Reviews

Spicy but Silly

If you want to watch something with a lot of steamy kisses then this is a great show. But it depicts a toxic relationship and there isn't any romancing. Just brute force which amounts to sexual harassment. There are so many things that I found aggravating and non-sensical about the plot in general as well. I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking, "this is dumb" quite often.

So why have I given this a 7.5? Well there are 2 reasons:
- Despite the show having so many cliches, the mystery kept me intrigued and I did like the main couple but I kept hoping they acted more normal. Especially the male lead. He was a bit more gentlemanly in the beginning and later he had so many contrasting behaviours that I wasn't sure if I hate him or not. At one point the female lead does finally slap him and he deserved a lot more so I was pleased for her. All of this made me want to keep watching and see where it would lead.
- The more important reason is the second couple that you see later in the series. It's an older woman younger man trope and they have a much more normal relationship. They are nicer to each other. They look great together. And the female lead is mature. I get turned off when female and male characters that act childish. Fortunately neither act like that. I just wish they had more scenes together.

The thing that would have improved the series would be if the main leads actually communicated with each other. That among other aspects were bizarre. I also felt like the male lead treated his friend far better than he did the female lead who he is supposedly protective of.

There is one particular OST that plays at the end of the episodes as well that I quite liked.

Read More

Just Wow, Amazing Acting

I thought I would watch one episode and skip to last one and skim it. Was I wrong.
It has a real powerful story, it tackled the harder parts of life for kids and teachers who actually care.

Saint (Sky) and Shin (Nani) were amazing, there acting was above anything I have watched before and the natural love for each other (wasn't a love story) they showed, was perfect and there was a wedding in their future with kids 😀🫣🤭😍 (again not a love story just brilliant acting and scripted).

The friendships made along the way were beautiful.

A massive shout out to Mark who played Chatjen just amazing and deserves an award, never went out of character (great to portray Autism who is high functioning)

Every single actor/actress in this series did a great job, they all deserve an award, even little Chingching was perfect and not annoying at all.

You could nit pick the shit out of this series as nothing is perfect, but the scripted, story and acting was above anything I have ever watched before.

I loved this and would rewatch. You also cry when they hug Ken, Chatjen emotional scene and couple other scenes.. The very end was super cute, Oh Saint and Shin so loved each other 💙. Though would of been nice to see everyone else at the end.

Well done

Read More

8.9? Are you kidding me????

I didn't get it, why are people obsessing over this shit? ML is a red flag for sure, he treats her like a thing & she is kinda used to it. Her own family also treats her like shit. She barely said anything when he said she couldn't initiate divorce & things like that. At first, I thought FL is cool. But no, she's worst. She totally lost her cool during that first phone call with ML. He secretly likes her, but had he ever asked her if she was ready for this contractual marriage or not? No bro, this isn't love, this is pure obsession & as a hardcore feminist, I can't support a series like this. And I literally don't give a damn what mystery they're talking about. Guys, don't waste your time.

Read More

LET GO BACK TO PRE-2020 AND ENJOY GOOD OLD DRAMAS

Its been a minute since I met wrtiters that get it right from the begining to the end and i will say this Oh my ghost's writers did an amazing job writting captivating dialogues.WHat was funny was funny,what was serious was serious and everything in between.I will admit that I normally skip fantasy/spritual tropes but i dont know how i pressed play on this one,Maybe Its because am going back in times with dramas pre-2020 when directors and producers were giving us well thought off scripts or maybe Park bo young brought me here from "Tomorrow with you" She is slowly becoming one of my favorites actresses.
but the stars of the show were Chef Kang Sun-woo's restaurant staff namely ,Seo joon/Cordon,Heo Min Soo,Choi Ji Woong and JO Dong Cheol.These guys carried the whole show on their backs, the brotherhood,the bromance and the family connection were out of this world.I have never seen such a team of individals in a drama that will go to the end of the earth for their leader.
The Kitchen scenes were so real that you wanted to vidit the restaurant and hear them say "Fire" or "yes chef" they brought the comedy,the wittiness,they brought the craze and anything in between.
I will not spoil the story by talking about the ghost part so please watch it and you will not regret it.

Read More

Straight-up Fire!!!

