K-Dramas

This had a great start, for sure, but some rather disappointing twists and conclusions. For a fair bit of time, I found this to be an interesting modern romance with a stylish FL and slow but solid character-building. However, as time went on, I quickly was able to predict the drama's trajectory: Despite the chemistry with the 2nd ML, his growth, and his genuine character, the FL would dismiss him as a potential love interest without a second thought and things would never progress between them, the clear aiding of a parent's emotional abuse would be easily pushed aside, and the main ML and FL would only get together after a ridiculous breakup. This one kind of stung because the whole time I was watching it I kept hoping for better but knew for a fact that I wouldn't be getting it because the drama thought they were tying everything up in a perfect bow.

As far as what made me smile, I really liked how Sang Eun and Ji Ho decided to not have a wedding since that just wasn't for them, how Ji Ho respected Sang Eun's decision regarding her mother, as well as the allyship both Sang Eun and Hae Jin provided Gwang Nam.

At the end of the day, I'm left with these thoughts: #JusticeForKangHaeJin and #GetGwangNamAManPreferrablyJungHwanSinceTheyHaveSomeLegitimateChemistry

Can be found on Rakuten Viki or free websites

I liked the mysteries and the rather "bold" and nuanced way they brought up and discussed Queer people. However, as charming as I found the girls and the odd way they solved cases, I found they were too forgiving to many undeserving characters. Also, the drama itself didn't treat some topics with the seriousness they required, making me unable to take the drama seriously. Overall, a quirky and well-meaning watch that could have been a bit more.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

You know, for a good two-thirds of this drama, I found myself not intrigued but rather along for a generic crime-drama ride. The last third managed to pull me back in, though, with conflicting feelings.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

At first, I really enjoyed myself. It was gripping and entertaining. But then, I felt like they just tried to do too much, make the mystery/crimes more complicated than they needed to be, and wrap too many characters up in it. In my opinion, the first twist was already good and all they really needed.

Like, here were my literal notes for the last few episodes: Make it make sense. Because it makes NO sense.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I was going to give this a 7.5/10, but I had to take away .5 due to the dub-con scene with the sister. That really bothered me.

Introverted Boss certainly leaned more into the classic K-Drama formula, with a misunderstood as cold, rich ML and an out-there, energetic FL.

I appreciated that the message here wasn't to force someone with severe social anxiety to conform to society's standard of normal and present themself as someone they aren't but, rather, to take manageable steps out of their comfort zone to connect with others as well as make necessary tasks in their own life easier to handle, with the understanding that they can still put up boundaries and step back when they need to. 

Also, I would be remiss not to mention the short but well-done Trans rep present in one episode. I was pleasantly surprised by how respectful it was.

All this being said, while I felt they handled the ML and his experiences well, I found many of the side characters to be inconsistent in their personalities, often flipping on a dime to conform to a "necessary" misunderstanding to push the story forward/make the audience have a certain reaction. Also, many plot points were confusing, made no sense, and/or could have been scrapped altogether without anything missing.

I wouldn't go out of my way to tell you to watch this one, but if you stumble across it on Netflix, I believe you'll have a decent time and get some laughs out of it, too.

Can be found on Netflix 

It was simple but felt very genuine.

I only wish they better worked around the lack of background actors because sometimes it was very distracting.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UjFgW8TJEd-7ha5jR1N0Rne1Lz66mZp&si=MIMsL6qNUboMFcvs 

To put it simply, this felt clunky. It had the makings of what should be an engaging crime drama: an intriguing opening, a mystery that's revealed bit by bit, a heinous and tragic crime, twists, etc. However, the main ML was difficult to connect with, and overall, the story seemed to lack a clear focus. I felt like maybe if the drama was told through a certain ML's perspective, it would have been a lot better.

This is not one I would recommend when there are far better crime dramas out there.

Can be found on free websites

This had so much potential. It was really good until the middle of episode 5. But, then they had to go and ruin it. Watching the last few episodes was painful. Up until that point while watching it I had no idea why people disliked it so much. But, after then, I understood.

The FL flipped and the story went off the rails and made me stop caring about the main character and her life.

This could have been an 8.5/10 at the very least. But, ultimately, they ruined what they had going for them.

Can be found on Netflix

This was an uncomfortable, sensual, and interesting experiment. And I found IU's acting and the cinematography to be outstanding.

