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Lovely, cute and touching Romance, but with an unnecessary gangster plot

I was curious about this highly rated Taiwanese BL (MDL rating 8.7) and wanted to check it out. There have been dramas about those who are hearing-impaired, so the challenges that Jiang Shao Peng faces are not uncommon. But the pairing of two different professions of the leads is fresh and new, and quite interesting.

The best part about “See Your Love” is the romance. The chemistry of the leads is great and their romantic story is nicely written and developed. I enjoy their honest and lovely communication of not just feelings but of their past and present challenges. They understand and support each other, and there are plenty of kisses for us romance lovers. Both male leads are likable and complement each other well. It’s not a surprise that the more outgoing Sean professes his love first. But it is a pleasant surprise to see the more shy Shao Peng to be quite assertive in his PDA. I am not sure how accurate the sign language is, but both Sean and Shao Peng convince me that they know what they are doing. I love their joint signing in the closet. It was really romantic and shows that they are perfect for each other.

The secondary romance is cute as well, but I think it could have used a little more screen time and more development. The other two ladies are there to advance the plot, but really don’t make a strong impact on the main story.

3 of the 4 leads are newcomers and their acting performance is pretty good. The emotional scenes, especially the hospital scene by Shao Peng and Sean , moved me to tears. The lovey-dovey scenes bring a smile to my face and the sexy scenes are shot well. I also love Shao Peng’s parents. They are so loving, supportive and hilarious. Unfortunately, I am not sure who did the hair and makeup for Nat Chen, who played Yang Zi Cheng. He has the worst makeup (those eyebrows!!) and looks like an old man. He was so cool and handsome in “Kiseki: Dear to Me”.

Despite really LOVING the main romance, I cannot objectively give this drama a rating higher than 8.5. The over-the-top gangster plot is so unnecessary. A cousin acts like a gangster to ‘fight’ for something he never really needs to fight. The animosity is unwarranted when they could have been brothers supporting each other. The appearance of Sean’s dad is anti-climatic. Does he really need to show up for those few minutes and then disappear? Why even waste those few minutes when there’s no follow-up or resolution.

I recommend this Taiwanese BL especially because the romance is so lovely. I laughed, smiled and cried tears of joy and sadness. For a drama led by new actors, this is a great watch.


p.s. Don't forget to stay for the ending scenes after the credit in the last episode.


Completed: 1/20/2025 - Review #536

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Great leads chemistry with an interesting premise, but lacks other well-written side stories.

If you are a romance lover, then “Smile Code” is worth checking out. The premise is interesting in depicting a male lead with alexithymia aka emotional blindness. It reminded me of “Love and Redemption” where the female lead is deprived of her six senses. In the case of our male lead, Liang Dai Wen, developed a psychological trait/condition and has difficulties in identifying, understanding and expressing emotions. As you can tell, this poses a great challenge in having romantic relationships.

Gu Yi, female lead, is quite the exact opposite. She is full of life, full of emotions and energy. In fact, it was quite hard and embarrassing to see her ‘throw’ herself in Dai Wen’s direction and being somewhat clingy to him. This girl has the patience and understanding of a goddess, and is in no way deterred from Dai Wen’s coldness and hard words.

If you like opposites attract, this is an interesting watch. Shen Yue and Lin Yi have great chemistry together, even during the earlier episodes when Dai Wen is a robot. Their scenes are cute and feel natural. Throughout the development of their relationship, I believe in them and really root for them. Despite some rough times (and you know there will be due to Dai Wen’s condition), their challenges feel realistic and acceptable. I have to say, the only time I cringed a little is during the few episodes when the ‘robot’ Dai Wen comes out of his shell and starts learning cheesy pick up lines from his assistant, idol dramas and god knows where. Towards the last quarter of the drama, their romance is sweet and fluffy, and I also feel the love they have for each other. Their relationship is healthy and communicative.

The other romances don’t take up too much screen time. Even though I like the setup of the romance between Yu Du Le (Zou Ting Wei) and Guan Xing Xin (Zhang Tian Ai). But unfortunately, the chemistry is lacking. I don’t think Zhang Tian Ai’s acting is matching that of Zou Ting Wei in the more emotional scenes. The more mature couple takes up even less screen, even though they have better chemistry than the other couple. I guess when you have two veteran actors, they make the best of their little screen time. I also like Xu Guan Rui as the ‘third wheel’. To me, he’s dreamy and caring, and really wants what’s best for Gu Yi (professionally and personally). He might display animosity towards Dai Wen, but I chalked that up as he doesn’t know of his situation, therefore, cannot comprehend why Gu Yi never gave up and continues to stick by Dai Wen’s side. Once he knew of the situation, he apologizes and admits his poor behavior. I think it takes character to man up and own his poor actions and words, especially in front of a love rival.

Despite loving the main romance and the reason for a solid rating, the drama is longer than it should be. There are times when the plot is not moving much, and all it does is showing the day-to-day life of the couple and their friends. Don’t expect a business drama, but I do love the mentor/mentee relationship between Gu Yi and her supervisor, Jie Kui Lin.

