AyasKCorner

This Drama started strong but had too many issues to ignore

A drama that started strong with a clear antagonist, storyline and two attractive leads, ends disappointing and kind of sad. With all the good reviews I feel kind of bad for not being able to relate, but regardless, here we are.

Before we begin, I just want to clarify that this is my opinion and I'm not here to start a war (but different opinions are welcome). I can and will be brutally honest but it's all lighthearted! MANY SPOILERS AHEAD so please read AFTER you finish this review or at least if you have no interest in watching it! This will be long so let's get right into it! let's keep this discussing respectful and fun.

The Good
Best travels - fox clan (and the love story) and outlanders
Even though I mention this slightly in "The Bad" the first times they traveled, I really enjoyed watching that. It was interesting to watch them travel around. I really liked when they got sucked into the cave and Bai Shuo was the fox clan girl. And I think we can all agree that Fan Yue with the black tips was his best look--- I still miss it. Even though it eventually got old, it helped with the story and kept me interested for a good minute.

Best love: Xing Yue/ Jing Yuan (could've been Tian Huo/Mu Jiu) "She's not here so I no longer have a reason to still be here." - He Died so he could go and find her! :(((

Jing Yuan supremacy for life. I loved Xing Yue and Jing Yuan's love story. I especially loved how in love he was with her. I loved when he came back in Fan Yue's body and talked about how much he wanted Bai Shuo and Xing Yue to be the same person. I loved it! The whole storyline of them up until their death was beautiful.

Mu Jiu's death was the most painful
I loved Mu Jiu! I was so heartbroken to see him die. I really enjoyed his character and I was looking forward to some relationship building scenes with Tian Huo. His death scene was the saddest death scene and I just loved when he ran back towards her to hug her once more only to disappear. Even though I had some notes on their relationship and how the scene could've hit better (down below), it was such a beautifully heartbreaking scene to see her turn around right as he disappeared. Just beautiful.

The Bad
Too much death - everybody died
I think one of the biggest shocks in the drama was how every single side character (and the male lead for a bit) died. I get that they died for a reason but it was kind of a letdown that in the final episodes, everyone just starts dropping like flies. It's like one by one, they sacrifice themselves for the Bai Shuo's mission. I kind of figured this wasn't gonna end on the happiest note but I wasn't expecting her to be the last one standing. I think because they all died (and around the same time), I felt more confusion than I did sadness. I wish at least Fu Ling and Chong Zhao lived so they could be together. And I don't think it would've hurt to keep Tian Huo alive. Even the male lead got killed off-- which actually made sense but still. Nobody was safe and while it was a bold move, I'm still not sure if it was the right one.

Overdone "Wolf in sheep's clothing"
I feel like the "bad guy who's actually just misunderstood" persona has gotten kind of old. Everyone feared him and thought he was a monster when he was the most caring guy around. Been there. He's so kind and caring yet cold for whatever reason. Done that. Since this has been done since the beginning of "bad boy" romances and stories, it's boring now. It also doesn't even make sense. All he does is create a safe place for orphans and wonderers and yet nobody in any other kingdom knows about that? We barely saw any flashbacks of him looking evil so where did the prejudice come from? How did nobody he helped tell anyone else about his kindness? He's so dangerous but has never done anything that bad and it was all to help puppies and kittens. Cute but we get it. I wish for once the bad guy was just bad. He's got his reputation for a reason. He's cold simply because he's a cold guy. I don't understand how someone so kind and caring would be so stand-offish to everyone else.

A little long
Anyone else find the drama unnecessarily long? I don't mind watching a long drama but only if it's necessary. I thought the whole point of the drama was for Fan Yue to be healed from the star curse he had on his chest. So once that plot ended (he died I think, I watched this a while ago so I don't exactly remember), the show should've reached it's close. But then we have Jing Yuan and adding extra bits that weren't really necessary. So much death and whatnot could've been avoided if they stuck with the original plot. Don't get me wrong, they did successfully add this part in and it didn't feel all that random, but I can't help but wonder if this drama would've turned out better had they left it out.

Love wasn't developed enough - Fan Yue/ Bai Shuo and Tian Huo/ Mu Jiu
If you've read any of my other reviews, you would know that I love properly developed love tropes with the leads. Here, we didn't really get that. At All. Episode 1 they meet and by episode 3 or 4 he's already questioning whether or not he cares about her for his purpose or because he genuinely has feelings for her. What? How did we get here? I thought they were gonna have like nightly chats on that phone-thing when she went to work with the turtle, but that was only for the one day. The beginning of their relationship felt a bit disconnected especially with how much Fan Yue looked down on humans at the beginning. It didn't make sense how someone who looked down on humans so harshly would then fall in love with one in the next two - three episodes. I wish we saw then fall in love, whether through nightly calls, or whatever. While I did like the way they loved each other and how deeply they loved each other, I didn't like how it started.

Let's move on to the biggest disappointing relationship in the show: Tian Huo and Mu Jiu. This was another relationship where the love felt disconnected. He fell for her because she saved him and then stuck around for like a month after before he died. My biggest issue is that final scene when he's hugging her before he disappears. Usually when you ask someone what they'll do without you in certain situations, it's because you've helped them before in those situations. For example, he goes on to ask her what she'd do without him when she's mad, sad, scared, etc. but he was never there for her before. So she'd just do the same things she did before. Do you get what I'm trying to say? In other words, she wouldn't necessarily acknowledge his absence in those moments because he's never been there for her in those moments. I wish they formed a bond where he actually WAS there for her in those moments so we understand his questions. Maybe when she's sad, he's the only one who she allows to comfort her or make her laugh. Maybe when she's angry, he's the only one who can calm her down and stop her from raging out. And so on and so forth. His death was sad because I actually liked him but I wasn't really sad for her and their relationship. She also barely showed any interest in him (which makes sense granted they just met and she never thought much of him in the first place) so it also weakens the sadness in his final scene. They should've had more time together so their love could feel real and we could've felt more heartbroken. Instead we're left feeling a bit awkward watching a scene that's supposed to break our hearts.

So much jumping - kind of lost the plot
this was kind of mentioned above but it still needs its own part. Don't get me wrong, when they were traveling to different places, it was entertaining at first. But after a while, it became a lot. It became, kind of, too much. After episode 25, I forgot what the whole point of the show even was. Since each place had a different issue, it was hard to keep track of what's really going on. It kind of felt like watching a really long anime where they travel to different parts of the world and do whatever. This isn't a major point and not that big of a deal but I just remember being at episode 32 and just wanting the drama to be over already.

The aging was weird
This is another small point but anybody else thought he was like hundreds to thousands of years old? I certainly did. So when I realised he was probably around the same age as Bai Shuo (a human), I was a little disappointed. When they went to that dessert place that Tian Huo was from, it didn't hit the same when they said that they hadn't held their "games" (i don't remember exactly what it's called) in 7 years. 7 years. that's it. That's not even a long time in human years (not really). I was kind of expecting everyone to be hundreds of years old but they were all in their 20s and 30s. That made the fantasy part dim a bit. It's not a big deal, like I said, but it would've been better if they aged them up. Everything he went through happened in all our lifetimes (minus a few years for the younger ones) and must've happened quite fast. I thought that he got his curse after centuries of trying, not a couple years at best.

Zhen Yu's death was disappointing
The biggest letdown in this entire drama was the antagonists death. He caused nothing but chaos and was just about unstoppable... only to sacrifice himself. His big demise was him willingly getting his life sucked out for the other dude. It was so incredibly disappointing to see him cause such issues and not be defeated by Fan Yue and Bai Shuo. We missed out on such a good fight scene because of that. He was so incredibly unstoppable that him willingly stopping actually kind of hurt.

And Yeah. that's kind of it. Keep in mind I watched this months ago so this review isn't as specific (I've been procrastinating). But what did you think? all the comments seem to love this so it'd be interesting to see if anyone agrees with anything I mentioned.

Read More

Enemies to Lovers in what world??

This drama wasn't enemies to lovers but more like fake dating to real dating.

Before we get into it, keep in mind that this is my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone!!

The Good:
I liked her attitude throughout the show. She taught herself every fighting technique she could to avoid being the damsel in distress and I liked that.
I also thought it was a nice reality check to reporters out there who have no problems ruining someone's life for a buck. It was also like a reality check for fans out there who are more like stalkers than genuine fans. Some fans out there really believe that they own their idols and get the final say on their relationships. It's sad to see that fans can't even be happy for a guy if they don't deem the female "worthy" of him.

The Bad:
It wasn't enemies to lovers at all. She thought he was a predator and hated him for that (valid). But when she found out he wasn't (like two episodes later), not only did she not hate him, she saw him as an angel. As if not being a pedophile makes you an amazing guy. That shouldn't even be a thought, that's not even the bare minimum-- that should be a given.
Also, he didn't hate her at any point. I can't stand when people call a relationship enemies to lovers when only one of the two hates the other. He actually liked her from the start. He wanted the fake relationship in hopes of it becoming a real thing. In what world is that enemies?

I also felt like their reasonings for hating the entire opposite gender didn't really stand. She hated all men because out of all the men she's been with, they've been horrible. But she only ever surrounded herself with bad men. Obviously if you surround yourself around bad people, they are going to do bad things-- that's also a given. Then they make it seem like he was the best guy ever when he was just acting like a normal guy in a relationship. She was down bad simply because he wasn't like all the horrible guys she chose to be around. I kind of wish she had a valid reason for hating men. Even when she got cheated on in school, she didn't seem to care. I get her not wanting to get married because of her dad but even that's kind of just choosing the wrong man. I wish he'd have been a good partner before they got married then did a 180 when they got married. That would make more sense for why she didn't want to get married.

As for the guy, his mom was a gold digger and so now he assumes every other women is like that..? He hated all women but it was more like he couldn't stand entitled actresses (which makes sense). I don't know why they were both around horrible people and assume the whole gender is like that. Then when they meet each other their like "Maybe all women/men aren't so bad" which was like DUH!!

