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Love Actually

This drama was a lovely breath of fresh air with its storyline and artistic energy. It filled me with such warmth during the rather cold days of February. In a nutshell, it was full of relatable moments that takes you back to your youth. Back to those days when you saw your first drama episode and found a whole new world.

It's no surprise that the avid drama watcher that I am felt an especially strong connection with our cute movie lover boy. The main characters deliver the full rainbow of emotions with such ease that I was crying hard by the time episode 7 rolled around. I really recommend digging out those tissues before it's too late. As I marathoned the latter half of the show, my sleeves were extra moist by the time it ended.

The solid acting really made this show for me. Kim Jae Wook especially pulled at my heartstrings with his role as the devoted older brother. Jun truly cared for Gyeom with all his might (*sniff* someone is cutting onions here *cough*). Choi Woo Shik did a great job acting as the goofy and bright younger brother with hidden depths - it was a very different role from him, so the novelty improved my watching experience considerably. As a huge fan of Park Bo Young, it was interesting to see this slightly less bubbly performance from her. Her character's story was good even though our main guys, Mr. Kim and Choi, really stole the show for me this time. My personal favorite drama brother duo of 2024-2025 so far!

I really recommend this to my fellow drama fans who fell in love with dramas at an early age and watched so many they can't even keep track anymore. This show made me understand myself slightly more. Still waiting for my one Movie <3

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Healing Headhunting

This was a strong start to the drama year with its novel casting, fresh plotline and fantastic acting. The show exceeded all expectations and also brought us another fabulous performance from Seo Hye Won - the side character we all know and love.

Lee Jun Hyuk and Han Ji Min were a novel pairing that did the emotional rollercoaster such justice. I honestly did not expect such great chemistry. Mr. Lee especially delivered a big surprise with his character portrayal in this drama. The bright and nurturing personality was such a direct opposite to his usual cold and serious roles. Paired with Han Ji Min's cool and multi-layered career woman energy, the cocktail was simply too good to resist.

The drama's setting is deep in the headhunter biz with intriguing doses of melancholy and comedy. The show addresses topics like depression and grief, so of course I had to use a couple of tissues to fix the leaky faucet that my eyes became while watching this. Lady Han and Mr. Lee truly gave us raw glimpses of their characters' inner landscapes.

I really recommend this for people who want a healing romance with a side of business-life intrigue and rough life events!

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Heartwarming brewing!

A really nice story that touches on various important topics such as trauma and societal pressure. Darker themes are introduced rather briefly and are mostly left unaddressed at the end to maintain a light-hearted tone. There was a lot of potential for endless tears, but the cast was better suited for a lightweight drama and comedy was sprinkled generously.

What made this show really stand out was the portrayal of the relationship between the main leads - especially, the growth they experienced individually and together was just beautiful to watch. Also, I learned a lot about beer brewing and, most importantly, about myself 🍺🧡

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Pool Tour of Helsinki

There's a lot to say about this diamond of a drama, but I'll try to keep it brief for your sanity. Absolutely loved the story and acting. It felt so different and natural that I honestly thought I was watching a drama based on a true story.

The cast was diverse and we surprisingly saw a lot of internationals, which is a rare treat in Mando-dramas. I do admit that it was hard to follow the English lines at times, but it was truly necessary for the plot and you get used to it quite quickly. The familiar shooting locations around Helsinki added so much flavor to the overall experience - high fives to all the Finns reading this!

A super interesting drama about 9-Ball and snooker athletes was not something I thought I needed. Still, I clearly did as I got to see a couple that left me almost breathless. The main couple's chemistry was just off the charts. I truly loved how carefully they built the romance and added that realistic, awkward feel to it through their acting. By the end, I was watching some real 9-Ball and snooker tournament videos because I was just so fascinated by the whole thing. It's almost magical how this drama created an urge in me to learn the game even though I have absolutely zero talent.

