dramallamareviews

Whoa. Just…Whoa!

A ruthless general forces the daughter of a tutor into a marriage with an imperial decree in order to suppress a rebellion, despite her desire to marry her childhood sweetheart. Will he be able to win her love amidst all the turmoil or is her heart forever out of his reach?

Whoa. Just… I did NOT expect all that! 😳

This was a 7/7.5 rating at first but then I saw episode 24 & it shot to a solid 9 for me. That was a phenomenal “turnaround” that I didn’t see coming at all!

While the pacing was great & so much was happening that kept my attention at first (+ the ML🔥) I wasn’t really sold on it due to the whole love triangle plot (which I despise) being such an integral part of the storyline. It kept the FL from recognizing the ML’s greatness. Even though she’s a fun, quirky person she kept frustrating me with all her misconceptions of him. So despite the solid acting, I wasn’t sure I’d continue watching.

Ultimately,I stayed for him 🫠 This ML was cunning & wise; selfless & brave; sickly & so misunderstood. His willingness to be the villain was both admirable & heartbreaking. But it’s the way he loved the FL that really sucked me in. His willingness to let her go at first to be with the SML was honorable. And when others prevent that from happening, he kept protecting & safeguarding her while he continued on the path he set for the greater good. And it’s this very persistence of his, to both her & the country, that ultimately won him her love.

They had some beautifully intense moments, both before & after their love was mutual. There were many scenes that will stay with me for a long time. The Leads’ chemistry was great, proven by the fact they’re able to portray such a deep love w/out any kis$ scenes. Do we love those scenes? Heck yes. But this drama was proof that we don’t NEED them to grasp the depth of the Leads’ bond 🫶🏻

If you like the following things, then I def recommend watching this:
- strong, intelligent Leads
- opposites attract
- well-executed fight scenes
- plot twists galore
- palace politics & infighting
- layers of betrayals & schemes
- inability to trust anyone but Leads
- found family bonds
- great character growth
- beautiful visuals (scenery & people)
- memorable OST
- truly talented cast
- a love that beats all the odds
- happy endings
+ more!

I was truly surprised in the end by how high of a rating I gave this. 🙃

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : None 🙅🏻‍♀️
- Together : ep.4(fake), ep.19(real) 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💍

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I might be in the minority, but I loved this!

A Joseon-era villainess wakes up in the body of a struggling modern day actress. She crosses paths with an arrogant chaebol heir, igniting an intense love-hate romance that transcends centuries. Will this duo continue to clash or will they finally find safety in each other’s arms?

I was immediately addicted to this duo & was hooked on their every interaction.

The chemistry. 🔥
The yearning. 🫠
The humor. 🤣
The chaos.🤪

This is the kind of story I love. Ones with Leads who :
- are both strong individuals
- give major power couple vibes
- are captivated by each other
- are equally loyal & protective
- fully trust & cherish one another
- only ever have eyes for each other
- bicker & flirt in all the best ways

This couple totally delivered on all that & more! I loved the FL’s character growth as she adapted to her new surroundings as well as the maturing of the ML, who became the standard of men in love. This is enemies-to-lovers done right. And wow, what a journey. I legit swooned so hard & laughed so much. This was a surprising gem & I adored their happy ending 🫶🏻

The unveiling of their past connection happened at a good pace. The plot twist on her identity in the end was surprising. The secondary characters’ wins & losses were all well deserved.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this even half as much as I did. I wasn’t even planning to watch it as the plot felt overdone & I thought it’d be too drama filled for me. And I’ve been in a serious kdrama slump lately so I’ve been sticking to cdramas instead. I am so glad I gave this a chance, though, because this was freakin’ fantastic!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.6💋
- Together : ep.8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💝

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Both heavy & light

Facing setbacks in her career, the FL returns home seeking peace. She meets the younger ML, quickly falling for his quiet demeanor & soulful eyes. But their relationship gets turbulent when she learns his family is linked to her mother’s de@th. Can they overcome the trauma or are they destined to part ways?

While it didn’t quite meet my expectations, I still enjoyed watching this drama. The storyline is a very good portrayal of the healing love can bring - the love you receive from others but also the love you extend to yourself.

This has a twist with the older FL chasing the ML first, when generally it’s the other way around. I liked that she was bold in her pursuit & uncaring about others’ opinions (though she did annoy me a few times). They have an intriguing dynamic as they navigate their way through getting to know each other & forming a deep bond. They’re very opposite in personality - she’s outgoing & lives loud while he’s an introvert who likes silence & solitude. I enjoyed seeing how their characters developed & grew through their interactions with one another. They have really good chemistry & share some seriously fiery ki$ses a few times 🔥🫠

I was worried about her family’s need to control her but they ended up being aces who fully support the duo. There’s conflict that lasts longer than I’d like but that’s what turns the tables & has the ML now doing the pursuing of his wifey. This also opens the door for the annoyingly delulu SML who I honestly wish didn’t exist. Bleh.

