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Completed
Kei×Yaku: Abunai Aibou
2 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Mar 26, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Deserves Better

All the way around this drama deserves better. The rating of 7.7 that I had seen as of writing this review isn’t at all something I think this show is. Kei X Yaku is taken seriously and maintains the same tone throughout the show, which can be tricky with the type of show this comes from.

The main plot of the show is easy to follow, I personally didn’t like how the sister was alive but that’s just what it was in the source material so I can bear with it. I wish this show would’ve stepped away from the source material so it could be better, like with a few characters that aren’t needed. The show could’ve fleshed out the male leads character more as Shiro’s was already so interesting. I feel like everything about the characters was fleshed out on a surface value and I wish it would’ve been deeper. As for what the show does do, the music is phoneomal. They add to the atmosphere and aren’t out of place. The violin scores in the show add such an emotional flare that the show needed.

I wish the relationship between Ichiro and Shiro could’ve been looked into more, as that was the one thing from the source material they didn’t follow completely it was disappointing. I get the whole bromance thing and their relationship is amazing when fully thought about, it just could’ve been more. There was many similarities between their situations but differences between how they went about them, they have a beautiful and mature relationship with communication and reassurance. It would’ve added a lot if they were together in a relationship, they could’ve had sincere scenes between the two, not that the show didn’t, but in the context of a relationship I would’ve liked to see that done with a show already so mature. I want to see a male x male relationship in a show that takes itself seriously, with a mature storyline. With that said I wouldn’t have wanted it to be the main focus of the show, I wanted it to show dynamics between people who have lost and how they deal with the losses together and grow to want to protect- and the show did that- but it could’ve been more fleshed out as with the characters.

The acting is impressive. Especially the two male leads, I love seeing actors pushed to their full potential and that is all part of the script and direction the show takes.
Shiro’s character design is flawless, he’s pretty and elegant but he’s a gang boss so he’s not girly. Ichiro is beyond handsome- besides their looks they are able to deliver in every scene and are scene stealers which is good considering they are the main characters.

Overall this show has so much potential and delivers, it’s worth the watch and has an interesting storyline that isn’t boring halfway through. It’s not a BL to me, I wouldn’t label it as anything other than a mystery/thriller with implied romance.

The ending was open and that’s because I think there will be a season two, if not I understand why this is underneath an 8 for most. Otherwise this show is delivers at moments it’s really good, at others it’s ok.

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Completed
Again My Life
4 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Apr 11, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Heart racing, emotional, it has everything

I was planning on watching this as soon as I heard about it. Lee Joon Gi is my all time favorite actor, and again he delivers with this project.

ACTING// I was intrigued by the story and wanted to see where it goes, and especially how Lee Joon Gi would take on this role. The man is perfect for this drama, it requires emotions, stunts, and versatility. Lee Joon Gi has this edge, in every single scene he has he delivers at 100%.

STORY// The element of going back in time is so fun to watch. The whole idea of going back to a time in your life is interesting, there’s ways you can change your life, scenarios, knowing more than you did, I love it all.

CHARACTERS// I like the motivation of Kim Hui-U, and how badass he is. I can’t wait to see him interact with people from his past later. He knows more, he’s matured. The idea of learning and relearning for the goal to take down the corruption is easy to follow but is so entertaining.. especially because Lee Joon Gi was some sort of street fighter.. the man really is agile

I’ll add more as this show continues airing, but it has such a promising start. It’s more than worth watching for the story alone. Given a second chance, going back to 2007. Considering Lee Joon Gi really doesn’t age I believe it, he looks 20- he’s perfect for the role and I’m more than happy seeing him in another drama.

FINAL THOUGHTS// The stunts in this drama are insane. The fight choreo is paced so well and it’s insane to have the main actor actually take that on. Lee Joon Gi does it all, he’s so talented.. so many good things to say.

I recommend to anyone that likes action, a story about second chances but it’s developed more than typical.

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Dropped 4/10
The Witch
26 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Feb 16, 2025
4 of 10 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 6.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 4.5

Just bewitched.. this was the end product??

Honest to god, what did I expect with this. I expected a melancholic and intimate take on the synopsis given. I haven’t watched the Chinese drama, or read the source material. I watched the trailer and have looked at the promotions, that lead me to believe this would be a bleak drama with emotional scenes and whatnot.

For what is here there is a lot of potential. I really say that a lot but it is true. This drama has a few things holding it back, but for the most part I can see it seriously working itself out.

