Noctis

A Moment Is Forever.. Just As Forever Is A Moment..

I put off watching this for so long because deep down I guess I was scared it would be over once I finished it.. I would never get to experience the same feeling again.. This was one of my most anticipated dramas but it was too short and far too angsty.. Maybe I didn’t want to let go of the emotions it stirred in me..

I was really upset when they decided to drop only one episode per week.. But despite the wait and I waited too long, my fault, this has been a painfully beautiful experience.. This drama deserves to be recognized as one of the best in terms of strorytelling and acting.. I mean, the acting was just phenomenal.. The casting director deserves a raise and all the glory.. Lee Se Young and Kentaro were perfect.. Their performances made it all the more heartbreaking.. This is going to leave an even deeper memory than I imagined..

"That was the moment when I realized that fate really did exist in this world..
I never felt anything like it before..
It was also a moment that I would never get to experience again.. "

"Up until now, I have never believed in fate or miracles..
I used to think they were nothing more than coincidences..
But there she was.. It was a miracle.. "

"Beni now had the look of someone who had completely turned their back on the past..
Her eyes did not shine like they did on that day..
I wonder if Beni remembers how I asked her out.. "

In the present timeline both leads looked like their souls had died.. Their eyes were lifeless as if true happiness no longer existed for them.. It was a sad contrast to their past which had been so vibrant and full of joy until it wasn’t..

"That day, she shouted at me with a look I had never seen before..
That day, a scar was left on my heart.. The scar on my heart read regret.. "

Her so called fiance knew she didn’t love him.. He knew she didn’t want to marry him.. He knew she wasn’t happy.. If she had been given the chance she would have called off the marriage.. He knew all of this, yet he never gave her the chance to leave.. He was like a chain holding her back..
In the first episode she says "I just wanted to leave the nest and try living a life for myself.. " He was caging her back in that nest once again.. She made it obvious.. She made it so painfully obvious how unhappy she was with the reluctance to even look at his wedding suit.. But he was so selfish, so shameless, that he wanted to keep her no matter how broken she was..One of the worst characters in the story.. If there was an antagonist, it was him.. People might not understand why I see him as the antagonist when he had all the qualities of a great husband.. But that’s not the point is it?? Forced love and forced relationships will never have a happy ending.. She would forever live a lie.. SML knew that if the Jungo made even a 10% effort he would lose her.. The only reason he hesitated to propose for so long, even after marriage talks began was because he knew she might reject him.. And that might end up as the final push for her to realize this wasn’t the life she wanted..

"We met again like a miracle.. What does this mean??
What is the meaning of this?? Is this a chance to start over or is this a sign that we need closure?? "

"You know it too right?? That I suck at remembering things.. But why can't I forget my memories with Jungo?? "

"Honestly, I didn’t write this novel with the intention of telling a grand story..
I wrote this novel simply because of my regret toward one person and the memories I couldn’t forget..
My true feelings were written down.. It was with the faint hope that if that person read my book they would understand my foolishness and immaturity back then.."

"Life doesn’t really unfold the way you say it should.. And there are times when it’s better not to say anything..
Thanks to my mom, I learned these things when I was still a little too young.. "

"Reading your book made me wonder.. Does love actually have an ending??
There most definitely is a beginning, but there doesn’t seem to be an end.. "

One of the best scenes of the drama, where it potrays her love for Jungo was when she said

"Even if I was dating you before I met him.. Even if we were married and had three children..
Had I met him, my heart would have sunk like this.. "

"I remembered Jungo’s face.. His face, still in pain because of our clumsiness and recklessness.. Made our love more beautiful because it stopped midway.. Because there was no proper farewell.. "

I love how What Comes After Love incorporates color symbolism in its visual storytelling.. Beautifully reflecting the emotions and dynamics between Choi Hong and Jungo.. In most stories love wins no matter what but here it’s the harsh realities of life that decide the fate of those who love blindly..

