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Watch and Judge this as a Japanese Slice-of-Life drama
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75There was a lot of hoopla when OK Taec Yeon was casted in this drama. An established Korean actor and former pop idol in a BL? Really? Then came the queer baiting accusations and the step back announcement that this is not really a BL. If you are expecting a typical BL romance, you will truly be disappointed.
Watch “Soul Mate” as a Japanese slice-of-life drama instead. Forget about all the noise surrounding it, and watch it as a regular drama. You might end up liking it. I re-calibrated my expectations and went into this without any expectations at all. I just want a well-written, well-acted, and well-executed drama. That’s all.
The first episode started with a bang. I was locked in and captivated by. A lot happened in that first episode, starting with the story of Ryu. Then the pacing of the drama falls back into typical slower slice-of-life fashion. Through a chance meeting, our leads met in Berlin, and their lives changed, and I think for the better. We started with Ryu’s story, and ended with Jo Han. Their journey feels like two great friends caring, helping and supporting each other. I enjoy seeing the slow progression but I can’t help but also want hints of romance dropped here and there. I definitely see a tiny bit more coming from Jo Han, and less from Ryu. I can deal with no kiss or NC scene to feel romance (seriously, even for me, it’s OK sometimes). But I just needed a little more to make the ending more impactful.
The slice-of-life plot itself isn’t too unique. I could see that ‘surprise’ speeding from a mile away. The forming of the new found family was lovely and sweet, though also very predictable. Oh, there are emotional moments, too and I definitely shed a tear or two in the latter episodes. I also feel that the closure of Ryu and Arata’s story is a little lacking and anti-climatic. I also thought there would be more to Ryu’s co-worker at the nursing facility.
The acting is good and the actors did their best with what’s given to them. Tac Yeon’s Japanese sounded pretty good to me (but I don’t speak Japanese). However, I feel that the writing could have been better.
In the end, this is an OK slice-of-life and a below-average romance drama. I enjoy watching it to a certain extent, but I couldn’t help but think we wasted two talented actors, especially for a Japan/Korea collaboration that could really WOW us.
Drama Completed: 7/5/2026 Review #701
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Comfort watch of small town life and Leads with good chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Dazzling” is a feel-good drama set in a beautiful and friendly seaside town. The drama is easy to watch, and won’t really raise your blood pressure much. The story is actually quite simple. High school student, Qing Ye, was forced to leave Beijing and moved to a rural town due a family emergency. She needs to get used to living a simple life and say goodbye to her spoiled, comfortable life in Beijing. There, she met the greenest of the green flags, Xing Wu, who has his own struggles.
Plot:
The plot is simple and quite predictable. This could be a comfort watch for you, or it could be a boring one because you can guess what’s going to happen next from a mile away. The pacing is OK, but it was a little slower in the middle. My biggest problem with the plot is that the debt problem seems to disappear abruptly, to make way for a happier life. Given how they struggled early on, I didn’t think the business could pay off all that debt with ML going back to school. But we gotta move on to go back to high school, so I guess the loan sharks need to step back. I also don’t think this drama really needs 30 episodes. Additionally, it could have been executed better if they had reduced the high school days episodes, and given the present-day timeline more time. “Dazzling” seems like a healing/feel-good slice-of-life drama, instead of a romantic comedy.
Romance
Guan Xiao Tong and Li Yun Rui have really good chemistry. I enjoyed their scenes together from beginning to the end. This is a slow-burn romance, even though you know they have feelings for each other. But drama veterans know Chinese dramas don’t let high school kids really date during high school days. That’s why, I was not surprised we have to wait till they become adults to see some action. Having said that, there are plenty of longing looks and shy sneaky glances throughout the drama, especially from our green flag male lead, Xing Wu. They have a lot of fun and quiet moments. Their conversations are filled with high school banter, yet mature words to deal with life's struggles. Xing Wu is quiet with his love but his actions speak VERY loudly. I quite enjoy the progression of their relationship from strangers not liking each other, to family, friends, and lovers. I do wish I could see their happy, dating moments sooner and witness more of those delicious and passionate kisses.
