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From Fascination to Disappointment

I want to leave my comment here and move on because I keep coming back to this drama in my thoughts.

At first, it had the potential to become my favorite drama, but it lost that potential. Up to a certain point, I didn't consider it bad—I liked that the characters were flawed, making it possible to analyze their actions. Even the scientific aspect, though unrealistic, seemed interesting for contemplation. The supporting characters were endearing, but their storylines were simply erased and forgotten, which disappointed me.

The ending completely ruined everything. If, at the beginning, I saw this story as thought-provoking, by the end, it became clear that it carried a strong propaganda message that made me feel awful. I never expected that someone might die here, let alone Eve—my favorite character. She didn’t deserve this. Ryong treated her cruelly when he yelled at her and pushed her over that morula. Now I regret that my emotional side supported this experiment. It would have been better if Eve had destroyed all the morulas on the station so none of this would have happened.

The last episodes felt extremely forced. I don’t believe astronauts are examined so poorly that no one noticed her pregnancy. And there were many other contrived moments. If I enjoyed the drama at first, as it progressed, I liked it less and less. My critical thinking took over.

Ultimately, instead of developing the characters and logically concluding the story, the writers turned it into blatant pro-natal propaganda. The main heroine was forced to give birth in space and died, yet no one even properly mourned her. Her death was presented as a "scientific breakthrough," while more attention was given to mice and flies than to Eve herself. I feel sad about such an ending for her. Her existence was reduced to being an "incubator," and the entire plot pushed the idea that women "must" give birth under any circumstances. If Korea wants to increase its birth rate, they should start by improving people's quality of life.

This drama left me with a disgusting feeling. For most of it, I was praising it, but now I regret watching it at all.

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A Unique Story

Even though I’m not a fan of romantic dramas, this one captivated me with its atmosphere and unconventional approach to the story.
It feels very different from typical romance plots: the slow pace and repetitive scenes, which I thought would annoy me, actually created a unique, mysterious vibe. The male lead, with his sexy brain, really caught my attention — it was interesting to watch his persistence, how he wouldn’t stop until he found the answers. Still, I can’t excuse the stalking. The creators clearly knew this would spark a negative reaction and tried to soften it: the male lead admits he acted like a stalker, and even his friend suggested the female lead report him to the police. Some viewers accepted this explanation, others didn’t. To me, it’s still a romanticization of toxic behavior, and the reaction from part of the audience only proves that.
Despite this morally questionable storyline, the visuals, music, cinematography, and storytelling built a unique, almost magical atmosphere that I’ll remember for a long time.

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Disappointment

I gave this drama a second chance, but I feel like it was in vain. It became my biggest disappointment.

I’m a fan of dramas like this, and Revenant has all the components of a good supernatural thriller: demonic possession, mysterious events, a dark atmosphere, occultism, and supernatural investigations. However, the execution turned out to be weak. I don’t understand how someone could take such a great concept and ruin it like this. The plot developed chaotically, often without logical progression, and many scenes felt overly dramatized. It seemed like the screenwriter didn’t fully understand how to properly unfold the story, which led to illogical events and a sense of disorder.

Another reason why I didn’t like this drama was the lack of proper character development and motivations. The characters acted irrationally, sometimes without any motivations, making it hard for me to empathize with them. It felt like emotions and decisions were just assigned to the characters without being supported by actual character development.

If Revenant had been shortened to 8 episodes, removed unnecessary dialogues and illogical scenes, and had better-developed characters and plot, it could have been one of my favorite dramas. But…

There are still a few things I liked:
✔ The artwork and opening titles looked great and even scared me.
✔ The acting. Although at times it was exaggerated, this was probably the fault of the directing rather than the actors themselves.

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Study Group or Fight Club?

Disclaimer: This is a subjective review that is not intended to offend anyone. It reflects my personal perception of the drama, which may differ from yours. Whether to watch it or not is your choice.


The first half of the drama captivated me—I couldn't wait for new episodes. But I barely made it through the second half. I think this happened because, at first, I was intrigued by the plot and characters, but over time, the story started repeating itself, and the fights seemed endless.