Then this anxiety thing that didn't make sense. He got nauseous around all woman because one girl broke up with him and called him a stalker like 10 years ago. bsfr. And how come she was the only one who didn't give him anxiety? that fact was kind of thrown in and it didn't even make much sense. They should've just said that he likes tough, independent women and called it a day. Him brushing his teeth and gagging after the kiss was something else. he did not have to do all that lolll.

Did anyone else feel like the hatred to the other gender was random? It didn't really add anything to the storyline. Yeah the girl made it seem like he was gay but that just ties in to the anxiety thing. I thought they would've hated each other as they reflected everything they thought they hated in the gender but actually ended up liking each other. OR SOMETHING.

Then my next issue, there was no antagonist or anything that gave this series life. I only finished this show because it was 10 episodes long and I was playing games on my phone at the same time. There was nothing that really made this show interesting. Maybe it would've been better if they actually hated each other but were forced into a fake relationship or something! Instead it was just two people in a fake relationship slowly fall in love. Which was nice but boring.

I also didn't get why Won Joon liked Na Eun even though she was just a regular girl. None of the characters stood out so it didn't make sense that the guy who was surrounded by a bunch of girls couldn't stop thinking about another regular girl. Like she acted just like the rest of the girls so what about her made him stop and change everything? Same with him. Neither of them stood out (actions wise) so why fall for each other?

Final Thoughts:
Like I said this show was okay. It had more problems than good things and that brought it down a bunch. I liked her bad b personality but that was mostly it. There was nothing in the show that added life and that also made it a struggle to watch. I liked the actors but that was also about it. They should've changed the name and not make it seem like two people who hate each other are forced into a fake relationship and make it seem like how it is: two people in a fake relationship falling in love.

Read More

"I hope you're hungry... For nothing"

This drama was the biggest let down of the year. From the reviews to the edits, I expected a masterpiece enemies-to-lovers. But instead, I got an arrogant, bare-minimum, (lowkey) narcissistic male lead, and a female lead who (while smart, quick witted, and brave) not only justifies every single thing he does, but accepts his bare minimum acts as if it's out-of-this-world love instead of what it is.

Quick Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! I respect everyone's opinions who liked this show! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

I had such high hopes walking into this drama because of how many people recommended it and at first, I got the hype. When the female lead, Qiao Man, set the sulfur on fire and then ran to him with a bunch of arrows behind her, I can't tell you how many times I went back. They really set this show up during the beginning. But sadly, as the episodes went on, it quickly went down hill. Let's break this up into "Good" and "Bad" (with subtitles) to keep it organized.

The Good
Qiao Man Really Stepped Up
Qiao Man was such a queen. I love when women in historical shows break the norms and act like a boss. She was so clever and she was guiding armies and slaying the game. Despite the relationship part (that I mention below) she was such a queen.

The Side Characters' Romance Carried
The best part of the show was the side characters' relationship. Wei Liang and Xiotao, and Bi Zhi and Qiao Fan were so cute. I loved watching their scenes and watching their relationships develop. They made the main relationship bareable.

The Bad
I Couldn't Stand Wei Shao
Wei Shao was so annoying, like, 90% of the time. He had such toxic masculinity that it was so hard to like him. I get that back in the day, most men had toxic masculinity, but this is a drama and things can be altered. Plus Wei Liang and Bi Zhi didn't act the way that he did. For example, he's the type of guy who would miss his wife terribly and yet would refuse to go and see her unless she came to him or asked for him. Like just go see your wife, we're tired. He never took the time to truly understand who Qiao Man was and it showed. I get that at first it's the thought that counts, but after a while, it becomes ridiculous.

And he was also incredibly PETTY! I couldn't stand how petty this man was. He was always overly mad at her for no reason and she always either justified it, or apologised (even if it wasn't her fault). It was like he loved a reason to be mad at her. And he'd be mad for so long too-- he'd even go as far as to sleep in the freezing government office because of his pettiness. Like when he read her wish boat and hurt because he thought he loved her more. First off, why does it matter if you love your wife more? And second, why go behind her back to read her note and then randomly be mad at her without even saying anything? It was like walking on eggshells with him and it was so overdone and not even worth it. I think he apologised once the entire show (and that wasn't even when he literally choked her).

I also couldn't stand how he did nothing but the bare minimum the entire show and everyone (in the show) seemed to have eaten it up. I get that he's a war lord and had his issues, but when he fell in love, he didn't do anything that wasn't already expected of a husband. When I watch dramas, I usually like/expect the husband to go above and beyond and do things many husbands/ men wouldn't do in the real world (like Sang Yan in The First Frost). I want to kick my feet and scream in my pillow! So when they not only act like a arrogant jerk the whole time but their redemption ark is just basic level husband things, it fails to land. He didn't bring much in terms of "husband goals" to begin with and what he brought, wasn't good enough. It just wasn't.

SLOWWWW Burn
Now I love a slow burn as much as the next person, but a show still needs to flow. This was much too much of a slow burn that they didn't even kiss until episode 29 (not drunk). Out of 36. This was much too slow and what made it worse is that they gave us nothing to kick our feet at until the near end of the show. And don't get me wrong, I fully understand that love is SOOO much more than intimate moments, but they didn't even give us any cute scenes continually throughout the show. We get like two cute scenes during the whole show up until ep 29..? What even is that? Like with Hidden Love, even though they didn't get together until later in the series, we were given enough cute scenes, full of chemistry, in the episodes leading up to it. And the male lead wasn't overly rude and blind during that time. So while it was also a slow burn, it wasn't the ML fighting his feelings for 60% of the show, then bare minimum effort for the next 20% before they finally kiss (and then some...) from episode 29 and up. It's like, I get slow and steady wins the race but it also doesn't. This didn't. Everyone finished and went home.

Qiao Man Was Too Good for Him
While Qiao Man had plenty of lovely qualities, she was way too lenient and forgiving for this man. Everytime he did something to her, she either justified it or blamed herself. Even when he chocked her, she justified it. It was so annoying watching her try so hard for a man that wasn't giving anything in return. She seemed to love him WAY MORE than he loved her and the writers didn't even bother to hide it.

And on top of that, I never understood when she said "He just seems cold but he's actually super kind and warm <3" Girl What? When? He was always mad and always cold. Once again, he gave her the bare minimum and she confused it for "Warmth and Kindness". I just couldn't wrap my head around their relationship and was way more interested in Bi Zhi and Qiao Fan.

Boya and Bi Zhi

Enough of the relationship, let's get into the storyline now. Anyone else think that Bi Zhi would've become the ruler of Boya and team up with Wei Shao to take control of other states? It was a bit disappointing when Bi Zhi became the Commander and then they just left it there. Like when they put the Qiao flag down, I thought it would've been the beginning of him taking control but they kind of just left it there.

The Ending
The ending was so unfortunately rushed. The show had nothing but filler for most of the middle episodes and when it finally got good, the show was at the end. The huge war and fights were squished into the last episode and the episode wasn't even longer than the rest. Most of the villains' in this show died off... quite pathetically. There was no fight, no intense near-death experiences, nothing. Despite the fact that they made such an uproar and shook the comfort of the Wei State, they died off in the span of 20 minutes. It really looked like the Wei Clan was going to be defeated and yet they won with a couple of speeches and like five really lucky, unkillable men. I wish they had the war brewing through the whole show and didn't wait until the final episode for the showdown. The defeat didn't go the way I expected and that wasn't a good thing. We didn't get enough time to process it and get into it.


I could keep going but this is getting long and you get my point. I really wanted to like this drama but I found it so hard too. I'm a drama reviewer (I have a blog) and I think it's forced me to take off the rose coloured glasses and see all the issues with dramas that I once overlooked. This show was so hard to like that the only reason I finished it was to tick it off my list. I hope no one got offended as that wasn't my intention.
Since everyone loved this drama (based on the reviews), what did you think of my points? Do any of you agree with me?

Read More

Packed with heart and pretty faces, but weighed down by logic gaps and narrative loops.

I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️
This one's a bit long- so if you like slightly detailed reviews, you're gonna (hopefully) love this.

❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗

The Good

The Casting Was a Gift
Let’s be real: watching Byeon Woo Seok and Song Geon Hee for 16 episodes was a blessing. The entire cast was easy on the eyes, but these two definitely carried a chunk of the show's watchability on their ridiculously attractive backs.

That Soundtrack Slapped
Honestly, the music was the MVP. The song Sun Jae wrote for her? Instant classic. The rest of the OST was just as strong — emotional, memorable, and the kind you keep on your playlist long after the drama ends.

Sun Jae’s Over-the-Top Love
Some people thought his love was too much — and yeah, the air-kissing scene was… a choice — but overall, I found it sweet. There’s something adorable about someone being head-over-heels, timeline-spanning in love. I just wish it had felt more earned. With a bit more depth to their story, this could’ve hit me even harder.

The Bad

Im Sol’s Lack of a Plan
Im Sol’s entire approach to time travel is… questionable, to say the least. After Sun Jae dies, instead of focusing on stopping the serial killer or figuring out how to protect him, her first instinct is to ghost him. Really? You’ve got a chance to save him, and you choose to avoid him like he's the one toxic ex you can’t escape? She spends her time reacting emotionally, but there's little thought behind her actions. She’s supposed to be a grown woman with life experience, yet she acts like a teenager with no game plan. Avoiding Sun Jae just wasn’t the move here.

Im Sol’s Lack of Survival Skills
Then there’s the sheer recklessness of her actions. She decides to lure the serial killer by herself, walking down a creepy alley with zero backup plan. Was she expecting him to follow her into a trap? If he had, no one would have known where she was. She’s a 30-something-year-old woman, but here she is, making choices that scream “I never learned basic survival skills.” This is especially frustrating because her lack of caution directly contributes to Sun Jae’s death. The serial killer was around, and she had no plan—just bad decisions all around.

The Villain That Wasn’t
Young Soo, the villain, is a major letdown. There’s no backstory, no motive, and he has no real purpose other than to create unnecessary drama. He’s obsessed with Im Sol for reasons unknown, and we never get any answers. For a character who’s supposed to be a threat, he’s more of a plot device. His death is anticlimactic—taken out by a random truck. What was the point of all the buildup? His character never really adds anything substantial to the story, and his unsatisfying end just leaves more questions than answers.

