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Sensitive, Authentic Love Story - Sugino Yosuke is Greenest Flag!
The Good Parts: "Koi-Desu" is an incredibly beautiful, wholesome romance drama. The lead characters are well-written, and their chemistry feels authentic and relatable. The show sensitively explores the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, emphasizing that they seek equality and kindness rather than pity. The romance is genuine and not over-the-top, with the male lead showing great understanding and growth. The supporting characters add depth by realistically portraying the difficulties and support systems around the main couple.What Could Have Been Better: The final episodes, particularly the twist in Episode 9 and overall Episode 10, felt unnecessary and detracted slightly from the overall experience. This twist brought down the rating from a perfect 10 to 9/10.
Conclusion: A must-watch for fans of romance dramas. It offers a heartfelt, realistic portrayal of love and challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. With great performances and a meaningful message, this drama is highly recommended despite the minor flaw in the final twist.
Watch it For:
- Cute, Healthy Rom-Com where two very different people bonded
- Sugino Yosuke : this man deserves more main lead roles!
- Supportive friends and family
- Great Message, which all of us can takeback in our own lives
- Great acting by all characters
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Murder, Frenemies, Real-World Cases in Law School
➥ Lesson: Law may seem imperfect, but the truth always surfaces. Law destroys those who don't fear it.➥ Nutshell Review: Centered around a law school with students and professors, this drama begins with a campus murder. The plot intertwines various cases, showcasing students learning, overcoming faults, and understanding the importance of integrity and law.
Best Parts:
➥ Intriguing Plot:
✦ Fast-paced courtroom drama with crisp storylines, thought-provoking cases, and mysterious twists
✦ Law jargon explained well, feels like a classroom
✦ Good wins over evil, feel-good factor
✦ Great cinematography with brilliant close-up shots and transitions
✦ Good Character Development: Redemption for characters who own up to mistakes
✦ Justified cliffhangers urging binge-watching
➥ Brilliant Cast and Acting:
✦ Kim Myung Min: Dominates the screen with presence and finesse
✦ Kim Bum: Brilliant portrayal of a law student
✦ Lee Jun Eun: Versatile and impactful
✦ Notable mentions: Ahn Nae Sang, Woo Hyun, Park Hyuk Kwon, Lee Chun Hee, Jo Jae Ryong
➥ Why Watch:
✦ Unique angle on courtroom dramas from a classroom perspective
✦ Keeps you guessing till the end with a satisfying conclusion
✦ Comparable to western movies like A Few Good Men, The Lincoln Lawyer, Primal Fear
✦ Enjoyable storytelling and narration
✦ Highly recommended for those who love courtroom dramas and intricate plots!
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2025 - and still the BEST/ PERFECT Drama EVER! ❤️
As a decade-long drama enthusiast, I can confidently say "Mr. Queen" sets an unparalleled benchmark. Scoring a perfect 10 in every aspect - a first for any drama/movie EVER on my watchlist, this production's excellence speaks for itself. "Mr. Queen" skillfully blends political intrigue, mystery, romance, action, supernatural elements, and comedy - all delivered through outstanding acting, well-timed OST & BGM, and stunning cinematography. I'm re-writing this review as I rewatch this gem drama possibly for the 15-20th time and hoping that no one misses out watching this PERFECTION.Special Mentions:
♡ Shin Hye Sun as Mr Queen (FL): The leading lady owns this drama. Have seen her as a support actress since long, the moment I was watching this drama as it aired, I knew she had made it. From her dialogue delivery, facial expressions, body language bringing out the duality & conflict of her role of a man in a woman's body. This role was made for her and Shin Hye Sun is MY QUEEN!
♡ Kim Jung Hyun as King Cheol Jong (SML): This was my first drama of his and I love him. The way he expresses and switches from acting like a fool to being a calculating political vigilante but also turning up the charm/kind personality as he slowly falls in love with the Queen.
