Swetha

A promising drama that was dragged down by too many ideas

I was really hyped for this drama because I was excited by the summary and I love both the main actors. I was so happy by the refreshing first half but the story kept getting more and more chaotic and fell off at the end.

Let's start with the positives:
1. The amazing cast- I knew the actors would deliver on their roles. Kim Seonho is an amazing actor and just shone on the screen. The rest of the cast also did well and I loved that they made the foreign cast speak normally in the native accent instead of the cringey accent they do in other dramas.
2. The cinematography- I've got to say, the cinematography was amazing. Some scenes felt like a nature documentary and beautifully shot
3. The dialogue- I actually liked how the dialogue wasn't overtly cringey. Like there was some cheesiness here and there but nothing too crazy
4. The runtime- I'm actually glad this is short with just 12 epsidoes. If this was any longer, I would've gone crazy with everything that was happening

Now let's move on the negatives/rant:
1. The convoluted plot- What the heck were the writers thinking?! It had such a great start and I was loving it but so many plot points got introduced in the middle that I felt like I was watching another drama. The pacing was all over the place and I started to get frustrated towards the end
2. The repetitive plot structure- I lost count how many times the same thing happened again and again in the story. It was like I was watching a rerun of the same drama in a different font.
3. The useless second lead- I don't even know why Hiro was given so much importance in the story. Honestly, I just found him cheesy (like a typical jdrama character) and started skipping whenever he appeared on my screen. He did have some great acting moments but they were overshadowed by the cringe potrayal of his character
4. The anxiety ridden relationship dynamic- I don't know why they labelled this as a romance when the romance part is so unsteady and unreliable. Because of the numerous sad scenes, I as a viewer kept feeling dread about their romance. Like even when they got together, i knew that they wouldn't last and something is going to happen which I don't want to see in a romance drama
5. The "too deep" concept- I get that the writers had a message to deliver but they were too philosophical or too deep about how they portrayed it. Like I could understand it but it was done in a way where it seemed too artsy or theatrical for the common audience. It started seeming forced and unnatural to the storyline.
6. Bad marketing- This drama is more like a melodrama than a romance. I think people might be disappointed because the marketing as well as the first few episodes promised a refreshing romance but it changed from the middle. It was just too different than what we were promised.

Overall, i felt like this was a spiritual successor to "It's ok to not be ok" in terms of how it tackled childhood trauma, mental health issues, and complex family dynamics with a kooky, quirky concept. If they had marketed this properly, people would have set the right expectations. But still, i enjoyed this drama and might even rewatch it again. 8/10

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A refreshing and feel good drama that breaks stereotypes

I went into this with somewhat great expectations since this was rated so highly yet went completely undetected by my radar. I'm happy to say that this show went beyond my expectations.

Let's start with the positives:
1. The plot- I liked how the plot was balanced. They used the mystery game to build intrigue and then completely focused on the main characters to hook the audience. It was like the writers predicted the audience's thoughts and balanced the mystery and romance somewhat well.
2. The realistic 2nd leads story- Cdramas usually have a tendency to have a silly 2nd lead romance but here, it was like a mini drama inside a drama. I loved how they focused on a married couple and the portrayal of how sometimes love is not enough. Their storyline felt realistic and the acting was great.
3. The overall acting- The acting of all the characters was well balanced. The female lead stole the show but the male lead did well too. Even the supporting cast did their parts well and felt relatable. I was even able to sympathise with the brother character (villain) which just goes to show how the acting and writing was well done.
4. The non stereotypical plot points/scenes - I liked how the drama was self aware of how cringey some cdramas are. There were some scenes where they allude to a certain cheesy thing but turns out to be completely different. I also how the fmc was written in a realistic way where she communicated her thoughts and got angry when she needed to (thank god she has a spine). They also didn't show the traditional wedding scene or their colleagues making a big deal out of it which I actually liked. This just made the drama seem more refreshing

