Reviews

It's really really good

First of all, I have not read the novel, manhwa or watched the animation. Many people are comparing this with a different show which has ultimately very loose connection with this show. It is a standalone show with great cast.

Acting is very good 👍. Each character, even if they are there for a few scenes throughout the series have put their efforts. Main leads shine very much.

The first few episodes are bit rushed out. But then the pacing was perfect and super enjoyable. Ultimately, I loved this show very much.

I wish they make second season of this because it kind of end at a major plot point.. 🤞🤞🤞🤞

(I have only watched the last episode of that earlier show. That felt very shallow and disconnected. This is much enjoyable in every aspect. No connection with that show imo)

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An adaptation of the original Nevertheless but with a so different vibe and anticipated changes

Everyone says this is the infamous Nevertheless remake but really it's not 100%.

One major difference is that the ML is NOT a student but a subtitute teaching assistant. That changes the relationship dynamics portrayed.
The FL is not blinded by love like Nabi in nevertheless but more like she is lost, so does the ML. You don't get to feel that much toxicity here but more like mature adults who are very lost.

The characters are indeed based on the original Kdrama but they all give off different vibes and feelings. There is the lesbian couple but they are not really like the ones in the og. The other couple is also similar in some way.

The aesthetics and everything in this drama is exactly the Japanese type but with insipiration and elements from the original story.

overall, a decent drama so far. shall wait and see how the rest unfolds!

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Bulgasal: A Mesmerizing Blend of History and Fantasy

It’s rare for a show to pull me in so completely that I watch it in one sitting, but Bulgasal: Immortal Souls achieved just that. The unique mix of historical drama and supernatural elements, combined with a talented cast, instantly captured my attention.

The cinematography was a standout feature—every shot was beautifully crafted, enhancing the mood and immersing me in the story. The plot unfolded in a clear and deliberate way, maintaining tension and flow without ever feeling confusing. This made it easy to stay engaged and enjoy the series fully.

Admittedly, there were one or two episodes that felt a bit clichéd, but the show avoided the shallow or predictable traps common in modern dramas. It kept its intelligence intact, delivering a story that was as enjoyable as it was gripping. The beginning was especially strong, drawing me in immediately, while the ending, though slightly predictable, felt satisfying and well-rounded.

What impressed me most was the show’s consistency. It never faltered in pacing or tone, maintaining its momentum from start to finish. The visuals were stunning, but it was the soundtrack that truly elevated the experience, perfectly complementing the emotional depth of the story.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10

Visuals: 7.5/10

Soundtrack: 8.5/10

Personal Enjoyment: 10/10

Overall: 8.5/10


If you’re curious about Bulgasal, you’ll know by the first or second episode if it’s for you. For me, it was an unforgettable experience, and I wouldn’t hesitate to rewatch it.

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☂ Drunk Dialing 4 Dummies ⛈ Dysfunction Under Inspection ☂ °7.8° °Excellent°

Spoilers are clearly marked and at the bottom.

Witches brew: These 3 friends are cursed!

Wu-Yeon(Wu) the 'ex-collector', says she's cursed to be forever trapped in a 1sided ♥️ w/ Su, despite days, mos, years~> Despite the /decade/ that's elapsed. She seems composed, but when alcohol pours in, emotions pour out into Su's vm. Wu has a most-of-life crush on Su, who has declared them to be in friendzone⛔️… more than twice, or thrice (or double on ice) for a full decade. Su drops into town & mixes her up, only to exit without leaving a gratuity. That forever leaves Wu forlorn & in need of liquid relief, which leads to slurpee vms on Su's phone. She's a serial drunk-dialer, & her friends are so hungover it. Su might be their friend, but he drags the party down.

Yeong-Hui(Hu) grew up poor, w/ no advantages behind, & only struggles ahead. She's been cursed to a life of toil, poverty, & unworthiness. Hu is 1/2 of the couple mixed within the group. She and her BF struggle to face life's hardships and muddled family pressures, while trying to stay strong together. The only true struggle is that Hu refuses to accept that the man she loves can truly accept her: She's too poor and her family is always in trouble: She will only drag him down, she'scertain.

Jin-Ju(Ju) is cursed as well: Never to know ♥️. Ju struggles with loneliness. Her life, without love, is a drag.

MTF pulls up a chair alongside a band of boozers & toast the twenties. Wu, Hu & Ju were fused 🔗by combat in the HS arena. Now it's 10 years post graduation, when everybody thinks they have it figured out, but virtually no one does. They're learning to navigate adult jobs, situations and relationships. The 3 girls have a lifetime bond from their early HS years, so when Yeong-Hui pairs up with her BF, his friends come along as chasers to round out a 6-pack: 1 couple + 4 drinking buddies.

This brings us to now. Su is back in town, and once again sends signals to Wu that appear encouraging (is it finally happy hour?), only to flip the table on her once more. Again. As soon as Wu moves on to someone else, Su suddenly declares feelings for.... Guess who.