♡ Supporting Characters: Court Lady Cho, Hong Yeon, Kim Byung In, Kim Hwan, Grand Queen Dowager Sunwon, and Man Bok add significant value to the story. They support the main characters while establishing their own memorable presence.
♡ Story, Pace & Cinematography: The clothes, set, direction, pace, and cliffhangers are all tastefully done, making you click the next episode automatically. There is not a dull moment, and while many things are happening across times, different part of palace - the storytelling is done masterfully leaving you engaged and excited for the mystery to unfold and not a single moment of confusion. BEST - the comic timing of all characters: comedy is one of the toughest things to bring out and this drama has earned a gold medal in it. It also has some of the best action scenes and puns that I have ever encountered in a drama of similar genre.
♡ OST: 10/10. From comic songs to romantic ballads and action scores, the OST is a masterpiece and deserves a place in your music playlist. The timing is so right and fits so well with the scenes. #BongHwaNa will remain stuck in your mind for long. A good example of songs fitting in scenes: https://youtu.be/xQyC1wZmFes?si=BJR5kr5PLmbyi1BS
Overall: Just Watch it, believe me it will be the best decision to spend 20 hours of your life. And then you'll join me rewatching it cause one time is just not enough! ❤️ The next time you'll see these actors in any other show/movie I bet you'll fondly remember their roles in Mr Queen - that is how ICONIC it is! #BongHwaNaaaaaaaa
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Strong Start, Weak Finish | Amazing Rom-Com, Mystery But Failed to Tie the End
I went gaga as this drama began with all the right elements: beautiful romance of main & second leads, right dose of comedy and mystery that piqued interest in past/present timelines. They also maintained focus on women empowerment which was executed well through the FL's work in past/present. But ALL this is maintained and peaked till Ep 10, but the last 2 episodes seem to be written by some other writer/director, cause it was just a chaotic mess that leaves you disappointed especially after the high that initial episodes gave.Best Parts:
- Amazing Cast &Performance in respective roles. Especially of ML, FL, SML, FML, FL Mon, ML's StepMom, Step Bro ❤️
- Great chemistry and Romance of ML/FL & SML/SFL
- Good build of of past/present timeline and mystery
- Pretty dresses, locations!
- Great intro & build up of evil characters
Messy Parts:
- Could not deliver the ending well for romance or the mystery
- Some support characters are just forgotten in end episodes
VERDICT:
Recommended for one time watch, just be cautious of the ending being a mess. So if you can handle it for the sake of concluding the story, watch it.
PERSONAL FAVS:
- Was already a fan of the FL and SFL - but now am also in love with the looks, acting and voices of the ML and SML.
- I really want the actress who plays Step Mom to be cast as a Good Mom role. Have already seen in negative roles here, Extraordinary Attorney Woo and My Lovely Liar. She deserves better although in all 3 she has a redemption arc.
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Honest Review: Not Perfect, yet one of the best of 2024!
There have been moments in my 18 years of drama-addicted life, where I have been obsessed with a drama - its plot, actors, characters, scenes - to the point that made people question my sanity. But never have I come across a drama, that too airing, that has impacted me so much from Day 1 like Lovely Runner! I hardly have time to sleep/eat managing my work-personal life, but for this show - I decided to throw it all away to engage in MDL theories, comment and even create a Insta page dedicated to this show!Now that you have got an understanding of obsession, and I know this is going in the HALL OF FAME as one of the best K-dramas I have seen till date BUT it is IMPERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL. Hence, please read my un-biased review of this drama:
❤️ Ep 1-10 - Literal Perfection
Heart Fluttering Romance ✔ | Well-Timed Comedy ✔ | right amount of fantasy, suspense & angst ✔ | Music that heals ✔
Basically these episodes had sugar and spice - think of everything that you like in a drama, irrespective of genre, and Lovely Runner has it. The hype it initially created deserved every bit of recognition - and everyone in the cast and crew gave it their heart, which made the final presentation something to look forward to even on dreaded Mondays!