Now let's move onto the negatives/rant:
1. A few lull moments- As much as l like how balanced the pacing was, i still wish we had some more impactful scenes which grabbed the audience more. I did skip a few scenes here and there because stakes were veey low and I got bored
2. Cinematography- I'm not faulting the cinematography but there were a few missed opportunities where the scenes could've been more aesthetic/ picturesque. Some frames looked bland.
3. A little more editing- I think this drama would've had the perfect pacing if it ended around episode 26. If it was 1 or 2 episodes shorter, it would be perfect
4. The very obvious product placement- I'm used to cdramas filled with obvious product placement but there were just one too many scenes which were like ads for the product rather than a drama scene. Even the way they were displayed was like on a store exhibit. It just took me out of the story sometimes

Overall, i liked this series and would recommend it to anyone who wants a feel good time. Is it my most favourite series ? No. But it can definitely entertain and make us swoon. 8.5 /10 stars

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A cute yet deep romantic comedy that could've benefited from a less complicated plot

I went into this with high expectations and in the end, some of those expectations were met and some were kind of thrown out in the middle.

Let's start with the many positives:
1. Perfect casting- The actors and their chemistry with each other was the highlight of the plot. Their relationships were believable and I had so much fun with all the bromance that was going on. The acting was on another level and everyone portrayed their characters so well, especially the two main leads.
2. A fresh take on shamanism- Modern media tends to portray shamanists in an intimidating way or either a conman kind of way. So it was refreshing to see a more realistic and mundane portrayal of their world.
3. The overall message- I liked how they were trying to convey a lot of the messages. Some scenes were really well done and delivered on the sentimental value.
4. A non toxic love triangle- I was a little worried because I tend to not like love triangles but here it was done in the most healthy way possible. I loved how they put each other first and decided to support each other as friends no matter what.

Now there are some negatives:
1. The overcomplicated second half- I really liked the first half but the second half became more complicated that it was difficult to follow along with the plot. Huge plot points were condensed into a single episode and the ending was rushed too much.
2. The weird pacing- Like I said, the first half had a normal rom com pacing but towards the end, it became jam-packed and started feeling heavy. I had to rewatch some scenes to make sense of what was going on.
3. Repetitiveness- while the plot was new and several plot twists kept cloming up, the character's actions kept repeating. Like the main characters do something, then then the villain does some trick, the mother tries to save the Villain, the villain escapes etc. Like this structure kept repeating in the second half that it became predictable and kind of annoying to watch.

Overall, this drama is definitely well done and it is good. But it just wasn't for me. If you like supernatural stories with complex back stories the this might be perfect for you!

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Age gap romance done right finally !!!

I delayed watching this because I usually don't like age gap romances where the heroine is still a minor but I was absolutely proven wrong.

Lets talk about the many positives:
- Age Gap discussion done maturely
The story is aware of its weakness which is Sang zhi liking Jiaxu when she was a minor. But their relationship remains that of a brother and sister even when Sang zhi is an adult. Their dynamic only changes when Jiaxu realizes his feelings after they meet and get to know each other as adults. The characters even have a serious discussion about their age gap and were aware of it. It just made the story more realistic because the age gap was shown as a serious consideration.
- Chen Zheyuan stole my heart !
Even though both the leads acted well, Chen Zheyuan as Jiaxu stole my heart and I haven't recovered yet. His eyes and micro expressions were just swoon worthy and his character (playful and mischievous) was so refreshing to watch unlike the serious and cold CEO characters in other dramas. Jiaxu had his flaws and he owned it. He did an amazing job of portraying a smart, playful and cunning character. Whenever he smiled, you could feel the different emotions he was portraying. He was so natural and his character overall felt realistic. I'm madly in love with his acting right now and I can't stop gushing.
-The heart fluttering chemistry between the leads
The chemistry between Lusi and Zheyuan was palpable. I could feel the tension between through the screen and I was screaming giggling and kicking thd whole time whenever they had their moment on screen. The pining was swoon worthy and the kisses were heart melting. Strangely I didn't find their skinship moments cringey and I usually skip forward when the leads get too intimate, but I didn't do it here. It just felt natural.
- The character dynamics was fun to watch
The supporting characters felt real and their relationship with each other was fun to watch. Not many characters were toxic and didn't make too much drama. I also like Sang Yan and Sang Zhi dynamic, their sibling energy felt real and I liked that Sang Yan was protective over his sister but still wanted his friend to be happy.
- Sang Zhi's character was written so well
I was skeptical how they would show a younger female lead in a age gap romance since they typically go for the naive and innocent damsel in distress route. But i was pleasantly suprised by how mature Sang Zhi's character was. She thinks like an adult and is very clear about her feelings but still has the youthful and fresh vibe of a college freshman. She was very careful about her relationship dynamic with Jiaxu and even acknowledges real life concerns with their relationship. She was just a joy to watch and she was the best female character I've seen in an age gap romance till date.

