Jojo

This drama reminded me that world isn't as hopeless as I thought!

“Tham Luang is a monster. Water is the enemy.”
But water wasn't the only enemy here. Because when it rains, it pours.

In a world where every other headline makes you lose faith in people, this felt different. This isn’t a story of corruption, greed or selfishness but what humanity is supposed to look like when we put aside ego and just do what we are supposed to. Watching it honestly felt like a reminder that, despite everything awful we see daily, humans are still capable of being extraordinary.

The series doesn’t just highlight the rescue mission , but also the collective efforts of everyone involved. I loved how the boys weren't just shown as victims and the rescuers as heros. Everyone and everything felt humane. From the governor refusing to give up even when the odds were impossible. Parents waiting with a patience that feels almost unreal, holding onto that hope. I can't even imagine the fear. The Navy SEALs and cave divers who put their lives on the line every single time they went into those tunnels. Doctors who flew in from across the world. Hydraulic engineers rerouting water systems. Even random Reddit engineers and people on social media throwing in ideas to help. Farmers not hesitating even once but about their livelihood. And those kids who had every reason to panic, but instead held onto their calm and their strength.

The cinematography ties all of this together beautifully. The caves don’t feel like props. At times they felt alive and suffocating. The water dripping through narrow tunnels, the claustrophobic walls pressing in...everything just felt so real.
I am sure the drama might have taken some creative liberty but I feel they did a good job in making me feel things.

This is one of those rare series where nitpicking feels pointless. The story itself is larger than any flaw.

For me, this is an easy 10/10 not only because it’s well made, but because it restores something we forget too often "Hope". Hope that when we have to, we can move mountains, drain caves and pull miracles straight out of the impossible. It left me a little bit shaken but very hopeful!

I would definitely recommend it 100% ! And will also recommend to keep a box of tissues on the side.

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Distractingly handsome leads,yet couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing

High school students involved in running a mafia??!! It was very difficult to connect and engage with the story, as certain actions just felt like unnecessary plot devices and fillers.
Profusing love and promising to stay together, then vanishing by writing a mere note seemed too lame and underwhelming, especially when repeated throughout the story. While portraying them as confused teenagers might have worked, their involvement in the adult mafia business made their behaviour less believable.
The editing and colour scheme of the drama leaned towards melancholy, even during supposed happy scenes like those at the beach.

Although the leads were stunning, their acting felt somewhat lacking at times, lacking depth and coming across as one-dimensional. They did have their cute little moments but it was a hit-and-miss for me throughout.
Additionally, the choice of OST was confusing and sometimes too loud, making it difficult to hear the dialogue clearly.

Overall a big miss for me. If I have to summarise- A BL with distractingly handsome leads who couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing of the story! Had this been my initial BL, I would have rated it higher.

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The Trainee : Needed more attention and less mess!

I had high expectations with this drama but perhaps that was a mistake.
Honestly, this drama was a mixed bag for me. I wanted to enjoy it, but the questionable character developments didn't quite work for me.

The first half was carried out by the friendship between the interns and them adjusting to the office culture with their respective mentors. That was the highlight for me. Those office struggles, the mishaps due to nervousness and the mistakes felt so relatable. The genuine challenges of starting a new job and those moments of vulnerability and growth were showcased very appropriately and with humour.
But the second half failed to carry that momentum.

Ryan and Jane had great chemistry and moreover, a good mentor-mentee relationship where they openly voiced their concerns about each other and their work. However, the last 2 episodes felt like a very dramatic shift, where we were seeing different characters. The sudden time jump in their relationship felt completely unnecessary. Jane, who had been portrayed as a tough but responsible mentor with clear communication, vanished into thin air without any proper explanation. It felt abrupt and so out of character. Also, their screen time as the main couple felt minimal. I wanted them together to see how they would handle their relationship after Ryan's internship was over but all I got was an inconsistent romance with ambiguous decisions.

Coming to other characters, the holy trinity: Tae, Ba-Mhee and Judy.
I struggled to understand the dynamics between them until the very end. I am so confused as to why the cheating storyline was introduced. There are plenty of other ways to make Tae realise his flaws as a boyfriend and the need for communication and Ba-Mhee to figure out to obsess less over someone. Judy as a mentor, was such a problematic character for me. She was wrong on so many levels and I was frustrated that she wasn't held responsible for her actions. The series might have worked out better for me without them. Pah and Pie were fun to watch but they couldn't quite make up for the issues I had with the rest of the drama.

