Tanky Toon

This could almost be a perfect romance for me only if the SML and FL ended up together, and since they didn't (as expected), I wasn't as blown away by this drama as I would be. I was more invested in watching the scenes between Fan Xing and Lu Ming; their banter are so funny and their bond more natural than between Fan Xing and the male lead. There were so many misunderstandings between Yuan Song and Fan Xing, mainly because of Fan Xing constantly putting her foot in her mouth. I get it that she has never been in a relationship before, but she's a grown woman; she should act more mature than the young man she's dating. It was sometimes frustrating to watch the main couple argue over silly things, and it mainly stems from them keeping secrets from each other, not a good basis for a relationship.

Despite this, there are a few things I liked about this drama: there are no overbearing mothers, evil stepmoms, or annoying sisters. Even the rivalry between some of the characters were not as intense and hateful as in some other dramas. Healthy competition for the win. I also admired the close-knit relationship of some, for example, between the three best friends who support each other in times of need, or how close Yuan Song is to his stepmom or MinMin to her uncle, or how the work colleagues will go and visit people who are ill. Fan Xing is also close to her brother Canyang, who is sometimes jealous of how their parents treat the siblings differently, but helps his sister anyway. The show's internal monologuing also provided a lot of Fan Xing's self-discovered truths, where she hopefully matures towards the end of the story.

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I went into this thinking this would be a noona romance as it was labelled as such, but for me, a one-year age gap does not constitute a noona romance. For me, the difference would have to be greater than 5 years to be even called that. Despite this, it was enjoyable show because not only it centered on the romance, but also focused on different familial relationships. Rowoon is adorable as the patient trainee who was overeager to please his mentor. We see him struggle with his feelings and also with the knowledge that his crush has a two-timing boyfriend. Won Jin Ah isn't so shabby as the no-nonsense manager who was very private about her relationships, that she had wool over her eyes, if it weren't for Hyung Seung.

As for the other characters, the sisters of Hyun Seung stood out for me, and their relationship with their brother was endearing. While I find Lee Hyo Joo a cloying biatch who gaslights a spineless Jae Shin into a forced marriage, her odd-ball brother Jae Woon became more of a decent character as the show progresses. One setback for me was the numerous characters this drama introduced with the many side arcs, and some of which were predictable like I can spot the backstory of Yun Seung's husband from a mile away. Otherwise, a decent drama.

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I would not have finished this drama if not for the fast-forwarded button. Nothing but the main couple was worth my time. The secondary couples were so bland and boring, and I could even care less about their individual lives. The only other aspect that I did watch besides the romance of the main CP was the office politics. I was rooting for Ruo Xin to get her comeuppance and well-deserved executive position. The only other character besides the main couple who I liked was Qi Xiao's mother. Compared to Ruo Xin's mother (the stereotypical Asian mom), Li Ting is a breath of sunshine in terms of mothers in Chinese-drama land. I was also excited about the arrival of Xu Ming Jie, not in terms of a rival suitor, but as an intuitive and supportive boss who wants to see Ruo Xin's career flourish despite being rejected.

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This drama started out really good, until it dragged halfway through. I liked Yuan Bing Yan here better than in "My Sassy Princess" but her character became annoying towards the second half. I mainly plowed through this drama because of Cheng Yi's portrayal of a devoted man who sacrificed everything for the sake of love, including multiple deaths in several lifetimes and realms. How much more a guy can take is beyond me, but apparently a lot if you are to base on Si Feng's actions. This was supposed to be a tragic love story, with heart-wrenching moments, but what I found ridiculous are the numerous times characters are brought back to life, some who I even have long forgotten. Also, I found myself inappropriately laughing during scenes where Si Feng implores with Xuan Ji in the body of the Devil Star, as if they are starring in a body-swap BL drama. I just can't.

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One of the better Noona romances out there. Zhao Jiang Yue and Gu Jia Xin sizzles on screen and their chemistry makes their romance so believable. I like the irony of an unromantic, no-nonsense woman being the tech director of a dating app, which relies on big data analytics to match potential partners. Jiang Yue's and Jia Xin's relationship really began with the ML's intention to help the FL in pursuit of her old boss. The banter between them was easy-going and friendly.