Bonus: a great sismance storyline w/ an adorable kid as well. Also, this has one of the most beautiful wedding dresses I’ve seen in a drama yet (like, I want to get married to my hubby again just so I can wear something similar, haha!) 💕

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8💋
- Together : ep.8 (married ep.12) 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.15 (not official) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.18 ❤️‍🩹

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Came for the story. Stayed for them!

A woman who doesn’t fully trust anyone & is cynical about love.
A demon who’s looked down on humans for 200+ years.

She mistook him for her blind date. He later tries to coerce her into a deal to sell her soul. While trying to flee from him, they’re attacked & his powers transfer to her. They’ll have to either remain enemies or work together to solve their problems - him protecting her from an unknown threat & her staying close so he can use her to access his powers until he can reclaim them.

Their bickering is hilarious, their flirting is adorable, & their chemistry is hottt ❤️‍🔥🔥. I absolutely adore them. Watching them fall was a fantastic ride. Their interactions will make you swoon from all the feels 🫠.

The plot was believable. The way their history was revealed piece by piece kept the intrigue high. Knowing they’d have to pay a price for their love kept the angst turned up. And their continuous displays of affection & protection made all the heavy feel just a bit lighter (like love does!)

The villains are truly evil. How humans can be so utterly horrible is sickening (& sadly our reality). And the wanna-be love rivals are completely delulu. Like - that girl needs checked into a mental institution because of how delusional she is 🤯…

Watch it for the full plot or just watch it for the Leads. Either way, watch it ‘cause they’re a couple you want to see 🖤🤍🩶.

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.14 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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Fantasy + Romance = A Good Time

The ML is a fox-like Gumiho posing as a professor. He’s been collecting human energy in a precious bead for 999 years. The FL is a student who accidentally swallows the bead… Now they must figure out how to get it back safely or he’ll never be human & she’ll die! Will this duo cohabitate well enough to find the solution… & love?

The FL can seem a bit immature & naive at times, but she’s ultimately a very strong young lady. She’s loyal, caring, protective, & responsible. She understandably struggles with ML’s identity at first. They start as foes, but that doesn’t last too long. And when they become more, she loves him with everything she’s got, nothing held back. So sweet! 🫶🏻

The ML is so swoon worthy. Not only in looks, but in character. The more he comes to care for the FL, the more protective he grows. While I wished he made different choices a few times, I get where his heart was at. He only wanted what was best for her, even if it broke his heart. When he finally decides to go all in, there’s nothing that will stand in his way of claiming the woman he loves. 💚

I was rooting for them from moment one. I’m generally not a fan of back-&-forth drama between the Leads, but these two have such great chemistry that I just wanted more of them. 🫠🔥 I love how they refused to give into fate & accept the “red string” love (iykyk). They were each others choice & they proved they would fight for their love. And seeing their HEA was worth all the angst & drama. 💜💙

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.13 💔
- BackTogether : ep.14 ❤️‍🩹

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Full of Laughter-Inducing Moments!

A chaebol who leads a second life as a detective + a woman with super vision. Will their joint investigation help them find the truths they’re both searching for?

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the crazy antics of this duo {which had me laughing soooo much!} as they work together to uncover the mystery surrounding the ML’s mother’s death. The bond they formed lead to a beautiful and deep love. The ML’s protection of the FL makes me swoon and the FL’s desire to help him no matter the cost to herself is total girl crush worthy. 🫠

If you’re wanting to laugh, fall for the characters, and root for their victory over the bad guy then, imho, you can’t go wrong by picking this to be your next watch 😌

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10 💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💝

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Don’t think, just enjoy…

When a young woman returns from abroad after her sister’s suspicious de@th, she teams up with her brother-in-law & undergoes training in his secret resistance group to uncover the truth behind a powerful underground organization. As the danger mounts & family secrets are revealed, will their bond be able to withstand the truths being unveiled?

What you can expect from this drama:
a) lots of action/fight scenes
b) secrets & betrayals
c) sibling rivalry, drama, & love
d) sizzling chemistry & steamy kisses
e) white knights & evil villains
f) bitter losses & hard-won victories
g) engaging story & good pacing
h) short episodes [15-20mins]
i) both sad & happy endings
+ more!

I really enjoyed the Leads & the sweet complexity/tension between them throughout. Their genuine care of & trust in one another was like catnip to my romance lovin’ self. 🫠 And the fact that, with all the many characters involved, we didn’t have any love triangles or rival drama, nor dumb misunderstandings between the Leads was something I really appreciated. This duo acted their ages so kudos to the writers for that!

