Reviews

A Beautiful Farewell to Daeho.

I honestly loved this season so much more than the first! I know not everyone might agree, but this one just hit differently for me. Season 1 set the foundation with its incredible world-building, intense character development, and gripping story.

In this season, the chemistry between Wook and Bu Yeong had its own charm. Their moments together were sweet, and seeing how Wook stood by her while being the strongest made their bond even more special. The way their relationship unfolded added a nice balance of warmth and emotion to the story. The sweet, emotional scenes had me hooked, and the pacing felt just right this time.

And yes, Go Youn Jung. What can I even say? I freakin love her! She’s absolutely stunning, her expressions, her presence, everything about her was mesmerizing. But let me be clear: Jung So Min was amazing too! She brought so much depth to her character in Season 1, and her performance is unforgettable.

The ending this time felt satisfying and well-rounded. It gave me closure while leaving me with a smile. but now I’m left with post-series emptiness—it’s like I don’t know what to do with myself after such an emotional journey. Overall, Season 2 brought all the magic, romance, and emotions I could’ve hoped for!

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Cute, Bubbly with a dash of Suspense! Love it!

I have watched a lot of BLs and there are only a few that I try to watch at a slower pace just hoping they won't end soon.
THIS one bl kdrama has been added to that list! Loved everything about the show! The amount of fluff, cuteness, comedy and omg I couldn’t stop laughing at the main lead regretting his decision to date a 19 yr old kid, and said kid bringing him a sunflower on their first movie date! Lol Can it get any cuter?!!
Myungha being so relectunt to accept his feelings and the intial 2-3 episodes had me laughing so much omg!

There is nothing that I can complain about within the series. Honestly it had everything needed for a nice drama - good acting, nice story and suspense, good pacing and overloaded with cuteness but not the kind that would make you cringe.
Rewatch value: 10/10 !
It's definitely going to be my go-to comfort drama when all the cdramas break my heart with their sad endings!

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I Spy ~ U Spy ~ They'll All Die ~ If We Try ✈ No S2 Yet? I Might Cry °Excellent°

This story begins with a crash: An airplane crash. Cha Gal-geon lost his nephew/ward - his son, really (CG was raising the kid) to this tragedy. CG travels with other mourners to Morocco, the site of the impact. As soon as he lands there, he recognizes a man that appeared in a video that his nephew had sent him from the plane, prior to the crash. If this man had been on the plane, he would/SHOULD be dead, not walking around Morocco.

Go Hae-ri works at the South Korean Embassy in Morocco. She's actually a fledgling intelligence officer, and is assigned to the crew assisting the mourners. She meets Cha Gal-geon and they eventually work together to bring the baddies down.

V stars the wildly popular Bae Suzy (Start-Up-8, While You Were Sleeping-7.3, Anna: Extended Version-8.1) as Go Hae Ri / "Elsa”. Lee Seung Gi (A Korean Odyssey-7.2, Mouse) is our action hero, Cha Dal Geon. Superstar director, Yu In-Sik (Dr. Romantic series, Extraordinary Attorney Woo), is at the helm, and scriptwriters Jang Young-Cheol and Jung Kyung-Soon seem to work together on most projects. They're responsible for Empress Ki, History of the Salaryman, Big Mouth and other hits. This group hasn't failed their audience yet, and they didn't fail us here. However, one would think that 16+ hours would be enough, but more and more baddies surface. The show is not complete. Season 2 has not been announced yet, but they are looking into it, and they know the fans want it.

V is exciting and well scripted. It has action, intrigue, displays of the worst and best of humanity, and the unfulfilled promise of some romance. It's difficult to tell a thrilling tale without being a little outlandish. They didn't get so crazy that it gets in the way. The plot progresses without too many bumps in the road, yet it is still quite intricate. The action and fight scenes are good. Like most action thrillers, they should have been in ICU or dead several times over, yet they manage to keep going. It's the usual trope for the genre. Why fight it anymore?

The only lasting disappointment you are likely to experience after fighting villains and corruption with Vagabond, is that you'll have to wait for season 2. The wait will be a minimum of 15 mos but a maximum of....well, never. I hope they never do /that/ to us!

