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ryoato

Sisheng Peak

ryoato

Sisheng Peak
Ongoing 7/25
Hidden Love
11 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jul 10, 2023
7 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

my first and last love

So I am watching this because I am swept along with the 20,000 others that are watching this. Also it is rated a 9.2. So that means it shouldn't be a waste of my time... right?

Yeah this drama isn't a waste of time. It's good. The light and cheery atmosphere alone are enough to have me watching. I have seen a lot of k-dramas lately so this is a nice switch-up. It tells a sweet little love story about a girl and her brothers best friend. Suprisngly enough I haven't seen any dramas with this synopsis before.

Now what is good is the production quality and the visuals of the main leads. I am a few episodes in already and it's easy to watch. Watching is a breeze and I can easily watch, so I hope I don't lose interest. What interests me is those visuals and the hope that the 9.2 rating brings foward some amazing scenes that punch right at my gut and get me really believing that score.

I'm not going to be super bitter about the rating. I honestly don't see that it is a 9.2. I give it what I give it because it isn't perfect, but I rate it so high because it isn't necessarily doing anything wrong either.

What gets me though is the younger actress for our main character. She is great, but she is waaaaaayyyy to young to be portraying a character that is 13/14. The actress is 10 irl, so to have moments that are classically portrayed as a budding romance is weird to me. It makes me uncomfortable.. and it shouldn't be. This show brings up the age gap though, with Duan Ji Xu and Sang Shi. It is very obvious between the two their age because of how she claims him as another 'brother' of hers. Comparing him to her brother, those are cute and not problematic. What is- is how Duan Ji brings up how if she is dating someone and he took her out knowing she is a minor than that is wrong. So he sees her as a minor, he won't date her. That is good. What could be, and notice how I saw /could/. Is that if he ends up dating her, which I know happens, then he has seen her grow up. Now that is grooming.

I think this drama isn't stupid, but it has its moments. The opening scene with the young Sang She and Duan Ji are cringe inducing. The music playing up as she sees him for a moment.. I can look past that. I can't look past how three years later she seems even more immature than her younger self. I haven't seen a show with Zhao Lu Si, so maybe her voice is just that young sounding. I do like her character a lot though. She is sweet and naive, but she is calculating in a way. She have ulterior motives with Duan Ji and that is where the love is hiding. It's cute to see her little crush and how that affects her actions with him, it's pretty simple. So the hidden love to me is more of an agenda because of this. Because she likes to hang out with him and pulls him into her life not because he is just nice, but because she secretly likes him and is waiting for the day she can confess or something. I am excited to see how that all unravels but hope that they don't emphasize her youth too much.

With Duan Ji bringing up her age and all I hope they just do it correctly when it comes to him liking her. I believe he will like her when she is of age, and I hope they address that he likes her NOW as opposed to the trope of always loving her. Because he knew her since she was 13/14. I hope he grows to like her as an adult of age and appreciates her growth as a person rather than saying something like he always has loved her. That would make this weirder than it already is.

I get that she likes an older guy, I would too. He is someone she compares her brother too, and he is nice to her. It's a mindless attraction. So I hope for Sang Shi, she realizes what she /really/ likes about him. The older she gets her feelings mature as well.

So this drama is good and I recommend. It's got this amazing feel to it, it's got stunning setups with the camera work and everything. What is needs it to have those hearthrobbing moments between the leads. The set up is very very good, I want their romance to mature and I can see that happening.

What I really must commend is Zhao Lusi's acting. I haven't seen a drama with hers in it and now I know I have been missing out. She is excellent here and so is Chen Zhe Yuan.. who I am most looking forward to see in Sho Po Lang.

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Completed
Oh! My Assistant
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Dec 1, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

Office Romance on the Smallest Scale

I’m so surprised with how much I enjoyed this show. Not because I thought it would be bad, it’s just that a lot of k-BL’s are coming out that I didn’t think I’d be too interested. From the first episode alone I was wrong.

I remember hearing this drama was coming out and the premise of it being an adult webtoon created getting an assistant and they fall in love. That’s pretty small of a summary but just watch it. It’s interesting and not afraid of the adult themes it brings up. But the thing is- it’s funny and self aware of the absurdity of the situations.

So far the main characters are very fun especially Seon Ho. This show is all out with the humor with sexuality and it’s not treating being gay as a joke. Instead it pokes humor at other ‘things’ and is enjoyable and not forced with the humor. It’s lighthearted and the tone doesn’t shift harshly, the camera work is good- it’s not biting off more than it can chew. Gu Mu Yeong is very handsome and I love how forward Seon Ho was with hiring them, I’m looking forward to their interactions and this show is very promising.