Their stories dial-in to several themes, including:

☂ Scars from thoughtlessness

☂ Pain's effects on emotional health, incl toxic Parent-child relationships & self-inflicted wounds

☂ Surviving 1sided♥️ - They all go through it

☂ Faulty suppositions - recheck yours every 5 years or so. They can't all be right.

☂ The sinking loneliness of selfishness vs the buoyancy of generous & committed ♥️

MTF also offers paths to resolution: L♥️ve is opening, giving & accepting. Maturity is learning to be unselfish, even when it hurts. Especially then.

For a few episodes, it was difficult to tell if it was worth the wait for last call. There were a generous pours of quality exchanges, metaphors, quotes, ironies, basically the usual for the better Kdramas - The ones they do well are outstanding, if not superbly divine. 75% into the show, I had only been looking at it through narrowed eyes in low light, waiting for the moment a glass would shatter and MTF would be easily swept away & forgotten. However, by ep15, I felt like a regular with the gang at the pour-it-all-out-house. Unexpectedly, real tears started flowing. Inner conflict overflowed next over the proper rating: 7? Am I looking at this thru the bottom of the glass? An absolutely stunning conversation put the answer into focus - MTF has buoyancy. It is refreshing, and it dazzles when it catches the light.

There's a spill of latent (submerged) emotions in MTF's examination of the 3 women and the challenges they stare down from across the table in their quest for: Love, financial independence, and the most elusive honesty-to-self. MTF opens their circle and invites the viewer in. Like with any relationship, the show leaves room to allow the viewers to drop in and raise a glass, even though we must hold back the urge to smash a soju bottle over some noggins.

This is more of a drama than a romance, and it is a worthy one. The cast is smooth and fluid; not a sour in the bunch. Ong Seong-Wu exhibits a truly great performance as Su. Be prepared for the slower cadence with anything that helps bring relaxation, and watch them blend, stir, and shake their lives.

〰QUOTES〰

Words are like boomerangs. The come back at you. (Aigoo. HEAR, youngins!)

Emotions are determined by the person on the receiving end. (Isn't perspective & timing everything?)

I'm afraid you will use the wounds you received as a shield & grow up a warped adult.

Back views are the saddest


〰IMHO〰

🎬7.5 🎭7.5 🖋〰 8 (This is the writer's 1st credited work, so we've been promised future brilliance) 💓7 🦋5 🤔8 🌞5 🎨7 🔚8

Age 15+



⚠️SPOILER SECTION⚠️

Before the next round, let's sweep away the broken bottles: MTF deliberately matures at a slow, near frustrating pace. It's relaxing if you can - Just un-tense↪ now breathe〰 What will likely frustrate every viewer is that Su, Wu, & Hu are as irritating as a botched drink order. Perhaps it's not what you're expecting, but the director & writer have placed tasty fusion on the table.

In defense of the house specials, 1st we'll look at:

Su. Most people dislike him. For most of MTF he's emotionless. He's cold & self-isolated. Su was alone his entire childhood. Now he's alone, even amongst friends. From his view, human interaction means bitterly spatting parents. Affection denied is intimacy died. ‘Relationships are distasteful’, is what he learned at home. No wonder he's a photographer. He studies but never participates. At the same time, he desperately tries to let ☀ inside. Obnoxious, cold, or odd behaviors are childhood painkillers. Kids cope in any way they can. Entrenched behaviors turn into bad habits that are difficult to delete, like a voicemail once it's already been delivered. "Kron-ih-'kah," while it's appropriate (helpful, even) to call out bad behavior, we shouldn't tell a person that s/he isn't handling pain "right". Be patient & generous w/ others.

Though Su won't imbibe his own feelings, it's obvious that he's always been intoxicated with Wu~

⏱ Per his overseas friend, when Su's in the USA, his comment card mentions Wu ·only· by name. No one else from Kcountry

⏱ Su picked on, cheered up &/or defended no girls, other than than Wu

⏱ No doubts, he enjoys spending ⏱ w/ Wu

⏱ He enjoys it so much that he fills her ☕️ & ⏱ whenever he's back, despite her deflections. "I want to see Wu as much as I can before I leave," he says, etc

⏱ His narcissistic jokes are on the tab, but he never leaves tips about the the good things he's done for Wu

Su's a world away from understanding how his actions leave Wu as frozen as a daiquiri. He lied to himself 1st, being blinded by fear & blunting to his underexposed emotions. Feelings for Wu gush out after she leaves the table to sit in the corner w/ another guy. Then (THEN!) he declares himself. Its effect is 100% contrary to his hopes.

