Reviews

Cute and simple

I'm glad I was able to finish this drama. For a moment there, it seemed to be an impossible task and I was heartbroken but I finally had the chance to finish the remaining episodes. So I first thought this was going to be 10 episodes then someone said it was 8 episodes which made me sad but we ended up with 12 which was exciting but on second thought, this should have been 8 episodes! It was actually too long!
So this show is very simple and average. There is no huge and revolutionary events in it. It's the epitome of average. I liked the beginning better as it started very funny and mysterious but as it went on and the romance developed, it became more like a sketch of a drama rather than a fully developed one.
The acting is just alright for them to get away with it and the production and music and everything else is just enough too. If you want to watch a BL which isn't just a romance and has plotlines that exist independently from the romance but are still not too complicated, then this show is a good choice. It's a really light watch.

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So Annoying

This series is not so bad that I want to stop watching, yet I'm really annoyed by a couple of things about it. First off, just how stupid is the ML that he can't put 2 and 2 together? How many episodes is it going to take before he can finally see what's right in front of his face? IMO it should have happened in episode 2 or 3 at most. And I refuse to believe that the FL can so easily control herself in difficult circumstances so as not to reveal her big secret. I find it easier to believe in zombies and I hate zombie series. Naturally, the 2 episodes a week format isn't as enjoyable as the binge-them-all-in-one-shot opportunities. Netflix arbitrarily skipping a week didn't help. As it is I have to watch everything at 1.5 speed due to the prolonged pauses inherent to a lot of Kdramas. Overall I just want this series to move faster. Hopefully it will ripen into a good romance, but it's just a bit too green for me right now.

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This is why I have trust issues

Why is this show so popular?! It was trash; basically. I'm not trying to be cruel, it was just a very badly made melodrama. I would have dropped this but I watched it with my mother and for some inexplicable reason, she was obsessed with watching this to the end even while complaining that the show is terrible...so we watched it, all the way to the end. I think maybe part of the issue is that this show is just very old and from a time when Kdramas didn't always try to be good. But this was just so cheesy! And it wasn't like Moon Lovers, that show is so obviously cringe, I mean the first time we meet the princes they're bathing! That show was so unserious and in your face with its awfulness that it was fun to watch it but this show was almost good! There are so many strong actors, the plot is serious, and it's like it's trying to be taken seriously but it falls short, my god it falls very short!
So first off, the plot here is convoluted but also underdeveloped, with a bit of tweaking this could have been so much more interesting. How? Some mystery would've been nice! The audience knows every single mystery of the plot the whole time (minus the one in episode 19 but by that point, you know these characters so well you will never fall for the plot's tricks.) So basically if we knew a bit less, it would have been so much less tedious to watch characters find out about stuff 10 episodes late. Secondly, this romance had less substance than cheese puffs! Why are these characters in love? Meeting twice and having three interesting conversations is a good build-up but it was just not enough for the epic romance this was set up to be. Also, the plot seems to have given up on using brain cells the moment the characters reached adulthood. The childhood era was actually nice, it tricked us into thinking the show is good. But then, everyone is suddenly dumb as an adult, especially the female lead who was so sharp and intelligent as a child. I get that that's what the amnesia plotline does to any respectable woman so I guess I just hate amnesia plots then. ._. And that's the other thing, the female lead is so passive. The literal moon that is in the sky and is shown, frankly too frequently, was more proactive in this plot than her. In fact, despite being the female lead, she barely has any role throughout the story. She's just there for everyone else to act around! Then there's the fact that events have no consequence as long as the female lead is involved. In fact, a major issue is how hard the show bends logic to protect the female lead's protagonist's halo. It's so frustrating. It was all so frustrating. I was either falling asleep from boredom or rolling my eyes from frustration while watching this.
So the casting...it's really good?! But why is everyone behaving so weird?! I don't know why but these really class actors were delivering absolutely no emotional impact. I could not care less about these characters and the acting made me so uncomfortable, everyone was so cheesy. I only liked Jung Il Woo, he was surprisingly a very strong actor and seemed a bit wasted here. The female lead was a nightmare and I bet Kdramaland unanimously sighed in relief when she married and gave up acting 'cause YIKES! what is that?! It was like she was allergic to expressions and having a personality...though the second one is probably the writer's fault! Everyone else was over acting. I like Fl's mom though. She was in Jewel in the Palace and I just like this woman a lot and her crying scenes were the only emotionally touching ones.
Music....do not even ask...
Production was terrible too but that should go without saying.
And I will not rewatch this, I barely wanted to watch it!
Overall: So many shows are popular on this website for no logical reason! Maybe they made sense 15 years ago, barely any of them hold up now. And I know there are good old shows but none of them are as popular as the bad ones! At least, so far in my experience. I'm gonna watch Goblin and hope for the best...