It also doesn’t have a central focus on stand-up comedy like the recently aired drama “Later, I laughed”. The jokes in “Smile Code” are not as good, and stand-up comedy does not play a very important role in this drama, aside from a place where people gather, and a very minor plot in the end, which I dislike since it’s quite uncharacteristic for the female lead to get in trouble this way. She’s a senior writer/editor, and has been working for years. There’s no way she would fall for such a scheme, especially after consulting with his best friend and boyfriend. But I guess they need her to do so, in order to resolve another situation.

Oh, how can I forget the lovely, sweet and memorable Wang Mei Xia (FL’s mother). Not only do I love the mother/daughter relationship, I also love the friendship between her and Dai Wen. There’s not enough scenes of Mrs. Wang Mei Xia. She’s like sunshine shining on some of the more boring moments.

I would recommend this drama only for those who are fans of the lead couple, cute romance or interested in checking out a drama about alexithymia. Otherwise, “Smile Code” doesn’t have enough meaty and well-written plotlines to keep viewers interested. I did have a mostly enjoyable time binge-watching it.



Completed: 1/3/2025 - Review #533

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Obsessive, Possessive, Toxic, Passionate and Manic!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

This is probably one of the better acted short-length dramas I’ve seen. Female lead, He Xuan Lin, is an experienced actress and I last saw her in the very popular “Starry Love”. Her character, Gu Jun Yao, has gone through so much in her life that this is such an angsty watch. You can’t help but root for her freedom and happiness.

“Love & Bid Farewell” is a tale of revenge, obsession, love and toxicity. There are many reviews going into the details of the drama, so I won’t go into that. I’ll just write a few quick thoughts of the drama.

1. As mentioned, the acting is great. He Xuan Lin really is the shining star. Apparently, I’ve seen male lead, Yan Zi Xian, in many other dramas before when he had a supporting role. I don’t remember him at all. But I will now for his role as the obsessive and possessive Yue Jin Chen.
2. I appreciate a strong female lead, who once she realized what happened, did not go back at all. She never fell into the trap of romance, no matter how much the male lead tried to entice her.3.
3. It’s amazing how Yue Jin Chen can get stabbed so many times and not die.
4. Great, passionate and forceful yet realistic kisses. Probably one of few C-dramas (mini or full-length ones) where the male lead and the female lead are both going at it and not being shy.
5. I appreciate there’s no evil and annoying secondary leads.
6. For a low budget production, the drama doesn’t feel cheap.
7. There are times I did feel like I wanted to fast forward, as the plot became a little repetitive. 24 episodes at about 20 mins each, might be too long when the plot only revolves about the leads.
8. A great drama for those who want a real red flag ML.
9. The ending is not surprising and you can’t really go any other way. I am glad the drama sticks to its dark theme and didn’t try to please the audience and gives us a different ending.

If you are looking for a toxic romance with an obsessive and possessive red flag male lead, then I strongly recommend this drama for you.


Completed: 10/26/2024 - Review #504

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Fun for Contract Marriage lovers, but disappointing & messy writing in the last few episodes.

If you are a fan of marriage of convenience/contract marriage, “the Sand Princess” is a pretty binge-worthy series. You might have to suspend belief with the initial set up. It’s quite outrageous someone would agree to a deal like this. But if you can accept this fact, “The Sand Princess” is a lot of fun.

I am a big fan of contract marriage and guessing each other's feelings. I am actually quite surprised that this Thai production is quite ‘normal’, as in not lakorn-ish or in a slap/kiss kinda way. You might have seen something similar in a Chinese or Korean drama.

I had a really fun time watching the first 10 episodes. I like the crazy set up and the three-way parenting. The love geometry isn’t too irritating. Kod and Ji have great chemistry as best friends, while Kod and Ki have great chemistry as the fake couple. The little girl is adorable, but was used more as a device to move the plot or as an accessory, instead of fully integrating the little girl. Maybe she’s a little young to really direct her to seriously act.

Kod (FL) is a very likable character and I was rooting for her. Baifern is a great actress and really delivers a great performance as our Kod. Ji, on the other hand, is not as likable. I actually want to punch him in the face in the first few episodes, but he grows on me and as the story develops, he’s better than was originally portrayed. I personally think that March (as Ji) is better-looking than Dan (as Ki). Aside from wanting a more handsome actor to play Ki, I really like his character. I think Dan’s acting could be inconsistent. But Ki is such a good guy. He basically sacrificed his own happiness for the greater good after being lied to by multiple people.

I was going to give this drama a solid 8.5 rating until we hit the last few episodes. Those episodes were rushed when trying to tie all the loose ends. The writing appears messy with loopholes. The romance isn’t as fun anymore. I cannot for the life of me understand how Kod would still think Ki doesn’t like her after he has repeatedly seriously and jokingly confessed, and has set boundaries with his ex. You can’t chalk this up because of her low self-esteem.

Throughout the drama, we have been told repeatedly how unfortunate Kod is to be abandoned by her mother. Oh, where is her dad? But when that situation was resolved, it was done so quickly that I thought I missed an episode. Additionally, what happened to the company’s financial crisis? Aff just dropped a bomb in the end out of nowhere and we’re left with nothing else?

