication, vanished into thin air without any proper explanation. It felt abrupt and so out of character. Also, their screen time as the main couple felt minimal. I wanted them together to see how they would handle their relationship after Ryan's internship was over but all I got was an inconsistent romance with ambiguous decisions.

Coming to other characters, the holy trinity: Tae, Ba-Mhee and Judy.
I struggled to understand the dynamics between them until the very end. I am so confused as to why the cheating storyline was introduced. There are plenty of other ways to make Tae realise his flaws as a boyfriend and the need for communication and Ba-Mhee to figure out to obsess less over someone. Judy as a mentor, was such a problematic character for me. She was wrong on so many levels and I was frustrated that she wasn't held responsible for her actions. The series might have worked out better for me without them. Pah and Pie were fun to watch but they couldn't quite make up for the issues I had with the rest of the drama.

Overall, what started as an engaging good office drama fell apart by abrupt shifts in character development and unnecessary plot twists.
7.3/10

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Comedy, Chaos, and Consent! Suprisingly good and entertaining!

The series begins as a light hearted cohabitation-themed BL with very silly and chaotic comedy. However, it does get better and more substantial as we proceed.  To me ,it felt like this is more a character driven drama.  Although the plot was familiar, the character development felt very rich and made me invested !

The camaraderie among the four boys is what kept me interested till the very end! All of them were different and unique in their own ways. Watching their paths crossed and their journeys intertwined together was enjoyable. Latte stole the show for me with his bright smile and maturity. I was expecting his character to be a bit 'playboy-ish' and immature, but surprise! surprise! I was very wrong! Almond’s story of his first experience leaving home and becoming independent was a fun ride. Watching him navigate his issues , both seriously and un-seriously was such a different journey in itself. Thanwa and Peak’s characters were  confusing and aggravating most time but they finally grew a spine at the end and came around. Jane's character didn't add much value to the story for me! Almond's mom being supportive was a refreshing change from the overbearing parents troupe.

Another positive thing that struck out for me was asking for consent and stopping whenever the opposite felt uncomfortable or uncertain!

Overall, Yes it is far from being "perfect" but very entertaining! Recommended if you are into chaotic comedy and don't mind a few cliched BL troupes. Honestly, the synopsis doesn’t really do the story justice. It is way better! In fact, I found this better than some high-budget GMMTV BLs.

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Full of Cliché but somehow chemistry saves the day!

Monster Next Door started as classic BLs with an exploration of young love between two polar opposite characters. The story revolves around Diew, a shy introvert and his new extremely extroverted neighbour God.

The drama somehow does justice to portraying emotional growth and Diew's journey of self-acceptance. It skillfully depicts his struggles with his inability to trust someone and makes them relatable to anyone who has grappled with past traumas. God's respectful and understanding approach to Diew's boundaries created healthy dynamics.

While the narrative was engaging, it was filled with cliche subplots. Diew's character often felt one-dimensional as the series progressed. Diew's reluctance to open up to God even when he has been nothing but a supportive boyfriend frustrated me a bit. The prolonged misunderstanding due to his ex could have been handled better with more nuance.

The second couple, Wan and Beer honestly had a better chemistry than the leads but was often overshadowed due to less screen time. It's the same formula, polar opposites put together where Beer is open and expressive about his feelings and Wan, who struggles to confront his emotions. The push and pull between them and the tension was messy but somehow interesting and sweet.

Both the characters had feelings for each other but Wan's hesitation and reluctance to label their relationship even though after multiple kisses was frustrating.

Also , Khun Shy, needs to be free or to be kept in better and bigger surroundings. It was concerning to see him live in such a small box. Although Diew's affection is shown contionusly in the drama but the care doesn't seem genuine.
The MBTI introduced at the start of the episode, literally served no real purpose.

The finale wrapped up sweetly but I found the family dynamics rushed. I am still very unclear so Diew's relationship with his mother and how she has this sudden change of heart to become understanding from overbearing.

Overall, will recommend it as a one-time watch. Despite some clichés and pacing issues, the characters and their journeys toward self-acceptance and emotional growth are fun to watch.

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Too Many Cooks/Troupes Spoil The Broth!!

For me, this drama "almost" lived up to its hype. The premise was strong and beautifully executed. The visuals in the drama were so scenic and beautiful making me want to visit Germany! The characters in the story had flaws and it was reasoned well.

But from episode 13, the messy and lazy writing sank the ship. Too many unnecessary troupes were introduced in the later stage of drama where we should have been resolving issues from the previous episodes. Hyun Woo getting into an accident in the penultimate episode and the antagonist arc stretched till the last episode was nail in the coffin for people like me who have been religiously following the drama from its teaser and were waiting for the "Rom" in the said Romcom!!
For the last episode, too many questions and drama were left to unfold leading to a rushed and unsatisfactory ending. It was sort of bittersweet for me. I understand death is a natural phenomenon but showing in the last few minutes instead of them living a healthy life together is a grudge I am willing to hold with the writer for a long long time.

Acting was exceptional. Even If I nitpick I can't find faults. Despite how shambled the writing was, their acting made it convincing. All the aegyos made me laugh. Hyun Woo crying and breaking down when Hae In was hurt made my hurt heart. Hae In from being cold-hearted and emotionless at times made me angry but once her story was out you couldn't help but sympathize. The one kiss (Germany) gave me butterflies.
I wish they work together again in a drama where the script does them justice to their commitment till the very end! The other supporting characters also did a great job!

The OST's are one of the best that I have heard. It matched the story and theme perfectly! The placement of the OST in the drama is done well making them more enjoyable and memorable.

