Warren Moore

An unlikely couple meet uncanny circumstances

Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Genre: RomCom, Coming of Age, Slice of Life

Episode Count: 24

Streamed on: Netflix

Plot Summary:

Situ Mo is an artsy college girl, and Gu Weiyi is a extremely intelligent science major. As the two near the end of their college careers, uncanny circumstances end up forcing the pair together.

Characters & Cast:

Situ Mo is on the verge of completing her college degree as a finance major, but has always wanted to try advertising. In an unrequited love for many years, she is finally starting to wise up to his antics and become independent… until along comes…

Gu Weiyi is an extremely intelligent, independent, and anti-social science major. All he wants is to do his research and experiments and live life doing what makes him happy, until one day he meets Situ Mo, and suddenly, there’s one more thing that makes him happy.

Best of the OST

There’s this little diddy…
https://youtu.be/wsG_mpjIU-g?si=79W7isGqr0CLjBh1

This get’s stuck in your head too…
https://youtu.be/LDig9z8mMZc?si=YdjKiSfmJQD8jbBw

Aside from these two catchy tunes, I didn’t find the OST to be particularly amazing, but it suited the drama well enough.
https://youtu.be/1_P23XRh-DY?si=Da3cRZ_RIlU6LV_Q

Review:

Put your head on my shoulder was written well enough for what it was. Coming of age romances aren’t really my thing. It might be because I’ve aged out of them, mostly it’s because I don’t think love will work out if you haven’t established yourself and the couples are two young.

There was a lot of instances where the ladies treated the men in really crappy ways, but instead of consequences, or apologies, it’s left to the men to come crawling back. This didn’t really sit well with me, maybe I’m the problem, maybe it was supposed to be humorous. Instead it came off as misandry from the writers.

Mostly the drama is about coming of age, navigating relationships, and finding and doing what you love, rather than living for your parents. And, while it takes a little too long to get there, the dramas conveys its messages well.

The drama is well paced, falling short only in a couple of areas. It takes a little too long for the relationship to get started. The only other issue is the time skip, which is a trope that needs to be put away. The writers need a new trick.

Final Thoughts:

This is a fluffy, low stress romcom that deals with issues of first love, first relationships, and navigating the hurdles that comes with those situations. It’s an opposites attract romance that you can turn your brain off to an enjoy.
If you enjoy college romance, female empowerment, and light fluffy romances, this drama is probably worth a watch.

Rating:

6.4/10

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Nanananananana na Bunny Girl!

Streamed on: Viki

Plot Summary:

Apparently based off a video games, our story takes place on a magical continent where people gain powers from defeating and absorbing powerful spirits. The main character is born with the rare gift of 2 spirits, and after meeting a bunny girl…

https://youtu.be/eQndIPCv4Z0?si=2bk4hWCj7eDFh7Wd

Sets out on a journey to get stronger and learn about his mysterious origins, finding friends and maybe love along the way.

Best of the OST:

There aren’t any stand out tracks for me on this OST. That said, there isn’t anything I would say was particularly terrible either.

https://youtu.be/74aCcIL7P5A?si=Jswgxe9SZYV4YZzI

Re-watch:

Would I watch it again?
Probably not, I’m not a multiple season re-watcher.

Would I watch it with my brother?
Yeah, I watched it with my brother, his notes was he needed a break between the actor changes in the second season.

Would I watch it with my kid?
At this stage in her life, I find it hard to be in the same room as my kid. All she wants is social media. I think if she gave it a chance she would like it, but as a moody 12 year old I don’t think it’s happening.

Final Thoughts:

I’m going to leave my final thoughts pending on this one. It was ok, but it was just the first season, and I believe I should take it as a whole experience.

Rating:

6.6/10

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A really fun romcom...

Plot Summary + Gripes + Final Thoughts

Once we get married was a really fun romcom. The story started off with a thoroughly unlikeable male lead really abusing his power and money to take advantage of a naive girl. So originally I didn’t really feel the rom part of the romcom at first.

The many hilarious clashes between the two keep you going until you start to see the male leads character slowly change due to the female leads influence. And once their romance begins, all starts to feel right with the world.

I’m glad that the story didn’t spend too much time placing the family at the centre of the drama. It feels like they were there to drive certain elements of the plot forward and then the ones that remained were supportive.

The second couple was really fun too, though I’ve never understood the whole “fear of marriage because my parents marriage didn’t work out” thing.

The love rivals were super annoying, so I guess they played their part well. The Yandere female rival should have faced some consequences, it left a sour taste. And the Childhood friend love rival stayed around for far too long, like dude, know when to let go… maybe, you know, after finding out she was already married.

There was plenty of steamy chemistry between the leads once the ship finally did sail, and most importantly (for me) we get a happy ending.

Best of OST:

The track that stuck out to me the most on the OST was…
https://youtu.be/hlu1inKjH9E?si=s2SaKQ0JVzHJCoud
Probably because it was always played in the happy moments and cemented the good mood.