“The Sand Princess” could have been so much better. I was really disappointed with the writing in the end. . The whole plot and how things evolved are pretty predictable. However, I can’t deny I really love the first 8-10 episodes. Averaging the good and the bad, and my enjoyment level, I am giving this an 8.0


Completed: 9/29/2024 - Review #493

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A rare anti-heroine with an interesting plot

We often fawned over anti-hero male leads, what about an anti-heroine female lead? “Fortune Writer” has an interesting and unique way of portraying a common fantasy plot of characters recognizing themselves being in a novel/story. I was actually quite surprised that the writer actually committed to giving us a female lead that’s ruthless and selfish, almost all the way till the end. She persisted on following her original plans, and did not let being in love derail her (as much as possible). I wish there are more dramas out there with these smart anti-heroines.

“Fortune Writer” makes fun of itself and common tropes, and doesn’t shy away from doing that to itself. I thought to myself, how come our female lead keeps on getting hurt and needing healing and saving from our male lead. And then, the doctor in the drama expressed what I was thinking!

Daisy Li is a good actress, and she’s probably the best web mini drama actress out there. She performs really well here. I hope she gets more roles in bigger productions and not stuck with these 10-min episodes. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the male lead. Ye Sheng Jia looks too young for the role, and when playing opposite Daisy. He is not quite up to par and his acting is a little bland. He’s very baby-faced cute though. The acting of the rest of the cast is not horrible, just average.

Since this is a mini drama, one can expect some usual shortcomings when it comes to the production. The dubbing was average but tolerable. The costumes and hair accessories are not bad and Daisy looks really pretty. Music is fine but not too memorable. It’s somewhat hard to judge the editing since these are short episodes. I wanted to watch the complete version on YouTube, but the sound quality is really bad and muted. So I have to resort to binging this by clicking ‘next’ every 10-15 minutes.

Overall, I had a great time watching “Fortune Writer”. The interesting and unique plot deserves a higher rating than other mini dramas I’ve watched, even though the acting is just OK (except for Daisy).


Completed: 8/30/2024 - Review #479

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A simple and easy watch with amazing songs.

“to.Jenny” is a sweet and simple drama special. There are no plot twists and you can pretty much tell where the story goes. Though simple, it’s such a comforting watch if you have a couple hours to kill. This special features a couple wacky songs such as ‘Pork Belly’ and ‘Tiramisu Cake’, but also a few very lovely songs performed by Kim Sung Cheol. I would never have thought he has such a great singing voice. But looking up this little brief description on MDL, I realized he started out as a musical actor. Anyway, I already added a few songs to my Spotify playlist (well, maybe not the songs about food).

Despite loving the music, the special itself actually did not grab my attention in the first 15 minutes or so. I actually paused and resumed on another day. I found Park Jung Min (ML) very awkward in the first 30 mins or so, and only when he started teaching Kwon Na Ra (FL) guitar lessons did I find him awkwardly cute. Once the leads have more scenes together, I am more drawn to their chemistry and their friendship/romance. I especially like how creative and sweet the guitar lessons payment system is.

Our leads are very likable and nice, and maybe too nice that they seem very naive in different aspects. The little sister is smart and mature, and really is the best support and winggirl ML can ask for. It’s also lovely to see a mother who is supportive of his son’s dreams and shielded him from the hardships of reality. The two friends are obnoxious in the beginning, but they grow on me. They really are good friends. I very much enjoy the jamming and music session between Kim Sung Cheol/Park Jung Mi and Lee Sang Yi/Yum Dae Sung.

If you are looking for good music, a simple and comforting watch, then “to.Jenny” might be a good option. The acting is pretty good and you won’t feel like strangling any of the characters.


Completed: 8/26/2024 - Review #477

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What a weird time-traveling drama full of makjang plot lines

Wow… this is an interesting and unique drama to say the least. I thought I was going to get a typical time-traveling drama, and laugh about how the two Joseon women adjust to the present-day timeline. Little did I know I was on a crazy ride.

I actually thought the first half of the drama was quite entertaining. The Joseon timeline is well-made with a coherent story. Even though nothing was extraordinary, it set the stage for Du Ri An and Kim So Jeo to time travel. I still don’t quite know why and how that happened, but that’s not too important as most time-traveling dramas don’t elaborate on that.

What I like best about the drama is the way these two Joseon women came to adapt and learn to live a different life. There isn’t any over-the-top comedy or second hand embarrassment. Their experience was written in a very likable and natural way. The two female leads are very likable and I root for them to be reunited with their loved ones and love interests.

Unfortunately, the rest of the drama is a big makjang of crazy plotlines of the rest of the characters. First crazy plotline is the lesbian obsession. That daughter-in-law is one of the two annoying characters of the drama. The drama spends so much time with her harassing her love interest that it’s becoming very uncomfortable to watch.

The other crazy plot line is Madam Baek’s romance. Why waste precious screen time on these two lovebirds. I don’t need a whole episode on their date. I would consider their story romantic and sweet if the age gap is not so ridiculous and if they have their own show. Now, it’s just cringey and a waste of space.

The writers seem to have forgotten the drama’s name is “Durian’s Affair” and should have dedicated the most time and effort to Du Ri An and Kim So Jeo. They are the time-traveling duo and center of attention! I want to see the love connection between So Jeo and Deung Meyong. I want to see them slowly falling in love while acting in their drama. I want to see sweet, cute and fluffy romantic moments from this good-looking pair. Additionally, I want to see more sizzling chemistry and longing looks between Ri An and Chi Gam. Unfortunately, these stories become an afterthought.

