dramallamareviews

Poignant & Inspiring

Okay, this is another short review simply because I don’t want to give many spoilers! This is a must watch drama, imho, and I think you should see it for the first time without any preconceived notions or expectations. I could gush about the characters and my favorite scenes and the storyline, etc. But I think it’s best to push play with your brain as a blank slate and just let this precious drama write itself for you… {now, if after watching it you want to come back and chat with me about it, feel free ‘cause I’m always ready for some drama-talk! 😉}

This is such a poignant story that shows that the ways we treat people impacts and affects their lives. Through many ups and downs, the main trio form beautiful bonds of friendship with one another. They begin to look past their misjudgments and labels of each other and learn to truly see the person beneath the masks worn for the world. They come to fully trust and depend on one another, which is just so beautiful to witness. Seeing their struggles and triumphs is inspiring, the way they refuse to stay down when life throws its punches but rather get back up every time. This one made me cry at their pain and smile at their happiness.

Interwoven throughout is the sweet love story of the Leads, which is something I encourage you not to miss. Watch this. I don’t know how you’d regret doing so!

“You’re already perfect. You’re the only one who doesn’t know that.”

“When you have a nightmare, all you have to do is wake up. It’s not real. And I’m right here next to you.”

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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.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 🫶🏻

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You’re Gonna Need to Decide for Yourself…

She’s a painter; he’s a sculptor. Both are strong-willed perfectionists who are unimpressed with the opposite sex. Both are happily single. And then they find they’re becoming happier when together..

Despite this drama having one of my least favorite tropes (clingy, wanna-be love rivals - soooo annoying!), I found myself enjoying it after the first several eps. The FL initially has some serious misperceptions of the ML which irritated me, but once they become friends & he starts breaking down her walls, I got more into the story.

I love the ML’s immediate notice of the FL. He’s the unattainable guy who’s aloof & seemingly cold, but for her he totally melts.🫠 I know some of his actions were questionable & got him labeled as a red flag to many of the watchers so I think each viewer has to decide for themselves the kind of guy he is… & I’ll just leave it at that.

The FL is friendly with everyone & really naive when it comes to the SML’s feelings (which truly bugs me when characters are like that but whatevs), but she has a good heart. Which gets her into trouble sometimes since she allows the female love rival to manipulate & bully her for too long. Plus, again, her total obliviousness to the other guy’s obvious crush on her. {Lord, save me from some characters’ stupidity. 🙏🏻🤣} She’s unfamiliar with all the feelings hitting her so she flounders a bit, but ultimately chooses to follow her heart. Which leads her to him…

They’re cute together, imho (their height difference definitely plays a part in this!) I often rewatch the episodes after they get together when I need a fix of innocent love 😍

Nothing overly complicated or super deep. Just a fairly easy watch about youths figuring out who they are & what they really want to do with their lives, all while experiencing the rush of first love.

Bonus - they both have really solid friend groups which is always pleasant to 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.16💋
- Together : ep.17 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Not Spectacular, Not Horrible

The ML is a cold & level-headed vice-captain of the Fire Rescue Team. The FL is a “sunshine” doctor in the Emergency Department. Their first meeting went awry, leaving them with misconceptions of one another.

When they’re put on a joint task force, will the bond they form amidst an earthquake relief mission survive the coming infectious disease outbreak?

The Leads are super cute together & have really good chemistry. Their story progression definitely drew me in & held my attention. I liked seeing their professions complement each other. Watching them work alongside one another amidst the natural disaster is really beautiful - the way they trust & protect one another… 🫠💕

I’ll tell you straight up, though, that I am not a fan of breakups. Like just…whyyyyy put us all through that?! 🤨 That said, thankfully it came & passed early in this drama so we get to see them happily together for the majority of the show - score! And when a situation arises that could cause them to permanently split, they handle it maturely & easily, which I’m grateful to the writer’s for. 👍🏻

Also, in the vein of being upfront & honest, the SML (role, not actor!) lessened my enjoyment of this a bit ‘cause he just annoyed me that much with his refusal to accept he wouldn’t get the girl. He does redeem himself in the end, though, so yippee for that!

Overall I enjoyed this. The plot/pacing was good & the teamwork/friendships of both Leads’ coworkers was really nice to watch. The secondary love stories of their colleagues were entertaining as well.

