ysadulset

Comfort found outside VR.

"Love Between Lines" immediately caught my attention the moment I started episode 1. The first few episodes spend a lot of time in the VR world, which made the initial connection between the leads feel different from the usual office romance setup. I liked that we got to see more of who they were before their real-world dynamics fully kicked in. It avoided to make the transition feel confusing.

I’ve seen some people assume the male lead was driven by revenge. On the surface, it can look that way. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that revenge was never the point. What he wanted was the truth, and more than that, justice for his late father. There’s a bit of mystery tied to his past and his family, but it never turns into a revenge drama. You can see it in his personality and in how consistent his actions are. He’s not out to hurt people, he just wants answers.

Once the story settles in, what really worked for me was the pacing. Nothing felt unnecessarily dragged out, and some reveals happened much earlier than I expected, in a good way. For instance, I loved that the drama didn’t rely on the usual secret-identity-of-the-ML for half the series trope. I mean this about his position in the workplace and his VR role. For the other things, they were understandable for the plot. When things came out, they came out. Some came with a bit of humor, while some for the more serious plot. And when misunderstandings popped up, they didn’t overstay their welcome. The leads actually talked, always tried clarified things, even when one was hesitant for the other's sake.

The female lead was a big part of why I enjoyed this drama. She knows how to stand up for herself and doesn’t let people talk down to her, whether that’s at work or in her personal life. She’s calm but firm, and I loved how she clocked people immediately when something felt off. She's a smart woman who actually acts smart. No dramatic spirals, no unnecessary self-doubt. Just a woman who knows where she stands.

The male lead, on the other hand, has a quieter arc. We slowly learned more about his past, his family, and why he kept certain walls up. His emotional moments felt restrained rather than explosive, which fit his character well. Also, I have to say it: his entrances were ridiculous in the best way. The slow motion, the blurred backgrounds… they clearly knew what they were doing. He looked so good in that VR costume that I never got tired how many times they slow mo-ed his entrances lol.

The leads had chemistry almost immediately after they met in the real world. They already felt like a couple before they officially were one. Small touches, obvious concerns, being there for each other in ways that's not how just friends act, and natural closeness. So, when the ML hesitated and pulled back at one point, it hurt because both of them clearly knew where their feelings were headed. Though, that moment made the yearning hit harder.

Once they do get together, I appreciated that the drama didn’t shy away from physical affection. Nothing over the top, but natural touches that made them feel like an actual couple. Their interactions slow the (my) world down. Watching them felt warm and comforting, and I'm just sitting here smiling without realizing it.

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. The FL’s family's misunderstanding with the ML's becomes another layer of conflict. I was worried it would drag on, but thankfully, it was handled and resolved fairly quickly, just in time for the entire truth to come out.

The second male lead is… honestly just pitiful, because he let his insecurities get the best of him. I did appreciate that the drama didn’t turn him into a cartoon villain though. Some of his concerns felt genuine, even if his actions were driven by wanting to be better than the ML. By the end, he backs off and seems to finally realize that his issues were never really about the ML, but about himself and maybe the real villain, his father lol.

Also, I’m very glad the best friend’s ex-husband disappeared from the story after the divorce. No excuses, no redemption arc. As it should be. I also love that although side characters closest to the leads had their own stories, they didn't overshadow the main plotline. So, everything felt okay the way that it was.

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Pro Power, Pro Connection, Pro Wit.

Pro Bono works best when you watch it as a legal comedy as advertised, not a strict legal procedural. I did, however, raise expectations from the start after learning that the screenwriter used to be a South Korean judge. Knowing that, I found myself paying attention to how the courtroom dynamics were written, especially how Kang Dawit handles cases. However, the drama proves to be fictional. Kang Dawit was written in a way that he doesn’t just argue law and evidence. He reads judges, predicts their leanings, exposes conflicts of interest, and sometimes corners them morally instead of legally. Whether that’s fully realistic or exaggerated for drama, it made the cases feel more layered that needs strategy rather than just technical law jargons, which was something I'm still not sure how to feel about.

On another note, it ended up being exactly the kind of legal comedy drama I was expecting for from a Kyung Ho project. Serious themes, messy systems, and questions on morality, but delivered with teamwork and humor. The comedy helps keep the show from getting too heavy, but it also sometimes undercuts the weight of the cases themselves. There were moments that should have been tackled more seriously but were softened too quickly by the gags.

Kang Dawit is exactly the kind of lead who is hard to like at first, but you'll expect to change. He is loud, egoistic, shamelessly tactical, and very willing to bend process if he believes the outcome is justified. The fall from respected judge to being shoved into a pro bono team he used to look down on is a familiar setup, but his personality keeps it engaging, because lol it's also how he copes. He, however, never turns into a pure idealist. He stays sharp and a little dirty in method, usually matching how dirty his opponents play too.

I’m not a law expert and don’t know Korean legal technicalities, but the storytelling made the conflicts clear enough to track. The cases themselves, anyway, are less about legal complexity and more about moral and social pressure points, just written to fit the pro bono narrative. They supposedly deal with vulnerable groups, abuse of power, exploitation, autonomy, and systemic unfairness. The writing keeps them understandable even if you’re not a law expert. The tradeoff is that a lot of resolutions come from emotional truth and "public accountability" (protecting reputation) and less on airtight courtroom strategy, so nothing really lingers after a case. If you want tight legal procedure, this is not that show. If you want legal stories that push ethical questions and human rights issues into the spotlight, it does bring them forward, though often in a convenient way of writing (dramatized) rather than deeply challenging the system. If I were to point out anything about how they handle cases, I'd say I learned more about how much outcomes depended on phrasing, timing, and reading the judge and prosecution, rather than the statutes. It also does not shy away from showing how power and connections bend outcomes, for both the team and their opposition.

The pro bono team itself is chaotic and I liked them, but they didn't feel like a team until like, the last 3-4 episodes. They can be idealistic to the point of frustration, sometimes preachy, sometimes naive about their privilege inside a giant firm, but I guess I can say that they grow into their roles. I just wish that development came earlier, especially because this is a short drama. Their chemistry that should've become one of the strongest parts of the show was only felt towards the end. The only moment I found worth remembering was when the team learns to use Dawit’s tricks, but it was used against him in court lol. The rest, predictable.

There was ambiguity on some of the characters, but I'll be particular on the Oh Jungin, the ex-girlfriend. She sits in a morally gray space for most of the drama. She's not a clean villain, but she's not a clean ally either. Her choices are driven by ambition, pride, and personal gain, not for either pure good or evil. She was one of the few characters I actually stayed curious about until the end. Thankfully, her presence did more good than harm for the team.