The ending is up to your interpretation. The modern timeline ending is a lot easier to understand. The Joseon timeline threw a curveball to my understanding with the very last scene.

I won’t say I hate this drama. It was just a bit looney and unexpected. I enjoy the first half so much more than the second half. I don’t think I will recommend this unless you are a fan of makjang and crazy storylines.


Completed: 8/17/2024 - Review #472

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A second-chance at being a Good mother, but still ended being a Good Bad mother.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I wanted to like “The Good Bad Mother’ and I did until I started losing interest towards the second half of the drama. In short, this drama has excellent acting from the youngest to the oldest. The mother/son relationship is the central focus and takes me on a rollercoaster ride. Unfortunately, the revenge plot lost me in the second half and I just don’t care for it anymore.

The title of the drama aptly describes what this show is all about. It’s tough to be a good mother. You want your child’s best interest but how you show your (tough) love and convey that message to your children are the most difficult part. We witness how hard Jin Young Soon (mom) tries to be the best mother she could be, after her husband passed away. As a single mother, she worked hard, cared for her son, ensured he had the best future as a prosecutor. But it was hard watching her executing her parenting plans. You can even say she’s an abusive mother. When she was given a second chance to do it all over again, she seized the opportunity to right the wrong and be a better mother. It was heartbreaking to watch her interaction with Kang Ho (son), when he expressed the same frustrations as not being able to choose what he wants, that he’s always pleasing his mother and doing what she asks him too. The shock and traumatic experience on Jin Young Soon’s face said it all. History repeated itself.

Despite a tumultuous relationship, there’s a lot of joy in this drama. It was lovely seeing an adorable Lee do Hyun. He might not be the most handsome actor out there, but every time I see him (no matter what role he plays), you can’t help but like him. He plays an excellent Choi Kang Ho and is a worthy partner to Ra Mi Ran’s excellent and heartbreaking portrayal of Jin Young Soon. The cast is full of veterans that we’ve seen in many Kdramas. Their acting skills are undeniable and make you love and hate them at the same time. The villagers are not as annoying as I worried, but a few of the side plots or characters don’t really contribute much to the general plot. I have to say, the kids are adorable! Such smartypants and they do provide some great comedic moments when the drama gets a little more emotional. Oh, how can I forget about the cute little pigs! It’s rare to see a drama about a pig farm and I like this uniqueness.

Unfortunately, the revenge plot is not exciting enough. We’ve seen enough illegal dealings by the two villains. There’s no suspense and them trying to kill and scheme against each other become repetitive and boring. I would have liked to see the amnesia go away sooner. Then the drama can focus on healing, rekindling romance, re-adjusting to new life, and better writing in revenge.

The romance is a very small part of the drama. There are some sweet moments. I just would have liked to see more complicated feelings from Lee Mi Joo when he met Cho Kang Ho again. I want more semi-avoidance, more confusion and more interaction between them. When the secret is out, their resolution is too quick and too anti-climatic.

I do like the ending after the trial. It was emotional and bittersweet. A fitting ending to a drama that gives us such an emotional rollercoaster ride. I can see why “The Good Bad Mother” is so highly rated, but it’s just missing the mark a little for it for me personally. I was going to give a solid 8.5 in the first half, but will end up giving this an 8.25 instead.


Completed: 6/7/2024 - Review #449

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So Good. So Real. So Honest. So Fun. So Everyday Normal Lives.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“Small Town Stories” is one of those dramas that is underrated because it has no popular idol actors, no flashy plot and it’s just about the everyday life of the regular folks. Aside from high school dramas, China is really good at producing dramas such as “Small Town Stories”. Although there is nothing flashy about this drama, it brings me warmth, tears, hope and love. This is definitely not a drama for everyone, but it’s one that touches me.


What I Like:

1. Bai Lang (ML) - I am in love with Bai Lang. I am going to include him in my ‘Male Characters I love… Ideal man!’ custom list. He’s definitely not perfect in the fairytale kind of way, but he’s perfect in my eyes as a regular guy. Bai Lang is smart, hardworking, considerate, caring, loyal, dependable, responsible, and funny. He’s not cute or handsome in the traditional sense, but I love his tan skin and adorable smile. Gao Zhi Ting, who plays Bai Lang, has matured quite a bit. I’ve only seen him in “A Love So Beautiful” as the green flag 2ML. But in “Small Town Stories”, his acting improves, he has more screen presence and is a lot more charismatic.

2. Main Romance - I love the chemistry between Bai Lang and Mu Di. I am a fan of bickering leads who don’t like each other in the beginning, then slowly become friends and then fall in love. This is definitely a slow burn romance and you would be disappointed if you are looking for cute and fluffy love. The romance here is gradual, subtle-yet-not-subtle, but it’s full of fun, laughter, and tears. I like the development of the romance more than the actual romance when they finally get together.

3. Main/Supporting Cast - Every character in this drama feels real to me. No face smoothing, no super white make-up, no backlighting. These characters could be your next door neighbor, your uncle or aunt, or a classmate/friend. The characters are flawed and very ‘human’. They make mistakes, they act irrationally at times, yet you can’t help but root for them and not hate them. Yes, there’s an annoying girl who just won’t take no for an answer, but in the end, she’s still a good person at heart. Ok, she’s just a tad annoying and got on my nerves a little bit. But aside from that, I like everyone in this drama.

