It had a lot of potential but missed the mark several times.
I’ve found Korean BLs are either exceptionally wonderful or they just fall flat as pancakes.Sadly, Heart Stain, for me, fell into the latter.
It had so much potential, the basis of a good storyline was there, but it just never had enough room to grow with so few episodes (please, for the love of the baby jesus’ roller-skates, give K-Bls more episodes, begging on my knees!)
And if there was any romantic spark between the main actors, I completely missed it. I hate time jumps too, especially when nothing seems different.
I’ll end on a good note, and say it wasn’t a terrible watch, it had some cute moments (not talking about you, creepy vibes teacher!) and I liked the friend group.
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There’s no doubt KinnPorsche is compelling viewing.
I keep a list of every Asian drama I watch and I like to make little notes, to remember how I vibed with a show.Here are the notes I took down for KinnPorsche:
Good production and acting from the main cast.
Hot believable kisses and NCs.
Porsche is sexy af.
Didn’t like them being with other people yet thinking of each other.
The dead fish and watching porn scenes with Tankhurn was hilarious!
The handcuffed together was the best episode.
Standout characters for me were Porsche – adorable Porchay – Tankhurn (he made the show for me! Not as crazy as he was made out to be, always had the feel for what was wrong with people)
I dug how this mafia family was split, like, into a higher and lower part, and they were kinda on the same team but also rivals. The concept of the higher family training a school of bodyguards within the mansion walls was novel to me, immediately capturing my interest.
While I felt some plots went total left field ( looking at you, Vegas, you crazy mofo. Still don’t know how Pete can fall for him after having his nuts electrocuted) the overall show was enjoyable, with layered secrets that brought about the climax of the show. It was all beautifully shot ( the hot tub scene… wowza! )
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Gentle and fluffy.
The plot and characters were cute in a fluffy, don’t take it too serious, kind of way. Jung Gi Seop Was the most innocent HIMBO, but you know he’s going to love Jin U so well.I think it was the first time ever that I liked the second couple so much more. Their story was more compelling and should have been main leads. I feel robbed we didn’t get a comprehensive finish for them, and there’s no updates about a series for them, so I’m guessing we just use our imaginations to make them a couple.
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terribly bad yet compelling viewing!
This has to be the cheesiest mafia romance in all of history, and yet I never once thought of dropping it. In fact, I couldn’t get it into my eyes fast enough to see what trashy plots the show would throw at us next lol.Though smol, Kamol was the most endearing gangster and I would have absolutely fallen under his aura. Plus, he had pet tigers! (I still can’t decide if they were animatronics) Though the show had many cringy characters (I’m looking at you, Danil) I think it was Kim who was my least favorite. I get the push-pull aspect of the plot, but being combative went on for far too many episodes for my tastes. Kamol should have put him in chains much more.
Speaking of. I would have liked the show to expand on the BDSM aspect of the plot.
But you could not have flabbered my gasters more when that random bodyguard threesome was airlifted into the scene out of nowhere. I was cackling like a witch. Nothing surprises me with NCs, but had I been wearing plastic pearls, I would have been clutching them.
If you want an unserious show to waste some hours on, I’d rec this one. Sometimes you need to eat a plate of something bad for you just for the fun of it.
As always, my review is for the plot only and the vibes it gave me - I thoroughly enjoyed the acting from everyone, especially Yoon.
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Long Live Jaga!
I won’t lie. I came to this show to watch Byeon Woo-Seok, he’s a favorite actor and I wanted to watch him act all handsome princely.Perfection, by the way.
The way his face emotes without dialogue is chef’s kiss. My gosh, his crying scenes got me right in the heart.
I was enchanted by the plot from start to finish.
And the romance served so much, my heart was satisfied.
This is the kind of show that will still have beauty and meaning in years to come. Every scene was meant to make the audience feel a certain way, and I appreciated that.
There was also some standout humor moments. I loved when the couple swapped assistants, and how well suited they were to their new bosses.
It was my first IU, show. And I loved her! What a boss babe Hui Ju is!
The antagonists of the show served!
I’m not usually a fan of the bad guy redeeming themselves, but I felt the show wrote the queen mother turning tides very well.
My expectations were high going into this show just because I know how well Woo-Seok can act, and I came away with all the feel-good vibes having watched a fully fleshed out and perfectly executed show. The cast delivered so well.
One of the sweetest, modern day fairy tales I think we’ll see in a long while.
For how the show made me feel, it has to be one of my rare 10/10 ratings!
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This was so ‘noooona’ good!
Oh, they really did save the best for last.I’m still swooning from all my cells.
I didn’t know we needed an introverted naughty boy, but Soonrok was perfect for Yumi.
I’m thrilled they ended the show the way they did, and our girl got the right happily ever after.
Every season has been an enjoyable hoot, with serious emotions and heartfelt moments, but this season will own my heart.