Sakaguchi Kentaro.. What an exceptional actor.. With every drama and film of his I watch he continues to impress.. Lee Se Young's career has been filled with ups and downs.. Her previous two dramas were below average.. And the one released after this was also really bad.. I hope she chooses good scripts in the future.. She proved in The Red Sleeve what an exceptional actress she is.. She deserves a much better career..

Most people might not understand why I loved this drama.. No matter how much I try to explain.. It wasn’t just the story.. It was the way it made me feel.. Some feelings defy explanation..

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Don’t Overthink It.. Marry You Is Here Just to Make You Laugh..

Marry You is a breezy, feel good Kdrama that doesnt aim to be top tier but sticks to its purpose and delivers.. Its a short and light comedy drama that knows how to make you laugh.. Sure it had its flaws but the main leads and the humor made it worth watching.. The main couple's interactions were cute..

I think MDL is the only place where its getting so many negative reviews.. But its worth noting that Marry You has been performing consistently well on several streaming platforms and has received positive feedback on X..

The finale?? Simple, cute and a fitting end to the story.. Overall its a good drama thats worth your time.. Dont let the negativity on MDL sway you.. No offense but some people seem to criticize every drama unless it stars their bias..

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I had no expectations coming into this drama.. I just wanted to watch something that’s not too demanding.. Unexpectedly, this was good.. Nothing innovative or fresh and I don’t think that was the intention either.. It sticks to familiar conventions and still works..

I think it’s important to understand that this is not a romance story but a legal drama with a robust, character driven competitive narrative through and through, with a touch of romance and undeniable chemistry and instinctive spark between the main leads.. It also had one of the most mature relationships I saw from characters in this age group in dramas.. No unnecessary jealousy, love triangles, outside interference or forced tensions.. This had all the good vibes I needed at the time..

The characters here feel deeply and love wholeheartedly.. They are good, not flawless but always trying to be decent, to be good to those they care about even when they could be selfish, because their futures are at stake here..

Special shoutout to He Lan Dou.. She was really good.. Her character Guo Xiao Yu was one of my favorites.. Hu Xian Xu and Zhou Yi Ran were good too.. I liked how Hu Xian Xu brought his character, Jiang Chen to life.. There were a lot of small nuances in his character traits that made him feel real.. This is my first drama of both of them.. I was waiting for his upcoming drama Undercover Auto Genius because of Wang Ying Lu, but now I have one more reason to watch it I guess..

There were a few things that bugged me but I just want to bring up one here.. They were part of a Talent Hunt Program, essentially a competition to get a job.. They kept saying elimination, elimination but none of them actually got eliminated.. The first one was forced out because he cheated and the rest quit by their own choice.. That took the edge out of the competition, which was the core theme of the story.. I mean, we all knew who the finalists would be but they didn’t have to go so easy on the others..

Overall, it is a pretty decent watch.. I would have loved to see another 6 episodes, showing what their lives were like after the competition ended.. The ending might feel vague but I think it’s fairly clear that they both got the job and stayed together at the firm.. Still they could have done a better job with that..

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A Mad World Unfolds..

Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off.. Season 1 was intense, but this season has way more action, blood and honestly some disgusting scenes.. And yeah we finally got the answers to the questions that we were left with.. We get to see the full dose of the Goto’s brutal madness this time and also the family’s twisted past.. Which explains why they are so messed up.. The action scenes were truly next level and Yuya Yagira shines once again.. There is a scene in ep 2 where he has a moment of realisation and goes completely berserk, that was incredible to watch..

" If they are crazy.. Then I will just have to go crazy too.. "

This season is definitely not for the faint hearted.. I expected gore, but some of it was straight up sickening.. But I loved the fact they didn't try to hold back.. They were fully committed to the madness and it worked..

