Reviews

it was awful. I loved it.

yeah your eyes aren't deceiving you. everything was a 0/10 and I ate every single second up as if I was starving.

the story: the writers sat in a room and Jon from accounting said "BDSM Mafia Boss". one person said "what about the storyline?" "don't worry about it" Jon from accounting replied. "the hornies don't care about that." and they really stuck to that because except the lil quarrel they had in the end, nothing really happened. Until Jon from accounting said "you know what. throw in a threesome, but don't build up or follow up on it at any point ok?" and the room said "Sure thing, Jon".

acting: listen I've never seen these actors in any other show and I've read that they are supposed to be good........... BUT WTF WAS KAMOL DOINNNGGG the actor cracked me up. whatever emotion he was supposed to portray, I wouldn't know because of all the botox he apparently got done right before filming. like damn he was hardly able to smile and no way he was able to look angry. his forehead stayed perfectly smooth and gosh I loved it so much...

music: the evil piano music whenever Kamol entered........... It was perfect.

conclusion:
when I watched the first episode, I added this to the "dropped" list real fast. but then episode 2 came and I started to see it as what it is. peak camp. the piano music. whole scenes only for product placements. awkward acting and even more awkward sex scenes with 0 build up. Kamols only characteristic being head over heels for Kim...

everything was awful and it's my favourite show ever.

Read More

The Best BL of all Time! So Go Watch!

I have never written reviews for anything but this drama forced me to write one. The recent surge of BL had us BL fans swooning however during the process the BL's lost its originality and offered the same plot with school/university/ engineering/love triangle/making all the females either villain or brainless fujoshi but with different actors. I am not bashing other bls but it was getting very repetitive.

But then BOOM! came this BL out of nowhere. Surprising us with its wholesome and refreshing original plotline. This is a story about an introverted salaryman who was just going with the flow of life and not much caring about love thus stayed as a virgin. However, when he turned 30 he was bestowed with the mind-reading ability and this is where folks one of the most hilarious yet MOST tender wholesome love story of the BL world's begun. Our protagonist, Adachi, finds out the popular and most perfect guy in the office, Kurosawa, has an intense crush on him.

Adachi is someone we all can relate to especially us introverts. He looks down on himself, lacks confidence, and always gives up fighting for himself and others when needed. But after he gained the power we could see the changes in him. He never once used his power for himself or to harm others rather he used them to help the people around him. He is becoming a better version of himself. Slowly but steadily he is overcoming his weakness for a better life.

Where else Kurosawa is completely opposite of Adachi. He is an extrovert person and the most popular guy in the office. He is a perfectionist in whatever he does. Girls go gaga on him including me. He is smart, handsome, confident, and knows how to carry himself. He is the go-to person, whenever someone faces any kind of problem. He is the perfect example of how a salaryman should be. However, when it comes to Adachi he loses his calms and his confidence wavers. All he wants is to stay beside Adachi and make him smile. Kurosawa will be happy and content as long as Adachi is happy and stay beside him even if as colleagues but that's going to change very soon though.

Cherry Magic has stolen my breath and my heart! Every week I anxiously wait for the new episodes like my life depends on it. The chemistry between the leads is sizzling and you can feel it from the very first interaction and you can feel as each episode progresses the chemistry intensifies. At first, honestly, I thought this will be like Ossan's love with overly comedic with little focus on romance especially when I read that the guy will have mind-reading power and the trailer also really didn't impress me but thank god I gave this gem of drama a shot and I fell in love.

The best thing about this drama is that all the characters no matter how small or big their role is very much like real life. All of us can relate to them in our life personally for me I could very much relate to Adachi and Fujisaki-san. Episode 4 touched my heart so deeply like no other bl could. Also, how could we forget our poor Kurosawa's fantasy?! Trust me it will make you laugh and giggle like a kid. Well, all episodes will make you giggle and scream in the middle of the night like a banshee in loose...or like a kid!

And to all the BL writers out there please learn from Kurosawa how to write perfect gentleman. Kurosawa even though is restless about his feelings for Adachi he never ever tried to force his feelings on Adachi. He is always respectful and he even felt remorse when the co-workers forced him to Kiss Adachi ( episode 3) albeit it was only a forehead kiss Kurosawa still felt bad which shows how considerate Kurosawa is and how much kindness and respect he has for Adachi.

This is a genuine love story between these two men that will warm your heart and soul...make you feel like you are on cloud 9. Make you feel fluffy and soft and gushy and will definitely make you say "EHHH!".

The thing with Japanese bl is that they don't need to show physical intimacy to convey their feelings. They can literally carry the whole show, with the same per as those that hugely depends on physical intimacy to gain popularity, with their eye contact and body language, and what acts they do for their loved one. Again I am not bashing anyone specific.

I think like most of you I am also not a fan of Japanese acting. They often feel cringe to me and made me stopped watching Japanese drama for a while. So for the people who are worried about the acting, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. The acting is actually top-notch. Both actors perfectly understood their characters and have dutifully are able to portray them just as they were written in manga. Machida is literally Kurosawa and no one can deny that!

To be honest I feel the live-action characters have more feel to them than the manga in my humble opinion. Also, the director did an amazing job of executing the story. And I am glad that they are adding their own original scenes to this adaptation and changing the timelines of specific scenes which I think will be more exciting.

The only con is the development of a side couple. Don't get me wrong I love them too. Tusge is a chaotic virgin that cracks me up every time he comes on screen and our cutie Wataya is such a tsundora lol. But I wished their story would have progressed with the same care as the main pairing but it's ok. This series is already a perfect 100 for me.

And Udon-Chan is love, Udon-Chan is life!

Listen guys once you start watching this series you will not be able to stop yourself from re-watching the currently out episodes again and again. I have already lost count of how many times I have re-watched the 5 episodes. Cherry Maho really spells a real cast at its viewers then we can't stop watching the series even if we want to.