Tone wise, the balance worked for me, but there wasn't anything groundbreaking nor deal breaking. It handles heavy topics but doesn’t stay emotionally suffocating. The humor is frequent and sometimes outright ridiculous, but it fits the exaggerated personalities and power plays. It’s one of those shows where a serious case can somehow sit next to a comedic stunt. I'd question if it feels coherent, but I guess it worked. It is not a drama I'll be missing, however.

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Idol-I: I for Intuition.

Major spoiler: I mention the culprit among other spoilers in the drama
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If I did not know the gist of the drama beforehand, I would have thought I was getting something light and easy. The lead names alone screamed romcom, and the wordplay was funny enough to lower my guard. Then the end of episode 1 hit, and suddenly we were dealing with mystery, grief, anxiety, and how lonely and suffocating idol life could be.

Maybe it helped that I binge-watched this, but pacing-wise, it was okay for me than it did for those who watched while it was airing. I thought the story moved steadily without dragging until the end. I appreciated that they did not cram all the happiness into the last five minutes just to check a box.

Raik’s emotional journey was the backbone of the drama. We watch him navigate fame, guilt, suspicion, and the weight of being constantly watched, and in some points, it was sad to witness. I do think that the drama does a good job of showing why his on-stage versus off-stage self are different without overdoing it. It did not excuse his mistakes, but it also allowed us to understand where he was coming from. The same goes as well to the other characters. By the time the mystery deepens, we are already invested in him as a person, not just a suspect nor as an idol alone.

Early on, my expectations for the drama were already set. I had the idea that the drama focus will lean more towards Raik's emotional healing process and idol life than the mechanics of Raik’s case even though technically everything revolved around the case, so I stopped expecting a strong procedural script. I expected an emotional mystery instead, and in that sense, I was right.

With this expectation, the murder mystery itself became an okay. Not groundbreaking, but engaging enough to keep me guessing. I liked that it did not tunnel-vision on one mysterious culprit. The constant shifting of suspicion among characters we already knew kept things tense, and it made the investigation feel messy in a realistic, entertaining way. There was also this sense that solving the case was dangerous in itself and sometimes unfair, which added weight to the story.

However, I do admit that it was hard ignore how many basic investigative steps were skipped, though I was generous in letting that slide because of my set expectations. The very simple things that could've ended this drama on episode 2 were the DNA checks on door handle and the earring. Even if I assume they did check and just did not show it, the flashbacks themselves made it hard to believe the crime scene was spotless. The culprit was frantic and emotional, she was very far from careful. That earring alone should have been enough to crack things open earlier. All Raik had to do was go back to his apartment and the case would have unraveled much faster.

Where the show gets more interesting, and more uncomfortable, is its take on fangirling. Sena was meant to represent the healthier end of admiration, even if the drama sometimes undermined her professionalism to get there. Her fangirling slipped into her work more than it should, and I did find myself frustrated that she did not always act like the capable lawyer she was introduced as. She took on Raik’s case after reading his expression and decided to trust him because, as a 10-year fan, "he doesn't know how to act" was enough to convince her. While I understood the narrative purpose of giving Raik someone who believed in him, I did not love that her decision relied so heavily on intuition and personal guilt (about her father) rather than evidence. Afterall, she is a lawyer who works with facts, not intuition. But then again, she is also human.

In contrast, the ex-girlfriend felt close to a sasaeng. What initially looked like concern and longing on her part gradually revealed itself as obsession. The drama made it clear how "love" could rot when it turned into entitlement and obsession. Everything she said was designed to corner Raik into believing she was what he needed, and would hurt both of them if they aren't together. As her arc unfolded, we come to understand that her relationship with Raik turned parasocial and toxic, which I then questioned whether the love they once shared was ever even real. Watching her justify cruelty, surveillance, and control in the name of love was uncomfortable.

This is where the drama becomes ironic. It spent so much time showing fans how important it is to respect boundaries and recognize idols as human beings with private lives, and how it affects them mentally. Yet, the story ultimately framed a fan as Raik’s emotional and legal savior. At the same time, the culprit was written with sasaeng-like behavior, while the two sasaengs who caused repeated harm faced barely any real consequences and even had character glow-up in the end. I would have liked to see genuine accountability instead of a few scoldings and a glow-up. The way it plays out almost reinforces the idea that fans are the loyal constants. I do not think this was the intention, and viewers with common sense will understand the moral the drama was aiming for, but the narrative choice was still disappointing, especially given how many more challenging and thoughtful directions the story could have taken.

On a lighter note, I appreciated how the side characters parts were handled. No ridiculous filler arcs, and no unnecessary love triangles blowing things up for the sake of drama. The second male lead understood where he stands and respected boundaries. The prosecutor and the policeman, frustrating as they were at first, actually grew and chose truth over power, which was nice. Even Raik’s group was given enough focus to remind us how they also had their own struggles on how isolating idol life can be for others involved, not just for Raik.

The romance itself was fine. It is there, it develops naturally enough, but it is not the point. For me, it works best to be understood as part of Raik’s healing. After everything else was resolved, we witness his emotional growth after one final one-on-one scene with the ex-girlfriend. Finally, her words no longer had power over him. Sena, meanwhile, remains the same person she was, just no longer held back by her past. She's then balancing her appeal for her father’s case, her fangirling, and being Raik’s lover.

Idol I is far from perfect. Some parts could have been fleshed out more, especially given how heavy the themes are. But for a 12-episode drama, it did enough to tell what it was meant to tell.

Not a masterpiece, but a grounded watch.

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Glory… to the FL’s omniscience lol.

Going into Glory, I already had a feeling romance wasn’t going to be the main point here, despite having romance as one of the main tags. I might’ve started this at the wrong time, or maybe I was just expecting a different balance, but either way, the tone became clear pretty early on.

The opening was rough for me. There’s an overload of names, faces, and tropes/themes all at once, and it took a while before I felt grounded. What did stand out early, though, was how deliberately unsettling everyone felt. No one felt neutral, I didn't trust anybody, including those were introduced to us as close with the leads. Some people were obviously scheming, while others hid behind politeness, filial piety, or concern, which somehow made them feel even more suspicious. There were characters who played pitiful a little too well, people who wrapped manipulation in "good advice," and those whose jealousy practically sat on their faces. I didn’t know yet who would turn dangerous and who just needed context, but the discomfort was very intentional.

What kept me watching was the dynamic between the leads at the start, though I still was confused who were who with the side characters lol. The ML, even with amnesia, was sharp, observant and even sly, not the helpless pawn I was afraid he’d be at the start. And the FL was clearly not someone to underestimate. Watching them quietly test each other, circling with their wits, was engaging and entertaining. Early on, it felt like we were being set up for two intelligent leads on equal footing.