Visuals.
Acting.
Plot.
Secondary cast.
Animation.
Everything was incredible. No notes!
I will miss those crazy, dramatic cells so much!
(Naughty cell will be my bestie for life! lol)
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It pains me to rate a Miles Wei show so low!
I cut my Chinese drama teeth on Miles Wei dramas and completely fell in love with the kind of characters he played. So stoic and businesslike. So, to not be 10/10 in love with this show, I feel like sulking in the corner.
The male lead was such a gentle soul, a green flag, though he got up to some lying and trickery; at his heart was a deep-rooted love for his school crush. I'm a fan, so of course, he stole every scene with his yearning eyes.
If I could base my rating solely on the acting of both the leads and the secondary cast, I would definitely give them 10! I had zero complaints about the acting. They did the best job with a subpar script.
But was it the writers' first day on the job? They dragged this plot so much that I almost lost the will to live at certain points.
Some parts were so enjoyable. I appreciated how gentle and show-growing it was, but other parts were just so left field, like they'd forgotten where they were supposed to take the story.
How gorgeous was the female lead’s apartment? The aesthetic was so warm and cozy.
It was my first time watching anything from this actress, and I loved her calm, sweet demeanor. I will definitely watch more from her in the future.
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My feel good vibes were fed well with this show!
I’ll keep my review short and sweet.Those cells have my whole heart.
I adore them! So fun and relatable.
They’re dramatic as hell and funny!
Naughty cell needs his own show lol.
Damn. Why did Woong have to get so much better in season 2? If he’d brought this energy he never would have lost Yumi.
Dammit, Babi, I knew you’d disappoint me.
He wasn’t an in-your-face red flag guy, he was actually sweet, caring, loving – but he had form. He started liking Yumi when he was still with his ex-girlfriend – almost like he seeks the greener grass. And that’s what happened here, he had a momentary sway, and ruined everything!
The closure scene between Babi and Yumi was heartfelt. I wish she’d had a similar scene with Woong, because now I’m left wondering is he still pining for her? ☹
Two quotes that made me LOL –
“I’m sick of emergencies. I’m so sick and tired of them!”
“If I can’t have her, neither can he!”
Oh, those melodramatic cells lol.
Yumi, girl, I’m always on your side, rooting you on!
What an excellent show.
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It's a sweet and tender drama that's a breeze to watch.
This show was just green flags everywhere. From every character!Rarely do you find a narrative without toxic characters who act as interfering antagonists. Each person brought a profound mature attitude, especially toward the leading couple.
I’m going to talk about Xiao Dong, first. He was our second male lead.
And when we first see him, we learn he’s the female lead’s cousin, not sure if it’s by blood – but at that time, just looking at his stern face, and how he was giving instructions to female lead, I was all, ut oh – he’s about to be the love rival. HOW WRONG I WAS! I’ve never seen a more supportive second ML before. Talk about perfect, sweet, he was always rooting for the couple, paving the way for their relationship, and also trying to get back his close friendship with our ML. There was a frisson of a relationship for Xiao Dong, too, with his ex, they danced around each other, but by the end, we still don’t know if they ever got back together. I really hope so! If anyone deserves love, it’s that adorable, suited man. He’s going to be one of my favorite second MLs.
I could do a section for each supporting man – there are so many adorable ones, but I’ll group them altogether and say they were a great support for our leading man. The brotherhood, taking them back decades, was clear in every scene and I loved how they were always there for each other. Never a jealous, petty moment.
Let’s get to our yearner – Lin Yiyang. I swear, the actor has eyes made for yearning scenes. You’ll hear me say “It’s rare” in my review, because it really was rare to have a 30 episode drama and neither lead ever lost their temper – we never had one argument. Yiyang loved Guo from the first time he laid eyes on her and it clearly showed in his every action. This was an attentive man! Everything he did was for her happiness and comfort. He called himself a poor man, but he was such a hard worker and talk about spoiling!
It’s the first time I’ve watched this actor’s work, but I’m sure it won’t be the last, this was a perfect show to introduce me to him. My eyes were swooning so many times at his sweet, loving actions.
The man gave good hug!
My initial decision to give this show a watch was because of how much I adored Zhao Jin Mai in Shine on Me – she was my ideal heroine in that show. And while I really liked Guo in this one, too – she was unproblematic, never threw tantrums and worked with their long distance relationship – I wished the writer had matured her a little over time and gave her more confidence.
I'm a sucker for romance novels, and I'm super sensitive to repetition. So, I spotted this thing in the drama that kept happening, and I'm baffled as to why. Guo avoided about 90% of the kisses Yiyang went for.
Knowing she was a timid girl, not used to romance, and possibly felt self-conscious kissing in front of others – even though it was in private – I still considered all that. It's not like Yiyang was leaning on her for more.
