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Slow pacing, flat characters, and just okay executionThis drama only has 6 episodes, but it felt like I was watching a 100-episode series. The pacing was painfully slow, and I honestly wanted to skip through a lot of scenes. It only started to get better in the last two episodes.
The CGI and action scenes were okay—very animated in style. Maybe my standards are just higher after watching Alchemy of Souls, but this one didn’t give me that “wow” factor.
The overall cinematography and tone felt dull, and while the story had potential, the execution was lacking. Something just felt missing.
I’m a longtime fan of Kim Nam Gil (since QSD), but this character didn’t suit him. He spent most of the time brooding and frowning—typical tragic backstory type, but not very compelling.
As for Lee Da Hee, I liked her in I Hear Your Voice, but this role didn’t work for her. Her character was the most boring in the whole drama. The constant hair-fixing, failed “girl boss” moments, and awkward comedic scenes made it hard to watch.
Surprisingly, Eun Woo stood out. I’m not a fan of his previous works, but he fits this priest role really well. The whole “handsome priest” setup with those sexy shots was clearly intentional, and it worked. He reminded me of the ML from the manhwa Black Winter.
I won’t rewatch this, but it wasn’t bad enough for me to drop either. I’m curious how Season 2 will go—hopefully with better pacing and stronger character development.
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Just done watching the movie. At first I thought this movie will be more about the military prostitutes and their sufferings then it turned out to be a story about the male lead's journey or experiences while in service. So it was a bit disappointing that we really didn't get much into the girls... the only one that I actually felt sympathy for was Jiao... you can see how she was "broken" by what happened to her.There are lots of things in the story that wasn't really clear for me. Example was Tun Shan's memory of the shepher girl after he killed Jian. The girl looked a lot like Jian, why was she the last or the first person that came to mind after he killed Jian? Was it because Jian looked a lot like her which is the reason why he fell for Jian? or why he liked Jian? Or was that girl Jian herself?
I wasn't really that interested with Nini... she's too sophisticated a lot of times... and I couldn't really feel her character.
There are lots of parts that I thought was boring and wanted to skip. I think the best part of this movie was the end, when Pao started questioning about his actions on his "what ifs" because honestly speaking, there were lots of things that I questioned regarding his actions so it's good to see that even he himself questioend them and never forced to gave the viewers an answer.
For me this movie is more like a coming-of-age movie.
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MESSY WRITING
The plot follows the usual Squid Game formula, so there’s not much to say about it. The writing, in my opinion, is a bit messy. They just kept adding random elements and then left the rest hanging.The best part of this series is the casting. I think the cast did a great job portraying their characters, even with the lack of proper storytelling. A great example is Player 333 — the actor did a fantastic job making him look sympathetic despite the ridiculous choices his character made. The writers could’ve explored his character more and given us more of his point of view, but instead, they just left it at that.
Character development, overall, is where the series most noticeably stumbles. Given that viewers are already familiar with the structure of the game, this season had a unique opportunity to pivot toward emotional exploration — to humanize the contestants and reveal how trauma reshapes them. Some characters, like the mother who chooses to save another player over her own child, are presented with dramatic potential that ultimately goes unexamined. These moments could have elevated the series, but instead feel hollow without context or introspection
The introduction of the so-called “true villains” — largely white, wealthy spectators — feels unsubtle and politically charged. Their portrayal veers into caricature, lacking complexity or nuance. Strikingly, the group is devoid of any Black characters, a choice that raises questions about representational intent. The inclusion of a token Asian character among them appears more like a safeguard against criticism than a meaningful decision.
Cate Blanchett’s cameo, while star-studded, adds little to the narrative. Her presence feels like a marketing move rather than a story-driven choice, and the final episode suffers from poor pacing and an abrupt, unsatisfying conclusion.
In the end, it's the actors — particularly Hyunjun — who keep this season afloat. Their commitment to their roles compensates for much of the narrative's inconsistency. Without such strong casting, the season would risk being forgettable.