That’s also when I started to see why this drama would be divisive.

It becomes clear pretty quickly that the FL prioritizes herself and her household’s reputation above all else, which on its own isn’t a problem. My issue is that the drama still insists on selling this as romance. But over time, a pattern starts to form: she quietly but boldly advances her plans, uses the ML’s wit and influence when it suits her, reassures him just enough to keep him close, and moves on. When he confronts her about being sidelined or disrespected, the conversation rarely goes anywhere. A smile, a deflection, sometimes intimacy, and the issue is conveniently buried before she ever has to take responsibility. The ML, being smart, knows this. He sees the pattern, calls it out, yet still lets it happen. She keeps making unilateral decisions that affect him deeply, often at moments when he’s most vulnerable, and he’s left to absorb it quietly. And then the cycle repeats.

She does care about him; I didn’t doubt that. But she consistently cares more about control, outcomes, and her family’s reputation. Some argue this makes the show female-centric or "empowering," but I don’t buy it. Emotional manipulation doesn’t automatically become empowerment just because the character doing it is a woman. Independence doesn’t mean making decisions while dismissing others’ feelings when inconvenient. Strength isn’t just dominance. It isn’t always being right, staying one step ahead, or avoiding the consequences of your choices. You can be independent and strong while still making hard decisions without using someone else as emotional collateral, respecting those who trust you, and facing the impact of your actions. Empowerment comes from accountability, allowing vulnerability, and treating people who stand by you with respect rather than tools. This isn’t a critique of women-centered dramas. In fact, I enjoy complex, emotionally responsible female leads, but the way FL's character was written here would have frustrated me no matter who was written this way, even when genders are swapped.

What made it even more frustrating is that, again, the ML isn’t stupid. He knows what’s happening. And yet he keeps running after her. He keeps forgiving. He keeps absorbing the emotional cost. Watching a character that is that capable slowly get reduced to "he endures this because he loves her and she's all he got" was exhausting. It's frustrating because the drama teased something better early on. I wanted to see two sharp leads working together as equals, combining strategy, trust, and mutual respect. Instead, the story increasingly centered the FL as the solution to everything, while the ML’s struggles, history, and emotional weight were sidelined until very late, and even then, rushed. For a drama with two leads, it often felt like only one of them was important.

At some point, despite all the romantic scenes, it just stopped feeling romantic to me. I kept watching anyway, because I’d already adjusted my expectations, and to be fair, the story outside the romance was still entertaining.

Without the romance, the plot would have been at its strongest. The FL's world felt busy, and this was where the writing felt the most confident. The mix of heritage, control (monopoly even) over the tea industry, internal power struggles, and moral compromise was compelling to watch and unfold. You could feel the weight of legacy pressing down on everyone involved, and the consequences of decisions were elaborate. Supporting characters weren’t just there to orbit the leads; everyone had motives and agendas. At different points, I found myself second-guessing first impressions. It kept me alert, and it made the political and familial conflicts feel vital.

And then there’s the grandmother. I understand the narrative role she was meant to play, but wow, she was exhausting to watch. Her control, cruelty, and lack of faith in her own family caused more damage than any external enemy ever did. Instead of protecting the family, she strangled it. She pitted her granddaughters against each other, measured worth through alliances and appearances, and weaponized authority instead of guidance. The fact that she came from a matriarchal background yet upheld some of the most suffocating patriarchal values felt tragically ironic.

There are also other things I appreciated. The sisters, for all their scheming, actually grew on me by the end. Their conflicts were ugly, but there were lines they wouldn’t cross, and eventually even they recognized how much damage the grandmother’s rigid ideals had caused. Also funnily enough, I've felt more yearning and emotion with the sisters' love stories than the leads. I'm happy they got their real happy endings. Other side characters who initially felt threatening were given enough context to make sense in time, even if I never fully liked them.

Unfortunately, with so much narrative weight given to the FL’s arc, the later shift to the ML’s background felt uneven. The conflicts tied to his family were rushed and compressed. We’re introduced to his mentor, his biological father, his blood brother, and his larger “family,” only for everything to be wrapped up in a handful of episodes in the end. His backstory was supposedly sad, but the drama doesn’t even give us enough time to feel it. Even the issues dealt here was supposed to be for the ML, yet the FL had the spotlight. I also wanted him to have a real chance at happiness, especially with reconnecting with his brother, but of course, that was taken away too. In the end, it just reinforces why he keeps running back to the FL: she’s all he has left, for real this time. And that makes him one of the loneliest male leads I’ve watched in a while.

And then comes the FL, trying to end things for what she thinks is for their own good just barely after that arc, as if the ML had just not been emotionally beaten and drained by his family. Telling him to stop their relationship so she can remember him as he was, before the power and ambition that might change him like his father. The irony made me roll my eyes knowing that she's becoming almost as controlling and emotionally rigid as her grandmother, the very person she just confronted to change ways a few episodes back. And yet, despite her cruelty, he still chooses her, giving up his power to be with her. This may be a happy ending in his point of view, but I just see this as an ending that was very much still controlled by the FL's desires.

By the end, I wasn’t angry nor frustrated anymore, I was just tired. I don’t regret finishing this drama, because I was invested anyway. At the very least, it was consistent in what it chose to be. But my final takeaway is that the “glory” promised by the title ultimately belonged to the FL alone. Everyone else, especially the ML, just had to adapt around it. Maybe it would've been better if the poster had only her on it lol.

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Manman, Prisoner of Wei Shao's wits.

Rewatching this almost a year later, my notes and reactions still line up with how I felt the first time. If anything, the rewatch made me appreciate the character writing and relationship progression more because I could see the setup and payoff more clearly.

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⁂ My type of enemies to lovers

What I appreciated most is that this is an actual slow enemies-to-lovers story, not the kind where they argue once and then spend the rest of the show bickering like it's what being enemies are all about. Manman and Wei Shao actually start with actual hostility rooted in family history, bloodshed, and political betrayal. There is distrust baked into every early interaction.

Wei Shao does not warm up quickly and the show does not rush him. He is competent, disciplined, and principled, but emotionally blocked by grief and revenge. The drama does not pretend he is gentle from the start, because he still has to unlearn things. He is suspicious of Manman’s motives, reads almost every move as possible manipulation from the Qiao clan, and reacts badly when his trauma gets triggered. There are episodes where he is honestly very hard to like. He jumps to conclusions, lets anger drive his actions, and hurts Manman emotionally and nearly physically more than once. Still, even when he is harsh and guarded, he does not reduce her status or treat her cheaply. He keeps her position as Lady of Wei intact, which says a lot about his baseline principles even when his emotions are driven by revenge.