Special shoutout to Tsunematsu Yuri.. Her potrayal of the younger version of Goto Gin was purely cynical.. She was gaslighting, manipulating and using herself as a trophy to get her revenge.. And she was magnificient in every episode she appeared in.. Limited screentime or not, she made the drama twice as compelling with her performance..

" I am madness itself.. Born from this village.. "

When it comes to the visuals, they were violently beautiful.. Some of the frames looked insane.. And the Music matched the vibe too..

It’s a shame that a drama like this doesn’t get the attention it truly deserves.. I really hope it reaches a wider audience because it’s one that deserves to be seen by more people..

Overall, this season takes everything to the next level.. With wild action, powerful performances and a raw intensity.. It has very dark and disturbing elements with bold scenes that only make it more intriguing to watch..

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Slow mo Musical..

Was the director of this drama a conductor?? You know the person who leads and directs an orchestra?? Because it felt like an orchestra.. Music everywhere with background scores for every single scene.. In some scenes the music was so loud that you cant hear the dialogues.. And The slow motion was overused.. It felt like it popped up every other minute and every scene was in slo mo.. If they had just toned it down this could have been a 16 ep drama instead of being unnecessarily lengthy.. The camera work?? Let’s call it " Dynamic " to be kind.. Rapid jump cuts and erratic angles made the drama even worse.. While the story was alright up until ep 20 it suddenly took a nosedive.. Just went from average to worse..

I watched this for Fan Zhi Xin.. He deserves better scripts because he is genuinely good.. The drama was visually appealing and the main leads did well.. But overall it didnt offer much else.. If you are expecting a proper romance drama.. Better lower your expectations.. The romance was far too sparse to carry the genre.. Watch it for the cast but dont expect much beyond that..

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Just Shut It..

Do I want to write pages and pages about this drama?? Absolutely.. But I will try to limit my nonsense..

For me this is more than just a medical drama.. Amidst all the chaos and humor its a story of hope, persistence and the relentless pursuit of saving lives no matter the odds.. From start to finish the drama kept me hooked with its fast paced narrative, intense moments and pure chaotic humor.. Across eight episodes the drama stayed true to the plot.. No unnecessary romance.. Just a solid well executed drama..

The production qualtiy of the drama was top notch.. Might just be the best out of all the medical dramas I have watched.. The hyperrealistic surgical procedures were executed with such precision and detail that they elevated the entire viewing experience..

Ju Jihoon once again proves his versatility.. Every character he plays feels completely different and his presence alone makes a drama an instant must watch for me.. I do wish they had casted someone else for the SML role but it didnt take away from the overall experience anyway.. And maybe its just me but I couldn’t ignore the chemistry between Baek Gang Hyeok and Jang Mi..

One of the biggest highlights was Dr. Han Yurim’s incredible character development.. The relationship between Yurim and Baek was the best developed in the drama.. Chaotic and fun..

Overall one of the best Kdramas I have watched.. Totally deserves few more seasons.. Ju Ji Hoon and his habit of making the audience crave another season of his dramas?? A never ending story..

P.S.. Ju Jihoon better take care of himself and stay fit and fine.. He still needs to deliver us several sequels.. Kingdom 3?? Pretty sure I am not the only one waiting for it.. Jirisan deserves another season too and Obviously Blood Free?? Along With the Gods?? Potentially another season of Light Shop?? This man has way too many people praying for him..

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The World Is Linked To You..

This drama?? Nothing special about it and that’s exactly what makes it likable.. It’s just ordinary people living their lives with all the joy and pain that comes with it.. The highlight of the drama for me was their insane chemistry.. I honestly wasn’t expecting that..

The first half was just push and pull, misunderstandings and cringe scenes.. Nothing that would make you go ‘Wow.’. Their reconciliations after every fight were funny.. Because their fights were baseless and stupid.. Their reconciliations were stupid too.. It’s like they are all lovey dovey until it’s time to actually share their feelings..