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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.5💋
- Together : ep.5 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.6 💔
- BackTogether : ep.9 ❤️‍🩹

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Sweet Fluff & Cute Love

When a studious, young woman agrees to tutor a wildly popular superstar, neither have any idea how much this arrangement will change their lives…

I really enjoyed this drama, though I found the ML annoying & childish at first. But I liked him more as he matured & worked to better himself, for both his career & to be able to love/protect the FL better. He has a closely guarded secret - he’s mostly illiterate. He can usually hide it, but sometimes he epically fails. Thus his request for the FL to tutor him & help him prepare for an upcoming role he wants to play. And so their chaotic but sweet story begins…

The FL is such a kind soul. She’s recently been betrayed by her bf, the cheater. I admired how, despite her pain, she remained sweet, mature, & strong. The ML rescues her from multiple awkward encounters, endearing himself to her. As they spend time working together & cohabitating, their partnership quickly turns to friendship & mutual attraction.

This is a very healthy duo. They respect & fully trust one another, never letting outside opinions influence their decisions regarding each other. The FL does leave when her presence impacts his career, but the ML chases her down & lays her fears to rest. And the way he proudly announces his love for her to the public is ACES! He defied everyone for her & it was so sweet!! 🫠🫠 I really enjoyed this drop due to their relationship. It’s silly & fluffy & cheesy which makes it a very easy 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.15💋
- Together : ep.15 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Enjoyed More than Expected!

An arrogant ace lawyer suffering from a centuries-old curse + a lonely low-ranking civil servant who comes into possession of the cure he needs. Can they work together well enough to break the curse?

I held off on watching this because of the OW drama with the ML’s g/f (who is hecka annoying, delulu, & toxic), but now I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner because holy wowza - the Leads totes make all the drama worth it! 😍

Some of the tropes between them:
- professional lives (he’s a top dog while she’s bottom of the totem pole)
- incompatible “social status” (he’s from a prominent & rich family while she’s orphaned & poor)
- opposite personalities (he’s apathetic; she’s friendly)
- He’s dating her HS bully (who lied so he treats FL coldly for it)
- She’s crushing on SML (who rejects her then pursues her)
Throw in a curse they’re not sure they believe in, past lives neither remembers, workplace shenanigans, + a psychotic k!ller & they’ve got a LOT to deal with. 😱

The Leads have amazing chemistry & I loved their chaotic journey! The ML is hilarious with his love-spell actions, he made me laugh so much. The FL is precious with her attempts to make friends & just do her job well, despite all the opposition. And them together? Woo buddy - the heat! 🔥🫠

Every longing glance. Every brush of their hands. Every “accidental” touch. Every hug. And every.single.kiss! The Leads sucked me in with every scene & I adore them for it. 🫶🏻

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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.11 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.13 (sorta) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.14 ❤️‍🩹

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Cute & Cheesy, but Still Sweet

The FL has a secret - if she kisses a man, she’ll turn into a dog! To break the curse she’ll have to share another kiss with him while she’s in canine form. Things get messy when a drunken mistake has her kissing her coworker who seems to dislike her instead of her crush.

But this ML also has a secret - due to a traumatic incident, he’s deathly afraid of dogs. So not only does she need to win him over, she also has to help him overcome his fear or she’ll be stuck as a dog forever!

This is a fun & easy watch. The past life snippets add some angst until it’s all revealed, then there’s tension over whether the Leads can save both her family & their love. It adds some drama to a humorous & sweet love story.

The Leads are adorable together. He liked her at first sight which is such a sweet scene when it’s shown. And while her feelings don’t come until later, they’re no less genuine than his. I loved seeing their friendship develop & their bond deepen. His obvious affection for her makes me swoon. His care for & protection of her, even when he learns her secret, is perfection. He’s such a green flag! 💚

Their chemistry is aces. I absolutely loved watching the curse get broken. And all the many kisses that came after…🔥🫠 They’re total couple goals with the way they choose each other, appreciate one another, & each cherish their love. 🫶🏻

The secondary characters brought a lot of heart & humor to the scenes as well. Big fan of the ML’s nephew - his bond with Leads is so cute. 🙃

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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 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.11 (memory erased) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.13 ❤️‍🩹

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Sweet & Super Cheesy

Once a legend in the mob world, the ML is now a CEO whose company offers a fresh start to ex-convicts. His past, however, doesn’t want to let him go.

Inspired by her childhood friend, the FL is a content creator for children. She’s trying to make her young viewers happy with no strings attached, which can lead to conflict with her employers.