The drama also feels like Wei Shao’s personal emotional journey. He eventually softens, but it does not happen magically. What makes the shift a nice watch is that it happens in layers. First comes reluctant acknowledgment of Manman's wits and intelligence. Then respect for her political instincts and strategies. Then trust in specific situations. Then emotional dependence. He goes from seeing her as a threat, to a useful ally, to someone whose judgment he relies on, to someone he loves, actively wanting to protect and listen to. The change shows in how he speaks to her, how he believes her over time, and how often he checks himself after reacting badly. When he realizes he is wrong, he adjusts. He may not be good at apologies, but he changes how he handles similar situations later.

Also, it is ironically funny how often this undefeated battlefield warlord loses every verbal match with Manman and retreats with a pout and a side eye instead. His jealousy streak shows up a lot too, but the timing is usually comedic. Manman getting jealous and pouty over misunderstandings herself was also a cute balance.

Speaking of Manman, on the other hand, she never forgets that she walked into enemy territory through the marriage alliance, and she carries her clan's guilt with her. Even if Manman herself had no part in it, she never pretends the debt does not exist. A lot of her restraint and caution comes from knowing she walked into Wei territory carrying that history. Many of her decisions are made with the goal of not deepening resentment and not adding more burden to what her clan already owes.

She carries a huge part of why this drama works. She is not written as a damsel or a passive genius who only reacts. She is proactive, strategic, emotionally aware, and politically sharp. She adapts her approach depending on Wei Shao's mood, his triggers, and the political climate. She reads rooms well, understands power, and knows when to act gentle and when to be firm.

What I also really liked is how she treats Wei Shao not just as a political counterpart but as a partner, even with her own goals and even before their relationship becomes emotionally secure. She adjusts her behavior to protect his authority in public, redirects credit toward him when needed, and makes choices that strengthen his position with the people even when it might cost her own reputation. This is because even early on, when trust between them is still thin, Manman already recognizes that beneath his anger and prejudice of the Qiaos, he genuinely cares about civilians, which aligns with her own values. That becomes her anchor for how she deals with him. Instead of trying to melt him emotionally which she knew won't work, she works alongside his values. She treats him like someone capable of being better, not someone she needs to fix or submit to.

Even when she is cornered or treated unfairly, she thinks before reacting. Manman let people witness why while she is and will always be a Qiao, she is also the Lady of Wei. She uses timing, framing, and evidence to turn situations around. Most of her wins come from observation and planning, not luck or rescue. She saves situations again and again through her wits and negotiation skills.

When their relationship improves, I love that they do not become stupid for love. Neither of them gets watered down. When they soften, it is not because one becomes submissive, but it is because Wei Shao becomes more willing to meet Manman halfway, and vice versa. They stay sharp, stubborn (in good and bad ways), and capable. I also liked how their shared values become clearer over time. While they have their own priorities clear, both pushes for solutions that protect civilians, long term peace, and stability.

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⁂ Why it’s a 9.5 and not a 10 for me

Not everything worked for me, but it's not something I consider a flaw. Just a nitpick lol.

E Huang absolutely overstayed her narrative welcome. She kept circling back into the story long after her role was already clear. The leads already felt something was off about her, but eventually couldn't do anything because evidence could not be pinned on her. This allowed her to have too much screen time for my liking, eventually letting her in Liu Yan's plans. Too many schemes, and not enough payoff shown on screen for her. Sure, I guess her realizing Bogong actually loved her even after seeing through her lies was already enough for her to stop everything, including her life. But man, we should've seen that part lol. I wanted to see more regret from E Huang and Liu Yan.

Qiao Fan’s father dying at Liu Yan’s hands instead of facing fuller consequences for his own greed and decisions felt like a lazy way to write his doom. He caused massive fallout, contributed to the chain of events that led to tragedy, and then exits without properly facing what he has done. For me, he would have been one of the biggest and far more stressful villains if E Huang and Liu Yan weren't in this drama lol. Because unlike others, he was just driven by greed and power. So, his end felt veryyyy unsatisfying.

And I am still not over Fan and Wei Liang’s death. On rewatch, Wei Liang's death still feels unnecessary. I can understand Fan's decision because it also freed Bi Zhi's undeniable love for her that also became his shackles, but for Wei Liang, I just could not understand at all. It was so sudden for me that the first time I watched it, I really thought plot armor would save him. Apparently not. And I am still blaming the writers for that one.

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The pager is my 13th reason.

My Page in the 90s ended up being a lot more fun and emotionally engaging than I expected. The premise alone already signaled that this was not something I should judge using strict real-world logic. The FL getting pulled into a novel she once criticized, while staying aware that she was not in her real world, gave the show a built-in excuse to be chaotic, self-aware, and a bit ridiculous at times. Basically, I turned my real-world brain for a bit and watched it using the drama’s internal logic. Once I accepted the rules of the system, everything going on in the drama landed a bit better for me.

The drama was light, funny, frustrating, and heartfelt in turns. The episodes were short, which made it very easy to binge, and I barely skipped scenes. Not everything was polished, but the leads carried the story well, and the mix of game mechanics and romance gave it its own flavor.


⁂ The pager & the gamified system
The gamified system was both the smartest tool in the drama and my biggest source of stress while watching. I liked it conceptually and also because it answered a lot of common viewer complaints in advance. Normally in stories like this, people ask why the lead does not just warn others, reveal key information, or avoid disasters directly. Here, the FL tried, and the system punishes her for it. Penalties as well as fixes to attempts to cheat the game were built into the system. It was chaotic and sometimes ridiculous, but at least the drama gave an internal reason instead of pretending the loopholes did not exist.

And because I can mention it again, the quests got more and more absurd as the story went on. There were missions that made me pause and go, this is nonsense, no real person would think this helps romance. But at the same time, the drama knew it was nonsense and leaned into it. The system was not meant to be fair. It was meant to push results. The system's presence does not fade until the end of the drama, and we also notice that it became more aggressive as the story progressed. Early on it felt playful and annoying. Later it felt strict and almost desperate for FL to follow the novel script.


⁂ My experience on the romance arc
The early episodes were pure comedy for me, and this is an understatement to express the enjoyment I had in these episodes. The FL got pulled into the world of a novel she once criticized, so she stayed fully aware that she was not in her real world. The early misunderstandings, especially the wrong target situation, were hilarious to me. The FL was bold, reckless, and unfiltered because she believed none of this was permanent anyway. That gave the early episodes a chaotic charm. Her tactics were wild, sometimes secondhand embarrassing, but very entertaining.