❤️ Byeon Woo Seok & Kim Hye Soon
I cannot even begin to describe the love & pride I feel for these two. Those who are acquainted with their journey would understand how long it has taken for them to be recognized as main leads in this industry. They literally breathed life into their characters - making the chemistry palpable that I won't be surprised if they share they are dating IRL. I think when we say that you cannot imagine anyone else doing these roles OR their character names is recalled more than their real names - it is a testimony of a job fabulously done. They were both amaJING and unbelieBUBBLE and I cannot wait to see them in new projects. Literally the example of #onwards-and-upwards - I am rooting for their success & happiness, and grateful that they took this project and gifted me with such a beautiful experience & memory.
❤️ Music:
I really love how they used the plot story and band - Eclipse and released the OST. Really love these kind of witty nuggets - am such a sucker for it. Thinking from a business perspective - this opens so many doors for BWS who has sung these tracks - to host concerts or sing in his fan meetings. I guess the sharp minds of the industry and agency must have already thought of it.
But I feel the main track - Sudden Shower (Sonaki/소나기) is so damn beautiful and I loved how catalytic it was in the plot.
Other favorites: Spring Snow by 10cm, Like a Dream by Minnie. Already a part of my playlist, and I know it will stay for long.
Now, onto what could have been better? Ep 11 and onwards
Please note that I write this with the mindset of "WABI-SABI" i.e. Beauty in Imperfection. The drama is still is great, but it is not without flaws:
✘ Character Development:
Harsh but true - the leads were uni-dimensional, having only one goal throughout FL wants to save ML, ML is all about puppy love for FL. Not bad per se, but by stretching this overkilled what was initially cute, heart warming, toe curling into fillers. Even the support characters (brother/best friend, In Hyuk, Tae Seong, FL & ML's parents) & villain were not judiciously used to their potential. They were enjoyable whenever onscreen, but the same kind of comedy due to repeating timelines killed the initial excitement thereby not leaving with the greatest impression.
Had this been a 10-12 episode drama format, it would have more impactful, as the repeats/fillers would have not been there. I quote this from a fellow MDL user, Kate's review: it did seem like that they ran out of what to create, in the second half and therefore repurposed many of the epic scenes in new timeline packaging. (Read her review here: https://kisskh.at/profile/Shini/review/363193)
❤️Overall
In the end - the anticipation and fun that we had as we watched while it aired might not be felt by those who binge it. Hence I am fearful the high ratings we see now, might dwindle. But honestly, this has been a very refreshing, feel good, guilty pleasure drama (thirst trap - included: BWS shirtless scenes, them veiny forearms & hands, long fingers, ability to catch a woman by her waist - OOOHLALALA!) but mainly a show that has after a long time: made me smile in a way that split my face in half or snort like a goofy person at the antics the drama characters played. And what else do you want from a drama : Other than the fact that it makes you feel happy from the bottom of your heart! Lovely Runner did that and more and hence recommend it to be watched at least once ❤️
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Empowering Women, Unraveling Desires & Mysteries in 90s Korea
"A Virtuous Business" centers on themes of women empowerment, human desires, and a missing-children cold case mystery set in the 1990s. The drama’s story, pace, relationships, acting, music, and costumes brilliantly support its message, bringing smiles and evoking nostalgia akin to "Reply 1988" and "Boyhood." It beautifully captures the era's nuances, societal resistance, and family dilemmas—issues we still face today, especially for women. Witnessing the main leads' vulnerabilities, perseverance, and eventual success evoked a personal sense of triumph. This almost flawless drama earns a spot in my personal Hall of Fame, and here's why:❤️Best Parts:
➥ Women Empowerment: This drama shines in showcasing positive female friendships. The four leading ladies, connected by a business idea, navigate everyday challenges with grace and resilience. Despite their different ages, family setups, and personalities, they all yearn for social and financial freedom. The drama sensitively portrays their vulnerabilities, reflecting the societal pressures women still face today. Their personal triumphs are both inspiring and relatable, offering hope and motivation to tackle challenges that have somewhat remained and exist even today.
