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Thrilling and Kept me Thinking! A good mix of Romance and Mystery

“Koi wa Yami” aka “Love is Darkness” is quite a thrilling crime mystery drama for me. This is not usually my go-to genre as I am more of a romance person, but I was captivated and engaged throughout these 10 episodes. I can only write and review based on my very novice perspectives.

I find “Love is Darkness” did a really good job incorporating romance into the serial killer murder mystery. I had a minor issue about the start of the romance. In true J-drama fashion, the romance happened really quickly and the FL fell hard. I was hoping for a more mature push-and-pull kind of romance with a little angst.

But as the story goes, I see that maturity in how they handle the mystery. The couple’s relationship ties into the slow reveal of the serial killer. Is it the male lead? All evidence and suspicions seem to point to him? But he IS the male lead, it can’t be him right? For most of the drama, I went back-and-forth as new evidence surfaced. I was not expecting the plot twist and what FL discovered when she finally visited ML’s apartment. I was quite surprised. But afterwards, I started to be able to guess how the story might go. There are still twists and turns all the way until the last episode, but I was not as confused! This drama also doesn’t shy away from showing graphic violence, blood and gore. Watch out!

This drama also dives into how news reporters chase after this serial killer story. It was interesting to see each reporter’s approach and style, but there are also things that I shook my head and wondered what the heck FL was doing. When did a news reporter become a police investigator? Where is that sense of danger when you know a serial killer is appearing soon? There are minor plot holes but it didn’t distract me from enjoying the drama.

The acting of the cast is pretty good. Shison Jun is so handsome that my heart melts when he smiles adorably and charismatically. However, if I am being strict about his acting, I’ve seen more experienced actors who can pivot from a smiley face to ‘that’ look in a more dramatic way. He’s still really good. But I think Kishii Yukino is fabulous. I might not like how she becomes a little lovesick girl (that’s the writing not the acting’s fault) in the early episode, but she has quite a wide range in showing different emotions. Her acting is distinct enough to show when she’s with her boyfriend, when she’s being a news reporter and when she’s going through a really hard time. 2ML and 2FL also did a good job. They are lovely characters that you really want to root for their happiness. Most of the characters are lovely, a few more eccentric than others. None annoys the heck out of me.

Overall, I had a good time watching “Love is Darkness” and would recommend this to romance lovers who don’t like pure crime thrillers. There is a good mix of romance, crime investigation, mystery, family and good friendships in just 10 episodes. If you are an experienced watcher of this genre, you might be pickier and rate this lower than me. I am happy to give this a solid 8.5 for my personal enjoyment.


Completed: 6/25/2025 - Review #595

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Well-Paced and Acted with Strong characters and Healthy romances

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

It was a pleasant surprise that I like “Moonlight Mystique” so much, as I came in without much expectations. Having seen “The Blossoming Love” and “Love of the Divine Tree” before this, I never would have thought “Moonlight Mystique” is my favorite out of the 3 (my MDL friends would not have agreed with me). Despite being in the same universe as “Ancient Love Poetry”, you can watch this drama as a standalone.

Story/Pacing
Compared to the other 2 dramas I listed above, I feel that “Moonlight Mystique” has the best pacing and execution of the intersecting plot lines.. I binged all 40 episodes in 3-4 days without losing focus or interest at all. With each arc, the stories highlight strong familial bonds and friendships between the characters. Each supporting character is also given ample time for viewers to get to know them as a person, and their backstories in relation to the overarching plot. All these stories make me cry! When “The Blossoming Love” tells the backstory of the main leads from 10,000 years ago, the execution is boring and draggy. In contrast, “Moonlight Mystique” was able to tell the ancient story from 60,000 years ago in a much more interesting and well-paced way. Moreover, I am a huge fan of fight scenes and I feel they are spread out throughout the drama to keep me interested. There are dramas where the fights all happened in the first half of the drama and then the second half is full of talking with no action. That’s why I was especially pleased to see these fight scenes evenly distributed.

Acting
Such solid acting from the 4 main leads and the supporting cast. I don’t think there’s anyone that I found to be outright awful.
- Ao Rui Peng: What a surprise! I have to say I was not confident in him at all in playing the demon lord based on his previous roles. But I was glad he proved me wrong! I don’t personally find him to be my kind of handsome, but I think he made me fall in love with his character, Fan Yue. Ao Rui Peng has big eyes, and I can see them switching from cold (but not mean) to stern (yet tender). His acting is on par with Bai Lu and they have good chemistry together.
-Bai Lu: Bai Lu is Bai Lu. You know what to expect from her and she delivers. Her role as Bai Shuo started out to be a spoiled little brat, but she grew to be a courageous, independent fighter. Watching her doing the wire work is amazing (both in the drama and the behind-the-scenes clips). Everything looks so effortlessly beautiful. She’s beautiful when she fights, and she’s beautiful when she cries.
- Dai Lu Wa: She was quite a scene stealer in the beginning as the little demon girl. I kinda miss her arrogant and badass personality in the latter half of the drama. In the earlier episodes, she’s just so much fun and you can’t help but follow her around the screen. Her emotional scenes are pretty good as well.
- Chang Hua Sen: His acting isn’t bad either, though might not be the weakest of the four. I was worried that his character will go a different direction and then I worry he might be typecast into certain roles.

Romance
- Bai Shuo + Fan Yue: I really enjoy their romance and how it was developed. The development feels natural and works with the plot. I am actually a little surprised that the feelings and they were a couple before ¾ of the drama. They are such a strong, mature and green couple. They understand each other, support each other even though they may not agree to the decision 100%. They serve as the objective listener and adviser when the other person is dealing with something personal. Their love is strong from beginning to the end with no misunderstanding but honest communication. It’s rare to see this in a xianxia drama.
- Fu Ling + Chong Zhao: I also really like this pair. Their story is very different from the main romance which provides viewers with something different and interesting. They have just enough screen time to make me feel invested without taking over too much time.
Other romance: Throughout the drama, there are several other romances within each arc. They are all beautiful and romantic, yet also heartbreaking. I can honestly say that as a hopeless romantic, I am quite satisfied with almost all the romances in “Moonlight Mystique” (maybe except how Fire Girl falls in love with Wolf boy).

Production Quality
First of all, there are so many different hairstyles, accessories and costumes for all the female leads. I don’t think I’ve seen Bai Lu in so many different outfits in a drama before. Each of the designs complement the location of the current storyline. Bai Lu and Dai Lu Wa look absolutely beautiful! Since this is a xianxia drama, there aren’t many fight scenes with actual martial arts. Most of them are done by CGI and green screens. I absolutely love the purple flowers by Fu Ling (and reminds me of my favorite purple in Ancient Love Poetry). But the special effects and green screen/cinematography could be a hit-or-miss as well. There are times when the scenes seem too fake and computer-generated. But other times, they are colorful and beautiful. On the other hand, unfortunately most of the actors are dubbed except for Bai Lu (that’s why she’s the queen!). The actors sounded fine to me in the BTS clips, and unfortunately, I noticed inconsistency in the lip syncing (mostly in the first half of the drama).