Now after reading some of the webtoon... let me say that its a surprise that they would adapt this in the first place. They really keep the tone so similar and change things where they need to. It is so clever to see the changes and to see what they keep.

With this one and the miscommunication, you have to remind yourself it’s based off a webtoon. Now then doesn’t lower my standards.. I honestly appreciate it more because of it. It’s just me saying that you can’t take this drama too seriously because it’s a short web series and it’s doing it’s job of being cute and funny too good
Finishing this show up it can get a bit frustrating but for what is based from it does pretty well. This show is harmless and I really enjoyed it

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Completed
Why R U?
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jan 6, 2021
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Why R U has the spiciest scenes out of them all

With the story the problem I have is with the side couple, I personally don’t like their acting and found it awkward. Now, Tutor and Fighter is where it really is amazing. These two have so much chemistry that I felt like their scenes were private and intimate moments that I shouldn’t be watching. I felt like the third wheel in the best way possible. With BL dramas there will always be weird music and sound affect, but when they need to they put on some good music to help the mood. Continuing with my headline, I will say that Fighter and Tutor do things that *ahem* yeah, I enjoy.

The necklace scene will always be engraved in my retinas, Fighter is the most charming man, I love his smile and Tutor is adorable. They act so well together and I believe that they are a couple. That’s important.

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Ongoing 7/20
Moving
3 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Aug 24, 2023
7 of 20 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

moving in all the right directions.

so this k-drama I was hesitant on watching only because I had a hard time finding where to stream it. now that I found my ways I was really missing out from not watching this at the beginning when it first aired… or was I… this show is really that great that I have binge watched when I find a lot of k-dramas hard too because of their lengthy episodes.

this drama proves again my point that I’m capable of enjoying dramas and being so hooked that I don’t feel like time is dragging on. It’s because there are so many different elements put on the table for viewers that I can’t help but be immersed. There are likeable main characters, fast paced action, romance, high school relationships, dealing with anxiety and bullying, and gore.

This drama is such a fresh idea to me. It has been done before with a lot of American superheroes etc. But with this it just feels so new. The budget helps with making this drama a good watch, it’s expensive and each episode feels so cinematic. It’s intense in the right places and has a good pace. I like every plot this drama picks up, and I really like the sets of main characters with the parents and their children.

So this drama is really starting to pick up, and it never was boring at all. It has a good setup and the hook that comes in the middle is thrilling. I definitely will rewatch this and recommend to anyone honestly. I can’t put a name on the genre and that’s what makes it so unique. It’s a 10/10 for me.

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Dropped 6/24
My Journey to You
10 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Sep 4, 2023
6 of 24 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

A little too murky for me …

I’ll keep this short since I’m in the middle of binge-watching. I just wanted to share a few things about my first impressions.

this drama looked to be very grounded to its mystery, and dark edge from watching the trailer. it’s proving to be just that; and isn’t misleading it’s audience to being more campy or a romantic comedy. Instead this drama has a dark mood and starts off with a very promising story.

I’m already interested in seeing the characters develope and grow to know eachother more. From the first episode alone it gives off a lot that keeps me wanting to watch more. Especially with the cinematography.

It’s better than average right now and in seriously anticipating that the ratings will score high and this drama will be successful. It’s not like many others airing around it, it’s very unique with its mood and costuming that sets it apart already. I’m glad I picked it up and will be keeping up with it daily until it’s done. There is something about this drama that makes me believe it is so promising.

The further in, the more the setting feels constricting. I understand why some want out, and why some chose to stay. I hope they explore their surroundings though, but I am still pretty early into the drama. I must say that Ester Yu is so impressive here, she usually is casts in roles that are naive and aloof, but here she is very intelligent and cold and cunning. Zhang Le He also is too handsome to not pay attention too, and I am looking forward to more projects from him (Eternal Faith)


In the end I get what people say when they want Zhang Le He to have a break out role that gets him really popular. He has the face and the talents and the height, but this drama didn’t help him. He’s a great actor here, but the chemistry lacked and that wasn’t any of the leads fault. I fear it was because of their pairings in others dramas and the comparisons I can’t help but making. Ester Yu is very good here also, I just think the whole atmosphere ended up bogging this one down a little too much for me. I felt like I didn’t get what I asked for with the leads, I wanted a mature and steamy romance but instead I didn’t think they are in it enough to keep me watching. I also heard there is a cliffhanger so in the end if this drama doesn’t fulfill anything that it’s not worth finishing. It isn’t like the leads aren’t in anything else, and since I liked them enough here.. I’ll check them out elsewhere.

This drama is simply too dark and so much plot with little action to keep me satisfied. I have a low attention span and am a simple person sometimes, so it just got caught in the middle of other dramas I just liked better. Not bad but not great.