Now even though this series was near perfect, I still have a few minor negatives:
- The earlier episodes could've been better
The childhood arc could've been thought out more. The cinematography looked weird and Lusi with her very childish voice was off putting since no high school student will willingly talk like a baby. The child actress could've also looked more mature. She acted well but she didn't look like a 14 year old and that just made the age gap thing more weird.
- The supporting characters could've been more fleshed out
The supporting characters were boring especially Sang Zhi's college mates. I just fast forwarded when it was only them on the screen since they were written too stereotypical and didn't feel fully fleshed out.
-Can we stop with the cheesy proposals already ?!
What is with China and its obsession with cheesy proposals. I was hoping that maybe this one will have a normal proposal since the story till then felt mature and realistic but they had to end it on a cringey note.

Overall:
Don't get scared of the plot and give this drama a chance if you want a swoon worthy romance that'll keep you up at night. 9.5/10.

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An older woman younger man romance with potential

The show started with so much potential but definitely had its hiccups.

I rarely like older woman younger man romance but I actually liked this one to some extent.

The positives:
- The male lead was attractive psychically and mentally
The male lead was younger but he was definitely more attractive than the female lead. It is not only because of his appearance but also because he is smart and his general attitude. He had enough charm to attract a successful older woman like the female lead.
-The chemistry and tension was sizzling
The romance was slow burn but I was thoroughly enjoying the whole process. They were flirting a lot and i was there for every second of it. The tension was there and I could feel their chemistry.
- The plot was enjoyable
The plot had a lot of romance tropes but I didn't care. I kept wanting to watch the next episode and I was not bored at all. Some moments were cheesy but it was bearable.

The negatives:
- The second male lead casting was disappointing
I don't care if he's a good guy but the casting for this role was messed up. He looked like a creepy uncle rather than a second male lead. I was uncomfortably watching him with the female lead. His personality was harmless but anyone can see he's more older and his flashy wadrobe didn't help either.
- what happened with the female lead's personality?
In the beginning, the female lead was more mature, badass and smart. She's also almost 30 years old but kept acting like an innocent teenager in the second half. She's shown to have previous mature relationships so her behavior doesn't make sense. I would've loved if she had been more bold and lead her boyfriend more but she became passive and dumb.
- Again why is the female lead so dumb?
Isn't she supposed to be older and smart? The guy literally let her know that he knows the truth but she was literally blind and couldn't realize it. It was just so frustrating to watch since she was so oblivious.
- The chemistry fell off in the second half
They had so much tension and chemistry at the beginning but after they got together the romantic chemistry disappeared. I don't know why but something was missing and that was disappointing.

Overall, a good romance with lots of tension and chemistry but definitely missed an opportunity to be great. 8/10

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Not for me I guess

If you don't like cheesy lines, immature male lead, teacher-student romance with an age gap then you won't like this.

I like sports dramas so I wanted to give this one a chance but sadly this wasn't for me.

There were multiple factors but my main problem was the whole coach-student dynamic. I'm fine with age gaps but I definitely don't like the teacher student trope. I don't care if she's his coach, the power dynamics is definitely messed up. And he's still in his first year meaning he's not even 20 years old and him having a mature relationship with his coach was hard to swallow.

Plus the male lead is immature and stubborn which is normal for his age but it just made their relationship more cheesy since the female lead was more mature.
I had to skip lots of their intimate scenes as I just felt uncomfortable since I couldn't relate to their romantic chemistry.

Overall, I guess this drama is just not my preference but I can see someone else liking this. 6.5/10

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A perfectly balanced romance drama

I was very suprised by how well thought out this entire drama was. From the casting, character design, storyline to even the number of episodes, i felt everything was planned carefully and done well.