After many embarrassing, comical, & painful misunderstandings between the Leads, they form a friendship & gain an understanding of one another. The bond they once shared as children is just as firm when they’re reunited as adults.

This was much more fluffy & cutesy than I was expecting. A bit OTT at times for me, but you may think differently. It’s not that I didn’t like the characters, they just acted more innocent & naive than I would’ve liked given their ages/life history.

The quirky crew of former mobsters bring lots of comedy to the screen. The second couple is adorable. Finding out everyone’s pasts that lead to their present lifestyle choices is good to see.

And the Leads are great people. The ML’s protectiveness for his crew & overall caring nature are swoon worthy. And his voice… 🫠! The FL is very strong & kindhearted, accepting the guys warmly despite their pasts.

Together they’re so sweet. Their interactions are like those of young teens discovering the first taste of love. Their connection is true & their bond deep. They’ve only ever had eyes for each other & seeing how that plays out with the wanna-be love rivals is satisfying. They’re a couple who faces a lot together so they deserve the HEA they fight to obtain 🩵

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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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Didn’t Love, Didn’t Hate

A centuries old Gumiho & an urban myth tv show producer. He’s policing unruly supernatural beings while looking for the reincarnation of his first love. She’s searching for the truth of her parents’ disappearance years ago & suspects he might be connected to the mystery. As their lives collide & truths are slowly revealed, will they finally get their HEA?

I watched this years ago & wasn’t really a fan due to the ending of one of the main characters (which I won’t spoil here, iykyk!), but I gave it another watch recently & while I still dislike that part, I enjoyed the show overall the second time through.

It’s a well done story with good pacing + a cast who plays their roles well. The complicated bromance draws you in & the star crossed lovers aspect holds you. The mysteries, both past & present, keep you guessing a bit & add some angst/tension.

And the Leads. Ooh. The Leads have very good chemistry, yummm… 🔥🫠 I enjoyed their transition from suspicious “enemies”, to cautious partners, to tentative friends, to BOOM - “I’d let the world burn for you” lovers. 🫶🏻 I’m glad that, once the mystery of the past was unraveled & both Leads were aware of their history, that any drama between them was done. They were 100% solid & devoted to one another, despite the obstacles between them. They had some big stuff to overcome, but they never hesitated or faltered in their choice to be together.

So while it’s not my favorite drama, it’s still a very good drama that’s worth watching.


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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.4(past),5(present) 💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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A Fateful Encounter

Brought together by fate, a woman who seemingly has everything & a younger man who seems to have nothing decide to give up an ordinary life to be together. Will the world allow their love to blossom?

The Leads have a chance encounter while in Cuba (such a meet-cute!) They share a magical time together, where moments become memories neither will ever forget. He’s immediately smitten & wants more time with her, but real life calls them both back home. Unbeknownst to either of them, their lives are about to collide once again in Korea when the ML gets hired on in a company under the FL’s leadership.

Honestly, there’s a lot of potential for drama-trauma in this show. There are so.many.people who believe their opinions should dictate how the Leads live their lives, constantly trying to manipulate & control the main protagonists. And OhEmGee, such toxic mother’s (except the ML’s)!! 😡 I legit wanted to scream at them. They made me so irritated that I actually started skimming through their scenes just to preserve my sanity….

But oh, the Leads…🫠 Their interactions are so precious & wholesome that they made up for all the icky stuff surrounding them (& Manager Nam - loved him!)

The ML is so pure & devoted in his total adoration & pursuit of the FL. Their age difference concerns her, as well as her status as a divorcee - she fights their connection due to feeling unworthy of him. But he steadily & sweetly breaks through all her barriers & shows her a love that heals & soothes. And she in turn protects & encourages him at every turn. Their romance is so beautiful & their chemistry can melt your screen! 🔥

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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.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.15 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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Cute & Easy Watch

If you’re wanting a fairly easy watch that you don’t have to invest a lot of brain power into, I say give this drama a try.