{Bunny⚫> IRL, ya'll RUN AWAY! A romantic relationship won't, nor is it supposed to, fix such problems. People like this often don't want to be part of a project that will hire them. The very moment their desired 'object' stirs, they'll dump ice water all over. MTF is fiction. Don't mix up your life that way}

Enough w/ the ♥️🔺s! Not realizing, as a newbie, what a departure MTF is from Kdrama tropes (the CEO is not the best match), the kind CEO seems the better choice. Su is a different person by the end. He exits w/ his glass ½ full. He loves. He's open to friendship. He is now able to point the lens Wu's way: It's HE that's been in a 1-sided♥️ w/ HER, he declares. I was stunned, and so was Wu. She stops, reviews, & realizes ALL her relationships had been 1sided~> b/c of HER. That's top-shelf writing. It was this scene + crying real tears that took my rating from 7 to 8.

Wu: Though shy, she seems adjusted in HS, but her life's blood is leaking. Sensing she's helpless, sharks attack. Even w/ her friends' support, her emotions are still stunted. HS is when she begins to take Su's cues as clues of his interest. Sadly, Su ain't got a clue ·yet· Wu musters the courage to offer her 💝 to Su at the airport as he's escaping M&D by going to the USA. He visibly stiffens to rebuff her w/ blank eyes & rigid face, as a resolute chill falls like a dropped napkin. It's the 1st in a decade of misalignments between them. She cries for a long ⏱. Eventually, she just cries when she's sozzled. This ♻ repeats in bursts. Su reappears & appears interested, so Wu is frozen in hope. Her loved ones are hungover from it all. They don't like Su.

Wu is her most frustrating when she breaks up w/ Su. She's wrong. She agrees to go abroad w/ him, goes back on her promise, & then blames him for not being there - he doesn't ♥️ her enough, she blames. She wasn't honest about ·what· she needed from ·whom· preferring a draught of resentment when her needs sat empty. Just as she always flits from ex-to-the-next, never once opening up, then floating away, she pivots and does the same to Su.

1-sided♥️ is a symptom, as is her projec/deflec·tion. Neither she nor Su is able to heal the other. They must self-heal to self-liberate or they'll self-isolate & self-medicate.

Hu is suffering from what's referenced in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: "We accept the 💘 we think we deserve." Always railing against poverty, her mother's complaints drip continuously until their tiny apt was overflowing. Mom's resentment became a bitterness that long ago blotted out affection. Hu has been plied with inferiority. She was dunked into the whirlpool w/ no way to emerge, so she truly believes she's dragging down Hun-Jae, her BF since HS. After all, he shouldn't suffer the way she has! Once again, as is the case w/ Su, the branding from childhood cannot be brushed away. She's also extremely stubborn, like mom, so it takes her a long ⏱ to come around.

It's frustrating how nobody has a faster epiphany, but isn't that true life? People don't pivot like Michael Jordan. These characters, blinded by pain, aren't contrived. I'm reminded of Kafka's Metamorphosis & how fed up I was w/ Gregor: "Someone should smash this bug!" Lol〰 Kafka's manipulations: He tricks the reader into being just as fed up as Gregor's family. Gregor didn't do anything wrong↪ Except↪he frustrated us↪so "bring out the Raid!"

The series is to the rim w/ metaphors:

☂ Absent Su, the dummies are drinking. Wu keeps looking at the empty Su-less chair next to her

☂ Jurassic Park's "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" is cleverly placed (Su's apt in rearview)

☂ Wu & Su's clothes will start matching as they see each other more often

☂ Pinocchio's nose teaches us that lying distances us from others. We always lie to ourselves 1st. What sensible profundity

〰☂〰 ⛈Rain⛈ 〰☂〰

In MTF, rain represents the rough stuff of life that hammers all. Similar to armor, the ☂☂s are protective Shields. When Su decides to ♥️ Wu, he abandons his ☂ (He ✨ when wet. Ahem). Unprotected, Su hazards the elements & gets drenched. (Song-Wu Ong should do more scenes in the rain, all wet ☺).

People don't share ☂s often in the show. They're all alone in trying to protect themselves from the ⛈ of life. Instead of a lightweight ☂, they're wrapped up & weighted down in armor. We stand strong, walk shielded, & party-on better TOGETHER. It's not a coincidence that Hu compares turtle shells to armor over scars. Eventually, one will die from the weight or learn to take some off. (Of all the hypocrisy! - As if she's going to walk in the rain & not get wet! She will finally pull her chair all the way up to the table.)

About hypocrisy... When Ju tells the other girls how she sees ♥️, fate, & commitment, she might have been staggering around the room from the looks Hu&Wu shot her. The viewer's expectation is that the 2 will choose a personal-life application from the menu. Instead, they comment on how /Ju/ has matured! We're all blind to our own stuff. That scene drops a case of stuff.

Along w/the ♥️🔺, MTF serves up another trope: MSS (Mandatory-Separation-Syndrome). Usually painful as cirrhosis, for Su & Wu it's a good thing. The power balance between them should be 1:1 parts, which is necessary for them to grow together. It's also appropriate that Su's devotion be proof-tested.

