I know a lot about whales now!
I wasn’t going to write a review for this one, a lot irritated me about the show, but not so much that I wanted to stop watching, because it had a great precise.So, I’ll leave the comprehensive reviews to the real review writers and just jot down a few things I enjoyed, so I can remember in the future.
Lee Jun Ho had the patience of several saints and their skateboards. What a breath of fresh air he brought to the show.
Both girl friends of Woo Yeong U were a delight.
The dad! What a sweet, supportive man.
The standout character for me was Jung Myeong Seok. He was never overbearing or a scene stealer; he was just there. Quietly bringing a maturity or humor to the scene. And I loved the boss/employee relationship he had with Woo Yeong U.
All the whale facts were fascinating, and I was grateful to learn something, lol.
The things that irked me aren’t big enough that I won’t watch season 2, to see how the legal crew has progressed.
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Worth it for the great actors!
Two of my favorite actors, but I felt like the affection was so awkward. I don’t know if it was because of their height difference and Rowoon had to kind of hunch over Jo Boah.I was still fixed to the storyline, though. Past lovers are always a good plotline in my opinion.
Mostly because I was flabbergasted the MMC would have a girlfriend for soooo many episodes, right up until ep 11! I know this differed from an actual cheating trope because he didn’t have feelings for the girl, but she got on my last nerve, always interfering and just being there! Like one conversation, dude and she would have been rid of. The MMC was super passive throughout, especially with his father.
I liked the second male lead, but even he had his moments of just getting in the way. It’s lazy plot bunnies and this story didn't need that many cliffhangers.
(Notable mention to the work colleagues' sideline relationship! So cute.)
Overall, I enjoyed it, would watch it again, and would recommend it.
If only to see the bloody hand which was oddly erotic lol.
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This review may contain spoilers
I feel as though I could pilot an airplane now!
I’ll start with the good things I enjoyed with this drama.I found it really easy to watch, and I appreciated how we fast got to know the main characters, who were featured throughout.
The main lead was easy on the eyes. So was the second ML. At some points, I even rooted for him to win the romantic stakes because he was just more attentive and caring of the FL, whereas the ML was a cold fish for more than two thirds of the show.
If you’re into aviation in any way, this show would be right up your street. It was an absolute info dump at times. All I know is, being a flight attendant isn't for me. They have to be nice to everyone, even the bratty customers!
I’m going to give a mention to Mr Jiang. Although it was evident from the start that he was reluctant to have a female pilot in his company and that he would play the antagonist role, he wasn't overtly malicious. He acted so subtly, I loved how he showed he was unhappy just with his face.
Moving on to the less pleasant aspects now. These are minor annoyances that wouldn't deter others from watching.
Two of the actors were completely miscast in my opinion. The best friend of FL. To begin with, her wigs were among the most hideous I've ever witnessed. I need to question the costume department and plot creators regarding those choices. Even with ordinary hair, the actress seemed miscast, as if she were playing dress-up in her mother's shoes.
I did grow to like her by the end.
The other one who felt cast wrong was Song Song. Such a nice guy, but I never really saw him as an aircraft captain. He just didn't seem like a pilot.
I’ve seen several of Tan Song Yu’s shows now.
And even though the stories initially draw me to that show, her acting just isn't my favorite. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like she plays every role the same. (this is only my personal opinion – no need to comment why I’m wrong, lol. If you love her, yay, I am happy for you. I wish I felt the same)
The show was full of sexism and misogyny. I felt bad for the female lead having to endure it, and I kept waiting for someone to confront them about it, but it never happened! It's commendable that she's standing out in a field largely dominated by men, I continually wanted her to succeed.
This show will give you drama and then cliffhangers. We had barely resolved one crisis when another one appeared. I thought the writers' decision to add one last bit of drama to the finale was completely uncalled for. By then, the viewers have fulfilled their obligations, and a finale typically serves the fans.
Romance isn't the main focus here, which might be a dealbreaker if you feel the same way I do.
The FL is the first to develop feelings, and she's so pushy about it that I was cringing, wishing she'd just let it go.
As mentioned earlier, she would have benefited more from being with the second male lead; his deep affection and tender, considerate nature were evident.
The ML had the looks – but darn, he was like an icy robot.
We also got the dead ex as a trope for the ML.
