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Super Funny but doesn't rely on second-hand embarrassment or over-the-top hysterics
How many comedies out there do NOT rely on crude jokes, second-hand embarrassment or over-the-top humor? Hardly any and yet “Why is He Still Single?” is a rare example.The success of this drama lies in the witty dialogs, the unique characterization of ML and the incredible performances from Wallace Huo and Zhu Zhu. Yu Yu (ML) is an eccentric, quirky, childish, petty perfectionist, who is also a pro’s pro and probably has a super high IQ and low EQ. Wallace did an incredible job in making me fall in love with this insufferable character. The main focus of this drama is the character development of Yu Yu. Though kind, he has his priorities and just doesn’t care much about what’s important to others. But no worries, here comes the beautiful, mature, kind-hearted, incredibly PATIENT and witty Dr. Gu (FL) who basically acts as Yu Yu’s life coach and helps enlighten him. Wallace and Zhu Zhu have great chemistry and their back-and-forth banter and comeback lines are incredibly fun and well-executed.
There are so many laugh-out-loud moments in this drama if you pay attention to Yu Yu’s antics and words coming out of his mouth. “Why is he still single?” does not need to rely on over-the-top and hysterical plot, or the actors embarrassing themselves. They just need to act as themselves, and then viewers will have a great time.
This drama is full of lovely and supporting characters and some really lovely relationships in this drama. At work, the trio of Yu Yu, assistant Shen Wu and boss lady Lin Sa have an interesting and entertaining dynamic. They really know what to say to trick Yu Yu to agree to their demands. Zhu Zhu and Xia Xiao Man have a wonderful sismance, while Yu Yu and his brother-in-law have a fun bromance. The parents are meddlesome but adorable and not annoying. I really enjoyed the neighborly and siblings-like relationship between Yu Yu and Xia Xiao Man and was very disappointed in how it turned out in the end.
If you are looking for romance, you will not find the typical fluffy and sweet rom-com gestures. Instead, the leads have one of the slowest and most subtle romances I’ve seen in a while. The romance is developed through MANY doctor’s visits and hospital stays, bickering and verbal challenges and dares, and caring considerations of each other. There are many funny and weird moments between the leads, and these are the building blocks of their relationship. I actually would have liked to see more traditional love signals sprinkled throughout the drama. But, this is a mature romance and when it matters the most, the most thoughtful and romantic conversation is also the most serious one Yu Yu and Dr. Gu has at the end of the drama. I just wish it had come just a little bit sooner.
“Why is He Still Single?” not a plot-driven drama and the pace is moderate and steady. I would recommend this drama if you enjoy a quirky ML, witty and sarcastic dialogs, or a mature, slow-burn and subtle romance. Fans of Wallace Huo and Zhu Zhu should not miss this drama. This drama is incredibly funny without insulting your intelligence.
Completed: 11/30/2025 Review #648
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Fun and Clumsily Adorable!
x“Happy Kanako’s Killer Life” is a clumsy but super adorable drama. Our female lead quit her job due to constant harassment and mistreatment by her boss. She ended up working as an assassin/hitman for an agency. Who knew this clumsy girl has such a talent in this new career!Kanako (FL) is hilarious! She’s very likable in her inexperienced and clumsy novice-kind of way during her assignment. Of course, since this is adapted from a manga series, you can expect the usual Japanese humor. In this drama, we have some over-the-top acting (but still tolerable to me), imaginary, adorable talking animals and some funny phrases out of these animals and FL’s mouths.
The supporting cast does not have a lot of screen time, since this is Kanako’s story. However, each character brings a little something unique to the drama. They are funny and make quite an impression on you. If you are looking for romance, well, there’s a slight romance plot. But, the ‘ship’ may or may not be what you were expecting.
I am quite impressed with all the action scenes. They are unrealistic, but so well-choreographed and fun. Assassins look cool, especially Kanako in her nonchalant and comedic way of killing people. I wasn’t sure if it’s intentional product placement, but it was quite funny how they showcase the Dyson vacuum cleaner and bread machine.
This is Konoko’s story. A normal life is not what she longs for, since the normal life has not been treating her well. In the end, she realizes what makes her happy, though that realization might have cost her more than she wanted. The ending was impactful and memorable. It seems like there will be a season 2, and I am sure there are plenty of funny stories and adventures waiting for Konoko. But if there’s no season 2, I am satisfied with how the first season ended. I had an enjoyable time watching “Happy Konoko’s Killer Life” and will give this a solid 8.5 to bump up the MDL rating a little and for the fun action scenes.
Completed: 8/5/2025 Review #610
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Turn off your brain and you will enjoy this cute and fluffy ride!