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Dropped 7/12
See You in My 19th Life
2 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Aug 4, 2023
7 of 12 episodes seen
Dropped 3
Overall 6.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.5
This review may contain spoilers

I don’t get it

so me, like many others, started watching this drama because of the promotions, the hype, it was highly anticipated.

While this show was airing there was nothing but praise.. but now I’m starting to understand the culture behind shows like this. It had its fan base and it still does, it profited a lot off of people watching without seeing any flaws. I believe most people who see this show with no flaws are fans of the actors in it and/or have loved the webtoon. As someone who never saw the webtoon I thought I would be ok watching this.. I thought I would get it. But still, even I thought the whole idea of 19 lives.. that’s a lot. I was right. The format of this into a show isn’t working, it’s so much and makes me wonder if maybe the webtoon does a better job at tying all the lives together. .. why 19 of them? They only focus on two- the 19th, and 18th.. any others just are there so the female lead has a one up on life.. she ends up in Korea and the other lives don’t really affect her besides her knowing a few people and things..

Still the logic I can’t buy into. Ji Eum lives a lot of lives.. so when she is reborn she remembers? So is she a fully aware adult when reborn? I really have a hard time with this. She can remember the flamingo dancing and remember her uncle, then those stories are dropped just so character exists. It feels like filler to me, but then again- 19 lives is a lot. So why is this drama so.. average? It is disappointing, because I’m trying to see what other me that rave about this are seeing. I just can’t. I have an issue with the main premise but thought .. hey if it’s rated this high.. then surely it is explained?

No- nothing is explained. You just have these characters in these situations right away. And honestly these characters are bland. Rich people, pretty one dimensional. I mean Seo-Ha’s character has PTSD and deafness.. I thought that could be interesting. Instead you only get his buildup to who he is now through a car crash scene that repeats itself. It is like that is who he is, he is just traumatized by that. He hasn’t grown and him being a hotel director or whoever he is- it doesn’t make sense to me.. he is just born into it and isn’t that cool honestly. So why of all people did Ji-Eum decide she loves him of all the people she met? I guess none out of the thousands she met through all her lives were important enough to even be in the show. .. so she likes him.. who I can’t get behind because she fell in love with him as a kid. He shows no growth or interest in her and she wants him so badly for some reason only other than him being nice to her as a kid- but - she had to have known so many people. Why is she so pulled towards this kid, following and seeing him grow up I guess.. it’s matured in that way.. I guess… but they can’t really show a maturing relationship. I mean they could, they just didn’t.

The chemistry between the leads I don’t buy into. A kiss they have is good, but still that can’t make up for stale chemistry. In all honesty I find Ji-Eum unlikeable. I am frustrated with her and this story. You have all these lives and experiences just to be stuck on one guy in this life. Instead I’d rather see her work to solve world issues, something on a bigger scale. This murder car crash is so obvious and so boring to follow. I really don’t care. I don’t like Ji-Eum for focusing on this set of people and acting like they are the only people she cares about when she knows so many people. Shouldn’t she feel plagued by losing so many people? Shouldn’t she have attachement issues instead of this.

No- this is based off a webtoon. So she is just a female lead who is looking for love. I was stupid to expect anything outstanding from this. I was pulled into this because I was following the trend. I regret it, my time is gone. I’m being so harsh because I’m frustrated. My review, my opinion. and my opinion is that this drama is dumb. Not even for hopeless romantics because the romance is bad. I would explain more but I’m not putting any more time into justifying how I feel about this. It is just how I feel. I don’t like this drama, not the worst I’ve seen, not really that good though..

The music is good. The acting I can’t take seriously because of how stupid the whole premise of the show is. I can get behind stories that I can’t follow in real life, but only when it isn’t cheap. Only when they immerse me in their world and story through building up plots, characters, settings.

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Dropped 10/38
Love You Seven Times
16 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Aug 11, 2023
10 of 38 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

I couldn’t even love two lifetimes out of seven

Love You Seven Times is a pretty show.

What I like are the costumes. The budget goes hard in this drama and it’s used beautifully with the makeup and the costuming of the characters. Especially in the heavenly realm. Although I do like the mortal outfits and they are less distracting for me to focus on the characters better. Nothing wrong with this at all, honestly I look at all the details in the costumes as the dialogue goes on but that’s more of my problem. It’s all so beautiful and the main leads are also both gorgeous.

My concern has been with Yang Chao Yue as I’ve heard she isn’t the best actress. I think she does a fine job with the comedic relief.. but her character is directed a little weird to me. I can’t get into her as a ground and mature character, and I don’t think she’s supposed to be- it’s just when scenes with emotional delivery and heartbreak will be sort of unbelievable because of this. Since I’ve seen her do outlandish things I’ll have a hard time adjusting to her suddenly being serious. Although with each episode it’s getting increasingly hard to watch her. I feel like she is cast here because she is so pretty. I am going to be transparent and just say that she is sucking the life from this drama for me.