Despite the toxic love rivals/ coworkers & all the drama they insist on stirring up, I still enjoyed this show. It’s a sweet love story between a top idol in the wold of dubbing who keeps his identity a secret from the public + the fan who’s inspired to chase her dreams because of him. Through the randomness of life that often happens, the FL ends up working for the ML, thus starting their journey to their well-deserved HEA. 💕

I have no knowledge beyond what I’ve learned in dramas when it comes to the world of dubbing, so I can’t speak for the accuracy of that aspect of this drama. I do know that watching this furthered my fascination with the people who do the dubbing IRL. Honestly, before watching Asian dramas, I had no idea dubbing even existed for tv shows/movies. The thought just never entered my mind. I knew it was done for video games & the like, obviously. But it truly never occurred to me that it also plays a huge role in the things I watch.

Anyways, I found this to be a cute, fluffy story that I like to rewatch once in a while to see the Leads fall in love all over again. As mentioned above, the love rivals bring some annoying drama to the scenes, especially the female. She’s hecka toxic & delusional. I’ll never, ever, EVER understand people like her who can do such despicable things while calling themselves a friend & professing to love someone. That’s. Not. Love!

Okay, sorry, moving on….

The Leads are super cute together. They have immediate chemistry, but the ML’s hidden identity adds some issues between them once the FL discovers the truth (which happens early on, fyi.) I appreciated that they didn’t draw that trope out too long so that the couple didn’t have a huge break up later down the road. After they get past that bump, there’s one more that does cause them to split but it’s resolved in the very next episode & then they’re 100% solid from there on out (see spoilers below for more info on that). Thank goodness, that’s how I prefer my shows to go. 🤗

The secondary couple is a bit… odd. I didn’t dislike them, per se, but I also wasn’t real invested in their story. They weren’t a nuisance, but I also would’ve enjoyed the drama just as much without them.

The Leads have a lot of cute & memorable scenes that I enjoy rewatching from time to time. They’re just one of those easy couples that aren’t ashamed to show their affection so we don’t have to watch fish kisses or a level of awkward shyness better fit for a preteen to experience, not a fully gown adult. 🤪 From their roles as coworkers to their romantic relationship, this duo acts their age & responds accordingly in whatever the situation may be.


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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.10 💔
- BackTogether : ep.11❤️‍🩹

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“I Create Opportunities Even in Hellish Situations”

A struggling student is determined to improve his grades despite his track record & inability to successfully study. To overcome this “flaw”, he forms a study group at his new school. But the school hierarchy isn’t okay with this new change, so the ML finds himself constantly having to defend & protect his new friends from the countless bullies. Thankfully, what he lacks in an ability to study he makes up for with his dynamite fighting skills. Look out, suckas, there’s a new her in class!

This is a really well-made drama. From the story, to the special effects, to the cast - it was all very well done. The pacing is good as it’s constantly moving the plot forward without much time to “slack”. Only having 10 episodes keeps it from dragging in the middle or relying on lots of filler scenes. Something’s always happening or about to happen so it keeps the viewers’ focus. And the fight scenes are just… whoa. I won’t even attempt to do them justice with my messy review, you just need to witness the awesomeness of the scenes for yourself.

Be warned this is bloody & gory. They don’t pull their punches (pun intended 😉). This drama is filled with fight scene after incredible fight scene. It’s dark & disturbing because it’s realistic in the horrors of HS (though I sincerely hope no HS is as bad as this fictional one!) It delves into the horrific world of bullying & how much damage it can cause. It tells the heartbreaking stories of so many youth who don’t necessarily want to be bad, they’re simply trying to survive & made the wrong choices. I loved seeing so many of the bully figures redeem themselves in the end - proving that sometimes people just need a chance to change & someone to show them the way while believing in them to succeed (like the ML & the wonderful teacher do here).

Alongside the gritty, though, is the geeky & cheesy to shed some light & bring some balance. It’s heartwarming & freakin’ hilarious because the ML is so totally clueless about everything that you can’t help but adore him. Kudos to Hwang Min Hyun for bringing this role to life so spectacularly! And, honestly, a round of applause for the rest of the cast too because they all did phenomenal in their respective roles. Villains, heroes, & grey characters alike! 👏🏻

The study group’s motto (taken from the ML) is:
“I create opportunities even in hellish situations”

They live up to this standard. Their perseverance & determination in the face of such huge adversity is admirable. The teamwork & bonds of friendship that develop are a joy to behold, not just between the initial five, but those outside the study group as well. The teacher is included in this, too, as she fights to protect her students & seek justice for her late mentor. {And can I just say that the scenes of the students protecting her are freakin’ awesome?!}

All it takes is one single person to make a change. One small spark to start a flame. One small ripple to create a wave.