Can be found on Netflix

I did have fun, don't get me wrong. While rather classic K-Drama, this one just wasn't quite my cup of tea. Maybe if I had watched it when it was airing, I would have had a different impression.

My biggest problem was that they kept reusing the same conflicts over and over and magically resolving issues in an inconceivably convenient way. This left me feeling like the drama could have flowed much better if it was only ten forty-five-minute episodes or eight one-hour-long episodes. Also, while I didn't dislike the leads, I often found them rather bland, and so the side characters with boundless personalities ended up charming me more.

Can be found on Netflix

Simple and likeable. I enjoyed how they went around the table telling everyone's story and slowly connected each person together.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr4v_NtRJv8&list=PLS--ClexQbQ0XnezKfsboLYVOg7nfabmT&index=2

A bit predictable. But, a fun watch for the most part.

Can be found on Netflix

Bizarre, but somehow bizarrely pretty good. Lol.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgT7UBXSh54&list=PLdBvEUNP7RyeLcb8WCKDnRjOxqTW00fun&index=4

They're both pretty cute and sweet together.

Also, the music and sound clips from old movies blends quite nicely in the background.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrhaNmTI0M&list=PLihMMFMYqK8HqLH1Pg0Bo-AN0Ay7ZssvJ&index=6

The bromance has the best comedic moments in this. Lol. It was overall a moderately humorous drama with some great gags at times.

Can be found on LineTV

Was I entertained? Sure. Would I watch it again, though? No.

My liver hurts! *sobs*

Regarding Representation: I was pretty satisfied with it.

Can be found on free websites

The casual fatphobia was so NOT it. The haircuts and stage outfits were indescribably bad. The characters themselves and the lines they said were so textbook I could predict nearly every interaction. And the dancing! Don't get me started on the dancing! Overall, this was a cringefest that threatened to grind my teeth down to nothing. My God, was it cringey. Dear God, was it cringey. IT. WAS. CRINGEY.

. . .

But, cards on the table, it was SO bad it was downright fun. I laughed at the cringe and laughed at how much it made me cringe. And, admittedly, there were times it was honestly rather charming in an incredibly cheesy way.

Do I recommend it, though? Yeah, no.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

This was a bit of a cheesy pick-me-up with some food for thought about holding on/letting go of a relationship. If you ask me, I think they had their time. I fear they'll fall into the same destructive patterns and sink once again after reuniting. But, of course, it's not my decision to make.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

In theory, if executed well, this could have been downright gripping. They so badly wanted to keep viewers and the main leads guessing and on the edge of their seats, though, that they forgot to sprinkle enough breadcrumbs along for it all to make sense. Not to mention, feeling like you're getting toyed with again and again gets pretty damn irritating. And it's a shame because I did enjoy parts of the mystery and some more significant twists. At the end of the day, it just felt lazily put together.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

This premise promised a rather unique story and at first, I was excited: How exactly will they make them fall back in love? And heal Hyun Woo's relationship with Hae In after her treatment of him/neglect of his feelings?

They took a (for the most part) serious as well as comedic route to this, which I did feel worked sometimes. I found myself chuckling as well as hurt for both the ML and the FL. I felt everything went heads up the moment the antagonist appeared, though. It felt overly dramatic to the point of being both predictable and tiresome to sit through. Misunderstandings, break-ups, dramatic collapsing and crying, amnesia, car accidents, and an over-the-top-obsessive SML? We got all those! Felt like a bingo card!

I don't know. Maybe because I went into Queen of Tears hoping and interested to see Hae In have to be the one to work to mend their relationship, I was just destined to be disappointed.

Can be found on Netflix

A Korean Historical Bl?  I believe this may be the first.

It's aesthetically pleasing, charming, sweet, and quite funny. 

The episodes are really short but generally feel as though they used the time wisely. I only wish they had about 2 more episodes to show more with the family and what ended up happening with them.

Also, guys disguised as girls is not seen very often. It's usually the other way around. I'm glad to see even more variation in the genre of Bl.

Can be found on LineTV

While it could be meaningful, funny, and even informative at times, by the end, I still found it seemed to narrow down and push women into a certain way of being a mother, especially a "good" mother. I was often left feeling irritated.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

It gave a less put-together version of Mine. So messy and soap-opera like, but could have been far messier.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

After finishing the first episode, I could sense my incoming boredom and frustration. Oh, how this dragged on and badly copied better past K-Dramas. The entire time, I wished I was watching Goblin, My Roommate is a Gumiho, or Doom at Your Service.