It sucks because Ding Yu Xi is so amazing. He is very good at delivering multiple characters and multiple personalities of each character. I want this to be a hit drama for him and the work everyone put in. What is good is anything with Ding Yu Xi. Something about him just grabs my attention right away. Chu Kong is interesting and I like to see him in the mortal realm. Catered to love Xiang Yun and it’s funny to see how devoted he is. Although I don’t know why he is the way he is or what shaped him.

I’m not a fan of Xiang Yun right now as she is over the top stupid. Then again it’s the first few episodes that she is like this so I hope they are just setting her character up and she’ll develop to realize the gravity of her situation. I think the comedy in this show was a bad idea considering these character live and die nine times and you are supposed to feel and be invested in each live. Maybe in some way it could be done right, but my god it is so jarring here to see someone die and then a girl with a mustache gamble for no reason.

It’s like two separate shows between the scene with just the ML. It’s such a shame for the potential with him and the grandness of the worlds and stories here.

The whole seven trials makes sense. But I don’t get why Xiang Yun wants to sabotage her marriage, if she wants to save her marriage pavilion you would think she’s want things to go smoothly? I don’t know why she didn’t take the amnesia elixer.. I’m just a lost with that. So if I’m initially lost that is very bad, because I’m following them for seven lives and don’t even understand why someone did something and they just brush past it. The FL character is so over the place.. it’s just bad bad awful writing or maybe delivery or maybe both.

I’m slowly beginning to see the problem being the female lead and her acting is actually unbearable to me. She is so pretty and looks like a doll, but I feel she is very privaledged to be in a role like this. Maybe more low budget dramas would suit her better, but in this role it’s a large task to fill and she simply cannot. The actress does not have the skill to fill this character and make her feel real and likeable. I can’t help thinking that others would be better, for example, Sun Zhenni. I wasn’t a fan of Til the End of the Moon for the opposite of Thais drama. Amazing acting but bad script, but her I think Zhenni could be the female lead and do a much better job. She can act sassy and was someone I wanted to see more of from a drama I didn’t even like all too much. What could’ve been would’ve been watchable. Instead I can’t buy into the character of the female lead so I’m at a loss. She is the focus of the show, her love with Chu Kong. It’s just a shame he is so good at acting but she does worse than nothing. As much as the score can swell and the people around her are acting their hearts out I’m not dumb. I know shows that have low budget but the acting is amazing and makes me believe and feel even in a magical world. She wrings this fry of any emotional depth and merit for me. Seven whole lifetimes and different people to be all tied together by the same soul and love, but I feel she is like a low budget actress in this giant role. I’ll continue watching but only for the costumes and Yu Xi.

Long story short is I’m not buying into a love story that can’t even get me to understand why these two love eachother. It’s just a string of fate but why and how are they attached. What proved their devotion. This show is overly ambitious and fails to do the simple things and plays cheap tricks like music or costume without backing it up with a full narrative that is cohesive and makes sense. I can’t get behind trying to be invested in lives that I know they just have to get through in the end. The ultimate goal is what? Maybe I would find out if I watched the rest. I just realized if I’m skipping so much of the drama then I just can skip the whole thing and spend my time somewhere else. I honestly don’t think this show is going anywhere or will change me as a person. I don’t even think I want to watch anymore, I don’t think I’ll miss out.

If you like it then you like it. Just my opinion but I wouldn’t watch it. There are better things to watch.

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Ongoing 17/24
Angels Fall Sometimes
2 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Mar 13, 2024
17 of 24 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 8.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

“until there’s no time left”

Angels Fall Sometimes is a slice of life story that unfolds to a tragic and more dramatic yet grounded story. One that I find to be really interesting and enlightening so far, without offending or overdramatizing the wrong elements. It shows a more mature side to ALS and doesn’t use it as a card to play in terms of feeling bad for someone. It’s just the inevitable for our ML.

I can tell it’s mature because of the visualizations it shows of how ALS feels, to be held back and restricted even though you were once fully capable of moving. To be imprisoned within a wheelchair and feel like you’re suffocated. Lin Yi brilliantly plays these scenes in the dark so well, and it’s moving and heartbreaking to watch him realize that he can’t move even though he knows how to.

The male lead in Li Tao, played by Lin Yi. Who is tall and very handsome, who has supportive and overbearing parents. And who feels like a failure to them because he didn’t pursue this path they have paved for him. Instead he pursues his own goals and leaves his brother in the dust to follow his parents.