The female lead is very gorgeous and has a certain look that I understand why she was cast, as for her acting capabilities only time will tell. Park Jinyoung will always serve, and his character is lacking as of now with the tenacious nature and lack of growth. That isn’t a problem yet because he likely will grow within the episodes!

For a first start this drama started off slow. It wasn’t that captivating, maybe that is because I’ve been watching hit after hit these days. Nonetheless it isn’t awful at all, it is just sort of slow and misdirected here and there. Especially with the lack of emotion for the FL, I get that it is mostly directing choice as her character could seem more offputing that way, but at least have the eyes have some emotion.. she is human after all.. or is she.. I really wish the actress would have some range with her emotions so in return the audience.. I don’t know.. could feel some sort of empathy for her. I, personally don’t care since her reaction is the same mundane for ever even. Stylistic or direction choice, doesn’t matter- it is not an effective way to grab your audience, and it’s a horrible method on all fronts. It makes the female actress look like she can’t act, and makes the character seem paper thin. She is a highschool girl, but watching I just know she is made up and fictional.. I know I’m watching fiction- but there are a lot of media that is fiction and the characters aren’t real yet you feel for them.

Besides all that my main issue is with Dong Jin. It is set up that he is an analytical person, he can read people quite well. He isn’t loud of bold, and he doesn’t have ultieror motives. Honestly the guy is normal, but then he stalks this woman that he hasn’t ever talked to. He justifies this because it is meant to be, as them seeing eachother again is now making it fate. I wish he would have used his voice, a let the guy speak rather than him looking into things for either intuition, or this said ‘fate’. I just don’t appreciate when ML goes around the neighborhood to see where FL lives, when A. He didn’t talk to her in highschool ever, and B. It has been several years and he didn’t make his presence known. That makes him creepier than the FL, because he actually has a choice.. and is hung up on this girl because she was mysterious and was his crush. Maybe the drama will get meta, because he is no different from all the other guys that liked her, or maybe he just has plot armor.. the guy is just so methodical so I don’t get why he doesn’t explain himself and stalks the FL home ok..

It just isn’t paced well with the flashbacks and then to the present, it’s slow, and non reflective. There isn’t suspense to any of it, and it’s rather frustrating and predictable. What convinces me of this is that the majority of the second episodes are showing scenes you watched in the first episode, this time just without Jinyoung narrating. The FL instead narrates, as if the visuals aren’t a bore to watch, I watched them one day prior and constantly have a raised brow. Reshowing the same scenes for several minutes with no new context is a blatant wast of the viewers time. It is poorly directed if there was nothing of substance to put in. A show that does the flashbacks correctly is King of Pigs, as it had an overarching story to the flashbacks over the case of several episodes rather than just using one episode. That way you wanted to watch more, and it helped that the story actually had a hook. Here there is nothing about the past that you don’t already know, nothing is being revealed and it just extends what you were told.

Directing issues stem in multiple areas here. The tone of the drama is being forced, as the dialogue doesn’t make you emotional, but they rather use a dim lighting and soundtrack to evoke that emotion. I wished it would have carefully done a slow burn to each pivotal moment, instead of the shameless tactics. The best dramas usually have the most impactful scenes when it is just raw human emotion, and early on in this drama it is trying way too hard to make you feel a sense of dread and mystery.


This drama has an unfortunate case of misdirection and miscasting. It isn’t well done in so many areas that I am having a hard time saying something I like about it. If you need to pad the runtime with scenes you have already shown, dare I say cut the episode down? It’s a disservice to your viewers, and leaves the project feeling half baked and rushed. So the characters aren’t consistent, the chemistry isn’t there, the tone is forced, the editing is dragging, and that equals to a pretty crappy drama. The writing also panders, hate to say it- but when a narration occurs for several minutes over film you had watched prior- they are quite literally telling you what is happen. The audience is not allergic to suspense and making connections themselves… I can’t kid myself, I think my time may be wasted.

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Ongoing 37/50
The Real Has Come!
3 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jul 13, 2023
37 of 50 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

soap that I watched all summer and actually finished

you know.. supringly I have been keeping up with this drama. I initially watched because of the promos and because I missed Ahn Jae Hyun. I have seen him in Cinderella and the Four Knights and he was a class 1 jerk in that. In this drama he is such a swoon worthy man to me. I love to see actors/actresses completely nail different rolls. This roll is a pretty big task also, considering this drama is 50 episodes long.

The only other long dramas I have seen are the Chinese dramas. Now its a lot of time to put into something. I am honestly really enjoying watching this drama weekly though. It is my weekend drama. I am enjoying it way more than I should also.