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Underrated Movie
Title: An Underrated Gem That Deserves a Second Look – "Rosario" (2010)⭐️ Rating: 9/10
I stumbled upon this film on TikTok yesterday, and it immediately piqued my interest. I ended up watching the entire movie—and honestly, this film deserves far more attention than it received.
"Rosario" was released during the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)—an unfortunate choice, as most viewers during the holidays gravitate toward lighthearted, family-friendly films. At the time, titles like Tanging Ina Mo were dominating the box office, which likely overshadowed this deeper, more serious drama. In hindsight, this movie would’ve made more impact if released during a different season—perhaps even during Holy Week.
🔍 Based on a True Story
The film is loosely inspired by Rosario Perriera, who is reportedly the maternal grandmother of business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan. However, based on my own research, the story is highly dramatized—probably only 20% factual, with most of the plot fictionalized.
🧠 Narrative & Characterization
At first, I found Rosario’s character frustrating, especially seeing how some viewers labeled her as a "victim" or called the movie "empowering." Thankfully, the film itself avoids romanticizing her mistakes. Rosario is portrayed as someone who made a series of poor decisions and paid dearly for them—not as a martyr or victim of circumstance.
What I admired was her accountability. She didn’t blame her strict parents, her husband Vicente, or even Alberto. She owned her mistakes, which made her redemption in the latter part of the film feel earned. It’s rare to see this kind of character depth and emotional honesty in local cinema.
The only thing that didn’t sit well with me was the narrative structure, which felt too similar to Titanic—an older man recounting the tragic story of his past love. It felt a bit overused and could’ve been done differently.
🎭 Acting & Performances
Jennylyn Mercado gave a strong, layered performance as Rosario. A few scenes (particularly emotional ones with her mother) had slightly exaggerated expressions, but overall, she was convincing and committed to the role.
Sid Lucero was a standout. Despite limited screen time, his portrayal of the meek but loyal Carding was memorable and award-worthy. His emotional confrontation scene was one of the best in the film.
Dennis Trillo as the charming but reckless Alberto was also perfectly cast. His character felt so real it didn’t seem like acting.
The only casting misstep was Ara Mina as the doctor—her performance felt oddly misplaced and tonally inconsistent with the rest of the film.
🎥 Direction, Cinematography & Music
For a directorial debut, Albert Martinez did an outstanding job. The direction was mature, elegant, and emotionally grounded.
Cinematography was top-notch—visually rich and surprisingly polished for a 2010 Filipino film.
The soundtrack deserves special praise. It was recorded in Hollywood using a live orchestra and added emotional weight to the film’s heaviest moments. It truly elevated the movie and gave it a high production value.
🏡 Details that Mattered
I also appreciated subtle touches, like showing Rosario’s son (Dolphy’s character) living in a modest home—quietly emphasizing how her choices affected not only her life but the future of her child. These little narrative details show great storytelling care.
✅ Final Verdict
"Rosario" is one of those rare, well-crafted Filipino dramas that sadly got buried under poor release timing. With a compelling story, nuanced performances, and outstanding direction, it’s a film that deserves to be rediscovered—perhaps through streaming platforms like Netflix or as a Holy Week special.
If you enjoy historical drama with emotional depth, Rosario is definitely worth your time.
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This is one of the worst movies I've seen.
I honestly don't even know what this movie was trying to say.Was it about true love? Drama? Second chances? Regret? It felt like it wanted to be deep, emotional, and profound—but completely missed the mark. The story was scattered, the execution was poor, and the messaging felt inconsistent at best.
Characters:
Dawn's character is one of the most frustrating characters I’ve seen in a while. If she cheated once, maybe—maybe—it could be chalked up to a terrible mistake. But 46 times? That’s not a mistake. That’s a choice. She clearly enjoyed it, continued the affair with intention, and would’ve never stopped if she hadn't gotten sick. And yet, in the end, she had the audacity to put the blame on her husband? Even acted angry at him for finally expressing his pain? Sorry, but no. He had every right to be furious. She didn’t feel remorse—she felt consequences. I honestly wish her character suffered more, because a few tears and a tragic twist don't equate to redemption.