The scenarios involving work are actually interesting. Both the leads are very relatable as they navigate their way from college to building their careers and own self sufficient lives. It’s refreshing to see a main lead earn something rather than it being given. Specifically Lin Tuo, is very hard working. As opposed to other mailed leads I’ve seen in dramas, nothing is given to him, and he genuinely works hard to get a stable job and it isn’t just a luck of the draw either. He is motivated and hard-working, and both of the leads are. They both aren’t without their flaws either.

Zhi Que is played by Landy Li, who I find so adorable and full of charm. Lin Yi plays Lin Tao and is the lead where the story revolves around him. I find it really endearing how his girlfriend Zhi Que is who is one of the most important people to him that he invited into his life by choice. As he comes from a family that doesn’t give him much freedom or choice. He even gets cut off and get humbled, but was never a brat that leached off his parents and was good for nothing. His only wrong to them is not pursuing the path they layed out for him. I genuinely admire this ML, and I find his relationship with the FL to be a breath of fresh air for him. A relief and choice he made for himself. To be with someone as carefree as her that doesn’t have her life planned, is opposite of him in a way with her living situation. Theyey both make eachother a better person, and it shows what comes from two good people being together.

There are no toxic or jealous feelings between the two, they don’t question their love and it goes easily. There isn’t a villain or a bad person here either. Everyone is fully developed and isn’t a caricature to fit into. That’s because the main hardship of this drama is watching Li Tao slowly lose control and develop ALS. It’s extremely heartbreaking even more when I think of how strong he is with his goals and aspirations, and he is one of those people that doesn’t need an adversity like this, he’s already a great person that doesn’t need a challenge to shape him.

The only over the top character is the FL best friend.. who is very embarrasing and needs to tone it down. I look past that because of the leads drive and Li Tao isn’t perfect either, yet he’s not a push over. He gets frustrated too and has bad days.

It’s interesting to see the Zhi Que’s father’s perspective on being paralyzed and is definitely foreshadowing. It’s what a lot of people think and unfortunately Li Tao is going to be one of those cases. It will be interesting to see them tie all these preconceptions together and the feeling changes. Feelings of frustration, guilt onto holding someone back, and acceptance. I’m interested to see how this story develops and am anticipating a melodramatic future for our couple.

Sadly, what turns me away from this to put it on the back burner is the lack of chemistry between the leads. Landy and Yi are wonderful actors, but together there is a spark lacking here. I’m interested in there other dramas… maybe it is just how they are.. or the material here. Queen of Tears had a plot with a lead facing death and the chemistry was heartwarming and so good. Here the FL doubts her boyfriend and her friend is too pushy for the pair. It just doesn’t click unfortunately . If this drama were about 10 episodes shorter it would be better, or perhaps if it were a movie. It would be easier for me to finish that way, since the material is just so heavy.

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Ongoing 13/16
Queen of Tears
5 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Mar 27, 2024
13 of 16 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

“Mr. Cinderella”

So why do I saw what I say with the title?

The male lead is the one who’s pulled from the countryside into a lavish lifestyle. It seems like the happy ending in other kdramas. Where typically the girl is the poor one and swept away to a rich life to life with a chaebol.. I’m thinking boys over flowers. This drama starts where those ends, and it’s brilliant. What would their lives be outside of the ending? Likely this would happen.

I’m saying when Jan Di married Gyun Pyo at the end of Boys Over Flowes. Hyun Woo is Jan Di, the poorer one who is thrust into a new life and Hae In is Gyun Pyo, who despite all odds, loves someone that is a ‘nobody’ in terms of status. Gyun Pyro and Jan Di just get engaged at the end (sorry for spoilers), but in this one it’s the life of the two being married. It’s honestly hilarious and makes a lot of sense why Hyun Woo wants a divorce. As I could see that if there were a prequel that it would be something like Boys Over Flower.. now not that toxic, but to a degree. I doubt the writers thought of that connection, but to me it stands. It’s like a more mature version of a ‘happily ever after’ with a rich chaebol lifestyle. Instead it’s not all glitter and sparkles, and is more wanting your old life back because you can’t keep up with this one. I mean come on now, that’s so smart and I’ve always wanted to see what a happily ever after is like- and if it’s this? I’m here for the ride for this one.

The chaebol gets their humbling with a death experience, which I’m so surprised they had the balls to do.. and hopefully it doesn’t just get magically swept away. I’m looking for angst, for heart, a dramedy. This drama is gold when it comes to the humor. There isn’t a shying away from how hot are leads are, and how over the top the situation is. This drama is so much better than others have been giving it credit for. Yes. It’s hyped, but it’s also very smart and deserving of that.