So what are you guys waiting for join our Cherry Maho cult!

Sorry for such a long-ass review and I know I am not the best reviewer out there but hope this review at least is helpful to you lots.

Peace Out XOXO!


Edit- I have finally finished the whole series and my man I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so MUCH!! It was perfect!!! For me, the character development was so good. Adachi overcoming his fear of losing his power and mingling with people, understanding people without his power showed huge character development! Finally, Kurosawa can have his sweet life with Adachi. I do hope we get a season 2! I wanna see more of their sweet life. Call me greedy because I am. Fantastic ending to a fantastic series. Guys watch this show or else you will be missing out on the biggest gem of your life!

Read More

Enjoyable But... I Wish They Gave Us More!

***Disclaimer: This is just my opinion. We don't have to agree and I'm not here to argue with anyone***

(This review is entirely based on the show, I did not read the webtoon and went into this completely blind)

I really loved this drama... I thought the story was interesting, the acting was phenomenal and the OSTs touched my heart. I wish I could rewatch it for the first time and be able to experience and feel all the things I did all over again.

The way this drama had me in a chokehold for weeks needs to be studied! I honestly don't know if this drama would've had the same effect on me had I just binge watched it in one go. From beginning to end you can see the care / effort the writers put into bringing this story to life on screen. I thought the cast was beautifully chosen as the actors captured the essence of their characters so well. The emotions through the drama were raw / real and it was almost palpable through the screen. I heard the webtoon and the drama are different and that writers changed some stuff but idk I think that's the whole point of an adaption it gives the writers creative license and room to explore what the original story didn't have / lacked. Ahn Bo Hyun and Shin Hye Sun were so amazing. I need to see Bo Hyun in more leading roles... perhaps a historical drama next.

Overall, this drama was enjoyable. My only problem with it was that it was too short (12 episodes) and the last couple episodes seemed rushed and like they were trying to tie everything together at the last minute. They could've used the middle episodes to develop the plot further or have Seo Ha find out that Ji Eum was Ju Won's reincarnation earlier as well as her memories from her 1st life and how to break the curse. I found the shaman guy (Min Ki) so annoying. Especially the fact that they let his identity remain a mystery until the last two episodes, it was very underwhelming. They made it seem like he was a lover but as it turns out he was the reason why Ji Eum was cursed to be reborn each time she died. I found the ending of her forgetting everyone while they lived on remembering her very strange / not well thought out but I'm glad everything all worked out in the end and the drama ended on a happy note. I was initially so scared that it would end badly but then again I'm a lover of angst and pain. Either way I think I would've loved this drama bc the storytelling, acting and sequence of events was so entertaining.

I definitely would rewatch this drama sometime in the future. I think the key to enjoying this drama is just to go in blindly without any preconceived notions from the webtoon or constantly comparing it to it. As a reader myself it's just a fact that no adaptation can ever really live up to what you imagined in your head.

With that said I give this drama an 8/10.

Thanks for reading & happy watching!

❤️

Read More

I have seen absolute darkness. I know what it's like to lie in bed, unable to leave, trapped under sheets of sweat-drenched anxiety because every single movement feels heavier than you are. I've lived for the moments you reach the surface and gasp for air, only to slip beneath the waves. Most importantly, I know how a single hand can reach into that darkness and pull you to shore.

For sake of argument, I am going to share something very personal. In 2009 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This isn't a condition that you catch like a cold, but rather one that manifests at a certain age and snowballs until it's nearly impossible to function. You can't prevent it through proper care, you can't always predict its onset and you certainly can't run from it. Essentially, bipolar disorder means I suffer from violent mood swings - severe bouts of depression and self-destructive manic states. Most people are familiar with depression on some level, but the idea of a manic state is foreign so I'll take a moment to explain it. If depression is an extreme state of sadness or hopelessness, you can think of mania as an extreme state of happiness. It's generally characterized by impulsive (and often destructive) decisions, lack of sleep and is almost always accompanied by the physical feeling of euphoria (you can think of this as something similar to the effects of several drugs like ecstasy.) This state is the most dangerous and, for me personally, meant that I would blow through money on drugs and alcohol, ostracize my friends and family because of an uncontrollable temper and sail off into the sunset feeling invincible. These impulses left my life in ruins.

I crashed hard during my third semester of college and had to withdraw. At my worst I was suicidal, faced with a crippling loneliness that I had never felt before. You can think of it like standing knee- deep and staring into a dark pool of water. The only light is the reflection of your own eyes and even those seem foreign to you. If you shout you're greeted by a distorted echo that you recognize as your own, but it's masked by an alien quality. In this sense, mental disorders create two yous; the you that you're familiar with and the stranger you can't recognize beyond a silhouette and the stain it leaves behind. You're a prisoner in your own body and every single day you feel yourself inching closer and closer to the water.

If there is a single safe harbor in all of this, it's love. When two souls dredge through the fire and connect, the bond can become unbreakable. Empathy is the great uniter; shared pain is like cement. Love will harden through pain. Two souls become pillars, lifting the other out of the water and into the sky. This is what separates this drama from the rest. This is why It's Okay, That's Love is a masterpiece.

Mental health is not a topic that is addressed very often in Korean dramas, and when it is it often comes across as comical. Mental health balances between something people think of as self-imposed, something you can shrug off if you try hard enough, and something to be afraid of. Because of this, it's usually presented as one of the two extremes: something too light, often existing as comic relief or a silly quirk meant to add flavor without substance, or as something too heavy, existing as some ethereal force that twists the mind into something less than human. It's Okay, That's Love is able to present something serious and keep a lighthearted tone without being insulting.