Then, as their feelings deepened and the stakes rose, the tone slowly shifted into something more emotional and urgent. We could really feel the point where the story stopped being just a game and started costing the characters something. As her feelings became real and the consequences became heavier, her behavior changed too. We could see the hesitation, the conflict, and the fear of getting attached because she knew she would eventually have to leave.

I would not call the romance groundbreaking, but it was effective and quite satisfying in context. Though, I have to give props to the ML. Although at first their interactions were through FL's forced encounters, it helped develop the relationship through these repeated interactions and helped on gaining trust. The ML was sharp and observant, and because FL can't say anything about her circumstances, I liked how he quietly put things together on his own. Even when he did not have the full truth, he sensed when something was off and adjusted his actions. I liked that he did not just react to what she said, but also to what she could not say. When he helped FL try to change someone's fate and it didn't work, he eventually knew FL has no choice but to do what she had to do. Even when he couldn't understand why exactly, he reassured the FL to not run away from her feelings anymore and it was okay.


⁂ The plot devices
Not every side plot worked for me, but none were deal breakers. I understood these scenes were there as plot devices to push decisions and raise pressure. I just need a short rant.

The cheating boyfriend storyline dragged longer than I personally preferred, though I understood why it was there. It created emotional tension and forced certain decisions. Still, I was more interested in the system conflict and the main couple than in him. The conflict with ML's father also felt familiar and predictable, so I did not feel very invested there. It did not ruin anything, but it was not a highlight either. The second couple getting more focus near the later part of the drama felt uneven in distribution. I did not dislike them, but the timing made their arc feel inserted rather than smoothly written throughout.

The biggest weakness for me was the lack of clear explanation for some of the deeper mechanics, that is the system's rules.
Near the final stretch, the drama decided to stack more tropes to make more screentime for the system lol. The proposal on the New Year, the truck accident, and the amnesia plot all happened in one episode. Okay, funny (sarcastically) for me and sad for the FL. But there was no explanation how the ML got his memories back but not the people around them who also forgot about their relationship, other than the implication that "love triumphs". Another thing, the cross-world logic and system boundaries are also important for understanding how story ended that way, yet the details stayed vague. I can guess this is partly due to censorship limits around transmigration style plots. Still, we can feel where explanations were cut short or simplified. I ended up filling in the blanks myself just to keep my sanity. The ending gave emotional closure, which I appreciated, but we can tell some details were wrapped quickly and lightly.

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Thankfully, not the love triangle I expected.

Tried to avoid major spoilers, but tagging just in case.
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The romance in Shine On Me takes its time, and I can see why some people might find it slow or even boring. Personally, I thought the pacing suited the story it wanted to tell. The slow build felt intentional rather than dragged out, and despite that, the chemistry between the leads is definitely there.

I was hesitant to start this drama at first because I thought it would be one of those stories where the female lead keeps going back and forth between the male lead and the second male lead. I fully expected emotional limbo, confusion, and dragged-out feelings, especially since I thought the drama began with the FL being in a relationship with the SML. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

There was actually nothing between the FL and the SML, it was clear from the beginning. For a long time, the FL genuinely believed her feelings weren’t reciprocated. The problem wasn’t that she couldn’t let go, but that the SML kept confusing her. He stayed vague, showed up at the wrong moments, and never clearly drew a line. What made him especially frustrating was that he had multiple chances to make things right, yet only started moving when the ML entered the picture. He projected his insecurities onto the FL, questioned her abilities, and clung to what he called a promise, even though there wasn’t a promise at all. He rejected her, never reassured her, and still somehow expected her to wait. He had the most pride and the most insecurity. While I appreciate that the drama allows him to reflect on his mistakes, I personally wished the consequences had hit harder. What I really liked, though, was that once the FL recognized this pattern, she didn’t fall back into it. Even when he tried to pull her back later, she stood her ground.

Both the ML and FL come from wealthy families, which I actually liked because it meant we didn’t have to sit through insecurity arcs about money or status. At the same time, they aren’t portrayed as out-of-touch rich characters. They’re where they are because of their own efforts. The FL does have moments early on where she doesn’t fully understand how much more difficult things can be for others, but that felt realistic rather than annoying, and she does grow from it. Her character growth is also very evident in my opinion. She learns how to value herself and choose people who don’t dim her light, whether that’s friends, family, or a partner. I also liked that both leads were able to pursue what they genuinely wanted, without being controlled by family expectations. This rich x rich pairing worked so well because there were no ego games between them.

So, instead, the insecurity shows up in other characters, especially the SML and the woman who likes him. I really disliked how this girl kept pushing the narrative that the FL only succeeded in things because of her background and connections. It felt more like jealousy she refused to admit. She wanted that story to be true because it made her feel better about herself. What made it worse was how no one around them actively defended the FL when there was no real proof to back those claims. It made sense that the FL eventually felt closer to her coworkers than to her college “friends.” I did appreciate tho that she didn’t just accept this quietly and actually stood up for herself.

The relationship between Yu Sen and Xiguang is the complete opposite of all that mess. They trust each other and communicate well. There are several situations where misunderstandings could have easily been used to create conflict, but the writers chose to let the characters communicate instead, and I really appreciated that. Yu Sen is also a very solid male lead. He gave the FL the reassurance she never received from the SML. He’s clear about his feelings and intentions and never expected her to read his mind. He’s emotionally mature, patient, and respectful. He starts off cold due to misunderstandings from before they even met, but he has never put the FL in a bad light. He never pressured her either. He simply showed up consistently when she needed him until she opened her heart to him.

One last note: I really disliked the FL’s father, while I loved her mother. Her father’s greed and pride were hard to watch, and it took a bit too long, for my liking, for the FL to finally put him in his place. He’s definitely on my list of bad cdrama fathers. I also think his affair storyline dragged longer than necessary. Her mother, on the other hand, was supportive of the FL and was steady without adding unnecessary drama. She was just as strong-headed as the FL and eventually had her own breakthrough later in the story, which was very much deserved.

The best side characters go to the FL's cousin and his parents. Thanks uncle and auntie for being there for the FL. Lots of love for them!!

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How should one define justice?

Justice sounds simple when people say it out loud. Follow the law. Punish the guilty. Protect the innocent.

But what happens when the people deciding justice are already dirty? When the very law allows people with power to bend it at will? When the justice system itself protects the guilty and punishes the innocent?

That question kept sitting in my head while watching this drama, well, every time I watch political-legal dramas, actually lol. But this time, because the drama was honest about how messy justice becomes once power, politics, and personal agendas get involved. It does not pretend the system is fixable with one heroic move. It shows how deep the rot goes.

So, how far can one man with future knowledge really clean up this rotten system?