If you can watch this drama without thinking too logically and critically, this will be a fun and cute ride. I was having a hard time in the beginning to just let loose and enjoy, thus I found the first half not as enjoyable. The first two points listed in my dislikes below explain more about my criticism. However, I finally found my groove and enjoyed the second half of the drama a lot more, and felt that the drama finished strong. If you are looking for a fluffy and cute romance without any angst, this is the drama for you.What I Like (quick bullet point version)
♦︎ Great chemistry. Both couples are different but chemistry is good.
♦︎ Great acting between the main leads - they make me smile when they’re so cute together, and also make me cry when they cry. Chen Zhe Yuan and Shen Yue exceeded my expectations especially with the emotional and conflicted scenes.
♦︎ I like the secondary romance as well. It offers a good contrast to the main romance. I like seeing how the second male lead matures but doesn’t lose his quirky self either.
♦︎ Love strong and independent female leads. Both are go-getters professionally and romantically.
♦︎ FL’s mother is the MVP. We need more mothers like her in C-dramas.
♦︎ No annoying character.
♦︎ Like the two male leads’ outfits - they both look great in suits and long coats.
♦︎ It has one of the best, most heartfelt wedding scene.
What I don’t quite like or have mixed feelings about:
♦︎ My biggest dislike is the characterization of ML as someone who came from 500 years ago and transitions to the modern world without much trouble. He adjusts to the modern world too quickly, just because he’s supposedly smart and can read books at the library. I am not used to characters like that without time to adjust to the real world.
♦︎ Even if this is a fantasy drama, the plot just moves along to the romance and ignores the interesting and fun part about ML’s development.
♦︎ Initially, I had trouble with ML’s evil personality as it seems to have disappeared after a couple episodes. I want him to be the anti-hero for longer. I think the drama tries to explain his personality towards the last few episodes with the “twist”.
♦︎ FL needs a better wardrobe. Her outfits are horrendous and the worst of everyone in the whole drama.
♦︎ Not enough plot wise in the first half of the drama aside from the developing attractions.
♦︎ I forgot all about FL’s best friend and her boy toy until they showed up again in the last episode. Even then, I didn't recognize them until her name was called.
Completed: 10/17/2022
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I can't t urn my brain off to enjoy this. William Chan is not enough to keep me going
Subjective Rating - 7.0Objective Rating - 7.5-8.0
I tried to like this drama but I don’t think this is for me. I am a fan of William Chan, and especially his modern dramas since who doesn’t like a handsome guy with cute dimples and a hot body. But he’s not enough to keep me going.
Is this the worst drama ever? No, it’s not. Just not for me. From a personal enjoyment level, this would be a 7 but from an objective drama watching experience, I’ll give this an 7.5-8. So, an average of 7.5 will be my final score.
Here are some quick thoughts:
1. I realize I am not a fan of girl-chases-guy plot. This doesn’t warrant a low rating, just a preference.
2. I do not like how stalkerish and clingy Xu Lai (FL), CEO Huo Yan Zong (2ML), Firefighter Lu Fang Qi (3ML) and Actress Yu Shi shi (3FL) all are pursuing their love interests. If you like them, you can say they are persistent in love and are really the perfect match for their spouses. If you don’t like them, they are annoying stalkers. FOUR such characters in the same drama is just way too much.
3. Though I don’t like how stalkerish FL was in the beginning, she actually isn’t so bad later on. I actually think Zhang Ruo Nan did a pretty good job.
4. How could the police let irresponsible reporters into the crime scenes? One too many in this drama.
5. A civilian, no matter how trained they are, cannot put on fire fighter gear and just run into a burning building to save someone. Where are all the other 20 fire fighters on sight?
6. There’s skinship, but it’s a waste of William Chan’s kissing talent. Kisses are meh.
7. I’ve watched 24 episodes and never saw the supposedly playboy best friend with any woman. He seems to be more of a decent guy than all the others (except ML).
8. A mature and responsible fire captain took a day off from work to trespass and do illegal things with his girlfriend. Total love brain fart.
9. I can’t stand a mature, rational, logical male lead totally turning into a love sick puppy. Not that ML stops being a responsible person, but his constant thoughts of his girlfriend has influenced some work decisions and actions.
10. Guys thinking they know what’s best for the ladies and making decisions on their behalf. One too many in this drama as well.
Overall, I have a hard time turning my brain off to enjoy this drama. For the romance, once you get past the first 7-8 episodes of a stalkerish FL, their relationship is quite nice. They act appropriately, have enough fluffy scenes and do communicate for the most part. I also enjoy watching a different side of a firefighter story regarding other non-urgent duties they have to do, and the dog training.
Dropped: 6/25/2023 - Review #322
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Average with decent acting and lovely guest roles but just not memorable enough
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Instead of my usual super long review, this is going to be a short one for “Resident Playbook”. In short, the drama is average. It’s not as good as “Hospital Playlist” (HP) as a slice-of-life drama, or as good as “Dr. Romantic” (DR) as a drama with exciting moments. If those two dramas are A grade, then “Resident Playbook” is a B- or C+.
