This show is unique, it sort of crosses the line between variety and drama so basically you get the best of both worlds! It has the tension of a mystery plot where you are constantly panicked your favorite character might fail the challenge and end up losing the culprit and the guilty pleasure feel of a variety show where you laugh your ass off at their dorkiness. By the end, naturally it's not possible to not have a favorite (surprise surprise it was Sehun for me) and no spoilers but I loved that he started getting shady toward the end lol it was so hilarious to watch. Another thing I loved was they don't always necessarily catch the culprit so it was always an intriguing plot not knowing what way a story was going to go. My favorite characters were Sehun (DUH), Sejung, Ahn Jae Wook, Jong Min and I totally warmed up to Park Minyong after a few episodes. Especially how most of the time she was so badass lol and did what none of the guys could do even and add to that her intelligent deductions. Most of the time she was extremely perceptive. I feel like Kwang Soo as usual was more comic relief but seriously their banter made the show so can't complain. That one little tiff between the two groups though when the other run ahead of Jae Wook, Kwangsoo, and Sehun, what Kwangsoo said was I get that he must have felt that way. But when Sehun said it too, seriously I wanted to cry. That was so intense! But that's what I mean in a simple fun manner they give a lot of insight into people's feelings and that as they all continued to go through the challenges. I liked Kim Jongmins role because first off comic relief lol and second um comic relief! Ahn Jae Wook I just thought he was a real sport and had talent as well as body strength and wasn't afraid of going in. I liked that despite being less intelligent than some other characters, he never gave up. Well Sehun also never gave up but pretty sure that was out of sheer competitiveness lol I know everyone was constantly commenting on it lol but God did that make for a hilarious watch. As for Sejung she was absolutely a delight to watch! She was so energetic and full of life and just so sweet. Ok not going to lie I ship SeSe or whatever lol there I said it. Totally wished she called him oppa at least once lol but hey there is always next season. Just going to say that despite the fact that I knew it was a variety show, everyone was laughing but seriously some of the stories were so damn realistic! Especially the vampire one. It totally got to me! I was laughing and crying at the same time lol My favorite cameos were Park Hae Jin and Yoo Yeon Sook. Yoo Yeon Sook was perfect because when you needed him to be serious he delivers and when you need hilarity just put Sehun in charge of him and put him in a bus lol I love that even he couldn't stop laughing at times! seriously I need season 2 LAST CENTURY. But the good news is it being filmed already and Netflix picked it up for a second season, I'm going to try and wait patiently ^_^ seriously just go watch!

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I wanted to leave a review while the show is still fresh in my mind. I just want to say exactly what I felt. This show is downright one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see. From the casting, to the cinematography, to the writing, everything is sheer perfection. It's kind of EPIC. You can feel the beautiful way the creator sees the world, with its particular touch of darkness. It will hurt you, and make you laugh, even in the midst of your pain, like the Grim Reaper in that one scene, you'll not have a choice. Rating the show the highest possible rating wasn’t even up for debate. The thing about a good story is that you can have a massive budget and top rated actors but if you have a stale, unworthy story and half boiled characters, it just doesn't work. The value of this show is that every character is so deep, so believable, so REAL, you can't help getting lost in them. Few minor gripes I have was that Duek Hwa and Jung Hae In should have had better storylines. Second, toward the end the amnesia bit dragged a bit for me. (Minor spoiler) Even the whole finding love in past lives instead of present was again a bit typical for a show of this caliber. What you can do in a next life you can do in this one, for this reason the last two or three episodes in places it got a bit boring for me. Still, I'm happy to have seen this show, I've never quite seen anything like it. All in all, bravo!

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They say a story is only as good as its villain.

For me, this is usually the case.

And the way to make a villain GREAT is by making them scary, because if a villain is not convincing the hero's conflict has the risk of becoming bland.

The reason we love a villain like Voice season 1, or Remember, is because we see with our own how RUTHLESS he is.

The second reason these villain's work so well is because they're not just side characters but an integral part of the story. They're given convincing back stories. They are not one dimensional.

That's how you raise the stakes.

As opposed to this kind of story telling Watcher takes the less interesting route. The perceived  danger their villain possesses just doesn't seem devastating enough so it becomes a mediocre story. And anyone could be the villain so the villain is very much one dimensional and their so called origin stories seem petty and ridiculous. 

In fact, pretty much everyone in this drama does things, that are morally WRONG, from planting evidence, to choosing a loved one to be tortured, to using a young boy's traumatic event to distort the facts but why they did it, their justification is just as petty and as ridiculous as the bad guys.

So why did I still like it?

Because of that one scene where Han Suk Kyu stands in front of the mirror and starts fixing his hair.

That. Was. Brilliant.

There were many such allusions to the Nietzsche style nihilism and I feel like that's what they should have done more of instead of falling into the trap of becoming a rather typical storyline.

And also I'm not sure if anyone noticed that Watchers is also the word for nephilim, the fallen, and they were also 'Giants' a word frequently alluded to in the script. And that's why the main characters were all 'fallen from grace' type characters.