Characters
The strength of this drama is the characters in this small town. They women are strong and lovely! The whole cast is such a lovely bunch and they make me want to spend a week of vacation there. I love Aunty Li Lan Fang. She has a dead beat husband, but she lives her life in such open optimism. Grandma is also a national treasure. It’s no wonder Xing Qu grew up to be such a great guy, being showered with love by these two women in his life. The friendship between the 3 aunties is also lovely to see. They are so fun and I love them teasing each other. As for our leads, Xing Wu is a little too perfect and dreamy. How can a guy who has gone through such hardships be still so upstanding, loyal, protective, rational, mature, caring and just an all-around great guy? Luckily, I don’t find him to be boring. Li Yun Rui did a fantastic job, but I do have to say there’s no way he looks like a high school student. Guan Xiao Tong also was great as Qing Ye. Qing Ye was so insufferable in the first few episodes as this spoiled princess. But it’s understandable given the circumstances. She has also grown to be a very lovely independent woman. It is a little sad to see how both main leads have to grow up so fast and be so mature at such a young age. The friend group is supportive and fun.
Production
I was going to complain about the music in this drama, because there was a scene early on where the leads were arguing and happy music started playing loudly. But after that moment, I started to like the songs and found the lyrics to be quite appropriate in subsequent scenes. Now I have several songs on my Spotify playlist. They do have a few songs that they play quite often, even though I like them. I love the scenery of the sea, the beach, the light tower and the rural town. Even the simple house that the leads live in feels so homey and comfortable. I can imagine life in that small house.
“Dazzling” is a comfort watch and an easy binge for me. It does slow down a little bit in the middle but not slow enough for me to feel bored. I love all the characters in this drama and I root for all of them. It’s lovely to take a peek into this small town life. The leads have great chemistry and the acting is good. It might not surprise you with twists and turns, but there are enough moments to cheer you up and make you smile.
Drama Completed: 6/19/2026 Review #695
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Excellent acting for a decent low-budget Mini drama
A remake of a classic, “Fated in the Martial World” definitely can’t compare to its predecessor, “Mission of the Warriors”, and might even disappoint fans of the original. This is a small budget production headlined by B, C, D-listers. I actually did not watch the original 2001version , and I am reviewing this drama as a low budget production.I actually quite enjoy the plot of the story. A story of bloodbath, revenge, martial world’s selfishness and greed, love, friendship and camaraderie. It’s a typical wuxia plot and I love this genre. The acting is surprisingly good, especially when I had no expectations coming into this. The cast is actually quite experienced in mini dramas. Led by Guan Chang and Wu Chong Xuan, their performance is better than some actors in bigger productions. They not only give off the correct vibes of their characters, but also do well in subtle emotional scenes.
The foursome has great chemistry. I enjoy the romance between the leads. There’s just enough romance to keep me happy, yet doesn’t derail from the revenge plot. I love their proposal and wedding scene, and it was quite unique with how they handle the marriage letter. The love triangle/square is not annoying but quite respectful. The friendship developed between the two female characters is beautiful to witness.
My biggest disappointment of the drama is the wuxia portion, specifically the action scenes. There are too many slow motion fight scenes to my liking, and not enough actual fights. There are many ‘chi’ aka internal power fighting. I would have loved to see the actors swinging the swords more. The last battle is super disappointing and anti-climatic. Additionally, in the first half of the drama, our formidable leads get hurt or faint way too often. I also rarely see the prowess of the female lead, when she’s supposed to fight really well.
“Fated in the Martial World” is a short mini drama with episodes ranging from 12-20 minutes long. It’s not bad for what it is, but could be disappointing to fans of the original drama or novel. The acting is really good and I enjoy actors not having the white filter or white makeup treatment. Wu Chong Xuan looks like a healthy, manly warrior and is quite hot in this drama. LOL
Completed: 4/19/2026 Review #684
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Interesting premise but Predictable: Good-looking leads + good chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“Koifure: Situationship Is Just Right” is the perfect title, because everything in this drama is just right…as in average. The premise is interesting though - two individuals who want to enjoy everything positive about dating without falling in love and no physical intimacy.
“Koifure” is a very predictable and light watch. Because the drama is only 7 short episodes (20-25 minutes each), it was unable to really spend a lot of time within each stage of the relationship. They meet quickly, develop feelings quickly, fall in love quickly, and become a couple quickly. If the drama is longer, it can spend more time on the getting-to-know each other stage, a little more push-and-pull and even some angst once koifure has ended, before eventually getting together. The ‘traumatic experience’ didn’t really seem traumatic enough to cause both leads to be scared of falling in love, especially for FL.