“Resident Playbook” is missing the excellent backstory that HP doctors have, and how they came to develop such a strong friendship. The fun part is not as fun, and the sad part is not as sad. The medical cases and interpersonal issues are also OK. They are not as memorable as those in DR.
I do like the focus is in the OB/GYN department, as we don’t see medical dramas pay such attention to it. The acting is pretty good overall, and I love seeing so many guests from HP for a visit.
The romance is minimal and it’s so minimal that they should have completely taken it out, or give it more screen time. I do in fact enjoy the cute and adorable moments between O I Yeong and Koo Do Won. It’s just the relationship doesn’t have a lot of depth.
Overall, it’s an OK watch. “Resident Playbook” is unable to find the balance of great friendship and mentorship, romance, and memorable moments. If you are a fan of the leads, it’s worth a shot. The actors did a pretty good job and Go Young Jung is beautiful, even as a tired intern.
Completed: 6/2/2025 - Review #587
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Good general plot but suffers from uneven pacing and disappointing romances
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75The general premise and plot of “Fight for Love” is actually good. I was impressed with the first episode and was hooked. I then wondered, why is it only rated a 7.4? And then, I realize there are two big weaknesses in this drama, and the lack of screen time for Ding Yu Xi is NOT one of them.
Weakness #1 - Uneven pacing and dragged out storylines
Ep 1 started out with a bang and I was immediately hooked to a strong FL dressed in red, ready to scheme her way into the Wei family. But then the first half focuses on ML’s family and his forced rapid growth and maturity. The FL, who started everything, became a sidekick for a while. Still, the first half wasn’t bad and there’s enough background info, early enemies-to-comrades, family dynamics and investigation to keep me interested. But once the battles ended and everyone went back home, the second half started to drag when the focus shifted to the different romance storylines. I don’t mind slowburn romance, spending a little time with the ‘forbidden’ love and the challenges the leads have to face. I am more concerned about the other 2 side romances which took up too much time, repeating the same commentary over and over again. The action scenes also decrease in the second half with more talking and less fighting. This unfortunately drags on all the way to the end of the drama.
Weakness #2 - All the romances
I wasn’t aware that this is a jiejie/didi (older sis/younger bro) romance. I am usually not a fan and when Victoria Song looks so much more mature than the baby-faced Ding Yu Xi, I knew this is not going to work for me. In the drama, FL is 3 years older than ML. Victoria definitely looks more than 3 years older than DYX. On top of that, FL is away ahead of ML in life and love experiences. The chemistry between the leads is lacking. I wouldn’t say the acting is bad, I just don’t feel a lover’s romance but more of a sibling/comrades/friends relationship. I can see how ML could fall in love with FL, but I can’t see it the other way around. There are 3 other romances in the drama. Instead of focusing and executing 2 really good romances, I ended up feeling disappointed in all. The spoiled couple is the least interesting. Doc and General could be cute but it drags on for way too long, repeating the same concerns and pushy habits. The toxic relationship is supposed to be the most interesting, and even that is missing some hot, sizzling chemistry. If you are expecting a great romance in a drama titled “Fight for Love”, you will be disappointed.
Having said all that, there are still many things I like about the drama:
1) I love the initial setup and chemistry between FL and the Eldest Wei brother. Their beginning could be a whole drama itself. I can see a drama about them forming a partnership/marriage of convenience and then eventually fall in love, while investigating. In just a few episodes, I feel that Victoria Song has more chemistry with Zhang Tian Yang (eldest bro) than Ding Yun Xi.
2) I also love the fights especially with such a focus on spear fighting. We’ve seen enough swords in a battle, rarely do we see almost everyone uses a spear. Victoria actually looks pretty strong and believable as a soldier. But, there’s still too much slow motion, spinning and twirling for my taste, but not too bad.
3) Acting is actually pretty good overall. Ding Yu Xi is awesome as a young, spoiled and beloved youngest brother, a love sick loverboy, a traumatized and hurt son, and a tortured but fierce soldier. Many didn’t like Victoria’s acting but I am fine with it. She’s not amazing but also not as emotionless as others claimed. Her character requires her to keep her composure and she is more mature than ML. The supporting cast is not bad either except Liang Xue Feng (aka boytoy Xue Han Mei). I think because his acting is not quite up to par, thus, the toxic romance is lacking for me.
4) I like that all the characters are smart. The leads are both strong physically and emotionally. I enjoy seeing FL being the one coming in to save ML during a fight, and not the other way around. The supporting cast is also smart in their own ways, and no one really makes too many dumb decisions.
5) The drama doesn’t really focus on the use of CGI/green screen. Money is spent on good fights, big battles with real people, nice costumes and styling. Although disappointingly, all the actors are dubbed, they are dubbed well. No mismatched voices and mouths, or voices that I dislike.