The biggest plus point that separates this drama from the rest was how simple, comfortable and warm each episode felt. It had some usual kdrama tropes but overall it didn't have any fantastical plot twist, exaggerated humor or the "manufactured" feeling that some kdramas have.

Lets look at some obvious pros:
1. The reversed gender roles- I think the writer was very smart with the characters. The clever reversal of gender roles while still retaining the masculinity and feminity of the ML and FL respectively was the highlight of the drama.
2. The cinematography- Everything was shot beautifully and had a warm feel to it. From the backgrounds to the insert shots, it just felt mundane and realistic.
3. A simple storyline- while the story did have some drama, overall most of it felt realistic. It followed the life of ordinary people who have their own struggles and concerns which made it relatable.
4. A peek into headhunting- Most people probably don't know about headhunting much so it was fun to learn about a new field. It added some well needed action to the story.
5. The casting - The casting cannot be anymore perfect. The actor's ages and mature features suited the characters perfectly. Even the supporting characters did a great job and the acting was believable.

Now lets look at few cons I noticed:
1. The use of cliche tropes- I don't want to spoil but they used a particular overused kdrama trope that most watchers hate. They didn't need to use that trope and it just felt unnecessary to the overall storyline.
2. The second ML- I'm sorry and I don't want to be mean but I don't think the actor suited the director Woo 0character. He felt more like a young rookie employee rather than a company's director who's burnt out by life. I wish they gave him a more suitable role or casted someone else because he didn't seem believable as a character.
3. The weird pacing - This is a minor issue but I was thrown off by the story pacing sometimes. Like some episodes were very fast paced while other episodes were very mundane and slow.

Overall, I loved this drama and it quenched my thirst for a realistic feel good romance drama with mature characters. I hope to see more like this. 9/10 stars!

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A perfect cheesy rom com that stands out from the rest

I like characters with a suprise twist to them and this drama had one of the great ones. A mobster with a sweet and clumsy side, count me in !

I started watching this because of reels of the male lead's voice. He really had the look of a gangster so I wanted to watch this one and I'm really glad I did.

Lets talk about the positives first:
- Great casting for the male lead, and supporting characters
The reason why this drama with such a story worked so well was because of the casting for the male characters. Ji hwan, Ill yeong, Hyun woo and all supporting characters looked legit according to their characters. I really liked that they used the rough looking Uhm Tae Goo for the gangster role and the soft looking Kwon Yul for the prosecutor to create a contrast.
- Uhm Tae Goo melted my heart
The character of male lead matched perfectly with Uhm Tae Goo's look and hence made me more immersed in the story. His voice and sharp stare was everything ! Even when he was acting cute or shy in the drama, it didn't look awkward and was fairly realistic. He was charismatic and fierce in screen. So I was really surprised to see him being really shy and dorky in realy life (he's so cute!!)
- The found family was a chef's kiss
The found family in this one was one of the best I've seen. The supporting characters were great and I liked how goofy they were. It was really warm and comforting to see them depend on each other and be one happy family.
- The pacing was perfect
Some may say the ending was rushed but I liked how they paced the drama. Every episode had decent suspense and I didn't find the romantic development between the two leads to be rushed or too slow. I didn't skip much also and enjoyed every episode.

Now let's move onto the negatives:
- The potrayal of the female leads (both main and 2nd) could've been better
I don't mind the casting but at least the character design of the two female leads could've been better. I wish the costume team matched their hairstyles and costumes better to their characters. Honestly, I don't know why they had to give the main female lead the world's ugliest bangs ever. A normal hairstyle would've worked fine since her character is supposed to be honest, kind and determined. But they gave her a quirky hairstyle even though she wasn't. It didn't suit the actress and was awkward to see.
- The sudden flip in the costume
Maybe because I studied fashion I'm sensitive to the costume in shows but I was really confused seeing the costumes of the main male lead and the ex-cons go from very dark colors to suddenly bright and normal colors. I get that they wanted to portray how the characters are changing in a good way but the change was sudden and it didn't suit the characters at all. If they stuck with the dark and flashy costumes, the contrast between their looks and actual personality could've been more clearer. Instead the costumes became bright and gentle which I didn't like.
- The chemistry between the two couples could've been better
At least the main couple had some chemistry but I didn't feel that tension and chemistry with the second couple. I get why Ill Yeong and Miho might like each other but whenever they were together, I just didn't feel it was real. The chemistry between the main couple could've also been great but I was fine with what they had.