It got me thinking why the writer gave the FL that trait. I will say though, she was a great hugger and I loved all those intimate moments. Especially the hand holder. Super heart fluttering.
And then! Toward the end, we suddenly have a pregnancy scare!
Like how? I was hardcore side-eyeing at that moment, with my eyebrows somewhere in my hairline!
This FL was avoiding even the smallest smooches, and you want to be believe they had unprotected sex?
Was it an AI baby?
Did the sperm get delivered by FEDEX?
This was just a little thing that made me chuckle at the time, but at least it tells us Yiyang got past the stiff kisses, right? LOL.
I only included the above section in my review for anyone who is like me and reads reviews to either to find things that might irk me ( cheating, etc..) or to validate any thoughts I might have had about certain scenes. This is your validation if you, too, found the avoidance of kissing to be odd, lol.
Ignoring my minor critiques, I genuinely loved this show and would readily rewatch it for a stress-free escape with its simple, drama-free content. I get why other reviews have said the slow pace didn't suit them, but for me, it's like a show to reset your nervous system!
What a stunning location! I really liked that a good chunk of it took place in another country. And honestly, since I've never watched snooker before, I figured I'd be bored, but wow, I was totally hooked on the games!
Now, I will add Yiyang to my list of ultimate yearners.
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My heart is overflowing with warm fuzzies!
Oh, it’s so rare for a 10/10 show to come along and have my heart full of satisfaction.I didn’t even need to complete the full 36 episodes to know it would have that rating, either.
There was not one episode I was unhappy with.
I really enjoyed the show's unhurried tempo.
There was a perfect balance in the slice of life episodes.
Spanning from 2013 to 2028, this drama unfolds without being overtly attention-grabbing.
The gentle story arcs provided a warm embrace, offering a glimpse into the couple's professional and personal lives, which made it feel very relatable throughout. The episodes were consistently cheerful, free from dramatic, non-toxic plotlines or heart-wrenching angst. To be clear, I also like those intense shows that make you cry and fill you with anxiety about what's coming next. But Shine on Me isn’t one of those shows and I was so glad for it. We all need a show to decompress our nervous systems and this was absolutely perfect for that.
I could wax lyrically for days how perfect Xi Guang and Li Yusen are. A male lead who perfected the yearning eyes and the sweetest, most personable female lead (loved all her clothes btw!) their slow burn relationship came so naturally that when it turned to romance it felt so right. And for being an office romance, usually you get the bitchy trouble from coworkers, this show was delightfully non-toxic for any of that nonsense!
It’s notable to mention the gorgeous hugs Li Yusen gave. And the yearning eyes gave me butterflies!
Besides the dumb dad, the rest of the family was great and always made the scenes feel cozy. Loved the cute sidekick cousin and the funny uncle.
Now, let’s talk about second ML.
I had mixed feelings about Zhung Xi the whole time.
For the first four episodes, you could have thought he was the main guy because of how the show told the story of love that wasn't returned – or maybe it was? Our main guy, the fantastic Li Yusen was hardly shown at all in those first few episodes, but Zhuang’s personality was so steeped in low confidence and morose energy that I felt like he was waving “woe-is-me” flags in every scene. In any other show that kind of dark, unapproachable personality, I’m sure he would have made a good leading male, but against Li Yusen, he failed miserably.
He never even tried to win her over, but Yusen was so upfront with his feelings. Oh, swoon!
Seeing Zhuang again at the airport at the end, I felt a pang of emotion for him as he watched the happy family. He smiled sadly, and I figured he was thinking about Xi Guang, the girl that got away because he never really put the effort in to win her all those times her heart was so open to him.
I have an empathetic heart for my fictional characters, and long after the shows have finished, I always wonder what those characters are up to – so my hope is for Zhuang to finally put down his past baggage and to find his own piece of personal happiness.
If you're looking for a happy vibes show, this is the one. It has the same warm, enjoyable feel as The Best Things (IMO)
I could have watched this show for another hundred episodes and been perfectly happy.
I'm confident I'll rewatch this and experience the same comforting feelings.
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When fluffy becomes an absolute gem of a show!
I thoroughly enjoyed every episode! It's fun, fluffy, of course cheesy in the best way and I fell in love with all the ex-convicts as we got to know them better. What a beautiful little family they all made together.There were so many times I laughed out loud, too.
Perfect blend of comedy, romance, found family, friendship alongside those few tense monster moments.
I couldn't have asked for a better cast to play these roles.
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I thought it would be fluff – ended up adoring it!
Isn’t it a great feeling when you assume a show will just be a filler until you find your next great watch and it ends up going on your favourite list?10 perfect liners was such a surprise – I chose to watch it because I’d heard good things about Perth and Santa’s pairing, and I wasn’t disappointed! All the couples held their weight and I enjoyed each storyline but Yotha/Gun were my favorite couple, their plot had all the emotional range that made me binge episode after episode. Gun was a convincing actor when he cried; I truly felt his pain. And how about his smile? It could light up a room!