A Love Story That Did the Most
Sun Jae and Im Sol’s love story was sweet... if you only focus on the small moments. But zoom out, and it quickly becomes way too much. Im Sol’s side of things felt like an unhealthy obsession with Sun Jae. She’s so caught up in him that she neglects her family, especially her grandma, who has dementia. Hello? You had a chance to reconnect, and instead, you’re running around saving the guy? It made her love feel a bit too consuming, like everyone else existed just as a backdrop to Sun Jae. On Sun Jae’s side? The whole “obsessed after one rainy day” thing was hard to believe. A yellow umbrella and some candy, and suddenly he’s writing songs and tracking her down? Cute, but totally insane. And the weird part? He’s been obsessed the whole time, but in the beginning, he acts like she’s the annoying one. The disconnect here was maddening and made it hard to buy into his whole “I’ve always loved you” act.

The Friend & Brother Duo No One Asked For
Let’s talk about Hyun Joo and Im Geum. Their relationship was a mess. Hyun Joo’s undying love for Im Geum felt utterly undeserved. The guy made so many poor decisions, like blowing all their money on some random friend’s company and giving away lottery numbers. And yet, we’re supposed to root for them? Why? She had three kids with this guy, but I wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d packed up and left after the first dumb investment. Im Geum was a walking disaster. From his absurd crying over an ex at a camp retreat to his general lack of maturity, he was nothing but a giant, unnecessary subplot. Purposefully dumb characters like him are a pain to watch, and this pair’s scenes were the hardest to sit through.

Grandma Knows Everything?
Okay, can we talk about Grandma for a second? How did she know everything about the past without the watch? How was she time traveling? She was like the show’s magical plot hole, and the writers never bothered to explain any of it. It was beyond frustrating, especially when even Sun Jae couldn’t figure things out until the very end. She was a walking mystery that the show never even tried to solve, leaving me scratching my head over how she could be so all-knowing without any actual explanation.

The Drama Refused to End
By episode 12, I was done. I swear, this drama just kept going in circles. Sol avoids him, Sun Jae chases her, they get cute, and then… rinse and repeat. It felt like we were watching the same cycle over and over, and I honestly started zoning out by the end. The drama dragged, and by the time we got to the last episodes, I was begging for it to just end. We were running a marathon, not watching a K-drama. The fluff piled on, and the episodes started to feel like filler. At a certain point, you have to ask, “Is this a K-drama, or are we just going through the motions?”

The Ending
Let’s break the ending down into two parts.
First, the time travel—suddenly, it’s all perfectly controlled. Im Sol just so happens to travel to the exact moment when Sun Jae falls for her? Convenient, but totally unrealistic. It felt like lazy storytelling, making everything fit neatly into the plot when we’d spent the whole drama dealing with time travel randomness.
And then there’s the paralyzed body mystery. In the final life, where she prevents Sun Jae from falling for her, how was she able to avoid the accident she was supposed to have? The taxi driver randomly decides to become a silent stalker instead of finishing the job? The logic didn’t add up.
Lastly, Sun Jae’s suicide. Was it on purpose or just a random accident? We’re never really told. His depression seemed to only exist in one timeline, but did Young Soo push him? It’s another thread left dangling, with no closure.

Final Thoughts:
Lovely Runner had all the ingredients to be great—a unique premise, a gorgeous cast, strong performances, and an OST worthy of repeat listens. But somewhere along the way, it traded depth for swoon, and logic for vibes. The writers seemed so focused on making Sun Jae the ultimate simp that they forgot to build a believable love story—or a plot that made sense.

Despite the setup, the romance never felt earned, the villain was more plot device than person, and the side characters took up way too much screen time for how little they contributed. Honestly, if it weren’t for the cast, I doubt this show would’ve made half the noise it did.

By the final stretch, the endless loop of tragedy and reset got exhausting. And let’s be real—just because a drama can be 16 episodes doesn’t mean it should be. In the end, Lovely Runner wasn’t a sprint or a marathon—it was more of a scenic detour with great visuals, killer tracks, and way too many slow-mo stares

Read More

The show that wanted to be deep, but tripped over its own punchlines

A show about success, failure, and mental illness—except the mental illness part was mostly sidelined for comedy.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good
The Side Couple That Saved Me
Honestly, Hong Ran and Dae Yeong carried this show. Their dynamic kept me going through a lot of it and I don’t know if I would’ve made it through the show without them.

Mental Illness Done Right (Mostly)
Jeong Woo’s portrayal of PTSD was done really well. It felt authentic, uncomfortable in the right ways, and was portrayed with strong emotional depth. Ha Neul’s depression arc was also meaningful—though I have a few mixed thoughts on how it played out (we’ll get to that below).

The Rivalry That Was Pure Entertainment
Was their academic rivalry necessary for the plot? No. Was it ridiculously petty and fun to watch? Absolutely. Their competitive antics provided a nice little break from the heavier stuff, and honestly, I appreciated those moments more than I expected.


The Bad
An Obnoxious Amount of Drinking
This show was 90% drinking, and honestly? Why?
I won’t get into the drinking-on-meds situation since that’s been thoroughly dragged elsewhere (lol), but beyond that, it was just too much. The drinking rarely added to the story and eventually felt like filler—like they didn’t know what else to do with a scene, so they tossed in a soju bottle and called it a day. It started off funny but quickly veered into “okay, we get it” territory.

Her Depression Arc Could Have Been Way Stronger
I saw a lot of comments praising Ha Neul’s portrayal of depression, but honestly? I kind of disagree.
While they acknowledged her struggle, the show never fully explored the real depth of depression: things like exhaustion, hopelessness, isolation, difficulty even getting out of bed. They leaned so hard into the comedy that the entire theme of mental illness got pushed to the side.
Sure, Ha Neul had moments where she talked about her struggles, but that was pretty much it. She mostly seemed fine throughout the series—and while I get that depression isn’t always visible, this is a drama.
And then there’s the psychiatrist situation. So she gets taken off meds and told she doesn’t need therapy anymore because she “feels better”? That didn’t sit right. Depression doesn’t magically disappear when your circumstances improve or you start dating someone. It comes in waves and doesn’t always align with external “success.” This show made it seem like all you need is a good man and a less toxic job and voilà, you’re cured.
For a show that marketed itself around two doctors leaning on each other through mental health struggles, it didn’t seem all that interested in actually exploring that theme beyond surface level.

They Should Have Stayed Just Friends
As much as the show wanted us to believe they had chemistry, their interactions screamed friend zone more than romance. The writers should have adjusted the story to make them feel like actual romantic leads instead of just throwing them together because, well… lead characters must date, I guess.

Bada Deserved Actual Development
Bada was basically the “useless younger brother” label personified. Why?
He was treated like the sibling who was always lesser, always the disappointment, and always overlooked. Imagine if he and Ha Neul had a real argument about it. Then, a proper reconciliation where they talked through it, shifting his mindset from “I’ll always be behind her” to “I have my own strengths”.
Instead, we got a guilt-ridden monologue about being a burden, and then nothing. Every side character ended up revolving around Ha Neul, as if their only functions were to orbit her, “fix themselves” for her sake, or support her growth.

His Parents Should Have Stayed a Mystery
There’s nothing more obvious than randomly added storylines, and this show had a lot of them, including the barely-there, cold parents reveal. While Jeong Woo’s mom made sense in relation to Kyung Min’s grudge, her distant, emotionally unavailable persona never actually affected Jeong Woo. Like, when he came in second place, his reaction was shock when it should’ve been fear or something tied to his childhood. Instead, they just tossed the emotionally distant parent subplot into the mix without really doing anything with it. (Sigh)

Kyung Min Deserved a Different Ending
His ending? Disappointing. Instead of facing real consequences or reconciling with Jeong Woo, he just… died.
He had moments where he genuinely cared for Jeong Woo—he was there at his graduation, he had their shared history, and yet? The writers didn’t give him the chance to actually make amends before his death. They had no problem adding drunk scenes every episode and dragging them out, yet they were so quick to wrap up the storyline that actually mattered to the plot…?


The Ending Was a Mess
I’ve said this before, but let me say it louder: the ending made no sense. The therapist tells Ha Neul she’s healed, but how? When did we ever see her actually build coping mechanisms or face her depression head-on? All we saw was her vibe better because she got a boyfriend and a new job. What happens when life gets hard again? What happens if they break up? Instead of making it seem like they were each other’s only saving grace, they should have learned real ways to cope together.
Depression doesn’t just vanish when things start looking up—and especially not when your coping method is “have fun with your new man.” The way they handled mental illness felt more like a plot tool for romance rather than something they actually wanted to explore. Don’t centre your plot around two doctors (hello??) dealing with mental health and then make them behave like they know nothing about it.
Why is the woman who reads dissertations for fun not reading a single one on depression? Why are two literal doctors drinking heavily on meds and making wildly irresponsible decisions like they’re in college? It just didn’t line up.