Will I recommend “Fight for Love”? Only if you are a Ding Yu Xi fan. I think it’s best to skip it, especially if you are looking for romance. There are too many other period dramas out there right now, and viewers can be picky. I don’t regret watching because I do think the general plot is interesting. It’s just the execution could be better. As a disappointed romance watcher, I am rating this a 7.75 but rounding down to 7.5.
Completed: 11/26/2025 Review #645
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Watch if you are in need of a sweet Mr. Green Flag Male Lead only
“Brewing Love” is a hybrid business romance + healing romance. The business part focuses on the beer industry - developing, manufacturing and selling. The healing part focuses on our main leads and how they grow and heal each other, even though they are very different individuals.I am usually a fan of business romance dramas, but unfortunately, I was quite bored with the business part. There isn’t a whole lot of excitement especially when it’s about the beer industry. All you can do is really taste the beer and evaluate. The company politics are pretty shallow and the characters/villains one-dimensional. The drama tries to educate you on how to make beer, but it’s not done in an interesting way.
The only good thing about the business plot is bringing together 6 likeable individuals to form a special team. The villagers are also not as annoying as I worried. They don’t take up too much screen time and provide enough humor to bring together the male and female leads. I actually would much rather the drama focuses on life in the village than the business plot. But I do find the special ‘ability’ that Min Ju (ML) has quite unrealistic. You can’t be THAT perceptive to become a lie detector, right?
The best thing about this drama is the sweet romance. If you are in need of an introverted and sweet Mr. Green Flag, this is the drama for you! This is also one of the few dramas that I enjoy the middle episodes the most, when Min Ju (ML) starts to realize his feelings and falls in love with Yong Ju (FL). His subtle flirting also makes me blush! I enjoy learning about their backstory and how one incident changed both of their lives. One to live for and focus on his own well-being, while the other to live for others and forget herself. This is my favorite quote in the drama, "I'll find everything for you from now on, what you like. I'll make up for all the time I spent forgetting you by finding everything for you." Aww…. isn’t that sweet?
The secondary romance is OK. The characters are likable and Baek Sung Chul (as O Chan Hwi) is absolutely adorable without being annoying. However, their relationship roadblock regarding Chan Hwi’s past is resolved too quickly and easily. But I guess if the drama focuses too much on it, it would have become too ‘dark’.
Overall, “Brewing Love” is an average drama for me. If I didn’t like the green flag male lead that much and their sweet romance, I would have rated this lower. I also find the very last episode unsatisfying with a lot of filler. If you are not into this type of romance, I would not recommend this drama for you, as there are many better business romance or healing dramas out there.
Completed: 12/11/2024 - Review #527
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Interesting & Complicated Plot but falls short in Writing/Execution. Could have been better!
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (0.25 bump for an interesting plot)“The Sign” started off really strong with a lot of fun scenes while the characters are in training. The action scenes are fun, and the interaction between the characters are interesting. The flirting and naked men took over the feeds when the drama first started airing.
The biggest selling point should have been the very interesting plot. It’s quite uncommon to find a Thai drama that mixes folklore, action/crime investigation, past lives and romance all in one. This is a very brave attempt. If the writing and execution are done right, this would be a winner. Unfortunately, I feel that the drama falls short. I wonder if the novel is a lot better.
Instead, the best thing about “The Sign” is the chemistry between Phaya and Tharn. Of course, romance takes center stage in the plot, and it’s not a bad idea to have strong chemistry between the leads. Initially, I thought Phaya would be the cool and cold-on-the-outside character. I was quite surprised when he became clingy and totally smitten. Not the direction I anticipated or liked, but it sort of works out since Tharn has been the more cautious one in this relationship. Billy (Phaya) and Babe (Tharn) deliver great scenes together. Their kisses are passionate and believable, while their intimate scenes do feel very intimate and romantic (give me “I Feel You Linger in the Air” vibes).
Acting is average (at times above average) all around. Even for the leads, there are some scenes that call for more subtle acting but I don’t think the actors quite deliver. It’s Babe’s first role and for that, I think he did a really good job. I do think the acting gets better as the drama goes on. I’ve seen some pretty bad acting in Thai dramas but at least no one sticks out like a sore thumb, just a few below average (Doc and Dao). It’s also a nice change to see Akk/Captain not playing an evil character. I’ve seen Akk in other dramas before and his acting is always pretty good. He’s solid here as well and looks mighty fine in uniform.