The FL's practicality clashes almost with the impulsiveness of the pro-racer ML, it also maybe due the fact that her immunity to the ML's charms has something to do with pining for her supposedly-unrequited crush. Former boss Ning Yuan's agonizingly slow and subtle romantic interest barely registers with the oblivious FL, that he required the help (or not) of an unlikely advisor in the form of FL's love-rival Yan-Ran. The SFL/SML interactions are awkwardly funny together that it works, although the SFL is equally unforgivable as the cloying chick clinging to the ML. I hate this trope in Chinese Dramas: the desperately stubborn SFL who wouldn't take no for an answer and stalks the ML everywhere. To Yan Ran's credit, at least she does it without sabotaging the FL, but instead focuses her energy on getting the Ning Yuan and Jiang Yue together.

The other couples also have their own bittersweet stories. FL/ML's BFFs Duo Xi and Qi Heng reunited after years apart and learned to work through a long-distance relationship. Social Media Influencer Jing Jing and her on/off hubby Zhang Hao had more problems that turn out to be solvable in the face of love. The love advice at the end of each episode is also cute and note-worthy. Overall, this is such a fun and flirty drama.

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I was prepared to give this a lower grade because of the family infighting (mostly between the parents) that dominated the first part of the show and it brought back not so good memories. Also for the wailing (I mean wailing, not crying) and temper tantrums from the daughter that got on my nerves (then I remember that she was supposed to be a teenager). The flashbacks were a good ploy and created suspense but could be a bit confusing at times. But it redeemed itself past the 2nd half. Quirky and funny show about friends, brotherhood, and family, but all those sheep "baa" prompts could be toned down. Loved that it was not as cliché like a lot of dramas but a realistic portrayal of first loves, unrequited loves, and 2nd or 3rd loves. Very down to earth and practical and certainly not your run-of-the-mill drama.

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I think the drama has a potential to be more amazing as it tackles mature and serious issues like mental illness which is big taboo in reserved societies like Korea. I appreciate the realistic elements as it deals with this subject without being patronizing and the drama discussing mental problems with a very gentle and delicate hand. However, what I find issue with is that almost EVERYBODY in the damn show has a mental health problem.

I get it that it's about psychologists and their patients, but how unlucky can one be, having a schizophrenic BF, an non-functional father, and the female lead herself battling issues with intimacy on her own. As if not to be outdone by his GF's miserable life, the Male lead suffers from a serious mental illness brought on by his abusive upbringing and violent past, which affected also his mother who suffers from disassociation and his brother with anger issues. Then after all the miserable stories we hear, everyone seems to be all miraculously happy in the end with their respective partners. Jo In Sung is a very good actor, however, his aegyo moments are cringeworthy. He cannot do cheese.

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Because of the drama's popularity and Song - Song marriage (and dissolution of), it made me curious to watch after extended hiatus watching from dramas. (Did not watch this until 2019, just putting review now). It did not disappoint as it was not just all about romance, but I feel it was over-hyped. Enjoyed the action and comedic scenes. The second couple also is well-rounded and their story is given equal weight as the lead couple. The story gives prominence to the sacrifices that a lot of men and women in the military and medical field make for their country and its people.

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I personally love this story about a human pretending to be a robot when the actual robot is in repairs and managed to capture the heart of an eccentric CEO who happens to have human-contact allergy. Of course you have to suspend your disbelief in order to watch this drama. There are a lot of cutesy, funny moments in the first half of the movie, and then some heartbreaking scenes in the last half. Yoo Seung Ho is very dashing in this drama as he displays a wide range of emotion without overacting.

This is probably the first drama where I sided more with the Male lead than the female lead, and it's mostly because of Seung Ho's acting. Chae Soo Bin is not so shabby herself and she had to portray 3 characters, as a robot, as human, and as a human pretending to be a robot. However I could not relate to her when she managed to deeply hurt the person she is supposedly striving hard to protect. I did not like any of the secondary characters at all, and their individual story lines just bored the heck out of me, except when they are interacting with the lead characters. But this drama showcase that love, whether familial or romantic, conquers all.

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The only thing that keeps me going is the acting of Jung Hae In. But otherwise this is a slow-cooking drama made worse by alternating cringe-worthy sound tracks playing at inappropriate moments. I was rooting for the couple in the beginning but towards the end, I feel frustrated for the Main Female Lead that I wanted to push her off a cliff because the self-sacrificing male lead deserved better. The decisions made by the female martyr seemed so self-serving even when she thought she had good intentions, as if she WANTS to play the role of the suffering victim that needs to be saved by the young prince. The drama wants to come across as an art film but becomes more fartsy than artsy. Saving this film from pure destruction is the chemistry between the leads, but otherwise this drama can go to hell along with the obnoxious, social-climbing mother.