I am giving this drama an easier time because of its length and because it is more of a sitcom to me.. in the sense that it has remade sets and reoccurring characters. I get the complaints people have and I have them also. Every single gripe I have towards this drama only makes it more interesting for me. I really hate some characters and find most of the situations that the character are in so laughable and absurd. It is so entertaining to me. It is really entertaining. It is honestly really fun to just sit and laugh at how stupid someone is, or how villainous, or why someone cares about something etc.

So you've got Yeon Doo, who I like a lot. I like her and Tae Kyung. They are just both good people and their development as partners is so sweet. Although the reason why they are together is hard for me to pinpoint.. I've just had to accept it as it is. It's the plot, I don't understand some of it, but still I'm interested because of the steps they've made. It has to do with the length that I end up caring or really hating certain characters. I've invested a lot of time into it so it makes sense that I would care. Props to the drama for that. Props that I remember all the characters also.

I really enjoy the family dynamics, and how some are wholesome but most are so toxic. That may sound bad of me.. but it's drama.. it's entertainment.. its soapy... and I love it. Se Jin is one of the worst characters I have ever seen, not only from a writing standpoint, but as a person. She is so horrible that I like just watching her try and wrap Tae Kyung around her finger and fails so hard. Why does she like him so much? Why is she so bitter? Why were they going to get married in the first place?!?!?! It's so funny. I don't know if the drama wants me to think that.. can't help it. Now Yeon Do's ex is even worse. He falls into the category of being written off so horribly. Like he can be a good guy- he is not at all.. he showed up almost halfway through and is now trying to tear Yeon Do and Tae Kyung apart... why? I think he's got some issues with narcissism or something like that.

I have to make up why some characters are the way they are. That is a sore spot. I wish they would've written him better. It isn't like him versus Tae Kyung would be an issue. Tae Kyung is a very devoted man, and is the best character. He started off very full of himself and a self proclaimed bachelor. He wasn't a womanizer ever, he wasn't even selfish for being the way he is. He was always very motivated by his job and successful. I like how he isn't really related by blood to his family (that acts so patriarchy), he is just a successful man that is a good person. I could go over it more but there is a lot to cover. Overall he is written the best, he is so infatuated with Yeon Do and it is really sweet. They are a couple I root for, and I hope that since this drama is so long that the build up to them really getting together or staying together is amazing and sweet.

Another complaint is how they are married but still, it's confusing. The whole contract is amongst themselves. I don't remember if they are married legally? I don't think they are. I just hope to see a wedding sometime in this drama. I anticipate their child being born and I really want to see them kill off the grandma. That would really shake things up. She is like the pillar of the family, she is loaded. Everyone else listens to her and I hated her at first. She is just so old fashioned? She is so dumb sometimes, but now she is getting the development. It is crazy how I am liking her as opposed to wanting her to die sooner. I only want there to die so the rest of the family wakes up from their little pipe dreams and grow as people. Maybe worry about their bonds and not who is inheriting money.

There are a lot of different relationships. What surprised me was Yeon Do's brother being a single father. It is good representation to see single man loving his child and not blaming her for his life being where it is. Instead he is immature, but he is growing and loves his daughter over anything. He is a responsible father and isn't seeing her as a burden. There are divorces happening, parents unable to conceive, a lot is surrounded by being parents. It is interesting and keeps you watching to see alll these types of relationships.

So I enjoy this drama. I could only ever tell anyone to watch if they were to put it on in the background. You don't have to watch it fully to get what is going on. It's a lot to pick up, but it is good and worth while. The ending song slaps. The cliffhangers are gripping. This drama won't quit. It's interesting in all the right places and I believe it is self aware. I only wouldn't rewatch it because it is so long. I can see myself looking back in a few years and remembering my time with this drama being good.

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Completed
Wonderful World
3 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Apr 10, 2024
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 5.0

This drama is not wonderful at all.. it horrible though

What is so wonderful? The title leads one to think this will be epic, heart racing, or perhaps thought intuitive. Beyond the visuals of Cha Eun Woo, I really can’t say much for this drama honestly. Episodes in I should’ve realized sooner what this lacks and been honest with myself about how average this is.