Ep 7 was easily the best in the first half, both in story and acting.. The ML crying in his grandma’s lap was heartbreaking to watch.. Here’s a guy who felt unwanted his whole life.. For the first time he wants to love someone, but he is too scared he might pull her into his world, which is nothing but pain.. When he sees her family and hears them talking about him, it only reaffirms his doubts..

There were a lot of things about the drama I didn’t like.. Instead of having an open conversation, they both just jumped to their own conclusions.. I wouldn’t say they hurt each other, they just hurt themselves.. She literally told him ‘I wouldn’t meet that guy, you should just tell him off for me', but when the moment came she went to him and hid it from the ML.. He finds out and they take a break.. Not blaming her, just pointing out how stupid these situations were..

The funny thing is, right after this they propose to each other.. Like, seriously?? You both have no sense of security or understanding.. How do you go from that to marriage on a whim?? Not just a proposal, they went straight to get it registered.. It gets even funnier.. She is leaving the next day but doesn’t inform him.. When her friend asks about it, she literally says ‘What’s he going to do?? He just needs some sweet talking later..'

For me, them getting married wasn’t the issue.. It’s that they didn’t talk it out, clear the air or discuss anything.. There were misunderstandings that needed to be addressed and they should have had a real heart to heart before diving in headfirst.. I think I would have loved it if that had happened first and then they got married.. Because even after the marriage, their characters are questionable.. The next ep just proves my point.. Even though they are married, they still don’t have a sense of security.. He, mainly, has self loathing issues and just keeps making things complicated.. They should have talked it out.. Once they finally have an open conversation, where he opens up to her and tells her what’s been haunting him, things get better.. From then on, their relationship is stronger.. This should have happened long ago, but it took about 18 episodes to get there..

Like every other drama, there is a love rival here too.. She doesn’t really care about him, but still there is that dude.. Gou Kai is actually one of the worst kinds of people.. But they slapped on comical BGM to make him seem like a good guy.. He used another girl to get back at the FL, sabotaged her career and ruined her chance at finding evidence about her mother’s death.. All just to keep her with him.. Delusional and a complete moron.. Then he went on to ruin the career of the girl he used in the first place.. But the writers still want us to see him as some lovesick puppy chasing the FL.. How delusional do you have to be to propose to a married woman??

Special shoutout to the best character in the show and the only person who sounded sensible and mature, the SFL’s 8 year old son.. He was way too mature for his age.. What a kid.. And also Ming Xiao.. He was a fun character and he turned that attempted proposal scene into a comical fiasco.. It was too funny..

Now, her family.. At first glance you would think they are selfish and all, but they were actually too good.. Same with the SML and SFL, loved them.. Their bond with the main leads was just wholesome and their own story was good to watch too..

Overall, it’s a good drama.. And I personally liked the second half much better.. They could have skipped some of the cringe moments and that scene where they try to kill the FL and ML by setting the car on fire.. IN... THE... RAIN... But hey it’s a drama, so.. Sure, Jan..

I talked about the chemistry so I should mention this too, their intimacy was lit.. They didn’t hold back.. I wouldn’t have rated this an 8 honestly but they gave us a whole episode at the end dedicated to their happy ending.. I love it when it’s not a rushed, last moment happy ending and the fact that they gave us such a long one was really satisfying..

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The Tyrant.. A Missed Opportunity in The Witch Universe..

I honestly cant believe this is part of The Witch Universe.. What was this even about?? There was no real story.. The action scenes were bad.. VFX were poor.. The color grading was even worse.. With such a strong cast this is the best they could do??

First of all this should have just been a movie.. The four episodes felt like fillers with a slow dragging storyline. .. They could have atleast fitted in a well choreographed action scene just to compensate for the weak plot.. Jo Yoon Soo's acting didnt do her character any justice.. Her coldness just felt forced.. And Kim Seon Ho was completely underutilized.. He is a great actor.. And though his acting was solid here.. It wasn’t enough to save the series..