Overall this was a 8.5-9 for me from episodes 1-12 but so many NEEDLESS twists/turns in the last few episodes led it to 7. If it wasn't for the extraordinary acting of leads and the great and intriguing premise I would have rated this somewhere between 6-6.5!

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Can we truly start anew when our love is deep rooted in our memories?

The drama centres around love ,memory and the complexities of relationships. The story revolves around the bond between Ritsu and Fumiya which is hindered by an accident that leaves Ritsu with temporary amnesia.

Both the characters felt less developed and confused more often than not. Fumiya's decision to hide their past in hopes of rekindling their romance and still keep and create boundaries constantly while living with Ritsu made it hard to side with him. Didn't he want to start over?
Ritsu character, on the other hand, was very hazy and nebulous. His whole journey of rediscovering himself was hard to empathise with because we only know him from the few fragments of the past presented.

Though the characters were flawed, it was still a visually stunning journey. I liked how dedicated Ritsu was to his profession and how Fumiya supported him. The cinematography was good capturing the push and pull of longing and nostalgia. The acting was believable throughout.

Overall, it was a heartfelt exploration of how fragile love can be and how honesty is important in any relationship. While the character's motivation was questionable, it is still a touching story (undercooked but touching)

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A love story with familiar chords, strumming through clichés!

The drama follows the journey of Neil, a former popular singer grappling with personal trauma and Sea, a fan who aspires to become a musician like his idol. While the series does try to delve deep into themes of love, healing and the transformative power of music, the over-reliance on clichés made the story very predictable.

The premise is interesting - Neil's journey from grief to rediscovery of his passion again after meeting Sea. The chemistry between the leads is palpable and there’s a certain comforting dynamic when they are together on screen.
While the romance between them was nice , the story was pretty forgettable and the development of their relationship feels rushed, lacking a gradual build-up. However Michael’s performance as Sea shines through. He was so expressive especially with his eyes! This is a classic case of poor writing saved by decent acting.

Also Neil's wig at the start of the episode!!!! It was HORRENDOUS and I am glad it didn't stick around for long and they got rid of it.

The second couple, Reese and Orca had an engaging story but their storyline was overshadowed by the main couple and hence was left underdeveloped. Their chemistry was solid and the bilingual dialogue flowed surprisingly well. I wish they had focused a little more on them, it could have added real weight to the story instead of just being mere background figures.

Musically, the series does have some nice OSTs, yet I found the characters struggling to play genuine musicians especially when they were playing instruments. This story was about the transformative journey through and with music and honestly, the lack of authenticity sort of diminished the impact for me.
Also, several times I felt the key scenes intended to be climatic or emotional just fell flat. It made it difficult to connect with the characters's pain or joy. The artistic touch to pull this through was missing or was more like touch and go.

Overall, this attempted to be an exploration of love and music together but was hindered by clichés and uneven character development. Recommended as a one-time watch for the chemistry between the leads, but be prepared for predictability along the way.

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Just couldn't finish it!!

Well I started this drama with alot of expectations and sadly it just couldn't deliver for me. I dropped it after 21 episodes.

The main issue for me here was the story. The writing was extremely lazy - plot holes , slow pacing of the story and how the character arc went. I do love a slow burn romance but this seemed rushed and slow at the time like I know it doesn't make sense but from leads meeting to their interactions and their journey to love was just not organic.

The only thing I liked about this drama was the male lead and his acting. It is what made me push till 21 episodes ngl. That 8.0 in acting is just for him to be honest. The female lead kind of infuriated me at times. I just couldn't relate to her not being honest with male lead about something life threatening , assuming things and having the clueless same expression in almost every scene. The writing for her part was way worse than the whole story.

The chemistry between the leads looked a little forced to me. I kinda liked the story of second leads better than the main's.
Usually when stories don't work for me, its the acting / chemistry that saves the day! But this drama literally was 'NO' for me in both the departments.

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A Muder mystery plot that couldn't even kill time!!

We already have 'a serial killer/murder mystery in a romcom' curse in Korean drama and now BLs too? *sigh*

The series tries to be everything—murder mystery, bilingual love story, and fitness BL—but manages to fail at all of them. It clearly had big ambitions, though the execution couldn’t quite match the hype. An example of aiming high and missing the mark.

The bilingual aspect between Thai and Korean didn’t bother me at all. It actually felt natural, as if it made sense that people in Korea would understand Thai, and vice versa. xD
But even with this cultural fluidity, the romance itself here was where things stumbled. The pacing in the early episodes was painfully slow, making it hard to stay invested. When the MC finally started dating, it felt so anticlimactic and lacklustre, it was almost forgettable. The transition from that awkward tension to a full-blown relationship wasn’t compelling enough.
While there was clear chemistry between the leads, their connection often felt fragmented. Jay seemed uncertain for much of the series, completely oblivious to Seung Hun’s feelings and attraction. When he finally came around and acknowledged those feelings later on, it felt abrupt and hard to fully buy into. The shift in his character felt uneven, making it difficult to settle into their relationship.

Now coming to the murder mystery plot, definitely started as an interesting one, but unfortunately, the drama didn’t quite nail it. The whole serial killer subplot felt more like a gimmick than something that was well-developed or meaningful. It came off as a mere plot device, underused and not at all engaging. I didn't care most of the time in the series who died and why. And how the mystery was solved was boring.

Overall, it’s a one-time watch with uneven pacing and a forgettable romance. I’d recommend it as a light background watch or a palate cleanser if you're watching something heavier.

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