Tanfelix’s character (the son)—another letdown. His mom is dying, and yet we barely see any genuine care or grief. He spends more time with his girlfriend and bandmates than his mother. He even goes as far as accusing his dad of flirting with his girlfriend—and then hits him! What was that scene even for? Was it supposed to be funny? Because if that was a comedic attempt, it failed miserably.
Michael V’s character had a few funny moments, I’ll give him that. But a lot of his comedic timing felt forced and out of place given the seriousness of the story. I also didn’t understand why he wouldn’t just talk openly to his wife—why bottle up everything until it exploded? The one moment I did cheer for him was when he punched his wife’s lover. That guy truly thought explaining his side was enough to make things okay. No remorse. No shame.
The lover and his wife—I still don’t get why they’re even together. His wife says she has "no choice"—what does that even mean? Did she know about the affair? Was she okay with it? So many things were left unexplored and unanswered. And the guy? He wanted to stay with his wife just because May wouldn’t leave her husband? Pathetic.
Final thoughts:
This movie left me more annoyed than anything else. The characters were frustrating, their actions unjustifiable, and the message—if there was one—was buried under melodrama and poor storytelling. Even now, just thinking about them makes my blood boil.
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I’m not usually a fan of time-travel dramas. I often avoid them due to the typical clichés and unrealistic plotlines that come with the genre. So when I saw that there would be several time-travel dramas released this year, I quickly lost interest.
Initially, I had no plans to watch this series. I barely paid attention to it and didn’t think it would be worth my time. I only ended up watching it after the final episode aired—and to my surprise, I was immediately hooked. I finished the entire series in one sitting.
This is one of those rare time-travel dramas that genuinely resonated with me. While it's far from perfect and has its flaws—especially in the final episode—the emotional journey it took me on was more than enough to make me overlook those shortcomings.
What stood out most was its realistic portrayal of a married couple who had once been deeply in love but had grown apart over time. The lack of communication and understanding between them, the strain of financial hardship, and the quiet sacrifices made just to keep a household afloat—all of these were depicted with sincerity and depth. It captured the bittersweet reality of how many of us enter adulthood full of dreams and ambition, only to be met with the weight of real-life responsibilities. Yet, through it all, we learn, grow, and continue to move forward.
I particularly appreciated the way the characters evolved after traveling back to the past. Watching them reflect on their younger selves and confront the things they had once taken for granted was incredibly moving.
Some of the most emotionally impactful scenes involved Jin Joo and her mother. They brought me to tears multiple times. These moments served as a powerful reminder that we often take our parents' love for granted in our youth—only to wish we had one more chance to see them, talk to them, and be with them once they're gone.
If I had one major complaint, it would be the writer’s decision to insert a few unnecessary cliché tropes near the end. It felt out of place and took away from the grounded and heartfelt tone the drama had established. Without those, this series could have been nearly perfect.
Still, this drama left a lasting impression on me. It’s a story that stays with you long after the final episode—a reminder of love, regret, and second chances. One of the few time-travel dramas that truly touched my heart.
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Lifeless
Okay. I watched this drama because of Ren Jialun and had high expectation because the director is one of the directors of "The Untamed"- probably why, I am so disappointed.Ren Jialun, was really charming as Changyi (Blue Whisper), so even though that drama has lots of boring and cringey parts, I at least managed to finish it and re-watched my favorite parts. I even started to like Dilraba because of that, even though I always avoid her dramas.
However, this drama doesn't have that charm. Not even my love for Ren Jialun could keep me from getting bored(although he is still handsome in this drama) it's just that... there's just something that this drama really lacks... Maybe charm? it just felt lifeless.
I have no problem with slow burner dramas (I even managed to finish Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace) but this one was just one of those that really... seems hard to finish. It's extremely slow.
And it doesn't help that the main couple has ZERO chemistry.
I saw a lot of people say that Dilraba and RJ has no chemistry, but they at least look good together. But the main couple on this one just don't have that... I just don't get that giddy feeling that I should be getting from the Main couple.