IMHO...
🎬8 🤔6 🎭7.5 ⚡8 💓5 🦋5

Suggested Age 12& up

In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Love to Hate You 8.9;
Crash Landing On You 9.1;
Oh My Ghost 10;
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9;
Love Struck in the City 7.3;
Hospital Playlist 9;
When the Camellia Blooms 8;
My Mister 9.5

Action/Sci-fi/fantasy:
K2 8;
Private Lives 8.1;
Descendants Of The Sun 8.3;
Uncanny counter season 1 only - S1-8.4 S2-4;
Sisyphus 8;
Tunnel 8.1;
Signal 8.6;
D.P. 8.4;
The Cursed 8.3;
Flower of Evil 8.9;
The Man from Nowhere 8.9;
Black 9;
Squid Game 8.4;
Kingdom 8.3;
Sweet Home 8.4

Update May 2024 - Vagabond is filming a second season in the Philippines! No details on a release date.

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yall need to read this because this serie is so romanticized and is SO QUESTIONABLE

Well, where do I start? The story between Ae and Pete was pretty good tbh, but also kinda toxic and red flag, Ae was always jealous asf, he was aggressive, that scene of him pushing Pete to the lockers WAS SO RED FLAG, also, Pete talking about what was happening between Tin and Can and Ae literally had sex with him just because he didn´t like Pete talking or thinking about other men? but overall they were okay, cute story, kinda red flag but it was okay.

Tin and Can had the best story for me, Tin´s background was really good and watching his personal growth was really special to me, from hating poor people and being homophobic to falling in love with a poor boy was so funny tbh, buy they were cute, Tin learnt how to trust on Can, they personalities really matched each other, they were so cute, kind of red flag too, because Tin charging all the money with kisses even tho Can DID NOT WANTED IT was soooo fucked up but, at least at the very end, Can starts to kiss Tin, their end really broke my heart, because watching Tin trust in Can just to end up being hurt AGAIN, i won´t watch season 2, but i already know that they ended up together so yay !!!!

WHY I DON´T SEE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT TRUM AND TAR, THEY WERE LITERALLY STEPBROTHERS????? that story was sooooo fucked up, it was so weird and uncomfortable to watch, also, trum almost raping tar?? even tho, tar already had a history of being raped? that story was so weird and horrible tbh, skipped almost all their story

Techno and Kengkla omg, that was literally stalking and harassment, Kengkla broke Techno´s motorcycle ON PURPOSE, and also RAPED HIM and then blame techno??? the fuck was that? SOOOO fucked up, who the fuck thought that was a good idea, after having a character that was struggling and dealing with his raping trauma, JUST TO RAPE ANOTHER CHARACTER AND ACTING LIKE IT WAS NOTHING??

This serie is very messy and questionable, all the 4 stories were really questionable, ae and pete were savable, also tin and can, even tho their relationships were kinda red flag and toxic but okei, but trum and tar, techno and kengkla WERE HORRIBLE, who tf thought their putting rape and a romance between STEPBROTHERS was good?

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A heartwarming drama

Well, there's nothing special about this drama. But it's sweet and adorable; both the male and female leads are good characters. Their motivations were very interesting to watch. The drama talks about marriage, and it does a good job showing an interesting discussion of what a marriage should be and more. The real problem is some unnecessary storylines.

I think if it were a movie, it would be better and less boring in some parts. I watched the episodes when they launched weekly, and that was probably the best way to watch this, because the chance of being bored if you do a marathon is very high. That's it, a solid 7/10 drama.

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A misunderstood anti-fantasy about success

None of the characters are the pure, impeachable morals type. Tae Oh is the brains, smart and can make things happen, but he's afraid to make any specific type of goal or happiness for himself. He waffles with the women in his life, both his own mother and Hye Won, who he constantly pushes away though he loves them on the inside. Hye Won has a terrible debt ridden gambler mother and with In Ha throwing himself at her, he sees a relationship and eventual marriage with him as a lifeline to a financially stable life though she's also smart and talented at what she does. In Ha was always the insecure bully that Tae Oh first met, lording his connection as an illegitimate child of a rich man over everyone. They find common ground in wanting to climb the ladder to success. I liked the parts where the drama showed how tenuous the friendship was, with In Ha noticing that Tae Oh withholding information from him like Hye Won being Tae Oh's neighbor from across the street. Tae Oh keeping entire shares and assets from In Ha and In Ha having his own minions that Tae Oh didn't know about. Also of course when Hye Won and Tae Oh make out after she's engaged to In Ha. They also should have shown more genuine friendship moments that would give any sense of angst with the betrayals and why they would keep talking to In Ha at the end of the series when he has done the most heinous thing including intentionally getting Tae Oh's stepfather released, directly leading to the death of Tae Oh's mom who was abused and dies from her abuser harassing her.

