Elmond_u

It was Barely Watchable

I've been inconsistently watching Korean dramas for over 2 years now. I'm very careful to pick only the best and highly acclaimed ones to watch, and so far, I've been on a roll. I mostly dabble in romance- Crash Landing on You, Twenty-five Twenty-one, Start-up, etc., and these shows have convinced me that Koreans have mastered the art of writing romance. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the bumbling mess that is King The Land.

This show is... where to begin. For starters, I was not strong enough to complete this show. I gave up halfway through because I'd had enough of the poorly written characters and the downright atrocious plot.

I hate the female lead, probably more than I've ever hated a female lead in any show ever. Her stupidity is portrayed as cuteness. Her inability to keep her mouth shut gets on my nerves, and why, oh why, can't she walk without conveniently falling into the arms of the male lead over and over again? He's an issue on his own, but I have a bone to pick with HER. Let me give an instance: The female lead(I can't remember her name) was sent to a remote area for work. she insisted she climb the mountains to find the man she needed to talk to. while alone in the mountains, it began to rain. any sane person that finds themselves on a slopy mountain during the rain would stay put until later. but her? she went to the edge to harvest some ginseng. and like that wasn't enough, she started jumping around and rejoicing, AT THE EDGE OF A SLOPY MOUNTAIN. Of course she fell and the male lead whose name was just as forgettable came to her rescue. but why would any normal human being do something so stupid in the first place. Everything she does gets one my nerves. I hate the dumb things she says when she's drunk. I hate how she put up with her idiotic boyfriend for over a year, and conveniently had enough of him when a new romantic prospect showed up. I hate how everyone is mean for no reason but for the show to highlight how good of a person she is.

On to the male lead. What kind of character writing even was that? This dude literally has no life outside of FL. he waits for her texts, he waits for her to get off work so they can eat together, he waits for her to sleep in his car as long as she wants. Doesn't he have a job, social engagements, anything? No other associates? His character is so bland. he fits into the mold of he narcissistic, perfect rich guy that we've seen so many times before. They even try to add some depth to him with that storyline about his mother and how he hates smiling, but it was too boring to keep me engaged. "Oh, my life is so hard. I grew up in a mansion where all the maids and servants couldn't stop smiling at me. save me from my horrendous childhood". And why even does he like the FL. They have had no real, in-depth conversation, no actual connection. I guess she's just cute when she's drunk and that'll have to do. plus, he took a test online, so who am I to doubg his unfathomable love. And when he saved the FL. He acted like he was some kind of altruistic hero who valued human life above all else. He took up this self righteous posturing, but anyone with a brain would know that he only did it cos it was the FL who was in danger..He wouldnt have cared if it were any random employee. and the fact that he doesn't acknowledge this fact, and no other character points it out, is just laughable. This guy wants to have responsibilities and play a bigger role in the company, yet he has no actual laid out plans or strategies to help the company progress in any way. I guess we're just supposed to root for him in his quest for the company cos his sister is mean. don't even get me started with her overbearing pettiness. Constantly berating her brother for no good reason. At her age, shouldn't she be past that?

About the plot. Does this show even have a plot. it's just full of contrived overplayed romance tropes. This show basically took it's plot from other really terrible shows and meshed the ideas together. Incessant falling into ML's arms, defending her honor to her ex, and don't even get me started on the fact that somehow, they always manage to end up being together due to one work project or the other. Are there no other workers? Or what? cos she's the best talent everyone else should be stripped of all opportunity to shine? This show's popularity hinges on the visual appeal of the two main characters. It's sad. The fans will deny it, but it's true. Because what other explanation is there for a show like this, utterly lacking substance, in every sense of the word, to be rated 8.3. The cast is devoid of any real talent, and I wish the FL died brutally on that mountain... that'll teach her.

I don't think it's possible to enjoy a show when the leading characters are moronic, uninteresting and appalling. I've never been a fan of the "rich guy falls for poor girl" trope, because it's flat out implausible in real life. however, I've managed to enjoy it in shows like Business Proposal, probably due to the comedic element. However, there's nothing about KingtheLand that I found appealing. And oh, how I despise the female lead.😩😫


This show is brainrot at it's finest. even if I turned off my brain for a few hours, I still would be able to sit through it. Believe me, I tried.

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Everything I Love about Way Back Love

I’ll just get it out of the way right now—this show doesn’t operate on perfect logic. It never fully explains the grim reaper’s impact on the physical world or how he interacts with solid matter. The logic around the male lead’s visibility is a bit questionable. It’s established that people can’t see him, which makes it baffling that no one questions the very visible effects of his presence—like when he buckled her helmet before she went paragliding. Am I supposed to believe no one noticed the helmet magically fastening itself? But honestly, these inconsistencies are minor in the grand scheme of things—and the only real negatives, in my humble opinion.