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Sweet, Lighthearted, and Full of Charm!

I love how the story is lighthearted and adorable. The characters really bring out the best in each other, showing genuine care and support, which makes it a perfect feel-good watch. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and you can tell they have so much potential as actors. They seem really comfortable together, probably because they're close in age, so their interactions feel natural and unforced. Considering they're both idols, I expected there to be some awkwardness, but it actually works quite well. The dynamic feels effortless and adds to the overall charm of the show.

As for the music, it does fit the mood, but it’s not particularly memorable. Since the series is so short, the soundtrack doesn't have much time to make a lasting impression. It serves as a subtle background element, complementing the story without really standing out.

I also really liked the kisses—they feel so natural and genuine, much better than some of the ones I’ve seen in other BLs. It's refreshing to see such authentic moments on screen.

If you're looking for something short, sweet, and light, this is definitely worth watching. It's the perfect blend of cute moments, feel-good energy, and a charming dynamic between the leads.

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A huge disappointment if I ever seen one..

The prime example of how to waste an elite cast on a series way beneath them. That was among my most anticipated series from part 1 of gmmtv 2024 lineup and ended up the biggest disappointment. The attempt to combine the five books of each Ploy failed miserably. The plot was all over the place. The story jumped from one thing to another without fleshing out characters or situations and many parts of the plotline lacked logic and common sense. The transitions from past to present weren't smooth either and sometimes were even unrelated to one another.

My only exception was the story of Tawan (Joong) and Punk Ploy (Film). It was by far the best written part of the series that I really enjoyed to watch and I feel that these two actors were the only ones who actually shined because of that. Specifically, I found Joong magnificent in a role very different from those he usually plays. He showed so many emotions I really loved it.

Another good point of the series was the music. I would go as far as to say that it was its strongest point. The songs were all very emotional and enhanced the impact of every scene.

I would recommend the series only for the two points I mentioned and if you want to honour such an exceptional cast.

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This is a perfect underdog story

I really loved Itaewon class. It's been a while since I watched it but there are many memorable moments in it that come to mind. It's not my typical genre of drama, but I am so glad I watched it. The plot is about a young man who has been wronged by the world, but picks up the pieces of his life and creates something spectacular. His grit and determination never waver, helping him find success in the most difficult of circumstances, up against an enemy much more powerful than he is. He is also a kind and compassionate young man, fiercely loyal to his friends even when they also cause much trouble for him. This makes them extremely loyal to him, and no matter what anyone does to this poor young man he always bounces back and his hard won success was truly a joy to watch. It's really well written and I can't praise it enough. Every single character in this show has spectacular depth and motivations. The ML was fantastic, I will now watch anything with him in it. Seriously, even if your typical favorite genre is romance, give this one a watch. I really think you'll like it.