A huge weakness of the drama is that they have only two characters that have the strategic brains that make the scheming any fun to watch and it's Tae Oh and CEO Kang Joong Mo and they both get taken out of play by jail and heart attacks and the drama goes back to the boring meetings of the other characters. Once Tae Oh is settled in jail and he begins to use his brains to control things from the outside, he doesn't finish that out because he's taken out of jail suddenly. Tae Oh is THE smart guy, but his major blind spot is that he doesn't take In Ha seriously as a psycho. In Ha is not smart, but he he will destroy and harm others. He literally had his own half brother and a random woman killed to frame Tae Oh who doesn't account for that even though he barely escaped a prison hit on his own life before CEO Kang saved him. CEO Kang is a guy who's making his own kingdom and Tae Oh helps him see his vision and eventually becomes a son like figure that In Ha wished he could be to his father and becomes the final heir. They show Tae Oh implementing a children's foundation at the end, but again his ultimate goals was never stated aside from wanting power. It's just power to have power. Neither Tae Oh or Hye Won are together, going toward their ambitions as movers and shakers of the world instead, and In Ha has offed himself in failing spectacularly in his life goals that he could have had if he had just trusted Tae Oh without being jealous and hating Tae Oh for being the person he could never be. It had always been a toxic friendship to it's core, with Tae Oh enabling In Ha fake his way to the top, with Tae Oh puppet-ing him to success. Tae Oh is the perfect successor to CEO Kang because he doesn't have anything else but to put everything into the Kangoh empire.

The sister Hee Joo feels a bit wasted in what she can offer the drama. Her whole point was to be ridiculously obsessed with Tae Oh so that she can find and save her father from drowning in the hot tub. It would have been more interesting if she was an actively player helping Tae Oh in his schemes. Same with the rest of the surviving Kang family members. The debt collecting gangsters becoming Tae Oh's cartoony buds felt too silly in tone for what's going on in the rest of the drama. Tae Oh's north korean defector, (Italian?) speaking hacker was pretty fun in just the right amount of wacky and edgy though. Him turning the situation with shooting and schooling his cohort that was bribed by In Ha was fun. The ending is pretty dark, Tae Oh is on the top of the world, but has no family, no love, and no friends. Is it cathartic, no, but it's a pretty interesting route to go for a mainstream drama that requires a bit more contemplation for appreciation, but that's not a popular thing for the mainstream audience to do alas.

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Great Acting but the Storyline was a Choppy Mess & the gun was STOLEN not lost!

I only came about this series last minute because I had previously watched DYX in 4 costume dramas this year so wanted to see him in a totally different genre. Now he and the rest of the actors (some I've seen while others I haven't) did a phenomenal job at their characters but the script was just a choppy mess and I was so sick of them talking about the gun being lost and how he had to take responsibility when the dude was knocked out and the thing stolen off his person.

Pros: Honestly, just the acting of the actors; DYX did a wonderful job, just wish the script was strong. Every character was believable and did their part for as long as they were needed. DLE or as I called him the Hawaiian shirted gangster was literally the comic relief of the show. How everyone was able to convincingly speak in whichever dialect of mandarin that was, was very cool. Mastermind was truly cruel and used everyone to his advantage. The worst was NF; because he killed her father but made her believe he was her benefactor until right before she was shot by the SWAT team. He manipulated this poor girl her entire life into becoming a spy and assassin for him and then called it her atonement for what her father did. Losing LTY, then her, then Bao Ge (though that was inevitable) was hard. But the mastermind being very smart that he planned everything for something like 12 years and his actor played him well. Sad part was that LTY didn't like nor trust him from the beginning but no one believed him and than he was killed by the guy, that one hurt the most.

Cons: The storyline was a mess. Ok there's a mastermind that had ML's gun STOLEN but that was constantly referred to as a lost gun and he was suspended over it not to mention yelled at because all of these other cops SML included would somehow be super human if knocked over the head with a metal pipe and be able to retain his service pistol. That was a crock of shit. The cops themselves couldn't catch a bad guy red handed if he came to them on a silver platter which included whole departments, SWAT included. Meanwhile WBB (ML) and his best friend LTY were always in the path and somehow either slowed the person getting away down or caught him for said flailing cops.