I’ll keep this short since pretty much everything that needs to be said about this drama has been. I’ll say that I was reluctant to watch at first, as I’m watching a lot and sometimes dramas tend to be overhyped. It can go wrong pretty easily if the cast is so well, the writing may have been lacking. It’s done more than usual, where a cast is so good that it seems the writing and the direction is missed. Yet this drama seems to fill every gap in terms of the story, acting, direction, it’s well rounded and chalk full of entertainment value.

I didn’t know the story coming in, I thought it would be a romantic comedy, a bit melodramatic. It is entirely that, yet it’s multi leveled and has 3-dimensional characters coming from all ends of the story. The main leads, the second leads, the supporting cast- it’s all so rich (literally and non literal). What I was surprised with this is that the comedy is actually a strong asset with this story, I love when a drama doesn’t take itself too seriously. I also knew that Kim Ji Won was a funny actress, multitalented and ready to play the character she is. I love it when no one else I can see fit to play this role.

So nothing in this drama pulls anything down. The comedy doesn’t make it awkward, the drama doesn’t make it too serious, it’s got balance.

Kim Soo Hyun is an actor I know is really good. Also I’ve only seen him in one movie, so I wasn’t too biased. He is worth all the praise. He’s a professional and you can tell that everyone here knows there role and can enhance and improvise and add here in there. Without the leads it likely wouldn’t be as good, but still, it’s got a great direction that I can see coming from an actors initiate as well as the directing itself.

I love the whole gender reverse of the women leading the house-hold.. seeing the men get pushed to the kitchen.

It’s a lot more refreshing than I thought it would be. What is also refreshing is the leads dynamic, that so far is very witty and fun. They once loved eachother and definitely still do, yet Hyun- Woo is so tired at this point he wants a way out. Not one character is the evil and super bad guy, and I’m liking that a lot, the second male lead I could see to get to be annoying if he is too bad of a guy just for the sake of story. So far even Hae-In is likeable even if her husband isn’t too fond of her.. still I find so much room to grow with the two of them. They did fall in love, and she did choose to marry him.

I do find the latter half of the season to not be as strong, but the chemistry between the leads is amazing enough to pull me through the emf of this drama. Especially the visuals. It isn’t perfect, but there is smart writing going on here that it looks like people have missed. Too bad in the last half the writing isn’t like the first. Either way this drama still exceeds beyond most others I have seen this year.

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Dropped 10/40
Till the End of the Moon
14 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Apr 18, 2023
10 of 40 episodes seen
Dropped 2
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.5
This review may contain spoilers

the end of my sanity runs so thin

If I'm being honest, I am watching this show because of Luo Yunxi. I really hoped I would see him as Chu Wanning for now.. but this is what I get for now so I have to live with it.

This show has a lot of similarities to the one I wish I was watching, but looking past that I can see a lot of things that are convoluted and messed up about the story. There are an overwhelming amount of 10/10 reviews so I am rating this more realistically. I am being more harsh because so many people just say 10/10.

So its not bad. The costumes are gorgeous, the sets are gorgeous. Its really good looking. At times the CGI is over ambitious. I realize I am not like the many many others that are applauding it. It is way too much whenever it is there, it is like a bad marvel movie. I get it is the heavenly realm or immortal realm or whatever, but still- the amount of disbelief I can overlook is a lot- and it goes over that bar by a large margin. The CGI is CGI, if I can tell by that point it takes me out of the story. The half of the first episode is hard to watch because of the over saturation of the CGI. It is a huge battle and Luo Yunxi's demon god character is overpowered. This drama is just overproduced. I wish at some point someone anywhere would have told them to stop. I should have saw this coming with the posters for this show (the photoshop is horrendous.. why is there hair floating, Luo Yunxi's hand...) also I kid you not, they reuse shots.. and they freeze shots as if they don't have the material.

That's ok. They set it up so I hate him and he is irredeemable. He killed Bai Lu's characters whole clan (she has like three names so forgive me, I call her Bai Lu). Her father dies in front of her eyes and she is taken back in time to Demon Lord not being demon Lord so she can kill him...

This is where I have a problem. He is this dictator that kills anyone for power. He wiped out several races for power, and its fine it isn't explained why he wants that yet. I like the idea of seeing why he becomes bad and his life is honestly so pathetic that I don't blame him for being upset. It is just underwhelming that Bai Lu is sympathizing with him? He killed her whole family but she is so into this new life. The thing I am having a hard time digesting is that the life isn't even hers. I don't know why she cares so much, and if it is because she is nice than I think that is dumb. I'm sorry. She comes back to kill him, but is taking her time for some evil bone- but in the meantime she is sympathizing? The whole killing several races trumps over whatever he is crying about or getting beaten over. This show right there is off, the plot holes of her being the person in the first place to go back in time to kill him. Main character energy I like, but this is just too much.