4. Acting - I am very impressed with Gao Zhi Ting (ML) and Karlina Zhang (FL). I see a different side of Rain Lu (2FL). Wu Xing JIan (2ML) might be the weakest of the four main leads, but he’s still not bad. I enjoy the acting of the supporting cast, especially Song Jia Teng (as ML’s BFF/Brother), Xu Shao Ying (Cop friend), FL’s family and all the musicians. The cast of “Small Town Stories” is full of veterans and very experienced actors. They really bring the characters to life.

5. Mini-stories - I really enjoy the side stories of weddings, celebrations and funerals. For the most part (except the last two subplots), these stories are touching yet don’t take away from the main plot and main leads character development. Through these stories, we see the growth of Mu Di (FL) from a self-centered and proud musician, to hitting rock bottom, to slowly realize what makes her happy and what her dream is.


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Last few episodes - I feel that the older couple’s love story, and FL sister/bro-in-law banking fiasco are the weakest subplots of the series. They don’t jive with the vibe of the drama in the first 20+ episodes. They also don’t contribute to the general character development of the leads, the music journey and the event business. I was worried that this amazing drama is going to tank in the last few episodes and I will end up being disappointed. Luckily, episodes 29-30 picked back up and ended on a high note. Those two episodes brought back touching tears, silly laughter and hope for the future.

2. Chinese Government - I wish the drama could have focused on the cultural aspect of the music without bringing in all the government talk. Maybe that’s also why I don’t like the banking subplot as that introduced more government involvement to the drama, and the boring business talk of the new Cultural Street/Development.

3. Dubbed correction - It was great having all the actors use their real voice and with live recording as well. But then, there are quite a few lines that are dubbed over the original. Is that possibly due to censorship? This happens more than once or twice, and it takes me out of the zone and interrupts my viewing pleasure.

4. One-sided Love - There are three different one-sided love storylines in this drama and all three individuals are quite persistent. One just wouldn’t take No for an answer and is annoying as heck. One goes above and beyond to impress the family shamelessly. One is not even friends with the love interest and is obsessed with them and almost ruins 12 years of friendship. If all three of them stop sooner, then one of the other romance storylines would have time to develop and make me root for them.

5. Kisses - There are a few not-so-great kisses. The camera shot these kisses at weird angles and you can't really see much. The ones that you do see are in the last episode but they are definitely for fan service. They’re not particularly romantic and did not evoke any positive feelings from me.



Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. I wish more people would take notice of it. It’s not perfect, but if you are in the mood for small town stories of normal people’s everyday life, this is a good one. However, the city definitely doesn't feel small town as it keeps on showing me scenes of tall buildings and city lights. LOL. So, don't think this drama is about rural life and townsfolks. "Small Town Stories" is about a very interesting event planning company.


Completed: 3/29/2024 - Review #421

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Unique Plot with a Deeper meaning, but Execution could be better.

I applaud the writers of “Love for Love’s Sake” for thinking outside of the box and coming up with quite an interesting plot for a short high school BL drama. This drama is so much more than transmigration into a video game, which we’ve seen quite a lot of those from different countries. As we learn more and more about our male lead, Tae Myung Ha, we get to know more of him as a person, and not just a character in the game. The story goes from a cute rom-com, to a darker melodrama.

Towards the middle of the drama, you can slowly see hints dropped about his relationship with Cha Yeo Woon, and a deeper meaning to their encounter and experiences. However, despite having a unique plot, I feel that the execution is not quite up to par. When the drama ended, I am still quite unsure if it’s all a dream? A prank? A real transmigration? The work of god? The work of death? What and why did it all happen? In this case, I wish the drama would be longer so that it can explore the backstory of the characters more, especially for Tae Myung Ha.

The acting of the cast is average at best. I would say Lee Tae Vin (who played ML Tae Myung Ha) delivered the best performance of the bunch. And Cha Joon Wan (who played 2ML Cha Yeo Woon) delivered the weakest performance. The rest of the cast is just OK.

Although you can tell this is a small budget production (wearing the same clothes, the same few sets, limited OST), I have to say the drama does not look cheap.

Overall, I had a decent time watching “Love for Love’s Sake”. I commend this drama (or the webtoon it’s adapted from) for an interesting plot, but just wish the execution, storytelling and acting could be better.


Completed: 2/20/2024 - Review #405

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A Medical drama focuses on Romance, Relationships and Character Development - not medical cases

“Emergency Couple” holds up pretty well even after 10 years. Although most of the scenes are spent in the ER, I would say this is not a true medical drama as it focuses on romance, relationships and character development more than medical cases. The patients help with fostering the interns growth and maturity, which I quite like. But if you want a true medical drama, you might want to look elsewhere.

What I Like:

Choi Jin Hyuk - I always thought he’s a handsome guy but this is the first time I realized what a great actor he is. I hated his character in the first few episodes and couldn’t wait for his character development to happen soon. He was great in making me hate him, and made me laugh and smile when he’s acting adorable, petty and jealous. But I was most impressed with his emotional scenes towards the last quarter of the drama. His eyes can act and emote very well.