Evil can’t be left to rule the masses - these students are brave enough to stand in its way. And I heard there’s a confirmed 2nd season so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them next….

*****As a complete side note: this cast is overflowing with gorgeousness so if the spectacular fight scenes & wonderful storyline don’t do it for you, then the amazing eye candy will 🫠*****

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Cherish Your Youth

I held off on watching this drama for quite awhile due to the simple fact that I’m not a fan of love triangles, which this show very much has. I kept seeing snippets of it via social media, though, so I finally caved & pushed play. And while the triangle definitely lowered my rating some, I’m still glad I watched it because I ended up enjoying it more than I expected to.

It tells the story of a quirky college freshman who has no time for extracurricular activities/clubs because she’s solely focused on making money to support herself + her mother & younger brother. So she initially turns down her bestie’s request to join the university cheerleading squad, but when she’s bribed with money if she joins, she quickly signs up. The catch? She must keep it a secret that she’s being paid. She thinks it’ll be easy money… then she officially meets the captain (whom she’s already had some not-so-good encounters with). He’s more serious & mature than her, so their personalities constantly clash. Not to mention that he’s very passionate about the squad, while she’s only in it for as long as it takes to get paid. So the viewers are left with an all too familiar question of: will this duo resolve their issues & misunderstandings so they can have a happy ending or are they destined to be each other’s college-love regret?

As the story plays out it presents the viewers with lots of different things. It has some truly hilarious parts that left me giggling at the chaotic cast. It also had heartwarming moments that remind you how beautiful & precious life is. There are realistically sad moments too that caused my heart to hurt a bit for the characters’ pain. They experience both losses & wins throughout. The plot has enough secrets & mysteries to keep you invested in seeing how it all finally plays out. There are villains & there are heroes, each with a story to tell. We witness the characters’ trauma & how they grow. There’s life-long friends & the birth of new friendships. There’s the angst & excitement of many new loves.

And there’s the underlying message about choosing to chase your dreams no matter the obstacles & not wasting your youth since you only get to live it for a short time.

Now, for the main trio.
- The FL: I found her to be quite unique. I feel like generally girls with her personality & brand of crazy are relegated to side-character status, so it was refreshing to see such a quirky girl as the lead female. I quite enjoyed her as she was a strong young woman who didn’t let others push her around. How she handled her ex? Ha - you go, girl! She was determined to provide a better life for her family so she willingly sacrificed her own happiness to help them, which is both admirable & heartbreaking to watch. She did take this to the extreme & was quite controlling/bossy to both her mother & brother, but her reasoning is later explained & then you just want to give the poor girl a hug. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, nor to work hard for what she wanted. And while she didn’t enjoy hurting people, she didn’t allow their feelings to manipulate her into doing things she was truly against. Yeah, she frustrated me at times with the triangle drama, but overall I found her to be relatable in her flaws & commendable in her strengths.. 🫶🏻

- The ML: I know some may think differently, but he’s totally green, IMHO. Yes, his hesitation in confessing is frustrating & makes him seem a bit flaky, but when you take into account why he was hesitant, it’s kinda admirable (even while still annoying). He truly wished to protect the FL so he wanted to keep his distance until the danger surrounding the squad could be resolved. I was so happy when he finally allowed himself to follow his heart despite the risks, because he was so good for her. I know he screwed up & reacted poorly towards her a couple times, but again, take into account the why behind his reactions & it all makes sense. PLUS he took responsibility & apologized for messing up, which takes a lot of maturity to do. He was also super cool in his refusal to let her “take the heat” for dating him, her captain, when that camera crew was around. And one of parts that made me absolutely love him is how he handled their “break up”. Honestly, he’s total aces in my book for that (iykyk). 🫠

- The SML: look, I’m just going to be straight up honest here & say that I don’t at all understand the obsession with this character. To me, he’s a total red flag. He’s a very selfish & self-centered guy. (FL’s brother says it best with his response when the SML tries using him to get closer to her. I was totally cheering for the brother in that scene!) For the majority of the drama he’s very obsessive & manipulative, one of the love-rival types who’s just seriously annoying to me. He doesn’t care about the FL’s lack of interest in him or how his actions affect her. After the FL again rejected him, he started dating out of spite which is super unfair to his new gf. That does not say “good guy” to me. Yes, he had his moments where you could see his potential to be better, but he almost always ruined it with his usual immaturity. Until the last episodes, everything he did was selfishly motivated so sorry, not sorry, I just didn’t like him. 🚩