Final Thoughts
I feel like I’ve made my stance pretty clear throughout, but here’s the nice little bow on top. This show was disappointing, to say the least. It started off promising and had me intrigued with its setup, the trauma, the mystery. But it went downhill fast. I originally rated this a 6/10, but honestly? No clue why I was feeling so generous. Maybe I had emotions back then that I just don’t have now.
The biggest issue? This drama wanted to be a comedy so badly that it completely sidelined its serious themes for cheap laughs. Worse, it forgot that its characters were supposed to be doctors. So things that might be a bit more understandable for the average person made zero sense when professionals were making the same bad choices. I guess it was my fault for expecting this to be a drama highlighting the struggles of success and mental illness. But hey, that’s exactly how they marketed it. Lesson learned: next time, I won’t believe the trailer or any overly promising descriptions.

~~~

What were your thoughts on this drama? Did you enjoy it like a lot of people or did you agree with some of the points I mentioned??

This didn’t even include everything 😂😂. But I still hope you got what I meant.

Read More

Twenty Five Twenty One: I Came for the Romance, Stayed for the Edits

I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️

❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗

The Good

The Actors
I say this in almost every review, but the acting? Chef’s kiss. Especially Kim Tae-ri as Hee Do—her crying scenes hit hard, and not in a dramatic K-drama way, but in a “wait, am I intruding on a real moment?” way. The raw emotion, the red eyes, the realism—it was so good it blurred the line between fiction and reality.

The Breakup
People say Hee Do would’ve fought harder for the relationship, but honestly? She did. She waited, she compromised, she swallowed a lot of disappointment. But after months of being stood up and feeling like a background character in her own love story, even Hee Do had her limits. When Yi Jin missed dinner with her mom, it wasn't just a scheduling conflict—it was a turning point.

Her breakup wasn’t abrupt, it was a slow, painful realization that she was walking into the same lonely life she lived as a kid with her mom. She saw the future and it looked like emotional déjà vu: workaholic partner, neglected family, inner child re-traumatized. Letting go wasn’t giving up—it was an act of self-preservation. Sometimes love is knowing when to leave before resentment replaces what was once beautiful.

The Scenes
The drama had its mess (see: “The Bad”), but wow, some scenes were cinematic gold. The friend group scenes were both heartwarming and a little heartbreaking for us friendship-deprived viewers (just me?). The fencing matches were so intense I forgot to blink, and the Madrid scene? Just pain. Soul-crushing, beautiful pain.

The Bad

Fencing Skills—Too Fast, Too Furious
I know K-drama characters are built different, but Hee Do’s glow-up in fencing felt a little too miraculous. One week she’s getting clowned at her old school, and the next she’s out-dueling Yu Rim, the fencing queen of Korea? Sure, she trained hard, but that kind of level-up usually comes with a time skip, not a montage. Did she just suddenly become psychic with everyone else's moves too? Unclear.

Yi Jin’s Big Apple Detour
Why did Yi Jin move to New York? Genuinely asking. The man had unresolved trauma there, looked miserable, and yet just… went? It felt like the writers spun a globe and said, “Here, New York.” Not to mention he made that choice without much thought for Hee Do, his brother, or, you know, anyone. And calling Hee Do’s support a burden? Sir, please go sit in the time-out corner.

So What Was This Drama About?
Romance? Yes. Fencing? Kinda. Friendship? Also yes? The show felt like it wanted to be ten things at once and ended up spreading itself too thin. It never fully committed to one storyline, so even great moments got a little lost in the shuffle. A tighter focus—like making Madrid the climax for both sports and emotional arcs—could’ve made the story land harder. Instead, it wandered, and at times... yeah, it got a little boring.

Too Real, Too Painful
This drama said, “Let’s talk about how nothing lasts forever,” and I was not emotionally prepared. It hit too close to home with its realism—watching friends drift apart, love fade, and life move on was depressing in the “ugh, fine, you're right” kind of way. I get that slice-of-life doesn’t always mean happy endings, but sometimes I want to be delusional. Let me pretend things work out perfectly forever, okay? That’s why I’m here!

Final Thoughts
This drama was just… fine. Not bad, not great—just aggressively average. It didn’t live up to the hype, and if I’m being honest, the only reason it’s not rated lower is because of that one beach scene song and the emotional edits people made online (they really did the heavy lifting).

The cast was great and there were cute moments, but it didn’t land for me the way it clearly did for others. It’s one of those shows I’ll forget the second I hit “post.” Moral of the story? Keep your expectations in check, or you’ll end up more disappointed than necessary. Glad I watched it—gladder it’s off my watchlist.

Read More

When the Phone rings: a show that progressively got more disappointing as it went on

The good:
The Casting & Plot Twist
Chae Soo Bin as Hee Joo was perfect and Yoo Yeon Seok as Baek Sa Eon was also a good choice. The first two episodes were amazing, it really had you interested instantly which can be difficult for a lot of shows. The plot twist with Baek Sa Eon not actually being Baek Sa Eon and that linking to the orphanage was a good twist. One other thing that I sort of understood and liked was how he started to care for her after she almost died. I especially liked the scene at the beginning when he sees her safe and we see him visibly relax.

The Bad
Buckle up — this is going to be a lot.
Their Relationship (or Lack Thereof)
This had the potential to be a great romance, but instead, it was rushed, messy, and absolutely ridiculous. Let’s break it down.
First off, why was Sa Eon so cold and distant toward Hee Joo for three whole years if he actually wanted the marriage? He planned the whole bride swap and then acted like it was some massive inconvenience to him. At first, I genuinely thought he wanted the older sister and got stuck with Hee Joo by accident. Turns out, he actually wanted to marry her — but his reasoning for being cold was ridiculous. He was “scared to let her in and care for her.” WHAT? WHY? We’re given no real explanation beyond that. Some people theorize it’s because of his childhood trauma, but that doesn’t really make sense to me. He was supposed to be Sa Eon until death — there was no replacing him after that. It’s not like they could swap him out again! Plus she didn’t have the money to leave even if she wanted to. So what exactly was stopping him from treating Hee Joo like a human being?
What exactly was preventing him from just… being with her? It’s like they wanted to write a brooding, conflicted male lead but forgot to give him an actual reason to brood or be conflicted. Real Baek Sa Eon would’ve come after her regardless, no hesitation.
Speaking of which, Hee Joo getting over those three awful years in, like, two minutes was absurd. She spent all that time hating her life, feeling invisible, only for him to show up a couple of times, and suddenly, she’s completely over it? The deep, unconditional love she had for him was never earned, and frankly, he didn’t deserve it. We should’ve seen him work for her forgiveness, fight for their relationship, and prove himself. Instead, we got… what? One camp retreat? That was it? Very disappointing to say the least..

The Jealousy…?
This ties into the relationship issue, so let’s address it. Sa Eon had absolutely no reason to be jealous of Sang Woo or the co-worker from the camp retreat. Just because they liked her doesn’t mean she liked them. It was obvious Hee Joo didn’t feel anything for Sang Woo, so his jealousy just felt forced. Sang Woo was just a good guy who learned sign language to be a supportive friend. The co-worker? Literally just being polite. And yet, Sa Eon was throwing around attitude like he owned her. It felt like he was mad that Hee Joo had any kind of chemistry (even non-romantic) with other men because he hadn’t built any chemistry with her — which was entirely his fault. Let’s not forget that regardless if she had chemistry or not with the others, she’s MARRIED to HIM! His whole vibe was giving, “I don’t want her, but I don’t want anyone else to have her either,” which was beyond annoying.

The Sign Language Fail
The show completely dropped the ball on this. This could’ve been such a sweet way to develop their relationship, but no. Despite supposedly liking her for years, Sa Eon never bothered to learn sign language? If they wanted to sell this whole “he loved her all along” narrative, why not have him secretly learn sign language? Imagine how much more powerful it would’ve been if, during that moment at the British Event (in the first or second episode) when she was angrily signing at him for calling her his weakness, he actually understood her. He could’ve understood her frustration and grown from it. For example, if she’s sick of him leaving dirty dishes in the sink, she could sign her annoyance. The next day, the sink would be spotless, leaving her both confused and touched. Think about it!!

Sang Woo Married… Who Now?
Sang Woo marrying Yu Ri was a surprise — and not in a good way. There was zero romantic chemistry between them at any point in the show. When they worked on the case together, they acted like two buddies solving a mystery, not two people falling in love. What made it worse (and kind of funny) was that Sang Woo was still obviously into Hee Joo, and Yu Ri had always had a crush on Sa Eon. The engagement announcement was so awkward, I thought it was a joke. At the end, when they’re all invited to Hee Joo and Sa Eon’s new home, Sang Woo looks visibly jealous when Hee Joo and Sa Eon share a cute moment. Then, when he and Yu Ri hold hands, he seems shy and not exactly thrilled. Man really settled for the next available option. Tough break.

The Family Dynamics…?
Hee Joo must have superhuman levels of forgiveness because her mother put her through years of emotional trauma, and it’s just… fine? No big deal? Her mom literally forced her into silence, yet we never get a proper reconciliation or even a moment where Hee Joo decides to cut her off. Her mom was manipulative and rude to her throughout the whole show, and we only saw her caring when she thought Hee Joo was dead.
Also, what was her relationship with her stepdad like? They interact maybe once the entire show, and that’s it. Whenever something happens to Hee Joo, he doesn’t seem to care or be worried at all. Meanwhile, the older sister’s return felt pointless. She revealed some information to Hee Joo, but that could’ve been discovered in other ways. Her messing with Sa Eon’s parents during the cooking thing was just random. She didn’t add much to the story after her initial revelations.

The Last Episode Was a Whole Different Show
The final episode went so off the rails, I had to double-check if I was still watching the same drama.
First, Sa Eon sells all his stuff and disappears after hearing “bad” news from real Sa Eon. Then Hee Joo finds out he’s in a war-torn country (that doesn’t exist). So naturally, she flies there alone and immediately heads straight to the most dangerous part, because why not? Predictably, she gets captured and then in the most ridiculous plot twist ever, she’s randomly rescued by a group of good guys — and who else but Baek Sa Eon just happens to be among them? What are the odds! The whiplash from this storyline was insane. The plot was so lost that by the end, the title of the show didn’t even make sense anymore. It’s ‘When the Phone Rings’ until about episode 6, and then it’s a complete mess.
And let’s not forget why Sa Eon left in the first place. He was punishing himself. It was his father's fault certain things happened. And what was Sa Eon doing during all of this? Fishing. In the woods. With some random old man. But somehow, he feels guilty? Make it make sense.

Small Things That Annoyed Me
Hee Joo and Yu Ri’s Friendship: I never felt like they were actually friends. They barely spoke the entire show. When Yu Ri finds out Hee Joo can talk, she’s upset she was never told — but they weren’t even that close.
The Wattpad Vibes: This show felt like it was written for 13-year-old girls. While that might work in a Wattpad story, it doesn’t translate well to a show meant for older teens and adults. The story would’ve been so much better if it had been adapted for a more mature audience.
Park Do-Jae’s Survival: Park Do-Jae (the friend) surviving after being beaten, drowned, and stabbed in the span of a few hours was insane. Is he immortal?
Hee Joo on the Phone: Hee Joo talking to Sa Eon on the “406” phone dragged on forever. When she fell off the cliff, she was clearly in pain and out of breath — on the phone — and still didn’t think he’d notice? It was so obvious, and the whole thing felt unnecessarily drawn out.
Hee Joo’s Sudden Speech: After years of being mute, Hee Joo starts speaking, and no one really cares? Everyone was shocked but moved on so quickly. There were no real questions or explanations — it was just accepted and forgotten. Huh?

Final Points:
At the end of the day, When the Phone Rings had so much potential but got lost in its own chaos. From rushed relationships to a finale that felt like a different show, it’s a K-drama that could’ve been great but ended up being… well, a mess. Still, it gave us plenty to talk about — and sometimes, that’s half the fun. Would I recommend it? Maybe, but only if you’re ready for a wild ride (and a few facepalms along the way)!

Read More

A drama that dipped its toe into self-acceptance and then cannonballed into teen romance chaos

A story about a girl who wanted to quietly survive high school, but got main character energy, two love interests, and one very public scandal instead.

This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good
Cha Eun Woo… DUH.
Let’s be real, Cha Eun Woo was an absolute delight to watch. Was his acting perfect? No. But I mean I wasn’t watching for an Oscar-worthy performance after all. From start to finish, he was effortlessly handsome. (Truly a visual legend. 🤭🤭)

Team Seo Joon. No hesitation.
Apparently when True Beauty first dropped, the K-drama fandom split in half over the great debate: Soo Ho vs. Seo Joon. Regardless, it’s my turn to explain why I’m riding with Seo Joon. No hesitation. Here’s why:

Soo Ho was lowkey possessive
Somewhere along the way, Soo Ho’s vibe shifted. At first, it felt like “I like you and want to be with you,” but it slowly turned into “You’re mine because I saw you first and Seo Joon can’t have you.” That’s not love, that’s ego.

Seo Joon actually liked her
He constantly showed up for Ju Kyung, went out of his way to make her feel better, and genuinely wanted her to be happy. His affection didn’t feel forced—it felt real.

Soo Ho just stood there
Remember when Ju Kyung was afraid of being bullied because girls were mad about her dating Soo Ho? His response? Silence. His energy reminded me of Beck from Victorious—just standing around, not actively telling people to back off, assuming that not liking them was enough. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.)

The photo reveal incident
Okay, credit where it’s due, Soo Ho did try to comfort Ju Kyung when she got humiliated. But outside of that? He did nothing. Meanwhile, Seo Joon was on a mission. He texted her constantly, hunted down the culprits, confronted Soo Jin, and even got the video taken down. That’s a good man right there.

Her true identity? He fumbled it
The moment Soo Ho found out what Ju Kyung actually looked like, he immediately used it to mess with her. I get he wanted to get close to her and while his intentions might have been good, his approach was awful. It backfired, and rightfully so.
Meanwhile, Seo Joon found out, he respected her secret, never pushed her to reveal it, and, unlike Soo Ho, didn’t make her insecurities his business. Honestly, it felt like Ju Kyung fell for Soo Ho because he was the first person to see her face and still like her—which felt more like a trauma bond than a love story.

There are more reasons, but you get the idea. Seo Joon felt like the healthier, more emotionally available option.

Too Much Romance, Not Enough Personal Growth
While I did enjoy the relationship drama, the show’s title and premise suggested something deeper; a journey of self-acceptance. But instead of True Beauty being about Ju Kyung embracing her real self, it quickly turned into a love triangle spectacle.
Yes, there was some growth by the end, but honestly, it felt rushed and tacked on. Throughout the show, Ju Kyung seemed determined to never go without makeup; she didn’t actively try to accept herself. It wasn’t until the photos leaked that she was basically forced to face reality, which made it feel less like a journey of self-love and more like “Well, the secret’s out—guess I have no choice.”
I wish the show had explored her gradual acceptance of her natural face while helping other girls embrace their insecurities along the way. Instead, the message boiled down to: Fake it until you literally have no other choice. Imagine if, instead of her being exposed, she had reached a point where she chose to show up to school without makeup. That would’ve been way more impactful and a true sign of growth and self-love.

Story Dragged… Lost the Plot After Episode 14
I went into True Beauty expecting a drama about a girl hiding her face, embracing her beauty, and dealing with boys in high school. Next thing you know—she’s working and getting drunk on weekends?? Once she accepted herself, picked Soo Ho, and wrapped up her growth, boom, roll credits. The whole point was her embracing her true beauty, so why are we still going after that?

The Mom’s Sudden Change
The mother’s so-called redemption arc? Yeah, not buying it.
She spent Ju Kyung’s entire childhood being unbelievably harsh on her, never explaining why. Then, the moment she found out Ju Kyung was being bullied, she suddenly did a full 180 and was instantly forgiven—despite basically being one of Ju Kyung’s own bullies at home.
We needed a deeper redemption arc for her. Without it, her sudden shift just felt unearned.

The Sister/Teacher Relationship Was A Major Eye-Roller
I seriously can’t stand obnoxious characters, and the sister/teacher dynamic was exactly the kind of thing that makes romance comedies hard to watch.

Soo Ho Let Seo Joon Hate Him
I get that Soo Ho was drowning in self-loathing and guilt, but why do characters act like clearing up basic misunderstandings is impossible?
Seo Joon blamed Soo Ho for everything, then later admitted that he didn’t realize how much Se Yeon’s death destroyed Soo Ho. And Soo Ho? He just let himself be hated, never once trying to set the record straight. If something isn’t true, say it. They struggled alone when they could’ve leaned on each other, and that? That was the saddest part.


Final Thoughts
In the end, this show was… okay. I mainly watched it because of Cha Eun Woo, but honestly, if he’d been killed off or moved to Canada halfway through, I would’ve stopped watching. If they had focused more on her self-love journey (and if she had picked Seo Joon), this show would’ve landed way better.
I started watching True Beauty expecting a coming-of-age arc where Ju Kyung grows through different stages of self-acceptance and ends up stronger for it. Instead, I got two boys fighting over a girl who only ever liked one of them.
I once read a comment that said, “Don’t watch True Beauty like a critic—watch it like someone who just wants a light romance comedy,” and honestly? I agree. If you’re not thinking too deeply, you might not even notice the flaws and genuinely love it.
So sit back, mute your brain, and enjoy the pretty faces. That’s the real secret to loving True Beauty.
And if that doesn’t work, just pretend it’s a Cha Eun Woo music video with plot cameos. 😌