Having said all that, I have a pretty good time watching this, as I treat this as a comfort watch and not looking for something extraordinary. Hiaguchi Kouhei and Kawazu Asuka make a beautiful couple and their chemistry is good. Higuchi Kouhei is just as handsome as ever. I actually like him here as a handsome nice guy, more than the manga-like cold, toxic male lead in “My Personal Weatherman”. He has big expressive eyes, especially when looking lovingly at FL. There are some emotional scenes that he did very well. Kawazu Asuka’s character is the typical manga shojo female lead. She’s kind, friendly and cute. But luckily, she can still express her feelings and communicate honestly. I was worried she’s another naive pushover.
The supporting cast is small but very likable and good-looking. The acting is not overly dramatic or cringey. Suitors of the leads are nice and not annoyingly clingy or frustrating. The bartender and his specialty cocktails are hilarious.
I would recommend “Koifure” if you are looking for something predictable and easy to watch with an adorable couple. However, if you want to be surprised, this drama is not going to satisfy you. I am rounding this up to an 8.0 because of the handsome Higuchi Kouhei and his smize 🙂
Completed: 2/28/2026 Review #671
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Dated Xianxia that's a little too long with noticeable crappy CGI/AI technology
It’s very unfortunate that “Love Never Fails” was filmed in 2021 but didn’t air until 2025 due to former female lead, Crystal Yuan’s tax evasion problem. Even though Hu Yi Xuan did a fantastic job stepping in, reshooting many scenes with the help of AI technology/CGI/green screen and Liu Xue Yi’s help, the drama still looks dated and low-budget.Plot:
“Love Never Fails” has a very traditional old-school xianxia plot. It’s full of angst, misunderstanding, and noble idiocies. I would say this drama has 4 different arcs. The Heaven Realm was a good (but long) introduction of all the characters. Hu Yi Xuan plays a very lovable red camellia demon Hong Ning. She was innocent and sweet, yet not annoying. Hong Ning’s character growth throughout the drama was central to the plot and great to witness. Liu Xue Yi’s Jin Xiu is the typical stoic King of the Central Heavens. The second arc is the first of two mortal realms. I like the setting of the academy and seeing a more human version of the leads. Unfortunately, I feel that this arc lasted a little long. I also did not enjoy seeing ML turn into a lovesick jealous puppy from a more reserved teacher figure. The white camelia demon also irritates me. The third arc is my favorite as it's shorter, and I enjoy a different dynamic between the leads. I enjoy seeing a more human ML who plays a general that’s not too stoic and will chase after a girl (yet not as lovesick as the previous trial). I was also glad to see that the trials are over, now I am looking forward to the background story of the leads and what the scheme the drama has been alluding to by the Heavenly Emperor. Unfortunately, it drags and I eventually lose interest in the last 5 episodes or so. Looking back, I think the character development of all the major characters is the best part of the show. They have all matured so much, little by little through their different trial experiences.
Romance:
The main romance is very eventful. Hong Ning (FL) and Jin Xiu (ML) have gone through a lot. They have some really sweet and cute scenes, and also scenes where I want to shake some sense in them. There are too many unspoken explanations, self-sacrifices and noble idiocies throughout the drama. I was exhausted. Every time Jin Xiu says he will protect his little red camellia, you know something bad is going to happen. The chemistry between Liu Xue Yi and Hu Yi Xuan is fine. I am not sure if this has to do with the changing female lead. They are both great actors, but given the circumstances, it’s really hard to expect a sizzling, fluffy or heart-wrenching romance when you have to act in front of crappy green screens and AI face swap. I also find the evil, clingy third wheel very annoying, especially when he's there for most of the drama. Many viewers like the secondary romance. I like it fine, and they do have a more fun dynamic compared to the main romance. But I feel that it’s not given enough time to fully execute.
Acting:
The acting for the four main actors carry this drama on their back. As I said, Liu Xue Yi and Hu Yi Xuan are great. A younger Ao Rui Peng shows potential that he can be the main lead in future dramas (and we’ve seen that happen). The 9-tail princess might be the least well-known of the four, but she did fine (not great). However, the rest of the supporting cast is only OK. None of them really impresses me but they are not horrible either.
Production Quality:
Unfortunately, I don’t have anything good to say about the production quality. This drama screams low-budget and old. The Heavenly Realm is blinding me with all the white! I was even missing the pastel colors from other dramas. Everyone is dubbed, even for Liu Xue Yi, and I don’t think the voice acting is that great either. The CGI is dated which makes the fight scenes look like child’s play. The AI technology/green screen is so noticeable. The costumes for our female lead look great and Hu Yi Xuan looks beautiful in her different characters. Unfortunately, the male leads look like they are wearing oversized clothing. The top knot hairstyle does not suit anyone. Thank goodness I get to see Liu Xue Yi looking fantastic when his hairstyle changes when he was dressing in simple attire during the cross of the bridge and in the final episodes.