And I throughly enjoyed the bond between the ML & his 4th brother. They’re a true highlight of the show. And when their brother/cousin turns from rival to ally, I truly enjoyed that shift in their dynamic as well. Very well done, imho. 🤗

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10/19💋
- Together : ep.23 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💝

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Mature Love in the Office

A successful female CEO + a newly-hired male secretary. The paths that lead them to these positions haven’t been easy. Now that they’re working together, will they find any relief?

The FL’s independent & confident in her ability to tackle any issues that arise at work. Past betrayals have left her leery of trusting others so she takes any problems onto her own shoulders, leaving her worn out & overworked.

Being her complete opposite, the ML is very outgoing & considerate of his coworkers making it easy for him to make friends wherever he goes. He’s very responsible & mature, both in the workplace & at home with his young daughter. He places his child’s well-being above all, making him miss out on certain career advancements. He doesn’t regret it, though, as he loves his little girl with his whole heart (such a good dad!)

These three come to form a beautiful little family unit, helping each other heal from hurts & giving one another strength to face the obstacles of life. And yes, they have some pretty tough stuff to overcome.

The Leads have such a healthy & mature relationship, appropriate for their age. [I love when the adults actually behave like adults!] They each have such a precious & heartwarming bond with his daughter, too. I really enjoyed watching their story unfold, both as a couple & as a family of 3.

Bonus: the “love rivals” are both good people. They don’t try to break them up - they each accept the rejection & continue being their good friends (& they fall for each other, score!) 🙌🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7💋
- Together : ep.7 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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A Sweet “Noona” Romance

A dashing rookie employee boldly pursues his senior co-worker to turn an unrequited crush into a heart-racing office romance 💜

“But if you come to me, I’ll show you the most beautiful love ever.” How can you not fall for a ML who’s says such sweet things to you?! I’m not generally a fan of younger man/older woman romances but this one is really good. For one, the ML doesn’t act younger than the FL - he’s competent, responsible, mature, & independent. While his experience in the workplace is less since he’s just starting out, he isn’t a naive fool who’s constantly making mistakes, which I appreciated. He’s not there just to flirt - he takes his job seriously…and woos his leading lady while he’s at it 😉

This drama is filled with wonderful chemistry & a beautiful love story. There are so many memorable scenes as the ML’s steady devotion to the FL helps her heal from the SML’s betrayal. His constant care for & protection of her slowly win the ML his FL’s heart. 💕

The support characters stories are interesting too, so it doesn’t feel like a lot of wasted, filler scenes.

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.14 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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There’s a reason why it’s so many viewers’ favorite comfort drama…

When a big-city dentist opens a practice in a seaside village, she clashes with a charming jack-of-all-trades who’s her polar opposite in every way. Will this chaotic duo ever learn to peacefully coexist in this close-knit community? Watch & find out! 😉

This is an often-talked about drama for a reason. The Leads have great chemistry & give life to the story. From their initial misunderstandings about each other that turn to grudges to their deep bond of love that everyone envies, they bring humor & heart to every scene.

Watching them slowly let down their walls & reveal their true selves to one another is a joy to witness. They have so many hilarious squabbles & emotional moments throughout. And when tragedy strikes & the ML retreats from everyone to protect himself, it’s the FL’s unconditional love for him that pierces though the darkness to let light into his world once again.

As a bonus, the other members of the community bring their own flavorful stories to the screen. They add a lot of chaos but also a lot of heart. And the SML isn’t toxic or overbearingly annoying so yay for that!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10 💋
- Together : ep.11 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💍

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Like Law Shows? Watch This

After joining a top law firm, our FL, a rookie lawyer, navigates the complex legal world under a demanding mentor, our ML. Will her tenacity, unique perspectives, & sense of justice ultimately win him over or will he forever judge her by her less-than-stellar first impression at her interview?

If you’re a fan of law shows, then I definitely recommend this drama. The cast played their parts very well, keeping the viewers entertained with each case they tackled. I enjoyed the character growth throughout, as well as the bond of friendship that grew among the whole team of the senior lawyers & their newbie juniors.

This is also a slice of life drama as our Leads have some heavy family issues they’re navigating. These dynamics bring a message of forgiveness & the many ways that can come about. Their personal journeys have influenced & molded them into the lawyers they’ve become/are becoming.

The only downside for me was that they didn’t deliver on the romance arc that was brewing between the Leads. I heard a lot of viewers complained about the age gap so the writers changed the story, which stinks for those of us who were wanting to see the spark ignite to a flame! It is hinted at in the end, but still disappointing. (I heard there’s possibly a second season so fingers crossed!) Aside from that, though, it’s a very well done & solid drama. 👏🏻

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Enemies-to-Lovers w/ Heated Kisses!