Way Back Love is a rare gem that blends youthful romance, emotional depth, and tasteful comedy into a moving story about healing, connection, and forgiveness. There’s so much I love about this show, but I’ll try to keep this review as brief as possible.

I adore the relationship between the leads. The way their young, innocent love is portrayed feels so pure and real. It’s the kind of connection that makes you smile without realizing, taking you back to those awkward, heart-racing moments of falling for someone for the first time. Their chemistry is just... magic.

And the OST? Absolutely beautiful. Soulful, gentle, and perfectly aligned with the mood of each scene. Every time I heard “Take my hand, I need you to stay,” I teared up. That song was heartbreakingly perfect.

What’s especially interesting is how subtly the show handles its fantasy element. The male lead being a grim reaper is a concept packed with potential, yet the show only lightly touches on it. That might frustrate viewers who came in expecting a full-fledged fantasy, but the choice feels intentional. The story prioritizes emotional journeys over supernatural world-building. In fact, the absence of detailed lore makes it hard to classify Way Back Love as traditional fantasy; it leans more toward a dark romance.

The characters are another standout. They’re grounded, layered, and genuinely compelling. The acting—especially from the female lead—is phenomenal. She brings such emotional nuance to every scene, making her character’s pain, confusion, and joy feel incredibly personal.
In most fictional love triangles, the “other person” is painted as inadequate or obviously wrong, making it easy to root for the main couple. But real life isn’t that simple. Sometimes there are two equally good, equally lovable people—and the choice isn’t clear-cut. It’s hard. Most K-dramas sidestep this by making the second lead evil, oblivious, or just plain incompatible. That’s why I really appreciated how Way Back Love flipped that narrative. The guy who was rejected wasn’t lacking—he was genuinely good and lovable. Rejecting him didn’t feel victorious; it felt wrong, maybe even cruel. But that’s the reality of life—our choices are often messy and complicated, and even the right decisions can leave someone hurting.

The screenwriters deserve a lot of credit for their masterful storytelling. The story itself is poignant, but it’s the way it’s told that truly elevates it. It’s in the way we’re shown fragmented glimpses of the past without revealing the full picture—keeping us hooked until the very end. And the payoff is worth it. It’s in the way light-hearted, comedic moments are blended with dark, emotional ones without ever feeling disjointed. It’s in the seamless transitions between past and present, done without overt cues. That level of trust in the audience—to follow along without being spoon-fed—is rare and refreshing. All of these elements come together to deliver a coherent, emotionally resonant story in the most creatively beautiful way.

What made this drama really special for me, though, is how it tackles a wide range of tragic and heavy themes with raw, unflinching honesty—something that’s honestly rare in Korean dramas. Grief, guilt, regret, forgiveness, unrequited love, rejection, mortality—the fragility of life itself—is all portrayed in a way that’s dark but deeply grounded in reality. This emotional weight seeps into the world they’ve built. Unlike most K-dramas, which lean into bright visuals and polished aesthetics, Way Back Love opts for gritty tones and subdued settings that reflect the characters’ inner struggles.

And finally, the ending—while somewhat predictable—was satisfying and heartwarming. This drama, in my eyes, easily joins the ranks of greats like Crash Landing on You and 2521. Yes, it was that good. Way Back Love is a touching, smartly written series that offers more than just a tragic love story. It’s a tale of emotional recovery, youthful innocence, and meaningful relationships—backed by great acting, a soul-stirring OST, and thoughtful storytelling choices. It’s not perfect, but it came closer to perfection than any drama I’ve seen in a long time.

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Failed it's Premise

I just finished watching Reborn Rich for the first time, and I feel like the writers thought the audience was stupid when they wrote that last episode. That's your big finish? A flip phone from the early 2000s automatically recorded a phone call, where the murderer blatantly admits to the crime and even states his own name for no reason? Some recent smartphones don't automatically record calls. And how does a man who got shot in the head survive? And why did Hyeon Woo know nothing about Dojun in his own timeline? He literally caused his death. Didn't he feel guilty? I'm supposed to root for a main character who didn't even care to find out about the identity of the man whose life he snuffed out? And why does he get no legal repercussions for concealing a murder for 20 years? Even Dojun's love interest isn't mad that Hyeon Woo left them in agony for 20 years, when he had the evidence to help get justice. I hope I never have to stumble upon a show with wriing as crappy as this ever again. A show about reincarnation that didn't even touch on the spiritual aspect of it's own premise. What utter lack of creativity.