This is the first drama I've given straight across tens to in the rating. I'm only 6 episodes in but my enthusiasm made me come here to write this. Obviously I'm late to the party and even now, it took me a few episodes before I stopped doubting the hype. When it started, I thought the two leads were kind of cute, sometimes a bit plain. By episode 4 they began to sparkle in every scene like the cutest of heavenly creatures. Their chemistry started chemistrying and I started sqeeing at practically every scene they were in together. The banter, the giggles, the eye contact even the fights. These two bounce off of each other like magnetically charged electrons, emitting sparks in their wakes. Toxic masculinity on display here, but not glorified at all. The writing is so good, the actors (especially the leads) are phenomenal, the sound track is nigh perfect. OK enough gushing from me, but if you've been putting this one off like I did, this is your signal to cue it up on Viki or whatever platform you have access to asap. A rewatch is definitely in the cards for me and I am so happy I'm only half way through it and have several more hours of bliss.

Read More

They Tried Too Hard

This drama is, as what Min-Ju keeps saying to Yong-Ju, "trying to hard". The romance comes in very late and instead, this drama mostly tells you about a business story, or maybe a life at work. I must had high patience because I keep watching it until finish, while I think some people will start dropping it since the build up phase are long and boring. Final two episodes are really the star of this series.

They develop a lot of conflicts during the first half, and still building another more up until episode 10! Thankfully they don't create a new conflict in the last episode. However as expected, some of the conflicts have rushed resolution, while some other disappear like dust. For example, the way Min-Ju reveals the blackmail news by making him turned from a hypersensitivity person into a mind reader which seems unrealistic. Also the idea of this drama focuses on each characters own struggles in their past. However they decide to develop more on the office problems. It pushes aside the story that we want to see clearly such as what happened after the death of Min-Ju's mother, why did he try to suicide, and why Yong-Ju gave him a camera. They should develop around those premises, so they can embrace these memories altogether with the one they love in the later stage.

Even this drama is directed by the sama person who direct Business Proposal, it is definitely incomparable. The romance comes in late, while the comedy is mostly came from the villagers, thanks to them. As much as I love Se-Jeong, I don't think they cast the leads correctly. For me, she has a cheerful persona that doesn't suit the character with such struggles as Chae Yong-Ju. Second Leads are a really sweet couple, yet they didn't even get a proper character build up. Their love stories are all outshined by all of the "office issues", which are not even related to the main idea of "emotional struggle".

To me, the story fails to focus on the main idea that should be. Rather than focusing on the idea of healing an emotional struggle itself, they develop too much story around the ML and FL (the office, the work, the village).

Read More

Yaya is a Goddess! Perfect drama for romance-lovers.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“My Cherie Amour” is a very romance-focused drama. If romance isn’t your thing, I think it’s best to stay away from it. The love story of the leads, Anong (FL) and Wichai (ML) is central to the storyline from beginning to the end. I really enjoy their opposite-attracts romance, though not without frustrations.

Beautiful Yaya, how can an actress be as beautiful as she is? How can you not love her character, Anong, as well? Anong is the youngest of the siblings, spoiled by 4 older brothers. She’s rich, beautiful, smart, kind-hearted, witty, sassy, flirty and a little egoistic and pushy. Despite having flaws, she is just so likable. Yaya is perfect for this role and she’s so charismatic. When she’s onscreen, all eyes are on her. I also bet half of “My Cherie Amour’s” budget is spent on Yaya’s beautiful outfits. She changes outfits 3 times a day and looks gorgeous in everything. I really can’t stop gushing!

This is my first Tor drama, and he and Yaya make a perfect couple. It did take me a couple episodes to get into Tor’s acting. I am not sure if it’s him, or how reserved his character, Wichai, is. But as the drama goes on, I warmed up to him and his subtle micro-expressions do not seem as emotionless. He also looks dashing in all his suits and casual wear. I really enjoy all the scenes he has with Yaya and quite like their chemistry. The kisses are decent but I wanted longer and more kisses!