The men in this show are saint-level good: Loving, patient, supportive... These girls tapped-the-majic-keg! Even though Wu didn't choose Saint CEO, she did catalyze Su into becoming her prince. Ding-dong! The curse is lifted. Each girl gets her prince! Ju, the girl w/ the loveless curse, gets married 1st. (It looks that way - they'll make it. Right? ;)) She had been looking & lamenting that she would never find him, but he had always been spilled out in front of her. The other two come to realize they weren't cursed in the first place. None of them were.

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Sci-fi in its perfect portrayal - Yonder

This Saturday I opened this show unaware of the genre nor storyline, I just wanted to view Shin Ha-Kyun and Han Jimin duality; two of my favorite actors... but wow I didn’t expect to be drown to the plot.
Sci-Fi is a genre where perfection is difficult to saturate, yet Yonder saturated this aspect.

if I’m going to talk about the story, it’s simple but the integration of global themes like death, existentialism, and happiness were seamless and explicit, you can notice that through the dialogues, internal monologues that convey these themes in lucid diction, nonetheless you can empathize and interact internally with the characters.

Cenimatography was top notch, it immersed me even more, it accentuated the themes of the drama and created a majestic setting, in ep 3 where Ja hyun met Yee hoo in the metaverse I felt the sublimity of the atmosphere, I want to praise the cinematography team for their efforts they made my experience memorable.

If you have Shin Ha-kyun and Han Jimin in a series you can infer while closing your eyes that you will get master performance, they were my initial motive to start the series. These two subtly portrayed the complexities of their characters.
I was touched by their harmonious chemistry. The last scene of them in Yonder and them breaking the 4th wall gave me bittersweet feelings, I felt fulfilled.

What also caught me are the quotations especially in the last episode they gave more context and clarified how the protagonists overcame their emotional turmoil.
The ending was satisfactory to me and I didn’t feel it was rushed.
if you will watch Yonder hope you'll enjoy it!!

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Bright Time: As Bright as the Sunshine

Guys, we are all aware that BL shows is technically banned in China, most of which are stuck inside each platform’s dungeon respectively, and none of them will be seeing the light of the day. In other words, they are trapped in the obscurity of darkness for eternity until somebody can lift a hand to help them get out of this confinement. What I mean is that most of BL shows need to have international airing permit or cut down several intimate scenes so that the show can be censored safely without unnecessary conflicts.

This case also happens in Bright Time, the show that I will be reviewing today. Back in 2021, Bright Time had got the airing permit but never got the chance to air, supposedly because of the BL vibes in it. After 3 years of uncertainties, Bright Time finally aired in July 2024 though it was not overly hyped unlike other popular romance shows. Dating back to November, I coincidentally found Bright Time as I was scrolling at MDL as usual, while keeping my face to the grindstone for end-of-year exams. At first, I thought this was going to be another old-school drama where they deployed all sorts of tropes into one dish. But lord, was I proven wrong?

Bright Time’s story revolves around seven youths consisted of the wild and unruly Lan Jinghui, the stone-faced straight-A student Ling Dong, the cute and adorable Xiao Xiaohua, the foodie Xia Qingtian, the optimistic class monitor Chen Luyang, the playful Ma Yiming, and the school belle Xu Mengyu. Together, they bravely face the challenges of highschoolers’ daily lives and learn the importance of friendship and self-discovery and embark on a fantastic journey to find their true selves.

Actually, the plot focuses more on Lan Jinghui and Ling Dong’s storyline, with Xiao Xiaohua as the ‘mediator’ so that Bright Time can pass censorship. Widely known as an unruly bad boy, Lan Jinghui becomes notorious for his silly pranks and constant neglection of schoolwork. Therefore, his father and the principal, who happens to be an old friend, decide that Lan Jinghui would be better off to be tutored by the cleverest student in the class, which is none other than Ling Dong. When they first encounter each other, Ling Dong is dismissive of Lan Jinghui’s antics but still has to this ruffian for greater good. Unexpectedly, Ling Dong’s daily routine is turned upside down by Lan Jinghui’s sudden appearance and thus marks the start of a heartwarming and passionate story of the youths who want to pursue their dreams and be each other’s life companion.

If you’re a BL lover, you’ll immediately discover that this show is a BL disguised as an ordinary friendship drama. There are a lot of not-so-intimate scenes where they sleep or lie on the ground together, or perhaps when they hug each other for a certain period of time. I’m sure there are more of it, but since the shitty censorship is playing cruel, we can’t have dozens of scenes like this (it’s already such a fortune that it doesn’t get banned like other BL)

I must also appreciate for the actors’ phenomenal acting especially Hao Fusen and Bian Cheng. Hao Fusen is a talented young actor who can easily capture the essence of Lan Jinghui’s character and he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. His facial expression is also on point, which makes me easier to relate to his character. In contrast, Bian Cheng plays the cold and aloof Ling Dong, a role which is neither challenging nor complicated. Despite this, he still pulls off Ling Dong’s character seamlessly and also explores a wide range of emotions with the aid of his good micro-expression. I’ll also looking forward to seeing his future works – bet he’s going to be a rising star lol. Also, the other actors also contribute to the success of the show, and I would like to commend them for tackling and understanding each character pretty well.