➥ Human Desires: Our lead women venture into the business of selling adult toys at a time when sex is taboo. Even today, discussing basic human desires openly remains a challenge. This drama endears itself by addressing these topics through a mix of serious and comedic scenes, normalizing conversations about sexual fantasies, acts, and tools. It's a refreshing take that makes you realize this is just another business, and there's nothing to be ashamed of.
➥ Missing Children Mystery: Beyond the themes of women fighting for their rights and dealing with societal issues, there's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this drama. A cold case of fires and missing children brings a detective (our male lead) to town, intertwining his personal conflict with the mystery. The twists and turns are well-executed, and the ending is wholesome, satisfying, mature, and happy!
✘ A Small Miss - Personal Opinion:
While the drama hints at the characters' future paths, which is satisfying, I personally prefer closed endings. Additionally, the second half of the finale felt a bit rushed, which is why I rate it 9.5/10.
❤️ Overall: MUST WATCH!
"A Virtuous Business" is one of the best dramas of 2024 and comes highly recommended!
It is a must-watch for its heartwarming portrayal of women empowerment, human desires, and an engaging cold case mystery. With its brilliant story, relatable characters, and nostalgic charm, this drama captures the essence of the 1990s while addressing issues that resonate even today. The mix of serious and comedic scenes, combined with a mature romance, wholesome friendships and satisfying ending, ensures a delightful viewing experience!
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Stalker meets Psycho, Average Thriller - Watch it for the Main Leads
This had been on my watchlist for Shin Hye Sun & Byun Yo Han & because of their sheer acting brilliance I rated this otherwise average thriller +1 than deserved. The film offers a captivating narrative with a steady pace, twists and turns, and a suspenseful soundtrack. However, it falls short of being truly memorable and often feels reminiscent of famous Hollywood movie adapted from a book, of similar theme/genre.What sets this movie apart, though, is its poignant focus on the effects of social media on real life and the unusual habit of the male lead that spirals into trouble. It masterfully portrays how some individuals become so consumed by projecting a perfect life on social networks that they turn delusional, harming themselves and those around them. It also sheds light on how what one person might perceive as a harmless hobby could be viewed as disturbingly stalkerish behavior.
The ending was particularly striking, highlighting the absence of a true victim as the lines between protagonist and antagonist blur, each believing they were taking the right actions. It's a thought-provoking commentary on modern society's obsessions and the thin line between right and wrong.
Overall: Average Thriller - watch it if you don't have anything else AND/OR you are a fan like me of the two main leads ❤️
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Good Drama, if you go with right expectation (i.e. lower them)
Prepare yourself mentally before starting this drama - that this would be cliched in every sense: characters, situations, romance & mystery. It is one of those dramas that does not need a lot of brain power, and should be taken lightly.Acting: This is my first drama seeing both the FL and ML for the first time in drama (I have seen the FL in some minor role and ofc as part of her girl group). They both do not act that will make you sit up and applaud but are not terrible either. The rest of the cast are also easy on the eyes & brain as the drama progresses, but nothing memorable.
Plot-wise: Too cliche to the core - but then sometimes one is in mood of such plots when you do not want to use much of your brain cells. In that respect this drama delivers, but if you go with high expectation you will be highly disappointed.
Overall - recommended only if you have nothing else to watch. Nothing is memorable about it, but when you watch it somehow it passes time really well.
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Epic Setup & VFX, but Soulless Adaptation
➥ TL;DR Review:Best Bits: Stunning visual effects, solid performances from the cast.
Worst Bits: Everything else. Story, pacing, character depth—meh.
Watch It? Only if you’re killing time or have a soft spot for the actors. Otherwise, skip.
➥ Detailed Review:
I haven’t read the original web novel, so this review is purely based on the movie. My rating is honestly generous - entirely for the visual effects and the sheer effort the cast and crew poured into this otherwise clunky adaptation.