~~~

What did you think of this drama? Are you team Seo Joon or Soo Ho? And if it’s Soo Ho, tell me why… seriously.
These aren't all my thoughts but I think you get the point!

Read More

Built up a mastermind plot just to hand the wheel to romance and drive straight into mediocrity.

A story about power, corruption, and secrets—except the secrets weren’t that deep, and the power struggles weren’t that intense.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good
It was short
I genuinely struggled to find anything I truly enjoyed about this show. In the end, the main reason I finished it was simply because it only had seven episodes. At least it didn’t force unnecessary filler just to stretch the runtime.


The Bad
Where do I even begin?

A Revenge Plan With No Plan
I went into this show thinking Kang Ha was going to be this genius transfer student—someone with a master plan to expose the privileged kids and uncover the truth behind his brother’s death.
Instead, none of that happened. Rather than executing a clever strategy, Kang Ha spent most of the show playing boyfriend and getting lost in pointless drama. To make it worse, he didn’t even discover anything himself. The only investigative move he made was getting the pills in Ri An’s locker checked, which led to zero follow-up. Everything he should have uncovered was handed to him by Joo Won, who actually did the work. And then, at the very end, he swoops in acting like he’s the mastermind who pieced everything together. Boy, bye.

Empty Threats and Plot Armour Galore
How were we supposed to feel intimidated when every threat in this show was completely hollow? They literally beat In Han to the ground over a stained shirt, but somehow, Kang Ha—who made out with Jae I, constantly provoked Ri An, and walked around being smug—never got attacked once. At the very least, they could have had Kang Ha fight back in an attempted attack to justify why they never tried anything again. Kang Ha was a nuisance, yet everyone seemed too afraid to put him in his place. Why?

Romantic Detour? Seriously?
His whole downfall started because Jae I smiled at a dog. That was it. From that moment on, his entire reason for coming to the school started fading into the background, and suddenly, she was off-limits in his revenge plan. He was supposed to see everyone as a suspect, but she pets a dog and suddenly she’s innocent? She rides his bike a few times and he’s in love? Please. He was willing to keep her name out of everything, despite knowing full well that she let things happen. I— please be serious.

Plot? What Plot?
This show felt aimless. Was it about Kang Ha’s dead brother? Jae I’s unresolved trauma? Ri An’s mommy issues? Woo Jin’s weird relationship with his teacher? He Ra’s financial struggles? It kept shifting focus so many times that the main plot got completely lost in the shuffle. Sure, it all sort of connected in the end, but the middle was a mess. Too much screen time was wasted on subplots that didn’t matter.

Overhyped Villainy That Wasn’t There
Let me start by saying, bullying is terrible, and In Han was treated horribly. But the show oversold how bad things actually were. I expected the main four to be actively hunting scholarship kids for sport, torturing them for fun, or at the very least, getting their hands dirty. Instead? They were mostly bystanders, never directly involved beyond standing around watching.
And then we find out In Han’s death was a total accident caused by a teacher trying to cover up her inappropriate relationship. Like… huh? His death felt rushed, random, and frankly lazy. Yes, it was still tragic, and yes, he suffered. But compared to how dark the show implied it would be, it just didn’t land. Honestly, it would’ve been way more compelling if scholarship students were mysteriously disappearing and Kang Ha was the only one trying to uncover the truth. But what we got was one accidental death and a bunch of kids who weren’t as evil as advertised.