**Note: I have NOT read the novel that this drama is based on (I didn’t even know there was one) so my opinions have nothing to do with whether either drama stayed true to the book nor which one did it better!**

This is a short adaptation of the hit drama, “The Prisoner of Beauty” (which is one of my all time fav dramas now!!) So the storyline is the same, though this did make some changes in plot execution & pacing. The whole show takes about 2.5hrs to watch. Luckily, I found it on a streaming app with fairly good subtitles (though there were some serious mistakes - instead of FL being called ManMan, it kept translating it to Barbara/Barbarian… whaaaa?!? 🤯😂). For the parts where the subs got it wrong, I was able to fill in the real meaning due to having watched the original multiple times now. 😁

The actors who played the Leads both did very well. I’ve seen the ML in multiple dramas (the most recent being his role in, “Your Sunshine” ), but the FL was a new face for me. They had very good onscreen chemistry & I felt, for a short drama, they did the original justice. One major difference, though, is that this drama has quite a bit more skinship 🫣🫠 (so it could very well be labeled as a guilty pleasure type show 😉). Another big change is there’s no secondary love story, nor the core group of friends surrounding the Leads. This helped make “Yield to You” a drama in its own right, since not every single thing is the same (which you shouldn’t expect anyways since it’s so much shorter than the full length drama.)

All in all, if you’re a fan of TPoB or simply a fan of the actors’ work, I recommend watching this vertical, short drama 🙃

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Lovers of Music & Each Other

A passionate aspiring musician joins the leading Chinese entertainment industry as an assistant to a popular & unruly idol. They have a rough start due to some misunderstandings, leading to an unpleasant work environment. Will these opposites ever find a way to coexist in peace?

I wasn’t a big fan of the FL at first due to her huge crush on the SML, as well as her unfair judgments of the ML. Once she began to change, though, I came to really like her. She became the ML’s biggest supporter & fiercest protector. She always did what was best for him, even at the risk to her own career. She was a loyal friend & an honest colleague.

I loved the ML, despite his faults. He was arrogant & entitled due to his upbringing, so add his fame to the mix & he was convinced he’s all that. Seeing him grow as a human being under the FL’s influence was very satisfying. Under all the bluster, he’s just a guy who’s passionate about music & chasing his dream. And her. He becomes very focused on her. Protecting her, pursuing her, & loving her fully. 🫠

There’s a lot of character growth. They don’t stay the same people they were at the beginning. They mature, both as individuals & in their professions. It’s full of life’s moments: funny, sad, sweet, & inspiring. There’s drama - with friends, with families, with love rivals, & with competitive colleagues.

And amidst it all is a boy & a girl slowly falling in love. 💕

*Note: I watched this before knowing that the ML was a then-member of the kpop group, EXO. His musical talent is really shown in this 👏🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.30 💋
- Together : ep.42 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Revenge + Love Done Right

He is a wealthy tycoon.
She is a naive painter.
They appear fine, but they both carry deep wounds inflicted by family.

When she’s sent back in time after a tragic accident, will them teaming up help her exact her revenge? By helping her, will he find relief from his burdens as well?

So revenge dramas aren’t usually my genre but this was so good! I absolutely loved it & highly recommend it. The plot & pacing kept me engaged the whole time.

The Leads chemistry is chemistrying from the first moment she approaches him for help. Watching their story unfold & their bond deepen is so satisfying. And their love blooming made me smile so much!

The ML is a whole green forest. His every action is for the FL’s good. He’s always there to support, encourage, & protect her. He’s the swoon worthy lead us watchers adore. His love is so pure & the ways it helps heal her is perfect.

The FL’s growth is beautiful. Her transformation from timid & naive to bold & confident is girl-crush worthy. Her learning to trust the ML & falling in love with him is such a delight.

Seeing the villains, who are truly wretched, get what they deserve is such a sweet victory. It’s the perfect ending that this beautiful couple deserves after all they endured to get there.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.6 💋
- Together : ep.7 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Romance + Politics

This drama is a good look at the struggles an average person would face upon entering the world of politics. And how important it would be to have one person who’s always on your side who you can fully trust & depend on. Thankfully, our FL has that person, our ML.

They start off as enemies due to all the civil complaints she constantly files, which causes him to work overtime. But then she enters “into the ring” & their interactions increase causing their feelings to begin to change. Once she realizes he was her childhood best friend, she sets out to remove any distance between them. He’s drawn in by her honesty & obvious distaste for injustice. Their past as childhood besties laid the foundation for their adult relationship to flourish & bloom.

I really liked how mature & stable their love was. At no point was it threatened - nobody trying to break them up, no hidden secrets causing fractures in trust, etc. They were simply two adults in love, living their daily life. With lots of smooches & affection [like real life couples do!]

The political aspect did get a bit tedious for me towards towards the end. (That may be caused by cultural differences so don’t let me saying that stop you from watching!) However, I enjoyed how it all got wrapped up. And without giving any spoilers, I LOVED how they handled the ML & his father’s relationship in the end. So satisfying!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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