Tanky Toon

Maybe something more sinister is at play???

https://www.youtube.com/live/mPW3_Buj0_k?si=U4FxwJoB_ldwcLSf

The trio at the heart of the story—Yeon Si Eun, Su Ho, and Beom Seok—are all deeply flawed, which makes them compelling, if not always likable. For me, Su Ho is the emotional anchor. He’s not perfect, but he’s the one who feels most grounded in reality. That said, the show leans hard into the idea that fighting back is noble, even when it mirrors the same brutality it’s trying to condemn. When does retaliation stop being justice and start becoming a cycle of destruction?

Beom Seok’s arc is especially troubling. Yes, he’s a victim of domestic abuse, and that context matters—but it doesn’t excuse his betrayal or the fact that he nearly killed a friend. Regret after the fact doesn’t erase the damage. For me, that was the point of no return.

This review is strictly for Season 1. I have no plans to watch Season 2, especially knowing Su Ho is reduced to a coma cameo. If the next season is just more violence without meaningful evolution, I’d rather quit while I’m ahead than rage-watch my way to a lower rating.

I picked up this drama because of the buzz and sky-high ratings. And while I wouldn’t call it bad, I also wouldn’t crown it the best drama of all time. The premise—a top-ranking student getting bullied—is familiar territory. Sadly, bullying is a reality many face, but the sheer level of violence in this show is jarring. At some point, I found myself wondering: where are the teachers while all this is happening? Did they take a collective vow of invisibility?

Full review in the spoiler below:

What really surprised me was Matsumoto Leo. I’ve seen him floating around as a supporting actor in a few BL dramas, so I didn’t expect this level of transformation. But damn, he owned it. He looked so good in those feminine outfits that I found myself genuinely jealous — the styling, the grace, the confidence. Matsumoto didn’t just cross-dress; he embodied the role with both charm and sincerity. I spent half the drama just admiring his fashion game and the effortless way he carried himself. He was easily the standout — the kind of actor who makes you rethink how underused he’s been in past roles.

Osaki Ichika as Haruka had her moments too. I liked the concept of her character — a rough-around-the-edges tomboy with a heart of gold — but sometimes her acting tilted a little too far into over-the-top territory. She was much more engaging when she wasn’t trying so hard to impress Kurotaki. Maybe it’s the writing, maybe it’s the direction, but Haruka worked best when she was just being herself, not performing femininity for someone else’s approval. Still, Ichika had good chemistry with Matsumoto in the early episodes, and that’s what carried the show for me.

Surprisingly, the supporting cast added real texture. They weren’t just filler—they were flawed, funny, and occasionally endearing. It’s rare to see side characters who feel like they have lives outside the main plot, and Cinderella Closet gave them just enough dimension to matter.

The only letdown for me came toward the end. The romantic chemistry between Haruka and Hikaru fizzled out, and the rushed time skip didn’t help. I actually preferred them as best friends who uplifted each other rather than as lovers forced into a predictable ending. Hikaru seemed more authentic and confident presenting as a woman, and that aspect of identity was far more compelling than the sudden romance. And let’s be honest—the “kiss” that wasn’t really a kiss didn’t help sell the connection. If you’re going to pivot into romance, at least commit to the emotional and physical payoff. Still, I appreciate how they brought out each other’s growth — even if it came at the cost of what made them so unique. I just wish the drama had trusted that to be enough.


Cinderella Closet might not be groundbreaking, but it’s stylish, sweet, and unexpectedly thoughtful — a cozy fairytale about finding yourself, even if the glass slipper doesn’t quite fit at the end.

I was intrigued by this drama the moment I saw the trailer—cross-dressing man meets tomboyish woman? Yes, it’s a rom-com cliché, but sometimes I need a palate cleanser from all the emotional carnage of melodramas. The premise promised light-hearted chaos with a dash of gender play, and I was ready to indulge. What I didn’t expect was how much of that indulgence would come from simply watching Matsumoto Leo steal every scene with his fashion game.

Full review in the spoiler below:

this review is a riot! love it!

This drama is so unserious it's funny. I was ready to discount it because honestly I found Plawan so idiotic. And so is the premise of a person who have Zero cooking skills be in the running for Chef/restaurant owner is just inane that even suspending drama logic still makes you doubt.
Is there no one really in the entire city who can cook better than Plawan? My 13 year old kid can even cook better than him! And really, Plawan is probably brain-addled with delusions of grandeur that he can make money by being a model. His friend JJ has more common sense in his pinky than Plawan.

Well, it's half half. From I Chan's point of view, there is a love triangle, that he's competing for the love of Se Gyeong, who is not really Se Gyeong, with Eun Gyeol. So it looks like there's a love triangle, but drama logic says there isn't.