The Dead Brother? Barely a Priority.
I really can’t stress this enough how much the show did not turn out like it implied. Kang Ha wasn’t the strategic avenger we were led to expect. The first few episodes set up the main four as untouchable villains, yet in reality, they were just bystanders like everyone else at the school.
What’s crazy is that In Han’s death plot took a backseat, even for Kang Ha, which was supposed to be his entire reason for being at the school. In hindsight, it makes sense that Jae I is the one front and centre on the poster while Kang Ha & Co are shoved in the back. This wasn’t his story. It was hers. And that bait-and-switch was a huge letdown.

Jae I Was Annoying
Did anyone else feel like Jae I was constantly playing the victim?
She acted like she deserved comfort over In Han’s death, as if she had no power to stop what happened. And when she finally confessed to killing In Han, it felt less like accountability and more like “tell me it’s not my fault”. Let’s be real, the only reason she spoke up was because she was being blackmailed. Where was this righteous energy when In Han was still alive? Had she never been exposed or blackmailed, she likely would have buried the truth just like everyone else and simply sworn to do better next time.
And don’t forget, Ri An’s lackeys were the ones actively bullying In Han, and Ri An was obsessed with Jae I. If she had told him to make them stop, he would have immediately listened. She had so much influence over him but never used it to help her own friend. She stood there, day after day, letting him get harassed, and then played the victim when it came back around.
Jae I wasn’t just a bad friend to In Han, she was also a horrible friend to He Ra. Jae I ghosted her for three months, never telling her where she went or what was going on. Then, after months of silence, she suddenly shows up and starts barking orders like she never left. And somehow, she never told He Ra about her pregnancy, but did tell a random guy who showed up a month ago. She really treated He Ra like a sidekick, only calling her a “friend” when it was convenient for her.

Jae I’s Emotional Plot Twist That Wasn’t
Let’s talk about Jae I’s sudden 180. For most of the show, Jae I treated Ri An like an annoying ex who couldn’t take a hint; constantly acting like she didn’t care and wanted nothing to do with him.And then suddenly, she’ll do anything for him?
For most of the drama, she stared at him with a deadpan expression, talked to him like he was a pest, and barely tolerated his presence. And the issue wasn’t just the inconsistency, but the fact that she showed little to no emotion throughout the show, making the sudden change hard to believe. If we saw her struggling more: visibly torn or emotionally conflicted, it would’ve added some weight. But because she delivered everything with that same blank face and emotionless voice, the twist didn’t land.

Kang Ha: The Walking Plot Device
Few things annoy me more than obvious main character energy, and Kang Ha was the prime example.
He was some random kid who showed up and single-handedly changed everything, despite having no real plan. He walked around like he owned the school, like he had everyone wrapped around his finger, but the reality? He had nothing but vibes and a vendetta.
The most convenient moment? Flirting a little, acting smug and then magically stumbling upon a hard drive with everything he needed to take down the elites. Like how did Kang Ha even figure out Joo Won was blackmailing Jae I? He just showed up at the party fully in the know. Like… what?
Then, we get a pointless after-credits scene where a guy is dead, and Kang Ha walks around smiling, acting like he just pulled off some brilliant victory like he didn’t do the bare minimum the entire time.
Please.

Kang Ha’s Nonexistent Outside Life
This might’ve flown under the radar, but it really bothered me: for a show that centres Kang Ha, we know absolutely nothing about him outside of school. He lives with his uncle, but where are his parents? What’s his home life like? Why would any guardian let him enroll in the same school where his brother literally died?
The only time we see him outside of school is when he’s working at the market and that scene was only included because Jae I happened to be there. Otherwise, he doesn’t exist beyond the gates of the school. For a character with so much supposed depth, we sure got served the shallowest version of him possible.


Final Thoughts
This was a huge letdown x1000000. This time, it wasn’t because I expected a good show going into this, but because the first two episodes set this show up for something huge. Especially with how Kang Ha carried himself. Him coming in like he was going to turn the school upside down was exciting. But seeing him be all about revenge for all of two episodes, then fall in love and switch up? Took me way off guard.
I usually avoid reading reviews before watching shows because I don’t like going in with bias, but for this one?
I really should have. The comments called it perfectly, and honestly? I should have trusted the collective suffering of previous viewers.
Lesson learned.

~~~
Did anyone actually enjoy this show? If you did, please help me to understand why? This didn’t even cover everything I had to say and yet has so many questions in it.

Read More

A suspenseful thriller that starts strong but loses steam in an endless cycle of chase and escape.

Midnight is proof that sometimes, survival isn’t just about skill—it’s about sheer, unexplainable luck.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good

Perfect Casting Across the Board
The casting for this film was spot-on. Everyone played their role so convincingly that it elevated the entire experience. You don’t realize how much great casting impacts a movie until you find yourself bumping the rating up just because the actors got it.

Kept You on Edge… At Least at the Start
The beginning really knew how to keep you anxious. That entire first chase sequence had me gripping my seat. Every time he nearly caught her, I found myself holding my breath. It felt chaotic in the best way, like anything could happen next.

Her Deafness Was a Game-Changer
Kyung Mi’s deafness made the entire experience ten times more nerve-wracking. The way the film muted the audio at times, letting us feel her disorientation, was so well done.


The Bad
The Cat and Mouse Game That Never Ended
At first, the chase between Kyung Mi and Do Shik was gripping, keeping the tension high and the stakes intense. But as the movie went on, it became painfully repetitive. The cycle of her running, him catching her, hesitating for no clear reason, and her narrowly escaping played out over and over again. How is he always just a second too late? Is it sheer luck? The suspense turned into frustration, and by the end, I was more over-it than anxious.

Frustrating Moments of Plot Convenience
This ties directly into the endless chase loops, but the level of plot convenience in this film was wild. Jong Tak, for example, felt like one of the most useless characters second only to the police. He spent most of his screen time either running in the wrong direction or getting beat up. And don’t even get me started on the scene where Do Shik traps Kyung Mi under a chair only for her to throw sand in his face, which sends him flailing on the ground long enough for her to break free. I ask this again: how is it that he had already killed multiple people, yet Kyung Mi, who couldn’t speak or hear, managed to outsmart and evade him time and time again? It was hard to take him seriously when he kept fumbling like this.


Final Thoughts

On first watch, this movie was solid. I even gave it an 8 out of 10. Once I rewatched it, the flaws became glaringly obvious. Things that had slipped past me the first time now stood out like neon signs. There were way too many moments when she escaped when she absolutely shouldn’t have, and a whole lot of scenes that felt like filler. While I still appreciated the tension and the strong acting, the endless chase sequences felt way more repetitive the second time around.
Basically, enjoy the suspense while it lasts, because once you notice the plot holes, police incompetence, and absurd chase sequences, there’s no going back.

~~~
This one got mixed reviews from a lot of people, what did you think when you first watched? Was it as interesting as I first thought it was?

Read More

A dark and layered tale about love, lies, and legacy – with a bit too much story

Between fake identities, serial killers, and buried traumas, this drama delivers a packed plot — just not always at the right pace.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕


The Good:
Suspense On Suspense On Suspense
This show was thriller galore! Every time the story jumped to a new case, it was so engaging. I think the key was that, aside from the little boy’s arc, all the cases ended up being connected, making every twist feel intentional rather than random. The pacing was so well thought out.

A surprisingly wholesome love story (minus, you know… the crime)
I loved that Hyun Soo and Ji Won were genuinely in love. Their family dynamic was so sweet, and it was refreshing to see a K-drama couple that wasn’t secretly miserable or hiding petty resentment (outside the whole serial killer thing, obviously).
Watching Ji Won battle her feelings as a detective vs. her love for Hyun Soo was so compelling. And the fact that they kind of worked together to uncover his true emotions? Heartwarming. I liked seeing him realize he did love her. It gave their relationship more emotional weight.


The Bad

Dragged Out — Especially Towards the End
As much as I loved the suspense, there were definitely some dull moments, particularly near the end. If a show could function perfectly fine without a full hour-long finale, did it really need to be there?
When a show is highly rated/recommended, I tend to hype it up too much, expecting flawless storytelling   but this made me realize maybe I set the bar too high. It was good, but there were definitely noticeable slow parts too.

They Made Him Seem Like the Bad Guy… But He Wasn’t
Look, I love a good fake-out — the kind where the story has us side-eyeing someone only to flip the script. But here? It felt excessive. Hyun Soo didn’t just look like the bad guy , he acted like one. I mean, tying someone up in your basement and trying to force pills down their throat when they ask a question you don’t like, isn’t exactly giving “wrongly accused soft boy.” The show wasn’t hinting at him being guilty,  it was straight-up telling us he was the killer, only to swerve at the last second and say, “Surprise, he’s completely innocent!”

Why Did Hae Soo Let Him Live Like That for YEARS?
Why did Hae Soo let Hyun Soo live as a fugitive all those years? She clearly cared about him when they were younger, so it doesn’t make sense that she let him take the fall for something he didn’t do. I get that she had trauma, too. But even if she couldn’t face things for herself, why not do it for him? Instead, it felt like she chose lifelong guilt over taking any real action to protect her brother. (Glad she got justice, though.)

He Lost His Memory at the End… Why?
I have a soft spot for drama, obviously, but Hyun Soo losing his memory at the end felt like pure filler. It didn’t add anything meaningful to the story, and in fact, it robbed us of closure. After everything he went through, clearing his name, his emotional journey with Ji Won, facing his trauma, we’re supposed to accept that he doesn’t remember any of it? That he finally earned peace, only to lose the memories that gave it meaning? The ending only left me feeling the same kind of pity for him as I did throughout the show.

Ji Won Gave Up on Hyun Soo?! LOLL
This one made me chuckle …  but like, in a sad way. Ji Won really went through everything with Hyun Soo, risked her job, almost died multiple times… and then was ready to bounce to Busan the moment he lost his memory? I get it, she was probably done emotionally, but it just felt off. She knew how much he suffered, how isolated he was. So to be ready to leave him behind right when he needed her most? It didn’t sit right. If there was more depth to her decision, I’d be more understanding. But I’m not gonna read between the lines for hidden meaning that wasn’t there. So, yeah… it was giving “I tried” energy, but also “girl what?”