When he caught feelings too, we still didn’t get a lot of romance, but I appreciated how much he championed the female pilot throughout.
Only one kiss! But ooof, what a kiss it was. ML definitely defrosted.
With a plot that was central and a dash of romance, the characters were the true anchors, carrying every drama-filled moment.
It's worth noting, of course, that a truly monstrous and oppressive mother was part of the picture. I wanted to toss her out of a plane; her presence grated on my nerves. The way she played on her mental health when things didn't go her way. Ooff!!
But it was so refreshing that the FL stood up to her!
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More than what I expected.
This show was super well acted by all involved, but especially our leading men.I've watched them before, so I knew they had the acting chops to take on these roles - and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't going to the silly-eque show it looked to be.
This show had such emotional depth and dealt with a serious subject but not in the heaviest way.
It made for a great change from the regular "meet-cute" dramas of couples coming together, to have a couple that was already established on episode one. Not only that, there was no love rival! the plotline centered solely on their past traumas.
An all around good watch.
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The show I didn’t know I needed!
I came to this drama because I love Kim Go Eun’s acting.She will always be my the first Goblin wife!
And now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to watch it, because it was the cutest thing ever!
I ADORED those little cute cells. I laughed out loud so many times at their dramatic antics. My faves are emotions cell, rational cell, hungry cell (I can relate lol) but the standout cell is naughty cell in their little undies! He just cracked me up laughing every time he was in the scene.
I never read a romance book or watch a romance show that doesn’t have a happy ever after, but this was the exception, and while Yumi’s break up was sad, vividly acted, not having a happy ending didn’t bother me, because I was enjoying the cells so much.
Even the ML's cunning female friend/colleague trying to interfere in their relationship didn't irk me as it would a regular drama, because the cells hated her too!
I’m already half-way through season 2 so I can get to the final season and the cuuuuuute Sun Rok. But more of my cells, too.
I now want all dramas to include animated cell scenes lol.
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A drama with a lot of family heart!
After watching Song Wei Long in another show this past week (Shine on Me) I wanted another fix, so I went back and re-watched Go Ahead. I saw this when I first got into Asian dramas, and I wanted to rewatch it to see if I still felt the same about this family story.Now I knew what to expect, the slower paced, longer episodes, I did appreciate the family dynamic a lot more a second watch. The siblings closeness was enjoyable as before. I loved their banter and tight bond.
The dads were fantastic – Mr Lin, especially. Those moments when he was cooking for the family were perfect and I loved how peaceful the family was when it was just the five of them. One of my favorite scenes was when Xiao’s dad took him to the Chinese medicine doctor, it just felt very real and his love for his son came through clearly, though he wasn’t always able to show it.
I wasn’t entirely sure I believed in the romance aspect of the show. It felt like Jian was talked into it instead of falling for Xiao naturally. I did adore how devoted to her he was. His yearning eyes gave me butterflies. And standing up to his disapproving mother had me giddy!
The girl friends were perfect additions and I really enjoyed their side stories. And I covet their cute little apartment!
What stuck with me most from the show were the moms. Oh, they made me have the biggest feelings! And most of those feelings were boiling rage!
These were fully grown adults yet the moms were pulling the strings in their lives! By the end, I could understand Tang Can’s mom maybeeee changing for the better. But there’s no way sweet Ming Yue’s shrill, overbearing mother changed. If we’d had a look into the future, she would still be the same. I was glad the dad wanted a divorce!
Now, let’s get to the vilest villain in this show. Xiao’s mother.
What a vicious piece of work she was.
She was the most insincere snake, and I never once felt she was being genuine in anything she said. She abandoned her young son, blamed him for her mistake, and yet wanted to force him to take care of her while she treated him like crap.
I was furious watching her on screen, her attempts to manipulate Xiao were infuriating.
She could see how utterly miserable she was making her son and yet she clung to him like an octopus on his face. Were we meant to feel sorry for her in the final episode with her inexcusable last ditch action? Were we supposed to feel redeemed by her “nice words” and seemingly changed attitude toward Jian? Because I felt nothing. She did exactly what a narcissistic would do and that was manipulate everyone’s emotions to turn the tides her way again. The best thing Xiao could have done was go no contact with that emotional succubus.