Firstly, the main premise is hard to wrap around and understand. I’ll just say it and I’ll use this word a lot, this drama is just so ambiguous- you wonder what is even going on? I’m not dumb and I know what’s going on, but why? What were some scenes there for? Why do characters talk on the phone in riddles and catch phrases. It’s really not that deep, the writing is pretty dumb with the dialogue. It’s too drowned out to be cool and again, ambiguous, as if it’s smart- when really this drama isn’t saying anything. In fact, episode by episode it seems to loose touch of what it said one episode before and to the next. Combined with hypocritical characters and unrealistic situations I can safely say it’s just awkward at times. So what’s the issue here.. well.. I’ll continue.

Firstly, the foundation for the story isn’t good.
There is nothing intriguing to keep someone watching. It’s honestly just depressing and sad, which I can see working if it was telling a story of someone overcoming that, yet our female lead reminds the audience a lot that she failed in life and wants to start new but is she? Soo Hyun is a mother who lost her child, which is tragic and very sad. That’s just her character, she’s all over the place honestly. This story has given me nothing for her in terms of motivation, I’m just watching and waiting to see why I’m watching this story of hers that is already pretty much over. She went to jail, she ends up with pretty much no family, so what is the overarching story. This could be done if I was given a goal to seek, but for everyone here there is none, and if there is the conclusions just.. aren’t there?

The first two episodes are slow burn, so I wasn’t expecting thrill really. I guess I just sat back and took it for what it is. That’s too bad though because there are dramas that are exceptional with slow burns because the storytelling is good. Here I honestly have to explain and explain what the story is, and not in a fun and creative way. This drama is so generic with adultery plot lines, long wet eyed stares, rich bad people who are bad because they want power.. it’s not fresh or new or exciting. I am watching a K-drama for Pete’s sake, like what is happening. Where is the drama?


I’ll break down what frustrates me and doesn’t make sense.
1. Soo Hyun our main lead i and is unlikeable and hypocritical
.. you are telling me that an accomplished professor loses their child. Which is understandable she can grieve, but killing someone with no regret? That isn’t someone I can fully get behind and watch 14 episodes of rooting for. Maybe if she owned up to it and went into a revenge or something, but to just watch her meander around for 14 episodes. It’s boring and confusing. I get she loves her kid but she’s hypocritical. The drama even says this, but still, that doesn’t justify it. Just because the drama says with Eun Woo’s character pointing it out how she murdered someone only reminds me that she did it and she, in the end is not a good person either. I can watch dramas on bad people if it’s interesting and giving me either horror, action, or an actual plot- but here there is none.

2 . Seon Yul is messy.
Cha Eun Woo is very good at acting without overacting. It’s a blessing and a curse for him, but I can’t ever dislike him and I can see what he’s trying to do. Unfortunately some of the times he looks awkward because what is written for him to act is just dumb. You get actually nothing to know about him. Other than him having a heart problem that he acts himself, but the writers seem to forget here and there this character has a heart issue. That’s interesting. So many potential interesting plot points, yet the writers forgot and instead like to remind you of what you knew already instead of developing a plot or having it go somewhere. I also don’t really like how his character acts like he has the upper hand or a big revenge, but just has a photo of Soo Hyun’s husbands affair. Don’t even get me started on his secret room.. it reminds me of the glory but a whole lot worse. There I understood why she was so motivated and went so deep, she owned that and wouldn’t stop. Eun Woo’s character is an amateur compared to that, and I know nothing about his sad life or anything to justify a revenge. It’s sad his father was killed, but come on now.. think about the logistics because I couldn’t help but wonder on a first watch. This guy, how long does he have to stalk someone to get a photo like that? It’s just not believable, everything about this guy is either over the top or getting nowhere, I wish they’d choose one.

So I guess Soo Hyun doesn’t want Seon Yul to live the life she did? She got her revenge but it turned out horribly? But she said she didn’t regret it.. so what is she doing. She clearly regrets it if she is still in Seon Yul from going through with his. She’s admitting her damaged life but said she has no regret because her son didn’t deserve to die? It takes Soo Hyun 11 episodes in to come to terms with the fact other people have families too? Eun Woo’sand her character are a lot alike, with his taking a while to realize that his dad was just a bad person and that other people can be good and have problems too. It’s a great concept to have them both share a pain of being lonely and lost and spiteful, but the interactions are limited to none.

So I’ll get to the elephantin the room. This drama has no spice anywhere with romantic content. Which is fine, and I’m not saying it has to be risqué or that it should. It’s just there is nothing to hook outside Eun Woo’s visuals, at least for me. There is nothing new this drama is trying to say, no risks being taken at all. I can see a good story beneath all the layers. For this drama as what it is here’s a whole lot happening that literally adds nothing.


