Gabriela

"New Life Begins" it's a drama about an arranged marriage.
Li Wei is a bright girl that doesn't want to get married, so she tries everything to lose the selection and return to her home, but she ends up being chosen as a concubine to Yin Zheng.

The romance between Li Wei and Yin Zheng is freaking cute, the two go together so well. I love arranged marriage dramas!
Li Wei is so funny, what was the whole process of her thinking that Yin Zheng was dying and even ending up wearing that funeral outfit for him?! HAHAHA'
It seemed like everything was going well, but then there was that cold water with Yin Zheng having to marry Yuan Ying, but in the end it was a positive thing, because Yuan Ying helped both of them and was a great person.

It's a cute, fun, light and easy to watch drama, you won't even notice the time passing. All the characters captivate your attention, not just the main ones and this is one of the great positive points, as there is a concern with showing everyone's stories and it was endless fun to follow this.

We saw Sung Wu grow up, become a woman in love and get married. Hao Jia had her baby and almost lost her life, but managed to escape an abusive marriage. Just like An's concubines, who could no longer bear the torture of being with him, who is too dumb for anyone to handle, and opened a restaurant together with Li Wei and Jing, showing that a woman can do anything and doesn't need to depend on no man to survive. It's okay that in the end they decided to give him a second chance, but they completely changed the dynamics of the relationship.
Yin Qi and Jing have completely different personalities and were forced to get married, but as they lived together they fell in love and stole my heart, I loved seeing these two together <3

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"Not Others" it's a drama about the relationship of Eun Mi and Jin Hee, mother and daughter who basically grow up together, since Eun Mi had Jin Hee when she was a teenager.

Eun Mi was extremely brave to have Jin Hee, without a family by her side or even the child's father. Thankfully she had Mi Jung and her mother, who became the support she needed to move forward. Mother and daughter fight all the time, but the two can't live without each other and even though it was difficult, Eun Mi doesn't regret her decision, since Jin Hee is the best thing in her life, but the two are also very codependent and Jin Hee's decision in the end made a lot of sense, for her to put herself first.

Humor is the main focus of the drama, but there are still light moments of romance, which made the story more special. Jin Hee and Jae Won are cute and have very similar personalities, Eun Mi and Jin Hong are complete opposites. Seeing these two couples develop throughout the drama was a beautiful experience.

The was one of the best dramas of 2023, simply sensational in every way.
I didn't imagine that I would love this story so much, but it keeps you hooked from the first episode and that continues until the end.
The relationship between Eun Mi and Jin Hee is incredible, I lost count of how many times I laughed because of them, because of all the crazy things and even though they didn't want to admit it, how similar they both are!

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"It's Okay, That's Love" is a beautiful story about mental illness, about how people suffer from trauma and how it affects their ability to deal with reality.

Hae Soo is a psychiatrist who has a boyfriend, but has never been able to have sex because of a childhood trauma. She saw her mother with another man and this affected her in a way that she associates sex with something wrong. Jae Yeol is a famous writer who also has traumas in his past. His brother was arrested for killing his stepfather and when he got out of prison, he tried to kill him too. In addition, Jae Yeol was physically abused as a child and on one of these occasions, he ended up hiding in a latrine and developed an obsession with cleanliness and also he can also sleep in the bathroom.

The relationship between the two is very good, because you can see that it is not a simple romance, they created a bond from their traumas, their scars, their experiences, they were able to comfort each other... The big twist in the story is something I was already expecting, you could see that Kang Woo was not real, because he was almost an identical version of Jae Yeol, from everything he went through in his childhood and a coincidence like that is very unrealistic. The scene in which Hae Soo finally understands this, how much it broke her heart, is very sad, as is the moment in which Jae Yeol accepts the truth, that Kang Woo does not exist. The dramatic charge of the story at this moment is very intense.

In addition to the main couple, we also have the adorable Soo Kwang and So Nyeo, our adorable couple with Tourette's and kleptomania <3

The message that the drama wants to convey may seem cliche, but it is the greatest truth of all: love does not cure any disease, but it helps you move forward, gives you strength to keep fighting. Having someone by your side is priceless, someone to support you, to pick you up when you fall and that is the essence of this drama.