Furthermore, no one could really tell when ML met NF; one moment you think they just got to know each other a little while ago and he just has a crush on her and then a few episodes later you find out he’s been in love with her since they were young. That’s what I mean by choppy and messy. There was absolutely no need for romance in this drama or even the slight possibility of it. And the way it was written, was screwed up as well.

For 26 or so episodes, the bad guys were running circles around the cops. They couldn’t put 2 + 2 together to save their lives. The flashbacks in the beginning were slowly necessary more or less to piece together who the mastermind was and why (he was of course right under their noses) but his why was just a self justification for the bad things his "nephew" did and why his sister and husband died. I also had problems with the way LTY and even NF died; they weren't given proper deaths; like ok killed, next scene. At least Bao Ge had a funeral but the main antagonist's death was a total copout happening in literally the last 5 minutes of the series with the reinstatement of WBB as an officer before stupid words about characters being charged (who cares, this was fake!) and role credits.

Would I recommend it? Honestly only for the acting because the storyline was just really dumb especially when you start to realize what's happening. It's a good in between anticipated dramas show but that's it. DYX did a good job; hope he gets better scripts for modern dramas in the future.

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It's great! Go watch it!

The way the director, writer, producer, and actors approached the story of a character who transmigrates into a fictional novel is brilliantly executed. They truly did justice to the emotional and psychological complexity of being transported to an unknown land. In many previous dramas, leads are often shown as mildly confused but able to assimilate seamlessly into their surroundings within seconds. However, this drama takes a refreshing and more realistic approach. Ling Miao Miao’s immediate and desperate desire to escape her unfamiliar circumstances establishes her as a character who is self-aware and relatable. This quick, instinctive reaction defines her personality right from the start, and impressively, her growth throughout the story—particularly in the context of love—remains cohesive and believable without diminishing her initial characterization.

Speaking of love—despite the severe lack of kisses (lol)—the chemistry between the leads is nothing short of explosive. The drama doesn’t rely on overt displays of affection to convey their bond; instead, it is built through meaningful dialogue, their constant need to be near each other, and the intensity of their gazes. Mu Sheng’s unwavering looks toward Miao Miao, in particular, speak volumes about the depth of their connection, as though their very existence is intertwined. Their love feels almost fated, transcending the typical tropes of romance, and resonates deeply with viewers.

One of the drama’s standout elements is how the second leads, Mu Yao and Liu Fuyi, are given room to shine. Unlike many stories where secondary characters feel like mere backdrops, here they are well-developed and integral to the plot. Their struggles and relationships are treated with care and purpose, adding another layer of richness to the story.

I also want to highlight on the how they tie it to modern life of Ling Miao Miao and the author, it gave actual contrast to the world Miao Miao is transported into which added more depth to the story than a simple transmigration to a fantasy world.

There are some critiques:

1. Where are the kisses!!!! Lmao

2. The aunt of Mu Sheng, Luniang...was she necessary? Here acting wasn't as impressive but perhaps if the character had
shown more clinginess and affection towards the Goddess Mei, a more believable act of being close as kin to each other and the initial or eventual hate towards the father of Mu Sheng be more expressed more than spewed words that might be better for the plot, justifying her actions towards Mu Sheng.

3. Certain parts toward the end felt rushed, particularly as the drama tried to resolve major plot points. A slightly longer runtime or more thoughtful pacing could have helped provide a more satisfying conclusion.

4. While his decision to sacrifice himself was a pivotal moment, it lacked the emotional weight it could have had. A private, heartfelt conversation between Mu Sheng and Miao Miao before his decision would have beautifully showcased the depth of their understanding and love for each other. This could have made the moment even more impactful for viewers.

Overall, it was funny, romantic, heart-warming drama perfect for any day of relaxation or a break from life.

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I have a difficult time trying to come up with any negative point for this drama as it’s like a textbook example of how a biography drama should be in my opinion. It was engaging, makes you feel emotionally invested, and the execution leaves you feeling hopeful despite the heavy theme.