The drama lacked an emotional component that could have truly moved me. I also felt there wasn't enough motivation or development for the main character—he seemed to be stuck in one place. I wanted to see more of his academic achievements or something that would better explore the theme of education in this story.

I want to praise the director’s work—it was top-notch. The fight choreography was decent, though far from realistic. And the OSTs were absolutely the best—Bang Yedam, my ultimate of all ultimates, contributed to this drama, which makes me incredibly happy. I also liked the other members of the study group. This unusual bunch added an interesting contrast to the story.

The ending was fine but nothing special. By the middle of the drama, I had already gotten used to the plot twists, so they stopped evoking any emotions in me.

I think this drama will appeal to those who don’t expect a strong storyline and enjoy action-packed fight scenes. It’s a decent story, but it didn’t feel special to me.

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NOT ENOUGH FOR ME

I wouldn’t say this story touched me, but the concept is interesting.
There are good violence scenes here (but not with the dog... why... kill people, but not animals...).
There wasn’t enough time for this drama to resonate with me. Just when I started to like it — it ended... I bet I’ll forget about this story before the second season comes out, if there is one.

Characters.. Again, I needed more time to love them and get to know their stories. I liked how they portrayed the family. At first, they scared me — I thought they were emotionless serial killers haha, but it turns out they do have emotions.

Family Matters left mixed feelings. It’s a story that could have touched me but simply didn’t have enough time. It lacked depth in both the characters and the plot. However, there’s something intriguing in their family dynamic. I hope the second season, if it happens, will realize the potential of this story better.

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cool but flawed

at first, i thought wow what a cool drama but then i started noticing the flaws.
for example, the character development was messy. kang giho was just a crybaby who spent the whole drama whining, and when he betrayed his team, he still had the nerve to be mad at everyone. but when others hid something from the team that could harm them, he blamed them even though he was no better. this would have made sense if he had learned something and changed for the better, but i think he would just make the same choice again and keep saying how miserable he is and how everyone else is to blame.
the female lead is just fire i worship her 🛐🛐 no complaints.
hando was more interesting to me at first, but then he changed somehow and there was no more development. i was curious to learn more about his story.

as for the plot, in the first half of the drama, they were solving other cases that lasted one or two episodes, and then they shifted focus to the main story. i felt like some short cases weren’t explored enough, and this main story didn’t really develop much from the beginning, so when they switched focus to it, it was hard to get into.

but i really liked the story format, and overall, it was very interesting to watch. i think anyone who loves detective stories will definitely appreciate this drama.

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Disappointing Start and Captivating End

I’ll start with the first episodes. The first episode, which introduced us to the plot, wasn’t bad, but for a drama like this, I expected a more dynamic start. The second episode was a disappointment — after the calm first one, we’re suddenly thrown into zombie chaos with a bunch of dumb character decisions. Because of this, I dropped the drama. In my opinion, the creators hit us with this explosive wave too abruptly, and I think many people gave up on it because of that.

But thoughts about Newtopia didn’t let me go, so I decided to come back. Starting from the third episode, I began to enjoy it and got hooked. Between dropping it and returning, I also did some personal work on how I perceive this genre. I think people should broaden their horizons a bit and step away from the standard themes they’re used to.

After the third episode, this drama became my favorite ongoing(!). The mix of dynamics, comedy, tension, overall chaos, and drama was the best here. Even though the drama is short, the characters became special to me, even those who got little screen time — they still managed to leave an impression on me((

I’m not a fan of any of the actors, but I became one for some of them after this drama. Their acting was incredible!! Ji Soo especially stood out to me — I listened to her songs for days after this.

This drama still has more to show, so I’m waiting for the next season 👊

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Are power and money really worth losing yourself?

I'm not a big fan of crime films, but I watched this one because of Song Joong Ki—and I don't regret it. At first, the plot seemed slow and dull, but Joong Ki's performance still managed to keep me engaged. He transformed into a charismatic yet cold-blooded character searching for his path in the ruthless world of crime. His character reminded me of Vincenzo—it’s as if everything started with this film, and then he moved on to the mafia haha.