OSTs, cinematography, costumes, sets, and backgrounds are of high-budget value and look pretty nice. I can’t help but fall in love with the song that they sing at the Art Competition – it’s quite something, I must say.

Overall, a brilliant ten of out ten. I highly recommend this show for those who’re still longing for BL or perhaps who want to see an outstanding high-school drama amongst a bunch of flops drifting here and there. Have a good watch and good luck!!!

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A Sweet Obsession

I’m simply obsessed. This was, without a doubt, the drama that consumed me the most this year. Ironically, much of the story revolves around obsession itself.

The protagonist is a SOCIOPATH. I can’t remember the last time I saw a sociopath as the main character, and I have to say: they are fascinating. Much more interesting than psychopaths, because the dynamic they create with other characters is different and extremely engaging.

The drama revolves entirely around him. It’s about who he is, what he does, and how everyone around him tries to bring him down—whether through justice or their own means. What really hooked me is that he’s not just the villain; he’s the driving force behind everything.

I didn’t find it to be a typical thriller. Usually, thrillers focus on facts, on events that move the plot, with external twists. Here, the focus is on the characters: their motivations, relationships, and layers. It feels more like a drama with thriller tones, which is probably why I was so enchanted by it.

About obsession: the protagonist takes it to another level. I’ve never seen anyone so obsessed, and that’s what makes him so memorable. He’s violent, desperate, unpredictable, and yet brilliantly smart. He’s a bad guy with “good” justifications (in his own mind).

His story is marked by destruction. He was betrayed, manipulated, and used as a pawn, so all he could do was react. And what a reaction. His violence escalates as the episodes go on, while his humanity disappears.

His moments of humanity are rare. They surface when he thinks he’s in love or believes he has friends. But his obsession with a woman who just wants to escape from him is what truly drives his downfall.

And the script? It’s masterful. Every detail matters. Everything, no matter how small it seems, has enormous consequences later on. It’s like a beautifully crafted butterfly effect. Plus, the plot never gets dull: something is always happening.

The protagonist is the driving force. He’s the active character, moving the entire story with his unpredictable actions. Just when it seems like he’s going to stop, he does something completely impulsive and changes everything.

The cinematography is flawless. Everything is visually captivating: the setting, the art direction, the soundtrack. You can feel the care in every frame.

P.S.: There’s no romance. His obsession isn’t love—it’s pure fixation. It starts with hatred, then turns into a twisted kind of kindness, and finally, desperation. The woman he pursues is strong and never gives in. It was impossible not to root for her… but I’ll admit, since he’s my favorite, part of me wished she’d reciprocate, even if just for a second.

All in all, it was incredible. The Confidence is a heavy, violent drama centered on a completely irredeemable protagonist. But since it’s fiction, I allowed myself to enjoy it. Highly recommend it, but fair warning: prepare for intense emotions and an unforgettable sociopath.

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Over rated

First series of Esther Yu, now I'm really wondering why she is so famous with that kind of acting skill?

About the series:
1. 1st episode is very boring and not clear of what the series going to lead us to.
2. The next 10 series are quite entertaining with the humor and fast pacing story lines, but then afterwards the stories become dull and boring.
3. It is strange to have a so called "heroine" who can't or never fight at all ==> referring to the main female lead, whose facial expression is very dull and only able to act cute
4. second male lead acting also not great, flat facial expression and no chemistry with the second female lead

Overall, I do enjoy some part of the series, especially the beginning, but afterwards the story lines just draggy and acting from the main actress really lame make it quite difficult to watch.

No offense to Esther Yu hard core fans.. this is purely my personal opinion. I shall see her other work to make sure whether she can act or if this is her character in this series.
But looking at the background of her character, she is not supposed to be a "cute" person, from her modern era character she is not with that cute personality, why suddenly when she become the heroine character in the novel she become overly unnecessary "cute"? (to be precise : tried to act cute, but does not cute at all)

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The story was draggy...

I watch anything with Lusi in it, but this is not for me.

I stopped watching when most of the supporting characters died in the first half of the show. The lore and worldbuilding are interesting at first, but the narrative's shift towards angst and drama made it unenjoyable for me. I was so engrossed at the start of the story arc, when the FL was freed from slavery then her becoming part of the ML's merchant crew. Her learning how to trade and becoming a businesswoman was what made me stay at the beginning.