It was because she was the only one who wasn't dead. I wish someone less easily swayed was there instead. So in the end when she wishes that she didn't sympathize and has her moment, I don't care. I just think she is so so so dumb. It is a whole romance story, but that is my problem. I get it is based off a book, but if other dramas have to change their narrative to make sense - why can't this one?

It would be a million times better if the narrative was changed. Like have Demon Lord not kill her family, change it to minutes before to show that he is about to but is conflicted. Then I would be ok with her sympathizing because of his pause. Or maybe cut out the romance. Honestly this show caters to the audience, to hopeless romantics. What is with China and romanticizing toxic relationships.

Luo Yunxi gets abused by Bai Lu in the previous life, but then she's nice for a few days and he wants to stay with her? It is Stockholm syndrome I swear. Both sides of knowing they are going to get together make me uncomfortable. There are stories that do the whole being evil but being human better. Luo Yunxi pre demon lord is established to have no feelings- so that's another plot hole? I am watching and getting frustrated by the absurdity of all these plot holes. So for that I rate it like I did.

The acting is very good. The costumes are good.. the story is something I can't get into because it is another drama that is yet again falling into the deep romance. I wish stories could be more gritty and stick with it. It is a shame because it is like there is a guy and a girl leading then in China they have to fall in love. Even if that is the worst possible decision for both of the characters.

I’m officially dropping after the multiple plot lines of drugging characters and sleeping together. There is a word for that- and it’s sickening. This drama glorifies the whole idea of that and it’s like they are trying to have it pass because the girl did it to the guy .. it’s flashy its- offensive and spreads the wrong messages. This show is unaware and I can’t buy into their love. Across all the different timelines or universes or lifetimes. It’s toxic and I refuse it. I could write a several page essay and it’s a shame. I wanted to finish this one but I’m done.

Summing it up it is way too much. Everything it too much and it’s not balanced. Maybe it’s good at the end but at this point I wasted 10 hours. That’s a lot and I’m not wasting 30 more

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Ongoing 2/10
Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
6 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Dec 19, 2022
2 of 10 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Two Souls Forever Drawn Together

This part was highly anticipated and that could make this part be very bad if it weren’t to be good. But the writing for this show sells the drama so well, that every doubt I have is fading away

I thought with a new actress for Naksu that would be jarring and her character wouldn’t feel the same. But her development is there with the last part and she is the same person. The writing for her is fluent and tied with the last part so well even if it has been three years for all the characters. They all are the same people but they have drastically matured by the situations and hardships they’ve been through.

This drama is a top notch one. The setting is stunning and the costumes are just as stunning. It’s got everything and more importantly the script backing this drama up is done very well. With a time skip it could’ve been doing too much or having us assuming, but they leave just enough to assume and enough for us to guess.

I love how well Naksu and Jang Uk play off each other, with it being reminiscent of what it was before. I hope the ending isn’t again a tragedy, but so far this drama is anything but. It’s so amazing really and everything is engaging. Impressive for me and I love this show so much. I’ll write a more in depth review once it all comes out.

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Ongoing 6/12
Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!
2 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Sep 24, 2024
6 of 12 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

drama of the year goes to…

Another highly anticipated drama that thankfully I can say is delivering! It is even going over the delivering and serving to me on a nice silver platter... let me explain..

So I have been going through a BL drought. Heck, a drama drought. K-dramas at this time have sucked the life out of me with their uninteresting and predicable plots, poor execution, and the fact that I watch and wonder.. why does something like this need to be made? What purpose is there other than to make money? Have famous leads in it to lure people in to end up being a total heaping pile of garbage.... so.. this drama COULD have been that. I mean the lead couple is famous and have starred in another successful project. The plot is darker and a bit of a niche in the BL industry. To do something outside of the classic romantic comedy genre of high school or college. Let me just get this straight. This drama is one of those that I think serves a purpose. I am glad it is made wonderfully and it clearly isn't pandering to its audience with chalked up fan service. So this drama is one that deserves to be made, it also is respectful to its audience and that is clear with the production level.

Other than that, production is one thing. Plenty of dramas look good but don't have the story to back it up. This one has witty dialogue that is just smart. Each character is written differently and it is believable they are different people. The people behind the screenplay are amazing, as even in scenes of just talking, the actors are giving the script to play off each other to look like they are having fun portraying their given roles. Some of the drama is a little unbelievable, but not to the point it is distracting or god awful. The plot gives it room to have fun, and the fact that there is a romance hidden somewhere in here leaves room for intrigue. I don't really care about the technicalities here, because the story just hasn't been done before. It is completely brand new to me as I have maybe read some concepts here and there that are similar to the story, but as a whole I haven't watched anything like this.