Moral: The path to success can be so dark that there’s no turning back. The protagonist starts with the desire to survive but gradually gets trapped by his own choices. The film shows how circumstances can change a person and how thin the line is between fighting for a better life and losing one’s humanity.

I can’t say the film left me in awe. It lacked emotional intensity, and some scenes felt dry, failing to evoke the right emotions. The overall atmosphere didn’t stand out, and the supporting characters remained underdeveloped, making them hard to follow.
Despite everything, the film raises important questions: Can a crime be justified if it’s the only way to survive? And are power and money worth losing yourself?

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A Puzzle Missing Pieces

"Goodbye Earth" is a drama that leaves mixed feelings behind. On one hand, it excellently conveys the atmosphere of an impending catastrophe where people destroy themselves. On the other hand, this drama feels like a puzzle missing several important pieces. The events and characters are intriguing, but their stories seem cut off and unfinished.
For example, the priest turned out to be an incredible character—so kind, strong, and genuine. But we never got to learn his full story, his thoughts, or his inner struggles. He was a character I wanted to understand more deeply.
The same goes for the main heroine. She acted decisively, and her actions can be explained, but what truly drove her until the very end remained vague. Her emotions and thoughts felt hidden, making it difficult to fully grasp her character.

As for the ending, I expected more—something dramatic that would leave a lasting impression. Yes, they tried to create an emotional moment—the scene with flowers and plush toys looked beautiful. But the ending was more symbolic than dramatic, and it also felt rather rushed. It seemed like the story hadn’t yet reached its true climax, as if there should have been something more, yet instead, it just suddenly stopped. It wasn’t the kind of ending that evokes strong emotions or leaves a sense of closure.

Despite these flaws, the drama cannot be called bad. It has an excellent atmosphere, raises important themes, and makes you think about how people would behave before the end of the world. However, due to cut scenes and unfinished storylines, it feels incomplete.

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A Hollow Shell

“The Trunk” is a drama that presents itself as a story about fake marriages, manipulation, control, love, inner trauma, and more — but often remains at the level of superficial conflict and underdeveloped ideas.

The characters are the show's biggest weakness. The male lead is a weary man with post-traumatic experiences who never had a healthy model of love and therefore can’t recognize toxicity. His ex-wife controls and belittles him, but lacking his own identity, he continues clinging to the past. Sounds intriguing, but this dynamic never evolves. He doesn't have a breakthrough, doesn’t change — he just passively exists. The female lead, who could have been a turning point — cold, reserved, but deeply wounded — also receives no proper development. Her emotions and tragedies are presented as mere background. We don’t see how these events shape her caution or determination. She essentially remains a secondary character in her own story.
The toxic ex — a vivid image, but one-dimensional. We get no hint of her vulnerability or backstory. She exists just so the viewer can hate her and sympathize with the male lead. It’s convenient, but not honest — and definitely not deep. The same applies to the side characters: the stalker is just a stalker with no logic, the female lead’s husband is merely a shadow of a tragedy, thrown in for drama and left undeveloped. All the supporting characters feel like functions rather than real people — they fulfill roles but have no personal stories that affect the plot.

Narratively, the show hints at many things but completes none. There are sexual scenes but unspoken traumas; a major theme of control that is never properly explored; fake marriages that carry neither emotional nor plot significance. Atmospherically, this could’ve been a tense, deep, dark exploration of human loneliness and the inability to form connections — but instead, it became a half-baked romantic melodrama with psychological ambitions it never dared to pursue.

Conclusion — pretty visuals, interesting concept, strong cast, but the script is a mess. No climax, no transformation, no resolution. The characters don’t grow, conflicts don’t escalate, important themes hang in the air. Everything feels like it’s on the verge of something deeper, but it never becomes more than just a pretty wrapper. The potential was there — for a psychological drama, for a subtle emotional thriller — but instead, we got a collection of ideas with no development.