Can be found on Netflix

For a drama I gave a second chance to, this left a good impression, for the most part. I liked the wide variety of topics they covered and the nuance they tried to give certain characters/issues. However, I did raise my eyebrows at some choices. Not mad I watched it, though. Not at all.

Can be found on free websites

Every Lee Jong Suk acting role summarized: "So, you see, that's where the trouble began. That smile. That damn smile."

This was very cute for an ad. I had fun.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUBrXIikG9k&list=PLqfqR4Lc3PK_5uULCgxLJrPLNRwx3fPR2

Well, this was a gem! There was some real acting here! The clear distinction between the characters they were playing vs. their authentic personalities was SO well done. Not to mention, the chemistry was just fire! 

Ep 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNR3I0-soP0
Ep 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96xEKKN0wY4 

Damn. That actually made me really emotional. How sad but also beautiful that it was the end of the world that brought them together. 

Can be found on Vigloo (will have to pay to watch all the episodes) or can be found on free websites

It's a crime this is so short! Dammit, I want more!

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTwpl5IWgPSHeOJuiVZUjObuj5COTp7uA&si=jTGqrl4ltdUK4Wpu 

This was nothing special, but it was fun to see a god write fanfic!

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I wasn't expecting the level of harsh reality they brought to this, but luckily, it was super fluffy the rest of the time. Hong Jo really snuggled his way into my heart, and even though Sol Ah annoyed me at times, I found myself fond of her by the end as well. I liked how this drama, while silly on the surface, was about valuing time with the people you love while you can and the meaning pets can bring to our lives.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention the intro because it is seriously SO cute!

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

Hilarious and sweet. What more could I need?

Can be found on free websites

I felt this wasn't as put-together story-wise compared to To The X Who Hated Me: E Jae X Woo Ri or as engaging. Did they have chemistry, though? Yes.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTwpl5IWgPSHeOJuiVZUjObuj5COTp7uA&si=b7Rr-baOFNeOeLur

Just something short and silly to pass the time. I really like the Fl when she's dressed up as Sherlock K. The outfit is really nice and the hairstyle suits her.

The ending left something to be desired. I felt they could have gone deeper and darker. But, I do understand wanting to be quirky and leave everything on a high note. I just felt like we missed out on something good.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIXRH-OugPI&list=PLWJyBp-S5PHS5NIlh3X5dBpmkpBiOOdwT

Had a nice message. And the acting was pretty good.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnum-Y055p2HHJVbDyr0sPmqMPxy1FXdm

I didn't expect it to get as dark and complicated as it did. It wasn't excellent, but it was certainly interesting.

Can be found on iQiyi

I'll start out with the positives:

The performances are very strong throughout, the camaraderie was a delight, and it was a legitimately compelling watch at the beginning.

You're glad to see these common people rise up and make something of themselves while helping others.

But, my God, did it just drag the longer it went on! By the time it reached the halfway mark, I was plain tired of it all.

The plot was stretched and stretched and stretched out over a ridiculous number of episodes/long runtime to the point my patience and interest were practically nonexistent. If they halved the number of episodes, it would have felt so much more exciting.

Ngl, if I didn't promise to watch this AND suffer from NDD (Never Drop Disease) . . . I would have dropped it like a fiery, volcano potato and bolted.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki or free websites

Simply put, this drama felt like a just-barely-stopping-before-the-line of being a cash-grab, copy-cat adaptation. And it's not as though the actors did a bad job. I'll even admit that I found the effects and jarring jumps through time to be well done. But it lacked the nuance, patience, and harshness of the original Taiwanese drama.

And, as to the tone they set as a whole, it was as though they missed the soul of the story. There was an overabundance of positivity and glossiness when solemnity and shades of grey were required, even down to the soundtrack, which was such a memorable and key part of the original.

No surprise at all, I don't recommend it.

Can be found on Netflix

Style but no substance really.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXdsS5E_8i3ntTeWS0YGupPC9pBo568s

This was kind of all over the place. There were some moments of good acting and good chemistry, but overall, if I had to describe this to someone, I would say it felt like a conversation that got beat around the bush continuously. And for the life of me, I cannot comprehend the reason for the time skip! Like, why?