To keep it short I just have to praise the main leads, their acting capabilities, the camerawork, direction.. nothing is out of place. The camera work is shot beautifully that even when a set isn't too extravagant, the lighting goes a long way to bring atmosphere to the scene.

War is the standout actor here for me. He has so much charisma and is the guy that looks like he's having the most fun with his role. What a fun role it is too. Joke is by far my favorite characters, and his counterpart isn't lacking anywhere by the way. Jack is more reserved and Yin plays that wonderfully as well. Their dynamic is not only fun, I can sense some desire between them only a few episodes in. It makes me want to see them get to know each other and have a fallout and all that drama. I can't wait to watch it all unfold...

Getting back to this I must say, I am really aw struck by everything this drama has to offer. Knowing that the leads invested their own money confirms the fact that care is put behind this. THAT is why it is special. The people behind the show clearly care for the end result and have done it for their fans. Yet the show doesn’t flash fan service or pander, it is smartly written and honestly fantastic. I am enjoying all aspects and that definitely includes the comedy. All the way around this drama it has something to offer. Complain about it not being what you expected or not, but Yin and War offered the end result as a love letter to fans and you can tell they are having fun doing so. I can’t believe those who criticize such an honest effort. Like seriously, if you want a serious dark drama, go watch a kdrama. The humor adds to the story and it literally is a part of Joke’s character and his inability to take his own life seriously. The guy literally believes all he is good at is stealing.

You can really tell competent people are behind this with all the attention to detail and foreshadowing. It’s not a drama that forces things at you and tells you exactly what is going on. The actors portray their feelings to get across an excellent slow burn with amazing action scenes. Seriously the choreography is beat for beat as well as knowing the actors do it themselves. The time and energy behind this work is insane and I was interested to read up on it to confirm the fact that Yin and War really cared for this project and their fans. More than a love letter it is an amazing drama.

What this drama is good at is everything. I enjoy it all with earnestly and look forward to each episode. That is a gift to me; as this isn’t a cheap product made for money. It is a great drama even. I will go on and on when I can type to my hearts content.

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Ongoing 7/55
Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut
5 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
May 1, 2021
7 of 55 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5

Just what I needed.

I am currently waiting for the release of Immortality and started watching this on the expected release date

Best decision I have made. This show is so cinematic and every scene keeps me watching and wanting more. The politics hold depth and I never get bored even with those scenes where they discuss the lineage and the war throughout the countries.

Every aspect of this show is amazing. The actors know theirs roles and the chemistry between parings aren’t forced. To the master and the princess, to the prince and the princess. I understand what the characters motives are and can already see myself falling deeper in love with this drama

Compared to the original this show hits every detail perfectly. I don’t have a single complaint and recommend this to anyone who wants a cinematic and emotional performance.

I can’t get enough of the princess. She is by far the best female lead I have seen, I enjoy the acting, her style, her motives.

Even if the story could seems like it has been seen before this show adds key details. Each character has a motive and a backstory that is easily implied rather than exposition

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Dropped 8/48
Legend of Awakening
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jan 6, 2021
8 of 48 episodes seen
Dropped 1
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Arthur Chen is the only reason I watched this

I know it’s bad to watch It for a reason that I have up there. But holy sh*t, Arthur Chen really has captured my heart. He is a hotty, and I love his aloof acting. His character is amazing and I love his sister and the rival guy that I don’t know the name of. The girl lead is annoying so far because she follows Arthur Chen around for no reason at all. I may come back to this for my man crush.

The music isn’t anything too special, and the production isn’t too special either. The wigs are meh. I applaud the little sister character because she was very young at the time of making this, I think she was 13?

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Ongoing 1/8
Bloodhounds
2 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jun 10, 2023
1 of 8 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Bloodcurdling

I have really been looking forward to this one- it has Woo Do Hwan, it has action, and it has boxing. So right away the intrigue for me is off the charts.

With a first episode only being watched there is only so much I can say for now but- wow.

Woo Do Hwan is a stellar actor and this is definitely my favorite work of his I’ve seen. In terms of versatility he gives it all, he’s a badass, he’s a sweet son, he’s a great friend- he really is everything.

I can’t wait to see more from him and his delivery because with only an episode it already is so so good. This drama gives exactly what it should and honestly goes beyond that. It had by heart racing by the last scenes of the first episode.

It’s not boring and easy to understand, the motivations and character contrasts are clear. It’s a clean drama other than all the blood. The story is right knit and no story bears contradict eachother. So for now it’s a 10/10 simply because I’m enjoying it a lot.

The action really is what sells it. Just watch for yourself

I’ll update later when I watch more but I had to rave for now

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