If you're looking at the melodrama tag and expecting something that borders on makjang, this drama is not that. The feeling of melancholy threads this drama together, but it does not weigh it down. You won't find endless sobbing, misunderstandings or two-dimensional characters. Instead, this drama showcases the marriage of two souls through unconditional love and growth. Love is strongest when flaws can fit together like a jig-saw puzzle, and the characters in this drama compliment each other perfectly. It's important to emphasize that these characters are flawed. Too often dramas shy away from characters with real problems and instead settle on external conflict to move the story in its entirety. The characters in these dramas are perfect outside of the experiences they undergo and the forces that act on them and it makes them two-dimensional. This is not the case in this drama. Most of the conflict is internal, but it's relatable and organic. Every single character is presented in a manner that allows you to love and empathize with them - it's a multi-layered story, the supporting cast is also very well-developed.

In addition to a perfect atmosphere, this drama does something almost unheard of in a Korean drama. It presents a love story that is not about the chase, but rather endurance. Adult topics such as sex, intimacy and trust are at the forefront and allow the drama to paint a picture of actual couplehood instead of traditional guy-chase-girl or girl-chase-guy fare. You'll watch the couple grow not only as individuals, but as loving creatures. It doesn't stop at love, either, the concept of friendship as a refuge is just as strong. The entire cast grows over the course of the show, and if you're anything like me, you will grow along side them.

I really can't gush enough about this drama. It's been a very long time since I watched something that resonated within me with such perfect harmony. The soundtrack captures the moods perfectly, the actors (from main to supporting) have realistic and beautiful chemistry. The melancholy is haunting, but it won't overwhelm you. I cried, I smiled, laughed and lived with this drama. I saw those two souls grow into a love so pristine that you honestly believe they cannot live without each other. The term soulmate can only apply when two people love each other unconditionally, and they both crossed the sea in a rowboat to reach it.

Read More

I came into this film knowing what it was going to be about, but nothing could have prepared me for the impact of watching The Crucible. It was dark, violent, and quite honestly nauseating. I was on the verge of tears for nearly an hour and when the 1h36 mark hit, I had to pause the movie and did nothing but cry for the children. To think, this is real. This happened to these kids. When I hit play, from that moment on, tears were falling.

I will probably never be able to watch this movie again, but it is something you honestly must see. Yes, the images are disturbing. Yes, you will feel anger, sadness, and numbness, but this movie leaves an impression. The acting is superb and all of the child actors honestly deserve awards. Their expressions, their gestures, they just strike you right in the heart every time. You will not soon forget this movie. I'm not sure I ever will.

What may be even more impressive, this movie caused such a stir in South Korea that the case was forced to be re-opened and laws demanded to be rewritten. It makes you think, it really does. How much effort does it take for justice to prevail? Why can people be bought with money when they know such horrible things had occurred? I honestly don't know, and never will know why such apathy and cruelty exist in the world. Why do we cause each other pain? It makes me sick. But as a quote in the movie says, "The reason why we are fighting so hard, is not to change the world, but instead, not to let the world change us."

Without a doubt, I recommend this movie.

Read More

Let me say this right off the bat: If you’ve been watching K-dramas long enough- and by long enough, I really just mean like about ten dramas among of which atleast two were law/crime/investigation- there’s a high probability that you’ve already seen all there is to see in the genre. There are some tropes that will always and I really do mean “always” happen in these shows.

Let me count them down with you:
1)Corrupt people in power who have successfully fooled the public into believing that they are good.
2)Our underdog hero and heroine who have a tragic past caused by the above mentioned corrupt people in power.
3)Our hero and heroine having coincidentally linked childhood history of some sorts.
4)An abundance of convenient plot-devices and complications that happen just for the sake of happening.
5)Rushed endings.
6)Our hero having magical powers that makes him have an IQ of 269, ninja fighting skills and a slightly whacked emotional quotient.

Yeah in 9/10 K-crime/law dramas this will happen. I bet my left tit on it. So if you are going to wear your granny glasses and make these the basis of judging what is original and what is not- you might as well save yourself the hassle and stop watching these altogether because by these standards you’re never going to find a drama that is “original”. Even if you do find one that seems different on the surface, I assure you it too will have a lot of typicalities in its core. And I say this in the nicest way possible ‘cause been there and done that.

So you ask me, Jeana, if they all tell more or less the same story what’s the point in watching? So glad you asked. The thing is, while the story may not be entirely never-before seen; the characters that tell the story and the way they tell it, is. And that makes all the difference.

Lawless Lawyer, in its core is also a typical crime/law drama and it has all those tropes I just mentioned above. However, the reason why it’s a must-watch is because it fulfills the goal all dramas strive to achieve: entertainment. And ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you this: LL is entertaining as fucking hell. It has moments that will have you cracking up, moments that will have you hold your breath in suspense even when you can already predict what’s going to happen and moments where your heart will fill with pride because of the characters you will surely come to love.

I’ve been eyeing Lee Joon Gi ever since I saw him single handedly carry the clusterfuck that was Scarlet Heart Ryeo on his beautiful broad shoulders. His acting chops are no joke. You bring him on the screen for two minutes and he’ll show you he isn’t playing. You know how we say that “some actors just emote with their eyes”? Yeah well, LJG emotes with the very flex of his jaw, the flick of his eyebrow, the tilt of his head- you name the part and the man will show you how to act with it. Simply put, he is brilliant. Which is why it’s literally a surprise to nobody that Bong Sang Pil is an extremely enigmatic character with madness in his eyes and gold in his heart. It was a joy to watch him and by the end of 16 episodes I was mighty fond of him.

Holding her own alongside LJG was our beautiful and talented Seo Ye Ji who first impressed me in Save Me and now won me over in LL. Her character had a solid backbone and she wasn’t afraid to show it. I usually have a bone to pick with beautiful actors -both male and female- because they rely heavily on their looks and decide to model their way through the episodes. Even when they are talented, you can see them take it easy and just roll through. I hate that and even my superficial tendency to fawn at pretty faces, masculine abs and collar bones isn’t enough to stop me from giving the drama a big fat 4 if I felt like the actor relied more on looks than putting in work. Here however, both LJG and Seo Ji perfectly embodied their characters and did their job despite being two very gorgeous people and that just made watching them extra sweet.