Overall, what started as an engaging good office drama fell apart by abrupt shifts in character development and unnecessary plot twists.
7.3/10

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Too Many Cooks/Troupes Spoil The Broth!!

For me, this drama "almost" lived up to its hype. The premise was strong and beautifully executed. The visuals in the drama were so scenic and beautiful making me want to visit Germany! The characters in the story had flaws and it was reasoned well.

But from episode 13, the messy and lazy writing sank the ship. Too many unnecessary troupes were introduced in the later stage of drama where we should have been resolving issues from the previous episodes. Hyun Woo getting into an accident in the penultimate episode and the antagonist arc stretched till the last episode was nail in the coffin for people like me who have been religiously following the drama from its teaser and were waiting for the "Rom" in the said Romcom!!
For the last episode, too many questions and drama were left to unfold leading to a rushed and unsatisfactory ending. It was sort of bittersweet for me. I understand death is a natural phenomenon but showing in the last few minutes instead of them living a healthy life together is a grudge I am willing to hold with the writer for a long long time.

Acting was exceptional. Even If I nitpick I can't find faults. Despite how shambled the writing was, their acting made it convincing. All the aegyos made me laugh. Hyun Woo crying and breaking down when Hae In was hurt made my hurt heart. Hae In from being cold-hearted and emotionless at times made me angry but once her story was out you couldn't help but sympathize. The one kiss (Germany) gave me butterflies.
I wish they work together again in a drama where the script does them justice to their commitment till the very end! The other supporting characters also did a great job!

The OST's are one of the best that I have heard. It matched the story and theme perfectly! The placement of the OST in the drama is done well making them more enjoyable and memorable.

Overall this was a 8.5-9 for me from episodes 1-12 but so many NEEDLESS twists/turns in the last few episodes led it to 7. If it wasn't for the extraordinary acting of leads and the great and intriguing premise I would have rated this somewhere between 6-6.5!

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Heart Killers: The show that stabbed its own potential!

The drama centers around two hitman brothers, Bison and Fadel, which had a promising premise with plenty of potential for intense actions, some unhinged and unpredictable characters with some good cat-and-mouse deception.

However as the episode progressed, I felt the drama got a bit off track. Instead of diving deep into the high-stakes world of their jobs and the consequences of their actions and tricks, it leaned more towards the predictable love story angle a bit too much.
While the love stories were interesting considering how both the couple had such good chemistry, it ultimately overshadowed the core concept we started with. As a result, the pace of the drama slowed, leaving the tension and excitement feeling undercooked.

I also felt that the hitmen aspect of the drama wasn’t explored much. Instead of delving into the complexity and moral dilemmas of their work, it was used more as a convenient plot device to fuel clichéd subplots.

Characters & Acting-
Bison & Kant: Kant, a tattoo artist working undercover for the police is drawn into the world of Bison, a one-night stand. From the start, it was obvious how Kant was deceiving Bison and how well he was pulling it off. You could tell Bison genuinely liked Kant. What bothered me, though, was that by the end, I just couldn’t buy that Kant actually loved Bison. It felt too rushed and kind of out of place.

Though Fadel & Style were a better couple, hands down First and Khao's acting was exceptional! The emotional breakdowns and manipulation were so solid, it felt so real and believable.

Fadel & Style: Style, the best friend of Kant was introduced to Fadel as a distraction so Kant can pursue Bison. They were ridiculously fun and somehow the progress of their relationship made sense. From the playful moments to the deeper connections, their chemistry was natural, and you could really see their bond evolve in a way that felt earned.

However, Dunk’s acting, especially in emotional and vulnerable scenes, felt a bit over the top. I haven’t seen his other work but clearly, there is a scope for improvement. Some moments came across as just overacting. On the other hand, Joong did a good job portraying the distant character, his performance was convincing enough to like them as a couple together.

Overall, what could have been the drama of the year for me from GMMTV considering such a unique narrative turned into a melodramatic fiasco. While it’s definitely not the worst thing I’ve seen, this is more of a disappointing review because the first half was really strong and the last few episodes crashed.

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A love story with familiar chords, strumming through clichés!

The drama follows the journey of Neil, a former popular singer grappling with personal trauma and Sea, a fan who aspires to become a musician like his idol. While the series does try to delve deep into themes of love, healing and the transformative power of music, the over-reliance on clichés made the story very predictable.