Do I recommend this drama? Unfortunately, no. I don’t regret watching it though, because I want to support all the actors' hard work despite Crystal Yuan’s departure. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. I especially want to support Liu Xue Yi for reshooting scenes with Hu Yi Xuan, and her great work stepping in and probably acting in front of green screens all the time. I just wish this drama aired sooner and the technology/quality is better.
Completed: 2/21/2026 Review #668
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The power is in YOU to change your own destiny
After watching the first episode, I was wondering if my expectations were too high especially when a couple of my friends rated “Love Begins in the World of If” pretty positively. I’m glad in the end, I agree with them and I’m not disappointed.I already know this is a drama about Kano’s growth as a person, and romance takes a back seat. But I have to say, I am very satisfied with the romance and how it all complements Kano’s growth. I am also a sucker for someone who cares and supports behind-the-scenes quietly, and guessing of those does-he-like-me-or-not situations.
Echoing many reviewers, I also really like the change in Kano. The way he’s being treated in the ideal world is a consequence of Kano's actions. It’s not just because it is the ideal world. I enjoy how Kano discovers how he could improve the current situation in the real world by taking actions upon himself in making that change. Not only that, my favorite part (being a romance lover) is Kano’s realization of real-world Ogami’s quiet support and care. Seeing the contrasting ways the two Ogami behave towards him and him realizing who is the ‘better’ Ogami is the turning point for me in rating this drama a solid 8.5 and not lower.
This ‘turning’ point also reassures my gut impression of the ideal Ogami. There is something about his smiles that seem fake and creepy to me, and I didn’t know why. I thought I was just not used to seeing this version of Ogami, especially when I quite like the cool and direct Ogami in the real world.
Because this is only a 6-episode drama, I’m glad the writers don’t spend the whole drama in the ideal world and not leave enough time in the real world. Would I have loved the drama to be a little longer? Sure! But I also feel that I am satisfied with 6 short episodes. The only part I felt a little weird about was the intimate scene (I can’t believe I said this! LOL). That felt somewhat out of place. I guess after everything is out in the open, it liberates them both, and Ogami needs to prove that he’s better than the overprotective salesman.
Completed: 12/26/2025 Review #656
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A Healing drama disguised as a Sports/Crime drama.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25On 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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Not as fluffy as I thought, and too short to execute well.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75First of all, I did not read the webtoon, but I heard it is a lot raunchier than this PG-13 drama.
I’m a little too old to have a bias and be as star-struck as our male lead, Na Ae Jun. But I can understand the surprise when your bias shows up at your workplace and you get to spend every day with him shooting a reality show. The premise of “My Bias Is Showing?!” is interesting and I am happy to learn more about this super fan’s world.
Personally, I do not find any member of the boy group attractive. The bias here, Choi Se Yeol, is also not giving me a popular idol vibe. I think this might be due to the acting of Kim Kang Min. I thought he was a newbie but he actually has a lot more acting experience than Kevin. Unfortunately, his portrayal of Choi Si Yeol is neither cool and charismatic, nor approachable and friendly. I just don’t care for him at all. His pursuit of Na Ae Jun is laughable. He has this nonchalant look on his face and always appears so disinterested.
Kevin, on the other hand, is cuter and the acting is better. I’m surprised to see that this is his first acting gig. His awkwardness is not cringey and I do like him switching to his teacher mode when needed. As a 29-year old teacher, he just acts really young. But I am going to chalk that down as being starstruck.
I would have liked to see a more enthusiastic courtship. I also needed to see more of how Choi Si Yeol slowly falls in love with Na Ae Jun. The short episodes do not give the script enough time to develop. The secondary couple also wrapped things up at lightning speed. They seem like an afterthought as well, when their story has so much more potential. Again, not enough time to fully develop all these interesting plotlines.
Additionally, I was looking for a cute and fluffy drama. I don’t think there’s enough fluff (maybe others think that’s enough). If the courtship was written better, they could have inserted more cute fluffiness and not only save that for the last episode.
Overall, “My Bias Is Showing?!” is a simple, short and easy watch. It’s not going to blow you away nor will it frustrate you. If the acting from the superstar is better, I might have enjoyed it more.