The parents are my biggest pet peeve with these types of characters that appear in most of the shows I watch. (sadly, it’s usually the mothers, which saddens me) Despite the parents' terrible behavior, the child is pushed to forgive and reconcile. Oh, I get steaming mad! I try to understand it’s a cultural difference, but as I see it, you don’t need to redeem every vile character by the finale. This mother was a fine example, I would have been happy if she’d fallen into a bubbling volcano.
It's a testament to all three actresses who played the mothers how great their skills are because the objective was met and I hated them all, lol.
Overall, lovely watch and I’d watch it again one day (fast forwarding through the mom!) The acting was exceptionally good, especially the emotionally heavy scenes. Those guys sure can cry so well!
(Also, I didn't intend for my review to become this long - that's how big my feelings were lollolol )
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Lost memory - but Sae Byeok will love enough for two!
Sae Byeok's love for Ha Neul was consistently evident in every scene, every lingering glance.His devotion was unwavering and so strong and for that alone I was locked in from the first episode.
I seriously love this kind of male lead. I felt as though he carried their entire relationships delicately on his shoulders, holding it together with barely sticky sellotape.
I’d be doing a disserve to any BL fan if I didn’t make a note in my review about Sae Byeok's luscious lips – They were just so there, my eyes were trained on them each time he spoke!
I’m a fan of the amnesia trope if it’s done well. And for the most part, it was in this show. I wish it had been more developed, but given there are only eight episodes, I grasp why the storyline occasionally seemed superficial. At times, the constant toggling between past and present events made things unclear. I would have preferred more time dedicated to the present to witness the boys working through their relationship, particularly since one was mentally dwelling in the past due to losing his memories of their life together as adults.
I had a hinky feeling about that barista fella right away – I’m glad my hunch was correct!
For two new guys to the industry, I was impressed with their acting and would watch more of their projects in the future. I'm sure their skills will go from strength to strength with each new job.
Would I recommend the show? Absolutely. The ideal amount of emotion holds your attention and keeps you suspended, without being devastating. No K-trauma here! Hoorah.
A love story that delivered through the ups and the downs.
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This review may contain spoilers
I wouldn’t mind a contract romance with the Judge!
There is something appealing about a relationship contract so I was hoping this show checked all my boxes.For the most part it did – but I felt as though there was TOO much plot. Is that possible? It absolutely is (IMO) the first part was super engaging, I love how Park Min Young portrays a high-class female lead who is talented in everything. She’s one of my favorite Korean actresses and I’ve loved her other shows. This character wasn’t far off some of her other roles.
But by the middle of the show, I was a little bored and fast tracked through a lot of the needless plot, especially about both sides of the warring families. I couldn’t truly understand why they had beef or wanted to plot against each other. Had the show been kept tighter between the leads and the contracts it would have been better paced episodes, but the show threw in stalkers, ex-wives, horrid families that it distracted a lot from the growing romance.
Loved the judge. That stoic, stiff and awkwardness in social settings are some of my favorite character traits (I also love Seo Do Jae from The Beauty Inside for the same characteristics) He was so delightfully awkward, especially with his staff (who were so fun! And a notable mention for his mentor boss friend who was fantastic. Every time he called his wife “my queen” I melted) some of my favorite scenes were him and Sang Eun sitting opposite the dinner table together. The dialogues were awkward yet masterfully executed.
The mother figure, Yoo Mi Ho, proved to be quite interesting. It was difficult to discern if she was a villain or seeking atonement. I, for one, could never have let her off the hook, given the extent of her misdeeds.
The same situation applied to Gwang Nam's family. Oh my god, they totally blew my mind with how awful they treated that sweetheart of a man just because he was gay! I hated them, but the show had to change their dynamic with him once they learned he was becoming a singer. Why? Why? Not everyone has to be fixed up in the end. Trash the crappy characters. Gwang Nam deserved a better outcome. I wish his role had been bigger – he was wasted just being the sidekick best friend.
Lastly, I got such “True Beauty” Seo-Jun vibes from Hae-Jin that my heart ached all the way through for him and was desperately keeping my fingers and eyes crossed that he’d find his own piece of happy romance by the end. Alas, like Seo-Jun that never happened so I’ll be quietly sobbing into my handkerchief for those two sweetheart men with second lead syndrome.