I was hoping for more action and police work, especially when the drama started off strong with all the training and missions. So, I am a little disappointed in that respect. The middle of the drama has a lot of talking, and not a whole lot of action. It’s probably also because the folklore/past connection takes more of a center stage. It’s interesting to see how Phaya and Tharn are truly connected together and Babe looks quite pretty as a girl/Naga. I am still a little confused about the Naga, and not quite sure what Tharn has done in the past to warrant being ‘cursed’ in the present time with people trying to hurt him. The writing is weaker in the second half. It either glosses over certain things (e.g. why Doc is so obsessed with Tharn, or how someone could be saved so easily), or when the drama decides to tell us instead of show us (e.g. the last episode and what happened between Tharn and the Doc). If the drama is longer, maybe it can really show us and explore the background story all characters in
Overall, I applaud the attempt to create such a drama with an interesting and complicated plot. Although I wish it had been better executed, I still had an enjoyable time watching. Babe/Tharn’s first role and he did quite well. I wish to see more of him in future.
Other Random Observations:
1. There are also many shower scenes of men posing naked with blurred out butts in weird positions.
2. The blurred butts also take away the very romantic feel I get from the intimate scene.
3. Thai dramas have the best grandmas! We have 2 in this drama. Thai dramas have the worst parents, and luckily we see none of them here.
4. The classic music played is a little too much during the art case arc.
5. I like Yai. I thought he would be a useless sidekick, but he ended up being the better cop than the leads. Tharn was so strong at training camp and seems to lose the ability to fight later. Yai beats him big time!
6. In C-dramas, you know to expect your fav supporting character might not survive till the end. With Thai dramas, it’s harder to tell which way it will go.
Completed: 2/24/2024 - Review #407
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A raw and realistic depiction of a gay man's search for eternal love and himself
This is quite an emotional roller coaster of a story. I never read the novel and didn’t know much about the drama. I thought this might be your typical romantic-comedy but actually, this is a very realistic portrayal of a gay man searching for eternal love, and growing up along the way.From the first episode, you know this is not your typical BL. The portrayal of the friendship, late night clubbing and hunting, and the drunken hookups are raw and real. “Love in the Big City” doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of finding love, and the difficulty compounds when you are a gay man in a conservative society.
Ko Yeong’s growth is shown through his different romantic relationships with a few men. You can see him grow from a fun-loving young man not believing in love, to realizing he might have lost the love of his life. Each relationship is unique and all have a very interesting start. This drama reminds me of the American TV show “Queer as Folk”. It might not be as daring, but daring enough to cause controversies in Korea.
When Ko Yeong met Nam Gyu, he was young and not ready to be loved. Nam Guy’s unconditional and persistent display of love did not end on a good note. When Ko Yeong was ready and met Yeong Su, it was the other party that’s not ready. It’s unfortunate because they had such a sexy vibe going on between them. Gyu Ho is the match made in heaven. They are both so adorable together and just click. At that time, they are both fighting real life’s challenges and unable to balance romance with career’s demands and reality’s tests of their love. By the time Ko Yeong realized what he had lost, it was a little too late. His meeting of Habibi is interesting and also somewhat of a half-baked story. I was having a hard time understanding Ko Yeong’s last message to Habibi. I thought it was just a fling without much deep feelings, but his message sounded more serious than I thought.
A highlight of the show is the friendship between Ko Yeong and Mi Ae. When you are an outcast, it’s really a blessing to have a friend like that through the highs and lows of your life. But as they grow older, such a friendship has to evolve as they get on with their lives. I had wished to see more of Mi Ae towards the second half of the drama, and not just that somewhat useless drinking scene with her sister-in-law.
I gotta give props to Nam Yoon Su for going all out in this drama. He really didn’t care for the criticisms directed at him. Not only was his acting great, he did not shy away from all the kisses and sexy scenes. In fact, I think he was a little too earnest like he’s going to someone’s face each time. I would have liked him to pull back a little on a couple kisses to show a more romantic side.
As I mentioned, the whole drama is about Ko Yeong’s growth through his relationships. Personally, I am not a big fan of this style of writing. At one point, I find it becomes repetitive when all we see is him going from one relationship to another. However, I am emotionally invested. I cry with Ko Yeong as he gets hurt and suffers through life. Throughout the drama, I was rooting for him to live happily ever-after, either with Gyu Ho or someone else.
I do recommend “Love in the Big City” but don’t go into thinking this is another fluffy BL. The strength of this drama is its realism and how Ko Yeong lives with the scars of each relationship and grows from them, and finds himself.
p.s. the drama synopsis doesn't seem to be 100% correct.
Completed: 10/21/2024 - Review #501
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Leave them alone! They just want to live a normal life! (+ Blood, Gore, Violence)
I never thought “Moving” would take the top spot of the most violent Asian dramas I’ve watched, beating “Bulgasal” and “Arthdal Chronicles”. I thought this drama would be about superpowers, kind of like the Thai drama “The Gifted”. Little did I know this was way more than I bargained for.I am not sure why this drama was named “Moving”. Maybe because the characters' background stories all moved (aka touched) me. Each of the gifted just wants to live a normal life with the people they love. Why can’t the evil governments let these poor souls be? Getting to know each of the characters is the best part of the drama for me. The adults and the villains have suffered so much. We have devoted parents who give up everything, so that their children can be safe, and won’t be exposed and exploited. We have parents who just want to live an honest life and make a living, yet are forced to be trained as soldiers and assassins. At the end of the day, there are only 3 characters I hate - Deputy Chief of NIS, Principal of the high school and the North Korea dude.