The drama makes us romance-lovers suffer a little in the first half. The push-and-pull, the low self-esteem, and Wichai’s mixed messages frustrate me. But it’s worth the wait because once the leads get together, there are plenty of sweet and cute scenes. Kudos to our female lead’s persistence and loyalty. If it’s not for Yaya’s acting, I might find the character annoying for not taking “no” for an answer. They also have a very healthy relationship, supporting each other unconditionally, and with open and honest (for the most part) communication.

But a lakorn is not a lakorn without a family member that annoys and pisses me off. This award goes to ML’s mother. If it’s not because I enjoy the romance so much, I am not sure I can sit through this mother’s so-called love. The drama can disguise this tough parental love as love, but I see it as emotional abuse and neglect, mixed with verbal abuse. Wichai is a saint for tolerating his mother and taking in all her bullcrap in the name of love. Additionally, FL’s brothers are not that great either. The way they make fun of, talk down and disrespect Prasit (the youngest brother) is also mean and difficult to watch.

“My Cherie Amour” also goes into family responsibility and complicated dynamics/relationships, the pressure of marrying up and well, societal pressure and restrictions for women. All these are weaved into the two main romance storylines and how the couples fight through challenges before they can live happily ever after.

I will only recommend this drama if you are up for some romance. I rated “My Cherie Amour” somewhat high at 8.25 because I enjoy the main love story and the acting from start to finish. The drama is also able to keep my attention for the whole 19 episodes.

*update* I forgot to add that I really love the opening theme song "The Trouble Is.. ." (https://youtu.be/VwmyFCFYcZk?si=ZILnjm7R3TliWKei) The song sounds so romantic, it's perfect for Anong and Wichai.

Completed: 12/6/2024 - Review #524

Read More

Onsen (Japanese hot spring) is not a place to make love.

I'm a fan of JaFirst and I mostly enjoyed this drama.

However, I have to say as a Japanese, that the onsen (Japanese hot spring) is not a place to make love, especially from a hygienic standpoint. Sometimes the water is circulated.
And also, there was a scene Ashi and Title went together in a small onsen, but the situation never happens in reality. Small onsens are for families or lovers, not for friends.

Another point is, Mr. Tanada was really weird and looked like a swindler or something rather than a film director. I want to ask writers why they made him like that.

Read More

Not everything is black and white in a marriage.

I really enjoyed this drama and felt it was written well. I’m with a partner whom I enjoy life with and raised pretty good kids. As good as it is, definitely it’s not free from rough edges and heavy patches. I think though the key is honesty and willingness to compromise…of course love isn’t questioned. This drama at least put perspective into what Not to do for a healthy marriage so if anything, learn from this relationship.

Hallelujah we have a very strong minded smart female character. I’m very satisfied with her performance and I’ve been on the fence with this actress until Fake It Til You Make It which I feel her character is similarly acted(Elvira Cai) . Male lead (Shao Feng) was good acting as the pompous ass jerk. His credit though is that he adored his son.

@Dedra70 in her review has an excellent breakdown of this drama if you want to know more. I just wanted to give credit to the cast and producers/writers of this story and hope that more people will give it a chance. It’s not rom-com, rather, it’s a look at how to build good and better relationships. Give this show a try as there’s some things to take away.

Read More

Perhaps if I hadn’t watched Mr. Queen, I would have given this drama a higher rating. I’m not saying these dramas are related, but this drama gave me the same vibe. Both dramas feature strong female leads as rulers of their kingdom, both had gender-bending or swapping as themes, and both have comedic elements. Basically, this drama is like a cross between Mr. Queen and The King’s Affection.  

While I was impressed with both aforementioned titles, My Uncanny Destiny perhaps has a less intricate plot and less developed secondary characters. I would say that though the comedic timing of the show is on–point, I believe this is due to the lead actress’ delivery and performance. Zhang Yue Nan’s solid portrayal as the formidable Lord of Mu Xi City is very convincing. This made me enjoy the character more, especially when she switches between Zhao Nan and San Mei, and yet still displays that same wiliness in her demeanor. The amazing dialogue helps a lot too. It looked like the writers sure invested a lot of thought into the FL’s lines that they perhaps forgot everyone else’s.  