3. The doctor brother in law? Seon Yuk’s girlfriend that isn’t his girlfriend but a childhood friend that shares an illness? The ambiguity of his illness? The ambiguity of the relationships?

4. The plot twists are very average and cheap to be there

5. The drama isn’t epic like the music wants it to be. A good thing though is the music, yet I will not be fooled to think anything cool is happening even though the score is good

Somewhere I wish they deepened characters relationships. Beyond the ones falling apart that existed before the story started. I’m seeing no development. With Seon Yul and Soo Hyun their relationship should’ve been full revenge to a climax where Seon Yul breaks and accepts help from someone. Honestly this drama should have had a romance to make it more intriguing.

If it was done you could have the contradictions of hating someone’s family to acknowledging the good parts of them. Understanding and humanizing these characters. The necklace scene where Soo Hyun got Eun Woo’s mother’s necklace was very good for a potential of this. I’m only saying it should’ve been done with a more digestible age gap for the audience, with a much younger marriage. You’d have the husband and his affair make more sense, to this already flawed main character having another flaw of her own infidelity. She is already a hypocrite, so being in a romantic relationship with this other person is fine. She can fully be a person with flaws, and questionable morals. She already is, push that further. Seon Yul could accept help and grow a relationship outside of his misfortune life. He could open up about how hard it was for him as he always had felt alone, had health issues.. etc etc. they could share the same loneliness but grow an actual bond. He could see it as new and find someone to protect other than himself. Soo Hyun sort of does that.. but sees that she can take place as a mother role for Seon Yul.. which honestly is weird to me?

Instead they both are lonely and that could’ve been done, if they talked about their feelings instead of these stupid ambiguous phone calls and meetings. Like they meet up to say a sentence, and then leave. Be direct with eachother, have a space to let out your emotions. You know eachother worst parts and accept them, become vulnerable.. instead the drama has some cry scenes I guess

I could go on and on of how to do a romance and how it should’ve been with younger leads or something. Just do something intriguing. Make Seon Yul completely delusional maybe.. something.

I also think that the plot of the fire shouldn’t have been done if in the end Eun Woo’d character wasn’t the guy? Like the guy they did have (love him go watch the eight sense) had no conclusion. The Husband is just there like a leech now? The list becomes endless with the plot holes, like how does Soo Hyun have money? I get she’s a professor but what about the house? How isn’t she worried to start her life again? I don’t get it!

So I’m passionate because I care and that’s a good thing. This drama isn’t, it’s not good. I do watch it blindly to laugh and think to myself how funny this is because it’s just not good. For recent watch the glory, for Eun Woo watch too toks of him and his romantic comedies, watch the eighth dense also. Watch this if you want.

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Ongoing 4/8
Love for Love's Sake
5 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jan 28, 2024
4 of 8 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

+100 positive affection towards this series

I must say. This series has BUDGET. It either has budget or is just being directly well enough to look like it. I really think it’s a mix of both. To me, it’s more the heart behind something and the direction that makes it good. I’d thought that maybe with a series as pretty as this that might be compensating for the lack of direction, story, and heart.. but it doesn’t. The visuals enhance the story and all the way around it’s a wonderful drama.

I will add more when I get to my laptop, but this one is a really good one. I hope the last half of the series continues and is better than the first half.

I love it when you can tell that every scene and everything shown has a purpose. There is no fluff in this drama and it utilizes everything given to it in the right places. The money went towards the right place, the casting, this drama does not waste your time. It has a lot of heart and I'm so glad it went through with the queer romance.. that is in terms of following through the difference of being a devoted friend, to truly and unconditionally loving someone.

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Completed
Duty after School: Part 2
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Apr 26, 2023
4 of 4 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Unfortunately this one misfired

I really was excited to watch this part because the first part was so good. Then watching this I came to realize why I liked the first part better, and what exactly this one lacks that makes it hard to watch.

I haven’t read the source material so this is just a review of the drama that I’ve seen.

With the absence of Lee Chun Ho it’s a HUGE misfortune to this drama. He balanced out all the chaos and irresponsible things the kids did. Honestly he was the reason I stayed for the first part. The kids in the drama are really dumb, and I know they are high school kids- but life and death scenarios I can’t help myself but get annoyed at times. I don’t hate all the students, I have a few favorites.

I was hoping the bully Kwon Il Ha would get a redemption. The first part onto this it was like they forgot how traumatized the guy is watching a classmate die infront of him. And that goes for most of the students, they see the carnage but just have it all together?