If you are watching this drama for Zo In Sung and his return to the small screen after 7 years, you will be disappointed. His screen time is so limited. I was expecting to see him more towards the end. He’s great as usual but was reduced to a supporting role more than a main role. His chemistry with Han Hyo Joo is great. Their love story is so sweet and adorable yet sad and heartbreaking. You can totally see how his son, Bong Seok, takes after his super dad in the romance department. Lee Mi Hyun is a badass single mom. It was so hard watching her raise her son alone and the ways she tried to keep him safe.
Fried Chicken Man, Jang Joo Won, must have the most violent scenes in the drama. Every time I see him fight, I mentally prepare myself to look away. But when he’s just a single dad, he’s so sweet, like a big teddy bear. His little love story has the same awkward adorableness as Kim Doo Shik. Both men just want to spend the rest of their lives with their wives and children. Is that too much to ask for?
I was not really prepared for the drama to focus on the kids/teens so much in the first 7 episodes. Their stories are pretty good, but not as interesting as the adults. There are some cute and funny scenes between Jang Hee Soo and Kim Bong Seok. I like how their friendship slowly develops into something more. However, I find the transition from kids to adults storylines somewhat disjointed. The back-and-forth switching of the timelines could be confusing as the drama tells the stories of different characters.
“Moving” has a star-studded cast of veteran actors. I thought to myself, “Hey, I know you!” as there are so many supporting roles played by amazing actors. There’s no reason to worry about the acting in this drama. The makeup department needs to get an award. The wounds are amazingly real, that’s why I had to look away. It was too much for me. On the other hand, the CCI of flying is quite hilariously fake. Maybe I am more used to C-drama wuxia wire work.
I would recommend this drama if you enjoy super powers, thrillers and action scenes. “Gore” is one of the tags, so be warned. Each episode is captivating and keeps me entertained. 20 episodes went by really fast and I wanted more. Will there be a season 2? We shall see!
Other Random Observations:
1. Don’t forget to watch past the ending credits!
2. Bong Seok’s accidental floating and Hee Soo trying to hold him down - very cute!
3. Dong Shik, “An Intentional failure is not a failure.”
4. Monster is a romanticists, reading ‘romance’ novels, e.g. Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain
5. Like parents, like children - Bong Seok and Hee Soo with the sky + ground attack, just like Doo Shik and Joo Won.
Completed: 9/22/2023 - Review #357
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To Win vs. Not To Lose... What is the Difference?
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25Season 2 brought us less pining and fluff, but gave us more realistic challenges of maintaining a relationship. I was at first a little worried about watching this season, as I am not sure I want to see angst between them just yet. But at the end, I am happy I did watch season 2 and see how Hayama and Shirasaki have matured as actors and lovers.
It was very obvious Hayama and Shirasaki are different actors and people. Hayama is more introspective and quiet, and more famous and experienced. Shirasaki wears his emotions on his sleeves and is a newcomer to the industry. I see a more smitten Hayama who really, really likes Shirasaki and that this season shows us more of his side of the story. He wants to be loved and not to be abandoned, therefore, he pleases others before taking care of his own desires. Shirasaki obviously really likes Hayama, but he is the one that needed the pampering and doesn’t quite know how to give yet. His continued desire to be good enough to stand next to Hayama proudly, might have caused harm to his relationship and to Hayama.
There are times I do want to shake some sense into them. When they are on uneven footing in a relationship, and not wanting to lose to the other could signal danger. But eventually, they are honest with each other and their relationship is stable enough to withstand these challenges. I am most impressed with the improved acting of both actors. They are their usual self as regular people, but when Komagine Kiita and Niihara Taisuke dialed up their acting during the acting and rehearsal scenes in the play and the movie, they become different people. Their posture, their gazes and their aura change to a different person. This is probably what I like best this season. The overall acting for the whole cast is great. However, there are times I wish the rehearsal scenes could be cut shorter and give us more content outside of the studio.
I thought about it a little and I think I like “At 25:00 in Akasaka” Season 2 just a little more than the first season. This is a surprise to me as I was initially reluctant to watch this and I’m currently in a Happy December mood. But I like the growth I see in both characters/actors and the excellent performances they deliver. I still would have liked to see more content but overall, this is a worthy and different sequel. Rating this an 8.25 (0.25 more than the first season of fluff).