Overall the OST wasn’t standout, but wasn’t by any means bad. It cohesively married the show.
https://youtu.be/82riujykma8?si=xuDgo143fw6ex1PE

Rating:

7.6 / 10

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A nice comfort drama...

Plot Summary:

Jing Jing is a celebrity that finds herself needing to prove that she is competent in the video game that she endorses. She finds someone to tutor her, who turns out to be her first love. From video-games, to acting sets in the middle of the desert, to launching rockets into space. This pair will help each other and find true love.

Best of the OST:

This track pretty much carries the OST for the entire drama:
Fireworks of Stars -- Performed by Liu Yuning
https://youtu.be/5TZmZ8h0QU4?si=zMqGrhe5IyZUuSHt

The OST isn’t comprehensive, and doesn’t quite hit greatness, but it goes along lovely with the drama.

Gripes:

Okay, so the premise of this show is wild. If I see that a famous person likes the video game I like, it doesn’t matter how good they are at it. Netizens suck.
Also at some point, the plot went from this video game thing to an advertisement for the Chinese space agency. Luckily they cover a lot of it up with cheesy romance.

Re-watch:

Would I watch it again?
This is a nice comfort drama. There’s a little bit of angst in the middle but I can rush through that on a re-watch.

Would I watch it with my brother?
I could try to convince him, but I think as soon as that gaming part is over, he would be done with it.

Would I watch it with my kid?
I think this would be a good drama to watch with my daughter.

Final Thoughts:

If you can look past the extreme Chinese nationalism (fair enough, it’s a C-drama), the crazy premise of the need for the couple to meet each other, and the nothing-burger argument that made no sense in the middle, the rest of this drama is absolutely delightful. A warm and fuzzy romance that keeps you wanting more.

My Rating:

8.2/10

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Let me get my abacus so I can count the geops!

Dali and Cocky Prince

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Mystery
Episodes: 16 + 1 Special
Streamed on: Netflix & Viki

Dali and Moohak have a fateful encounter in the Netherlands. The two quickly become smitten with each other, but the tragic passing of Dali’s father forces her back home.

When the pair are reunited in Korea, it is as debtor and creditor, Dali finds herself in danger of losing the museum and everything she owns, and the only one left that is willing to help is Moohak, who struggles between falling for Dali and getting his money back.

Characters & Cast:

Main Leads:

Dali is the daughter of an old money art museum director. She is bright and kind and naive about the real world.
Moohak is new money, he’s worked his fingers to the bone to make his company what it is. He is capable and smart but arrogant and ignorant.

Secret MVP:

Secretary Yeo is a hilarious foil as well as “wingman” for Moohak.

Best of OST:

U hoo hoo… will have this song stuck in your head for potentially years. The song title will replace the word you in your vocabulary for at least a third of your remaining days…
https://youtu.be/7gLj5vKaU68?si=XSD1IkjoWp89ylEa

Then there’s this cute tune
https://youtu.be/tnAW785xMD4?si=EfoHGp8VZcUPEqVF

And this delightful track.
https://youtu.be/U0K0v8XHswM?si=GMR3h_roQtDl4Qi8

And this has a haunting beauty to it.
https://youtu.be/elylttJ7fzc?si=-iFQpy1NONm0JF6a

All in all, Dali and Cocky Prince has one of the best OST’s I’ve ever heard. It’s not just the title tracks, it’s the spins they take on the classical music to set the mood too.

https://youtu.be/UnDLskf-Q00?si=zU945Ock1rzaxcFM

Writing & Themes:

I enjoyed the way the drama was written. I imagine there was plenty of adlibbing that was incorporated, especially in the more comedic moments, that made the comedic beats really shine.

While the drama deals with many themes like self respect, greed, love, etc, ultimately, the drama is about dealing with the loss of a parent (you see this from several angles) and how to mature and become an adult, wether you were forced to do that at as a teenager, or find it thrust upon you in you 20’s.

My only real gripe with how the drama was written was that there are a couple of points towards the end where they, in my opinion, told the later part of the story first and flashed back to a dramatic moment to clear things up. It feels like a cheap trick.

Final Thoughts:

Dali and Cocky Prince is a really fun romantic comedy. It is visually amazing, the OST is fun with the songs hitting the right beat at the right time, and the use of classical music (altered) to give plot clues is really cool.

If you like romcom’s, art, a hint of family drama and a teeny tiny murder mystery this drama could be for you. Most importantly, it has a happy ending.

Rating:
9.5/10

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Friends to lovers at its best

You Are My Lover Friend

Genre: Romance
Episodes: 30
Streamed on: Viki

Plot Summary:

This is a slow burn friends to lovers romance drama. There’s a subplot that involves someone’s death buried deep in there, but really this is a slice of life drama about 3 pairs coming together.

Characters & Cast:

Main Characters: Ships.