Really, I would say this is a skip. I honestly stuck it out because I wanted to support OMEGA X  (the MLs are from that K-Pop group) after finding out they had to go through what they did at their company.

Side Note: It's getting pity points because I would feel bad rating it any lower.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

Cute. And the voiceover is very soothing and expresses the feeling of secretly liking someone close to you very well. Also, nicely acted. I only wish there were more episodes!

EP1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-QfsX-o30
EP2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmVshhARDfo

It was okay for what it was. It's a short watch that's kind of cute and without big conflicts. Maybe give it a try if you want something to pass the time.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjQnh3jVKk-Kxyp989Dz9V2RD0ZOz3nha&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

Nothing really special here. Just something silly with too much cringe and awkward moments.

Can be found on Netflix

It's an easy and fun watch. So, why am I giving it a 7/10? Because of the FL Ji Won. That's why. She is overly possessive of her boyfriend and tries to control who he's friends with and doesn't trust him. Not okay. Men and women can be friends believe it or not. And the drama frames her and her boyfriend, Hyun Seung, as having both made mistakes. He didn't do anything wrong! It was all on her.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS--ClexQbQ1lg6TttQTcE3a60T_noSnh

"Do you really need to lose weight? It's fine if it's really what you want. If it's because of the people who blame you, you don't need it."

This was fairly solid. The subtitles were a bit to blame for some lines not making sense. But, that can be looked over. I particularly liked how they used all of the characters in examples of being critiqued for your looks whether it's height, plastic surgery, makeup, or current/past weight.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZKMzCKPu9Y&list=PLQ0f_g2mQlLd230-Hobyt2bI_6A39Yntz&index=2

It's more like between a 6.5/10 and a 7 for me, though.

In another universe, this would be an entertaining crime drama with kooky characters and mild fantasy elements set in the distant past. In this one, however, for me, it was a drama that didn't know how to incorporate its mysteries well, or fantasy elements for that matter (those 4th-wall-break scenes were downright annoying), with really only two characters you ever felt okay rooting for that only resulted in disappointment.

Putting all that aside, why I rated it THIS low: Going from watching Chimera, where horrific police brutality and coverups were a main theme, to Life on Mars, where violent police interactions were the norm, gave me major whiplash. And, honestly, not just that, I found myself getting pissed off.

Every "interrogation" scene was not comedic but wrong (it was often treated as comedic, though). I tried to hold off on judging it early, but I quickly realized (and was later proved correct) that this drama simply did not care. And the fact that only the main ML was slightly bothered by it and the drama didn't frame it honestly was beyond messed up. It was hard, if not impossible, for me to care about the plot and cast with this massive elephant looming in the room.

Can be found on free websites

Same problem as last time except it's Hyun Seung who's acting possessive. But, honestly, Ji Won is being so hypocritical. So, it's fine for her to hang out alone with a guy friend but he can't do the same?

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS--ClexQbQ07WPPZBGgkEZHGQ63rKQdb

The drama itself was fine. But, so much more could have been done here. The eating disorder wasn't really addressed seriously enough and was fixed too easily, and the romance just wasn't set up enough to be believable.

Regarding Representation: We had a Gay side character, the FL's ex-fiancé, Yeong Jae. In the first episode, he is revealed to have left her and run away with his boyfriend, K. He didn't have the courage to tell her, so K called and told her the news. She's very upset, but not because he's Gay.

They are also a few scenes showing her looking at their pictures online, the two going on vacation, and some flashbacks. Otherwise, they don't really come up again. It felt very naturally included. And I liked how she was even jealous of their happy relationship, wanting that for herself with someone.

In my opinion, it's pretty brief rep that does a good job and isn't demeaning.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

It was confusing but entertaining. Not much else to say.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjd5-3yYwC4QCyp7ZxMNnkIjD3H2A8UCp

The way they jumped back and forth through the years made the story a bit of a confusing mess. Also, the timing of the subtitles was a few seconds slow which was frustrating. It was cute and pretty well-acted for what it was though. And it was nice to see them not shy away from the kiss.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mh2lXSQlIE&list=PLAA0PQX_i8vMyLXKZF5EmwgA552e52Jno&index=2

Short and charming enough.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWRwTqESLjiS82DHOuWUvi2yEpRrKGZK2&si=5W4Et_d3yRkXYlV7

When you're only here for the rep and everything else is kind of just background noise . . .