Completed: 12/24/2025 Review #655
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It COULD have been a just simple and cute love story, BUT....
What is up with the ridiculous and over-exaggerated acting by Yim (Jade)???? Why can’t he act normal like all the other characters?? It was so over-the-top that it was unbearable for almost the entirety of the show. Yim looks so handsome and normal in the special interview episode. I would have dropped this drama within the first 5 minutes if I weren’t watching this for a clown watch challenge.I was confused when the show started. Was I watching the right show or was I watching an anime? Three to four minutes in, I realized I was in for a very bumpy ride. The acting is ROUGH.
The plot is very simple. Mai is adorable and is a super green flag. Thank god for supportive parents and family. It was cute following Mai's attempt to court Jade, who has no idea Mai is in love with him. As a rom-com lover, I love it and it’s my jam. But…. Did I mention I hate Jade (Yim’s overacting)?
The secondary romance between the other two interns is boring. I forgot about them after they left my screen. The writing and the acting are not good. What a waste of time.
The saving grace is Uea and King. They are so pretty to look at, and so fun to watch. They have great chemistry and almost make me want to check out “Bed Friend”. Uea (James) is so pretty and I love his aloof sassiness, and he knows he has King at his fingertips. King (Net) is such a good-looking guy. I love that he’s tall, DARK and handsome, and totally smitten. The two of them are also great friends to Jade. They are supportive yet never cross the lines in exposing Jade’s secrets/feelings/history to Mai.
The second half of the drama drags. There isn’t a lot going on aside from Mai’s internal conflict and indecisiveness. I understand why he feels this way, given his upbringing and failed relationship. But that lasted too long and I became very bored in ep 5-7. There’s a lot of filler in this short drama. Do we really need to spend so much time at the sports day, which has no sports but a bunch of party games like a fraternity party?
Once Mai and Jade finally get together, it’s full-on cringey, sweet, fluffiness. This is a little hard to tolerate, but at least I expected this much. The drama jam packs all the kisses, skinship and sexy scenes all in one episode to make up for lost time. However, I can’t say I did not enjoy Mai’s (Tutor’s) enthusiasm in those kisses. LOL
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this show, unless you REALLY love Yim and can tolerate that exaggerated acting. Don’t waste your time.
Completed: 7/3/2024 - Review #456
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A collection of short stories that are connected because of the antique store, Good Old Days. Each story is 2-episode long, and not a lot of depth is given to the characters. But enough to tell a simple story. Most of them have a connection to a family member and/or romantic interest. Some stories are better than others.
Ep 1-2: Bond and Relationship - my second least favorite story and almost did not hook me in to continue watching. Luckily, I find Lee (ML) attractive and watched it for him.
Ep 3-4: Memory of Happiness - I enjoy this one. The leads are likable and I think the story is believable.
Ep 5-6: Road to Regret - my least favorite and I only watched the first 10 minutes. I find the three main characters loud and annoying, and did not want to continue on.
Ep 7-8: Our Soundtrack - I like this one as well. The song is catchy (I found it on Spotify!) and the story is easy to follow. Not too deep but enough to keep me interested.
Ep 9-10: Love Wins - the title is the cheesiest but it's my favorite. Their love touched me even though I had a hard time getting into the story in the beginning. But following the couple and their challenges of a long-term relationship keep me engaged for the most part.
Ep 11-12: Somewhere Only We Belong - a decent one to end the anthology. Though it's quite predictable, it is sad to see how it all ended.
Completed: 7/11/2023 - Review #330
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I wanted more Chemistry between the Leads
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25“Call It Love” is a melodrama through and through. The pacing is slow, the conversations are meaningful, and the romance is slow burn and quiet. South Korea really likes its revenge drama in all genres. However, what differentiates “Call It Love” from other revenge dramas is that love, healing and forgiveness are more central to the plot, than revenge itself.
I had high expectations before I watched this drama. Kim Young Kwang was the main attraction and he did not disappoint. What a versatile and amazing actor he is! From an adorable and sexy CEO in “The Secret Life of My Secretary”, to a psycho serial killer in “Somebody”, and now a lonely and sad CEO, he was just perfect for the lead role. Han Dong Jin (ML) is a man of few words and walks with a sad and slightly crouched posture. He exudes loneliness, yet his caring side shows when he’s with FL. Kim Young Kwang is able to portray subtle facial expressions and looks/eyes that can convey all he wants to say without actually speaking the words.
On the other hand, I have mixed feelings about Lee Sung Kyung’s portrayal of Shim Woo Joo (FL). I am happy to see her venture out of the rom-com genre and challenge herself to play this role. Shim Woo Joo is another sad and depressed character. However, I find Lee Sung Kyung’s acting one-note throughout most of the drama. She often maintains that one facial expression - a sad and bland look/gaze. I actually like her character in the first ⅓ of the drama. Woo Joo speaks her thoughts with no filter and no reservation. I like her no nonsense approach and doesn’t care what other people say. But then, she seems to lose that straightforwardness and barely utters a few words.