⁂ Hanyeong before and after time rewind

This drama starts off surprisingly dark. Hanyeong is not written as a pure idealist protagonist. He starts off compromised, yet very aware that he is helping the wrong people win. The early noir-like mood sells how dirty the system already is, and that he is part of setting that very system up. He was a judge who follows orders instead of truth, and we see his conscience eating him alive. When it did, he tries to undo his mistakes, but his single act of conscience ends up costing him his life.

When he wakes up in the past, the energy changes, and he changes with it. His chaotic judge era was easily one of my favorite stretches, and I missed it when it faded later on. His confidence, the way he plays all sides, and how he walks into danger smiling while quoting the law made the scenes very entertaining, leaving the others very confused by his change. But his change also made him very unpredictable in the eyes of others onto him, and it becomes his shield.

Because he remembers the future, many of his victories come from timing and setup. His plans come from future knowledge and careful manipulation, and it feels like a game for us just as it was for him. He knows where to push and when to wait. It also made me feel a bit complicit as a viewer because I was enjoying how he was outplaying people.

He is also not clean in how he fights back. He runs scams, threats, staged situations, and intimidation with help from the team he builds along the way: Nayeon the journalist, Cheolwu and Jinah the prosecutors, Jeongho the thug-like angel and his best friend (also aka Hanyeong's personal Doraemon), and even makes use of Sehee, his past-life wife. Were their actions morally clean? Not really. Morally justifiable? I guess. Entertaining to watch? Very.

Then the bigger corruption layer shows up, and things stop being so easy. As Hanyeong discovers newer things he didn't know in the past, his mission also becomes dangerous.

From the get-go, we know Kang Shinjin as the central villain, or at least Hanyeong's main target. But even with his cheat-code, aka Hanyeong's future knowledge, he knows he cannot just go straight to him. It will just backfire on him just as it did in his past life. So, he plays on all sides, jumping between factions: Baek Yiseok, The Haenal Law Firm (basically Seoncheol), Shinjin, and the Suojae. He keeps inserting himself everywhere just enough to matter but not enough to get cut off early. It's beyond me how none of these sides even noticed right away, but entertaining to watch, anyway.



⁂ Kang Shinjin

Kang Shinjin is not just evil for the sake of it. He is convinced he is right. He believes in his version of justice and thinks he alone has the right to decide who deserves punishment. In his head, he is not corrupt. He is necessary. Thus, he distrusts everyone, even the very people who have been with him since. That kind of self-righteous villain makes it clear that there's no changing his mindset. It's either he goes down or everyone else against him goes. And that's why all the other corrupt politicians and people in power, even the power behind him, the former President Kwangto, was underwhelming when compared to him.

But how was Hanyeong able to "join" his side, knowing how guarded Shinjin is? That's because Hanyeong was able to condition Shinjin to see him as someone who grew up like Shinjin did: poor, failed by justice, and an outsider navigating a corrupt system. Shinjin is paranoid and investigative by nature. And this was something Shinjin himself investigated to be true.

He never blindly trusts nor distrusts Hanyeong. Shinjin sees Hanyeong’s intelligence, strategic thinking, and resilience as proof that he could be an ally in reshaping the justice system the way Shinjin imagines it, but also that he could be the worst enemy. His distrust is why he constantly tests Hanyeong, pushes him, and to do favors for him. When Shinjin leaned in to trust more than distrust, he then tries to recruit Hanyeong. He recognizes Hanyeong's potential to understand and execute his vision.



⁂ The other powers Hanyeong had aside from his future knowledge: Plot armor & Convenient writing

I will admit that I felt that the writing gets very convenient at times.

Exhibit 1 is Jeongho basically being a one-man logistics department. Need money fast? He has it. Need a car, a hideout, a random building, a group of people willing to act in a staged scenario, or someone to scare a target? He can arrange it right away. Everything is possible, and available on demand. It almost turns into a running gag where I stopped asking "how did they pull that off" and just accepted that if Hanyeong needs it, Jeongho will spawn it. It is ridiculous if you think about it logically even if he got the money, but their tandem is so fun and loyal that I did not mind it much while watching.

Exhibit 2 is the lack of real leverage against Hanyeong. The villains in this drama are shown to be ruthless. They blackmail witnesses, threaten families, kidnap people, dig up dirt, and weaponize personal connections. We see this happen to multiple side characters, even those that were present just for 1-2 episodes. Even Jinah gets blackmailed and even her already in coma father gets dragged into danger.

But when it comes to Hanyeong, that pattern is gone. Yes, they investigate him. Yes, they look into his background and family. But nothing serious ever comes out of it. No direct threats, no kidnapping attempts, no real pressure placed on his loved ones, especially considering that he is the one actively dismantling their power. I did not need extreme suffering for shock value, but the imbalance was noticeable. It makes Hanyeong feel unusually protected compared to everyone else on the board.



⁂ Mini ramble on the other main side characters

One of the things I enjoyed most episode to episode was Han Young’s chemistry with the people around him.

His dynamic with Prosecutor Cheolwu was consistently funny. He keeps saying he does not want to get dragged into Han Young’s dangerous and questionable tactics, then still shows up and helps anyway. Nayeon and Jeongho also felt essential to the team’s energy. Nayeon brings momentum through information and media pressure, while Jeongho is the operational backbone. These are characters who were barely present or not present at all in Han Young’s first timeline, so seeing them become central in the new one made the rewind was a nice addition. It is like his second life gave him better allies, not just better timing.

Jinah is where my mixed feelings sit. She was introduced strongly in the past life, and the drama framed her like a major pillar next to Hanyeong and Shinjin. Because of that, I expected her to drive more of the plot after the rewind. Instead, she often felt like she was reacting and just somehow got dragged, instead of being actively involved. There are good moments, but overall, her presence feels lighter than what was originally advertised. Other supporting characters felt more influential in moving events forward.

Sehee, though, was more interesting this time around. Her personality shift in the new timeline made her feel fresher. She is still flawed and sometimes frustrating, but more emotionally readable. Her guilt, hesitation, and attempt to finally do the right thing gave her scenes more weight. I found her easier to understand here than in the past timeline.



⁂ Justice is ...served?

Yes, the target corrupt figures fall. Yes, Han Young protects the people he cares about and wins the battles he set out to win. But the bigger structure behind the corruption never truly disappears.

Suojae is still standing by the end. It gets exposed and shaken up, but not erased. It just changes hands. New leadership steps in, and the show does not give a clear answer on whether this new version is cleaner or just a reshuffle of the past. Seeing Baek Yiseok end up inside that circle raised a big question mark for me. I couldn’t tell if that was meant to be reassuring or worrying. Did he turn into another power player chasing influence? Was this his goal all along? Or is he trying to reform it from the inside? Unfortunately, the drama leaves that deliberately unclear.