You give it a 7 and go, "That was alright. The kisses were nice and tension tensioned." 

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I didn't feel like any of the stories had a real point or deeper meaning.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8g_6wQttkwFuSXeGldTt3gwfSYhGr8jl&si=9tYlNevAFZOLB0MW

Is my rating honest? No. In reality, it's more like a generous 7. But I love my LGBT+ supporting kings OnlyOneOf, and I would just cry if I rated a drama they starred in any lower than an 8, okay?! So forgive me for fudging the numbers! I am a person with feelings!

All this being said, just because I won't rate it honestly doesn't mean I won't review it honestly.

It makes sense that the acting here wouldn't be stellar; they were all new to this. Credit where credit is due, though, Nine and Mill managed to pull off some pretty decent chemistry with their characters despite not being given a lot to work with. However, the editing, story beats, and pacing desperately needed work, and there is no excuse for that. Many times, when scenes continued, they would abruptly cut to new locations or would skip forward a few hours, giving the watcher this uncomfortable feeling of being rushed. Also, more screen time should have been devoted to showing more of the leads spending quality time together rather than talking about or cutting to very brief clips of it. As they say with books, "Show, don't tell." Finally, did we need the scheming ex? No, we did not.

All in all, could have been a lot better.

Can be found on iQiyi

It was nothing truly spectacular or moving. But, it was quite pleasant and fun. The jokes didn't always land, but I didn't seem to find myself caring too much.

The humor ranges from cringey to cringey-funny to just funny. If you can get past/like the first two episodes, you'll probably have a good time. The romance itself was delightfully awkward and cute. Because this was a lower budget project I actually found the two leads to be very natural, I think it worked to their advantage in that respect.

Now, the potential side couple was Okay. I didn't Hate seeing their story, but they took up a bit too much of the runtime that could have been used to develop the main couple, in my opinion.

Overall, this was harmless :)

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

This drama was false advertising, plain and simple!

It sold itself as a love square when it was anything but. Really, only two love interests got enough screentime to be considered love interests. And one of those two was selfish, possessive, and had a tendency to act out violently. So, needless to say, getting invested and torn about who the main ML would end up with was not happening.

Did I appreciate that they tried to show parts of the story from every love interest's POV, and did I have fun for a little bit theorizing about who he'd end up with? Sure.

But was I annoyed to death watching the finale, feeling like I got played? You're damn right!

In conclusion . . . Watch Secret Relationships! I want to rewatch it now so I can see some quality and a superior love square!

Or Light on Me! I'd recommend Light on Me, too, instead of this!

Can be found on iQiyi

Okay, let's make this quick!

IT. WAS. FRUSTRATING.

From the overall writing and samey expressions to the circular conflicts and overdramatic soundtrack.

And this ML had to be the most frustrating ML I've seen since God knows when! If there was an easy path in front of him, he would first sigh deeply, yell at it repeatedly, turn around only to look back at it wistfully, and then take a sharp left right off a cliff.

I don't recommend it. There's no reason for me to.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

Yeah . . . This just wasn't for me. If I'm being honest, as I approached the end, it was near excruciating to get through!

Rather than being soap-opera-like and fun with constant scheming, over-the-top acting, and crazy reveals, it was one long, long, long, extravagant cat fight that ended in a screaming/crying fit and broken glass. And I didn't have anyone I cared about enough to make any of it worth it; I couldn't get invested because they didn't let me.

Needless to say, I don't recommend it, and I certainly won't be revisiting it.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

Link to my review (my thoughts were too much for the word count to handle): https://kisskh.at/profile/8835865/reviews/350443 

The very short version: Wedding Impossible had potential. It had a bit of a unique premise, a wacky start promising some over-the-top fun, and the opportunity to say something/showcase Queer representation in a mainstream K-Drama. I don't have to tell you that it failed on all counts.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I have TOO much to say! So much that I can't get myself or my copious notes together to do a proper review. What I will say here is that I was very much disappointed with this drama and how it could have put forth a much better product and done more representation-wise with little effort. First off, they could have made Jin Sung's choice to lie more understandable: Put his father in a comma/have the surgery be more urgent, and make the hospital expenses much higher. Also, have him have in-depth talks with his brother, who is ACTUALLY part of the LGBT+ community.