Another reason I want to watch “Call It Love” is because I was craving some angst and melo-romance. I thought this drama would satisfy this urge of mine but I am disappointed. The first few episodes reminded me of “My Mister”. When the romance starts to slowly build up, I was hoping for the angsty, sizzling chemistry similar to Mr. Gu + Yeom Mi Jung in “My Liberation Notes” or Lee Boo Jung + Lee Kang Jae in “Lost”. Unfortunately, I did not feel that tension and longing in Han Dong Jin and Shim Woo Joo. I do like how honest and open they are with each other (in their own introverted way). I enjoy the depth of their conversations. Without really having long conversations, they are able to speak their minds succinctly. But they don’t move me. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t cry for them. I didn’t pray that they could live happily ever after. The chemistry was not bad, but did not live up to my expectations. I am sure many feel very differently and am in love with the leads.
“Call It Love” does explore the message of healing and forgiveness. I do think the drama does a good job by showing the effects of the father’s betrayal and the mistress’ calculated scheme. Oh yeah, I hated ML’s mother but I’ve seen worse parents in K-dramas. However, the secret was so long drawn out. At times, I wanted ML to know the truth already, so we can deal with the aftermath and damage control. On another note, I like the somewhat dysfunctional Shim family and the love/hate sibling relationships. I love what Shim Hye Seong (eldest sister) said to ML that, their family doesn’t know how to comfort each other, and feels awkward consoling someone, thus, they went out to karaoke and party hard instead.
Love triangles technically don't exist in this drama and I’m glad a couple friendships did not turn into unrequited love. Men and women CAN have platonic relationships. I’d rather see more of the bromance between ML and his fellow CEO buddy, than the lukewarm secondary romance. I find Shim Hye Seong (sister) a little annoying in the beginning but I understand why she acts that way once we get to know her. Once the forced smiles are gone, she becomes so much more tolerable. Yoon Joon (pharmacist 2ML) is a great and loyal friend to FL, and I’m glad to see Sung Joon plays this role after being introduced to his handsome guy in “I Need Romance 3”.
Many commented on the pink tone and the use of different colored filters. It doesn’t bother me, nor does it add to how I feel about the drama. It just doesn’t matter to me, but it might to you. I also quite enjoy the OST.
Overall, this is a good melodrama if you are in the mood for a very slow burn and slow-paced romance. I just wanted more in the chemistry department to give this a solid 8.5+ rating.
Completed: 4/18/2023
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Worthy of all the praises, but still missing some elements to make this perfect.
Subjective/Gut Rating; 8.75I will add to the many praises that everyone has for “Alchemy of Souls”. It is indeed a great fantasy, action, romance drama. As a veteran C-drama watcher, the story isn’t hard for me to follow but I could see how some can be confused. This drama has all the elements to be a highly rated production. I have an enjoyable time watching this.
What I Like:
1. Top notch production - sets, costumes, CGI. I actually want to see more CGI.
2. Love the OST. Took me by surprise in the beginning with the English lyrics, but the melodies give me all the feels.
3. Veterans Yoo Joon Sang (Leader Park Jin) and Oh Na Ran (Maidservant Kim). These two are hilarious and I love their dynamics.
4. I was worried about the comedy in the beginning because I don’t want a rom-com. But I find that there are enough comedic moments sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to make this into a comedy.
5. Bromance - The four actors have very distinct personalities but when they have scenes together, they are funny and have great chemistry.
6. Lee Jae Wook - He is not my kind of handsome, but I enjoy his acting very much. He is still so young and definitely has a great future ahead. I can’t believe I’ve seen all his dramas except “Move to Heaven”.
7. Glad the romance storylines are done well and maturely, and not annoying with evil men/women.
8. Good pacing.
What I want more or with mixed feelings:
1. I want more fight scenes, not enough for an action drama. The few scenes they have are good but not long enough.
2. I wish they could showcase more of FL's badassness. There weren't enough flashback scenes when she's Naksu, and when she's MuDeok, she's a sidekick. I wanted them to show more of her wit, even if she's weak physically.
3. Missing the chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min. Jung So Min looks like an older sister to me. Maybe because I am aware of their real life age gap.
4. Jung So Min’s acting is a hit-or-miss. I know she’s a cold-hearted assassin and could be emotionless. But I see bored eyes instead of assassin eyes. Of course, this is very personal and I know many love her.
5. Hwang Min Hyun’s acting could have been better - borderline bland and decent. . He’s handsome though. Each time I look at him, I think he’s Cha Eun Woo and it takes my brain a few seconds to adjust. I think Cha Eun Woo has prettier eyes though
Completed: 1/26/2023
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