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The beginning started out strong. The two leads have chemistry and are easy on the eyes. My favorite actress Park Min Young and one of the hotties from Coffee Prince together in a drama, what's not to like? Well, what started out as fluffy and funny about the fangirling life became a boring story about the curating process. The story was too predictable for me, and too sweet for my tastes. The drama switched from the female's story quickly to the male's story and different arcs in between, which is fine if the elements were introduced smoothly. Alas, what you get from this drama is bits and pieces of everyone's story but not fully baked. Disappointing one-dimensional secondary characters that could have contributed more to the drama.

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The best Korean drama in the last decade and it lives up to the hype. A well-rounded story with drama, romance, politics, family, friendship, intrigue, mystery, etc. Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin deliver in their respective roles as the upright military officer and the sassy socialite who meet at the North-South Korean border by chance. After being thrown together under unusual circumstances, Ri Jung Hyuk learns to open up while Yoon Se Ri adapts to the provincial life in North Korea. It is their mutual respect for their individual strengths that both leads compromised and even made sacrifices for each other to make their partner happy. This is such a heartwarming drama that even secondary characters are lovable with their own charms, even with their flaws! The characters are multi-dimensional that you can't help feel for some of the characters who are depicted as "bad" but only because they are not "good". This show shot up to be one of my all-time favorites and would be hard to beat.

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I was hesitant to watch this at first as I am not a big fan of Psychological dramas, after my lukewarm reception of "It's Okay, That's Love," however, after putting aside my prejudices, I came to appreciate this drama about dealing with mental health, familial issues, trauma, how to overcome one's past, embrace one's weakness to be strong in the future. It is a powerful drama about learning, about forgiveness, about caring, about unbreakable and breakable bonds, but ultimately, how It is okay not to be Okay.

Performances by the three main leads are phenomenal, but a standing ovation must go to Oh Jung Se as he nailed Moon Sang Tae's character down as if he was autistic and suffering from PTSD himself. His gestures, mannerisms, quirks and ticks all make his character as the mentally-challenged artistic genius so believable, while retaining his forthright innocence. Kim Soo Hyun somehow became more handsome when I saw him last in 2013's MLFTS. First time seeing Seo Ye Ji, but she also was born to play the eccentric author Ko Moon Young, with a dangerous mix of sexy and devil.

Supporting characters have each of their own strength and personalities that all together, made the drama cohesive. Fashion and cinematography are also worth noting. Had to deduct half a point due to the dip in pacing towards the last quarter of the drama. If you are looking mainly for romance, this is not the drama, but unless you are inhuman, your heartstrings will be tugged seeing flawed characters leaning on each other for support, how your circumstances do not necessarily make who you are, but how you make out of it.

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In the beginning, I wasn't really sold on the premise for this drama, mainly because of how they wrote FL as a bitter, selfish woman who uses her moneyed status to intimidate people. But the ML breathe life into her sad and forlorn existence was worth watching the show. Shin Hye Sun's acting chops are versatile, having watched her a few other dramas, and she is great as the prima ballerina Lee Yeon Seo who was blinded by an accident and with it, robbed her of whatever humanity she had left in her body.

Enter Kim Myung Soo as Kim Dan, an angel with an equally angelic face, whose mission was to find a cynical, spoiled brat the true love that she apparently deserves. Surprisingly, Lee Yeon Seo gives in to their push and pull, and it seems like Kim Dan has tamed the shrew, but not without a few sacrifices of his own.

The rest of the cast delivered, from Ji Kang Woo as the long-suffering Lee Dong Gun who lost his wife who is Yeon Seo's doppelganger to Kim Bo Mi, who plays as the over-looked second-rate ballerina who deserves the spotlight as much as Yeon Seo, but was held back by family politics. The suspenseful dramatics were held by Yeon Seo's family whose eagerness to claim Fantasia's throne and misplaced affection, led some of them to heinous dealings.

Though I bawled my eyes out half of the time, the drama exceeded my expectations in that in dealt with the different types of love and sacrifices that people make for love.

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