Post about 4 Queer alternatives they could have easily taken Park Jin Sung's character (if they dared) to make him actually Queer, his lie less egregious, and completely fix the drama (I'd put it all here, but the darn character limit is stopping me!!!): https://kisskh.at/profile/8835865/feeds/4ZplOTA

In conclusion, if you thought of watching this, I would recommend you don't. Unless you just want to skim through it for Kang Tae Wan's story, in which case, by all means. He was the saving grace of this drama, and his story was very well done.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I wanted to like this. I really did. At first I told myself: It's not bad. But not good.

But . . . It was just bad.

I could tell the actors were trying to work with what they were given, but it was like you could almost see it behind their eyes that they wished they could say some lines differently.

And it wasn't just the performances that were lacking, the camerawork could be downright ugly, the important plotpoints of the story felt like they were thrown in at random times, the pacing was off, and the dialogue made me feel like I was in a hamster wheel!

Side Note: Why did Dennis even exist as a character?

Me trying to see the positives:

The concept had promise, the ending wasn't too bad, and sometimes the MLs had legitimate chemistry.

This is a skip my friends. Go watch The New Employee instead. I know you've been thinking about it. Just go!

Can be found on iQiyi

Regarding my rating: Rating it any lower seriously feels like bullying, and my conscience simply won't allow it! *groans* Honestly, if I didn't feel guilty doing so, I would be rating it a 6 at the highest.

"Why R U?" No, seriously, like, why are you? Hearing the original Thai drama was going to get a Korean remake made me feel skeptical as to the quality, to say the least. Seeing it come to fruition, I could not even muster disappointment because, really, what did I expect anyway? To be pleasantly surprised? LMAO. The original drama already had its problems, but at least it had some semblance of a story and plot and sizzling chemistry to distract the viewers.

When I tell you, this made less than no sense! Just . . . Why? Trying to think of something nice to say feels like work. The kisses were better than some K-BLs? I don't know; that's all I can seem to come up with!

Save yourself the time and find something else to watch, or go binge the Fighter and Tutor cut on YouTube. We both know you watched it last week anyway. I see you.

Can be found on iQiyi

It was deeply unsettling and disturbing, and made me feel an uncomfortable crawling in my skin. Undeniably, it was well-acted and shot to have made me have such a visceral reaction to it. Beyond that, I don't see what I'm supposed to have gotten from this drama, if anything.

Can't say I'd recommend it, to anyone, really.

Can be found on Netflix

For as interesting a twist and ultimate dynamic as they had, unfortunately, they did not set it up well.

Darn! This could have been really different if only the execution hadn't fallen short!

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UjFgW8TJEfcBaYLr8jyN_Dn00ScQ6CW&si=sy2FjZed5vjPyxXQ

It's not . . . Bad. Really, it's not.

The chemistry is there, and they had an interesting idea. It's just that they placed too much weight on the scale of the romance when there wasn't enough background or experiences to back it up.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR2FeqYtgF11cPxC7n_hYgk-&si=5ja60Wp7pC2DERJA

It could be stilted but also rather charming. For what it was, with its production value, I didn't mind it.

Can be found on GagaOOLala

or

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL43jpYftGbEFcuaz7dCQyQTwIJMji6dFk&si=CEp6o_CcGvIwfnsE

Here's the thing: I HATE what this drama says about suicide. It basically tells anyone who's suicidal to rethink their decision because it's "selfish." That they would be a selfish person for experiencing deep suffering/depression and not being able to take anymore. That their loved ones being in despair due to their passing is more important than what they're going through. Fucking excuse me?

First off, fuck that message. What a shitty and inaccurate thing to say. What's next? You're going to tell people with clinical depression not to be depressed because they're bringing down the mood?!

Second off, saying that is not even helpful. You shouldn't be convincing someone to live for others because what happens when those people are no longer around? A person needs to learn to live for themself.

This all felt like a demeaning slap in the face to mental health and people's struggles generally. I was just waiting for someone to say, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps."

The only thing I appreciated and enjoyed about this was the action. Because when it was all chase scenes, murders, and new, unique stories, it was legitimately entertaining. If this were about Death being some cruel game master and went more the route of Alice in Borderland, I would find it not only palatable but worthwhile to recommend. As it stands, due to its messaging, I can't. Skip this one, my dear MDLers.