I would say the only thing that I notice is there are some scenes showcasing the agenda of CCP because most individuals in the story are part of CCP. Just want to point this out in case anyone feel uncomfortable watching those scenes. Do keep in mind that the main character is an actual dedicated party member, and this is part of her belief, so I don’t mind that the show just highlight it as is. Personally, it’s not a big issue to me as it doesn’t change my political views nor affect my enjoyment on the drama itself.

Now I’m going to highlight some positive points from this drama:

Pacing and story
Pacing is great and it’s very engaging. You’ll experience all sort of emotions, and it’s very bingeable.

The script is solid from beginning till the end and the dialogues are well written. I like how it just told the story as is because you can see their struggle and how they cope with it. All the struggle and little side story doesn’t feel exaggerated, and all the issues highlighted are real social issue that I think are still relevant to this day.

I also like that we don’t really have a proper villain in the drama, sure some of the characters are infuriating, but you really can’t blame them too much because it’s the norm for them. The government officials are interesting to watch as in their core, they want to do good and support ZGM, but they do have restrictions within their role that they need to abide.

I also like how the show portrays that it’s only due to collective effort that Zhang Guimei was able to achieve those desired results. I’m sure that there are some dramatic changes in the drama, but the story overall feels very realistic.

Lastly I want to highlight that the tone of the show leans more on the light side, so it doesn’t feel heavy to watch and even makes you feel encouraged at the end.

Acting and casts
I would like to highlight the 2 main actors, Song Jia and Lan Xiya. They did such an amazing job at capturing the essence of the characters.
Honestly, I’m so impressed with all the casts, everyone felt like a real person living in those circumstances. It feels like we just took a sneak peek into part of their life.

Overall Rating – 9.0
I think it’s one of the best cdrama that I’ve ever watched. It played with my emotions so well and leave a lasting impression on me. I was also able to learn and reflect on myself after watching it.

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Crush was another of Jollibee’s short films/commercials designed to appeal to people emotionally. This time I wasn’t as enthralled as I usually am. While it was cute it felt forced and more contrived than usual.

A college student has a crush on a girl in school, but she is in love with someone else. Can he win her over with her favorite Jollibee burger?

What felt contrived to me was that he seemed to pull the burgers out of his, uh, pocket. He always seemed to have one at just the right time. The burgers had to be ice cold by the time she found them. Also, I kept wondering if she’d already eaten or was thinking, cold burgers, again? Am I being stalked?

Crush was entertaining for a short film/commercial, but didn’t wow me like their other commercials/short films I have seen. But it was good enough for a quick drive through meal.

16 December 2024

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Jollibee Chicken short films are the Filipino answer to Thailand’s life insurance commercials. Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. How is that these companies can put together more emotionally compelling stories in two-three minutes than some films can do in two-three hours?

Young Joey plans a special meal for his mother at his father’s behest. Of course, Jollibee’s chicken plays a strong supporting character in this tear jerker commercial/short film.

If you have two minutes and thirty seconds and need an emotional release after a tough day, Date and little Joey can help provide it. Full of love and sadness, this short film might touch your heart and moisten your tear ducts.

16 December 2024

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Can I actually say this? I kind of enjoyed it.

I have said this previously, where I am not really a fan of C dramas. I take too long in completing them; I get bored easily by them, and I always ask myself, 'Why am I watching this?' especially a period piece drama. This was not the case with this series, 'The Unexpected Marriage.'

I am not saying that this series is perfect—it is far from it. Yet, I still enjoyed watching it with the banter between the ML and the FL. I was shockingly able to follow whose who in this series and was not lost/confused as I usually am from previous shows. While there was a part in this series that did begin to get draggy, I was still able to follow the storyline, and it was able to pick up the momentum after that.

I've read comments that said that up to a certain part of episode 23 would have been a good place to end the series as the main couple got their happy ending. But I actually see why it continued. This was due to the fact that issues were not yet resolved with the third prince and the fifth prince. The fifth prince still wanted the power that the third prince had. It also showed us that the fifth prince, who was portrayed as someone who only looks out for himself, cared enough for his partner as he gave up his freedom and getting the antidote for his brother in exchange for her to be released from prison and for her to live her life.

What I did not like is the remaining, I want to say, ten minutes of this series. That part was stupid and unnecessary. That's why I can't give this series anything higher than an 8.5. If it had tweaked that part just a little bit, this series would have gotten a higher score from me. I understand why the FL was seen as a jinx, but the ending was still stupid and pointless in my opinion.

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