Considering the potential of the cast and the The Witch movies released before this.. It’s hard to believe they couldn’t deliver a more engaging series.. Instead it was a drawn out.. Underwhelming experience.. Overall The Tyrant was a major letdown for me..

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There is no denying this is a hypnotic creation.. Proof once again that even if the idea itself isn’t anything new, a genius execution of an exciting theme can work wonders.. Especially when orchestrated with immaculate rigor.. Every detail in the drama reflects a rare aesthetic.. It’s no exaggeration to say the drama unfolds as a complete experience..

The visuals in this drama are pretty good with some really striking shots.. And of course, BJT absolutely kills it not just in the action scenes but with a powerhouse performance overall.. The execution of the complex narrative structure is near perfection.. Time loops are tricky but the drama handles them so smoothly that while the story may feel confusing at times, but never messy..

The first episode was a perfect 10 for me.. It set the stage beautifully and instantly made me interested in the story and its characters.. The comedy was on point and the squad’s chemistry was just too good.. The action scenes were meticulously done.. BJT excelled in both hand to hand combat and gunfights, it clearly showed his dedication and wholehearted commitment..

There were two things that felt a bit off to me.. First, even though this isn’t a romance drama, the chemistry between the ML and FL felt lacking.. Their supposed feelings for each other just didn’t connect with me.. Maybe that was intentional, but it still left me unconvinced.. Second, the way he became a time loop perceiver felt underdeveloped.. They could have handled that part much better.. Again it was not convincing..

Overall, this is a truly remarkable drama.. You can see how carefully everything was thought out and pieced together and above all, you can feel the passion poured into the drama by everyone involved.. And that’s why it comes across as such a mesmerizing work.. Beautiful to the eyes, ears and heart.. It’s perfection in the form of a drama, one that will be hard to forget..

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The Witch Just Didn’t Cast The Spell It Promised..

As we all know.. The story is adapted from Kang Full's webtoon, which naturally had me excited.. The cast was good too so obviously there were expectations.. But sadly it was a disappointment.. Kang Full is known for crafting stories that blend supernatural elements with deep emotional and psychological themes.. I havent read the webtoon so I cant compare the drama with it.. But this felt like an underwhelming attempt at an adaption.. Even the actors let me down.. Park Jin Young who is known for his excellent range as an actor, was totally disappointing here..

The Witch, I guess tries to explore themes of societal judgment, loneliness and self acceptance through Mi jeong’s character.. Being labeled as a Witch, its like a metaphor for how society isolates individuals based on rumors, misunderstandings or events they can’t explain.. Its a concept with a lot of potential, but it felt flat and lacked any real impact..

" Through statistics, I have a life problem to solve.. Thats why I am here.. "

The ML Lee Dong Jin's character is a tricky one.. Not sure if I can praise him.. It’s one of those classic grey area characters.. He’s portrayed as thoughtful, logical and sincere.. But yeah, some of his actions do toe the line of stalker ish.. Especially when you look at them from a more realistic way.. In typical KDrama fashion, he fits the archetype of the quiet, persistent ML who just can’t let go of the girl he loved.. His actions like tracking her down, observing her and inserting himself into her life again are meant to come off as concerned and it was to find a way to give her a normal life and while I understand it is for her own good but it still felt creepy.. I guess because we know his side of the story and his thought process, we have to overlook it all.. He just wanted to love her and be loved by her..

But here’s the thing.. Wasn’t he kind of.. Obsessed??

Apart from few glimpses, for me I didnt see Park Jin Young the actor we know.. Roh Jeong Eui was disappointing as well.. I haven’t seen her in a role where she actually shines.. NJ in Our Beloved Summer was decent but not memorable enough.. Her career at this point is not going anywhere.. She has projects lined up but none that look like the breakthrough she really needs.. I hope I am proven wrong.. For now, Pig Pen might be her only shot at making that leap..