Oh Chang Min (ML) - How I hate him in the first few episodes. I wanted to punch him in the face during those early scenes before the divorce. I definitely enjoy his character development the most throughout the drama. He went from an asshole → doctor with a reputation → doctor who couldn’t live up to his reputation → maturing doctor → doctor who cares → a real doctor. He also went from an impulsive sweetheart → demeaning husband → sabotaging ex-husband → adorably-in-love but pushy loverboy → heartbroken but understanding ex → hopeful boyfriend. I actually think he should forget about his ex-wife and go find someone else. He’s too good for her.

Medical cases - They are not too complicated and don’t last too long. Their injuries and treatments seem realistic enough. The drama does not go into the background stories and nor try to make you feel a certain way. The patients do not take the spotlight away from the doctors. If you are watching this as a medical drama, you might be disappointed. But since I am a romance-junkie especially for second-chance romance, I think the amount of screen time for the medical cases and hospital politics are perfect for me.

No evil secondary characters - It’s so refreshing, especially for an older drama, to have a non-toxic love hexagon. No one is forcing their feelings on others. No one is doing or saying anything to drive the leads apart from each other. In fact, they are all too nice.

Acting - Acting is pretty good all around, including those in supporting and minor roles. I don’t really have any complaints.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

Main Romance - I really enjoy the first ¾ of the drama when it comes to romance. I like enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romances. I think both leads have great chemistry together, especially when they are fighting. Because of how much I disliked the ML in the beginning, I love seeing him try to chase FL back and grovel. I also like how FL is taking the more cautious approach to the relationship. However, when it comes to the last few episodes, I do not like how FL starts to change her mind and wants to get back together. Not that I don’t like them together, but I don't like the writing of the process and development. It feels off and not genuine for some reason.

Oh Jin Hee (FL) - I felt so bad for her in the early episodes and was rooting hard for her to be a successful doctor. Even after successfully starting her internship and obviously doing a pretty good job, she just keeps on apologizing. She’s also very wishy-washy with her feelings towards the Chief and her ex-husband. I do not like her character towards the end. I also don’t like how she acts when she’s trying to woo her ex back. I blame the writer for doing a poor job here.

(Non) Romance - As I mentioned above, I do not like FL’s wishy-washy unclear feelings, especially towards the Chief. She was giving out all these mixed signals, asking if the Chief would consider someone who makes his heart flutter or someone he’s comfortable with. Now you got his answer and then what? I know she could still be confused about her feelings or resisting certain feelings, it was still a frustrating watch. The Chief demonstrated in the earlier episodes that he might like FL, and nothing happened for the longest time until the last few episodes. He has no chemistry with FL. I started to question Lee Pil Mo’s (Chief) acting a little because he seemed so restrained, then emotionless and then acted his ass off in a conflicted/embarrassed/shy/heartbroken way in the last episode during that one-on-one conversation with FL. On another note, Chief has so much more chemistry with his ex, Dr. Shim, and seems to be giving her mixed signals as well. I kept on going back and forth whether he still has feelings for her or not, especially, when I am not feeling anything towards FL.

Pacing - I think the pace is pretty good for the first half of the drama. But 21 episodes is way too long. Even though I know older dramas tend to be about 16-20 episodes long and not the 8-16 format these days, 21 is way more than enough. Not a whole lot happened and the romances in this drama dragged on for too long. There’s a lot of talking but not a lot of doing/actions taken.


What I don’t Like/Don’t Care for:

ML’s Mother - OMG… I hated her so much. I really want to believe somewhere in there, all her actions and mean words, come from her love for her son. But it’s really hard to not want to strangle her. I fast-forwarded most of her scenes in the first ¾ of the drama. I have mixed feelings about her character redemption in the end.

FL’s sister - I really don’t care for the sister and her boyfriend. The kid is cute enough, but their story really didn’t add much to the main plot.


Overall, I had an enjoyable time, especially during the first half of the drama. I was going to give this an 8.5 up until the last few episodes when I start to dislike FL more and more. As I said, I do not like how the romance came around and started, and felt that the last episode is just a filler. But seeing that this is a 10-year old drama, I don’t find too many things cringey.



Other Random Observations:
1. Who knew CPR could be so sensual. LOL 🤣
2. FL was running around looking for ML, no wonder her heart was beating fast! It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because of ML (but of course, that’s what my brain says, not what the drama’s point).
3. I find it a little cringey when FL was trying to seduce ML in the last couple episodes.
4. Does anyone find Song Ji Hyo (FL), Han Ji Min (One Spring Night), Hwang Jung Eum (Kill Me, Heal Me) look alike? OK, maybe just me then. 😁

Completed: 2/11/2024 - Review #402

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An Exhausting Watch! I need a shoulder massage after this. It's too stressful, in a Good way!

Subjective Enjoyment Rating: 8.5
Objective Drama Rating: 9.0-9.5

Disclaimer: Horror is usually the genre I avoid as it’s not really my cup of tea. I am a scaredy cat, though I am Ok with violence. My review is from a novice perspective.


I want to emphasize that this is a very stressful drama-watching experience for me. My shoulders were all tensed up from Ep 1 to Ep 16. I am not sure if it’s because I am a novice and not used to this, or if this drama is just so exciting and full of plot twists. This is a whole new experience for me and I’ve watched many, many dramas in the last 3-4 years, though not this genre.