Completed: 12/11/2025 Review #652
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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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A simple Childhood Friends-to-Lovers story for those who want a light watch
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Not sure what prompted me to watch this ‘older’ Korean BL in 2025. This is a simple story about childhood friends to lovers. There are certain aspects of this show that many viewers might like, in addition to the friends-to-lovers trope, such as, huge height difference, unrequited love, pining, green flag who dotes on their loved one. The drama also tries to add some not-so-angsty angst to make it more than just a fluffy drama. For a drama adapted from a webtoon in 2022, this is a pleasant and easy watch. But KBLs have gone through a lot of transformation in the last few years and have given us some really good darker and more mature shows. Therefore, watching this in 2025 does not satisfy me.
The acting is OK. I liked Kang Hui more than Ok Jin Uk, but he also has more acting experience. I am usually not a fan of the naive, shy and pushover kind of main character. Additionally, I also don’t find Ok Jin Uk to be particularly cute or good-looking for me to fall in love with his character. Having said that, the romance is not based on love-at-first-sight, but a growing love and companionship. Therefore, their romance is believable. The last couple episodes and scenes of life after high school/college are rushed. I am not sure if we need that and the drama should probably focused on better writing of the high school years.
“Cherry Blossoms after Winter” is a low budget production, so aside from a few scenes at home, coffee shops and school, there’s no fancy cinematography or lavish costumes. I do appreciate that the drama does not look cheap and I really like the songs in the OST.
Completed: 9/19/2025 Review #626
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Well-paced healing journey of two individuals you want to root in a beautiful setting
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25At first glance, “Falling Before Fireworks” seems to be just another healing drama of two lonely individuals who have very different personalities and lifestyles. But as you dive deeper, the way the story and tropes are a little bit unconventional in a good way. It’s not a perfect drama, especially the last arc (which I’ll write more later). But the drama has good pacing for a healing drama, a strong and independent FL, beautiful sets and scenery and cute puppies.
It took me a couple episodes to really like FL. She was introduced as a money-hungry, super career-focused individual who will do anything to get a promotion. But as you get to know her and think about the cultural difference in China and the Western world, you may start to like her, empathize with her and root for her success. I am glad that her focus and independence as a strong career woman remains true from start to finish. ML is a quiet craftsman living in a rural area surrounded by peace and culture. A very different life and experience from FL. But who doesn’t like an opposite attracts romance, especially when affection and understanding are developed slowly. It’s totally my kind of drama and romance, especially when we have a marriage of convenience on top of it.
Yes, there are misunderstandings but not too frustrating. I think it stems more from the upbringing of the main leads. They may seem very different, but what they long for is the same - to be loved and to have a home. Both are self-sacrificing, withholding the need to ask for help from each other, because throughout their lives. They had to in order to survive, fight and maintain affection from their loved ones. For that, I am willing to give the non-communication a pass. However, they are also super supportive of each other in interesting ways. Once they found out the other half was being mistreated (big and small ways), they seek revenge for the others. This brought us some funny and heartwarming moments.
The love triangle is unique in a way. I was worried that it’s going to drive me crazy but it didn’t (except I don’t quite like the voice of 2FL). OK, I did question why FL continues to remain friends with 2FL after her ‘open’ pursuit. She should be smart enough to see through her sly actions. The brother’s arc brought on some anxiety but I was pleasantly surprised by how that ended. The support cast is lovely, even those co-workers in the beginning.
I love the ML’s house and that quiet part of town. It’s nice to take a break from city life and see how simple people can live. That house is beautiful. Find me a bed and breakfast like that, I would love to stay there, especially when the host is as handsome as Chen Xin Hai. The drama also spends a lot of time showcasing Chinese arts and crafts from lantern making, to wood sculpting, to drawing and painting. I love all that except for the last business arc. I knew it’s coming and I dreaded it. I wish the drama has focused those episodes on FL and her parents and more couples. It's just a little preachy and nationalistic for my taste. But I also understand if I am not a foreigner, the local audience would love it. That’s why this drama has an excellent score of 7.7 on Douban, especially when it has no big name actors.
“Falling Before Fireworks” gave me quite a roller coaster ride of emotions. I’ve shed some tears (god bless you, grandpa), cooed at the cute puppies (they never seem to grow big but who cares as they are cute), grinned and smiled through a few cute and romantic scenes and gestures. I do want better kisses though.
It’s a somewhat low budget drama that went under the radar. I may not love the dubbing and the business arc in the end, but I had a great time binge watching these 23 episodes. If you are looking for a healing drama that’s not too slow-paced, with great scenery and lovely individuals, this is worth a shot.