When the movie was first announced, I was hyped. I’m a sucker for stories where characters slip into fictional worlds—think W or Extraordinary You. Plus, it starred my OG K-drama crush, Lee Min Ho. His recent projects haven’t wowed me, but nostalgia’s a powerful thing. Then came Ahn Hyo Seop, one of my absolute faves. I’ve watched him grow from Splash Splash Love to 30 but 17 and of course, the delightful Business Proposal. With a cast like that, how could I not be curious?
I didn’t catch the movie right away, but I kept tabs on the reviews—and they weren’t kind. So by the time I watched it (Oct 2, 2025), my expectations were comfortably low. I was ready for a time-pass flick, nothing more.
And that’s exactly what I got.
The story had potential but felt rushed and undercooked. Honestly, it might’ve worked better as a mini-series. Some character arcs—Dok-ja, Hyeon Seong, Hui Won, Ji Hye—were surprisingly well done given the runtime. Others? Just filler. The emotional beats around teamwork and unity were nice, even heartwarming at times. I mean, who doesn’t want to believe that humanity can come together in a crisis?
But the pacing was all over the place. Exposition was thin, and the ending? It felt like someone hit pause mid-scene and forgot to come back. I kept waiting for a final twist or explanation… and then the credits rolled. The core message—if there was one—was murky at best. I think it was about unity, but that’s me guessing.
Some characters hogged screen time without adding much. The script was weak, and the storytelling didn’t do justice to the world it was trying to build. Someday, I’ll read the original work to cleanse my palate. Because this movie? Left a bitter aftertaste - sadly!
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Love, in its purest form - can create Miracles ❤️
What is a miracle? One of the answers could be: finding love that is selfless and pure, especially in today's world. Which is why movies like this make such a deep impression on you & tugs at your heartstrings!Story-wise: An intellectually-challenged man & his daughter live happily in their own world. However, their lives are disrupted when the father is wrongly accused of a heinous crime & sent to prison. Fellow prisoners & the warden mistreat him, given the gravity of his crimes - but over time, they realize their mistake & conclude that the man is framed. To make amends - they try to unite him with his daughter within the prison cell and in doing so - experience a Miracle that will last them all a lifetime! ❤️
Within this straightforward narrative lies a tapestry of powerful emotions:
• Anger/Frustration: when you witness the injustice.
• Happiness: when you see the love between - father/daughter, fellow prisoners, warden and officers
• Sadness: when you realize that there are somethings beyond you & you give in
• Hope: when you know even when everything seems lost and at the end, that is when miracles happen! ❤️
I know the focus was the above, but I wish they had shown the wrong-doers getting punished & accepting their mistakes in front of the main leads.
Overall: Highly recommend this to ALL. I myself held off watching it since long as I knew it would be a tear-jerker. Late to watch it, but glad that I did not miss this gem - one of the greatest film experience of our times, that has become a classic. In case you have not seen it yet - don't wait, keep a tissue box handy & watch the miracle unfold! ❤️
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Beautiful Tales Celebrating Life & Death with underlying Rom/Mystery
It is a very mature and well-written drama where a heavy mystical element of life/death blends in beautifully with romance & mystery. At end of every track - romance, the stories of the departed, accident/murder mystery - you get absolute closure, and there is a sense of understanding more than any other emotion.Brilliantly narrated the different stories of the 21 souls who have passed away but momentarily resurrected by the FL's gift/curse to share their regret/last wishes. Each story is heart-warming & provides closure not only to the bereaved but at times are the missing pieces of the underlying mystery that impacts the lives of the main & supporting characters of drama.
The romance and mystery element are synced perfectly with these stories and at no point you feel like they are parallel tracks.
Very rarely you get dramas where they are able to seamlessly blend such a heavy subject of life/death with romance. The mystery also was not dragged but done neatly, leaving you with a heavy heart cause in the end you must learn to forgive & move on for the sake of the departed.
Would highly recommend watching it for the following:
• Great storylines - amazing mix of heavy topics of death, romance, mystery, comedy! For this seamless blend it is a 10/10.
• The acting by all but especially - ML,FL, FL's father & uncle. ML's uncle is top-notch.