Some people say that a show is only as good as its antagonists and worry not my folks because the villains here are also an absolute delight. I have loved Choi Min Soo since his supporting role in Warrior Baek Dong Soo where he stole all the spotlights from his younger and more popular co-stars. Some people think that he tries hard or exaggerates with his roles but I disagree. I feel like he always brings these unique characters to life whose actions you both love and hate. He was an excellent villain in Lawless Lawyer and his Ahn Oh Joo- a greedy, ruthless and power hungry goon made me enjoy every second he was on-screen.

Next up on the antagonist list is Nam Soon Jo who with her over-the-top screaming and deliberately evil expressions never failed to amuse me and then finally, last but definitely not the least- we’ve got Cha Moon Sook played by Lee Hye Young. The evil mastermind and the woman on top of the food chain. She was as cold as they come. As sophisticated as she was cruel and I loved every scene she was in.

Lawless Lawyer was a very enjoyable ride from start to finish. There were many endearing supporting characters and some side roles and cameos by older actors who I adore. The music wasn’t too extraordinary but it was well-placed throughout the episodes. There wasn’t too much of a love story either; as a lot of potentially good chemistry between our leads was left unexplored but I’m not complaining because there were some good kisses and cute moments and I don’t ask for much in a drama which has romance as a sub-plot only. Other than that, I’d say LL had basically a bit of everything- love, laughter, kickass action scenes, suspense and emotion and so baby, I was a happy camper.

Yes, there were things that could be better. Some scenes could have developed more properly, some events more fleshed out. The ending more nicely executed but you know what? This show got me out of a three month slump. Before this I kept dropping shows half-way through or near the end ‘cause I just lost interest but with Lawless Lawyer I was compelled to watch episode after episode and I just didn’t want it to end.

So be brave, give it a shot and delve a little in the land of the lawless. ;)

Read More

MORE THAN JUST A LOVE STORY. ATOTS is GMMTV's nearly impeccable BL Series! --- 9.9/10

This series is a great way to start the year 2021. This series surpasses all my expectations in almost every aspects of this show. This series is exceptional when it comes to chemistry, acting, OST and especially the message they wanted to imply.

STORYLINE / MORALS

• ATOTS' storyline is so unique in the BL world. It's a game changer from the usual university-themed Y series we used to see in this genre. I am not actually a fan of slow paced series, but ATOTS is an exemption. The story is not so fast, and it results to more appreciation of every scenes. The last scene on episode 9 will be more perfect tho if they gave us a kiss (as per the novel's basis as well), but it was still okay due to their powerful scene execution.THE ENDING WAS SOOO GOOD. My eyes are sheding tears while smiling.
• What I love the most in this series is how they showed the contrast among social classes, and making the viewers learn how to value their lives. Showing the difference between people in the higher and lower class of the society results to realizations and understanding among its members. A rich boy realizing how happy living in a simple life in the village; however, if villagers have their choice will they choose to stay where they are? -- it's reality vs. practicality question. Khama's words of wisdoms tell us more about the message that this show wanted to imply.

ACTING / CASTING

• Their acting is so natural and effective, but I want to give a special commendation to Mix Sahaphap. He is a rookie actor, but the way he acts feels like he is doing acting for decades. The emotions was delivered properly, and it transcends from my computer screen. Meanwhile, I don't think anyone is more fit for the character of Phupha rather than Earth. Earth's expressive eyes and effective line delivery is what he made me impressed.
• This show proves that the chemistry among the actors is efficient enough rather than showing too much skinship. EarthMix's chemistry is overflowing, it's similar to fizz when you open a soda can.
• I would also love to commend the other casts in this series, they gave justice to the characters they are potraying. Tul and Longtae being the best friends of the year, the adorable kids in the village, the other forest rangers, Mr. Khama and of course Dr. Nam -- all of them are worthy to remember.

OSTs / Other Aspects

• Who wasn't attached to the sound of the flute? This show managed to put all the musics in the right timing without being too excessive. The OSTs are all pleasant to ears, and I love how they chooses Aye and Earth to sung some of its OSTs.
• The scenery and the village itself was so beautiful, and it becomes more attractive because of their amazing cinematography. It's obvious that they ensure to give their best for the benefits of the audience in this aspect.

Overall, I think this is my most favorite BL series from GMMTV along with He's Coming To Me & TOL. Kuddos to all the teams behind this show, and especially to the director. P Aof never disappointed me in the series he made.👏👏👏

PS. The 0.1 minus is for Phupha's beard...kidding😅

Read More

A CRASH COURSE IN LIFE

DISCLAIMER: These are just my thoughts; we don’t have to agree and I’m not looking to argue with anyone.

This show should be called Crash Course in Life, not Crash Course in Romance. Overall it had more comedy, slice of life and drama / thriller than romance aspects.

First off I wanna say that I really enjoyed this show and before it was finished I was excited to rate it super high like a 9/10 but now my feelings have changed and I give this show an 8-8.5/10. Studio dragon definitely doesn’t really miss with the shows they produce… for the most part, they seem well put together, thought out, and executed. You can feel all the actors efforts no matter the script and I think that’s what makes their productions truly worth watching / amazing.

For episodes 1-8 I was super invested and loved the direction the show was going in even with the annoying controlling moms but then after that, the show took a different turn and idk… it became very predictable, and I found myself not as invested as the first time. Maybe because I watched this drama weekly instead of binging it in one go is the reason, I feel this way but idk… the show ended up missing the mark in some ways. Don’t get me wrong the comedy and light-heartedness of the show was really touching and I even found myself tearing up a few times. At its core, you can really see that love and family relationships is an ongoing theme throughout and that these people will always fight for and protect the ones they care about.