Completed: 9/7/2025 Review #622
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It's not horrible...but disappointingly it's not the next "I Feel You Linger in the Air" either.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Objectively, “Memoir of Rati” is not a bad drama. It’s light and sweet, and perfect for those who want to see Great and Inn together again in a period setting. However, I was hoping this could be the next “I Feel You Linger in the Air” that could touch my heart. Unfortunately, “Memoir of Rati” isn’t it and I was disappointed.
Plot
The plot is simple. Two sets of lovers facing familial and societal pressures due to their ‘forbidden’ love. There’s not a lot of angst nor too many evil characters. I was actually quite surprised that there really isn’t a lot happening in these 12 episodes. There are many scenes of the two sets of lovers together and hanging out, and definitely a selling point for their fans. But as a drama, it is rather bland and could probably reduce a couple episodes.
Romance
If you are looking for a sweet and cute romance, this is the right drama for you. There’s barely any angst that could rip your heart out. Everyone is nice, honest and communicative. The main romance blossoms quite early, since we have a love-at-first-sight situation going on, and Thee isn’t shy in showing affection both verbally and in action. Thee is the doting, smitten Mr. Green Flag, and Rati is the more naive and shy Mr. Green Flag. The secondary romance between Mek and Dech is more fun and more innocent. They’re like best buddies until friendship becomes more. Their kisses are few but are better than those from the main leads. Maybe I was expecting a lot more passionate kisses and better sexy scenes.
Acting/Characters
The acting isn’t bad. I think Great did better than when I last saw him in “Wandee Goodday” and he definitely looks handsome in the white uniform, a lot better than in flowery boxing shorts. Inn, Aou and Boom all met my expectations. Aside from a couple ‘villains’, most of the supporting characters are lovely. I’m especially thankful that there aren’t any loud slaves/servants, which typically always show up in a historical lakorn. None of that here and not a whole lot of shouting either.
Production
Compared to “I Feel You Linger in the Air”, this drama pales in comparison. It’s not bad, but the cinematography is not as good and the sets appear simpler. I was quite worried in the first scene of Inn when his face was layered with white and thick foundation. The makeup artists aren’t doing a great job in this drama. Inn and Boom are already pretty pale, and they look whiter here. Aou seems to have a fake/spray tan on him but I do appreciate the drama at least try to darken his skin since he’s a commoner who needs to earn a living. Great probably looks best out of the four of them. At least the costume department did a pretty good job in dressing up the guys in nice clothes.
Would I recommend this drama? Probably if you like the leads, or are interested in a sweet romantic drama in a historical setting.
Would I recommend this drama if you’re looking for something similar to “I Feel You Linger in the Air”? Nope. Unfortunately, “Memoir of Rati” is subpar in almost every single category, especially if you are looking for a good emotional roller coaster. After watching this, it makes me miss IFYLITA even more and I want to rewatch some of my favorite and memorable scenes.
Having said all that, I have a decent time watching “Memoir of Rati”. It’s not the drama’s fault that I was expecting it to be something that it’s not. Therefore, I am rounding up my 7.75 rating to 8.0 instead of down to 7.5. It’s not a must watch but since there aren’t too many Thai historical BLs, it’s worth giving it a shot.
Completed: 9/6/2025 Review #621
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Great Acting and Team chemistry, but Writing and Execution could have been better
It doesn’t seem like “The Seven Relics of Ill Omen” has attracted too much attention from viewers. Maybe the novel is not as popular as the other tomb raider series. This is usually not my usual genre and after watching “The Unwanted Detective” with an excellent investigative plot, this drama does fail in comparison.What I Like about this drama:
1. Acting - The acting is great and it translates to excellent chemistry between the main cast. I’ve seen a few of Song Wei Long’s dramas before and this is his best so far for me. Also, after seeing Ao Rui Peng in a few recent costume dramas, it’s great to see him in a modern one and a very different character. Liu Hao Cun is cute as a button and her eyes can fill with tears whenever she wants it. She’s so much better here than in the disappointing “Derailment”. Wang Yi Ting and Zhang Yi Chi round up the five-some who are just as capable as the others.
2. Friendship/Phoenix Squad - For a drama such as this, the team chemistry is important and you come in expecting a great friendship. I’m happy to say that these guys are different yet complement each other. There’s no misunderstanding, jealousy or hidden agendas. The bromance between Jiang Zhao and Cao Yan Hua is especially fun, and they play off each other so well. Oh, let’s not forget about the chicken and the weird historian. They are a fun addition to the squad!