Can be found on free websites

Can be found on free websites

I'll just link my long-ass review here: https://kisskh.at/profile/8835865/reviews/232431

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

This is how not to do a misunderstanding. Just one sentence would have fixed things.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqQvcAR1H0mkqY-4nimgaxeAOaMZrEh6

It was rather frustrating, to be honest. They started off with good chemistry and tension and then dove into conflict and seemed to go in circles.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwQqk6jItGB-w4CRalXCh5lI

I get why things went the way they did. But, I really think that the way the characters acted didn't seem to fit at many points.

Link to YouTube playlist for episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqCoVH1bdO9-CH30p-ysnqneHzfkwlUCR

They got their "Happy Merry Ending," but what about the viewer?

First off, this should have been a movie. The pacing would still be absolutely ridiculous, but at least not as noticeable as in drama format. Not to mention, the characters' conflicts and feelings come and go whenever necessary but not in any flowing or sensical way.

Really, only these positives come to mind: The leads' pretty faces, nice singing voices, and good kissing scenes. Nothing else.

Near the end, I felt so detached I would liken it to the experience of an AI robot trying to understand human emotions.

I honestly wonder if they made this just for the OST; otherwise, I can't see a point in its existence.

This is definitely a skip, my friends. I finished it only because I felt obligated to.

Can be found on GagaOOLala or Rakuten Viki

The way they played into Biphobic stereotypes, making it seem like Ajin couldn't help but cheat because "Oh, no, I love two people" just pissed me off more and more as time went on.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE TWO PEOPLE, YOU SIT DOWN AND HAVE AN HONEST FUCKING CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

And to end it all with just a slap on the wrist?

I can't with this production company anymore.

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwScMgbcMzyvGf-MGa81J0vj&si=Zyllfd1_81OW5VjD

Link to review (damn you character limit!!!): https://kisskh.at/profile/MademoiselleNoir/review/459636

Shorter version: 

Jealousy Incarnate pulls you in at first with some typical K-Drama hijinks/setups: accidents, misunderstandings, some classic enemies-to-lovers teasing for later, a love triangle. You get the gist of it. But it did one aspect too well, and everything else not . . . The SML.

Born to be a ML but cursed to be a SML, Jung Won was in every way charming, understanding, and coy. He matched the FL's energy, was joking and flirting when she was. And he wasn't perfect, which made him even more perfect for Na Ri. He struggled to stand up for himself and his desires completely and couldn't always say what was on his mind, whereas Na Ri lacked stability and patience. Together, they balanced each other out. Not to mention, they had immediate chemistry! And the drama encouraged and lingered on their love story, only to turn around over halfway through and present Hwa Shin as the one "true" partner for Na Ri, and at every turn, it essentially scoffed in the audience's face for daring to think anything differently.

It wasn't just a rug pull or a bucket of ice water being dumped over your head. It was a forced agenda I couldn't buy into if you bribed me. Watching them be together out of nowhere as the most unhappy/"happy" bickering couple made me regret having eyes or ears. Every romantic moment between the ML and FL felt so forced and wrong that I wanted to scream.

I hate that this drama was full of wasted potential. I hate that the FL was self-aware of her bad decisions and chose them anyway, as though she were being courageous. I hate that the ML continued to be an immature jackass. I hate this drama.

I am rage incarnate.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I feel bad that I'm giving it such a low rating. But this just didn't measure up and I have to be honest.

I'll try my best to explain why.

The first Color Rush was a combination of light horror and romance. It didn't solve the mystery it introduced, which felt disappointing, but it was great nonetheless.

It knew not to give up absolutely everything about this world with Monos and Probes. And its effects, music, narration, tone, and slow build made it believably "otherworldly." Plus, there was good chemistry between the MLs and a fascinating and twisted balance of power between them. There was mutual feelings and mutual obsession and tension at the mere possibility of them being around each other.

When people saw it they not only wanted the mystery solved/explored they wanted to see more of the unique world they created, right?

This second season fulfilled that wish. Incorrectly. It dumped too much of the world on the viewers and despite being about the same length as the original (about five minutes shorter each episode) constantly rushed through everything. There was no time to process, it was, "Let's get to the next scene." And, the action was weak, there wasn't any believable tension or weight to the story or characters' actions, sets and effects looked too cheap, and the writing wasn't up to par. Not to mention the ML didn't act like his character would have in his situation. I would expect him to have done something rash and/or be wallowing in misery. Rather than that, he seemed just a bit upset and to be going about life fine. Where was the despair? The agony?