Of course, reviews and ratings are very subjective. But I do really like “Moonlight Mystique” and after finishing it, my gut tells me it's worth between 8.5-9.0. Therefore, I am giving this an 8.75 (rounding up to 9.0), the same rating as “Ancient Love Poetry”. It’s not a perfect drama, but these days, it’s hard to find one that keeps me invested throughout with solid acting, and no annoying characters.



Random Observations:
1. Warning: Do not get attached to any character, you will be heartbroken.
2. It’s lovely to have a drama with all smart leads who you like and can root for.
3. Bai Lu has perfected the shock look when being kissed (I’m still not a fan of that look,no matter who the actor/actress is).
4. Wolf boy acted so well in the last back hug scene. Gosh I cried so hard!
5. So, pink and purple light when the leads first made love (?), reminds me of “Ashes of Love”.
6. Rare to see a wedding proposal in a xianxia and it was sad and beautiful at the same time.
7. I am fine with the actual ending and don’t need more. I might be in the minority, though pretty and sweet, I find the special episode (lines spoken) also cheesy and a little cringe.



Completed: 3/25/2025 - Review #559

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Good pacing and acting, nicely-written family stories but disappointing romance

“The Rise of Ning” does have some resemblance to " The Story of Ming Lan” with a focus on family life, a smart female lead, a good-hearted and doting grandmother and in-fighting between the wives. However, it’s a much shorter and lighter version, and might be easier for new C-drama watchers to enjoy.

Plot & Characters:
I really enjoy the happenings at the Luo Household. The pacing of the drama is good with stories revolving around each child, their struggles to be the favorite and the star of the family, and the scheming between the wives. Nothing was actually too crazy and over-the-top. The ‘evil’ women aren’t really that bad, compared to those in other dramas I’ve seen. Thus, it makes for an easy and enjoyable watch. I love the grandmothers and the doting General. The General makes me smile each tie he tries to please his daughter and to make up for lost times. The revenge/investigation plot was fine, but not as tightly-written. I feel the last episode was a little rushed and screentime could have been better distributed with a stronger focus on the crime/villains, than the wedding festivities. For some, our leads might be overly smart and can seem too perfect. But I have to say, I enjoy watching them outsmart everyone and I don’t have to worry too much about them, thus, making this an easy, stress-free watch. Overall, “The Rise of Ning” kept my attention for almost the whole drama when I was binge-watching it.

Romance:
Unfortunately, I am disappointed with the main romance. The leads have better chemistry as siblings than when they’re lovers. I found FL’s transition from sibling love to romantic love too abrupt and out of nowhere. Additionally, I felt a little weird watching the leads together as siblings, yet feel they're a little too intimate. The secret of the birth identity was not revealed until the last ¼ of the drama, thus not allowing enough time for the romance to develop well. If you are looking for cute and fluffy scenes, then you will be even more disappointed. Surprisingly, I am more touched by 2ML’s storyline. I might be the minority here. I don’t find him too annoying despite wanting to be with FL for most of the drama. His scenes with FL were short ones and sporadic. In the end, instead of frowning upon his obsession and shaking my head, I feel bad for him and wish he would have a better ending. Luckily, the secondary romance is a little cuter and much more innocent. They don’t take up too much of the leads screen time and enough to just keep me happy.

Acting:
From the youngest to the oldest, the acting of the whole cast is pretty good. Zhang Wan Yi’s role is more mature and reserved, compared to his role in “Are You The One”. It’s a joy to watch him again especially when he continues to dub his own lines. He has quite a unique voice and his line delivery isn’t bad. Ren Min performed better than when she’s in “The Longest Promise”. I believe she dubbed her own lines as well and she also has quite a unique voice that takes me a little while to get used to. Ci Sha is awesome and that’s why I feel so bad for his character. The rest of the younger supporting cast did fine but the veterans really shine.

Production:
999 Cold medicine must have contributed a lot to the drama’s budget to give us beautiful costumes and sets. The leads clothes and accessories change throughout the drama to reflect their change in socio-economic status. Ren Min is gorgeous in this drama. She has the best make-up out of everyone (everyone else’s is not good) and her clothes are beautiful. Zhang Wan Yi looks dashing (and quite skinny) in his nicely patterned outfits. I love the sets inside the Luo mansion: the gardens, FL and ML’s individual quarters, and all the fixtures and decorations. The wedding scenes are elaborate and I’ve never seen the bride throw chopsticks (like she’s throwing a bouquet of flowers). The fight scenes are OK and I wasn’t really expecting much anyway. “The Rise of Ning” only has 5 songs in the OST and they complemented the scene well. I really like the main theme <安宁> by A-Lin.


I had a pretty good time watching “The Rise of Ning” and I’ll recommend it. Tamper the expectations of romance and don’t expect sizzling chemistry, cute and fluffy scenes or great skinship. But the drama has pretty good acting, stories about families, beautiful clothes, lovely characters and ‘villains’ who are not too infuriating.



Completed: 11/9/2024 - Review #510

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Not a romantic comedy but has its cute and comedic moments

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

Even though “Boys Be Brave!” has a comedy tag, I would not classify this drama as a romantic comedy. There are supposedly comedic moments, but they are not my favorite moments. Instead, there are other deeper meanings regarding each character and their past. This drama is more than a crush moving into your house, and you can’t hide your feelings anymore.

Although I enjoy the general plot and a more mature tone, I think the acting and writing could be better. None of the characters are perfect and are actually flawed, and I like that. However, I also do not see why anyone would like Jin Woo. I personally do not like his personality and the actor’s portrayal of him. Kim Sung Hyun’s acting is the weakest of the four guys and he also has the worst styling (aside from Ki Sub’s hair extensions). I admit, I don’t find the actor attractive. Jung Ki Sub is supposedly the handsome one. He’s not bad looking, but his character is introduced as such a scatterbrain that he’s not attractive either. However, I can see how opposites attract.

On the other hand, I am far more interested in secondary romance. I wish the drama has spent a little more time on their story and a little less time on how ditzy Ki Sub is. We barely hit the surface of their romance with a couple dates yet they have much better chemistry than the main leads. I am not sure if it’s the translation, but I sure wish being a ‘better’ person is much more than being rich. I also think this pair is better looking. LOL

“Boys Be Brave!” is an easy and short watch with a predictable story, if you are looking for something not too fluffy but have cute moments. I like the songs and for a lower budget production, I don’t see any much product placement. I watch this on Viki and I am not sure why it’s rated R. Aside from a few kisses and maybe a more mature plot, this is not one to watch for sexy scenes.