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"I Hear Your Voice" is a romance/thriller drama about three people connected by a murder.

Soo Ha witnessed his father's death when he was just a boy and ever since that day, Soo Ha has the ability to hear people's thoughts. He has searched his whole life for the girl who helped him catch the culprit, as he promised to protect her... Hye Sung is that girl. She grew up to be a lawyer who cares about nothing but winning, but as she spends time with Soo Ha and he helps her with her cases using his ability, Hye Sung begins to change and realize that justice has meaning.

I really thought this drama would have no real romance, just hints of it, but thank god I was wrong, this couple is fantastic.
Hye Sung and Soo Ha are basically a perfect couple, you want to see them together from the first episode. They are really different people but you can see that they belong together, there is a connection, a bond. One scene that makes this clear is when Min Joon Kook says that he killed Hye Sung to make Soo Ha a murderer too, but he made a promise to Hye Sung to never do that. Seeing Soo Ha running to the hospital, looking for her like crazy and finally finding her, that warm hug, is one of the best moments of the entire drama.

Besides the romance, there is Min Joon Kook, the psychopath who makes their lives hell. I really hated this man and I couldn't understand his actions even after knowing about his past, how his wife died because of Soo Ha's father, that doesn't make everything he did right. Killing Hye Sung's mother, trying to kill Hye Sung and Soo Ha multiple times... there is no way I can feel sorry for him, he became a monster by his own choice.

The story, the characters, the romance, the soundtrack, everything is just perfect. I would recommend this drama to any kdrama fan, this is a story you need to watch.

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"Arsenal Military Academy" is a drama about Xie Xiang, a girl who dresses as a man to enter a military academy in place of her deceased brother. There, she meets Yan Zhen, who not only becomes her partner, but also the person she falls in love with!

The romance between Xie Xiang and Yan Zhen is incredible; they're cute, fun, and passionate together. At first, it takes a while for Xie Xiang to accept Yan Zhen's feelings, especially since everything he did seemed like a joke, that he wasn't taking her seriously, but then Xie Xiang realizes how much Yan Zhen loves her. I lost count of how many times he confessed his feelings to her, even when everyone thought she was a man. HAHA'
It's a shame there isn't even a kissing scene between them... I think there should have been at least one.

In fact, the drama's biggest selling point is the love triangle between Xie Xiang, Yan Zhen, and Jun Shan. I loved seeing all of Yan Zhen's jealousy over Xie Xiang and Jun Shan's closeness, and after Jun Shan discovers the truth, he tries to seduce Xie Xiang, who becomes trapped between the two! It's so much fun to watch.

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"Glass Mask" is a revenge drama about Kang Yi Kyung, a girl who has been mistreated her entire life by her mother and sister Seo Yeon, who believe she is the daughter of a murderer. She ends up being framed for a crime she didn't commit, only for Seo Yeon to save the love of her life, Ha Joon. To cover up the truth, Seo Yeon "kills" Yi Kyung, who survives and returns with a new identity, seeking revenge.

The first half of the drama is excellent; the entire development is very well done, until the moment when Yi Kyung is betrayed by everyone in her family, including her father, who was the only person she trusted. When Yi Kyung returns as Seo Jung Ah, the story didn't deliver anything I expected. Where was the revenge? The episodes passed, and it seemed like nothing happened. This ending with everyone happy wasn't something I could swallow, especially after everything Seo Yeon did... she ends the drama as the victim who needed to be saved.

The romance between Yi Kyung and Seon Jae is very dull, the two have no chemistry on screen, literally none, and this was one of the story's biggest problems, since the revenge is weak, so they should have at least won over the audience with the couple... but even with that, they couldn't.

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"Dating in the Kitchen" is a drama about a young cook named Sheng Nan and Lu Jin, a wealthy man who falls in love with her cooking.