And of course, writing out the other ML was the biggest reason this failed. But, we all knew that.

All in all, I'm disappointed but not surprised.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki once released there.

It gave . . . Nothing. I couldn't get invested or find it within me to care about the story or any of the characters in the slightest.

This could have been basic but sweet and warm, at the very least, like Tasty Florida or Ocean Like Me. But no, they couldn't even do that.

Side Note: Those magic translating earbuds were SO convenient they drove me insane. Never was the language barrier a problem at all!

Just skip it. Don't bother. I wasted my time FOR you.

Can be found on Rakuten Viki

I have to admit, I got my hopes up a bit in the beginning with this one. At the very least, it seemed much more promising than other Thai/Korean crossovers. No magic translating earbuds or conveniences in sight! Sangmin understood a fair amount of Thai, and Dinneaw understood a tiny bit of Korean. It worked!

But, God, did this oh-so-quickly give me major tonal whiplash. One moment it was super sweet, and the next, it was uncharacteristically crass and, to put it plainly, SO horny.

To paint a picture for you: one moment, two side characters are finally addressing their feelings; the next, they're in nothing but their underwear, and the camera is too comfy.

Also, tell me why so much time is spent on side characters we barely know at all, uncomfortably smashing over and over again. Why? What happened to the plot or the leads? Does anyone care?!

*sigh*

Why did I put myself through this?

Just skip it and save yourself. Even if you're looking for a "spicy watch," trust me, this is not what you're looking for, darling.

Can be found on iQiyi

The short version of my thoughts: Yeah, unfortunately, I believe the K-GL wave is going to be set back because of this trash.

Much as I wish I could say there are redeeming aspects to Scandal Love, I can't think of anything positive to say other than the two FLs had a couple of legitimately good moments together and it was an effort to produce/put out a mainstream K-GL.

The sound design was poor, AI/stock footage shots were very obviously AI/stock footage, the dancing was laughably bad, the music sounded like it was royalty-free, and never have I ever seen actors/characters SO uncomfortable existing on the screen! Their faces were always twisted in pain/they looked like they were cringing with every line, begging the ground to swallow them whole.

And to top all this off, of course, there were constant character inconsistencies from episode to episode and even scene to scene!

Don't even get me started on the plot because tell me how they managed to drag such a lame, bare-bones story about a K-Pop girl group who gains a new member out of nowhere, has millions of followers, and is also about to be forced to disband, across ten episodes with an average runtime of 40 minutes each? That's not a compliment!

Link to my review to read my full thoughts (I had too much to say for the character limit to handle it): https://kisskh.at/profile/MademoiselleNoir/review/565402

Can be found on iQiyi

or

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfmKArt9EtX_Arz3niZyeUtIa9n83O28&si=iT759j_8yVUS_VsL

I just . . . Can't with this. Short as the runtime was, each new episode had me impatiently waiting for it to be over already. There was essentially nothing redeeming to be found here! From the sound design and sets to the camerawork, directing, and script, everything was lacking/clunky.

And I felt bad that the actors were comfortable with each other and clearly trying only for it to turn out like this.

It was SO bad that I felt bad it was bad!

Can be found on iQiyi or GagaOOLala

It's a bit of a guilty pleasure show. If I was forced to actually rate it, it's probably a 7/10.

It's so silly at times. But, I can't help but look back on this with fond memories.

It's actually not perfect. I just have too many good memories with this show, so I'm biased.  I would probably rate it a 7/10 or a 7.5/10 realistically.

This is in a movie and drama format. So I guess I'll put it here.

The second and third story were definitely better than the first. I think the reason is that they felt like they had more to say.

This was not the most amazing watch, but it was certainly interesting.

Can be found on free websites

It's a TV Show, so I guess I'll put it here.

This was so chill! They make fun hosts and their personalities both mesh and clash well. I hope we get a second season of them going to Switzerland or France.

Can be found on iQiyi

For Korean LGBT+ List

CW

Link to YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ__edMZliXsSfH8sG7leBDUikXLckAz0&si=glxbZwRMc86od1gg

For Korean LGBT+ List

Can be found on Rakuten Viki or Amazon Prime

For Korean LGBT+ List

Can be found on free websites