Completed: 5/21/2024 - Review #442

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Sweet and Innocent Romance - Beautiful Siblings Bond - A Journey to Find Your Own Path

Subjective Rating - 8.25

I am a little surprised that “Otonari ni Ginga” aka “A Galaxy Next Door” has quite a low rating (7.6). Granted, Jdoramas usually score lower on MDL than K-Dramas or C-Dramas. I wonder if viewers are a little put off in the first few episodes due to its typical manga-like over-the-top acting.

If you are not familiar with Japanese manga/anime adaptations, you will find the acting in this drama could be a little much. But once you get past it, there are many heartwarming stories of family, love and finding yourself. I binged all 32 episodes (15 mins each) and if I had to wait for weekly episodes, that would be torture!

Romance - A sweet, innocent and cute romance developed between our leads. An interesting way of telling the story of a contract marriage, our leads have to endure quite a bit of challenges during the initial episodes. The chemistry is good and I especially enjoy the quiet moments and heart-to-heart conversations that they had. One thing great about Japanese dramas is that they are not afraid of silence. They don’t feel the need to fill every ‘romantic’ conversation with background music and dictate how viewers feel. There were several conversations between the leads, and a kiss scene that is so quiet, that I can’t help but listen carefully, feel what they are feeling and be touched by the emotions. Of course, you have to first get past the initial over dramatic acting. FL is direct and honest, and not afraid to take the initiative. ML is more shy but consistently stands by FL’s side and supports her decision without question. The dynamic between them is fun and complementary.

Siblings Bond - Just watching the three siblings is worth an 8.0 rating. The two child actors are so cute and adorable. The little sister is smart and reads the room very well. She’s a really good wing-girl for the couple. The little brother exudes such cute clinginess to his brother. I love that they say “splitting happiness and sadness into three”. Due to the passing of their father, they all have to grow up too fast and mature way beyond their years. Scenes of the two children are heartwarming and beautiful. I especially love the scene where ML was struggling to cover the little boy’s ears, so he couldn’t hear the conversation about Santa Claus.

Share House - This has to be the funnest share house I’ve seen in any drama. Though the other two housemates do not have a lot of screentime, they show up at the right moments. With the addition of the editor and big sis manga artist, the supporting cast is caring and fun. There are no annoying character in this drama. Who doesn’t want to live in a house where you can be animals in a zoo, play games and fireworks during the summer festival, decorate and celebrate with lights in the yard and have summer bbq and camping as well.

Manga career - Although the drama does not go into detail about the manga industry, it is still interesting to see some of the drawings, and they are beautiful! I love the manga that ML drew for FL to encourage her and to tell her that she’s lovely just the way she is. That was so romantic!

Finding Your Own Way - But the overarching plot of the drama is FL’s journey to leave her predestined path and home to find her own way. Without going into spoilers, I find the burden FL has to shoulder quite interesting, especially the thorn bond and its effect.

Overall, I had a great time watching “Otonari ni Ginga”. It did take me a while to get past the initial episodes and to get used to FL’s personality. I like how the romance developed and especially love the siblings bond. Just these two elements are worth at least an 8.0 for me. I’ll round up my 8.25 to 8.5 to give the rating a little bump. LOL 😉

Completed: 7/6/2023 - Review #328

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Mature and Realistic portrayal of Second-Chance Romance

I took a lot of notes for my review while watching “Where The Lost Ones Go”. That could only mean either I really like the drama or really hate it, and this is going to be a long review. Luckily, I quite enjoy this drama, despite watching this in 2023, six years after the drama was aired. The drama does not feel dated at all.

Do not mistake this for a romantic comedy or slice-of-life drama about cute and fluffy college life. Yes, the college life scenes are full of rainbows and sunshine, and lots of cute scenes. But the real deal is the mature and realistic portrayal of the main romance after the leads reunited many years later. “Where The Lost Ones Go” somehow reminds me of a more mature and melo version of “Lighter and Princess” without the ‘toxic’ relationship.


What I Like:

1. Fan Shi Qi (as Xiang Ze Yi) - I have a big crush on him. He is not the traditional idol-handsome type. But his portrayal of Xiang Ze Yi impresses me so much. He is adorable as the fun-loving, extroverted, charming daredevil in college. He was charismatic and all eyes were on him. Years later, Fan Shi Qi is able to portray a very different XZY. He lives in darkness, wallows in self-pity a little, heartbroken and lost all his former charm and confidence. I would never have guessed he has such range as an actor. I also found out he started his career as a singer and winning singing competitions. His voice is lovely and he sings a few songs from the OST.

2. Main Character - Xiang Ze Yi is the perfect boyfriend in college. He’s smart, caring, fun, sweet and considerate. Ye Zi, on the other hand, is a very strong and independent female lead. She doesn’t shy away from challenges and confronts them head on. She is not afraid to speak up. They are fun to watch.

3. Main Leads Chemistry/Romance - During the college portion of the drama, you can see the obvious chemistry between the leads. I was smiling ear-to-ear during their lovey-dovey scenes. Xiang Ze Yi and Ye Zi are so cute together, from every day banter to the romantic gestures. When they are older, I appreciate that the drama doesn’t automatically have the leads get back together and live happily ever after. They have matured and become more cautious about their feelings and actions. We know in real life, things don’t always happen like in fairy tales. ML has changed after what he went through. He’s not the same person that FL fell in love with back in college. The drama doesn’t assume FL will throw herself at him after waiting for so many years. It takes time for them to fall in love with who they are in the present and not trying to become who they were.

4. No Dubbing - I am quite surprised that a 2017 drama wasn’t dubbed! The actors all used their own voices and there’s even live recording. There are some emotional scenes where you could tell the actors were letting all their emotions fly high, and the live recording really adds to my viewing pleasure. There’s a scene in the last few episodes when ML was having a breakdown and Fan Shi Qi obviously slipped on a piece of paper and fell on his butt. He continued acting as if nothing happened.

5. Color/Tone - I don’t usually pay attention to the color/tone of the drama. But I recognized it here and couldn’t keep thinking about it. During the college scenes, the lighting and coloring are obviously bright and sunny. It exudes youthfulness and happiness. Once the scenes switch to the present timeline, the colors are obviously a little more muted. Scenes of ML in his apartment are always very dark and give off a sadder vibe. He doesn’t turn on lights and always wears dark clothes. Not just ML’s scenes, but others as well. They are just not as bright and colorful as the college scenes. I quite like this contrast.

6. OST - This drama features a pretty big catalog of songs. They are all lovely and as I said, I fell in love with Fan Shi Qi’s voice. His song “Leaves”, which is also the name of FL, is played often. When he sang it the first time without music (though not live) it was lovely and romantic. Subsequent times always convey a very sad undertone. Unfortunately, I could not find the songs or OST on Spotify. I guess it’s because this is an older and not very popular drama.