In my humble opinion, since Haeng-seon and Chi-yeol got together I felt myself losing interest… there weren’t as many obstacles in their relationship prior to dating and it seemed like their romance got overshadowed with trying to find out more about the murders and who exactly was targeting Haeng-seon and her family. It was predictable because Dong-hui seemed suspicious from the get-go. Honestly, I was not satisfied by his suicide because he got the easy way out instead of having to rot in prison and pay for his crimes. I keep saying this, but I hate when female leads are always so carefree and nice to persons who clearly don’t mean them well… same goes for Su Ah’s mom. I literally did not care or feel sorry that her husband cheated on her. If anything, it was karma and it served her right. She was always praying on the downfall of other moms and their kids so that her child could remain on top and well… what goes around comes around.

Hae-e’s mom coming back the moment she got into a coma was your stereo-typical drama moment. I’m sure everyone could see that coming. I really felt bad for Hae-e because you could tell she didn’t see that woman as her mother after so many years and felt obligated/forced to be nice to her and tolerate her bullsh*t. It was painful watching her pretend to care for and be interested in Hae-e when you knew the real reason she was here was to try and pimp Haeng-seon and Chi Yeol (him specifically) out of money. She literally had no scruples or shame about doing it either and I’m sure at that moment Hae-e realized she was nothing like her mom at all… and she didn’t even want to be. Her bio mother was a nuisance and to me, she added nothing to the plot other than tension and unnecessary drama. She was only a plot device trying to create strife and break their little family apart.

In the end, I’m glad she realized that Hae-e grew up fine without her and she was just intruding on her life by sticking around. She was a sh*tty mom and I’m glad she realized that and packed her bags to allow Hae-e to be happy with the family who raised her.

This show really got me in my feelings, especially the last episode. Scratch a lot of the bad things I said before I absolutely loved this – THE LAST EPISODE CAME THROUGH!!

Chi Yeol and Haeng-seon both deciding to buy each other rings and proposing to each other was golden. They really are made for each other and I love that their feelings have never wavered. Even if this show is frustrating keep watching because the love between the characters will really get you. It’s about the pure love between a mom and her daughter. That scene when Hae-e ran into Haeng-seon’s arms just like in the flashback had me crying!!! Even Sun-jae's mom making amends with both her sons and accepting Hui-jae as he was touched me so deeply. Su-A's mom becoming a mentor/coach at the pride and helping other parents to get their kids on the path to seeking higher education was a good turn of the tables aswell. It seemed like everyone really changed for the better. A big surprise for me was Geon Hu and Su A liking each other, Hae-e actually giving Sun-Jae a chance and Jae Woo getting Young Joo pregnant. I mean they added it all at the end/epilogue but I still ate it up.

All in all, this drama was good. It gave what needed to be given and tackled a lot of situations while still maintaining the funny, lightheartedness of it all.

I give this drama a solid 8.5/10 and some brownie points for being able to tug on my heartstrings ❤️ I would 100% recommend it to others and I would rewatch it in a heartbeat.

Read More

Good drama to get out of a kdrama slump

Solid 8.5/10 for me, I watched this and honestly the storyline and actors had me hooked. It takes a while to build up but if you stick with it I promise it gets better. For me this was a very intricately written slice of life drama with romance and some supernatural elements.

I like the fact that this drama sheds a light on more niche professions such as audio / sound engineering and we get to delve into what that really entails in Do Kyung's daily life. I enjoyed learning about the main character's backstories and how they became the way they were. I know a lot of people say the FL, Oh Hae Young is very annoying and behaves like a child but I really loved her character. She was so hilarious and endearing in my opinion. I feel like anyone living her life would lash out and react the way she did. I really resonated with Oh Hae Young's character as she's very strong willed and emotional but unlike others she isn't afraid to hide her emotions. She feels deeply and wears her heart on her sleeve. That for me made her character seem more real / genuine and relatable. You could also tell that the actress Hyun-Jin put her everything into that role – her performance was phenomenal and she truly deserved all the awards she won.

I also loved that this drama highlighted real struggles in peoples day to day lives. I felt connected to each character and came to a better understanding of them as the story unfolded. The chemistry between the leads was amazing I love how they were lowkey the strangers to enemies to lovers trope. They served so hard tbh! I adored how their relationship progressed and when it reached its climax it was like all the emotions and tension between them were palpable through the screen. I love how through all their trials and tribulations you could see the situation from their point of view, understand why they each wanted to let the other go and eventually how their undeniable connection brought them back together.

At first I was weary of pretty Oh Hae Young but then we got to see who she really was underneath her happy exterior. On the surface she looks happy and seemingly has a perfect life but the truth is that she was broken and wasn't raised in a family that loved her / showed her how to love. The sheer irony of the fact that both Hae Young's wanted to trade lives or were envious of the other at some point in time was some excellent writing. I feel like the writers thoroughly thought out the plots, story arcs and found a way to mesh all the character's lives together.

This drama taught me not to judge a book by it's cover and to treat others as you would want to be treated because you really don't know whats going on in a persons life or what they have been through. Additionally the drama emphasized the meaning of friendship, forgiveness as well as love and family relationships (the good, the bad and the ugly)

Other highlights for me included Do Kyung's precarious relationship with his mother and his crazy relationship with his siblings. I particularly enjoyed watching the love story of Jin Sang and Soo Kyung unfold. It took a while but they got there and I was so happy for them at the end.

This drama had me grinning from ear to ear half of the time and I definitely appreciated it for everything it was. I would recommend this to people who are in slumps and don’t know what to watch next. This got me out of my own :)

Thanks for reading and happy watching!

❤️

Read More

Age of Youth is one of the most precious dramas I have ever watched and I doubt I will ever find another drama like this that has evoked so much emotion out of me. It deserves every single bit of praise, and will remain in my heart as something beautiful and sensational. This drama is pure gold. I know I’m one of many opinions, but to fully understand what I’m talking about, Age of Youth is one of those dramas that everyone should at least watch once.