• I am giving it 8.5: only cause in some instances for the last episodes I felt the pace dipping & [minor spoiler] I wish the ending case could be someone else. Not a masterpiece, but almost perfect!
❤️ Special mention for Lee Jun Young
Hyeri (FL) is already known for her work & as an idol. Many would also know Lee Jun Young but he is still called an upcoming actor. I think in 2024 we should declare him a superstar - cause the man has got it all - the looks, the talent (Acting and Singing), he's a complete package. I have been following him from some time now & the range he has in acting, who'd say he is an idol-actor? Only wishing him more success & can already see he has many projects planned!
❤️ [WILD SPOILER] MAN CAN KISS!
Omo, Omo, Omo! In a land of cardboard and fish kisses, this man make your toes, feet, arms, body curl & tingle in ways I never thought was possible with the way he kisses. Like seriously, he is already panty-dropping hot and handsome but the moment he kissed that was just another level. I literally choked on my spit - Hyeri you lucky woman! ~(˘▾˘~) New watchers you have been warned, LOL!
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Sublime Sensuality, Exciting Paced Drama but Mediocre Revenge Arc!
This Drama is for YOU - If You LIKE:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
♥ Sublime Sensuality:
I love when romance is built up without excessive acts of service, nudity/sex scenes. To me this drama also was about second chance at love. The main characters are distrustful of being hurt again; hence their romance is built with less words, but rather care, understanding. The sensuality/sexual tension is palpable but not in your face. The leads did not even have a single kissing scene but their moments together were charming. Areumdaun/Beautiful (아름다운) to the core!
♥ Acting par Excellence:
As expected of actors in their caliber - all the characters irrespective of the script, played their characters to perfection.
Kim Hee Sun needs no words, she is flawless. Cha Ji Yeon, Park Hoon, Lee Hyun Wook - I have literally seen them in just one other drama respectively where even their minor roles they had left quite an impression. This drama was even better as they had more screentime to show their talent. I personally will now look up their other works & watch especially for - Lee Hyun Wook! Jung Eugene - I have seen her in many dramas, but she was not memorable until this antagonist role. She brings life to the character that is truly despicable. You'll want to pull her hair, bitch-slap her & hope karma hits her hard - which is only the result of her embodying the character to perfection. Kudos!
♥ Beautiful Cinematography, Screenplay & OST:
Costumes, locations, make-up - everything was minimalist but luxurious & the music is hauntingly beautiful & hypnotic. Both interweave with the scenes & characters perfectly enhancing the viewing experience. The screenplay/pace of drama - is not neck-breaking, but you cannot help but end up watching just one more episode. Inconspicuously, all these factors aid in making this makjang drama keeping it thrilling & (almost)-unpredictable.
What MIGHT BOTHER You:
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✘ The Revenge Served is Very Cold. Almost Frozen.
Given the initial build-up & despicable antagonist(s), I thought the revenge was average. Not unsatisfactory, but neither leaving me with a triumphant feeling as a viewer. I blame the script for weakening it, even though I appreciate that it was not draggy & the 8-episode format is a satisfactory timeframe for this story to conclude.
P.S. I do not want to detail the ending, cause that will spoil it - but it came quite unannounced with no preamble to the twist they gave. Again it is satisfactory cause everyone is hoping for it but an explanation would have been nicer, even if it had been in form of a flashback between the characters.
✘ Some Support Characters felt unfinished
Not sure if there will be a Season 2, but there were some characters like the SML & the owner of Rex whose stories felt rather unfinished. I say rather, cause you can be contend with their ending, but personally I had questions on what will happen to them now that the main plot is resolved.
OVERALL: almost Perfect, succinct thrilling makjang! 8/10
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✦ The above negatives are not deal breakers, but it would have made it a perfect 10/10 drama had they been there.
✦ I am slowly getting into makjang dramas, this being my 3rd after Penthouse & Perfect Marriage Revenge. I did not know I would enjoy this genre as much as I do, but if the quality/story is anything like this one- I cannot help but keep binging!