7. Fashion - Great fashion for all characters. FL has the nicest wardrobe and has the LARGEST AND BEST COLLECTION OF EARRINGS!! I’ve never seen a female lead change her earrings in every single scene/episode. Song Yan Fei looks beautiful in all her outfits in the present day timeline. Fan Shi Qi looks great in casual wear and in his sports jacket. He got the build to wear any clothes. Xiao Shun Yao might have had the worst hairstyle during his college days, but when he’s in a suit and has his bangs all gelled up, he looks dashing as the second male lead.



What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Romance of Supporting Cast - I wasn’t too invested in the other women’s romance storylines. For a 24-episode drama with 4 female characters, there isn’t enough time to give each of the women their deserved time to give us a well-written story. I don’t know if we really need to pair them all up with a guy. The stories are not bad, just not great either.

2. Timeline Changes - The college and present day timeline switches back and forth quite often in the first 10 or so episodes. Sometimes, it’s quite abrupt and it took me a second to re-adjust. Oftentimes, the drama might give you a black screen to indicate the change, but not all the time. They also don’t tell you which year the timeline is switching to.

3. Loud BGM - As much as I love all the songs in this drama, the music is played way too loud. Oftentimes, the songs are played when the actors are speaking or during a monologue and then the music will cut off all of a sudden. I wish they could tone down the volume a little.

4. Medical side plot- I understand the Alzheimher’s plot is needed to help FL re-evaluate what she wants. But the brain tumor is so unnecessary. It’s taking away precious time from the main couple. They already have fewer scenes together in the last few episodes and I wish the drama would have spent the time on them instead.


I am glad I stumbled upon this drama and recommend it to those who are looking for a more mature and realistic take of second-chance romance. But if you are only wanting something light and fluffy, this is not the drama for you. I am glad I re-discovered Fan Shi Qi after seeing him in “Qing Qing Zi Jin”.


Other Random Observations:
1. College means dorky bangs for all guys. Grown-ups all have their bangs gelled up.
2. It’s still a 2017 drama, so there are a few slow-mo romantic scenes with bright backlight. But only for a few episodes.
3. All the men in this drama are capable of making unique romantic speeches, even the ones that claim they are not romantic. I really enjoy all of them.
4. Poor 2ML - I feel for him. Such a great guy and has done so much for FL, but it’s not meant to be.
5. No evil parents. Hooray! We even have a lovely heart-to-heart talk between ML and FL’s father.
6. I will never understand how a 2ML in a C-drama always proposes to the FL when they have never dated and the FL never expresses interest in him.


Completed: 7/5/2023 - Review #327

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Great Chemistry, Slow middle, Strong Finish

Completed - 3/28/2022 - 8.25 rating

This is a good lighthearted romantic comedy without too much misunderstanding and angst. The story focuses on the development of an app called Love Note. And through this app, viewers also receive many love advice at the end of each episode. They are quite interesting. "Why Women Love" is a true romantic comedy. Love is in the air throughout the drama. It's great if you like want romance to be the central storyline.

What I Enjoy:
1. Leads Chemistry/Romance - Despite the real life & drama age gap, our two main leads have really great chemistry from start to finish. I really enjoy seeing how their relationship evolves from bickering boss/subordinate -> great work partners -> falling in love -> being together as a couple officially. Even though ML is supposed to be 8 years younger, the age difference isn't too apparent visually. I have previously seen Gina Jin (FL) in "Crossroad Bistro" and didn't like her character at all. I am so glad to watch her again in this drama, as I like her character so much more. This is my first drama of Wang Zi Yi (ML) and he did fine. I am also glad that we have some pretty good kisses between the leads. Luckily, we don't have a shy 30-year old woman who seems like she's being forced to kiss. Although the leads get together towards to the latter part of the drama, there is enough skinship to satisfy romance junkies. Additionally, it's nice to see a couple that actually tries to communicate and be honest with each other. If there's a problem, they talk it out. So silly misunderstanding that drags on and issues are resolved quickly and maturely.

2. Love Note Advice - At the end of each episodes, different characters from the drama will give us love advice. I may not believe in them all, but they are quite interesting. I wonder if there's really an app out there who is just like Love Note. Moreover, the little lectures that Qian Jing Jing aka Love Guru gave are pretty interesting as well. I may not agree to all that she's preaching but they are interesting nonetheless.

3. The Odd Pair - Li Yan Ran and Xu Ning Yuan make for an interesting couple. When the two formed an alliance and have meetings to discuss their plan of attack, they have so much chemistry. These two are so different, yet when put together, they also seem to complement each other so well. I am not sure how I feel about the subtle love connection. I am more inclined to want them to stay as platonic buddies, but I can't deny they are fun together.

4. Strong Finish - I quite enjoy the last 10 episodes of the drama when we are not just focusing on love, but also crisis at work. The pace of the drama picks up and we see how the leads relationship matures. Instead of only seeing cute & fluffy scenes, we get to see how they support each other's dreams and careers. Without going into spoilers, I applaud FL's decision in the last two episodes. Sometimes, the time is just not right and I am glad she is mature enough to speak up and be honest about how she truly feels.

5. Fashion - I really enjoy all the different outfits that our leads wear. FL has some gorgeous dresses and also some really cool pantsuits. Of course, ML looks good in suits but also in his leather jacket and racing outfit. Both of our leads look absolutely fabulous in everything they wear.


What I don't quite enjoy or am lukewarm about:
1. Li Yu Ran (first half) - I cannot stand another female character who is clingy, won't take 'no' for an answer and keeps on pestering her love interest. She is super annoying when first introduced. I can't stand her loud, selfish, stalkerish behavior. I really wish scriptwriters can write better love triangles/squares. Thank goodness she becomes more tolerable and even fun towards the second half of the drama.

2. FL's indecisiveness - The courtship and the back-and-forth between Gu Jia Xin and Xu Ning Yuan took up too many episodes. The middle part of the drama focuses solely on the love square. Nothing else is going on plot-wise, thus, the drama seems to be going nowhere. I wouldn't mind this love square if simultaneously something interesting is also happening.

3. Minor romance storylines - Aside from our main leads, I feel very lukewarm about the romance between Zheng DuXi and Qi Heng. They are cute and sweet, but don't really add much to the drama. You can take them totally out of the drama and it wouldn't affect much. Same goes to the romance between Qin Jing Jing and her husband. Their relationship serves as a plot device. But at least what happened between them is a lot more interesting than what Zhang DuXi/Qi Heng have to offer.

Other Observations:
1. My regular complaint on ML being too white. He looks so much more handsome when his face is not plastered makeup or they didn't use a white filter.
2. Many shirtless shots of ML - total fan service
3. Actors are not dubbed and there seems to be some live recording. Only Qin Jing Jing's voice seems to be weird at times, esp. in the earlier episodes.
4. Both ML and Qi Heng have this weird top/jacket with an attached cape.
5. FL should wear heels less often. She twists her ankle all the time.