The plot was something that originally drew me in. It sounded very original and worthy enough to watch at least the first two episodes. While watching Age of Youth, there were so many moments that either relatable, touching or just plain hilarious. The writer did a fantastic job of the script. With the characters, it took me a few episodes to love all five of them (especially Jung Ye Eun) but each and every one of them, they had a story to tell and all made massive development with their lives. Yoo Eun Jae I grew attached to straight away because I felt a small connection with her and wanted her to grow stronger. Jung Ye Eun was annoying at first (and still can be), but her passionate personality made her admirable. Song Ji Won is the weirdest but most wonderful housemate, and always made a lot of scenes better. Kang Yi Na seemed to have an easy life, but had problems that she kept to herself and solved herself - her pride is something we should all aim to have. And finally, Yoon Ji Myung. I think everyone who has watched Age of Youth can agree that we all wanted to her to be happy as she deserved it the most. Her issues at work, with her brother and mother always caused her to be unhappy and we viewers did not want to see her suffering. All five of them were perfect, unique and lovable. Also, the boys - thank you for all being beside the girls and supporting them (except Ko Doo Young of course). My only issue with the story was the small ‘supernatural’ element that introduced some of the characters’ problems - I wish that was done in a different way.

The acting was on point and this drama was a huge stepping stone in the actors careers. I know I should talk about each actress individually, but I feel like I expressed my feelings a lot in the previous paragraph as their acting was what helped to make each of the characters the best they could have been. The five actresses were amazing, stunning and won my hearts over. None of them wavered in their acting styles, they consistently stuck with their character and continued till the end. I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for their next dramas because I want to see how they all grow.

Music worked extremely well with each scene and every single track was gorgeous to listen to. If you ever have spare time, just stick on the Age of Youth soundtrack and fully appreciate the audio because it will be worth it. My favourite track is definitely the main one, Butterfly by Sogyumo Acacia Band - it has that perfect, young vibe to it.

There is no doubt about it, I would rewatch this right now if I didn’t have so many dramas to catch up on - but I most definitely will be watching this again before the end of the year.

Age of Youth is worth everyone’s time and for me, is the drama of the year - maybe of the decade/century as well haha. If you love a simplistic and cute story with well developed characters and immersive backstories, this is the drama for you.

Read More

If you’re not normally a Thai lakorn viewer, or even a Thai boran (ancient history) lakorn viewer, you should definitely consider making an exception in this case because this is one very special show.
'Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat' is a wonderful light-hearted romantic-comedy lakorn which feature underlying themes of history, karmic retribution and fate.

STORY (No spoilers)
Time-travelling dramas are not new, even amongst lakorns, but I think that this show is a bit more inspired because it certainly knows how to make use of this premise and give us a lovely light-hearted walk through 17th-century Ayutthaya without making either the history-bits or the political-bits too heavy and overwhelming. On the contrary, from the title of the show itself - ‘Love Destiny’ - it makes it pretty clear that this show is primarily a romance show, which it fulfils to a tee.

It was very clever of this show to transport a budding archeologist back into ancient history because the show gives us a natural teacher in her. As she gradually meets one historical figure after another, we get wonderful internal monologues about the various characters’ positions and their impact on history. And when she gets all excited over ancient historical sites, we get lovely little expositions of the significance of those sites. And through her fish-out-of-water personality and conversations, we are seamlessly introduced to the culture and customs of the times, as well as their hilarious reactions to her modernisms. History becomes so much more accessible and digestible as we follow Kadesurang/Karakade through some of the definitive times in King Narai’s reign in history. It’s a brilliant piece of writing and a brilliant way of introducing a slice of Thai history to viewers without making it too heavy or boring.

One would think that with so much historical setting, background, characters and events, the romance would be short-changed to accommodate it all. Wrong! Very wrong! As a romance tale of hate-to-love, and of fated love, this show not only provides generous amounts of time to introduce our main leads and develop their relationship, it actually also spoils us with plenty of fan-service and squeal-worthy scenes. If you’re a romance-junkie like me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how much fixes you’ll get.

This show does many things well but one of the best things about it is the character and personality of our main leads, particularly our main female lead.
Suddenly transported from the 21st-century into the 17th-century, she is very much a fish-out-of-water and it doesn’t help either that the body she inhabits is one which has a reputation of being a rather evil witch. Having to not only adjust to her new environment, but to also redeem Karakade’s reputation amongst the community, is a tall undertaking but Kadesurang rises to the occasion magnificently. To see her slowly but surely win person after person around to her side is a lesson in human gentleness, kindness, patience and poise which has personally inspired me to try and do the same. She is resilient, resourceful and empathic, and she takes every hit she receives in her stride but without losing a shred of her dignity or determination. She is beautiful and amazing.
Our main male lead is very much a product of his status and his time but his evolution from him despising the woman he is affianced to, to learning to see her for who she is in her new personality, and then to be curious about her, and then to accept her (quirks and all), and then to love her - deeply love her - is both funny and very heart-warming.
They also make a pretty compatible couple. They don’t dwell on their fights for long; they take pains to listen, understand and learn about each other; and they learn how to accommodate, give-and-take, and be flexible with one another. Theirs is no childish playground-bickering juvenile romance, nor is it those demanding, personality-clash, dramatic ones. It’s quite wonderfully mature and steadfast, but losing none of its charm or warmth. I love it!