The living together, fighting together.. it’s uninteresting because to me it’s so much of a stretch for some of these kids to not be dead yet. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to have dead teenagers- but I can’t help but thinking of other kids.. how come there class they all get some sort of guardian angel that saves them .. that is what it feels like to me in all honesty.

The character development with the students I wasn’t enjoying. There are a few that get development, but for the most part the gags and the annoying ones send me so high up the wall. They are too much and it’s beyond me how they are still annoying even with all this death and fighting.. most of the girls are horrible- except Ana Ra, the President, and some of their friends. Pigtails is horrible, glasses is horrible, the boys are better but still.. I have to skip dumb scenes because it isn’t adding to the overall story really. It makes me feel like it’s dragging and I don’t want that. I want to like this drama.

Now why don’t I like it?

Because Chun Ho is dead. The one redemption for this show was him. He could tell the kids to shut up and they would, he was a figure they respected. Without him I honestly think realistically most of them would be dead with all the dumb thoughts and things they do. The whole idea of them staying together.. I don’t get it? If I were then I’d leave my dumb classmates. Chun Ho should not have died, he was the redeemer for me. What else is worse is that Kim Won Bin the other leader they had is just not there? Last time I remembered he didn’t die?

When kids do start dying it’s right before they are about to make progress with what development they are exploring. That is so so wrong to me- why start something without finishing it? For shock factor ?

The whole prison plot thing I skipped. I don’t know these men in there and I don’t care.. there is only four episodes so why are they adding in more people? It’s just for fluff

It’s really a waste of time and so much so that it’s insulting. Anything from part one, anything I liked isn’t touched upon or brought up. The scene from episode 7 with them killing the spheres was the peak for this season. It’s a shame because I knew it couldn’t be any good with Chun Ho being dead. I knew there was nothing they could do and they didn’t prove me wrong either. The ending is so god awful and so dumb that it doesn’t even hurt me. It’s just what it is I guess. What does hurt is remembering the first part was so good, I wish that Chun Ho didn’t die and they sort of liberate other towns and find their families- but instead they did the worst thing they could’ve possibly do. And that is to not advance the story, even with what they could.

The demise of these teenagers is so bad. I skimmed through and had to ask myself is this the same show. The shooting that the college crazy character does is so distasteful. It’s horrible and sickening.. and this topic in a drama like this- there should have been a trigger warning. It wasn’t fun anymore. That whole scene as a climax for this drama was insulting. Because right after that there was a time jump.. so what purpose did it serve other than a getaway to skip time and forget all these kids you spent your time with for the drama.

So the kids have no direction. Have no leader. And so many things are unexplained. Time skips are so bad if they are like this. This jump to this part just is off- how did they find this abandoned place. How could they barely take on one sphere in the last season but now are aces? Where are they getting ammunition? It’s little things like this that bother me and slowly add up to truly irritate me.

So.. my thoughts. Not good. Nothing happens this part. I don’t know how- nothing happens.

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Completed
The Glory Part 2
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Mar 14, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
It’s beyond me how satisfied I am with this one. I remember hearing the announcement for the cast for the first part and hearing the complaints about Lee Do Hyun and Song Hye Kyo.. anyone who disapproved.. I’m so glad they were all so clearly wrong. Anyways..

Lee Do Hyun got me into this and I left with him having me wrapped around my finger.

This drama wrapped up the loose ends the first part left. It is compelling, beautifully directed, beautiful accompanying score, cinematography, all the way around this drama checks off the box. It has everything neatly out together where it’s not too jammed packed with information, characters, but it has a lot still and is intriguing. It is written well and is clever.. honestly not much to this review other than me praising.

I love the poetic justice that came to the revenge. The way I hated characters and sympathized with others. I’m so glad this drama went all out with revenge other than shying away.

I will add more to this and gush over it. But for me just finishing it let me say- I’m very impressed by everything and everyone in this drama. 10/10. Must watch- it’s very very good

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Completed
Crash Course in Romance
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jan 31, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

My new classic after school drama

Romance between actual adults is always a concept that can either hit or miss for me. At times they tend to take themselves too seriously. This drama is just very fun and isn’t going to melodramatic route at all, which makes it feel completely fresh.

It’s so interesting to see this story as there are many layers and turns that this show takes that I didn’t expect. It would spoil the fun to list them all. I’ll say it pretty briefly but this show is fun. I love the concept of adults with kids having their lives and that being the focus. I have seen many dramas about teenagers but not am honestly more interrelated in the adult life and am glad it’s represented in a fun way rather than being too intense.