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Thrilling Republican Spy drama - Great Cast and Acting

Completed - 1/12/2022

"The Rebel" is a thrilling and exciting spy drama during the Republican era in Shanghai. The drama spans 13 years from 1936-1949 and is divided into three arcs: 1) Guomingdang/Nationalist Party vs Communist Party, 2) China vs Japan, 3) Guomingdang/Nationalist Party vs Communist Party. Some might feel that it's a drama about Chinese propaganda. However, I disagree. Does it talk about the greatness and ideals of communism? Yes. But that is also a big part of Chinese history. The inhumane treatment of the Japanese against Chinese is well-documented in history books and through stories told by grandparents who lived through those times. There has always been injustices and corruption in governments all over the world, not just in China.

I would recommend this drama to those:
1) who love a good spy story in the Republican era
2) slight romance that does not interfere with the main plot
3) amazing acting by the cast - both young and veteran actors and actresses

Personally, I enjoy the first 20 episodes (1st arc) the most in this drama. The introduction of all the characters were nicely done through storytelling and amazing acting. The middle arc is a little slow for my taste but the pace picked up in the last 5-8 episodes. I do think this drama could be shortened a little bit. Throughout the drama, we see networks of spies from both parties at odds end, and trying to one up another. I wouldn't say the plot is unpredictable, but it's engaging enough to keep my attention for the most part.

I cannot say enough good things about the amazing acting of all. I've seen Zhu Yi Long (ML) in "Guardian" and "The Story of Ming Lan" before. "The Rebel" has got to be his best in acting. When he's lost and confused, when he's lonely and sad, and those few shy and adorable moments - he acted so well and I felt for him. He was acting so intensely that I worry his veins on his forehead are going to pop. LOL. However, I think it took quite a long time for his character to grow his EQ. He's way too emotional to be a soldier/spy for the first 2/3 of the drama. On the other hand, I am most attracted to Wang Yang, who played Chen Mo Qun, in the beginning. He was so charismatic and sexy as the villain. And then when he became a traitor, you can see how he's changed internally and externally. That pride and charisma are gone, and the guilt and distress show up for the rest of the drama. I can't forget to mention the two male veteran actors, Wang Zhi Wen ( who played Gu Shen Yan) and Li Qiang (who played Ji Zhong Yuan). They are both amazing and probably keep the young ones on their toes to improve their acting to the veterans' standards.

This is my first drama of Tong Yao and she was equally great as Zhu Yi Zhen. She might look a little old to play a college student initially, but that doesn't mean she didn't act well. She doesn't have too many scenes for someone listed as a female lead, but when she's there, her presence shows. It's so nice to see a smart, brave and confident female lead. I also wanted to mention Zhu Zhu who played Lan Xin Jie (2FL). I finished watching her in "The Bond" not too long ago. Here, she's sultry, confident, smart and sexy. You can't take your eyes off her.

If I have to say one thing that I wanted more, is the romance, since I am a romance junkie. I understand that the romance storyline should take a back seat in a spy drama. But our leads have so few scenes together! However, that doesn't mean the chemistry is not there. You can feel that sad and quiet romance throughout the drama. The unspeakable love and longing through quiet actions and simple words. If the director can't give me romance when the spies are in action, how about give me a little more at the end? Or am I too greedy since we actually have a somewhat happy ending for them? I was cautiously hoping and praying that they could be together at the end, after all they have gone through.

For all the Republican era dramas that I have watched, "The Rebel" is probably one of the better produced one. It looks like they have spent some money on the set designs and props used. The men have different sets of 3-piece suits and uniforms. Women have nice qipaos and dresses. Zhu Zhu looked amazing when she's strutting in her amazing costumes.

Objectively, this might be a 9.0+ drama for many but personally, it's a solid 8.5.

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Watch it because you want to see Liu Xue Yi (ML)

8/19/2021

I watched this drama primarily because I liked Liu Xue Yi (ML) in "Love & Redemption" and would love to see him in a more favorable role, to wipe off the bitter taste of his character in L&R. He looks so handsome in "Qing Luo" and has a very different role. It's great to see him showing his acting range in comedic moments and heroic moments. I love seeing him in the different costumes here. I also enjoy seeing another strong and smart FL in C-dramas. However, I only find her acting OK. The child actor is cute and smart and did a fantastic job.

This is not a drama to be taken seriously as it's mainly a comedy with some political stories. The drama is also very tropey, esp. with those spinning-in-your-arms romantic moments that I don't enjoy. I was hoping to see the big fight scene of the final contest, but was disappointed. So if you are looking for something light, then this is it. But don't expect a serious historical/political/wuxia drama.

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The Manipulators: Sizzling Chemistry between walking red flag ML & walking red Flag FL

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

After finishing “Scent of Time” not too long ago, I was worried that I might find this drama repetitive. Both dramas have a similar premise of being given the chance to go back in time to correct past mistakes. “Scent of Time” focuses on family relationships more, and this one focuses on revenge and politics more. I like both dramas but like “Story of Kunning Palace” a little better overall.

What I Like:

1. Pacing - I am pleasantly surprised that I am kept entertained throughout the 38 episodes. I did not lose my focus or feel that the drama dragged in the middle episodes. In fact, there’s so much going on that I enjoy all the side plots and characters. It’s not perfect, as I want more episodes of the romance between Jiang Xue Ning (FL) and Zhang Zhe (2ML) in the present timeline, and less of the evil girl causing drama. Overall, I am quite satisfied.

2. Xie Wei (ML) and Zhang Ling He - I always love a good gray character, especially for the male character. After the success of Dylan Wang’s character in “Love Between Fairy and Devil”, I am happy to see another deliciously evil and cunning male lead. Oftentimes, he would be a second male lead. This is possibly Zhang Ling He’s best acting to date. This intriguing character provides ZLH an opportunity to showcase a side of him that we haven’t seen. He is so much better in this drama than in “My Journey to You”. Many fans (myself included) love seeing Xie Wei’s side-eyed glare, petty jealousy and cunning ruthlessness. Xie Wei is such a madman and I wish to see more characters like him in the future.

3. Acting - the overall acting of the cast is pretty good (but not exceptional) - both the younger and veteran cast. Bai Lu is Bai Lu. You know what to expect from her, though I wouldn’t say she exceeded my expectations. I just saw Wang Xing Yue in “Scent of Time” and felt that his acting is much improved and better here. Even though his character is quiet, he’s speaking with his eyes more. I want more of him.

4. Main Romance - Even though it took a very long while for us to see Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei’s romance to develop, it is worth it. They have so much chemistry together. I enjoy the development of their relationship from enemies to working together, then trusting each other and falling in love. Xie Wei is a walking red flag, and Jiang Xue Ning is not that much better deep inside of her. They really are a match made in heaven as they understand and accept each other’s strengths and flaws. The kisses are exploding with chemistry though not gentle or sweet (unless you watch the extra special). But no matter if they were in the past or present, scenes of them together are sizzling hot and you yearn to see them on the screen together more.