Overall, a sweet and fluffy watch that'll put a smile on your face and maybe also make you realize how hot deep husky voices were 😏 8.5/10

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Not the drama for me

Don't attack me, this review is from a person who avoids youth drama. I'm not bashing anyone for liking this since I can understand why people love this.

I started watching this knowing I tend to dislike youth dramas, the only reason why I watched this was because it is an adaptation from the same author as "hidden love" which I absolutely loved. So it was like a challenge to myself to see if I liked this one since I usually don't vibe with school dramas.

But as expected, this one wasn't for me. I knew this was supposed to be more slice of life with a pure and innocent romance but I guess my cynical personality couldn't tolerate the innocent sweetness.

Let me start with the negatives for me:
- The romance was good but not great
The leads had a healthy relationship which I liked but it was just too pure and bland for me. I tend to like couples with chemistry that sparks on screen so I just didn't vibe with the pure milky relationship they had.
- The male lead was bland till the end (I'm sorry)
I get that the male lead is supposed to be quiet and introverted but give him some sort of personality! And the actor could've done more to give life to the character, the expressions he showed were limited so it was like watching a stereotypical introverted character with no depth.
- Can we tone down the puppy-like charm ?
The female lead is supposed to have golden retriever energy I guess, but can we please make it more realistic. Knowing China's obsession with cute female leads, I didn't expect much but again I just need some depth so that she feels relatable. I liked her in some scenes but in other scenes, it was just cringey for me so I skipped it.

But this had some positives for me as well:
- A true slice of life
Lots of dramas claim to be slice of life only to have angsty drama in the middle. But this one was a true slice of life with a slow and relaxed pacing. No major drama or angst between the characters. It just had a nostalgic feel that felt warm and cozy
- Realistic friendships and dynamics
The potrayal of teenagers in China felt relatable. It wasn't exaggerated and just felt normal.
- Healthy relationship goals
I liked how they showed two opposite people can really understand and complete each other. The main couple had a really healthy relationship dynamic. They had mutual patience and appreciation for each other which was great to see.

Overall, it might've been a great watch for someone else but for me, this was just a disappointment (not the show but the watching experience for me). This is just a typical young school romance made really well. But if you don't like this genre, maybe try something else ?

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A fluffy sweet sports romance for a chill afternoon

Wang Anyu finally has hair in this one !!!

Honestly one of the reasons I started this drama was because of Wang Anyu. I liked his acting but I just didn't vibe with his peach fuzz and his characters in the other dramas. I saw the poster and decided to give this one a chance and I am so happy I did.

The positives:
- Great sportsmanship
The story had the spirit of sportmanship. The characters seemed fairly realistic in terms of their attitude to the sport. The sport scenes were also great and felt thrilling to watch
- Cute couple dynamic
The male and female lead had a cute dynamic. They were constantly bickering but understood each other on a fundamental level. They were their natural selves and wasn't cheesy at all. Even when they get together the physical intimacy is minimal and it suits their age range.
- Finally a real tomboy female lead
Some people felt the female lead didn't suit the role but I actually liked her. She was a real tomboy and not some stereotypical portrayal of the term. Her costumes were simple, her makeup was minimal and her attitude was actually cool. She wasn't dressed like a boy but the way she carried herself was like how normal sport students are in college. Her acting wasn't bad and I actually found her endearing and cute.
- Wang Anyu stole the spotlight !
I always liked Wang Anyu's acting since he usually does outgoing, funny and refreshing characters (not cold arrogant CEO). He suits the role and I found him manly and cute at the same time. He made my heart flutter multiple times and I couldn't help but cheer for him. Looking forward to more of his works.