Another detail that stuck with me is the prison connection. Even after everything, Shinjin is still able to maintain lines of contact with the outside world. That suggests the network is still alive enough to reach in and out of the system.

So yes, the main villains are taken down. The headline crimes are punished. But the ecosystem that allowed them to grow is still breathing.

Hanyeong and his team won the cases they were chasing, sure. And that was Hanyeong's happy ending. But did they really win the war, or was that just to reset the board again, giving the others a chance to power?

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Soft, sweet, and calm, but maybe a bit too light.

I watched this mainly because I’m a sucker for best friends to lovers stories and TikTok sold it to me well enough to raise my expectations. I have not read the manga, so this is purely from a casual viewer perspective. I enjoyed it, but it is the kind of movie that feels nice while watching and fades from memory pretty quickly after.

I still do not fully get where the "Stella" in the title comes from, at least from the movie alone. Maybe manga readers or those who catch more of the language nuance will understand it. But for me, it did not land anywhere as a strong symbol or theme in the film itself. I'm guessing it's because stella means star if derived from Latin, but that feels a bit random and out of place.

If I had to nitpick on appearances, it would be that they do not look like high school students at all, but I got over that pretty fast. Acting was okay, though I'd say the female lead actress carried the movie all the way.

Overall, the tone is gentle, easy, and calm. Not very deep and not very layered either. It is very straightforward narratively, which makes it an easy one sitting watch. If you like best friends to lovers and very (emphasis on very) low stress romance, this might work. But if you want more emotional weight or complexity, this will probably feel too thin.

The setup is simple and very familiar. The leads are childhood best friends who are slowly growing into different worlds. The male lead, Subaru, is a rising model and actor. He is a bit aloof, but it is something I'd expect from a high school male lead lol. On the other hand, Chii, the female lead, sees herself as average in looks, ability, and presence. She acts exactly like a girl with a long-time crush, supporting him quietly and tries not to get in the way. Awkward, sincere, and sometimes a bit harsh to herself.

The story runs on that classic "you never look at me" versus "I have always looked at you" narrative. And how they set it up was pretty much predictable. The film does not build ̶a̶n̶y̶ much external conflict, so most of the tension depends on the male lead’s mixed signals. The writing relies on the classic push and pull behavior that happens in friends to lovers tropes, except I never felt the yearning that it would have supposedly fueled.

The second male lead was present, although I questioned if he was actually a second male lead. Even as a plot device, he didn't do anything to make Subaru jealous enough to spark action. He was supportive of Chii, and he was aware that he will not be even a choice. He did not overstep boundaries, does not create forced rivalry, and did not turn bitter. He was a very very chill guy lol. He even helped move the plot forward literally through his motorbike lol.

It's an okay watch, but it was closer to boring than the comforting vibe they tried to sell. I would not have chosen to see it in cinemas.

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It really is spring-like.

In my opinion, Spring Fever is a romcom done well. It is simple, silly, warm, a little chaotic, sometimes unrealistic and unhinged, but still surprisingly grounded. It also carries a bit of slice of life tone, which made it work even better for me. This is not the kind of show you watch with a critical lens on logic. You watch it to laugh, relax, and feel soft for a while. Not perfect, not groundbreaking, but very easy to enjoy. Very easy that I breezed through my binge watching lol.

Also, this is a romcom that does the comedy part right. The editing, exaggerated reactions, and character quirks are played big, but never cringe, at least for me. Everything that makes the humor are written with intention, not just the scenes themselves, but they are on point with the characters' personalities, just a bit exaggerated. Ahn Bo Hyun as Seon Jaegyu carries a lot of the humor. He looks like a gangster with his fake sleeve tattoo, acts like a tank with his Hercules-like strength, scares the whole town by accident, but is actually the softest and kindest person there. Lee Joobin as Yun Bom balances him well. She starts guarded and prickly, but never distant or cold.

For the romance, it grows through repeated contact, shared responsibility, and a shared similar experience. Nothing flashy, though, just that both suffers from the rumors and gossip that others have spread about them, so it creates a quiet understanding between them. The rescued dog was a good relationship device, especially with how Bom tends to avoid emotional closeness. Co-parenting the dog kept pulling them into each other’s space naturally, apart from Hangyul's issues. Even when they try to keep distance, they stay connected because of it. At first, I was worried the romance might develop too quickly, which would usually mean a lot more relationship issues in later episodes, but thankfully it didn’t. The development felt consistent in tone. We understand their feelings early on, but the story never rushes the connection, and even though it isn’t moving at a breakneck pace, it never feels boring.

I also liked that the drama avoided piling extra twists on top of the already existing romcom cliches it had. No unnecessary breakups, no secret childhood connection, no random murder mystery dropped into a small-town plot. Yes, I'm looking at you, Dynamite Kiss and Summer Strike. Conflicts do show up, but they don't drag and they get resolved quickly. Misunderstandings are talked through. Once the leads understand their feelings, they are honest about them. The female lead is also refreshingly proactive in love. When she decides, she moves. She did not let her trauma bind her for long, because she knows she did nothing wrong.

The pacing is on the slower side, but it fits the countryside setting and overall vibe. The gentle flow matches the slice-of-life atmosphere and makes the show work well as a palette cleanser drama. It stays focused on the story it wants to tell and never tries to blow itself up into something bigger.

Even when heavier topics appear, like Jaegyu’s past with the fire and his abusive father, and Bom’s affair scandal and stalking incident, the tone stays mostly light. Because the drama commits to being simple in scope, it's decision to not explore these deeper sat right with me. Jaegyu’s emotional healing and his friendship with Ijun were also handled well and became one of the most enjoyable parts of the show. The supposed second male lead never felt like a rival, he was more like a long-lost friend. I even found hints of yearning to fix whatever problems they had lol. They bicker, clash, and distrust each other at times, but still somehow stay loyal, and we eventually find out why their tandem was like that.

Also, different from some viewers, I found Hangyul and Sejin's stories, the teen side couple, cute and just present enough. Not too dominant and not lacking either. Just teenagers in their teenager world experiencing teenager stuff: academics, crushes, and family issues. Their interactions felt like a slice-of-life side story. Together with the rest of the supporting cast, they made the town feel lived in without stealing focus.

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A game of misdirection and gaslight

If you’re watching Mouse now, chances are you’re going in with expectations. This drama has been talked about a lot as recommendations, and a lot of people think they already know “the big reveal.” And honestly? You might. But that doesn’t mean the ride is any less wild.

Whatever you think it is, it probably is, but also isn’t. Or maybe it is… just not in the way you think.