As for the rest of the squad, I’m glad we got to delve into each of their stories a bit. It helped them seem more like real people, rather than just filler side-characters. It also is a great reminder that every single person has a story of their own to tell. While we’re the MC’s of our own life stories, we’re just the side-characters in someone else’s, while they get the MC role. It’s important to remember that the world does not, in fact, revolve around us & our individual lives. 😉

Also, the moms were a total bonus. It was fun to watch them reconnect & navigate through their rivalry, history, & all it brought with it. They were such opposites as parents, but they both unashamedly & completely loved their children. They had their good points & their bad points which just shows that mothers are human too.

One last thing I’ll mention - I have no idea why they’re called a Cheerleading Squad. Maybe it’s just lost in translation? In my country, they’d be labeled a dance team. Which honestly is no big deal & doesn’t take away from the plot at all, I simply mention it because I was really confused in the first several episodes while I waited for them to do some actual cheering. Or at least some stunts in their routines like I expect cheerleaders to do. But there’s absolutely none of that so I’m just throwing that out there so you don’t go in with those same expectations as I did, 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.11💋
- Together : ep.12 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.14 💔
- BackTogether : ep.15❤️‍🩹

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Drama in the Fashion World

It’s been a few years since I first watched this so, unfortunately, I can’t do an in-depth review at this time. I’ll briefly summarize what I remember for you though.

The head of an e-commerce company & a fashion designer get entangled in a lawsuit. In order to protect their own interests & success, they agree to collaborate to settle things down regarding the public opinion. But it’s no easy feat as these two strong-willed people constantly clash with one another. Unexpectedly, though, they slowly being to respect & inspire one another, leading their hearts on a journey to love. The path isn’t all smooth sailing for this duo, but they weather life’s storms & emerge even more devoted to one another.

There’s a LOT of push & pull between the Leads throughout this drama which lessened my enjoyment of the story. I’m not a big fan of the main couple having so much self-induced drama. And there were some parts I didn’t really agree with - like the FL choosing to work with the ML’s rival. That didn’t at all make sense to me. If there was a guy intent on beating my boyfriend, either personally or professionally, he couldn’t pay me enough to work with him in achieving that goal, no matter what boost it would give my own career. My loyalty & priority would be my man, not some other guy so it really bugged me that she chose differently, especially since they had such a devoted relationship. That plot just seemed really out of character to me.

Another part that bothered me was the FL’s mother’s extreme control issues. The FL is an adult who is fully capable of making her own decisions, especially regarding her marriage partner! She wanted to focus on her career once her ex-fiancée’s infidelity was discovered. Give the girl some time to just breathe before pressuring her into dating agian! And when she does start dating, stay out of her relationship - don’t be so judgmental & demand she end the relationship because he’s not the guy you picked for her. Good grief, the drama! 😵‍💫

Honestly, if not for the Leads’ awesome chemistry, I may ha’ve been tempted to drop this. But they have a serious melt-your-screen & give-you-tingles connection that we get to experience a lot with all their yummy kiss scenes. 🔥🫠 They also have a really great dynamic when they’re not trying to push each other away due to some misunderstanding or other. I actually like the way they interact with one another, both in & outside of the workplace (except when they’re being dumb dumbs, of course.) They do know how to communicate with one another, they just seem to forget that at times. 🤦🏻‍♀️

A noteworthy mention is the scene of how the Leads’ paths first cross - I’d never seen a couple meet like that before! I won’t spoil it, just know it’s very memorable. 🫶🏻

I admit the business aspect of things went over my head. I’m not highly interested in the world of fashion so those scenes didn’t really hold my interest & made the drama drag a bit for me at times. If you like fashion, though, there’s a lot of focus on that so you may feel differently.

There are both good & bad points, but overall I did enjoy the story. It’s not likely I’ll rewatch it anytime soon, but if I ever do I’ll try to write a more detailed review!


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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.14 💋
- Together : ep.14 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.16 💔
- BackTogether : ep.25 ❤️‍🩹

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Fluffy Love

The cast:
The FL - a struggling cartoonist with a need for inspiration.
The ML - an arrogant professor who can’t remember anyone’s name.
The SML - an artist lending his talent to assist his bestie, the FL.
The SFL - a popular webtoon artist whose start is suspicious.