There could be even ties to organ harvesting.

https://www.visiontimes.com/2025/09/28/report-links-xis-brother-to-plot-against-actor-yu-menglong-amid-australian-princess-rumors-generals-longevity-boast.html

Yup I read that too, it's like how that one agency in Korea has multiple suspicious deaths surrounding its staff and artist and no it's not GM.

Rumors about celebrities being alleged escorts or kept woman/man are nothing new in the entertainment industry. That's how monied clientele works. And yes sometimes being attractive is not all that in some circles. It has its pitfalls.

yeah read about that too. but he is probably one of many victims. The others we probably don't even know about. There's a lot of atrocities in the world that we cannot even fathom. at this point, I'm half half, as in I do hope that it was really an accidental fall and he did not suffer in the way that they described it because it was heartbreaking. The other half of me, probably thinking that death is "Easier" because to live in fear is not exactly living either. Poor mother with an only son, I'm pretty sure he would also have stuck it out for the love of his mom.

Very little justice happens in the world, even in the most progressive countries, there are countless victims of power struggle involving money, politics and crime. Much more in less transparent countries where corruption is as normal as eating rice. The saving grace I guess here at least we know that there's a few people like YML who didn't sacrifice his dignity for profit, and still be the humble person that he was, where I'm sure other people would have turned a blind eye or easily caved in to these nefarious activities just to avoid being victims or to advance their careers. Just like those people in the party who did nothing to help him, and in fact, more likely to be complicit in his death.

I love slow burn romance. Give me longing glances, emotional repression, even years of unresolved tension if it pays off in fire. But this wasn’t slow burn — it was just slow. Like wading through lukewarm bathwater, tepid and bland, with no heat in sight. The “romance” mostly consisted of walking, flower-staring, and meandering scenes that had the narrative commitment of a lost tourist. I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open — and not in a binge-worthy, “I can’t stop watching” way, but in a “why am I still awake for this?” way.

And then there was the dreaded intoxicated first kiss. Can we retire this trope already? It wasn’t romantic, swoony, or even messy fun — just tired. They also tried to stir in angst with the ex-boyfriend and his one-dimensional outbursts, but it barely registered, except give Xi Fan the trauma-induced backstory she needed to see Su Ye in the first place, and later an excuse to run into Su Ye’s arms.

Oddly enough, I found myself liking Xi Fan’s parents. The resolution Xi Fan had with her parents was surprisingly healthy and mature — they were quick to recognize their shortcomings and have an honest heart-to-heart with their daughter, which was refreshing to see. For once, the elders weren’t the source of melodrama, and even Professor Yu — Dr. He’s grandfather — added a layer of warmth. But liking a handful of side characters isn’t enough to drag me through a drama that refuses to spark.

In the end, The Best Thing felt like a drama that wanted to be tender and introspective but ended up sleepy and safe. Sweet couple, yes. But sweetness without spice just leaves a bland aftertaste — and no amount of face card could make that worth finishing.

I have mixed feelings about this drama — the kind that makes you sigh dreamily because the main couple is genuinely sweet, then immediately sigh again out of frustration because the story itself feels like a slow descent into narrative purgatory. Zhang Ling He was the magnet that pulled me in; his face card could carry an entire dynasty, but sadly, not this drama. Xu Ruo Han was lovely too, more than holding her own. So let’s be clear: the leads were not the problem. The problem was everything happening around them — or rather, the lack thereof.

Full review in the spoiler below:

Yes the FL too is at fault. I didn't say she's blameless. In my original review I didn't specify any gender as being the culprit.

I'm not going to watch the rest of the drama if the setup is already problematic, even if it gets better later. Any character redemption will be contrived and I'm not going to justify any romance coming out of such toxic relationship.

You are entitled to form your opinion as am I and my review still stands. People are free to form their own judgement.

Not sure if this is legit but a few reports surfaced saying the same thing:

https://www.news18.com/movies/hollywood/chinese-actor-yu-menglongs-final-text-before-death-goes-viral-they-may-kill-me-anytime-9607078.html

If you don't see anything wrong when a ML basically stalks the FL, even though she clearly doesn't want to be found to the extent of hiding her identity, and then proceeds to lock her up to prevent her from escaping and wrings her neck when she doesn't want to obey, then sorry, I can't help you.

Yeah there are a lot of gatekeepers, as if we are sheeples that have the same tastes and are not allowed to have different options. SMH

Probably the writers thought that Haruka will be jealous if her boyfriend rocks girl clothes/makeup better than she does! Hahah, but I agree with you, somehow they have more chemistry with Hikaru dressed up as a girl. Maybe it's because he's more confident that way. Also I got so used to Hikaru's visuals as a girl, one of the most convincing portrayals IMO, that I almost forget what he looks like as a man.

Don't get me started on how the word "masterpiece" is being bandied around so much that it lost all essence of its original meaning. God forbid Leonardo Da Vinci will ever hear his masterpiece is in the same league as all these "masterpieces." I'm pretty sure he will roll in his grave.

No, you have to pay to watch. And the app is not in English.