The acting is excellent - from the youngest to the oldest, from the main cast to those with very minor roles. It’s nice to see Kim Dong Wook play a regular dude, not a CEO or professional. This is a side of him I haven’t seen before, and he’s much more expressive than when I saw him in his last drama, “My Perfect Stranger”. It’s also great to see my beloved Kim Jae Wook, not as the perfect boyfriend but as a stoic priest who really needs to act to show a range of subtle emotions. Jung Eun Chae as the main female member held her own in the trio. It’s so great to see a badass female cop who actually could come in and save the day physically, and not a damsel in distress. Additionally, this drama also has a pretty stacked veteran supporting cast.

Special effects, creepy and scary sound effects, hair and makeup, all added to the overall viewing experience. This is a top notch production and there’s really nothing I can pick on. From a horror perspective, it’s not too scary for me. I think the horror aspects are more visual (violence, gore, blood). It’s less of a psychological horror, thus, I wasn’t really scared at all. But if you don’t like violence and gore, I would not recommend this drama for you. Those exorcism scenes are quite a sight to behold.

Even though I was tense from the beginning to the end (what a crazy, exciting and an emotional last episode), I do feel that the pacing of some episodes is somewhat slow. These are hour-long episodes and at times, they felt longer than one hour. There are also times when not much happened and the main cast was running around in circles. I actually wanted more action. I also don’t feel the urge to keep on pressing the “play” button to go to the next episode.

For someone who is inexperienced in this genre, I do think this is a great drama. I am not going to pretend I have a very enjoyable time, because I was stressed out and exhausted. I definitely do not recommend binge watching this. But if horror is your thing, please do check this out. If you don’t like violence, gore and lots of blood, then skip this one.


Other Random Observations:
1. Hwa Pyung reminded me of Harry Potter, and Park Il Do reminded me of Voldemort. LOL.
2. I keep thinking the three main characters plus all their friends and relatives should all carry a cross with them at all times.
3. Shamanism working hand-in-hand with Catholicism? That’s interesting.



Completed: 2/5/2024 - Review #401

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Good chemistry and interesting plot, but overall nothing special

Quick and easy, finished this in less than 3 hours. It's just your run-of-the-mill low budget web drama. Nothing sticks out like a sore thumb, nor is it anything special amongst a sea of very similar dramas. The time loop plot is quite interesting and I do like the execution of it. But the mystery/thriller part feels very out-of-place.

The leads have good chemistry and they look good together. ML is handsome and quite young (21 years old). He reminds me of a younger and less chiseled Dai Gao Zheng, though we didn't see his abs. FL is a very experienced actress and has appeared in many dramas. The acting is decent, and nothing is too cringey.

However, it has the usual things that I don't like in a Chinese drama - accidental falls/kiss/tripping in slow motion & poorly dubbed voices. The kisses are disappointing. I was really expecting more because censorship is usually a little more relaxed for these short web dramas. At least the male lead is not drowned in white foundation and white filter. He actually appears normal and good-looking.

Overall, it's OK. I can't really rate this as if it's a high budget production. A 7.0 seems about right.

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Frustrating and Unlikeable Characters in a Makjang-like Drama

Subjective Entertainment Rating: 7.25

I would never have watched or known of “Fashion King” had it not been the Chaos Clown Cave Chill Challenge and I was assigned this drama as a MLDer’s least favorite. Because of the low rating, I came in with very low expectations. That should be the mentality if you want to watch this, especially, if you are watching this many years later (2024 for me). But I figured, Yoon Ah In is in it, I can deal with that as he’s always been excellent in everything he’s played.

Plot:
Keeping in mind that this is a 2012 drama, I somewhat excused the physical assault, slapping, throwing things and the not very realistic fist fight. “Fashion King” actually ages pretty well and I don’t think it’s very dated. But it’s more makjang than I anticipated.

1/4 of Drama - Makjang-like introductions to all the main characters. Everything that could go wrong for Kang Yeong Gul (Yoon Ah In aka ML1) and Lee Ga Young (Shin Sae Kyeong aka FL1) went wrong. From broken families to kicking out of the house, to all the adventures getting to and in New York - it’s quite ridiculous.

2/4 of the Drama - I am slowly enjoying how things are developed. Relationships between the four main characters are more defined and the business side of things picked up a little. Feelings are developed and there’s some pining and push-and-pull, along with very muddy former relationships between Jung Jae Hyuk (Lee Je Hoon aka ML2) and Choi Anna (Kwong Yu Ri aka FL2). I probably enjoyed these episodes the most.

3/4 of the Drama - Scheming and getting back at each other continued on. Romance is getting complicated and I am slightly impatient as I realized I don’t want to root for anyone. Everyone should remain single as none of them deserves each other. Even though the drama is about the fashion industry, they don’t really dive right in. It’s a very superficial/peripheral attempt. If you don’t like business dramas, then this is a positive thing.

4/4 of the Drama - Thought I would be rewarded with a little happy romance, but no, happy times don’t even add up to 30 mins. The angst and annoyance I put up with throughout the drama, especially when it comes to romance, was not rewarded at all. And that ending, so many plot holes and everything could be resolved with a few honest conversations.

