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One Piece Season 2: Into the Grand Line
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Even better than S1!
I already loved season 1 but this season absolutely blows it out of the water — the world-building gets so much deeper and we're introduced to new characters that are such great protagonists and antagonists. You can feel the showing leaning so much more into the wackiness with the set design, costume design, and character designs, which adds so much more to how big and real the world seems.As someone who's already caught up on the manga/anime, it's so interesting to see the foreshadowing they've been able to include. It's so satisfying to see the show take its time setting up stories and plotlines that aren't going to happen until seasons later, and they're able to be fun easter eggs for existing fans and add intrigue for new fans.
I also just have to give flowers to the casting department and the actors they decided on — I think every single character, even those with only a few minutes of screentime, were chosen perfectly, and I love seeing how into it the actors are. Mr. 9 and Mr. 3 were the standouts for me this season, but I genuinely loved every single portrayal.
Can't wait for S3!
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Best in its last episodes
This drama is at its strongest when it's about the historical era, whether it's the actual past life scenes, or when they're trying to figure the past out during modern day. This happens in the later half of the show, which ended up being my favorite episodes. It really feels like there are stakes to the romance and the friendships, and the parallels between past and present work really well, while the first half goes for a more typical mid-2010s type rom-com plot, which I didn't enjoy that much, especially since the female lead had no idea about it and just felt very detached from the main plot — an issue I also had with dramas like My Love from the Star.I do think the love triangle was done extremely well here. Even though I already quite like this trope (as opposed to most people), this is one of my favorites because it really shows the different ways of love and how it affects who ends up together and who doesn't. It's also really clear that everyone cares about everyone else, which is so much more touching than annoying competitions. The love triangle gets to shine a lot in the last episodes, not by taking over, but by elevating the stakes.
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Heartwarming action
This was a wonderful drama full of action that still managed to show so much heart.The main group of Counters is definitely the heart of the series, but I must say that what stole the show for me were the scenes with So Mun's school friends. The way they always stood by him was so sweet and opposite to where I thought their story would go once So Mun had his secrets. And the bullying plot was so satisfying to watch.
In general, it was really smart to blend a supernatural antagonist with a more realistic one — it made the stakes feel so much more personal.
There were some things that were more meh to me, namely the Yung people, who I didn't care that much about apart from Ms. Chu's. For the most part it seemed like they were placeholders for exposition or plot devices, and I didn't really like when they served as the reason for the plot moving forward that the characters had to react to, versus plot developments that were more character-driven (like the detectives investigating cases).
Nevertheless, this was a tightly written drama and I'm looking forward to seeing what shenanigans this little group will get up to in season 2.
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So cute!
I'm a sucker for noona romances and this one really hit the spot. The ML is stubborn but passionate while the FL is practical and strong-willed — they're very golden retriever bf and black cat gf which is one of my favorite dynamics. And the chemistry between them is so good, whether it's skinship or them just sitting on the sofa and talking about dreams and goals.I do wish we got a little more about the FL on this point — she's a coach so the show follows the ML's dreams more and we don't really see if she has any further career goals other than finishing the postgrad program she's already a part of. On the ML's development, I also think the show kind of drops the ball in the final act. We just needed to spend time on one more important competition where the ML could face rivals that the show had been building up, instead of the overseas arc we got.
Regardless, I thought this was such a fun watch and the leads made me giggle and kick my feet. I might need another noona romance to fill the void.
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Even better than the first
I really liked the overarching plot and villain in this one, and the show does a great job of balancing it with a variety of individual cases.The drama is once again great at showing Lee Jehoon's range as he takes on different characters, but the best part is still, without a doubt, the friendship between the main cast. It's especially interesting because we start out with a break from the status quo with them having disbanded, and we get to see them coming back together in a very heartfelt way. As a romance-lover, I also liked the subtle hints we got between Go-Eun and Do-Gi, but I appreciate that it's not a plot that takes up time and changes the dynamic between the team.
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Super fun!
It's really interesting to start a drama where the ensemble is already well-established, which makes it so much more fun to see how they work together on different missions and take on their roles. The banter is really fun and honestly it's the friendship that really carries the show.I'm a little more mixed on the overarching plot. I like the cat and mouse game with the prosecutor and the moral questions it raises about what's valid when the legal system fails. But the other antagonist was not really that interesting, other than how it gives us the final conflict where all the cases we saw throughout the season culminate into one situation.
Overall, a really enjoyable show that's definitely very watchable — I can see why it's renewed for so many seasons.