" Risking your life for someone who doesn't even know your name or existence??
Thats a crazy thing to do.. "

I think the only Episode I liked was ep 7.. The rest were just okay at best.. I still can’t put my finger on it but something about the ML's acting just felt off.. That bus scene in Ep 7, I am pretty sure he had flashbacks from the Final Destination movies and imagined all the ways he could die in that bus.. Honestly it was an unintentionally entertaining but tense moment..
I really liked the scenes in Austria too, not because of the story but for the visuals..

The ending was a huge letdown as well.. It wasn’t well scripted and honestly I didn’t feel any real connection between the couple.. It didnt feel like she actually loved him but it was more like an emotional resignation.. Almost as if she said yes to him not because she is in love but out of desperation to stop the cycle of pain and loss.. That’s not romance.. The same goes for the second couple as well.. It didnt feel like love at all.. She felt pity for him because he was carrying the same burden as someone she loves and cares for.. For him he just wanted her not to get hurt because of him..

I think it would have worked much better if we had a slower, more emotionally charged ending.. Where the FL gets to process everything.. Her trauma, her fears, her feelings and maybe set it up in a way it feels like she chooses him because she wants to and not to stop another person from dying or getting hurt because of her..

Overall.. The Witch had the potential to be something hauntingly beautiful.. But it got lost somewhere between intention and execution..

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A Drama So Beautiful.. I Would Rewatch For The Visuals Alone..

Melo Movie might fall under the Rom-Com genre.. But its more than just a romantic story.. The depth it carries evokes strong emotions.. The drama had so many beautiful bonds and I loved how seamlessly they wrapped up the story in just 10 episodes.. Loved the main couple and their dynamic.. They each carried their own baggage and yet they gave each other the space to figure things out on their own.. Choi Woo Shik, Park Bo Young, and Kim Jae Wook all in one drama?? There was no shortage of memorable performances.. They were just too good.. Whenever a drama with Kim Jae Wook comes out I am always dumbfounded by how underappreciated he is.. With the talent he has, he should be far more sought after and have had way more dramas in his career.. He is nothing short of a brilliant actor and Melo Movie just proves that..

"Life seems to have a fixed amount of happiness..
In another sense, there is also a set amount of misfortunes.. "

"Its simple.. If someone suffers a string of hardships, they should believe that good things will come soon.. "

First kiss in the very first episode?? In the snow?? And then the male lead disappears right after?? What a way to end the first episode..

"Just like that the dark night passed.. And dawn arrived.. And Ko Gyeom disappeared just like that.. "

Without any context his disappearance was such an interesting plot twist.. But the car drowning scene hinted at a backstory.. One that obviously had to exist.. Otherwise there is no coming back for him from this..

" I know I sound crazy.. But that day Ko Gyeom looked like someone returning home from a long trip.. I thought I saw a sense of relief and inexplicable exhaustion in him.. "

I didnt like Son Ju A and I hated how she coincidentally met Mubee at a bar and they just became friends.. That was such a cliche.. I didnt like her character overall.. She was honestly annoying.. The way she treated Hong Si Jun after becoming successful was just not what I expected.. And cutting off even the ML who was her friend was just too heartless.. What I hated even more was how she had the audacity to barge back into his life after her success.. I felt sorry for Hong Si Jun.. He had a family who never even tried to understand him and a girlfriend who did everything in the name of love without ever truly opening up to him.. Only to leave him suffering in the end.. She never tried to change him.. Never tried to guide him.. Just kept praising him.. The moment she realized she would drown with him she just left.. He himself didn’t know how to navigate life or how to fulfill his passion.. He lacked a guide.. He lacked any real sense of meaning..

Episode 7 was hands down the best of the entire drama.. In that one single episode the whole story found its meaning..

"Are you busy right now?"
"I have never been busy in my life."

Choi Woo Shik and his comedy were on point.. He is easily one of the best in the Rom-Com genre..