I only saw LQ in three dramas (The Wolf, Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and Princess Agent). I am not really fan of her acting but she was good in Princess Agent, so I think those roles suits her best... not the noisy or hyper girl like this one.
I am sure the reason for the lack of life of this drama is not the main cast.. because you can see they tried their best.
I mostly blame it to the writers and the producers.
The writers probably wanted to try something new but doesn't know how to execute it.
The producers who are in charge of editing is also at fault.
I'm putting it on hold at epispde 13, maybe I will try to watch it again when the drama has ended or when I no longer have anything better to watch.
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A drama that will always have a special place in my heart
A Special Drama That Will Always Stay With MeThis drama will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first drama that made me sign up for Netflix—LOL. While it's far from perfect, its emotional impact is something I’ll never forget.
Volume 3 was a bit of a drag compared to the first two. I found myself skipping quite a few scenes, especially the flashbacks of Aesun and her mom. At first, their moments were touching, but they became repetitive and overdone, which made them more annoying than moving.
I also wasn’t a fan of the reincarnation theme. The idea that the publisher was like Aesun’s mom reincarnated didn’t sit well with me. I don't believe in reincarnation, and I honestly just wanted Aesun’s poetry to shine on its own, without all the superstition wrapped around it.
Volume 4 had its strengths. I appreciated getting to see more of the other characters’ perspectives—especially their son. However, I was left wondering what happened to the auntie who helped Aesun. It felt like their storyline was just dropped, and that was a shame.
But what really broke me was Gwan-sik. I knew he would die in the end, but I still hoped he’d enjoy his life before that happened. After everything he went through, from being scammed to just starting to find joy in simple hobbies, his sudden illness and death felt like such a heavy blow. I understand the show was going for realism—these things do happen in real life—but still, I truly wished we got to see him harvest the fruit of his labor and be happy for a while. That part genuinely hurt.
Now, onto the cast—they were phenomenal. I usually find transitions from young to adult versions of characters awkward (especially in other series like Reply), but here? They nailed it. The adult versions still felt like the same people we met in their youth. I never felt disconnected.
And major kudos to the writers for tackling the favoritism issue. It was one of the most realistic and powerful parts of the story. I’m so glad they didn’t brush it off or sugarcoat it. The son's feelings were valid, and Aesun’s acknowledgment of her mistake—without excuses—was such a strong and important moment. So many dramas gaslight the "less loved" child, but this one didn’t, and I truly appreciated that.
Despite its flaws, this drama is easily one of my favorites. It made me feel deeply, think critically, and reflect on life and relationships. I’ll carry this one with me for a long time.
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Honestly speaking, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece unlike to what I often see from comments. The story has flaws and the actions wasn't that good. The first three episodes were confusing and boring so I thought I should just skip - since the only thing that made me curious about the story is WXX's past which they shown on the first episode. So I skipped and watched. I decided to watch the "special" series first since it's shorter. I must say that, the best part of this drama is only up to the last part of the long flashback - WXX's past story was so addicting. It made me hooked so I decided to watch the full series (50 episodes).
I kept rewatching those flashback episodes again and again and again. I even read the novel to see the difference.
However, I still can't rewatch the episodes that came after that flashback. I feel like the writing became less intriguin and the plot was all over the place. It was boring, cringy and cliche. I couldn't help but think that the rest of the story was made only for fan service - same with the novel.
I honestly wish that the series was only about WXX's past. Those 30 episodes of flashback was worthy enough for a 10 despite its flaws - maybe could even pass for a movie.
But nevertheless I really didn't expect to get hooked to the series.
The actors did a good job. I wouldn't say their acting is perfect but they really gave life to the characters. Xiao Zhan have moments where his acting was real good. Some moments it was just so-so and some moments it wasn't really good.
His acting at first as a funny WXX wasn't really that good. You can tell he was just really trying to act something he's not used to. When he's angry - you cannot see any anger in his eyes.