The negatives:
- The second lead/villain coach can burn in hell
The second lead character was just annoying to watch. Actually both the siblings were bad. They seem like they're doing it purely out of love but both of them are selfish and manipulative as hell. I didn't want a redemption arc for him, he was just pure evil and a temporary suspension only for him to get reinstated soon again was not enough.
- Over glorification of being an athlete
The only aspect of the sport scenes I disliked were the ones where majorly injured athletes were still participating. It was contradictory to me because the show was first giving importance to safety during the sport but then they later glorify getting hurt and majorly injured.
- The plot pacing is a little weird
The plot pacing was all over the place. The story never got boring but was it slow in some parts and fast in other parts. So it didn't feel consistent and threw me off a little.

Overall:
Definitely recommend it if you want a sweet sports romance with no high drama. 8/10

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Started great but ended on a dull note

I loved this and rolled my eyes in disappointment at the same time.

I'll call the female lead as sheng and male lead as Qiang for review purposes.

Let's talk about the positives first:
- Interesting portrayal of voice actors and musicians
This is the first drama I've seen that focused on voice actors and contemporary-traditional musicians and I quite enjoyed it. I liked how serious they were about their work and the soundtrack was also fun to listen to.
- The casting of the male actors were great
Since the male actors were playing as voice actors, i was curious to hear their voices and I must say that I wasn't disappointed. Their voices were great and felt natural.
- Lighthearted and cute plot with no drama
I liked that the plot didn't have major drama. It was perfect as a palate cleanser from watching serious dramas. I was waiting for the conflict but nothing major happened which I was glad to see
- Fun supportive cast
The supporting cast were fun to watch. They didn't have deep character stories but they just added light humor and it was nice to see non toxic characters on screen.
- Costumes were on point
I loved how they incorporated fusion chinese attire for the musician characters. It was refreshing to see and I really wanted to buy them. It gave a unique edge and feel to the whole drama. Kudos to the costume team !

Now let's talk about the negatives:
- Can we please not make the female lead a toddler?
This has been my complaint with age gap romances for a long time: A childish and "very cute" female lead. Why is she talking like a sloth and why are her gestures like a child ? (Example: her cup holding and eating everything using two hands). She's 22 for God's sakes and is an adult. I had to skip forward whenever she talked in the earlier episodes since she took a long time to say one sentence.
- How can a perfect man like Qiang exist ?
I get that they wanted to show Qiang as "perfect" but isn't this too much ? I know how busy doctors are and him being an avid cook and a top voice actor on top of it didn't make sense. He also has a perfect temperament and has a flawless personality. It just didn't feel realistic and made him feel like a robot. I wanted to see some flaws or character growth but it didn't happen.
- The second couple could've been written better
I personally didn't like the casting for Xiaoning. I could understand the casting choice for Junmei since he is supposed to look wild and mature but the second couple didn't match well. They looked more like siblings than a potential couple. I couldn't feel the chemistry and their relationship was even more of a slow burn than the main couple.
- Did they get paid by China tourism to do an ad?
I could understand them going on a trip once but this drama had too much vacation scenes. They went on three group vacations in this drama and honestly I was bored most of the time during their vacation. The shots looked great and story wise I was bored.
-The second half just fell off
I personally wish they could've ended this in 24 episodes. I knew it was a chill and relaxed drama but there was literally nothing happening in the story. I just skipped most of the second half since nothing exciting was happening.

Overall:
A great watch if you want something sweet and fluffy but don't expect it to be great with an exciting plot. 7.5/10.

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A simple yet comforting spring romance

The best way that I would describe this series is that it's a perfect slice-of-life drama with a heavy romance sub plot.

I didn't expect this drama to be so well made and well received. But after watching it, I understood why people love this. The biggest strength of this drama lies in it's predictability. The casual viewer can just relax and chill for an hour knowing that nothing angsty is going to happen.

Some of the pros of this drama are:
1. Gorgeous Cinematography- The drama overall had such a beautiful setting from the herb gardens to the flowers in each shot. Everything was shot like a commercial and the coloring was just gorgeous. They even used some angles and compositions that are rarely used in romance.
2. The mature acting- Cdramas are notorious for dramatic characters but I could rarely find a scene that was exaggerated in this series. The characters acted like their age and even the humor wasn't overdone. This ended up making the characters more likeable and relatable.
3. The cozy romance- The romance between the main characters was the star of the show. Though the chemistry wasn't sparking or passionate all the time, seeing the main couple felt comforting because of their stability and maturity. They were just big green flags so they felt reliable.
4. Realistic storyline- The big plot points in the story were realistic and relatable. From the heroine's fears because of her former abusive relationship to the question of chasing your dreams while sacrificing love, it was something that everyone could/has gone through. I liked that they didn't rush through it either.