Final Thoughts
This show was really good when it was good. The suspense, the twists, the acting — top-tier. But when it dropped from mountain-high excitement to deep-sea slow, it was painfully obvious. I get that shows need slower parts to give context and build up to the next big thing, but there’s a fine line between slowing down for effect and slowing down to a near-complete stop.
Unfortunately, those dragged-out moments ended up sticking with me more than the parts that had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional whiplash just didn’t balance out in the long run ; which is a shame because when Flower of Evil was thrilling, it was REALLY thrilling.
At the end of the day, I get why people loved this show. If you’re into thrillers, twists, and a touch of psychological intrigue, this drama has a lot to offer.

~~~
What did you think of the show? This wasn't even all my thoughts haha! I just summarised the most relevant bits but I still think you got my point (hopefully) 😊

Read More

A beautifully shot, emotionally devastating journey… with a few frustrating loose ends.

I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️

❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗

The Good:

The Storyline
They really committed to the realism with that ending — no magical recovery, no love-powered miracles, just death. And weirdly, I respect that. Hae Jo’s gradual shift from not caring about life to desperately clinging to it was handled with such subtlety, it wrecked me. Like, actually had me sobbing. You feel his transformation, which makes his death hit even harder.

The Ending
That final scene with his dad? Brutal and beautiful. Watching all versions of Hae Jo hug his father — child, teen, adult — felt like his soul was finally at peace. It was symbolic, emotional, and honestly? Perfect closure.

The Scenery
Every frame was wallpaper-worthy. The cinematography team did not come to play. Especially that final backdrop — if you’re gonna die, might as well do it with a killer view.

Woo Do Hwan
Woo. Do. Hwan. That’s it. That’s the review.

The (Possibly Real) Father Theory
Okay, I might be reaching, but the second dad totally felt like the real dad. The show never confirmed it, but the emotional parallels were suspicious. Both he and Hae Jo lashed out at people they cared about when feeling cornered — textbook self-sabotage. Their similarities ran deep, and honestly? That fish market bonding scene had too much heart for it to be fake. Maybe he didn’t mean to screw everything up — maybe he just didn’t know how to handle finally having something good. Sound familiar?

The Bad
Jae Mi Deserved Better
The trailer teased a love story, but Jae Mi ended up feeling like a narrative prop. While Hae Jo found peace (read: died) and Heung found freedom, Jae Mi just… existed. Her arc barely went anywhere. No closure, no growth, not even a final scene to show where she landed. The show really said, “Thanks for your service, now exit stage left.”

Character Development? Where?
For a man on the clock, Hae Jo didn’t grow much. He just kept abandoning Jae Mi, feeling bad about it, then doing it again like it was a hobby. Compare that to other dramas where terminal characters find emotional clarity — Hae Jo stayed in his mess. By the end, it felt less like a tragic hero and more like a guy stuck in a loop.

The Dad’s Mystery Vibes
Why did the dad never explain himself? He clearly kept mementos and cared on some level, but we never get a reason for why he ghosted his literal child. That flashback where he pretends not to know Hae Jo? Weird. And then… nothing. The emotional math wasn’t mathing.

The Final Goodbyes Fell Flat
His last moments with Bong Suk and Gi Ho were rough — and not in a cathartic way. Bong Suk, who was clearly a mother figure, got hit with a cold “you meant nothing to me” monologue before he dipped. Gi Ho, the ultimate ride-or-die, barely got a proper sendoff. These two loved him unconditionally, and he couldn't give them one final moment of sincerity? Painful.

Abrupt Ending, So Many Loose Ends
Yes, he’s Mr. Plankton — he drifts. But did the plot have to drift off with him? The second he dies, the show just… ends. No follow-up, no grief montage, no hint of what happens next. We don’t know what became of Jae Mi, the business, the gangsters, the dad — anything. Bold choice? Sure. Satisfying? Not even a little.

Final Thoughts
Mr. Plankton is a rollercoaster — heartbreaking, hilarious, and deeply human. It’s a raw, poetic story about life, death, and the messy, beautiful connections we stumble into along the way. Woo Do Hwan delivers an unforgettable performance, and the show’s refusal to sugarcoat reality? Bold and brutal in the best way.

That said, it’s not without bumps. Some characters were left undercooked, the ending felt rushed, and too many threads were left dangling. Still, its emotional honesty and gorgeous visuals leave a lasting impression. It’s not perfect, but it sticks with you. If you’re into bittersweet endings, painfully real characters, and male leads who are (almost unfairly) attractive — this might just be your next favorite. A strong 7/10, and with a bit more closure, it could’ve easily hit a 9.

Read More

20th Century Girl was disappointing and surprising in a bad way...

If you've seen 20th century girl, this review will make sense. But if you haven't then read this after because it won't make much sense. I was very disappointed in this to say the least so you will see the bad is a lot longer than the good :)

One sentence description: A nostalgic story about a girl who becomes trapped by the memory of a crush, clinging to the past for over a decade.

The good
A good story line
The fact that he died in the end was excellent, I don’t think anyone watching this was expecting it. In fact, I’m sure we all believed that he would’ve returned years later with an explanation and it would’ve ended happily. Especially since she waited all that time for him. I also liked the scenes they had together, they were super cute and I enjoyed it. Bo Ra is definitely a real good friend for not only pushing down her feelings but also rejecting him even though she felt the same. The storyline was really good and all the characters were amazing- especially facially (**Byeon Woo-Seok**). I did feel bad for the best friend because it was clear that she never had a chance from the start but I did have a few opinions on her (which will be in the “bad” section). All-in-All, this film had a great plot and that’s why it got a 7/10 from me.

The Bad
Why It Got a 7/10
My biggest issue? Bo Ra and Woon Ho didn’t spend enough time together for her to be locked in for 15+ YEARS. Don’t get me wrong, their moments were cute, and I totally get why they liked each other. HOWEVER, in my opinion, it just wasn’t enough. She spent so much time avoiding him and her feelings that there weren’t enough moments to really justify calling it love.
Not only that, but from the way the movie played out, it seemed like they knew each other for less than a year — yet she stayed single for years waiting for him?? That’s wild. Maybe my opinion stems from the fact that I’ve never had a crush, but still — there were definitely not enough scenes that explained why she remained so loyal for 15 years. So while it was cute that she waited, imagine finding out you put your love life on hold for 15 years over a dead man. (And I say that with the utmost sincerity — R.I.P. Woon Ho.)

Yeon Du Was Kind of a Bad Friend
Bo Ra was such a good friend to Yeon Du, but was it really mutual? She knew Woon Ho had no feelings for her, yet refused to let her best friend — who clearly liked him — be with him out of jealousy? Like, please. If the roles were reversed, Bo Ra would’ve sucked it up and pretended to be fine. Yeon Du, on the other hand, waited until the last possible moment to get over herself, and by the time she did, Woon Ho was already leaving. On top of that, it’s not like he was sticking around — he was moving to the other side of the world. She should’ve just told herself “This isn’t going to last” and let them be happy for the time they had left. The friendship dynamic was so 30/70, and it was a shame.

Woon Ho’s Death…?
Okay, so can we talk about how his death was so vague? Like, we’re just told he died in 2000 in an accident and that’s it. What accident? I think it would’ve hit way harder if we had more context.
For example, imagine if he died on his way to the airport to see her. Maybe she was waiting for him with a sign, only for his plane to land…and he never gets off. Then later, she finds out he got into a car crash on the way. THAT would’ve been devastating. Instead, it just felt like a buildup that suddenly dropped. Like in baseball when you think it’s a home run, but then it just…gets caught.

What Happened to the Side Characters?
This is a general issue in many other K-dramas I’ve seen, but why do side characters just disappear? The ending always hyper-focuses on the main leads, and we never find out what happens to everyone else.
Like, did Bo Ra and Yeon Du stay friends? Do they still talk to Hyun-Jin? Or did the whole friend group just dissolve because Woon Ho was the glue holding them together? I need answers! Also, why didn’t she ask Hyun-Jin if he had heard from Woon Ho? Like, wouldn’t that have been the first thing you’d do if someone stopped responding to you? But I guess the story would’ve played out differently if she found out sooner that no one had heard from him.

Final Thoughts
Overall, 20th Century Girl had so much potential, and while it was still an enjoyable movie, some parts just didn’t land for me. The romance wasn’t developed enough, the friend was lowkey selfish, the side characters disappeared, and his death needed way more explanation. A solid 7/10 — but it could’ve been higher if they had given us just a little more.

Read More

A Dream Within A Dream Was Amazing at First...

After watching "Prisoner of Beauty", I thought I'd have beef with Liu Yu Ning's next characters. But turns out a character is just a character and Nan Heng is now on my "Ge Ge list" (🤭).

Before we get into this, please remember that this is MY OPINION and I'm not here to hate on the actors or anybody who disagrees with me. I can be very brutal but it's all lighthearted! Also SPOILERS AHEAD so keep that in mind. This is going to be another long one so let's keep this convo fun and respectful 💕.

The Good
Nan Heng
When I watched Prisoner of Beauty, I thought I'd have a bit of a prejudice against Liu Yu Ning's next character (joke) but then I met Nan Heng and fell in love. It's meant to be guys, it really is. Liu Yu Ning is a celebrity crush now and Nan Heng was a delight. I loved the character and how he was portrayed. He was such a caring guy and also super funny. He facial expressions when he'd have to save the Yi Meng were hilarious. Amazing character and has raised my standard for men in future historical dramas.

"White Head Same Heart"
I loved how they used "White Head Same Heart"! it was so clever and I love when that happens in dramas. When the lead isn't sure about the other but then they do something that only the two of them know about. Brilliant. It reminds me of a different drama I watched where they had a special kind of knock. Either way it's adorable from an English speaker perspective and a sucker for creative romance things like that. Stuff like this is why I love romance shows and I won't lie and say those four words didn't bump the rating up a bit.

Interesting start
The first few episodes of this drama were the best. I usually watch two to three dramas at the same time (different genres though) but this one had me hooked. I couldn't even watch the others because I always wanted to watch this one. I loved when Nan Heng had to save her, I loved how she was determined to get married to Gui Hong, I loved how desperate she was to escape her fate, and when she met Mr. Li. It was so interesting to watch Mr. Li, Gui Hong, and Yi Meng plan how they were going to kill Nan Heng. I thought this was gonna become the first historical drama that I loved... until it wasn't.


The Bad
It kind of lost the plot towards the end.