Watching Mouse felt like being dragged into a long, exhausting, but strangely addictive guessing game. It’s one of those dramas where you’re constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the story, only for it to pull the rug out from under you again. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, it twists itself into a new shape.

I won’t pretend the drama is realistic. The way it handles psychopathy and its origins is exaggerated, sometimes even ridiculous. But I guess that’s part of the appeal. The show isn’t trying to be a grounded procedural either, it’s more interested in pushing ideas to the extreme and seeing how far it can go. If you can suspend disbelief, the premise becomes more intriguing than distracting.

What really made this drama work, though, is the cast. The acting did carry a lot here. Everyone seemed suspicious at some point, and the performances are convincing enough that you keep switching sides. One episode makes you sure it’s this person, the next makes you question everything again. That constant confusion is very much intentional, and it kept my attention.

By the time everything comes together, the drama left me mentally trying to retrace how we got from this point to another. Not every twist will land for everyone, but the drama commits fully to whatever went off.

Overall, watching Mouse was a crazy ride. Even if you think you’ve been spoiled, I’d still say give it a try. It doesn’t take away from the experience. If anything, the constant reframing makes the journey just as intense.

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"Your delusions are sad because they're beautiful"

Note: I talk about story details as they were essential to connecting my thoughts to the drama. I still tried to avoid heavy spoilers, though.

Before anything else, if you’re hesitant to start this drama, I hope you try it first. Test the waters. You can always drop it if it’s not your type. I don’t think extreme negative or extreme positive reviews should be the deciding factor here. This drama depends a lot on what you value emotionally as a viewer.

Going into this drama, my expectations were shaped by the trailer: a slow-burn, slice-of-life romcom. And lots of yearning. Actually, emphasis on the yearning. To some extent, the drama does deliver that vibe, especially in its early stretch. But as the story unfolds, it also reveals a gap between what it wanted to be and what it actually was.


⁂ The first half vs the second half
The opening episodes gave me what I was expecting from the trailer. The pacing is comfortable, the banter easy, and the chemistry between the leads immediately readable. It has a solid romcom foundation, paired with a calm, scenic atmosphere despite the somewhat chaotic energy between the leads.

The second half is when we get to know Do Ra Mi better. When Do Ra Mi finally steps into the story not as an inner voice but as a physical presence, the drama shifts. Unfortunately, this makes a painfully clear shift in tone. Around this point did I realize, however, that the entire story revolved around the FL's inner struggle.


⁂ FL and her alter ego
One of the most important aspects of this drama was the FL’s mental health, especially her hallucinations coming to life (DID), and should've been emphasized more before the drama even started. After all, we realize that this isn’t a minor plot device, it’s in fact central to the story, the romance, and the overall.

I was honestly bummed this wasn’t clearer in the trailer, synopsis, or even the MDL tags. From the description alone, it’s easy to assume the “dual image” simply refers to an actress’s on-cam vs off-cam behavior.

Contrary to some complaints, I didn’t find the reveal abrupt, although the tonal shift in the second half is very evident. As early as ep 2, the hints began as inner voices and hallucinations, tied to past trauma, anxiety, and the pressure of popularity and public perception. Later on, when the FL accepted the alter ego's existence, it becomes clear that Do Ra Mi exists to carry emotions the FL couldn’t process on her own, and conceptually, this could've been one of the drama’s strongest plotlines.


⁂ The rom ....and the com?
The romance itself is a study in contradiction. This is not meant as a negative comment. It was quite entertaining to watch, even if it came with frustrations.

The ML is consistently gentle, thoughtful, and caring, yet also emotionally distant and cold when it comes to the female lead’s feelings. He clearly cares, sometimes too much, but he keeps drawing invisible lines. He’s painfully professional even when he clearly knows the FL’s feelings and is already being swayed himself. His words can be sharp, and he knows they are, yet he doesn’t soften them.

Their dynamic becomes a push and pulls of mutual concern and emotional misalignment. They banter, they communicate, they look after each other… and yet, they never quite speak the same emotional language for quite a while. His jealousy clashes with his emotional restraint, and while this does get addressed to an extent, I wish the drama explored his inner conflicts at least a bit deeply as it explored the FL’s.

What I thought this drama will be filled with was what it lacked: yearning and maybe angst. There was real potential for deeper yearning and angst, especially given the leads’ acting ability, but the drama least commits to it. Ironic how I felt the trailer had a lot stronger yearning than the entire drama. Emotions sometimes feel rushed or underdeveloped, making certain conflicts feel emotionally hollow rather than deep. I felt this especially when Do Ra Mi fully entered the story, I guess understandable because she exists because FL escapes the angst lol. I guess I should blame her for cutting the yearning short. The result is a romance that tells us it’s a painful scene without allowing us to actually feel that pain.

I'm more than okay that misunderstandings are resolved almost as soon as they are introduced, but there were moments that should've let the ache linger longer before the plot moves on. I only felt this after the "breakup" (because they weren't even together yet lol) before Do Ra Mi surfaced.


⁂ The attempt to add everything for every chance possible
I’m not entirely sure what direction the Hong sisters ultimately wanted to take with this drama. At times, it feels messy, not because of the ideas themselves, but because of how abruptly the story shifts tone and focus. One moment we’re grounded and reflective, the next we’re pulled into a comedy skit, then a psychological thriller, then something else entirely.

The alter ego’s goodbye, for instance, arrives with narrative importance but little emotional aftermath. Instead of sitting with the loss or allowing the FL to fully realize being her whole self again, the story quickly feeds us twists to add more problems to the ones barely even resolved.

By the final episodes, the drama introduces yet more twists that feel like they were always meant to matter, but never fully had the space to unfold. There were answers, yes, but also a sense that some mysteries were solved too late to resonate as deeply as they could have had. Maybe it would've been the better choice to leave certain things unanswered.


⁂ Final thoughts
One of the drama’s strongest ideas is stated outright by Mr. Kim, the ML's novelist friend and our second half cupid: everyone has their own personal language, and misinterpretation is inevitable when we assume others speak ours. This theme echoes throughout the series, not just between the leads, but also with the side characters' own stories, and even within the female lead herself.

Although I spoke a lot of what I saw were the cons, the drama isn’t without its strengths. The banter remains consistently charming. The dialogue occasionally lands with surprising emotional clarity, and there are conversations I still remember fondly: the aurora metaphor, the kitchen wordplay, and a few of the quiet moments that briefly captured what this drama could have been at its best.

At its core, this drama did touch on the themes I was looking for. While these ideas weren’t explored as deeply or as satisfyingly as I had hoped, there were moments where they still resonated. Moments where I paused and reflected. In the end, this is a drama I'll choose to remember closer to the feeling that its trailer promised than the story it ultimately told.

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