So here are some cons that I noticed:
1. The slow pacing- I'm a binge watcher and I must say that I lost my patience after the mid way point. I can see this working for people who watch everyday but this wasn't exciting enough for me to binge it in one sitting. I got bored after 20 episodes and kept fast forwarding.
2. Numerous mentions of TCM- I get that TCM is a big concept in the story but after numerous mentions and all the characters adapting TCM in their life, it made me wonder if the whole point of this drama was to boost China's TCM market. Because at the end, all the characters' life now include TCM in a big way in their life.

Overall, I know this drama is meant to be comforting and healing in a cozy mundane way and this hit the mark if you want that. It's a well made drama but this just wasn't the best I've seen. 7.5/10.

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A refreshing story with missed potential

This show had the potential to be great but missed its opportunity by a thin margin. 7.5/10

Let's start with the notable positives:
- Fairly realistic characters
I must say that the characters were really fleshed out. I especially liked Seok Ryu's backstory since it is similar to mine. I liked that they highlighted that always being hard working and "perfect" is not a good thing and anyone can fall down and take a break to recover. Moeum and Danho also had charming personalities and just shone on the screen. Even SeungHyo who is seemingly perfect has his immature and stubborn sides which made him seem more human.
- The casting was perfect
The casting couldn't be more perfect. The actors had great chemistry with each other and it seemed real. Especially the actor for Danho, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. What a great discovery !
- Complex family dynamics
They really showcased the different family dynamics well. Not all family seems the same as it does outside and all families have their own problems. I liked that the parents were not always likeable and had their own flaws which is how most parents are. The writer is definitely talented in writing fleshed out and real characters.

Now lets move onto the notable negatives
- The hot and cold pacing
The pacing felt choppy. Some major issues were solved very quickly while some minor issues were dragged out. Some incidents happened so out of the blue that it was obvious to be a plot device. Something in the plot direction just didn't feel consistent.
- The lack of romantic tension
I actually liked the second couple more since they had more romantic tension than the main couple. Even if they were childhood friends, some sort of tension is required for us to relate to what they're feeling. Maybe because the actors are too good, the image of them being childhood friends was etched too strong in my mind. Their interactions in the story after that weren't strong enough to change that image. They absolutely had chemistry but not enough tension to keep me on my toes.
- Repetition of the same plot with obvious tropes
Every few episodes had the same framework. Seok Ryu gets caught for something by her parents, they fight, SeungHyo supports her, they reunite..... the same thing happened like three times in only 16 episodes. Then there was the ex-boyfriend arc which is to be expected at this point. But I couldn't stand the characters always talking to themselves. It was like in every episode and was just awkward to see mid 30s characters talking to themselves. Plus the PPL of the products were too obvious and felt like watching an ad in the middle of the episode.

Overall thoughts:
I Don’t mind slice of life dramas, they're actually healing to watch. I actually understood from the first episode that we're gonna see more about each character's growth and a slow burn romance. But I didn't expect that the pacing to be this choppy and the plot to have cliched tropes. They could've made it more iconic like "When the camillia bloom", "Welcome to Samdalri" or "Hometown Cha cha" but something was missing and left me unsatisfied in some aspects. In the end, I enjoyed myself to some extent and taste is subjective so this might work well for other viewers.

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It was all about second chances and living life to the fullest

Let me start this off by saying that this adaptation is by far my favourite one ! I cried, laughed, raged, ranted and enjoyed every second of this.

I've read the manhwa and watched the kdrama before this. I don't want to compare too much to the other adaptations but I was slightly disappointed with the kdrama so I went into this skeptical of it's execution. However I was pleasantly suprised and might even consider this as one of the top dramas of the year.