✦ Remarriage & Desires is special cause it is short & beautifully executed. I even rewatched some episodes, as soon as I finished the drama for pleasure viewing (Scenes like the masquerade, yacht, initial tension between the main leads)
✦ For those who enjoy this genre, or want to explore it (like I did) you should not miss this one.
✦ Will recommend watching the drama first to like the OST more, but here is YT link. Memorable piece as is the drama!
Seori - Wicked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcKMeqRej1g
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Average, Over-Hyped Drama: Recycling Fantasy/Makjang Storylines
Being a Netflix production, this drama already had created a buzz even before airing. Now at the end, the only thing that worked for it were the stunning visuals, addicting main OST & chemistry of the main leads. It had created a great build-up of the mystical element but loses it with the lackluster revenge plot, unnecessary past life stories and conclusion that was just there cause happy ending is needed. Had already posted about it but this drama should have just kept with the modern story and wrapped up in 10-12 episodes. But alas - they stretched it so much that what was initially exciting became super boring & you just fast forward to finish it out of frustration than eagerness.What Worked:
• Stunning visuals & chemistry of the main leads
• Initial, good build up of mystery around Demon & FL (power-exchange) and family fighting for power
• Cha Chung Hwa as Noh Sook Nyeo- just because she is a fantastic actress!
What Did Not Work:
• Unnecessary inclusion of past lives (the historical era of the main leads).
• Antagonists were not written well. Felt they cropped up randomly only to be beaten up by an OP character & just lost with no conclusion.
• What was the SML doing? What was his need - unnecessary love triangle to be written off easily?
• Comedic elements that just don't work & were not needed (the office workers, the gangsters, the secretaries & ML/FL's futile attempt at it)
The show borrowed a lot from fantasy and makjang dramas given it was centered around a mystical character & family fighting for power. But rather than taking it to another level or giving its own flavor/twist, it fails to bring anything unique and becomes dragged+ boring. What initially excited me: Love story of Demon & Human amidst Family Feud, gets stretched to a point that it breaks and is not digestible. It would have been better to end in the modern setting with his powers returning & discovering the identity of the antagonist(s). Extremely disappointing - especially since I had high hopes with the premise & this is my first drama of Song Kang.
My verdict to Binge or Skip? SKIP IT!
It is an average drama - so my advice is to skip it and use your time to rewatch your favorite fantasy dramas or something else with a better story.
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Addictive & Action Packed, Lacked Depth w.r.t S1
SHORT VERSIONPros:
The characters are compelling, the action sequences and performances are stellar, and the pacing is so engaging that it’s perfect for binge-watching in one sitting. Just as I did with Season 1, Season 2 was equally addictive.
Cons:
(1) It lacked some depth in Na Baek Jin’s backstory, which was hinted at but never fully explored.
(2) I hoped for a larger role for my favorite character, Wolf (Seong Je), played by Lee Jun Young.
Overall:
Highly recommended if you’re a fan of action dramas centered on school life and don’t mind an appetite for (almost senseless) violence. It excels in action, acting, storytelling, and pacing - otherwise, like its predecessor. So if you enjoyed S1, S2 is of same class!
LONG VERSION:
While I enjoy the show for its stellar acting, gripping story, and thrilling action—much like Season 1—I’m torn between viewing it as simple entertainment or searching for a deeper message. If it’s the former, the series works perfectly as a great action drama. But if it’s the latter, even after two seasons, I’m unclear about its intentions. Does it encourage standing up to bullies by fighting back? Or does it argue that violence perpetuates an endless cycle without true resolution?
This ambiguity leaves me conflicted, as the portrayal of violence feels disconnected from reality. Having experienced bullying—directly and indirectly, though not as intense as in the show—I know that most victims stay silent, endure, and hope it ends with graduation. Rarely do they confront their bullies, a troubling truth despite stricter rules and policies. Bullying persists, spanning schools, universities, and even adult life - EVEN TODAY. This makes me wonder what the show/webtoon (not read) hopes to achieve by showcasing more violence. What message does it want the audience to grasp, and what should I take away from it?