Sheng Nan ends up in debt to Lu Jin and makes a deal with him to pay her back in exchange for meals. During this process, the two fall in love, but at first, Lu Jin refuses to accept his feelings for Sheng Nan, hurting her. When Zi Qian appears, Lu Jin's jealousy leads him to try anything to win Sheng Nan's heart. Another obstacle for the couple is Li Man, Lu Jin's assistant, who is in love with him.

The romance between Sheng Nan and Lu Jin is an essential part of the drama, but it's not the only focus, as the food is the second most important element. I love when cooking dramas focus on the food, the entire process until it's ready; watching it becomes a much more immersive experience. Sheng Nan's dishes are truly mouthwatering; you literally want to climb into the screen and try them!

It's a shame that at some point the food took a back seat, no longer appearing in the story, which focused more on the couple. I can't say this was a mistake, because I loved seeing Sheng Nan and Lu Jin together, but I really enjoyed watching her cook.

The soundtrack is incredible; every song is addictive <3

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"Chef Hua" is a cooking drama about a young woman named Xiao Mai, who loves to cook and wants to make a living out of it.

One day in the forest, she meets Yu Huai and falls in love at first sight. The two begin to spend more time together, especially when Xiao Mai opens a noodle stand. Yu Huai is always there to protect her, but at the same time, Xiao Mai knows how to stand up for herself very well!

Guan Rong is the bitch of the story, a simply detestable person who pretended to be innocent and fragile to gain sympathy from others. I loved when Xiao Mai showed her true colors to everyone. It's a shame they only used Guan Rong at the beginning; they could have drawn her out longer, at least to create some source of conflict.

The romance between Yu Huai and Xiao Mai is delightful; they're sweet and completely in love with each other. The drama is light, fun, and easy to watch, and one of the things I liked most was the way they focused on Xiao Mai's cooking. There was a big focus on the food, the preparation, and the little details that made all the difference. Seeing all that food made my mouth water! HAHAHA

I also loved seeing, for once in my life, a mother-in-law who treats her daughter-in-law well. At first, Yu Huai's mother didn't like Xiao Mai very much, but over time she opened up to her, and by the end, they were like mother and daughter. They formed a bond, thanks to Xiao Mai's efforts to win over her mother-in-law and show her that she's a good person.

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"A Robot in the Orange Orchard" is the chinese version of the korean drama "I'm Not a Robot," about a girl named Shan Shan who accepts the job of pretending to be a robot for Lu Sen, who is allergic to human contact.

I understand the purpose of making different versions of the same story, but sometimes I find it quite unnecessary, and this was one of those times, because they changed a lot of things and lacked the essence of the korean drama, because it wasn't something that could be replicated. The characters are similar, as is the romance, but it doesn't quite reach the same level of complexity, especially regarding Lu Sen's illness, how it really was a life-or-death situation, and also the whole issue of him thinking he's actually in love with a robot, all the questioning, his mental confusion—it lacked more focus.

I'm not saying the drama is bad; the romance is cute and the story is good, but it doesn't have the same impact as the original version.

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"General's Lady" is a drama about an arranged marriage between Shen Jin, the daughter of a concubine, and General Xiu Ming.

Their relationship begins like any other of its kind. Shen Jin is forced to marry Xiu Ming. At first, she doesn't even know what he looks like, only the rumors that he's like a beast. She has no interest in marrying him, she even takes a pill to fake her death and escape. The big problem is that Shen Jin suddenly falls in love with him, which was hard to believe.

The drama doesn't have much conflict; it's basically the couple being happy, with a few funny moments in between. It's a light and easy-to-watch story, but at the same time, there's nothing particularly interesting; the romance is shallow and lacks any depth. Furthermore, I don't really like it when some dramas end like this, implying that everything was just a made-up "story" and showing the characters meeting in real life.

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"Princess Agents" is a drama about Xing'er's journey, her quest to find herself.

Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun have been friends since childhood, even though they are from opposing countries. Their friendship is tested when they meet Xing'er, a slave with great abilities, with whom they both fall in love. She begins working in Yuwen Yue's house as a maid, and he teaches her martial arts. When Yan Xun's family is murdered, Xing'er allies with him, seeking revenge, and becomes Yuwen Yue's enemy.