But during his siege or rebellion, his acting was at it's best. He was really good in showing WWX's hatred, frustrations, pain, regret and hopelessness.
WYB - was also good. I think his characer is also hard to portray cuz he doesn't have many lines and LZ doesn't show many emotions. If played by someone else, his character will definitely look boring and cringy to watch. Although I did get bored or lost interest on LZ later on, cuz WXX took all of my attention.
I also love that they gave more scenes for the Senior sister and the siblings relationship. So you can understand why WXX love them so much.
Some people hate Wen Qing's addition scenes but imo it worked a lot - it is hard to get attached to her in the novel cuz she only appear a few times so I couldn't really feel WWX's desvatation upon their death. But in the drama, they came more human to me, it let me get attached to her and her Wen sect. So seeing how kind they were, how normal they were compared to the evil Wens made it really painful seeing what happens to them.
I did enjoyed the 30 episodes of this drama, enough to get me hooked and watch it over and over again and glad that I gave it a try.
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This review is from the first episode and will be edited after the drama ends
Am changing my rating from 10 to 7.5The drama started really strong - I love Naksu and her fighting scenes. It took a while to get used to her new body but the actress Somin did a great job in portraying Naksu and Mudeok.
I am mostly interested in the past and the mysteries of the other characters.
However, lately the story started to focus on romance and I feel like they started to neglect some of the plots. Almost everyone is having a romance and love triangle...
6 more episodes to go but it seems nothing is ever changing, except of course the romance part which I am not really interested in.
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The series starts off slow and uninspired. While the latter half tries to build tension, it ultimately falls flat in terms of storytelling. It feels as though the writer was obsessed with shock value — almost pleading with the audience: “Look how pitiful they are! Feel bad. Cry. Look what happened to women back then. Isn’t it horrible? Here’s more tragedy so you can cry even more.” Instead of letting the story naturally evoke empathy, it feels emotionally manipulative.
I’ve seen other dramas tackle the brutality of war and the suffering of comfort women — but they do it with more nuance. Here, the story just circles around the same emotional beats with little depth. The writing is its biggest flaw. Dialogue feels unnatural and sometimes cringe-worthy, as if they were aiming for lines that would go viral or end up as "hugot quotes" rather than serve the story.
The characters, especially Adelina and Teresita, feel too modern — from the way they speak to the way they present themselves. It breaks immersion and makes it harder to buy into the historical setting.
Acting: 8/10
Barbie (Adelina) doesn't quite fit the historical drama mold. She has what some call an “iPhone face” — too polished and contemporary for the era. Even her speech patterns feel too modern, which pulls you out of the illusion.
Dennis (Yuta) carried the series, in my opinion. Yuta as a character isn’t particularly compelling — his backstory lacks weight and his motivations are weak. But Dennis made him interesting. He embodied a terrifying, unpredictable presence. Sometimes he doesn’t even need to speak — his expressions alone make him feel menacing.
David showed significant improvement from his earlier roles, though his character seems to exist solely as Adelina’s devoted follower. Honestly, the story could go on without him.
Alden’s character started off the most compelling — a desperate, struggling peasant abused by the upper class. Alden’s performance sold that pain and frustration. Sadly, the character loses momentum midway through the series and becomes forgettable. Again, the plot could proceed without him.
Rochelle (Amalia) gives the most grounded performance. Despite being handed some cringe lines, she makes her character feel real. I felt for her — truly. I just wish her story arc wasn’t constantly burdened with endless tragedy. As of episode 90, her character is being put through yet another horrible ordeal, and honestly, it’s starting to feel exhausting.
Supporting Cast:
The actors playing the Japanese soldiers were surprisingly impressive. They genuinely looked and felt intimidating — I even assumed they might’ve cast real Japanese actors. That added a layer of realism the show sorely needed.
As for Jay (Akio) — the dark horse of the show — I was fully convinced he was going to be the one to kidnap Teresita or turn out as the main villain. The actor did a fantastic job making Akio feel like a creepy, unpredictable presence. He brought complexity and subtlety to what could’ve been a forgettable role.
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