This show weaves together plot lines and character interactions in such a fun way where there are tropes but they are full of charm.

I have seen Jung Kyung Ho in I’m Sorry I Love you and am very impressed at his maturity through the years. He still is so handsome if not better looking.. of course I say that but his acting is so fun to watch in a romcom. He is so particular and arrogant but he isn’t praised for it. He has a lot of room to develop and already with a handful of episodes I love the banter between the two leads. I’m really interesting in seeing how this show plays out and hope it doesn’t get boring or go in a super dramatic and sad route. This drama should stay lighthearted and just needs to keep doing what it’s doing and it’s very good.

Towards the end it gets a little misguided with the whole second plot.. maybe third plot? Nonetheless it got me with that twist so I was entertained. This drama is just a good rounded out full drama.

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Completed
The Light in Your Eyes
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Jan 19, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

slowly but surely shined radiantly

I won't say too much other than my final thoughts for this drama. It already came out a few years ago so it has had its impact. For me I am really glad I watched this show. I was watching episodes in handfuls and was confused by the first 10 episodes because the tone was all over the place.. but the ending really made a lot of sense as to why.

It doesn't happen often that a show makes me cry, but this one I found myself being so immersed in the characters and their situations that I was crying for a majority of the last two episodes. Episode 10 changed this drama and the whole viewing experience I had. I first thought the show had no clue what it was doing and was wasting it's potential and the actors potential. The story to me I was confused by because it seemed a little whimsical in a way.. but it has its good reason.

Now this drama is not for everyone, but if you sit yourself down and even watch it leisurely you will find yourself liking characters, their stories, etc. The kicker is the ending that completely wrings you in. You don't have to watch this drama fully paying attention even, you will just find yourself being drawn in. The payoff of the last episodes is done so well, and it made the drama better. This show was carefully made and I can tell that the whole story revolved really around the twist towards the end.

I also want to add that Nam Joo Hyuk did an amazing job. He is a scene stealer and had a lot of emotional scenes that he does eerily well. He is so good at portraying pain and giving off looks that don't need dialogue or explaining to know how he feels. The scenes with Han Ji Min they played so well off each other. She was in it less than I thought she would be but for what she was in she amazingly showed feelings of longing and confusion. All the way around the actors/actresses did very well.

This drama in short made me cry. It can drag on but the payoff was worth it for me. I would not have cried if I didn't care about the characters and what was going on. Things escalated up and then it all made sense slowly but surely. Not for everyone but this one was a slowburn with an excellent payoff. For what the drama was trying to do it did it so well. I am glad I watched it.

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Completed
Silenced
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato Flower Award1
Aug 27, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0

“The film that shook South Korea”

For this review I am not going to say much about the story and what it does ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The movie is based on true events and that in of itself just means is that story respected and executed well. I think this movie is phenomenally well done.

To keep it short the acting is stellar, especially from the children actors. With this type of subject, everyone did a great job in their respective roles.

So for a review I don’t really know what to say other than everything is done so well.
There are a lot of areas that this movie could’ve changed to appeal to people. I was a bit nervous watching the child abuse scenes but am very glad to know that the children and adults were completely separate during those. The outcomes are still very disturbing.

This movie was more of an experience for me. To see these situations and know that these things actually happened to children and that the justice system did fail and it’s not just for that horrible trope of having a sad ending.

This movie is based off of true events, and it’s harrowing to imagine that with that being the case- the truth of the situation was much worse. I truly found it hard to watch a lot of scenes, and the movie as a whole was also hard to watch. But with this case I am applauding the movie here, it executed its message so well. This movie isn’t supposed to be happy or triumphant- it’s challenging any movie goers sense of justice and educating them of the harsh realities. The justice system has failures and like the true story, it failed children and left despicable people by over the victims.

This movie brought to light a case that wasn’t talked about much compared to 2011, where in 2005 it had wrapped up- public outrage occurred and the actual events and cases were reinvestigated because of it. This movie changed peoples thinking, and actually did a lot of remarkable things.

The rewatch is low because I will get it clear that you really can’t eat during this movie. You can’t talk even, you watch and get immersed and ultimately are moved.. and for me you are left completely silent crying nonstop.

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Completed
Find Yourself
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Apr 9, 2022
41 of 41 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

I found myself Song Wei Long

Find Yourself is strongly recommended, coming from China I've seen a lot of cliche romances and find them a bit too sweet. Now this drama has plenty of sweet moments, but what makes it worthwhile and a payoff is the struggles the main couple has to work through.