5. Sisterhood - I am pleasantly surprised at the relationship between the Zhang sisters. Oftentimes, we either see sisters hate or love each other. But true to the plot and because of the history between the two, their sisterhood develops organically and realistically. They are not forced to be super close.

6. No annoying character - sure there are villains and a girl here and there that are jealous of the female lead. But for the most part, they are not super annoying and are not frustrating to watch. I like many of the characters - the three male leads (all lovely in their own ways), the princess, the best friend, the guards, the sidekicks, and even those girls in the palace. No one really makes dumb decisions that make me want to shake some sense into them.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Jiang Xue Ning (FL) + Zhang Zhe (2ML) Romance - I was deeply moved by the flashback scenes of them together. Zhang Zhe’s internal struggle of doing the right thing vs. doing the wrong thing for the woman he loves. These flashback scenes are minimal, but they gave us such great emotions and just enough to tell us their story. However, their romance in the present time is not given enough opportunity to develop and move me as an audience. It’s such a waste as both Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue also have great chemistry together. The way they steal glances, try to express their feelings through their eyes, but struggle internally - all could have contributed to a great romance and a big contrast to the main romance.

2. Xie Wei + Sidekicks/Guards - I would like to know the backstory between Xie Wei and his guards and friends. How did they all work together in support of Xie Wei? What else did they go through back in the day? Why are they following him and not the rebellious group?

3. Forced rom-com directing/editing - For a serious historical drama, we should never have so many forced romantic slow-motion scenes and music blasting to tell me how to feel. We have good actors who can convey feelings through their acting and subtle facial expressions, we don’t need these cheap and cheesy shots. I am also so irritated by the bright white backlighting that the director seems to like so much.

4. Dubbing - While I appreciate actors dubbing their own voices, not all are great at reading their lines yet. Bai Lu almost always dubs her own and does it well, and I think Zhang Ling He can learn from her. Some of his lines are spoken in monotone, or he screams and growls a little too overdramatically. Having said that, I am glad Bai Lu, Zhang Ling He and Wang Xing Yue all dubbed themselves. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast didn't.

5. Production Quality - “Story of Kunning Palace” does not seem to be a big budget production. The sets are on the small-to-medium scale. The costumes and accessories are average. As I said earlier, I don’t like the lighting and they did not use natural light. Bai Lu’s makeup is uneven and she could have been much more beautiful. I also dislike the use of BGM playing over the music instruments. The OST is OK. Compared to “My Journey to You”, this drama pales in comparison.

6. Fight Scenes - Except for the big fight in the last couple episodes, I am not impressed with the fight scenes. I feel that they are over dramatic and not enough good close-combat battle scenes. Since this is not a wuxia or xianxia drama, seeing someone being punched once and then fly over to the other side is quite hilariously unrealistic. Some guys got slashed multiple times and survived. Others die with one stab.


Overall, I had a fabulous time watching this drama. I enjoy the plot, the pace of the drama (though the ending is a tiny rushed), the development of the main leads’ relationship and romance, and of course the anti-hero male lead. It’s a good mix of romance, friendship and politics.


Completed: 11/27/2023 - Review #381

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Cute and Fluffy romance with great kisses and a super green flag ML - Perfect stress reliever

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Writing this review after watching the Easter Egg and BTS clips of Zhang Ling He might have affected the rating. LOL. He’s quite adorable and personable in all those clips and he puts a big smile on my face. But for real, he did a really good job here. I am looking for a drama to relieve stress, and this is the perfect drama at the moment, though “The Best Thing” is not a perfect drama objectively.

What I Like:

1. Zhang Ling He - After his recent success in all the non-modern drama, it’s so refreshing to see him in “The Best Thing”. He’s so well-casted here. He has a young face, and is playing the role of Dr. He, who is serious at work but innocent in love. This is perfect for Zhang Ling He. He wears a mask during many of his scenes, yet you can tell from his eyes what he wants to convey. His eyes can smile! It’s hard to not fall in love with his character and him.

2. Romance - This is the sweet, adorable, flirty and fluffy romance that I need at the moment. The leads have a lot of chemistry and their scenes together are fun and flirty. Who knew you could flirt with Traditional Chinese medicine and names of herbs. There’s no angst and they understand each other so well. Su Ye (ML) always has Xi Fan (FL)’s best interest. He is patient and supportive, and gives her time to make her decisions, and waits for her to be ready to share. But I also like that Xi Fan doesn’t hesitate to take the initiative, though she’s not the first to fall in love and to court. There are many ‘first’ moments in the drama that she is the one that took the first step.

3. Kisses - We know Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han are great kissers from other dramas, so it’s a pleasure to see them here. There is an abundance of good kisses and they all happen naturally. It doesn’t feel like they’re kissing for fan service, but really kiss when it’s the right moment.

4. Traditional Chinese Medicine - For some, this might be too much. But I love learning about TCM and its usage throughout the drama. I also like how ML tries to use the names of the medicine to express his romantic feelings, and flirt with FL. Since I am reading Chinese subtitles, I am not sure if other subtitles could convey the same message or if it's all lost in translation.

5. Cinematography, Flowers, Wedding - There are many pretty scenes in this drama and I’ve seen many screenshots that many MDLers posted. There are beautiful flowers in many scenes for different reasons and conveying different messages. The wedding takes place at a gorgeous location and beautifully decorated with flowers as well. This wedding also makes me smile and grin. I feel truly happy to see the leads getting married.


What I have Mixed Feelings and Dislike:

1. Drama Length - This drama could be shortened to 24 episodes instead of 28. There’s really not a whole lot going on once the leads got together. I think we can forget the mother’s arc at the end and just focus on FL’s future plans.

2. Music + Slow motion- The songs are lovely (except I don’t quite like the English ones). However, they are played ALL the time. I don’t need a song when a romantic moment happens. I don’t need a song when the leads are looking at each other. I don’t need a song when I am trying to listen to the dialogs. On top of the repetitive music, I also don’t need every single romantic moment to be in slow motion to tell me this is a romantic moment.

3. Red lips - Zhang Ling He has such pale skin and they put red lipstick on him. HIs lips are as red, if not redder, than Xu Ruo Han’s lips. I looked at his handsome face and I got distracted by his lips and not in a good way.

4. Too Homey? - Aside from walking, cooking, eating and hanging out, the leads really didn’t do much for fun. It works for ML’s personality, but maybe a little boring for the viewers.

5. Unprofessional? - OK, this is a romance drama and courting has to be done during those medical appointments. But when you think about it, it’s a little unethical and unprofessional, right?