After everyone found out that Nan Heng was Mr. Li, some of the plot got lost. What happened to wanting to find the weapon of forging? Why did he even really need it? I will give them credit and say that she was still desperate to change the story at the end, so that was a plus. But it did start to get slow when the story no longer forced her to do things and force Nan Heng to protect her.

I also felt like they didn't know how they wanted to end the drama so they threw in the Gui Hong plot. I mean when you think about it, how else would the show end without her going back to the present time. The story should've ended when they had the first ending. I really didn't like how it ended with everyone alive and with a happy ending. The best ending was the very first one when Shangguan He died heroically protecting Yi Ting and they had that battle. The had so many foreshadowing moments that made it seem like he was going to die that I was lowkey expecting it. But when it went back in time twice so that everyone can live, it was a bit of a letdown. It should've ended the first way and Yi Meng should've went back to the real world. The ending when the actor for Nan Heng remembered her (somehow?) could've still happened or they could've done where she either forgets and then remembers or she thinks it was all a dream. Something would've been better than her staying there forever. Or did she? the ending was kind of confusing.

The show was a bit slow.
Even though I really did enjoy this show, I felt like there were more irrelevant scenes than relevant ones. I thought the whole point in her being there was to change the story and her fate. So why did we get one iconic scene every, like, 10 episodes? Most of the stuff that happens in the drama doesn't hit the same because it was just her existing in the times. I really enjoyed the show during the first part because her changing her fate and ignoring Nan Heng was her top priority. But after the first few episodes when he's forced to protect her, she's constantly avoiding him, and they are both forced to say and do stuff they don't want to, it all becomes slow. You're left thinking "Okay, we're on episode 30 and she still hates him. Where is this going?".

Song Yi Meng Was so MEAN
I'll never get over how mean Song Yi Meng was to Nan Heng CONTANTLY during the most of the middle part in the show. At first I understood where she was coming from. He was evil, she read the script, he tried to kill her, etc. But once he continued to prove himself to be misunderstood, I still didn't understand what her problem was. He constantly showed her that he cared for her, Always protecting her and looking out for her, and clearly being a misunderstood good guy. So why was she so cruel to him despite knowing how much to script changed. He was so clearly not the same Nan Heng from the script and yet she constantly undervalued all the things he did for her. As Nan Heng and as Mr. Li.

I especially couldn't stand how often she got mad at him just before they got together. It felt like she wanted a reason to hate him. She always made sure to stab him and twist the knife.

Why Did Nan Heng even like her so much??
I'm the kind of person who NEEDS to understand a character's obsession/love for another character. If you're gonna keep pining after a girl that rips you to shreds (emotionally) every episode, I need to understand why. And I didn't. She didn't really stand out at all. What I mean is that she acted like everyone else who misunderstood and distrusted him. It was kind of confusing that he loved a girl who hated him without a mask. Maybe it would've worked out better if she talked to Mr. Li (him in a mask) about how misunderstood Nan Heng was and that she wish she could trust him and not know the future. But she hated him no matter what was going on. What causes intense love from that?

I think his obsession would've made more sense if she defended him or trusted him at least once. Instead she would literally see him crying because of her words and KEEP GOING! That one scene at night in the snow was pure torture to watch. And she did that kind of this constantly. It was annoying on both their parts. She was annoying for ripping him to shreds constantly and for him still trying to get her to love him. I wish he stopped trying and only then did she realise how much she cared/loved him. But watching him get kicked in the face and then kiss the shoes that kicked him just because they were hers became so unrealistic (considering) and overdone.

Chu Gui Hong being evil felt random
Anybody else felt like Gui Hong becoming evil felt thrown in? How did the good guy turn so evil because he found out he was a story character? That one scene when Song Yi Meng put him in his place and reminded him of all the innocent lives he was ending, was so satisfying. But it was confusing how someone who swore never to let anyone wrongly be killed and then did that very thing.

I kind of think that he had such self hatred for wrongfully hating Nan Heng this whole time and just couldn't accept that he was wrong all this time. I really liked when Yi Meng's father said "No one can wake someone who's pretending to sleep" and not only do I say that now, but it really reflected Gui Hong perfectly. He was so convinced that he was the victim and Nan Heng was to blame, that he didn't realise that he was the actualy problem. Nan Heng did steal Yi Meng. It was Gui Hong's attitude and switch up that pushed her away. It's crazy that he didn't realise that even if Nan Heng wasn't in the picture, she still wouldn't have been with him.

We got a little off topic but the point is, him doing a full one 180 and killing everybody felt like they just needed a reason to end the show. It didn't really fit and I was sad that Gui Hong's story ended like that. I was kind of hoping he'd reconnect with Nan Heng... Oh well.

Read More

A six-episode journey that somehow managed to feel rushed and dragged out at the same time

A beautiful premise wasted on weak pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a finale that forgot to earn its own tears.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good
A Strong, Twisted Premise
The core idea of this drama is actually really solid: the person whose death she’s never recovered from suddenly returns only to tell her she’s going to die in a week. Almost brilliant.

No Magical Resurrection Nonsense
As messed up as it sounds, I appreciated that they didn’t try to force a fairytale ending. Ram Woo stays dead and while it’s bittersweet, Hee Wan finds healing and chooses life. Sometimes, a beautiful ending is just one where someone chooses to keep going.


The Bad
Too Short For Its Own Good
I never thought I’d say this, but this drama was too short. There wasn’t enough time to flesh out the storyline or characters, making everything feel rushed. She supposedly isolated herself, pushed friends away, and even dated Hong Suk to cope, but where was that in the show? In moments like her reunion with Hong Suk or final days, it felt like she was closing a chapter the audience barely got to read. So when she said her goodbyes, I wasn’t emotionally invested. I barely knew the characters she was leaving behind.
Then we had Yeong Hyun, who was randomly thrown in with supernatural abilities where she could see ghosts, predict how people would die, and apparently pinpoint exact locations. How? Why? No explanation.
Too much was crammed into the story, with not enough time to develop it properly.

The Underwhelming Death
Okay but… was anyone else underwhelmed by how Ram Woo died? They built it up like the name-switching was going to be this massive, tragic twist. I genuinely thought he died because of some fatal name mix-up—like he was mistaken for Hee Wan, or died protecting her. But no. It was just a freak accident at an observatory after she gave him a ticket. And look—I get that guilt doesn’t have to be logical. People blame themselves for things all the time. But if Hee Wan’s been unable to move on for four years, you’d think there’d be a stronger link between her and his death. Even his mother managed to heal. Meanwhile, Hee Wan was stuck in this guilt-box she built for herself and the trigger was… giving him a gift that went sideways?

He Died… and Then Was Erased
This isn’t necessarily bad, but I wish Ram Woo hadn’t disappeared forever. The show establishes that if a Grim Reaper prevents a death, they cease to exist entirely… and yet somehow, Ram Woo was included in this rule. While I get that he helped Hee Wan realize she wanted to live, her choice to live was ultimately hers. A better ending? He doesn’t cease to exist, but instead, she can no longer see him. That way, the final scene could have shown him watching over her, quietly letting her go, before quitting his reaper job and moving on to the afterlife.

Storyline was meh.
This storyline had so much potential and it just didn’t deliver. It’s supposed to be about a girl who’s ready to die but finds reasons to live by checking off a bucket list with her first love, who’s now a grim reaper. Sounds poetic, right?
But we barely got that. Ram Woo’s list? Completed in like an episode and a half. Her list? Knocked out in half an episode. After that, it’s just her saying goodbye to people we barely got to know. The emotional beats fell flat because the buildup wasn’t there. Even the flashbacks dragged. I wanted more from the present, more growth, more tension. Not recycled memories that told us what we already knew.

I Wanted to Feel Her Pain… But Didn’t
This kinda ties into what I mentioned above as well as the pacing issues and the lack of depth, so I’ll keep it quick: I never truly felt her pain. She was supposedly trapped in guilt, haunted by his death, but aside from a few panic attacks, there wasn’t enough to showcase her emotional torment. Throughout the episodes, there was no gradual shift in her mindset—no subtle evolution from wanting to die to fighting to live.
Maybe it was because the pacing was off, but the transition just didn’t hit. Especially since, in the end, she was still ready to jump anyway. And to make matters worse, she literally says she’ll live for both of them in one scene, then heads to the roof the next. It undercuts everything the story tried to build.
The emotional impact would have landed better had we seen her initial relief that her time had come, slowly shifting into genuine devastation that it was actually over. The way a character’s subtle change in wanting to live makes the final moments so much heavier.

The description was wrong
I thought the story was about a girl who refuses to say her first love’s name three times, unable to let go. But… that never happened. Instead, he was the one who had to say her name three times. Then, the descriptions also made it sound like she writes a bucket list early on, and they carry it out together before she dies—which was only half true. She didn’t make a list until the final episode and for most of the story, Ram Woo was the one with unfinished wishes that they completed instead.
It’s not a huge deal, but when the actual plot strays from the advertised premise, it throws you off. Especially when the version we were expecting sounds way more compelling than what we got.


Final Thoughts
In the end, this show was boring. The description set it up to be a soul-crushing, gut-wrenching heartbreak—but instead, it delivered six episodes of nothing. The entire premise revolved around Ram Woo getting Hee Wan to want to live, and yet, in the final moments, she still wanted to die—effectively making the entire journey pointless. So while the concept had potential, the execution completely missed the mark.
The worst part is that there was a beautiful story buried in there somewhere… it just never made it to the screen. And it never will. So If you’re looking for a show to break your heart, don’t even bother. But if you’re looking for a show with drawn-out flashbacks that add little to the story, this is just the show for you.

~~~

What did you think of this drama? I think my problem was that while I was watching it, I was actively thinking of what I’d do (ahead of the story), so when the scenes came, it wasn’t as good as my thoughts (she said as humbly as possible 🤭🤭).

Read More