But the story completely threw that away and made her start from scratch again because of a supposedly betrayal from the ML. It's just so stupid that the ML could overcome all the previous plots by the antagonists but couldn't have foreseen a possible betrayal from someone he knew after being gone so long? Then he just let the misunderstanding grew after all of what they experienced... seriously?

Could have been a wholesome watch if it weren't for the forced angst.

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This was a total disappointment. I love Go Ahead. I have watched it so many times. Most Chinese dramas can’t bring out the emotions in you like most Korean dramas do.
Episode 1 was going great. I thought this would be a good remake. But after 2nd episode it went downhill. In go ahead we can see how much importance a mother has in everyone’s life. Especially in the female lead’s life.
But this remake has not even a single scene of that.
I couldn’t see their siblings bond. We can see from the start that Juwon is biased towards Sanha. In go ahead both the male leads had each other's back when they were young. There were no unnecessary fights. The pain of being abandoned by their mother was understood by them. But here haejun was always fighting with Sanha.
I don’t like that.
The birthday scene where the aunt spoke nonsense and the father took a stand for the second lead was so perfectly portrayed in Go Ahead. But here it was not good.
I couldn’t understand Sanha’s mother's character as well. And according to me she never felt sorry for what she did. It was in the last episode where she cried when Sanha told her about his wounds. But I was accepting a sincere apology.
In 16 episodes they could have covered a lot of details from the original one but they didn’t.
I wanted more of Sanha’s trauma. When the female lead got to know about what he has been through I wanted more of that.
The writing of this drama is sometimes so lacking.

One thing I liked most about this drama is how amazingly the kids did their job in the first episodes, especially Sanha’s and Juwon’s Kid version.

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Great Story, Awful Ending

I like this drama. It is a great one, although it's not special. The romance and comedy are mixed up and exectued well. The casts are all good, especially Sang-Yi and Ji-Hyun. Their chemistry is outstanding. They also include a "serial killer" which blends pretty smoothly into the story without making it looks like a way to "simplify everything".

The fact that I enjoy the second lead more somehow indicates that there is a problem with the storyline. The idea of the story is good though. The beginning phase is really slow, I would even say it is boring in the first two episode. They built a lot and complex problems in the beginning. However, the writer decided to develop stories around Hae-Young better than hers, causing the main story about Hae-Young and Ji-Uk to be outshined by other premises. The pace somehow turned fast after Episode 8, and this causes some conflicts to have a plain resolution, or even left behind. Sad that we don't have a chance to see Ja-Yeon story with Bok's family, Ji-Uk's family backstory, or make Hae-Young have a better closure with her mom. I am also a bit disappointed that they decided to add more conflicts near the end, in Episode 11 and 12 (seriously why did they make a conflict in the last episode??), only to have a rushed resolution.

(AND THEY MADE HA-JUN REALLY FINE AFTER HIS FORMER LOVER BECAME HIS EX-BOSS GIRLFRIEND. THAT'S TOTALLY IRRATIONAL!)
I was hoping they will do something with the abused child in the Episode 5, since Hae-Young has "some experience" with it. They also brought up the premise of "CEO should take lunch at the cafetaria", and did nothing about it.

Overall I will still recommend it. It may take time before you can enjoy the story. But I don't think it really match up the hype.

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Worse than the title suggests

I truly don't want to write a review of this, because it can essentially be summed up this way.

IT IS TRASH.

But here we are. And I will write an actual review because I need explain just how bad it is.

Imagine a bad What's Wrong With Secretary Kim knockoff. Now imagine it's nothing like WWWSK except for the fact that there's a boss who doesn't want his secretary to quit. I haven't watched the K Drama, but I've been told that's the basis of the story and it's the same here, and that's also where the similarities end.

The story is horrible, the characters are even worse. It's like a power struggle between all the characters, it doesn't matter what kind of relationship they have, it's a relationship where one person is trying to one - up the other at all times. That's basically your story and an overview of the characters. You have your usual beach trips, your jealousy, your Stockholm Syndrome, and gun wielding businessmen. The usual. Characters come and go, the story shifts from one storyline to another abruptly and they're all trying to outplay each other all the time. Whether it's two people in a romantic relationship, work rivals, exes, whatever. We get to watch the world's most boring chess match where no one is even following the rules.

And the characters..
I've watched a lot of dramas where every character is beyond horrible. But there's at least one, just one character, who you can root for. And even if all the characters are utter trash, they're entertaining. You can see where I'm going with this.
All the characters in this series needed therapy, that's what they needed. A ton of therapy and no contact with any of the other characters.

I would've dropped this like a hot potato if it wasn't for me not being able to drop dramas, but if you're stuck in the middle or if you're stuck in the first episode, or stuck deciding if you should watch it, toss it. It's like that pile of laundry just sitting in your room, waiting to be washed. Toss it. Not the laundry.