At least he got some love from his Jamie cat by the end. *sniff sniff*
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Two fluffy green forest leading males to enjoy!
Despite a shaky start with naïve and wooden acting, I found myself smiling at the gentle plot as the drama progressed. And I could definitely see the improvement all around by the 7th episode."City of Stars" isn't groundbreaking, and its plot is extremely familiar, but... It addressed some highly sensitive subjects, which I found remarkably impressive.
What I enjoyed:
The main men. Just green forests everywhere. And the third act didn't have a pointless split! Hallelujah! You know how it goes, especially when one character has to move away for X amount of time, they usually have to break up because you know, phone calls and video chats can’t be maintained… Fueang and Krom were very grown up when they had to go long distance. I was deeply affected by Feuang's crying in their parting scene. Great acting by Job!
And can I just mention Job’s dreamy eyes? That man knows how to smize!
I have to also mention Kor – he was a brilliant sidekick to Fueang. His loyalty as a ride-or-die friend and the development of his second male lead storyline were excellent.
Fueang's manager was someone I really liked. She's a dragon you'd want in your corner. She always had Fueang’s back. Also, fabulous outfits!
"City of Stars" offers a super fun cast and a plot that's not too heavy but still gets the serious points across. It's packed with kissing, and I'm not kidding! The actors were clearly committed to those kissing scenes, and as a fan, I'm grateful that one of the leads didn't give a poor performance with fish kisses. I also liked that the affection wasn't one-sided, with one male lead giving it all and the other constantly avoiding it. Fueang and Krom gave great hugs!
Overall, a pleasant watch.
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Give me all the workplace frissons directly into my eyeballs!
Oh, lil Jun and Big Jun were such fun!I’m a sucker for childhood friends who then meet up in the workplace years later and a fun romance ensues.
Despite my slight eye-roll at the predictable love triangle with three men vying for Lil Jun's affection, I didn't dwell on it, as it's a K-BL with a short, eight-episode run, implying a lack of significant depth. But honestly, I wasn’t mad at the simple plot line because of how cuuuuute big Jun was. Those seductive eyes could have kept me captive for at least 20 more episodes.
What I enjoyed:
The two Jun’s and how they navigated their feelings.
The fake fiancée. She was such a hoot – and a change of pace that the token female in a BL wasn’t a shrieking shrew, she was actually shipping our boys too.
I would loooove a series about Team Leader and Simeon. It never made sense to me that both of them fancied lil Jun when their chemistry in every scene together was smoking good. The director missed an opportunity not making them second couple.
Overall, a good watch.
Will I remember it after watching another 50 shows? I probably will! 😊
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To be loved by Yechan would be the best ever.
He’s the sweetest, goofiest himbo who is just pure walking sunshine. And his smile was everything! If you ever needed a definition of a himbo then take a look at Yechan. No one has ever himboed like he’s himboing in this drama! If you want to fall for the greenest of green flags, then watch for Yechan.This was such a gentle, easy watch. I always love the setting of a countryside, and this was beautiful. The ensemble cast also added to the show – a notable mention to Mark, the head chief. What was that accent, my dude? lol. It was like Korean I’d never heard before spoken with an Italian accent. Every time he spoke I had to have a little giggle. But he was the sweetest character!
If they had marketed this as a bromance, I would have understood, because in my view, two tiny kisses at the very end of the show aren't sufficient to call it a romance. Yechan shouldered all the emotional weight, while Yul never showed even the slightest glimmer of romantic interest in him. However, as friends, they had great chemistry, and I'm eager for a second season to see if their romantic connection can develop further.
There was also a chubby dog! I’m always going to love a show if they have a dog!
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With a love triangle trope, there has to be rules – a clear winner that the audience can root for.
Up until the penultimate episode, the show consistently guided viewers to believe the student council president would be the one in a romantic relationship. Every time he and Tae shared a scene, they played that tinkling, swoony music.The show's pacing was awful; spending almost the entire runtime developing the main character's relationship with one person, only for them to abruptly switch affections to another, makes no sense. It's hard to believe, and by then, I’d mentally checked out.
I was so mad for cute, adorable and loyal Shinwoo – he deserved better than to be Tae’s “settled for” choice.