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An interesting idea, but lacking better execution

After watching the movie, I was left with mixed feelings. On one hand, the concept of transferring human consciousness into a robot is fascinating and makes you think about the nature of consciousness and identity. On the other hand, the film lacks a deeper exploration of the world in which the events take place. I would have liked to learn more about the reasons for the conflict between space stations and see a broader context of this universe.
The focus on artificial intelligence and ethical dilemmas is interesting, but since we were shown little about the world’s structure, it was hard to fully immerse myself in the story. The ending felt somewhat rushed and not fully developed. An additional 10–15 minutes for a better resolution could have made it stronger.
Despite these shortcomings, the film still managed to touch me, and at some moments, I even cried. I was especially moved by the story of the robot mother and her emotional development. The visual aspect is also worth mentioning—the graphics and battle choreography looked dynamic and stylish.
Overall, JUNG_E is a noteworthy sci-fi film that raises important questions, evokes emotions, and has great potential, but it lacked better execution.

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Overpowered but Flawed

"The Silent Sea" is a drama with a unique atmosphere, unlike any other. The idea of the plot is very intriguing: space, the moon, secrets, and mysteries.

However, in some moments, I wished for better execution, especially in the development of key story elements. The ending left a lot of unanswered questions, which I didn’t like.

As for the cast, I’d say I liked them more or less, but I couldn’t really remember the characters. I don’t think it’s the actors’ fault; perhaps if we had more time, I would have gotten to know them better.

Still, the atmosphere is so unusual and captivating that I definitely recommend watching it. If you’re looking for something unconventional and a bit dark, you’ll enjoy it.

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Pure Drama Replacing Logic

“Wonderful World” — superficial emotional manipulation disguised as deep psychological drama.
From the very beginning, the drama claims to explore weighty themes: the loss of a child, the search for justice, guilt, and forgiveness. But instead of unfolding these topics through solid storytelling, it drowns in its own clichés and plot holes.

1. Pseudo-psychological depth.
The series tries to create an illusion of complexity with slow pacing, heavy music, constant tears, and internal monologues. But dig a little deeper, and this whole shell is empty. Character motivations are either too vague or self-contradictory. Their actions often lack logic — except for the logic of “we need drama here.”
2. Characters as drama tools.
None of the key characters go through real development. They don’t grow or transform — they just wander in misery. The husband's betrayal is a cliché, justified by pain that doesn't excuse his actions. The main heroine starts out strong but quickly becomes a puppet of the script, losing her personality and acting randomly. Other characters exist solely to amplify the atmosphere of suffering or to create fake intrigue.
3. Manipulation instead of catharsis.
This isn’t a drama that makes you reflect or truly feel. It’s emotional manipulation that leans on pity, offering nothing new. I wasn’t moved — because I didn’t believe it. I didn’t believe the characters, I didn’t believe the world where logic is missing and the plot exists just to make the viewer suffer alongside the cast.
4. Mystery for the inattentive.
The “mystery” around the murder and who’s whose child is so obvious from the first episodes that its reveal brings not a “wow” but a “finally.” A cheap trick to keep attention that only works if you’re watching with your brain switched off.

“Wonderful World” pretends to be profound but only delivers emotional weight without logic or coherence. It might touch those who watch dramas purely through emotions, who accept pain as a plot in itself. But for viewers who care about structure, character motivation, development, and meaning — this will likely feel more like exhausting disappointment than a meaningful experience.

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One of the Best Dramas of 2025

First of all, I want to say how deeply I was impressed by the dedication of the main character. No matter the situation, he rushes to save people. Like Dr. Yang (Anus), I looked at him with adoring eyes. He showed me what a real doctor should be like.
I also want to highlight how the story was presented. It seems to have the perfect combination of humor, social issues, and medicine. I’m glad there was no romantic storyline here – it wasn’t needed at all. It was much more interesting to watch the relationships between the main character and the other characters.
I think this drama deserves to be called one of the best of 2025.