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This show is a rather typical fall-into-novel drama where the FL ends up somehow in her own novel, in which she then goes on to disrupt the story and "steal" the ML away from the original FL in the novel. TLDR: what I appreciated most about this show was the lighthearted tone despite the heavy plot (at times - for a historical drama, the plot was relatively tame tbh, only gets intense at times) and it is absolutely HILARIOUS (moreso if you can understand Mandarin, there are a few good puns and expressions that get lost in translation) - I did not expect to laugh out loud this much when I first started this show. I also really liked how short this show is - nothing is too dragged out and everything progresses at a good pace. It's perfect for a cute rom-com and a good laugh or as a palette cleanser. I watched this after wallowing in post-drama depression following my watch of Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and The Story of Pearl Girl LOL and I might be slightly biased because I watched this purely for Ding Yuxi and Zhao Lusi, not for the plot or anything else, yet I ended up loving this show a lot more than I expected to. It made me laugh, cry, and scream at my screen. I honestly really recommend this drama if you're a fan of either (or better yet, both) of the main leads (DYX or ZLS) because they both killed their roles.

The main leads have good chemistry - not INSANE chemistry, and I don't personally think that this pairing is either of their most electric ones (for example, I personally think Ding Yuxi has the best chemistry with Esther Yu), but they do have really good chemistry and their relationship is very heartwarming and easy to follow and fall in love with. I really enjoyed watching all their interactions and I really adore their relationship and how it was developed. Watching them fall in love with each other was super satisfying and squeal-worthy and they're now one of my favourite drama couples - it's just so easy and so playful and so pure (yes, despite [SPOILER] the vaguely glossed over bed scene in ep21, their relationship still feels pure to me because of how tender their love is and how they show these sweet, innocent, butterfly-inducing moments). I LOVED watching her slowly thaw his heart and Ding Yuxi did great in mastering the duality of Han Shuo (ML) as a brutal and unforgiving warrior/prince and at the same time as a golden retriever boy gone for Qian Qian (FL), vying for her love and attention. In some way, he reminded me of his role in Moonlight when he [SPOILER] got jealous watching Qian Qian interact with the 2nd ML LOL. I also really liked watching Qian Qian slowly realise her feelings for Han Shuo, and what struck my heart the most was [SPOILER] when she decided to stay in this world and not return to the present because she loved him more than her original world - she wanted to stay for him. And in the same way, he [SPOILER] wanted her to go back to her own world when he realised in ep24 that he didn’t have long to live and didn’t wish to entrap her for his sake. (Yes, I cried when this happened.)

[SPOILER] I did however DESPISE the angst in ep18-20, I can on some level understand why she did what she did but it was just so cruel and stupid and I cried a lot and I really think it was angst for the sake of angst/to drive the novel's plot forward using the divide between the leads - there were BETTER ways to achieve what the FL was trying to do and I was so frustrated the entire time. And when the ML "got her back" I was just depressed and angry the entire time, especially [SPOILER] the attempted r*pe scene in which he tried to force himself on her (but stopped when he saw her tears). I know it's "in character" for him as the FL wrote his character to be ruthless and half-evil, but I think as the show progressed we saw that after he fell for Qian Qian he was no longer the cruel, ruthless man he used to be, and for me it felt like a very OOC moment for him. Though I can also understand that it could be interpreted that the intense heartbreak and betrayal he went through on her account could have forced him into this way of behaviour, and I did appreciate that he stopped at the sight of her terrified tears - DYX nailed the look of sudden shock, it felt as if he was operating on pure vengeance and anger and was suddenly jarred out of it at the sight of her crying because of his actions towards her. I also appreciated how the show captured moments of his "weakness" and his concern for her despite his anger and heartbreak - for example how worried he was after [SPOILER] he realised she hurt her hand while ironing his clothes. So in summary, yes I hated the angst, but I do appreciate that it was not dragged out further than it had to be and that she realised she did not have to push him away. It was tough pushing through these 3 episodes (maybe 4 if you count the first half of ep21) but it really did make the last few episodes sweeter and cemented their love to be stronger than ever - undeniable, for sure.

Overall, despite the angst from ep18-20, I think they have a great relationship that is fleshed out well and I respect the mutual love they share, against all odds. If you’re looking for pure fluff, ep16 is by far the fluffiest one - right after they both confirm their love for each other and are officially together (which is ironic considering they’re married the entire time LOL).