3. Main romance - The leads might not have a sexy or fluffy/sugary romance, but they are sweet and comfortable. Seeing them together makes me feel warm inside. With all that they go through, a relationship that feels safe, comfortable and grounded seems to be perfect for the pair. I won’t deny I want to see more romantic scenes, but I am only satisfied with what’s given me.
4. Fight scenes - Excellent fight choreography and action scenes by Song Wei Long and Liu Hao Cun. I didn’t know Song Wei Long actually studied martial arts. What was he doing in all those boring costume idol dramas? He needs to be in a wuxia to show us his athleticism. Liu Hao Cun is so petite, yet she’s nimble and quick with her moves. She was beautiful to watch. I wish there were more fight scenes throughout the drama and not just concentrated in the beginning and the end.
What I have Mixed feelings or dislike:
1. CGI/Production - After watching getting used to great CGI and green screen scenes, this drama disappoints. It reminded me of another recent drama that I watched, “The Immortal Ascension”. The sets look fake, the green screens are so noticeable and it’s overall very below average. I was a little confused about the set design. It's a modern drama with all the technology in the world, yet it has a very old school feel to it.
2. Dubbing - Even though I appreciate the actors dubbing their own voices, the actual dubbing is not done well. The movement of the mouths are not matching the lines. And gosh, that annoying Leopard and her English? Every time she speaks, my ears bleed. What is the point of her speaking in weird accented English when she could also speak in weird accented Chinese? If everyone understands her and responds in Chinese, what is the point?
3. Plot (esp ending) - I like how each member of the Phoenix Squad gets their time to shine through the investigation of the relics. We get to understand their backstory and see how far they have come. However, the ending arcs about the 6th and 7th relics, the past and the big villain, are a little confusing. I am not sure if it's my comprehension problem, or the writing seems choppy. Maybe some parts are edited out due to censorship. There’s a lot of explaining instead of showing. And even if they’re showing, it’s not done in a way that’s easy to follow. Of course, this could be a “me” problem.
4. Leopard - In addition to not liking her English, the writing of her character is over-the-top. Yes, she could have been just a psycho, but the way she moves, talks and enlarges her eyes make her seem like a cartoon character. If I am watching a Japanese anime adaptation, I can understand such overacting, but this is not it.
5. Secondary romance - is there a secondary romance? If so, the drama is doing a very poor job in showing that except for that one scene. It could have been developed more to contrast the dynamics of the main couple
I was enjoying the formation of the squad and the mystery of the first 5 relics. But towards the end, the drama lost my attention. “The Seven Relics of Ill Omen” might not have the tightest writing, but the acting and chemistry are good. It offers great fight scenes and very likable characters. It’s not a must watch but maybe for those who are fans of the leads.
Completed: 9/4/2025 Review #620
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'Powerless' Women and Marriages
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75 (a generous rounding up to 8.0 instead of down to 7.5)I think reading the synopsis here on MDL creates a false expectation of what “The Scandal of Chun Hwa” is really about. Yes, we do have the leads as described in the synopsis. But the drama is so much more than their romance, and their romance is the weakest part of the drama.
Plot:
I actually really like the general plot of the drama. Using erotic pictures of a novel as the backdrop of the drama, “The Scandal of Chun Hwa” really is about how powerless women were during that time, especially when it comes to their marriages. Women were oftentimes ignored from the inability to choose who they want to marry, the decision to accept or deny wedding proposals, the ability to divorce their husbands whether they were mistreated, abused, or cheated on. If you come from a noble family, your marriage is part of a political power struggle. If you are a commoner or slave, you were treated like a plaything for the wealthy. Using the very popular erotic novel to spread the tales of these women, it created quite a storm that has personal, political and nationwide implications. All this is very interesting to me and creates quite a unique plot for a historical drama to tell. However, the execution could have been better. I do think the pacing of the drama is good. I was able to binge watch this quickly and it holds my attention pretty well. I think the last episode is actually the slowest for me due to its focus on palace politics.