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AAAAAA WHAT A MASTERPIECE

I’m writing this right after watching, and I’m overwhelmed with emotions I haven’t felt in a long time. The entire season kept me on edge, and not a single minute felt boring. Unlike the first season, which I struggled to finish over two months, I devoured this one in three days.

Yes, I originally started watching this drama because of Lee Joon Gi, who is my favorite actor of all time (honestly, if not for him, I probably wouldn’t have finished season one — it became too dull for me at some point). I thought this season would be even worse than the first — as often happens with second seasons in dramas. I’m so glad I was wrong.

Of course, there were some downsides — the visuals were hard to get used to at first. I think the idea of working with color to immerse the viewer in the atmosphere wasn’t bad, but the filter made it hard to watch — definitely not a winning decision. The editing and cinematography were distracting too. It looked different, but not in a way that worked. Initially, I constantly felt like I was watching from the sidelines, standing behind the crew. But I don’t want to lower my rating because of this — my emotions from the plot matter more. The storyline never disappointed me. If the first season had predictable character actions, a drawn-out story, and annoying, pointless dialogues, this one was the opposite.

About the characters:
At first, the cast change was hard for me. Even Lee Joon Gi didn’t feel quite right initially because I loved Saya, played by Song Joong Ki. It was even sad not to see the actress who played Tanya (though she annoyed me). But in the end, it was just a matter of time — I ended up truly loving the new characters (not just the main ones). Tanya’s development impressed me the most. She became smarter, more determined, cunning, wiser, and calmer (though I’m not sure if that’s thanks to the script or if the new actress simply underperformed — the previous Tanya was quite emotional).
As for Lee Joon Gi’s characters — like I said, I missed the old Saya (and a bit of Eunseom too — I liked him as a character, but my personal attachment to Saya was stronger). But over time, Lee Joon Gi made me fall for his versions of the characters too. At some point, I even felt like he’d been playing them from the start.
Tagon, to me, was complex and multi-layered from the beginning to the end. He’s a strategist and manipulator, building an empire on lies and fear. His ambition and cruelty are justified by the world he lives in, and his eyes constantly show the battle between the monster he’s become and the man he could have been.
Saya — as I said — is my favorite character. He captivated me because I could almost never predict what he was thinking. Yes, in season 2, I got to know him a bit better and could anticipate his actions, but he still remained the most enigmatic character for me until the very end. He intrigues, fascinates, scares, and makes me doubt my own judgments. Saya is a knot of contradictions. He’s cold yet vulnerable, cunning yet genuinely loyal, ruthless yet noble. There’s something more in every look of his — pain, rage, a desire for freedom, and at the same time, a longing for people who would love him. His greatest strength is his mind and ability to think several steps ahead. Even when I thought I knew what he would do, I still doubted myself until the last moment. Saya is a character you want to watch endlessly. He’s the heart of the intrigues and the most mysterious figure in the story. I want more of his story, more of his inner and outer struggles. I missed him so much this season, so I hope season 3 focuses more on him.
Also, Taealha surprised me even more this season. She’s no longer just the cold-blooded schemer she seemed before. She showed how strong she is — not only as a politician and strategist but also as a woman fighting for her place in a world where she was meant to be just “Tagon’s wife.” I can’t help but admire her.

Set design and costumes:
One of the first things I noticed was the sets and clothing. They were incredibly beautiful (though I still have questions about the armor and some other elements that looked like plastic).

Music:
I think they could’ve used more Korean-style music that would’ve suited the drama better, though I still liked the overall sound.

I NEED SEASON 3 RIGHT NOW!!

Let it be the final one — though I have a theory there might be four seasons. I just really don’t want another cast and crew change 😭😭. If the pacing stays the same, I’ll be happy.

The season 2 finale ended on such an intriguing note. Ahhh, I can’t wait to finally see the Neanthals start taking action — and SAYA, I NEED MORE SAYA!!!!! I think the next season should be packed with epic events. I hope I hear news about season 3 soon. Amen.

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