Two of my favorite scenes in the drama were when they finally accepted their feelings for each other and kissed near the sunflower field.. And the hug scene at the park.. Perfectly synced with the scene playing on the screen in the background.. I loved the framing of the park scene so much that I rewatched it several times.. It was just that impressive..

"There’s no one at home.. No one’s home, Mubee."

They portrayed the grief of losing someone so realistically.. The way he tries to act okay.. Yet even the smallest things like returning to a house without his brother bring a wave of sadness.. And the fact that Mubee could resonate with his emotions made it even more heartbreaking.. Its true that Mubee finds Gyeom at his lowest points.. She truly was the luck that followed his misfortune..

'' Visit me in my dreams from time to time.. ''

Special shoutout to Ko Jun.. This has to be KJW’s most tragic character to date.. After losing their parents and becoming an orphan, he took on the role of the provider and guardian to his younger brother when he himself was still young.. Dedicated his entire life to him.. Only to pass away tragically just when he finally realized he wanted to live..

Overall Melo Movie was an emotional rollercoaster.. Heartwarming yet heartbreaking.. It reflects how life itself carries multiple genres.. Its never just suffering and misfortune.. Happiness finds its way too..

The cinematography in Melo Movie was beautiful.. I would rewatch the drama just to take in those visuals again..

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The best way to describe my feelings toward this drama is that it had the potential to be great but it was held back by the writer’s limited vision and lack of creative effort.. There were too many cringe and unnecessary jealousy scenes.. It was just too much to sit through.. On top of that there were characters who were totally not needed in the story.. The drama would have been shorter and much better if all these stupid scenes were cut..

I really wish they had shown more of the fiery Prince in the drama instead of just a lovestruck puppy.. I get that romance is an important part of the story but the characterisation was all over the place considering how badass he is supposed to be..

It’s not inherently a bad drama and you can probably tell from my rating.. It was a decent drama.. It’s just that the good parts were overshadowed by cringey and unnecessary scenes..

Like I mentioned earlier, the drama feels held back by trying to do too much.. The whole subplot with Wen Zong felt unnecessary.. Nanlu’s attack, his suicide, and the FL’s reaction didn’t really add much.. It just distracted from the main story.. Honestly the drama would have been stronger if it focused more on the core plot instead of stuffing in side arcs that go nowhere..

Overall, it was good for the most part.. I liked the core of the story and some of the side characters too.. Anyway, it’s not exactly surprising that the script turned out to be a mess.. Sorry Song Wei Long, this just felt too all over the place.. I will be watching The Seven Relics of Ill Omen soon... I hope it's not another disappointment..

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Why is he still single? Well, because he acts like a narcissist..

This is a story about a middle aged single guy who is quirky, stubborn, socially awkward and most of the time unintentionally rude.. Someone who just isn’t like other people.. And then we see how the people around him and the few who enter his life later, deal with that.. That’s basically it..

The story isn’t driven by a strong or fast moving plot.. It takes time to connect with the main characters.. But as the drama goes on what really gives us a satisfying experience are the characters in the story and the nuances in their relationships..

I surprisingly liked the drama, despite the lack of plot, heavy conflicts or major twists and despite it being 16 episodes when it honestly could have been shorter.. I just wish it had a little more substance.. I don’t mind slow paced dramas as long as they have something worth watching.. The premise of this drama is what caught my interest and the main reason I watched it.. It’s not every day you get a story like this..

And frankly I liked that the romance was kept to a minimum.. It’s a romance between grown ups, not teenagers.. So you get fewer dramatic scenarios, more emotional honesty and the emotional chemistry actually works.. And their bickering was fun to watch.. Simply put, it’s a bit childish, yeah but still mature and meaningful..

I liked the ML’s character growth and how he grows not because the drama forces him to but because life and relationships finally reach him.. How he becomes more self aware about his own problems and slowly comes out of his shell.. It felt more real..