Romance:
Coming into this, I was looking for a hot romance with sizzling chemistry and a lot of skinship (kisses, hugs, bed scenes, etc). Well, I did get some of the better kisses in Korean dramas. The men are going at it passionately and hungrily, the women respond surprisingly well to these ‘attacks’. The explicit scenes weren’t really from the main actors themselves, but pictures in the novel and some minor characters. The 3 main couples we see do have intimate scenes, but no nudity (if I remember correctly) except some muscular, toned and beautiful abs/torsos and backs from the actors. LOL. Unfortunately, the main romance is a disappointment. It has a start, missing the middle and then we got the end of their romance. The initial encounter and flirting were fun. But I seem to have missed how they actually fall in love. Therefore, when finally the secrets were all out in the open, the aftermath did not gut punch me as hard as I would have liked. The other suitors come and go, and not a whole lot of time is given to them to really show their affection for FL. They feel like an afterthought. On the other hand, the grand prince/duchess romance is simple, entertaining, sweet and sexy. They didn’t have too much screentime, but I get a full story and see how they started rockily but continue to grow as a couple. The crown prince/crown princess story might have the best development. It has a complete start/middle/end. It might have gone in a direction that I didn’t want, but the ending to their love story is probably more realistic. I was just hoping for a different ending.
Acting:
This is Go A Ra’s return to the small screen after a 5-year hiatus. I can’t believe her last drama was 2020 “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” (which has one of the worst endings, by the way). Go A Ra’s acting is good. She looks like a young and spoiled princess in the beginning, and was great with the more emotional scenes as well. I’ve seen Chang Ryul in so many other dramas before, yet I don’t remember him at all. This is probably because he’s mainly in supporting roles but here, he’s the male lead. He is an experienced actor and he didn’t disappoint. I might not have liked how their romance was written, but the actors themselves play the roles really well. They do have good chemistry together. The acting of the whole cast is good. From the main younger leads to the older generation, I didn’t have anything to complain about.
Production:
I like the OST. The songs complement the scenes, except for that one song with English words. It was a little weird listening to it while watching a historical drama. The costumes, sets, accessories all look great. A lot of criticisms are about the explicit scenes of whether they are necessary or not. Despite not minding them and actually am excited to watch a Korean drama that is not afraid to go there, I do have to agree that some of the scenes might not be necessary. There’s a lot of focus on the pictures in the novel to tell the story. Well, I think you can achieve the storytelling without emphasizing on those pictures. On the other hand, I can also understand in order to move the plot forward that shock value is needed to show impact and aftermath. A few of the bed scenes with the leads are fine and I think are applicable to the plot. Besides, there aren’t too many anyway. I guess seeing the actors putting in effort into those scenes minimizes my criticisms of them. Thank goodness for no fish kisses.
“The Scandal of Chun Hwa” is an entertaining watch. I think it can benefit from a few more episodes to flush out the story. I enjoy the general plot but the romance disappoints me. As I said earlier, I was expecting a strong main romance after reading the synopsis. If you tamper your expectations, you might enjoy it more than me. It is by no means an excellent drama, but if you have time to kill and don’t mind some explicit scenes, this could be fun. Otherwise, you can skip this drama.
Completed: 6/16/2025 - Review #592
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Better stay as a manga instead of a live action adaptation - So slow, so many "Eh?"
“Takara no Vidro” aka “Takara’s Treasure” is a typical story about how two opposites attract and end up together. Technically, the story is sweet and the two male leads are good-looking. Visually, they are perfectly casted. Iwase Yoji, playing the super popular Takara, is handsome and cool, and just has that tsundere aura around him. Him just casually sitting on the bench reading a book is a sight to behold. Contrasting him is the cute and bubbly Taishin, played by Konishi Eito. Konishi’s big eyes really sparkle like the marbles.The plot is simple and predictable. The first half was filled with creepy, stalkerish and annoying ‘eh?’ If Taishin is a girl, I would have complained about the character just as much. In a manga, Taishin might be cute and adorable, and it’s up to the reader to set the pace. But in an adaptation, whether he’s a boy or girl, I just can’t stand that naive, sloooow talking/processing character who gives you puppy eyes and acts surprised all the time. It’s so slow!!!
It’s so unfortunate because I really enjoy the last few episodes when they are finally dating. Taishin is still Taishin, but at least we have deeper conversations, and they really try to open up to each other. Their feelings are conveyed honestly, no matter how embarrassing they feel inside. They really do want to make this relationship work. Seeing Takara getting possessive and jealous, and acting out of his cool character is fun. I wish we had seen more of this between them. I also would like to see Takara express his feelings more verbally.
J-dramas are usually rated lower on MDL, so I am quite surprised “Takra no Vidro” actually has an 8.0. Despite loving the male leads visually, the acting is actually not bad, and enjoying the last few episodes, this drama is just too slow for me. I am also not a fan of overly naive characters. You can still have a bubbly vs tsundere, opposite attracts plot without making the character so dumb.
Completed: 5/27/2025 - Review #584
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