I don't know if this last episode was second season fodder but I guess I'll try it for sure but I'm not exactly waiting for it tbh it just wasn't that good but it is entertaining.

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That last scene GUTTED me. Ai Uta is a story about what to do when you're struck with a life threatening illness. You'll see this plot in Midnight Sun, Everything Everything, and my personal favorite Five Feet Apart. I won't lie I'm a sucker for a good tragedy and sick romance tearjerkers. I've seen everything from the much older A Walk to Remember and Sweet November to the more current 50/50 and Love And Other Drugs. I've even watched Asian melodrama like Always, Fated to Love You, and Kill Me Heal Me. And like I said just personal preference but my favorite sick rom would definitely be Everything Everything and Five Feet Apart. But the reason Ai Uta didn't deliver the same impact because it was just all over the place. The main lead was clearly heading toward a bromance with a guy from his school and then half way through the film bam! Insta love with a new girl. It was so jarring and completely annoyed me because it was so forced and just there for the melodrama effect for people who only want straight couples I guess. I don't know but it made the whole story shallow and meandering. That said I like the overall message and there were some really good things in the story so you should watch and figure it out for yourself.

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A great romance with a good looking male lead! What's not to like!

Ok the most hilarious part of the plot ???? is that the story is about how D.O. hates being a farmer lol and all D.O. actually wants in real life is to be a farmer ^_^

Anyway on to the review!

D.O. is a perfect mix of handsome and cute, I can't get enough of him! Comedy, emotion, romance, this one has it all. There's also some very emotional moments but on the whole this one is low angst and gets more angsty toward the end. The acting was pretty good throughout and I loved that they showed the female lead initiating contact in several instances without getting clingy.

The story is about two people, Crown Prince of Joseon Lee Yeol (D.O.) and Hong Shim (Nam Ji hyun), a commoner who only has a foster father and no real family. These two have an ill-fated love and who, through various circumstances end up being married to one another. The crown prince is constantly warding off assassination attempts at his life and during one such attempt ends up losing his memory. Ok look I am an "EXO fangirl' and I couldn't stop raving about Rich Man Poor Woman and I have seen Exo next door, busted, Seondal, and Choco Bank (Kai) a million times. But when I review I will always try to be objective. So even if I watch something a million times because D.O. is in it, I will try to review objectively.

So this drama it was so fun and entertaining and like I said Do Kyungsoo looks so handsome! I was in love with his stern "oho" lol that was so funny!!! Honestly, this role is the perfect fit for him. It was really painful to watch him struggle in the peasant life ugh it gave me so much anxiety ^_^ I just wanted someone to make him remember again! And also, the brother and sister storyline omg that was so well done! My heart wept for them truly. And also for DO when his father the king is suffering the wrath of the villain and unable to help his own son when he was lying hurt and miserable in some peasants cottage.

And ok the exceptional OST!!! There's really no words to describe how amazing that OST is you just have to get it and you'll be listening to it a million times.

Anyway, so if you're looking for a romance with low angst and a handsome lead and music that will blow you away, watch this drama!

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The OST will haunt me ^^


Aaaahhh I LOVE THIS SO MUUUUCH

TRULY BADASS CHICKS LOL bromances are okay but the SISMANCEEEEE BRUH
I have never shipped anyone more than I shipped Leyan and Changga and Mimi *heart eyes forever * but I have to say halfway through I was pretty much EXCLUSIVELY on Changga-Mimi

THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS OKAY ^^

I shipped these two so much that it was super hard to go back to the reality and ship Changga - Sun lol

And omo how GORGEOUS AND GREAT ACTORS ARE ALL THE FEMALE CAST! Diraba, Rosy and Cao Xi Yue took my breath away!

IM IN AWE AND TEARSSSSS

And I love that it's a melodrama but the WRITING FUUUUUUGE.

Everything is just perfection! !!

And okay my Second top ship after Changga Mimi was Hao Du - Leyan because Freaking Hao Du was like this following orders soldier who had a great character arc when he finds himself questioning things because of Leyan. But the truth is that ship took so damn long I feel like they could have easily put those scenes a little earlier at least at half way I'd even be happy with that. But it's all minor gripe.

But okay look, I LOVE STORIES INVOLVING GRASSLANDS XD I mean the BADASS armor and the gorgeous long hair and the fur what's not to love! Seriously Leo Wu looked like something out of a fantasy when he was all God of War, I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

But I fell in love with a character that I feel like even the writers didn't do justice ㅜㅜ

Sh er.

In fact not just him, but Lei Meng too. I mean I was even crying for the Khatun because you can see that her life under those men with having NO VOICE except if a MAN approved it, imagine living that way for decades!

Even Changga had to pretend to be a man to be taken seriously. But at least she had an uncle who trained her in the martial arts and all that. And even Leyan mostly got her voice heard because the Tang King was supportive.

But the Khans, the lot of them treated women like furniture mostly using the prettier slaves as concubines and however terrible Yi Cheng was not one of the Khans was respectful toward her. I mean ffs Yanli's idea of 'fatherly love' was pitting his adopted-but-formerly-slave son against his now wife and dead brother's son by KILLING SH ERS WOLF AND BLAMING IT ON SUN!