Before I say a few words about our supporting cast (because they are deserving of their own little section), I would like to say that another good thing about this lakorn is its great absence of your typical thai lakorn tropes.
No evil nangrais (aka second female leads)? Check.
No love triangles? Check.
No mad antagonist/ crazy villain? Check.
No plot-filler? Check.
No long-drawn-out misunderstandings? Check.
No lack-of-communication angst? Check.
No revenge plots? Check.
No slap-kiss? Check.
No cartoon/ cardboard characters? Check.
No inconsistent or irrational character portrayals? Check.
Wow, too good to be true? Yes.
There is, however, one - ONE - lakorn cliche that does feature itself heavily in this show and I would be remiss in not pointing it out. It’s your ‘tripping-and-falling-into-arms-followed-by-long-stares’ trope. Not gonna lie, this one gets quite a bit of air-time but they’re all variations of the trope so it might be interesting to see just how much they can stretch it, lol. They do water it down to just ‘turning-and-staring’ as the show progresses, and perhaps it may be a matter of taste but I personally thought the show did okay in giving this particular trope quite a bit of spice through its variations.

Finally, a word about the supporting cast. SOLID is the word that comes to mind. This show’s supporting cast have added extra layers of life, depth and breadth to the show. They sparkle and shine in their own different capacities, and while some might be a little more intense and heavy in terms of presence and personality, the show also gives us little insights and glimpses into their thought-process which makes them all comes across believably real and human. The scintillating supporting cast is truly a massive plus.


ACTING/ CAST
POPE THANAWAT - as Thun Muen Suntorndewa/ Por Date. I’ve seen Pope before in the 'Suparburoot Juthathep' series as the 2nd brother and I knew he had it in him to give his character an aura of gentlemanly dignity and authority where needed. And I also knew he could act and pull out the emotions and the tears if required. He did not disappoint. Our main male lead did a great job in taking us through his emotional journey from start to finish, and if he has not won for himself new fans after this show, I would be very much surprised. His eyes and his smiles are his best assets here as they are beautifully expressive.

BELLA RANEE - as Kadesurang/ Mae Ying Karakade. I’ve always liked Bella from her 'Padiwaradda' and 'Khun Chai Puttipat' days, but she blew me away here with her incredibly versatile portrayal of Kadesurang/ Karakade. I think this show/ script is also great as it allows her to really expand her acting ability and show us just how versatile and capable she is as an actress. I am so glad that she took the script by the horns and threw herself into it with gusto. She really is the main character and the lynchpin to the entire show and she shone brilliantly all the way through. Wonderful performance.

Best of all, the chemistry between these two in this show is on fire! No words - It has to be seen to be believed and after you’re done curling your fingers and toes, squealing into your pillow and rolling all over the floor in romantic ecstasy, you’ll get up and want more. For a show that doesn’t have many skinship scenes, this is a masterclass on how to do restrained romance in dramas. Goodness.

The supporting casts of actors and actresses are all stellar. Standout performances for me were:-
Nirut Sirichanya as our dear old Khun Loong/ Ork Ya Hor Thibadi (Por Date’s dad) was absolutely lovable.
The girls playing Karakade’s personal maids P’Pim and P’Yam killed every single one of their scenes - they are a dynamic duo and such an example of sisterhood girl-power.
Ampha Phoosit as Nang Prik, and Chamaiporn Jaturaput as Khun Ying Jumpa (Por Date’s mom), were an unforgettable double-combo act.
Punjan Kawin was charming as Khun Reung, and Chartchai Ngamsan had that on-screen gravitas as Kosa Ban.
Louis Scott added vulnerable dimensions to a power-hungry Constantine Phaulkon, while Got Jirayu stole all his scenes as a charismatic and hot-looking Luang Surasak.
And the actor playing Joi? Adorable.
Really, the supporting cast all outdid themselves here and I’m so glad this show’s hit-status has brought them into the limelight.


MUSIC
The OST for this show has apparently been outselling itself so it can't be bad. Holistically, taking into account everything from the soundtrack, the background music and the sound effects, I thought this show did very well in incorporating the various elements of it into the scenes. I particularly enjoyed the way they employed their sound effects - it definitely added pep and pop to the scenes!


RE-WATCH VALUE
This show has so many things going for it - sweeping romance, liberal sprinklings of humour, good introduction into Thailand’s ancient history, beautiful sets and costumes, a memorable set of cast of characters, and a storyline which doesn’t spin itself into unnecessary knots or is packed with fillers.
One of the best light-hearted romance dramas I’ve seen to date. Definitely re-watchable.

EDIT TO ADD:
There are 2 versions of this lakorn - it's original 15-episode (1 hour 50 mins per episode) version, and a Director's Uncut 40-episode (40 minutes per episode) version which features a few hours worth of extra footage scattered throughout its entire run.

This lakorn became such a massive hit in Thailand during the year it ran (2018), it single-handedly cleared Bangkok's notoriously terrible traffic jams on the evenings when an episode was airing and spawned an Uncut version release. Unheard of. Yes, this lakorn was THAT good.

Read More

PERFECTION

I have to admit, before watching "I Told Sunset About You" i never knew who Billkin and PP were. I did not watch "My Ambulance" and Nadao productions doesn't really make a FULL BL Series compared how frequent GMMTV makes BL Series. Thanks to MDL i saw some posts in the feeds about this show. Unfortunately this show is not on Youtube and the only way to watch this legally is either through Line TV without Subs or Vimeo which comes with a hefty price. I decided to watch the first episode in DC just to test it and if I love it, i will watch the remaining episodes in Vimeo. (which i did).

After watching Episode 1, I was really amazed that I was watching a BL series. I've never experienced this kind of quality as far as cinematography, editing and direction in a BL series. When i rate shows in MDL i have my own expectations for Asian Dramas especially with Kdramas, and i have my own expectations for a BL series (which is normally a bit lower and usually try to disregard some technicalities like editing and cinematography). After watching Episode 1, I knew that this drama would be one of my favorite BL series of all time. And i was right, after finishing the 5 episodes of ITSAY, this show becomes not only my all time favorite BL series but also one of my most favorite Asian dramas of all time.