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Pirate twink sadist courts abused former slave girl

Yeah I don't know who wrote the review that I read before watching this, but it was complete nonsense. The story is good, it's good enough that I might consider watching it again in a few years. Basically the premise is that this pirate twink who is obsessed with revenge for his family meets the enslaved pearl diver. She's a slave that escapes her circumstances and sneaks on his ship. After he puts her through some more horrific abuse for a while, she joins the convoy and the story goes on from there. I think it's ridiculous for the audience to be expected to understand someone like the pirate twink, and forgive him for the cruelty he showed this former slave who already endured so much hardship and cruelty. This is not an appropriate romance lmao. Our victim, a typical abused girl, is convinced she can fix him and shows extreme loyalty. The FL is always a fantastic actress, I have always enjoyed watching her portray characters. This story is one of resilience, determination, and success despite having the odds against you. Around the midpoint of this drama, I had to take a break. Some seriously emotional events happened and I had to actually struggle to find the will to keep watching. I truly was so close to dropping this title because of it, I think a lot of these things were done for shock value and it could have certainly been written in a better way. But despite that, I am glad that I finished it and I think it was a pretty decent story.

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Disappointing Otome Isekai, with extra cringe on the side.

WHO RATED THIS A TEN???

Okay, I am a sucker for Otome Isekai, especially those where the MC is reborn as the villainess character. They are one of my favorite subgenres and I would like to think I have watched enough of them to be a bit of an enthusiast. However, this drama was not it for me. The plot is that of a typical mediocre otome isekai story, MC transported to another world into the body of the villainess in her favorite book series. I did have high hopes for this series as the plot description caught my attention. However, the storytelling just wasn't there. The writers made the weirdest choices, and it felt like honestly they were just asking Chat GPT to give them conflicts and character depth. Not to mention, the FL gave me so much second hand cringe. Her acting was so bad, it was difficult to keep watching. I felt like my skin was crawling as I watched her attempt to portray this character, it fell flat and she just seemed like a goofy moron who made the worst choices possible, and needed the ML for everything. (A departure from typical really good villainess otome isekai which is female-centric with a powerful FL.) In her defense, the character isn't that great to begin with, and the script was also really bland. But also, she's just really, really bad at acting. There was not a drop of chemistry between her and the ML and I wondered how they could even end up together. To be honest, it felt like they were more friends than anything, and sometimes felt like she didn't like him at all despite what she was saying. His acting was so much better than hers though, so the balance was off as well - it was like he held all the chemistry and she was just goofy and oblivious, nonchalant and uncaring. The special effects were cool, the music was pretty decent. I will never rewatch this. I barely slogged my way through it the first time.

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Outstanding performances and a remarkable production of a contemporary drama.

I came across a teaser on YouTube, then searched on MDL for where to watch it, and voila! I decided to give it a try mostly because I really like the lead actor. I discovered him in the story of MingLan and have never looked back since. He is a very talented actor.

I am generally not fond of modern dramas. First, many of them often start with a woman who is bullied by her family, colleagues, or peers at school. Typically, it takes more than half the series for the female lead to get her revenge, only to end up falling for another man while the initial cheater or villain regrets their actions eternally. It's the same old story.

However, because this particular actor was in it, I decided to give it a try, and it turned out to be a good choice.

The drama "Married" does have the classic elements of ‘mistress’ and ‘cheating,’ which are necessary to drive the plot. What makes this story stand out is that it portrays a believable narrative. The characters aren’t strictly good or bad; they are a mix of both.

The central theme is that many women will resonate with the female lead — an ambitious and talented woman who left everything behind when she married an equally ambitious and talented man who ultimately succeeded in his career. It touches on the stereotype of married women who are expected to stay home and raise children. Of course, there’s the typical wake-up call after five to ten years when the husband neglects his wife, leading to the discovery of the ambitious and beautiful mistress working alongside him.

This storyline corresponds with the experiences or feelings of many women, capturing their pride and struggles.

The story is well-constructed and well-acted from beginning to end. One memorable scene is when the husband is released from jail and spends time with his son, and they both cry in each other's arms. He realizes, too late, just how much he missed, and how much his ex-wife sacrificed and loved him and their son.

Again, it's a stereotypical narrative, but the ending was not the happy conclusion everyone might have expected.