So yes. I really can't imagine a man like this being good to his wife. He wouldn't even let Sher visit his own mother.

Anyway the point is I was rooting for Sher to GET SOMETHING. Either his brothers affection, because clearly he wasn't going to get any from his father. So, yes it broke my heart. I honestly got on the mujin Mimi ship pretty late even though I knew Sher wasn't going to get her, I know how Chinese historical work lol

But I would have gladly watched a hundred episodes if Sun had at least spent some quality time with Sher, or he'd gotten SOMETHING other than DUTY FOR YOUR TRIBE ASHILE WOLF DIVISION

Same for Lei Meng jeez I'm still crying over what he said when he was making Sher go to safety - "go! Leave and let me do the evil things so you can be innocent young Khan."

Just.. think about that for a second.

That's what I mean, when I say the writing is so good.


Well that's all for now, have a great day x

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This drama is pretty freaking good. Even though like I said before the plot takes a while to unfold and its a little lacking in character development too but not to the point where it's boring because it's not, it's very entertaining the bromance alone I was hooked cause bickering couple: check. Cute looking : check. Memorable bromance couple: check.

And honestly the fl definitely grew on me, I was into her when they sneak off at night after she cries over her father's ridiculous behavior.


But where they lost me was when they tried to make me ship them. It just came out of NOWHERE and left me feeling icky. And it sucked that the two male leads who were literally perfect for each other, in the end it was the same old tired Chinese drama routine - 'sacrificing' true love (I mean Qiao and lu yong obviously) for 'duty' (can you say propaganda).


Lost Tomb constantly does it, Novoland did it, even UNTAMED you can hate me but c'mon they deserved a better ending! And don't even get me started on Beloved Enemy! OMG the amount of distress I suffered at the hands of the writers lol I still can't get out of my head.

The ONE drama that didn't make me resent it, the sole bromance exception is.. drum roll ... GUARDIAN.

You can disagree with me but that ending even though sad, and they don't actually end up together, it hits DIFFERENT. It's different because even though Shen Wei leaves the world with Ye Zun and technically picked his brother and duty, all you remember, the image that you're left with, is Shen Wei saying 'I waited for you for 10,000 years.'

So, yes I just really enjoyed this bromance and the crime stories and the sugar daddy dynamic between them xD it was really fun to watch.

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Perfection in Darkness

You know how I love inappropriate gross shit lol bruh even I got severely affected by some of the disturbing material. And just because a film is about sex and masochism doesn't make it porn. That said I completely freaking loved the uninhibited, twisted plot and the acting in most parts was so good it feels SO REAL because its RAW. seriously wtf is Gun even doing here XD but he did a good job too. And the ending was so organically bittersweet, all that good nihilist stuff ! If you don't get triggered you should watch. In general I love adult and horror Thai stuff, like Meatgrinder, shutter, blue hour, they always feel timeless and surreal. I just love that touch.

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This one I was so excited for! I even waited for it to finish so I could binge watch. I thought to myself it's Jang ki young and Lee Soo Hyuk how bad could it be ! Well , the answer is pretty bad.

The make up was so terrible, and the childishness of the plot and characters can only be summed up as an epic fail. The only character that was a little fleshed out was Jang ki yong's but the others were all so one dimensional.

I couldn't feel a thing when they were sad or crying. And again I did get emotional for Jang ki yong because at least his character was a bit relatable. Other than that everyone else seemed so superficial.

The direction at times was good and other times something so cringey would happen. Childish, immature script. Just a big fat failure. I'm done.

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Let's be honest, I'm being generous with the rating because if it wasn't for Ji Chang Wook I wouldn't have sat through more than a couple of episodes. But I kept at it because it was his comeback and I missed him. But tbh this became the same as Ong's comeback, so much wasted potential. So, I'm not even going to get into the plotholes etc because if something is entertaining I don't mind all that. But okay, I was basically forcing myself to watch it even though it wasn't terrible, it's just passable. And that's the problem, isn't it? Why give someone like Chang Wook or Jaewook something trite and passable! I don't understand. Anyway, I hope his next project will be better.

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First off Tori as psychopathic killer... gimme. Second, I liked the script, and the symbolism of the cinematography where the female protagonist and Tori were placed on two sides of the shot but the female detective is in the light and Tori is in darkness... there were plenty of beautiful moments like this. But for me what was lacking was a genuine connection between the characters.

The female detective doesn't exactly seem that close to her junior played by Mackenyu there was no chemistry between them so when one character is put in jeopardy and the other is supposed to react you don't feel their dilemma or any sense of loss. And the female lead in general comes across as cold and doesn't express love that well and the lack of bonding scenes naturally didn't help.

Pretty much every relationship they show feels shallow, which would be fine, if they weren't trying to make the cops look like regular 'good' people. The female cop especially, gives me nothing to connect with her and when she's shown connected to others that's not believable either.

So that is one major flaw. But Tori did such a great job and the nuance of the script and direction other than the relationships were pretty good.

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