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A great journey
This one had a rough start but it gradually grew on me.The female lead's baby voice and naivete really grated on me in the first ten or so episodes, and I'm pretty mixed on the stretch of episodes on the middle which takes place in the mortal world too, since everything — from the settings to the characters — just feels so different. The body swap trope is not one I'm a big fan of and it doesn't really add much to the story aside from providing comic relief and showcasing acting chops.
However, after finishing the show though, and seeing everything fall into place, I can confidently say that I ultimately did enjoy this drama. The pacing is really well done, and I liked the development that the characters go through. The female lead becomes really fun and strong (and significantly less air-headed), and the romantic chemistry is great. The final battle is really climactic, and I think overall it was just a good time.
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Dark and Intriguing
This was cool! It's definitely very different from the first one — which I think is why it's gotten mixed reviews. On that aspect, I do agree; even though it's a sequel, it doesn't quite feel like it's actually part of the same universe.I didn't really have an issue with that though; the new setting is very unique and the tension seems much more palpable compared to S1. The cinematography, set design, and choreography are all great, and I really enjoyed the darker vibes of the story. The acting is pretty good across the board, though there are some hiccups with the side characters here and there.
In general, I'm pretty satisfied with the plot, but I did find the finale and the twist to be quite rushed. Still, I like the premise of the ending and how it sets up season 3, so I hope we get a renewal sometime soon.
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Brilliant ending
Wow, what a cathartic way to finish the series. Everything really ties together in a surprising but really satisfying way in the end. I really appreciate how intelligent the characters are here, with each plot progression being intentional and decision-driven. Every actor continues to impress me, especially now that the plot unfolds and we get to see different sides of them.I know the romance aspect has gotten mixed reviews, but I personally still enjoyed it. Even if the drama didn't have it, though, I feel like I wouldn't like the drama any more or less.
The last episode is a little bit rushed, falling victim to some typical kdrama tropes, but I think the show, overall, ultimately sticks the landing.
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What a fantastic first half
Brilliant. Do-eun's past is so tragic and brutal, but the set-up for her revenge is the definition of a slow burn, intertwining so many characters and their motivations together. The drama does an amazing job of building up tension.Every actor absolutely sell their role. The casting was SO good, especially the parallels between young and adult actors. The trauma and heaviness in Do-eun's character is so powerful, and Yeon-jin really is intimidating and scary. I'm really excited to see how everything finally unravels.
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Great actors and chemistry, but kind of a cheesy plot
A hidden gem. As a lover of school dramas, this was a really light-hearted and comforting watch. The chemistry is actually really good between the leads, and both of their acting feels really natural. This, though, is sometimes interrupted by occasional cheesy dialogue, which seems to be an issue in the writing. The drama really is at its strongest when it's more down-to-earth, such as when it's about familial conflict, but that's not to say I don't enjoy the more goofy moments sometimes.Was this review helpful to you?
Not as good as Part 1
I loved Part 1 but Part 2 honestly didn't quite hit the same way. There are still some great scenes, but I had a lot of trouble with the pacing, and the romance moves to a pretty frustrating place. There's like 3 separate subplots (near-death experiences and all) crammed into the last three episodes alone, and we seem to skip over a lot of important moments to get there.I will say that with all the dramatic scenes we get, Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei's acting really get to shine. They have wonderful chemistry and even though the plot itself might be frustrating, I can't lie — the angst is very satisfying to watch.
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Surprisingly fun and light-hearted
I had been putting off watching this one for a while, worried it would be too confusing or heavy. But Part 1 of this drama was actually so funny and light-hearted. The family dynamics are really interesting to watch and the romance was delightful and full of tension.It does have the same issue that I have with many historical cdramas — that 95% of women characters are portrayed as villainous and manipulators , but it helps that the main character is headstrong and intelligent; she's one of the most refreshing parts of the show.
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Cried way more than I expected
I went into this one expecting a light-hearted school drama but this one turned out to be a surprising tear-jerker.There's some inconsistent pacing with certain arcs taking a lot of episodes and other arcs flying by way too fast, and the way the time travel works — by starting from scratch every single time — does get a little repetitive and frustrating sometimes. But ultimately, I found this drama extremely heartfelt; the leads are both likable and adorable together, and the male POV that we get is so touching and memorable.
It's true that the ending leaves a lot to be desired, but in the grand scheme of things, it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the show at all. Will be watching the film next!
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Warm
A very heart-warming story, with lots of side characters that ended up really growing on me. The story is deeper and more concrete than a lot of Thai BLs I've watched, and that made me really connect to the characters a lot more. There's romance here, but also a very warm feeling of found family and friendship.There ARE a few things that were a little frustrating, particularly in the last few episodes, where the drama goes for conflict instead of communication. It meant the ending and final episode is a little rushed, but ultimately I'm satisfied with the character arcs.
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