The premise is interesting - Neil's journey from grief to rediscovery of his passion again after meeting Sea. The chemistry between the leads is palpable and there’s a certain comforting dynamic when they are together on screen.
While the romance between them was nice , the story was pretty forgettable and the development of their relationship feels rushed, lacking a gradual build-up. However Michael’s performance as Sea shines through. He was so expressive especially with his eyes! This is a classic case of poor writing saved by decent acting.

Also Neil's wig at the start of the episode!!!! It was HORRENDOUS and I am glad it didn't stick around for long and they got rid of it.

The second couple, Reese and Orca had an engaging story but their storyline was overshadowed by the main couple and hence was left underdeveloped. Their chemistry was solid and the bilingual dialogue flowed surprisingly well. I wish they had focused a little more on them, it could have added real weight to the story instead of just being mere background figures.

Musically, the series does have some nice OSTs, yet I found the characters struggling to play genuine musicians especially when they were playing instruments. This story was about the transformative journey through and with music and honestly, the lack of authenticity sort of diminished the impact for me.
Also, several times I felt the key scenes intended to be climatic or emotional just fell flat. It made it difficult to connect with the characters's pain or joy. The artistic touch to pull this through was missing or was more like touch and go.

Overall, this attempted to be an exploration of love and music together but was hindered by clichés and uneven character development. Recommended as a one-time watch for the chemistry between the leads, but be prepared for predictability along the way.

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A melt in your mouth romance… served with a side of questionable therapy!

Japan just gets food dramas in a way no one else does. Romantic Anonymous is one of them, revolving around Artisanal chocolates. It is a story of Sosuke, a germaphobe, who takes over Le Sauveur (a chocolate shop) and meets Lee He Na, who battles her own fear of social anxiety. If I look at it with a rose coloured lens, it does scratch that itch, but the psychological part of phobia/ trauma and how it was dealt with was highly unrealistic, especially the character of the therapist Irene.

Starting with the positives, I enjoyed the journey of leads- both individually and romantically. Even though their phobias are different- one is a germaphobe and the other can't make eye contact. Yet somehow they became a safe space for each other, growing softly as they each broke out of their shells.The main strength of their bond lies in the fact that they understand each other's silence better than most couples understand words. I loved how tender and careful their relationship felt.
I did feel the pacing dipped in between, but it did pick up in the later episodes. Also, having only eight episodes really helped cut out the fillers and kept the story from feeling stretched.

Another thing that worked in favour of the drama was the beautiful cinematography and the atmospheric setting. It was very scenic, especially all the wide outdoor shots of nature, plus the chocolate making process was filmed and portrayed beautifully. The overall aesthetics felt very warm.

What didn't work for me or should I say who didn't work for me, was Miss psychologist Irene. She was definitely the weakest link out of all 4 main characters. She is a professional yet rarely she behaves like one. I was astonished at her lack of boundaries and how somehow she had this tendency to insert herself into situations where she should be standing 500 m apart, observing from a safe distance from a professional standpoint. I am not saying she is malicious, just poorly written.

And her love line with Hiro was controversial as well. There wasn't enough organic tension between them. It felt forced or like an afterthought. Maybe it was because I couldn't get the conflict of roles out of my head, because Hiro was connected to both the leads and she was their therapist, muddying boundaries.
This could have worked better with her being a just a friend or anything other than a therapist.

Acting wise, this was my first time seeing Oguri Shun and he definitely has left a good impression on me. Han Hyo Joo also did a decent job. This was a Japanese-Korean collaboration and somehow I didn't feel she was out of place or anything. Akanishi Jin came with an insane face card, and though I didn't enjoy his character as much as I thought I would, his acting was nice too. I share the same thought for Nakamura Yuri as Irene.

Overall, this was a good one-time sweet treat from a romance perspective. I would recommend it if you enjoy gentle and slow-burn romance with some fine-dining chocolate aesthetics. It's not perfect but far better than romcoms I have watched recently.

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Can we truly start anew when our love is deep rooted in our memories?

The drama centres around love ,memory and the complexities of relationships. The story revolves around the bond between Ritsu and Fumiya which is hindered by an accident that leaves Ritsu with temporary amnesia.

Both the characters felt less developed and confused more often than not. Fumiya's decision to hide their past in hopes of rekindling their romance and still keep and create boundaries constantly while living with Ritsu made it hard to side with him. Didn't he want to start over?
Ritsu character, on the other hand, was very hazy and nebulous. His whole journey of rediscovering himself was hard to empathise with because we only know him from the few fragments of the past presented.