Let's start with the many positives:
1. A well written adaptation- The writers cleverly understood the plot holes and the missing gaps in the original work and kdrama. The scenes ebbbed and flowed smoothly and there weren't any space for us to question anything. There were some changes to the story but the original essence and story direction stayed the same. The changes made sense and just elevated the story even more.
2. Great casting and acting- The cast and acting direction were perfect. The facial expressions to the dialogue delivery, everything was done realistically with no unnecessary exaggeration. The chemistry between the actors was also great and I was feeling the emotions with them.
3. Cinematography and dialogue- You could really feel what the producers wanted to convey through the cinematography. Even though the story has dark elements, the overall lighting and coloring stayed warm and bright. The dialogues were also written very well. They were believable and realistic so I stayed invested in the story.
4. The overall message- The manhwa adaptation had a more comedic and dramatic tone. The kdrama had a more dark, exaggerated and dramatic tone, almost similar to a soap opera. However, this adaptation had a more hopeful and uplifting message which I really liked and related to.
5. No unnecessary drama or characters- The biggest reason why I was disappointed with the kdrama was the unnecessary dramatic plot twists and new characters. There is already enough side characters and plot twists in the source work so adding too many things made it feel forced and heavy. But here, they took away some side characters, stuck to the original storyline and even made it better by filling in plot holes.

Now, there are some minor cons:
1. Scarcity of romantic scenes- The leads had so much chemistry and romantic tension that I was waiting for them to get together to see their passionate relationship. They did have one awesome kiss scene but right after that, they acted like an old married couple. I get that they are older and mature, but I wanted some goofy cuteness and passion.
2. Some dramatic scenes- Though the writing and dialogue was better, there were some scenes which were just too dramatic to be believable. Since most of the drama was done in a natural way, the dramatic scenes stood out too much in a bad way.

Other than that, I have no other complaints because this drama was genuinely that good. Everything was perfect and this is definitely going to rank higher in my charts.

The kdrama had some negatives like the unnecessary new characters, out of the blue plot twists which didn't make any sense and the lead actress' overpowering presence which kind of overshadowed the rest of the cast and plot. But this adaptation took notes and worked on filling the plot holes, made the cast perform in harmony and actually delivered a good message that can be comforting to a lot of people.

Overall, I hope everyone gives this drama a chance because this just proved that the curse of the exaggerated jdramas with bad acting can be broken.

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A intriguing courtroom drama with unique perspective

I've seen many courtroom dramas in all sorts of languages but this one definitely gave me a new perspective after watching it.

Let's start with the positives:
1. The script- I think this is one of the most well written scripts I've seen in this genre. Sometimes concept dramas often fall into the trap of having dialogues that sound like textbooks. Like the character is speaking directly to the audience to deliver a message. But this drama perfectly balanced the message delivery with hints of realism that it mostly felt natural
2. The characters- I liked that we had an imperfect character. Without his imperfections, I don't think I would've liked him as the lead. Even the background characters had distinct personalities and interesting character arcs.
3. The acting performance- Jung Kyung Ho pulled off such a complicated character with such realism and ease that I felt like he was a real human being. Even the other main characters and supporting characters (special shout out to the minors and extra actors) did such an amazing job is portraying complex emotions.
4. The different legal concepts- This show delt with new and interesting legal issues that is often overlooked like animal abuse, medical autonomy, crime against immigrants, filial crimes etc in a sensistive and bold way. Other shows often focus on sensational topics and major crimes that it felt refreshing to see these topics that are often overlooked.

Now let's move onto the negatives
1. The revenge arc- I was looking forward to Dawit's revenge arc the most and it was interesting but it did feel slow compared to the other episodes. They focused too much on the moral dilema and backstory, whereas I wanted to see more of the legalities surrounding the case
2. The pacing- The first half had amazing pacing. The balance was right for me, nothing felt too fast or too slow but the second half definitely felt slower.
3. The tone shift in the second half- I understand that the cases delt in the second half were more serious but the reason why I was hooked in the first few episodes was because of the humor and lightness irrespective of the case seriousness. It kind of dried up in the second half and even the comedic relief chracters didn't have humorous scenes which was a little disappointing

Overall, I liked this drama and would recommend to anyone who likes this genre or even a beginner who wants to explore courtroom dramas. 8 stars 🌟

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