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The Character Problem

I think the issue with hierarchy is it's characters. The idea of the plot makes for a good revenge thriller. However, it feels more like a teen high school drama than a thriller. this is probably because the protagonist has forgotten his motives five minutes after kissing the female lead. The fl is another issue. She has no personality; she's basically a robot. It's like talking to a brick wall. Her boyfriend, Rian is an obsessive, pretty boy with mommy issues. They both casually admitted during one of his flashbacks that their relationship is just a way to escape the burdensome realities of their lives, yet they somehow thought their confessions were romantic. Hera, the second female lead had a lot of potential, but her writing was shallow. She was still a bit entertaining to watch, though. I'm not done with the show yet, but it's been boring so far. Different people watch shows for different reasons: characters, plot, aesthetics, etc. Personally, it's impossible to get invested in a show that doesn't have interesting character, and these are by far one of the most boring set of characters I've come across in tv.

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Entertaining for the most part

Of all the numerous flaws this show is clearly endowed with, I have chosen to focus on and criticize just one. I decided to overlook the ridiculously unrealistic and shallow representation of redemption and forgiveness, the fallacious portrayal of brain cancer & surgery. I could even try to forget the nonsensical idea that someone would go to a hospital claiming to be the guardian of an amnesia patient, yet the hospital didn't care to make any enquiries or verify this fact. What I cannot, and will not overlook, however, is the toxic, sickening relationship between Hae in & Hyun woo, that fans, for some reason, romanticise.

Hae in is a spoiled brat, a downright horrible person. Hyun woo is a weak, indecisive, inconsistent hateful man. They're both terrible people whose aesthetics have managed to blind the world to this fact. One treats her husband like trash, & the other wishes his wife would die. People mistake Hae in’s poor behaviour for her simply being a badass. But one should not have to put down another in order to elevate oneself. When a woman likes a weak man, it's not because she's attracted to his abs, or cos he looks cute when drunk. It is because she is attracted to that weakness, because she seeks to control and lord over him. A wm who berates her husband in public shouldn't be idolised; see shouldn't even married. That's already the wrong dynamic for any relationship. I believe the writers made Hae in’s personality this stuck up & overbearing so it would be easier for the audience to picture why their marriage fell apart. But nice, normal people have marital issues too. And if the writers were actually interested in creating characters of substance, they would have written a real, in-depth human who made human mistakes & whose relationships have suffered for them. Instead, during character building, they focused more on her closet & catwalk. She's just a shallow girl boss with a brain tumor.

As for Hyun woo, he's no better. I want to believe there was a time he wasn’t so weak, that there was a time he wouldn’t wish death even on his worst enemy. I truly believe that being married to Hae in & her family broke him. Still, that doesn’t excuse the role he played in stinking up this show. First, dude went from crying in the streets to taking charge of situations in an instant. It’s like he flipped a switch and rewrote his entire character in the second half of the show. And I was left wondering if I had missed something.

Both their characters are just bad, but together their relationship is shit. First, we don’t even know the factors responsible for the breakdown of their marriage. We know they lost their baby, but this still leaves much to be explained. We know that Hae in’s family must have caused a huge strain, but I’m sure they were both well aware of her family’s disapproval prior to their marriage.

And the way they went about with fixing their marriage is just wrong. These two should have had long, difficult, & open discussions. And I would’ve been invested in that. Cos that’s real. A past love interest that magically shows up at the brink of your marriage’s collapse? That’s not real. They used Hyun woo’s jealousy to reignite his past feelings for Hae in & make him treat her better, simply because there was competition.

This approach doesn’t work for one reason. Hyun woo rejoiced at the thought of Hae in facing a painful, gruesome death. He was even scared of the possibility that she could survive & recover. He hated her. His heart was black towards her. That kind of hate doesn’t go away by introducing competition. In fact, such competition should be met with utter nonchalance.

Such hate only goes away through hard work & the determination to fix things. Instead, they chose the easy way out so as not to betray the aesthetics of the show & their characters. Because god forbid these supermodels show even an inkling of relatable human emotions that can't be depicted in an aesthetically pleasing all-out crying scene. If your goal is aesthetics, then ease go do a photoshoot and leave storytelling for the people who actually have a solid story to tell.

And finally, the icing on the cake to really show how generic and underwhelming the writers wanted this story to be: the gates lovers who met as children trope. Can I just ask, why is this trope still a thing? It's never been done right, but writers don't seem to get that. It didn't work in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, or anywhere else because it's shabby & unnecessary.

It's a cheap move used to convince the audience of a love story that should speak for itself. Meeting as kids is not a prerequisite for compatibility, couldn't have done without the storyline altogether, & every show that leaves it out is all the better for it.

Simply put, QoT is a show that’s all packaging and no substance. I wont lie and say that I wasn't entertained, though. I was. I will say this, though, the actors are capable of much more with the right material. Sadly, when swoon-worthy dialogue & expensive outfits are the priority, the story is often neglected.

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