Lastly, I would recommend "The Best Thing" if you:
- Are looking for a cute and fluffy romance with a super green flag ML (who can be too perfect for you).
- Are looking to relieve stress and not think too much about anything.
- Are a fan of Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han
- Are interested in learning about Chinese Traditional medicine
I am all of the above, therefore I am rating this an 8,25 (rounding up to 8.5 because of Zhang Ling He)

Completed: 3/14/2025 - Review #554

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Perfect Drama to relieve your stress and lift your spirits

Completed - 4/5/2022 - 8.75

I am liking the current K-drama trends of having only 12 episodes instead of the long-drawn out, draggy 16-episode drama format. This is especially true for comedies and romantic comedies. This drama is perfect if you want something light and funny, and a palate cleanser after watching something serious/tragic.

Setting/Plot - Personally, I am a big fan of the contract marriages and enemies-to-lovers tropes. The setting of this drama is right up my alley. Moreover, I also purchased dumplings from Bibigo and many other packaged Korean foods from my local K-mart. So, seeing FL being a food researcher and have that as the backdrop is interesting to me. There are many common rom-com tropes and cliches in this drama. But for the most part, the drama surprises us with not going along with the usual directions of these tropes. The drama also makes fun of these tropes/cliches by using the TV show within the the drama. It's so refreshing to see.

Likable characters - We have four very likable leads. You find them funny and sweet, and you root for their career and relationship success. ML might first appear as the classic narcissistic CEO. There are many comparisons of him to the ML in "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim". I actually like Kang Tae Moo here a lot more. His narcissism didn't really last long and he turns sweet quite soon in the series. The ML in WWWSK actually is a lot more annoying. Our two female leads have a great sismance, and are so supportive of each other. They are both independent and funny, and did not bow down to road blocks and challenges in life. Last but not the least, who doesn't like the dimples of our sweet 2ML and his kind character.

Romance - Our main leads have great chemistry, especially before they are officially an item. Once they are together, the sizzling chemistry changes to something sweeter. It's hard to find a rom-com where the secondary romance is just as interesting and fun as the main romance. There's just enough screen time for our 2ML/2FL to develop their romance, not overshadowing the main romance, and yet not so insignificant that we wish they don't exist. The two romance storylines co-exist really well in this drama and I am invested in both of them. In a way, they contrast each other pretty well: love at first sight vs slowly developed romance, theme park dates vs hiking dates, rich ML vs rich 2Fl, sweet romance vs hot/steamy romance. Additionally, we got amazing kisses in this drama with both couples. No fish kisses and the ladies also initiate kisses.

Tragic Past done well - It's not hard to guess that ML's tragic past will be part of the plot. I was initially concerned that this subplot will dampen the mood of this super funny drama. I immediately thought of how the ML's tragic/family story in "Her Private Life" is the weakest part of that otherwise amazing sweet rom-com. Fortunately, it didn't happen here. It was not dealt in a melodramatic way, but in a sweet way demonstrating how FL supports ML. The drama didn't drag this for several episodes. Instead, just several sweet scenes with flower shopping, lovely dinners and umbrellas, and a few heart-to-heart sweet conversations.

OST - lovely songs especially from MeloMance. The drama also incorporates some comedy-like noises during funny scenes.

Supporting Cast - Usually I would be annoyed with someone like 2FL's cousin. She is loud and overdramatic but for this drama, I found her hilarious. I love her craziness and her use of English in between her Korean words. Maybe I am in such a good mood enjoying this drama that she becomes tolerable and funny to me. However, others may be annoyed. Same goes to FL's mother and FL's male co-worker. They are both really loud and can be either funny or annoying.

Ending - I think the last episode is somewhat predictable. In a way, I am a tiny bit disappointed as it falls into the classic rom-com tropes. I don't want to give out spoilers, so let's just say the last episode is average compared to other episodes.

Overall, I haven't had so much fun watching a romantic comedy in a long time. I rarely give out a 9.0 to rom-coms, but I am feeling good and also in the right mood, especially while I am also watching "The Longest Day in Chang'An".

Other Observations:
1. Ahn Hyo Seop has really big hands. But why are they ALWAYS so red???
2. Hairstyle changes when you are not a narcissistic CEO anymore. AHS looks so much better when his bangs are down and not in hair gel.
3. Kim Se Jeong has such a BEAUTIFUL voice!
4. Here's a duet with Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo Seop singing "Love, Maybe". So good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemG1XPyvNI
5. I have those Bibigo dumplings in my freezer right now! Shown on TV in the last episode. LOL

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NOT a typical sweet and fluffy romantic comedy

I think some viewers like me who just watched the trailer, read the synopsis and saw the poster would have thought this is a romantic comedy with many sweet and fluffy scenes while FL gets to choose between two great guys. Well, “Love in Contract” definitely has comedic moments, but it’s not really a romantic comedy. Aside from romance, there are childhood traumas, tragic family background stories and conglomerate marriages & business battles. I personally enjoy the first half of the drama more than the second half. This is not quite a solid 8.5 drama but a rounded up 8.5.

What I Like:

Jung Ji Ho (ML) - Ji Ho is the kind of male lead that I like. Awkward and adorable, sweet and caring, but doesn’t have much experience in the romance department. Of course, he changes after he meets FL. Ji Ho has great character development in the drama. He learns to interact and socialize with his co-workers, recognize and communicate his feelings. I also enjoy watching how his wardrobe changes with his personality. Go Kyung Pyo plays the character well. I enjoy his facial expressions when he’s embarrassed, confused and awkward. This might be my second favorite character that Go Kyung Pyo plays, after his role in “Chicago Typewriter”.

Contract Marriage - One of my favorite tropes ever. The concept of a single life helper is interesting to me, and I enjoy the short stories of the marriages shown in this drama. I would have loved the drama to focus on these marriages a little more, but I came to the conclusion that “Love in Contract” is a lot more than just about love in contracts.

Main Characters - Choi Sang Eun (FL) is an interesting heroine. She’s independent and strong in her own ways. She seems so perfect and perfectly put-together all the time, yet when she’s home you can see how messy and child-like she could be. Park Min Young, of course, can play this role well. It’s a combination of her roles in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Skim” and “Her Private Life”. I’ve read comments about how many viewers do not like the second male lead, Kang Hae Jin, especially in the earlier episodes. I don’t find him annoying and think his clinginess is justifiable because he reunited with his first love after 13 years. I don’t blame him for wanting to get close to her and wanting to sign a contract. Hae Jin also undergoes good character development as well.

Supporting Characters - We have quite an interesting bunch of supporting characters. Woo Gang Nam, FL’s BFF, is a fan favorite and I like him as well. I want good things to happen to him and always look forward to his scenes with Sang Eun. When Sang Eun is with Gang Nam, that’s when she can let loose and act silly. Madam Yoo is a scene stealer. Veteran Jin Kyung plays the elegant and snobbish Madam Yoo so well. Every time she shows up, my focus goes straight to her and I want to see what’s going to come out of her mouth. We have comedic relief in the Chief Judge and ML’s co-worker Kim Yu Mi. Both characters are over-the-top but because their screen time is kept to a minimum, I don’t find them too annoying but funny.