Ultimately, I’ve chosen to enjoy the drama purely for its entertainment value. Its action-packed narrative is executed brilliantly, just like its predecessor, even if its deeper message remains uncertain.
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one of the best dramas of 2024 - highly recommend to binge! ✨
My life-mantra is "life is too short to waste on bad, draggy dramas" - this drama is definitely not one of them.It has been a while since a drama has been able to balance multiple themes, great acting, story, pacing and entertainment so well in a crisp format of 12 episodes. The closest that comes to my mind would be Business Proposal and I can see many other MDL users citing the same. Breaking it down for anyone still debating to watch it:
❤️ Story:
✦ contract marriage and fake relationships are nothing new, but the writers took a cliche plot & gave it a great re-packaging.
✦ it had every right ingredient in the right amount: comedy, romance, mystery/crime, heavy messages, bromance, chaebol drama
✦ the focus was on main and second leads, but even the supporting characters held their own, blending into the main plots seamlessly
❤️ Acting:
✦ Shin Min-ah [FL] - this the first drama of hers that I was able to complete. She is charming and fierce as her role demands, and vulnerable beneath that tough exterior as we progressed in the drama.
✦ Kim Young Dae [ML] - I'll be honest when I first saw him on Extraordinary You and Penthouse, I thought that he has a great voice and has the acting chops, but he might not be taken seriously and get stereotyped. But am loving the journey this guy has had - while many might still see him as a handsome face - this guy's voice and face is able to deliver such a wide range of emotions, that it seems unbelievable that he had debuted just a few years ago. I have always been a fan and eager to see him on-screen, so I know only good things are on his way.
✦ Lee Sang Yi [SML] - Saw him last in Hometown Cha Cha Cha and My Demon, where I did took note of his acting, but the roles were too small to make an impact. Bloodhound too was a different genre - but this guy is super hilarious, and this drama showed how! His clumsy CEO act, to the serious face, bromance, BL-hints and romance were just too good. I think because of his antics a lot of people were more focused on the ML/SML Bromance and second-couple romance storyline. No wonder we are going to have a spin-off, cause we just can't get enough of Team #BokGyu
❤️ Pace:
This is really a make or break for me while drama-watching. Given I have limited time, I prefer watching dramas that are crisp, on the point and keep me hooked. I am not patient enough to hope that a story will get better and drag myself through episodes. If it is good, it will have my interest from Ep 1, in fact probably the first 5-10 minutes. This drama was of 12 episodes, which already piqued my interest and further it landed a good punch/hook as you'd like to call in every episode, making me want more and wait eagerly for the next episode. This is what I personally prefer - and not a single minute is wasted or is boring. In this aspect this drama is definitely a 9/10 - which is very, very good.
⭐Special Note: Applauding the Crew BTS:
[1] Everyone actor played their characters as if it was them IRL. While I appreciate the individual talent, I think a lot of appreciation should go towards the writing/direction since their work in the background gave the actors the chance and space to deliver their roles so well!
[2] Character and Plot Development - delivering some heavy messaging well
The writers, directors and other involved - managed to showcase some delicate aspects of the story really well, like: sisterhood, unwanted pregnancy, polygamous relationships, brotherhood, abusive parents, dynamics at foster homes and orphanage. It is very difficult to find that empathy to show these aspects in the right light - as too little, or too much can give a bad experience to the viewers. So really hats off to the makers of the show!
Overall: Highly Recommended to Binge ❤️
One of the best of 2024 in my humble opinion, you'd not regret watching this for sure!
I really cannot point out any bad parts in it - the only one would be that at times I liked the second couple's story more interesting than the main's. And the last episode maybe - it was not as entertaining as the others previously, but that is okay as it was the finale and that is meant to tie all loose ends and give us the happy ending. So no complaints - I give it a 9/10 which in my ranking system is an "Almost Perfect" drama!
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