The chemistry between Song Wei Long and Victoria Song is impressive, especially with the age gap in the drama being real in their lives also. Song Wei Long is really showing off his acting well in emotional scenes, he's sweet, youthful, and is a scene stealer. The man is also very handsome which is something to recommend by itself. Victoria Song is also a really good actress, and the emotional scenes she has she delivers. She's clearly a pro and I'm glad she's in a project like this.

The conflict in the main relationship makes this show interesting. Age gaps are explored in dramas, but it's really the main focus of conflict in this one and I like that. They are at different points in their lives and many people could judge them based off of stigma/prejiduce.

It's important to add that the dynamic is one being 'naive' while the other is more realistic. But in Find Yourself Song Wei Long's character has the development to understand her struggles and at a point he looks past the gap they have because he really loves Fan Xing. I really like how Yuan Song is able to take initiative and show her that he isn't as immature as she thinks at time... talking about a specific elevator scene. I hope to see more scenes like that as Fan Xing needs sometimes to just have moments like that where Yuan Song shows her he really is a man opposed to a colleague or kid.

Overall I love the dynamic, I love the production, Song Wei Long is really hot and Victoria Song is gorgeous

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Completed
Imitation
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Mar 28, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

shameless cash grab

This drama isn't a waste of time. I watched it because of SF9 and ATEEZ. I ended it because I had to.

This drama markets itself showing off all the idols involved, in reality most of it they are not even there. Yuno isn't the second male lead, he is barely in it. I find it shameless because the posters and trailers, they are so far off. If you really watch this drama you get nothing. I got insulted by how selfish the leads both are. They are idols and pursing that, but I refuse to believe these young adults love each other so much that they are willing to straight up quit the idol life completly.

It would be fine if Ryeok was a soloist, but he's supposed to be a part of the biggest Kpop group at the time. He has members, supporters. Unlike an idol who is appreciative of his fans and his motivation is for them, he loves Ma-Ha. For what? Because she's not like other girls. I kid you not, there is nothing that they show that they love eachother. Their relationship is posed as some sort of love that can't be, and that the audience should want them to be together. Honestly I hate the both of them for being so selfish and stupid. Ryeok gets in a car crash because he's staring at his girl. I can't make up how stupid and shameless this is. The hype must be behind people that don't care. I've seen a webtoon adaptation done right, but this takes itself way too seriously and in the end it's offending to me as someone who loves all types of media.

This drama is bad bad. They use the idols barely, and it shouldn't have been made. The whole idea of the source material isn't something I buy into, because the primary motivations of the characters are all surface value that offer nothing deep or complex. All the characters have to be paired with the other idol groups. It's like 12 people exist in this world and 10 of them barely. I can't stress enough how much I dislike this, recommending only for those who want to see SF9 and ATEEZ but for about 5 minutes of screen time each episode and that's them being generous :)

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Completed
Still 2gether
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
Feb 1, 2022
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

you can't get in a bad mood when watching this

For the first season I wasn't really buying the relationship. Then this season came out and my god. I loved everything the two leads two had to offer. This show isn't spectacular, but it's lighthearted and fun, it isn't emotionally draining. Sarawat and Tine really do love each other and are wholesome with all the gestures they make to reach out to one another. Compared to the first season the relationship progressed perfectly. Their love isn't fet*shized, it's honestly adorable. It was a slice of life and not too gripping, I'm not complaining though because I didn't expect that.

This show is short and an easy watch that's worth your time. It isn't confusing and the relationship between the two leads is healthy and something I want to see more of. I would call this show more of a romcom than a BL, GMM is really doing good these day with their boys love shows in representing healthy and realistic relationships between two people regardless of s*x. Sarawate and his little Tine are OTP, they get my stamp of approval and I'm sad to think that we won't see more of them. What content we got was so wholesome and enjoyable, if you watch this you won't regret it.

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Completed
We Best Love: No. 1 For You
1 people found this review helpful
by ryoato
May 2, 2021
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

We need more of this

This is a BL, it is a yaoi. Yet it doesn’t feel like it. And that is a good thing

Most BL’s are over saturated with healthy and unrealistic relationships. But man, between the two male leads is the most compelling and heartwarming relationship I’ve seen from a BL.

The characters react like people really do, and regardless of gender the couple is a favorite of mine.

Without the over sexual themes or the relationship stemming from lust, it’s realistic and compassionate. The reactions between the two is way more entertaining to watch other than two guys making out. The story has depth and my only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough. There is a second season, so I hope it fills some questions I have

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