Though the characters were flawed, it was still a visually stunning journey. I liked how dedicated Ritsu was to his profession and how Fumiya supported him. The cinematography was good capturing the push and pull of longing and nostalgia. The acting was believable throughout.

Overall, it was a heartfelt exploration of how fragile love can be and how honesty is important in any relationship. While the character's motivation was questionable, it is still a touching story (undercooked but touching)

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A man who had overflowing oceans of love but was clueless of tides and still survived !

Love in the big city is a bold exploration from South Korea of love, identity and complexities of being queer in a society that often makes you feel at odds with itself. The series takes us through the turbulent journey of Go Yeong, depicting his struggles, with family and societal pressure and yearning for love that sometimes feels both profound and frustrating.

Go Yeong's journey is a mosaic of heartache, never-ending longing and resilience to push through. If you go with the expectations of neat resolutions and everything black and white from this drama, you will be disappointed. His growth is portrayed with a certain nuance and realism, unfolding slowly and frustratingly over time.
The pressure he faces doesn't magically vanish overnight and the show captures the tension beautifully. It portrays the burden of his mother's denial regarding his sexuality and the struggles that stem from it. Sadly we live in a society where acceptance is such a luxury rather than a given.

His journey left a bittersweet taste in my mouth that felt earned and true to life. Yeong was a man who was loved throughout, sometimes too deeply to make him drown and others or sometimes with superficial pleasures to make him realise that the chaotic, mundane affectionate bond he left behind now lingers like a soft ache, a reminder of what love actually once was.

The series addresses heavy themes but it also highlights that joy can exist even in the darkest of times. Yeong's camaraderie with his gay friends brought such a vibrant color to this gloomy tale. Their scenes together drinking and dancing was a good counterbalance from the serious moments.

Found family trope is one of my favourites and his friendship with Mi Ae captured it beautifully. Honestly, I want what these two had, to choose to stand with each other through thick and thin with unwavering support, providing a safe harbour to each other amidst their daily exhausting grinds. Their bond is a gentle reminder that home is where the heart is and family is where you feel understood and accepted.
Though their friendship was not the sole focus of the story , it was beautiful until it lasted and the way they portrayed how both of them outgrew that bond was heartwrenching but so realistic!

Although it does have pacing issues here and there but its realistic depiction of the struggles and messy portrayal of love makes me want to overlook the flaws.

Overall, this stands out as an impactful drama where the MC is not a perfect man. It's messy but executed in a way where you want to sometimes knock some sense into him and sometimes just wrap your hands around him and tell him, it's going to be okay. It's not just a love story or your typical BL drama.
Recommended if you are looking for a thoughtful and emotional exploration of an imperfect character in a perfectly imperfect world.

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A Muder mystery plot that couldn't even kill time!!

We already have 'a serial killer/murder mystery in a romcom' curse in Korean drama and now BLs too? *sigh*

The series tries to be everything—murder mystery, bilingual love story, and fitness BL—but manages to fail at all of them. It clearly had big ambitions, though the execution couldn’t quite match the hype. An example of aiming high and missing the mark.

The bilingual aspect between Thai and Korean didn’t bother me at all. It actually felt natural, as if it made sense that people in Korea would understand Thai, and vice versa. xD
But even with this cultural fluidity, the romance itself here was where things stumbled. The pacing in the early episodes was painfully slow, making it hard to stay invested. When the MC finally started dating, it felt so anticlimactic and lacklustre, it was almost forgettable. The transition from that awkward tension to a full-blown relationship wasn’t compelling enough.
While there was clear chemistry between the leads, their connection often felt fragmented. Jay seemed uncertain for much of the series, completely oblivious to Seung Hun’s feelings and attraction. When he finally came around and acknowledged those feelings later on, it felt abrupt and hard to fully buy into. The shift in his character felt uneven, making it difficult to settle into their relationship.

Now coming to the murder mystery plot, definitely started as an interesting one, but unfortunately, the drama didn’t quite nail it. The whole serial killer subplot felt more like a gimmick than something that was well-developed or meaningful. It came off as a mere plot device, underused and not at all engaging. I didn't care most of the time in the series who died and why. And how the mystery was solved was boring.

Overall, it’s a one-time watch with uneven pacing and a forgettable romance. I’d recommend it as a light background watch or a palate cleanser if you're watching something heavier.

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