Couple 1
- Zhang Xin Cheng ⇒ Jiang Shi Yan
- Wang Yu Wen ⇒ Tang Yang
Couple 2
- Wu Jun Ting ⇒ Cheng Hui
- Luo Qin Yun ⇒ Sheng Ni Na
Couple 3
- Guan Yue ⇒ Jiang Yan An
- Guo Yun Qi ⇒ Feng Wei Ran
Villains:
It’s complicated. There are a few bad people, but I can’t decide on the big bad.

Best Of OST:

Twinkle Twinkle little star… lol
https://youtu.be/NxRtM15-Zj4?si=BvlxGCSHGpWg4K1F

There’s even a track the whole team got in on.
https://youtu.be/_BM59rLFZp8?si=_qnzbDgqaP-M1q3z

https://youtu.be/0wNPP8C-oJ4?si=nIfTHHDuqEQb49Fw

Gripes:

The always interrupted kisses LOL. No but really, this was a fun ride the entire way through. I even enjoyed the work part of the drama.

Re-watch:

**Would I watch it again?**
Yes. Regularly even. If I need a pick me Cdrama I can think of this and maybe one other that I wouldn’t mind rewatching once or twice a year.

**Would I watch it with my brother?**
This is one that I’d want to force my brother to watch, but I know it just isn’t his bag.

**Would I watch it with my kid?**
As she snoozes on the lounge I’m thinking of ways to convince her to watch it. I think yes for sure.

Final Thoughts:

The happiest, fluffiest, most wholesome healing drama of 2024. With all of the sad endings of the 2024 Cdrama’s this drama stands at the peak of good endings. Plus, this drama was the one that finally got me into Cdrama.

Rating:
9.2/10

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World Snooker Highlights!

Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love

Genre: Romance, Sport
Episodes: 30
Streamed on: Netflix

Plot Summary:

An up and coming rookie 9 Ball player meets a Snooker prodigy while abroad for a tournament. For him it’s love at first site, and this is their love story… with intermissions of World Snooker Highlights.

Characters & Cast:

Main Characters: Ships
Leo Wu ⇒ Lin Yi Yan
Zhao Jin Mai ⇒ Yin Guo

Best of OST:

This has to be the stand out track from the OST… Theres a version of this where the ML sings… but it isn’t good… 🤣
https://youtu.be/wzJpPNc4ETk?si=Gqvy3jIHoTqLJBxO

This song also deserves some recognition…
https://youtu.be/nlmrCuWjdkc?si=C8d5YTDMbigcs3Pn

Whilst not a lot of these tracks make my playlists, they suit this drama so well, and are so soothing for the most part.
https://youtu.be/jfcXzGa6ehQ?si=FRJvxszqKq-F5jCn

Gripes:

Now… this gripe isn’t fair… because with this the story doesn’t work, but I was hooked by the love story, and I enjoy billiards, but I kept feeling the romance plot was interrupted by “World Snooker Highlights”. But as this will be something I see myself re-watching a few times, I can skip or have toilet breaks when they appear.

Re-watch:

**Would I watch it again?**
Yes, this was thoroughly enjoyable.

**Would I watch it with my brother?**
Hmm. Probably not. He does enjoy pool, but probably not enough for this drama.

**Would I watch it with my kid?**
Yes, I will watch this with my daughter. We have a pool table, maybe she’ll get interested.

Final Thoughts:

The romance was so good. And I like the pacing. The time skips were reasonably placed. This was a great drama. I didn’t understand why you would judge someone in their late 20’s on what they did in their mid teens but it wasn’t enough to make it a gripe. Highly recommended.

Rating:
8.9/10

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The controversy surrounding this drama was a nothing-burger

When The Phone Rings

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Episodes: 12
Streamed on: Netflix

Plot Summary:

Pretending to be deaf and trapped in what seems to be a loveless marriage, one day, Hui Ju is kidnapped. The kidnapper calls her husband to inform him, and thinking it’s a prank call, he tells her to go ahead and kill her. What follows is a messy plot where the couple end up falling in love, and Hui continues to get kidnapped about a thousand more times.

Best of OST:

The stand out track from the OST (at least in my opinion). I’ve heard a few of her tracks and I’m quickly becoming a fan…
https://youtu.be/q8eupRpyUDI?si=yROrDXMycMRGXzK_

Overall the OST did ok.

Gripes:

That ending… It was going so well too, but the whole other country trip we had to make didn’t make much sense to me. I didn’t have a problem with the subtle (or not so subtle I guess) nod to the Palestine and Israel conflict. To me it seemed perfectly reasonable, I mean they could have even used the proper names to the countries and it would have been fine. It happened in a news station…

Re-watch:

**Would I watch it again?**
Nah, once was enough

**Would I watch it with my brother?**
Nah, he wouldn’t like it.

**Would I watch it with my kid?**
Nah, It doesn’t seem like a kid friendly show.

Final Thoughts:

The ending of a show really makes it. If you drop the cake taking it out of the oven, it doesn’t matter how well you mixed the ingredients.

Rating:
6.75/10

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