I also really like how clearly it was made that [SPOILER] the FL was not from the ML's world, and that she let him in entirely on this fact too. This is a first (from what I’ve seen at least) for these fall-into-novel or time-travel shows. I really liked that he was entirely aware of her being from another world and yet still choosing to stay for him - it made their relationship feel more authentic and genuine, giving it another layer of depth and sincerity that made me believe more firmly in their unwavering love. Another thing I really liked was that the FL didn’t lose her memories [SPOILER for Love Game in Eastern Fantasy] of the modern world like the FLs in other shows (cough, LGIEF...) and was constantly able to use her knowledge of the novel and its characters to her benefit. There are some minor plot holes here though, where the FL is unaware of something, which doesn’t make much sense because she literally created the world and the characters, though it could have been the show's attempt to push the idea that the characters are not 2D and flat and merely puppets in the novel world; they are instead, very real human beings with their own stories, backgrounds, families, and feelings. However, while I do acknowledge the attempt and the sentiment, I think it could’ve been made more explicit because it can come across as a plot hole where the FL doesn’t seem to be fully aware of the world and the characters SHE created.

I also found it quite refreshing how we were able to see the villain's villain arc, and watch the tragic transformation of her falling into the abyss of darkness and wrongdoing. I definitely was able to sympathise with her in the first half of the show, but after that I started to thoroughly despise her and her cruel actions, which was a job well done on the directors' (as well as the actress and the scriptwriters) part. I will say that I for one HATE love triangles, so I was pretty annoyed with the 2nd ML throughout the show, but he is a good person who I can say does love Qian Qian genuinely and always does whatever he is able to in order to help/save her - and she has been saved by him many times. However, on a personal level, I just was not able to like him because I really hate love triangles LOL.

As for the ending, I honestly loved it. [SPOILER] I really like that there was a proper reunion AND an explanation that reassures the viewers that yes, the ML is Han Shuo and the FL is (as we already know) Qian Qian, and they are truly able to be together happily in real life, and that everything they went through together was real. I know a lot of people think the whole "it was just a dream" ending was complete BS, and I can understand why, but to me even though it WAS a dream for both of them, they still have their memories of what they experienced together completely intact and remember how they felt for each other in the novel world. Even though they fell into the novel via the means of a dream, to me they are still the same people - Han Shuo is Actor Han, and Qian Qian is Xiao Qian. They are real, and they are finally together. That’s the best ending for me!

The music is rather forgettable and cannot be compared to the osts of other historical dramas with an excellent tracklist, but I do think it’s apt and manages to set the mood quite well. Nothing to loop or listen to outside of the show, but it wasn’t bad either.

Also - I LOVED the bromance between the ML and FL's servants LOL. And the scenes with the FL and the 3 storytellers with her using the fruits to represent her and her characters when seeking advice from them is just so creative and amusing and also makes complete sense in relation to her situation as a writer stuck in her own novel trying to push the plot forward, ensure her character continues living, as well as ensure the other characters' well-being.

Overall, I definitely recommend this show if you’re a fan of either of the leads, or if you like the plot of falling into novels and time-travelling etc (i.e if you enjoyed Love Game in Eastern Fantasy or Scarlet Heart like I did, you’ll enjoy this one too). It’s quite a refreshing watch and the leads are definitely worth watching for their chemistry and relationship progression. I really loved this drama and I would definitely rewatch this when I need a laugh - if not, just purely rewatching for the leads' relationship is enough for me too!

For a similar show, watch Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (Ding Yuxi as the ML too). I loved DYX in LGIEF (and Moonlight is worth a watch after watching LGIEF too, for him and Esther's first collaboration). As for Zhao Lusi, I loved her in Hidden Love, but if you’re looking for historical shows, she did amazing in The Story of Pearl Girl and Who Rules the World too - though I’d say most if not all of her shows are worth a watch (and the same goes for Ding Yuxi!).

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Emotional "friendship" story

Well... the casts and the director said it is a friendship story, but, to me, this is a censored BL.

Anyway, that is not really the main point of the story. It is a powerful coming of age with life struggles that would fit every generation. Big kudos to the screenwriters for making a 2013 still relevant to this day and age.

The cast is superb. Every main and most of support members are A+ actors and actresses. Main ones that I need to mention:

Mark Pakin as Chadjen is the star of the show. Though he is not the main leads, in my mind, he is one of the mains given how important he is to the story and the presence as he delivers all those lines!

Sky as Saint: We know Sky can act, and he meets the bar. Personally, his role is not as challenging as the two Marks, but I would have to give him a big round of applause for being able to show the different colors of Saint - the two alter egos of Saint ans Tsunami - so seamlessly.

Nani as Shin: I have never been a fan of F4. Hence, I have not seen his work before. However, the fact that he matches Sky level of acting skill, and being able to portray strong yet emotional character without me being annoyed? Im loving it! Also, his facial expression and the eyes are so captivating.

Mark Ji as Cable: Now, as a person who has gone through a phase of GAD, Mark really captured that moment. Its just one scene in the series that made me go - man! That boy has skill!

Lastly, I LOVE that scores in this film. Not many original soundtracks but everything fits so perfectly!

This is not the show I am going to rewatch anytime soon because it is super heavy, but it would be something that I cherish! Please GMMTV put this on youtube for the Thais. VIU app is such a mess...

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