I loved how the show was split up into three couples but didn’t feel like three separate shows. Then they sprinkled in support couples (Auo and Boom were so good in every scene they appeared in)
Definitely a show I will circle back to and re-watch one day.
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I fell in love with the MLs hair!
This show was an absolute dream to watch.Apart from a little bumpy toward the end, which I’ll get to.
But first, all the gorgeous bits!
The virtual world aspect was so unusual and so well done, it drew me into the show instantly. I wish we’d spent more time in Rongcheng, because seeing Xiao Zhi Yu in his captain uniform was a treat for my eyes!
The leading pair were so good, neither were toxic nor problematic in any way. I loved the FL’s caring nature and her virtual world outfits! The ML had such a quiet, calming voice, every scene with him made you focus on every word.
The romance in this one was romancing. All the heart flutters for every little kiss or touch of hands. ML gave the best hugs, too!
There was a small love rival from Mr. Pei, the evilllll step-bro, but it came to nothing, and though that all was resolved by the end, I did wish he could have found someone to love him, because Pei wasn’t all evil, just under the influence of his dickbag of a father. Plus, I had a little crush on the way he pushed his glasses up his nose!
Now, I come to the not-so-good parts – mainly, the parents!
They absolutely ruined certain bits for me.
I was irritated by them all.
In my Asian drama watching history, I’ve come across some super annoying parent roles, some I’ve wanted to throw off a tall building (I’m looking at you, mother from ‘Something in the Rain’) and while Love Between Lines parents weren’t so totally ugly or overbearing, each had their way of irking my eyeballs.
The evil step dad who was fond of slapping his son or throwing hot tea at his face because he couldn’t get his own way. I felt so bad for Pei, and just wanted him to tell the dad to f*ck off and go and live his own life instead of under his iron thumb.
Then we had the weak-spined mother, who constantly had a look of nervousness no matter the scene. Like, babes, you didn’t know the man you married (I suspect for security) was the man who killed your son’s father?! Saving grace for evil step dad, he never displayed any anger or violence toward her.
Then we have FL’s parents – the busybody mom and the woe-is-me dad who played on his disability far too much. You walk with a cane, mate, you weren’t paralyzed from the neck down, stop pouting and whining!
I hate when the kids have to pay for the sins of the parents.
Around episode 24 was when the plot fell apart and we had to go through the eyerolling breakup, through no fault of the couple. It was a heartbreaking moment when the female lead, on her knees, confessed to her father that she had attempted to move on from the male lead.
Thankfully, we get our HEA, but had it not been for that plot swerve, this definitely would have been a 10/10 show for me.
It has great vibes and secondary cast (loved the two best friends to our couple) and a show I will watch again.
Now, I need to look up the lead couples other shows!
PS. It’s worth mentioning how incredible the OST is. Each song fit the scene perfectly and never overpowered it.
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What in the confusion did I just watch?
I must be an uncultured swine for not getting this drama at all. It was confusing from start to finish.It felt like the author had the bones of a good stepbrothers story, but just didn’t finish one thought right to the end! With only five episodes, and flashbacks happening randomly, to the point I couldn’t tell what was flashback or present, there was no hints at romantic feelings from either lead – none at all – until the end of ep 4. And by then, it felt really weird to introduce.
We had one bad attitude character, and one burdened with other people’s problems character. And they both remained this way throughout all 5 eps.
So, the out-of-nowhere kiss from bad attitude to burdened felt like bad attitude just wanted burdened to take care of him, and kissing him was the way to get him to do that.
Was that the end?
The best part was the couple of bloopers they showed the leads actually laughing. The only laughter we got the entire time!
A very dreary, though realistic show, that just wasn’t for my tastes.
My review is for plot only – I found the acting to be really well done.
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I never knew I needed a pookie vampire in my list of faves.
By no means was this a perfect production – but I wasn’t looking for perfection when I hit play. I just knew BounPrem would deliver a great watching experience and they did that in spades!The vampire lore plot actually had a lot of legs, and it was one of those times I wished a show had a few more episodes so they could delve deeper into the story. But what we got was really well done.
I particularly enjoyed when Ramil walked through Punn’s memories, and how all those earlier episode threads were neatly addressed. So well done!
I loved the vampire brothers and their differing personalities. They could absolutely give each one their own show, and with that puzzling end scene with Methas shaking hands with guest star Junior Panachaileads made me believe that could happen? Fingers crossed, anyway!
The only question I was left with was, why they went into the painting so soon? If it was to stop Punn aging, surely they could have waited a few years, spent it with Pokpong until little bro was grown.
Worth the watch to see Boun’s yearning eyes – so dreamy.
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