The plot:
The FL is in a creative slump, but when she randomly meets the ML, she starts feeling inspired again. When he later turns out to be her professor, she devises ways to interact with him in hopes of getting more ideas for her comic. At first the ML is very cold towards her, despite remembering her name (which is a big deal since he can’t even remember his family’s names). But her bumbling attempts to get close to him catch his interest & he finds himself falling for this odd girl who’s both innocent & straightforward. Does the FL return his affection or has it all been a ploy merely for her work?

The drama:
Pay attention, this could get confusing! The SML is in love with the FL (unbeknownst to her). But the FL fell for the ML at first sight. To complicate things more, turns out these two are brothers who’ve been estranged for years due to a misunderstanding on the SML’s part. To even further add to the complications - the ML has the FL acting as his fake girlfriend to get his grandfather off his case in exchange for spending more time with her like she wants (though he doesn’t know it’s for her comic.) Meanwhile, the SFL is the FL’s ex-friend/partner turned rival (also due to a misunderstanding) so she’s trying to entice the SML to join her as a colleague (+ more!) to hinder the FL’s career. What a tangled web - will they ever unravel all the knots so they can find their HEAs? Well of course! … and then the men’s mother enters the picture & voila! More drama ensues. 🤦🏻‍♀️ (She orders them to switch parters due to their ages - ML with SFL & SML with FL. Who does that?? As if their feelings & hearts don’t matter. Geesh, lady! When they refuse, she says she’ll only accept the couple who can prove they’re really in love. Talk about controlling! Thankfully she’s not actually an evil mother, she’s just testing them.)

The review:
This is a quick & easy watch if you’re in the mood for a fluffy story that doesn’t take lots of brain energy to watch. It’s low angst with no drama trauma. The characters all annoyed me at one point or another, but I still liked them as they fumbled their way to their happy ending. It’s an age-gap romance with a bit of an enemies-to-lovers feel. There’s a slight fight when the truth is revealed that the FL’s purpose in pursuing the ML was inititally for her comic, but it’s over quick. Overall it’s a pleasant drama with some comedic moments & some sweet scenes too.


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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.11 💋
- Together : ep.15 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 💍

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Beautiful Found Family

Let me start by saying I love both the original Chinese story (Go Ahead) & the Korean adaptation. Both casts did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. Each version has strong points & flaws. Some people struggled with just how much the two dramas are alike, but that wasn’t an issue for me. They’re the same story so I was expecting that, it didn’t bother me at all. If you think it’d be a problem for you, this is my advice - don’t watch them back to back. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The story is both heartbreaking & heartwarming at the same time. It shows how deeply members of your family can hurt you, but also how family can be the ones to heal you. It also beautifully portrays that some families are connected by blood, while others are made by choice. At the heart of the story we have our beloved sibling trio: the two boys who’ve been abandoned by their mothers & the girl being raised by her widowed father.

One boy is goofy, athletic, & out-going. He hides the pain from his mother’s abandonment with a smile. He’s constantly reminded by outsiders that he’d better behave ‘cause the father could get rid of him at any time (whyyy do people say such cruel things?!) His aunt keeps track of what they “owe” the girl’s father for raising him & promises the boy will pay him back when he’s grown (something the father neither expects nor wants). This all makes a deep impression on the SML’s psyche, affecting his life choices as an adult. The betrayal of his mother & being the only non-bio child of the trio causes him to doubt that he’s equal to the other two in the father’s hearts.

The other boy (my bias in both versions!) is more mature, studious, & a loner. His younger sister died when he was a little kid which resulted in the fracturing of his mother’s mental state. She blames him for the tragedy since he was the only one home at the time of the accident (um, hello, lady - where the heck were you?!?) She files for divorce & abandons him to his father (who never blamed him, fyi). This all causes the ML to draw into himself. He slowly bonds with his “siblings”, but he keeps a wall between him & everyone else. He hides how much he’s still affected by his mother’s cruelty. He works hard to achieve his goals while trying to keep the other two in line (which is quite the task!)

The little girl is sassy & adorable. It’s always been just her & her dad until the arrival of the two boys. One she is not at all impressed with while the other she instantly claims. Eventually she accepts the SML & finally wins over the ML so she feels her world is complete. She grows up sheltered & adored. She’s optimistic with a bubbly personality which helps soothe her brothers’ wounds. She adores them both but their popularity is a thorn in her side. Her attempts to make their admirers leave her alone provide us with some of the best scenes! She’s confident that she’ll always have these two by her side.