Wardrobe - This drama must have a big budget or sponsor for clothes. Park Min Young looks beautiful, as always, and her clothes are fabulous. Same goes to Madame Yoo’s high class fashion. The two male leads also look dashing in their suits and casual wear.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

Main Romance - For me the romance and chemistry are just good and not great. Although the three main characters are good-looking people, I feel that the chemistry is not sizzling enough for me. If I compare the chemistry of Park Min Young with her other co-stars, hers with Go Kyung Pyo her pales in comparison to Seo Kang Joon (When The Weather is Fine), Kim Jae Wook (Her Private Life) and and Park Seo Joon (What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim). Is the chemistry with Go Kyung Pyo bad? No it’s not. But I wanted more and I am not feeling it. Maybe also because most of their scenes are in the apartment, facing each other at dinner and they really did not have many normal dating scenes. I probably go into this drama expecting a lot more kisses because, you know, it’s Park Min Young. There are dramas without much skinship and I can feel the unspoken sizzling romance, but not in this drama, unfortunately. But I do like the proposals in the last episode and how they fit the character's personality so well.

Cartoonish villain - I don’t even know if he qualifies to be a real villain. He is just not very smart, but maybe he is not supposed to? Because I feel that “Love in Contract” is not a typical funny romantic comedy, nor is it a serious business drama, it makes it hard to see a cartoonish dumb villain fit nicely in the the story. I have to say the casting is done right, as the actor has the face that I want to punch. LOL.

PPL - I don’t remember a recent Korean modern drama I watch that has sooooo many product placements. So many different products and so in-your-face! As a drama watcher, it is very annoying. But if I am the advertiser, this is a gold mine because I have bought Kopiko coffee candies at a Korean supermarket before, and I want to go back and buy more after watching “Love in Contract”. And yes, those candies are tasty! 😋

Pacing - I enjoy the first half of the drama a lot more and the pacing is good. This is when they focus more on FL’s occupation and the contracts she has with the leads. The second half starts to mix the family background and conglomerate battles and this slows down the pace. I feel like they go back-and-forth about the conglomerate marriage.

End of crisis - After spending so many episodes on how to resolve the crisis and putting everyone at risk in the last few episodes, it seems quite anti-climatic to have FL come out and take care of it. It sure is effective but why spend so many episodes dragging down the pace of the plot in the last few episodes when the solution is so simple? I was expecting higher stakes, a more complicated plan to resolve the issue.


Completed: 11/12/2022

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A Healing drama disguised as a Sports/Crime drama.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

On the surface, “Like Flowers in Sand” seems like a sports drama. When you watch further along, there’s a crime investigation and you thought, this might also be a crime drama. But in actuality, the sports and the crimes are just a vehicle to disguise what this really is: a healing drama of closure and growth.

I’ve never watched Korean wrestling, aka, ssireum. It’s definitely interesting and different from Japanese sumo wrestling. Most of the time, I enjoy sports dramas even though I am a couch potato fan. There’s no surprise that I enjoy every single ssireum scene here, practice and competition. I actually want to see more but as I said, this is primarily not a sports drama. Props to all the actors, especially Jang Dong Yoon and Kim Tae Jung. Their matches are intense!

Due to a crime committed 20 years ago, the characters in “Like Flowers in Sand” are affected in different ways. Our female lead and her family were forced to move away. Our male lead lost his best friend and possibly himself a little and the motivation and love for ssireum. Another character lost a family member and the community suffered some ripple effect. With another recent death, the trauma of what happened 20 years ago was brought to light, and characters reunite to heal, rediscover themselves and obtain closure.

I actually really like the healing aspect of this drama. I enjoy scenes of the leads together and their unbreakable friendship and bond. I like the setting of the sports club and the different athletes. Although the romance is very minimal, I actually didn’t mind it too much. But if you are seeking romance, this is very slow burn and implied. Don’t expect romance like this is a romantic comedy. But, Kim Beak Du (ML) is such a sweetheart and the greenest of the green flag. He appears a little clumsy and dumb, but is very perceptive, honest and smart. I love how he indirectly cheers on and cares for his friends.

Unfortunately, the crime investigation is such a bore. I do not care who the murderer was, not what happened 20 years ago or now. This is one of the weakest points of the drama. It was unable to find a balance between the mixed genres. Despite loving our ML, it’s also hard to tolerate how loud he is. He is always shouting at FL:. They are fun, but very, very noisy. Most of the villagers are the typical gossipy and nosy supporting characters. They are not the worst, but can also be somewhat insufferable.

Despite my complaints, I did have a great time watching “Like Flowers in Sand”. I love the bond between the leads, the friendship and the nosy caring way all the characters have for each other, the subtle bond and different bond ML has with his father and mother. I enjoy slowly seeing the after effects of the incidents to our FL and 2FL, and how ML comes to the realization of what he really lost 20 years ago as well.



Completed: 12/23/2025 Review #654

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Lighthearted and Predictable, but with a lot of Heart and Punk fashion

"Punks Triangle” has a very simple plot. There are no twists and turns, and you know what is about to happen. However, what it also has is a lot of heart and great acting by the two male leads.

Fujibayashi Yasunari plays a fabulous double role as the popular fashion model AE, and a clumsy fashion night school student, Enaga Ayumu. As AE, he’s tall and sexy, with a gaze that pierce into your souls. It’s no wonder Sumiura Chiaki is so obsessed with him. But as Enaga, he’s adorable and clumsy. The sexy gaze becomes a little clueless and uncertain. His eyes are so pretty to look at. Where did Japan find these actors who can play such an awesome dual identity??? Matsumoto Leo in “Cinderella’s Closet” is just as fabulous!

But Fujibayashi is not the only one with a dual role. I feel that Nagano Ryota also did as well, even though he’s only Sumiura Chiaki in this drama. But Chiaki presents such a different personality when he’s with AE and Enaga. He’s star-struck and smitten when he’s with AE, but full of life when he’s with Enaga.

The first half of the drama sets up their relationships and characters really well. But it was the second half starting from ep 5 that I really get attached to the drama on a more emotional level. The heart-to-heart talks finally surface instead of a bunch of internal monologues. I am finally invested in their happiness, even though I can see from a far how this drama is going to end.

The supporting cast is small and lovely. There isn’t any one who would annoy you. We actually have a supportive makeup artist acting as a love guru, and co-workers and classmates who care.

But this drama is not without fault. I wish there were fewer internal monologues. There are times I wasn’t sure if those are spoken lines or thoughts in the characters’ heads. A little unpredictability would be nice as well.

If you are looking for a light and easy watch with good acting, “Punks Triangle” is a good choice. I don’t know much about punk or punk-style, but do enjoy see AE catwalks and photoshoots, and Chiaki’s wardrobe. The OST has a couple songs and they are fitting and lovely.



Completed: 11/27/2025 Review #646

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