There is no real romance in the drama, as Xing'er ends up caught between the two men, like a chess piece. This was the story's biggest mistake, because Xing'er only realizes Yuwen Yue's true feelings at the end, that he was protecting her all along, that he was the person she should have followed.

She thought Yan Xun would give her the home she so desperately wanted, a family, but he changed completely when he gained a bit of power. It went to his head, and he became worse than the people who massacred his family, especially with what he did to Yuan Chun. The poor girl had only known love for Yan Xun since she was little, and he completely broke her, her heart and her body. That scene where Xing'er finds Yuan Chun after she was raped was painful to watch.

They focused too much on the wrong relationship, when the focus should have been on Yuwen Yue and Xing'er. Furthermore, since the drama spends so much time on Yan Xun's revenge, they completely neglected Xing'er's past, her true identity... They dropped some information at the end, which was left open-ended. What happened to this drama is a shame. They took a story with great potential but failed to develop it properly.

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"The Sword and the Brocade" is a drama about the romance between Shi Yi, a concubine's daughter, and Ling Yi.

Shi Yi is forced to marry Ling Yi, her late sister's husband, with the task of protecting her son from being used by other concubines. Their relationship is initially awkward, as this marriage wasn't something either of them wanted, but over time, Ling Yi realizes that Shi Yi isn't a freeloader and gradually falls in love with her.

The romance takes a back seat, but let's be honest, how was there time for Shi Yi to fall in love with Ling Yi when nothing but bad things were happening in this house? Intrigues and conspiracies always involving Lian Fang, who is defended by everyone, until the truth comes out. After that, everything between Shi Yi and Ling Yi seems perfect, but then Shi Yi thinks Ling Yi killed her mother, and this ruins their relationship again.

We see very little of them as a real couple, but those moments are wonderful; their chemistry is impeccable. At the end, it's clear how deeply Shi Yi fell in love with Ling Yi, almost sacrificing herself to save him... At that moment, Ling Yi's entire family finally realized what a good and honest person Shi Yi is. Seeing them defend her was truly beautiful. The drama ends with everyone being one big, happy family.

This drama reminded me a lot of "The Story of Ming Lan," both in terms of the setting, the couple's development, and the main characters, daughters of concubines with strong personalities and who are really impressive.

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"A Hundred Year's Inheritance" is a family drama about Chae Won, a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, who managed to escape and start her life over.

Chae Won is married to Chul Gyu. Her seemingly perfect life is far from perfect, as her mother-in-law mistreats her at every opportunity, and her husband, who said he would protect her, always sides with his mother—a complete mama's boy, who has become abusive over time. Chae Won couldn't take it anymore, so she filed for divorce. However, to protect Chul Gyu's property, his mother puts Chae Won in a mental institution to buy time. It's there that Chae Won meets Se Yoon, who helps her, and their lives become intertwined from then on.

The romance between Chae Won and Se Yoon develops very slowly, their relationship becomes more solid with all the situations Chae Won's ex-mother-in-law arranges. She ends up being the matchmaker in this relationship, because if she hadn't put Chae Won in the psychiatric hospital, this two would never have met. They're a cute couple, but in my opinion, Se Yoon is a very apathetic character.

I really enjoyed Chae Won's story, seeing her overcome adversity, escape the hell of her marriage, and regain control of her life. It's a story of resilience that shows a woman's strength. I just think they could have had her working alongside her grandfather much earlier in the story, because the factory was a very interesting element that was poorly utilized. All the other characters are rather dull, so the scenes of them making noodles ended up being overshadowed.

The most interesting character of all was Chul Gyu. His mentality is so twisted, with his obsessive love for Chae Won, that he provided the drama's best scenes. Whether it was all the fake suicide attempts, or him wanting to be arrested for adultery with Chae Won so he could divorce Hong Joo. He was completely insane, but so funny at the same time. HAHAHA'

The worst character is definitely Se Yoon's mother. She's a detestable person and, in my opinion, much worse than Chul Gyu's mother. She always mistreated Choon Hee whenever she saw her, as if Choon Hee couldn't be around her, and even more so, Se Yoon, even though she was the one who stole Choon Hee's child. She's the one in the wrong, but she was always arrogant and self-important, simply disgusting.