Although adorable, Yan Zi Xian was disserviced by a FL so strong, that his character paled in comparison. Though he tries to hold on his own, he could not catch up. The rest of the characters were not as memorable as Qi Meng/Hui Rou, and it is for the wrong reasons. She’s just like a nasty bug that wouldn’t die, no matter how many times you try to kill it.  

Otherwise, if you have time for some light drama, this may be a decent show to watch.  

Read More

Long time ago see the short clip of this short drama, but unknown what drama is this. I'm happy I can watch this now...

Story about unconfident girl name Mo Nan Hee (NH). In Korea, a country where beauty is more precious than personality, NH was never the attractive girl whom guys would show interest in, cause she's not pretty, short and a little bit chubby. But later we find out, this girl has talent & greater personality of her own.

One day, she's really attracted to one man, Park Se Gun (SG) & start question herself how to attract this man attention. By frustration, she's asking her mother how to catch such a handsome man like her father, cause her mother also not a pretty one too... And turn out, none of the woman in her family is an attractive woman, but all of them can get a handsome man as their husband. Finally her mother reveal her secret to catch a handsome man like her father. A ring, that can change your appearance accordingly.

This ring can change your appearance ONLY to the eyes of person that put this ring in your finger. The ring change the appearance of the person who wear it into the ideal person for the one the ring to your finger. Haha... Hope my explanation not confuse you...

SG on the other hand is the most popular guy on campus for his looks. SG is known to be shallow, and only dates attractive girls. He falls head over heels for NH after her transformation. But soon, SG also find himself attractive to NH personality. Cause he's soon realize NH is not like other shallow and pretty girl that he's date all this time.

After everything look fit in their place, the chaos start to begin. NH found out who SG see as the girl when put the ring, and that's evoke all the jealousy in NH mind, cause NH know this girl is none other than her close friend, Kang Mi Joo (MJ) & MH always been jealous for MJ's appearance. Everything really crumbling down, when the MJ also know, SG see NH as herself. Try to fix everything, NH decided she back down from the picture & give the spot to MJ herself. And that's when SG start to notice than NH is changing... And SG doesn't like it. Instead SG feel more attractive to MH herself. So... How will their love story going forward from this....?

That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoiler. Sorry if you feel a little bit confusing reading that one. Cause it's really hard to separate the story from spoiler for this one..

Overall this really a good short drama about self acceptance. Maybe there's some lack in some aspect, but since this only a short drama, I'll turn a blind eye for that & just give this one a perfect score...

Below is SPOILER ALERT!!! Read it at ur own risk.












==================================================
SPOILER ALERT!!!
==================================================

In the end this really one good short drama about self acceptance. MH who's finally accept who she is & SG who's finally realize his feeling & decided to look more than appearances. This short drama really teach us to embrace our shortage & focus more of our superiority.

Read More

A one-time watch that's it !! Nothing more... nothing less...

Finally I finished it!!!
One more happy ending is story that revolves around the idea of a second chance at love. It talks about the life of a disbanded girlgroup "The Angels" the FL seems to be immature for someone in their mid 30s :] the show dragged on for so long that I had to drop it and then picked it u as I ran out of kdramas.. lol... Ifelt like the show did not respect feelings of anyone... how the hell can one fall in love so fast.. I seriously do not get it. But the ML and FL only realize that their in love only and at the end of the show:( mahn what a dissapointment. I felt like the ML 's son is way matured than any of the adult's in the show:/
So if you are out of anything to watch and completley bored yeah do give it a watch

Read More

One of the best Japanese queer story

First off, I want to remind readers that this is a queer drama, not just a simple BL. BL focuses solely on the romance between two men, while this drama is much more nuanced. The story is realistic and quite heavy, and it takes place during the characters' junior high school years, not high school, as in the manga.