The supporting characters were rather interesting and each had their own quirks.. That short story arc with the photographer was interesting too, but it felt a bit disappointing in how it concluded.. I really thought they could have done more with it, because she herself was an interesting character and would have been a nice addition to the group..

Overall, there’s nothing fancy about this story but it will relate to a lot of people.. It’s just a good story with some fun characters trying to get through life in their own ways.. Definitely worth a one time watch..

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I was honestly intrigued by the premise of the drama, which is why I decided to give it a try.. It wasn’t all bad, there were some nice parts, especially how the so called husband comes back after being killed and the curiosity around how they would explain that situation.. But overall it’s a drama I wouldn’t have regretted skipping.. I couldn’t connect with the characters because they felt bland and for most of the drama nothing happens.. It drags on slowly.. While the story had interesting elements, it never felt engaging.. That said it’s still an easy and quick watch, though the twists and turns become predictable after just two episodes.. I stuck with it to see how they would wrap things up but the ending was far from satisfying..

The mystery elements aren’t inherently bad.. With sharper writing and the right execution, it could have been brilliant.. Unfortunately, here they feel careless and wasted.. Yamashita Mizuki delivered a good performance while Hagiwara Riku often felt like a newcomer still learning the ropes, which is disappointing considering he isn’t exactly a newbie..

Major spoiler..

I don’t think she actually killed the real Mana.. It’s more about the guilt of losing the only person who truly cared for her, even though there was nothing she could have done to prevent it..

Overall, an average watch.. The drama had potential but it didn't click for me.. It's a shame because I thought I could have liked it much more given the mystery element was interesting.. By the end, it’s clear the ML has feelings for the FL.. I just wish they had given a proper conclusion to their story at least.. Sadly, the final episode and overall conclusion were quite unsatisfying..

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The Winning Try is a story that doesn’t just focus on the sport itself or the main leads and their past, present and future.. Instead it highlights the entire team and even several characters outside the team, that we grow interested in.. You don’t need to be a rugby fan or a sports enthusiast to understand or enjoy this story.. I have never watched rugby in my life, but the fact that I didn’t need to know even the basics of the sport to fully enjoy this drama makes it worth watching.. The drama follows the usual setup of a struggling team with little hope, until the arrival of a new coach who influences a transformation so remarkable it feels like a miracle.. Add in the petty politics and rivalries within the school itself and this makes for an interesting storyline that's brilliant to watch..

Easily the best aspect of the drama was the authentic performances from the entire cast.. Yoon Kye Sang, Kim Yo Han and the rest of the cast.. Yoon Kye Sang in particular, gave one of his best performances.. After finishing the drama, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role..

There were a few obvious plot holes.. Though this one isn’t really a plot hole, more of me nitpicking about something I didn’t like or understand why it was included.. Seong Jun and Seo U Jin were clearly bound to end up together, with their feelings for each other made obvious halfway through the drama.. So why make Moon Ung [the new addition to the team] create unnecessary tension?? The love triangle or whatever that was felt completely out of place.. Most people might have missed it, but even in the last episode when SJ was about to confess his feelings and all his teammates were cheering him on, there was this one guy sulking in the background.. Was that really necessary?? Like I said it’s a minor element, but why add it at all?? What’s the point??

Anyway, moving on.. I loved how the drama didn’t glorify a single individual by giving them the hero mantle to carry the entire team.. Instead it kept the team as a whole at the heart of the story throughout.. It was about the team, not just one person.. I especially liked how they stuck together through the highs and lows.. Yes, this is a sports drama but more than that, it’s about the triumph of one man’s confidence in his team and their ability to silence the doubters and the haters, giving us a feel good conclusion.. Some might find the drama a bit draggy at times but sticking with it definitely pays off.. With a solid storyline and strong performances, The Winning Try is an engaging drama from start to finish.. Overall, a very good watch..

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