Characters:
I have a very hard time rooting for our 4 main characters. Yeong Gul appears fun and nice, but is scheming and will use you to advance and make money. Ga Young was spunky and stubborn in the first few episodes, but then she resorted to crying or sleeping all the time. Jae Hyuk is a chaebol man-child who is petty and somewhat naive, but also mean. Anna is a pitiful ex who’s trying to grasp onto something and not sink. If you like flawed characters who make questionable decisions with unclear intentions, then you would love them. For me, I am 70% frustrated and 30% entertained.

Romance:
The only somewhat consistent feelings in this drama are from Ga Young to Yeong Gul. She has liked him from the very beginning. But towards the end, I questioned if she also has some feelings for Jae Hyuk because she’s bad with boundaries. She might say NO (and sometimes says nothing), but her actions might say otherwise. Or maybe deep down she’s enjoying all the affection Jae Hyuk has for her. Jae Hyuk is like a high school boy who shows affection for his classmate by being mean to her. He would make sarcastic remarks all the time, then give you a smile and then run towards you to apologize and make nice. He does not know how to love properly. I couldn’t tell if he still had feelings for Anna in the earlier episodes. Was he unable to show or he’s just using her? I would have liked to believe that Anna did indeed love Jae Hyuk in the beginning. But how she was discarded like trash broke her and drove her towards Yeong Gul. But her affections for Yeong Gul are probably not 100% sincere. She needed a life jacket, and she found one in Yeong Gul. Yeong Gul, once recognizes his feelings, is the easiest to spot and the more cliche lover. He wants to give Ga Young everything he has, wants payback for those who mistreat her and wants to give her all the best. Yet, of course, he doesn’t use words. If he and Ga Young actually talk to each other, I would not be so frustrated.

Acting:
Yoo Ah In really keeps me in this drama. He’s just so charismatic and I can’t help but draw to him. He’s not the typical handsome type, but no matter what drama he’s in, he’s the center of the attention. I love his acting here. Amazingly, I found Lee Je Hoon paled in comparison to Yoo Ah In a little. Probably because his character is a little more pitiful. But his character also allows him to show much more range than the other 3 main leads. Visually, he does not have the swagger for a rich Director and he walks funny. Shin Sae Kyeong is so pretty and young. But she always has the same crying face. I am not sure if it’s the writing of the character or her acting, I get annoyed when she just stands there and not says anything, and acts all shy. Kwong Yu Ri is so beautiful. She really does give off the high class designer vibe, and the subtle bitchiness in the way she walks and talks.

Fashion:
When the drama is about fashion, they better have some good fashion. And I am having a grand type admiring Yeong Gul’s eclectic and loud style, and also nice tailored suits. As I said, Yoo Ah In looks sexy and dashing in this drama. The ladies also have beautiful outfits. I like Ga Young’s casual style and work outfits, and Anna’s more high-end fashion. But Jae Hyuk in the earlier episodes looks like he’s wearing a suit a size too big for him. I have to say, Lee Je Hoon ages well. He looks more handsome in his 30s than in his 20s.


Ending:
I was going to talk about the ending, but decided to keep this spoiler-free as there are many other reviews about this disappointment. Let’s just say it’s not that hard to locate someone, or give someone a call and not rely on regular postal service completely. Communication can solve a lot of problems.


Overall, this is an interesting watch. I am not sure if I will recommend this drama when there are much better ones out there. Maybe if you are a fan of Yoo Ah In and you miss him now that he’s blacklisted? In a way, the entertainment value to ‘hate-watch’ is quite high for me. I am tempted to rate this much lower just because everyone hates it. But subjectively, it’s a 7.25 and I’m rounding this up to 7.5 to boost the rating a little. Though the characters frustrate me and it’s hard for me as a romance lover to not feel rewarded, this drama is still entertaining in a way and keeps me focused pretty well.


Completed: 1/20/2024 - Review #397

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Short but Sweet - Captures the Fun and the Feels

I saw a few posts on the feeds praising “ BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen”, so I decided to check it out. I’m glad I did. It’s an adorable drama about unrequited love in the world of filming a BL. Japan is known for some of the cutest and fluffiest BL dramas, along with some quirky ones.

I really like being able to hear each male lead’s inner monologues. Oftentimes, you only get one perspective and maybe another perspective in the very last episode. These monologues greatly enhanced my viewing pleasure during both comedic and more emotional scenes. I also appreciate that both characters are pretty similar in personality. I was worried that Hajime is the typical naive, innocent and introverted character, and would be too shy to utter any word. Luckily, he was just starstruck in the beginning, and is able to actually hold a conversation like a normal person. Akafuji, on the other hand, is not the typical superstar but a crazy stan. I feel that because they have a pretty balanced personality, they are on equal footing in regards to their romance.

This drama special starts with a lot of comedic and typical Japanese over-the-top manga adaptation moments. But eventually it dives into the emotional side of each character. One of the reasons I really enjoy this special is because it has 2 of my favorite things - unrequited love + those mini heartaches, and the guessing of whether he likes me or not. Both of these elements give me all the feels I need and especially in a manga adaptation comedy.

The acting of the leads is good. There isn’t anyone annoying or super loud. I do find the suits too big on the guys and they look too old in these oversized suits. Does anyone find Hajime in glasses looks like Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter? LOL. Ok, maybe it’s just me.

This is a short 3-episode fun watch with a lot of laughs, a lot of feels and a lot of cuteness.


Completed: 1/14/2024 - Review #395

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