(Spoilers)

The couple remained divorced but reached a compromise for the sake of their son. He gave all his shares to his ex-wife to support her in remaining the CEO. He broke up with his mistress for good, recognizing that the age gap and her ambitions did not align with what he wanted for his new life. He became a devoted father and returned to the company, but as a creator rather than the CEO. Meanwhile, his ex-wife managed to balance work and personal life and realized she was falling in love again with another man.

In the end, everyone found peace and moved on, which is often what happens after a divorce.

I definitely recommend this drama!

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A bad trip despite a good plot and a great cast ๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐

I watched this series because I'm in an "Harem Dramas trip" this days and I really like the 2 leads. However, I had trouble getting through the 36 episodes ๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐

PLOT: The FL who has a lover (ML2) does everything to escape an arranged marriage with the lord of the land. But she finds herself servant-concubine of the 4th Prince (ML) already provided with a harem full of women, each one more ambitious and devious than the last. The FL will help the ML to confront the fratricidal rivalries within the Court, but will also have to deal with the shenanigans of the harem.

+++ The actors are great (Peter Ho & He Hong Shan, although this CL doesn't have great chemistry) and bring (painfully) a very poorly written story to life.
+++ OST suited to the kind of the series.

### VERY poorly written story, with inconsistent characters.
### Low-budget series (this flaw is very visible, especially the stuffed animals for the hunting scene :)

=> This drama could have been excellent (plot, cast) but the flaws make it just average.
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J'ai regardé cette série parce que je suis dans un trip Harem Dramas en ce moment et que j'aime beaucoup les 2 leads. Cependant, j'ai eu du mal à aller au bout des 36 épisodes ๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐
PLOT: La FL qui a un lover (ML2) fait tout pour échapper à un mariage arrangé avec le seigneur de la région. Mais elle se retrouve servante-concubine du 4e Prince (ML) déjà pourvu d'un harem rempli de femmes, plus ambitieuses et sournoises les unes que les autres. La FL va aider le ML à affronter les rivalités fratricides au sein de la Cour, mais devra aussi faire face aux manigances du harem.

+++ Les acteurs sont super (Peter Ho & He Hong Shan, bien que ce CL n'aie pas une grande alchimie) et font (péniblement) vivre une story très mal écrite.
+++ OST adaptés au genre de la série.

### Story TRES mal écrite, avec des personnages peu cohérents.
### Série low-budget (ce défaut est très visible, notamment les animaux en peluche pour la scène de chasse :)

=> Ce drama aurait pu être excellent (plot, cast) mais les défauts le rendent juste moyen.

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LI YUN RUI

Ok, I've watched 4 dramas of Li Yun Rui (LLtG, Scene of Love, the Last Immortal, Blossom) and naturally have a great impression of him. Being new in the industry he's doing pretty good although need some polishes to get better. In Blossom he has great visual especially in the first episode where he has grey hair and some great action. I was thinking 'wow...this is good'. When they have misunderstanding & suspicious of each other (ep5) in the storm rainy day, that's great scenes - dramatic backdrop setting. But after ep 18 & the marriage, I am taking a break - them focusing in romance more. Not that I don't like romance, I do, I just don't like too much expose on lovey dovey. The action less frequent than the beginning of the drama.

The cameramen shoot very good angles, perfect caption on the expression of actors faces, nice execution. I think the director is the best asset in Blossom. The story though, same old same these 'reborn to a new beginning after crucial fate in the previous life'. No matter how twist the plots - character come back to reeducate to be better so won't have the same sadly ending. It's kind like of cheating of exams - students know the questions and would have same answers in different deviation. Also it's about dysfunctional family members; mix and match of mean step mother, stupid dad, ambitious uncle, nice grandmother, etc. We know that part and nothing much to appreciate. If C-drama keep doing same thing, I am afraid nothing left to watch.

I don't know in which episode Song Mo (LYR) will start to take some action in revenge of his uncle death. I am watching this up to ep 20 and still no heart to continue it. But I think this is one of the better drama than anything else. Right now, this is it.

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