And it seems like lately, with every BL, they have to throw in the meanest girl. They got under my skin like they wanted, but it'd be cool if the only female character wasn't just a drama prop.
Honestly, the plot didn't do much for me, but the acting was so good it made me stick around. I loved how honest Tae was. He just blurted out whatever he was thinking. And I loved how determined Shinwoo was to win his guy.
Namgung was definitely my favorite character. This funny side character was such a nice change of pace! I'm pretty sure he had the most lines on the whole show.
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Not a comfort watch – but brilliantly acted.
Perhaps I'm unable to appreciate it like other reviewers, as I didn't find it to be the masterpiece many claim.
While the acting was spot on by the main leads, the plot didn’t give me a moment of relaxation.
In every episode, I anticipated the ending to be a K-trauma!
The depression aspect was handled well, but I did wish for a better ending that felt well rounded and satisfying. I could say it had a HFN (happy for now) finish. I’m one of the few that don’t want a season 2 for this show, if there was a chance of it. The writer would only throw more angst at another season, and I don’t think my little snowflake heart could take it. lol.
It was a very deep, moving show, and I really enjoyed how the male leads depicted their roles.
And what absolute cuties they were!
Though, I’m positive the writer and director collected the most irritating, punchable support characters. Every episode, I was more irked by those secondary characters than ever before. And why must a writer redeem the most prickish character in the finale? It’s not needed. Don't try to alter my perception of him with a brief, insignificant comment at the end after making me hate him all series. Allow the antagonists to remain unappealing.
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This review may contain spoilers
This small town drama was a warm hug wrapped in a mug of the sweetest hot chocolate.
The male leads were so endearing; they were two of the nicest characters. Besides being attractive, they were also so lovable. Won Young in particular. When his lies caught up with him, he did everything he could to fix it and get Tae Joon back. I loved that about him; even when he was having a rough time at work, he never gave up on what he loved.By now, you never expect much from the intimate scenes in a K-BL, it’s rare to get even a good kissing scene, and the kisses in ULS were almost non-existent, just two lips pressed together, not moving. Seriously, I’ve had better kisses with my boyband posters in my teenage bedroom lol – BUT, they shared some great hugs. Tae Joon is a great hug giver. And really, I didn’t even need the kissing, the fluffiest, paced show stood on its own merit and didn’t need NC scenes to carry it. And you know those hand holding moments will always be heart flutteringly good!
Having watched The Time of Fever first, I was excited to see Ho Tae and Dong Hui again, assuming they’d be a couple now because ULS was set some time after their prequel show ended, imagine my surprise that never happened! All we saw was sweet, adorable, clingy Ho Tae getting turned down or smacked around. I really felt for him. Seriously, if that doesn't warrant a whole new series to fix it, what does? Every time they were on screen together, I kept waiting for a sign that things would get better between them, but it just never happened. As a viewer/reader, I enjoy stories that conclude with a definite happy ending. Ambiguity leaves me feeling unsatisfied – so for the second ML’s, I did want more because they had great screen chemistry.
Overall, a beautiful show with a gorgeous backdrop scenery.
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This review may contain spoilers
Coming of Age sweetness.
I'm not entirely sure what specific aspect of this drama has resonated so deeply with me, yet I found myself completely captivated from the very first episode. I have a particular preference for 'slice of life' dramas, wherein the plot's progression is minimal, yet character development is notably emphasized. I didn’t even mind that there was little to no BL in this BL show. I figured the producers were banking on making a season 2 to include that slow burn progression, but having looked on Google to see S2 was cancelled, I’m super bummed because it would have been awesome to watch Sheng Wang and Jian Tian fall in love in real time. Because of that, I turned to reading their novel (not finished yet) but ohhhh, it would have been so good on the screen. These boys are so sweet and so in love with each other! (still holding out hope we get a S2 somehow!)I’d still recommend this show to any BL fan. The subtle way Tian will do just about anything for Sheng Wang and how Sheng Wang was always gravitating toward the cold boy.
I enjoyed the support cast too.
Though, he’s somewhat cast in the antagonist role, I did feel bad for Qi Jia Hao. He’s the typical overachiever and can’t accept when he’s not top of the class, becoming resentful.
Also, color me rainbow shocked that the substitute teachers weren’t in a secret relationship. The entire time I thought they were!
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