Which means the writers inevitably split them up…

The SML’s biological father appears to claim him & take him abroad. The ML’s toxic mother returns with her young daughter, expecting him to leave with them. The trio’s lives are thrown into chaos. The fathers try to guide the boys the best they can even while their own hearts hurt. The FL is desperate for them to stay with her. And despite their desire to remain by her side, the boys are forced to go with those who came & destroyed their peaceful lives. Cue the tears as our beloved trio is ripped apart…

10yrs passes quickly for the viewers & the three once again fill our screen together. Their reunion isn’t happy,though, as the FL treats them coldly for staying away so long. But her love for them doesn’t allow her to stay distant for long. The strength of their bond is proven as they quickly fall back into their friendship & sibling camaraderie. The trio is as they always were, best friends & beloved siblings. But the ML isn’t content for things stay this way & now we gotta cue all the happy girl squeals ‘cause OhEmGee - the chemistry!!! 🔥🫠

Look, I love the alpha male/CEO trope as much as the next girl, but there’s just something about watching a stoic & quiet guy like this one be utterly focused on his female that really gets to me. I love when there’s that connection between the Leads that could never be replicated with someone else - it has to be her for him & vice versa. And not in a toxically possessive/controlling style, but rather because they understand each other in a way that no one else ever could, deepening their bond to unmatchable depths. They need one another just as much as they want each other, if that makes sense? The way this plays out in this drama is like catnip to me!

IMHO, the ML slayed in this role. His facial expressions, gaze, & pitch of his voice - it all worked perfectly to bring life to this precious character. (The fact that the actor is gorgeous doesn’t hurt!) He’s my favorite of the three (though I love the others too!) because he’s so soothing & pleasant to watch. I love the life & color the others bring to the screen, but it’s the ML’s steadiness & calm demeanor that most attracts me.

I adore the way he eases the FL into a different dynamic between them. He’s so careful with her, knowing she’ll need time to adjust going from a sibling type relationship to lovers. And there’s nothing creepy about them developing feelings for one another so I won’t focus on that because it’s a total non-issue. This duo is absolute perfection from their first interaction as kids. I’m not really sure who falls for the other first since they’ve always been special to one another. It’s simply that the ML becomes aware of his feelings first while the FL is too naive to realize what she feels for this boy she grew up with.

Their interactions are so precious. I love all the scenes we get with them being a couple & the way their lifelong bond shines through. Their protection & genuine care of one another is so sweet. How they both handle the initial shock & opposition from their family is admirable. And when the FL defends & claims the ML in front of his mother at the hospital - that scene is perfection & you can see the adoration in their eyes. Absolutely beautiful! 💜

I like the way the shift in their relationship ultimately settles into place with the SML, too. So good! It allows a more mature side to be seen in him. Speaking of which, the scene where he confronts the ML over the sleeping pills is so emotionally impactful. Such depth of emotions in that scene!! The actors deserve recognition for their portrayal of these characters! 🩵

Since I’m talking about the SML, I must also mention the adorable SFL. He’s completely clueless that she’s always had a crush on him, not the ML, which leads to some comedic moments throughout the show. But when she accidentally blurts out her confession he’s forced to face her feelings for him, but also his feelings for her. When he realizes he likes her too & claims her after the basketball game? Swoon! They’re so cute together!! This is one thing I love more in this version - he gets a love of his own instead of thinking he likes the FL. And the SFL doesn’t spend any time crushing on the ML (meaning no fight over him with the FL, yay!)

Another thing I like better in this story is the ML’s little sister. In the CDrama she’s a total brat. She does grow & mature but the majority of the time she’s unlikable. But in the KDrama she’s sweet from the start. This was a refreshing change from the original.

One of the best things that remains true in both versions is the pure awesomeness of the father duo. They’re such a non-gay married couple, haha!! They’re total opposites who’ve formed a bond while raising their kids together. Their friendship is precious & the love they share for all three kids is fierce. They don’t treat their biological child any differently than the others - to them, all three are their kids & that’s that. All the hearts, thumbs-up, & kudos for these two. They’re a beloved father pair in the drama world for a reason!

So despite some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed this drama & highly recommend it if you want to experience the beauty of a family who genuinely loves one another through all the good & bad times of life. 💖

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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.11 💋
- Together : ep.12 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 🫶🏻

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