Overall, it's an average drama. The story is very good, only the romance is weak.

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"Hana Yori Dango" is the Japanese version of the F4 story. It's also the most famous and well-known version.

Makino is a poor girl who attends a school full of rich people, always feeling out of place and not belonging. One day, while helping a friend she recently made, Makino becomes the target of the F4 and earns a "Red Tag," meaning she's marked, and the students do everything they can to make Makino give up and leave the school. Unable to stand the humiliation and bullying any longer, Makino decides to fight back, and her attitude is what makes Domyouji fall in love with her.

The drama is a typical Cinderella story, but Domyouji is what makes it interesting, as his personality is completely different from any Prince Charming. He's immature, impulsive, and sometimes quite stupid, but at the same time, he's affectionate, loyal, and once he falls in love, he never gives up. If I had to characterize someone from F4 as a prince, it would be Rui, because of his personality and his demeanor.

The romance between Makino and Domyouji in this first season is captivating, but since the drama is split into two seasons, they made the beginning lighter, allowing us to see Makino gradually realize she's in love with Domyouji. The final scene where Makino pursues Domyouji and finally confesses her feelings for him is truly memorable <3

One of the reasons I loved this version so much is that there's a strong focus on all the F4 members, not just Domyouji and Rui. Akira and Soujirou are also great characters, so having more screen time with them was a joy. The soundtrack is another reason; it was through this drama that I discovered ARASHI, and what an incredible band they are! It's impossible to stop singing!

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"Uncontrollably Fond" is a drama about the tragic love story between Joon Young and Eul.

Joon Young and Eul met in high school. They only fought when they saw each other, but secretly they were in love. Eul's father was killed in a hit-and-run. While searching for answers, she discovers that Choi Hyun Joon covered up the real culprit and finds proof. The problem is, he is Joon Young's biological father. In a moment of impulse trying to help his father, Joon Young causes an accident, and Eul nearly dies in the process. From then on, the two grow apart and reunite years later. Joon Young has become a star and Eul a PD wanting to film his documentary.

It's the typical drama that you know from the beginning is going to be sad, as Joon Young only has three months to live. This is one of the reasons he decides to win Eul back, as he wants to enjoy what's left of his life with her. So you carry this feeling with you as you watch, mentally preparing yourself for the finale, and even though I prepared myself, nothing was enough to stop the tears!

The romance between Joon Young and Eul is beautiful, tragic, and passionate. Their chemistry on screen is spectacular, and you root with all your might for everything to work out. You pray for Joon Young to somehow survive, even though you know it's impossible. You pray for one more moment, one more smile, one more kiss... it's a story that leaves a deep impression on you.

If I had to find a flaw in the drama, it's that there's very little screen time for Joon Young and Eul as a couple. They start to get along starting in episode 7, but then Joon Young decides to plot revenge against Jung Eun, to expose her crimes and redeem himself for what he did to Eul. In the process, he and Eul suffered immensely. Since their time together was so short, I thought it was cruel to drag out this revenge so long, giving them only the last two episodes.

Hyun Woo is a very interesting second lead. I didn't get to the point of rooting for him, because that was impossible with Joon Young in the story. But what captivated me was how you end up feeling sorry for him. He's in love with Eul, but he can't move forward with his feelings out of guilt for what his father did to her father, how he destroyed her life without blinking an eye and continued living as if it were nothing. That's why Hyun Woo pretended to be someone else and helped Eul and Jik. But at the same time, it was his fault that Joon Young decided to plan revenge, because he said neither of them deserved to be with her... It angers me knowing he took away the little happiness they had.

The drama is incredible in every way—the story, the characters, the tragic romance—but what really captivated me was the soundtrack. I loved that era when all the songs in the drama were great. "New Empire - A Little Braver" is a spectacular song!

"See you tomorrow, Joon Young Ah" <3

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