Story
I really appreciate how this drama adapts the manga's plot so faithfully. I’m also in awe of the mangaka, Saburō Nagai, who created four main characters with the same struggles but different fates, all shaped by their surroundings, particularly their families.
The friendship between Mishima and Kirino is something I truly value. It's rare to find such a sincere, supportive gay friendship in queer stories, especially in BL. Their bond is heartwarming—they explore shared interests and accept their differences from what society deems "normal." Unfortunately, their paths diverge because of the choices they make in life.
The ending of this drama is strikingly realistic. Each character has a different conclusion. Two of them end up with happy endings, while the other two face sad endings (in my opinion). The contrast between Kirino and Yanagi’s sad outcomes is especially notable.
Both Kirino and Yanagi deny their true selves to fulfill societal and parental expectations of "normalcy," eventually marrying women. However, their futures turn out very differently. Yanagi ends up divorced, becomes a teacher embroiled in a scandal, and lives a directionless life, while Kirino manages to build a small family, have children, and make his mother happy. This is a significant, meaningful contrast.
As for Mishima, he succeeds in becoming himself, supported by his accepting mother. The scene between Mishima and Kirino on the school rooftop is deeply bittersweet because the life Kirino longed for is lived by Mishima, while Kirino takes on the "normal" life Mishima had planned. It’s a heartbreaking moment.
I hope that, even though Kirino isn’t able to live his truth, he finds happiness in fulfilling his mother’s wishes. Kirino’s mother had given him the freedom to be himself, but perhaps Kirino had his own reasons for choosing to live as his mother expected.
Yumeno, who wasn't initially gay but chose to love a man, perfectly embodies the queer experience. He starts out following societal norms but ultimately follows his heart. Love knows no gender.
Yumeno is my favorite character, and I am pleased with his character development. He starts off as a rebellious teenager, but by the end, he matures and takes responsibility for his past mistakes. He’s determined to understand the world that Mishima and Kirino inhabit. I admire how, after making the decision to be with Mishima, he keeps his promise for years.
Yumeno’s family is also a highlight. They’re humorous and supportive, and they accept Yumeno’s choices. For me, Yumeno is the shining light in an otherwise dark and complex story.
Manga Story: 10, Live Action: 9.5
The adaptation is almost perfect, just like the manga, though there is one thing I wish had been included: the elevator scene and the extra part where, as adults, they return to the village and Yumeno talks to Mishima’s mother about the struggles they’ve faced in their relationship. I was hoping this would be shown in the drama, perhaps a bonus episode could have been added for this.

Acting/Cast
The acting from all the cast members is stellar. They each perfectly convey the essence of their characters, and I was deeply moved by their performances. I greatly appreciated the chemistry among the cast, to the point where I couldn’t move on from the drama. In general, I’m not very familiar with the actors, so when I started watching this drama, I only saw them as their respective characters. But after learning more, I was surprised to discover Araki Towa. He’s a well-known actor for many notable works, and he perfectly portrays Mishima, a beautiful teenage boy. Araki Towa nailed the role. Sono Shunta and Abe Alan, both seasoned actors, were also impressive. I’m in awe of how much thought the production team put into casting the right actors for each role.
Fujimoto Kodai, a newcomer to acting, was also outstanding as Yumeno. I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role as well as he did.
The rest of the cast did a fantastic job of bringing the manga’s characters to life.

Music
The song There for You by Lead is incredible. I was moved to tears, especially by the heartfelt lyrics, and the music video is beautiful—it perfectly conveys that love has no gender. It’s definitely one of my favorite songs now.
I particularly love this part:

"No matter where you go
Baby I will be there for you
No matter where you are
Baby I will be there for you"

It truly describes Yumeno’s love for Mishima.
There’s also a scene from the manga I wish had been included in the drama. If you read the manga, you’ll know how Yumeno spent years choosing to stay with Mishima, even rejecting a girl who confessed her love to him in high school when Mishima was uncertain about their relationship. Yumeno didn’t want to give up and convinced Mishima that his decision was final. Yumeno even moved to Tokyo to live with Mishima. This really proves that no matter where Mishima goes, Yumeno will always be by his side. I can’t help but cry every time I think about this while listening to the song.

Rewatch
I don’t typically rewatch dramas since I’m selective, but when I find one that resonates with me, I watch it over and over.
For this drama, I’ve already watched it more than five times and will continue to rewatch it because it’s just that good, especially because of the actors’ chemistry.
It’s absolutely worth rewatching, and I really hope it gets picked up by international platforms like Netflix so that more viewers worldwide can enjoy it.

This drama is outstanding, and I highly recommend watching it. You will experience bittersweet emotions by the end of the series. It has also become one of my favorite queer stories, alongside the film Monster.

Read More