Really recommend this drama to viewers, especially the Finns out there, who need something new in the predictable world of romance dramas.

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Our Unique Flags

It all starts with a big slap ✋🏼
This a super fun and unexpectedly deep story about a catfish love triangle. We follow our main lady Cha in her journey to find love and investigate a scam. Lots of coffee is being served with a side of drama as everyone tries to navigate a web of lies.

One huge strength of this drama is the writing - the depictions of OCD behavior and panic attacks really help raise awareness. Especially enjoyed seeing how the men try to navigate these difficult topics/situations. Matt and JR are deliciously multidimensional and their dynamics add great layers to this show. Dive into the sea of red flags! 🚩

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Blooming Flowers at War

This show is a stunning cinematographic experience with amazing soundtrack and acting. The start is slow but the show rewards the viewer later with its killer plot - tension, betrayal and desperation. It is a story of one man that risks it all for the woman he loves and holds on to his values no matter the consequences.

In all honesty, this is a frustratingly interesting story. It somehow keeps you watching long after you've given up on the characters. I did struggle with our main leads at times, but I have to say that it was a brilliant move to not make them perfect. The viewer gets to see them actually evolve and find what holds them together in a world divided by war and violence.

The actors did a wonderful job portraying such complex characters. Yoo Gil Chae was the epitome of a naive and entitled girl who had not yet seen life outside of her village. Only when Gil Chae meets a worldly man and has to fight to survive, does she finally start to face some hard truths and truly grow. The journey was long and painful, but she saved so many people on the way that I felt like she redeemed herself.

I was quite literally glued to my screen every time our main man, Lee Jang Hyun, had something to say. It felt like a message of utmost importance was being delivered as he masterfully built that tension through powerful body language and enunciation. I haven't seen such a talented actor in a long time. He was unrivaled, raw charisma.

This is no casual drama experience. It requires determination and willingness to power through some mind-blowingly maddening moments. However, Part 2 serves us even more madness, so this is just the appetizer. Enjoy!

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Revenge Story of Shivers and Tears

Shen Yurong, your wife made you. Now, she'll destroy you, and we'll love every single second of it.

With breathtaking visuals and a tingle-inducing soundtrack, the Double leads you through a mesmerizing chess match where the pawn could very well be the player. Betrayal from someone who you love and trust has never felt more agonizing and cowardly, but through chance encounters and many ordeals we find justice and realize what true love actually looks like. This invigorating slow burn with long looks and stimulating conversation will not leave you feeling cold.

Every plot twist and iconic one-liner is carefully crafted to make an army of shivers crawl up your spine. The acting is so good that you will suddenly find yourself completely in tune with all the on-screen emotions and empathizing with some unexpected characters. Prepare to cry a river and shout in outrage. That's what I did - multiple times.

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Mission: Steal My Heart - 100% Complete!

To start this love letter of mine, I would like to say that I came in completely oblivious to the plot and drama genre. I had seen tiny glimpses of Xuanhuan dramas before and thought that they would never be my cup of tea. It's safe to say that I couldn't have been more wrong, and I'm so happy that I gave this show a chance.

It's very rare to find a drama with such a captivating storyline and rich world full of unique, lovely characters. The acting and overall production quality made this an immersive experience that kept me in its warm embrace until the end. Every plot twist and moment of character development was built in such a meaningful way. In a nutshell, I felt connected, and that's no easy feat.

As I'm at a loss for words, I'll just let my tears speak for themselves. Almost feels like I'm saying goodbye to a dear friend now that the drama is over. We had such an adventure together. It was full of laughter, love, hope and sorrow. We lost loved ones and learned to face hard truths. Most of all, it was a journey of growth. It changed me, and that's how I know it was one heck of a ride.

Finally, I cannot thank my fellow reviewers enough for convincing me to dive into this drama. As most of you promised, it truly stole my heart. Mission 100% complete 📕

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