MUSICAL SCORE - I honestly believe that ITSAY has one of the best Musical Scorings in any asian drama. As they say, music stimulates our minds and hearts. The way they used different versions of the OST "SKYLINE" depending on the mood of the scene is amazing. They also have other OST which is used perfectly on other scenes which adds emotions to the scenes. Some of the memorable scenes with perfect musical scoring are the following:

- Episode 4 - in the exchange of IG stories between Teh and Oh Aew, the BGM was building up to when Teh was crying and about to open his book to review, the BGM used keeps building up which adds suspense to the scene... then once he opened the book, there's complete silence until he burst out crying, then as soon as Teh cried the instrumental version of "Can’t Translate” added sooo much emotions in the scenes which made the audience feel more for Teh. That scene was perfection.

- The Bra scene... the BGM used when Oh Aew was removing the bra and crying... that was tastefully done and made the scene more impactful. this was the musical score they used : https://youtu.be/VcjvE7xkEnU

- The musical score they used in the trailer when Teh and Oh Aew were in motorcycle, this is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/-gaXP7rgNE4

- Uderwater scene - need i say more?

Nadao was generous enough to share most of the original musical score tracks they used in Youtube and i have to say i fell in love listening to these tracks!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCUIsYHYpxJMwSYDxRX37w3iUjibNNQc_


CINEMATOGRAPHY - Because I'm into videography and photography, I could say that cinematography is my favorite technical aspect in a movie or drama. The cinematographer or what we call the director of photography of ITSAY carefully thought every shot, considering the angle, the camera movement and placement, the shot composition, the light and used different cinematography techniques from close ups, long shots, tracking shot, crane and dolly shots, panning to name a view. The usage of light either natural or artificial to set the vibe of the entire show and to set up the mood of a scene are so meticulously done. The cinematographer was able to capture the emotions of the actors on all of their close ups and extreme close ups especially on their heavy dramatic scenes. And most of all the cinematographer was able to show how beautiful Phuket Thailand is especially the amazing sunset shots and the underwater scenes.

I found a youtube link that compiled some of the best cinematography in ITSAY and majority of the shots selected are some of my favorites. Please watch this and be mesmerized by ITSAY's cinematography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVKrDkDLR5o&feature=youtu.be

- The underwater scene and the sunset scenes are so magical. But some of my favorite camera shots are (1) the hammock scene in ep3. The amount of light which is almost a silhouette but you can still perfectly see the sand, see and sky is just perfection. (2) the review scenes on Ep2, the camera shots from above, below, ground level, these shots made the scenes much enticing to the viewers (3) motorbike scene in Ep2. How beautiful this shot is? The colors, the lights in the streets and while the motorbike is moving, the cinematographer has the best shot of Oh Aew and Teh's happy faces , Oh Aew raising his hands while both of them are having the best time of their lives. (4) the movement of camera on Ep4 when Oh Aew walked away from Teh. The camera did not follow Teh as he walked towards Oh Aew, but the camera just keeps moving (with PP's version of Skyline as background music) and all we can see is the wall. But as soon as camera ended the shot with the wall, we saw Oh Aew & Teh under the stairs hugging each other. How beautiful and well though of camera shot is that? clap clap!



EDITING - the way each scenes are edited were done so well. Like how they explained in the documentaries, the emotions of the characters are very important and this should have continuity in every scene. You cannot just cry without any reason, or even if you do, in a drama the audience should understand where the emotions are coming from. One thing i appreciated in ITSAY editing is they do not resort to making flashback scenes for audience to understand what Teh and Oh Aew are thinking. This happens a lot in Kdramas. Even just some scenes which happened 5 seconds ago, the editor will resort to flashback of the same scene just for audience to know what the characters are thinking at that moment.

example:

- During the Bra Scene - the editor can insert some flahsbacks like the sensual scene in ep3 where Teh keeps touching Oh Aew's chest or the underwater scene on episode 4 where Teh still touched Oh Aew's breast. Even without showing those flashbacks, because the editing was done perfectly we would know already what was Oh Ae thinking.

- All of the coconut references. Every time Teh smells or eat coconut, the editor did not need to show flashbacks about the coconut... through the entirety of the show, we know how the coconut reminded Teh of Oh Aew.

- Episode 5 - during chinese new year and the pianist played "skyline" both Teh and Oh Aew were crying. We don't need to have flashbacks on their scenes when they were singing that song... we just felt their emotions and even cried with them.


SCRIPT/STORY - We've seen many coming of age dramas in BL series but i have to say, the way ITSAY delivered their story and message is very refreshing. The script was so good that it made us understood the characters and their decisions (which are stupid at times or very impulsive). We were reminded how young people can be confused, impulsive and give their all when they fall in love.

- When I rewatched this series multiple times, I can't help myself but praise the writer more and more. I just love how detailed the writers are. From the little things like Oh Aew always itching his back and sniffs most of the time when he was a kid, we would still see this when he grew up (Teh still scratching Oh Aew's back). From the purple bra of Tarn which Teh saw from her blouse in ep2, which was used again by Tarn to get Teh's attention in ep4. The contrast of red and purple hibuscus flower and what it symbolizes even the drawing that Tarn gave to Teh where Tarn still drew the purple hibiscus symbolizing that she's still hoping... these small details which made the series so perfect.

- But my most favorite parts are the underwater scene, bra scene of Oh Aew and the "play with my toy" scene of Teh and what these scenes symbolize (1) the underwater scene is so meaningful. The way they kiss all out under the water gave the meaning that their relationship needs to be hidden in order for them to fully express their feelings. Somewhere hidden, quiet and no one will see. But once they go back to land, everything goes back to normal where Teh is still not accepting their relationship. (2) the bra scene is so powerful on what the struggles of gay people. It's so emotional and PP did an excellent job on this scene (3) playing with the toy (sorry for the term). when was the last time you saw this kind of scene? P'Boss is so gutsy to include this scene but it was not done to make the scene arousing but to show Teh's struggle with his sexuality. If you remember, before he started "doing it" the last photo he saw was Oh Aew's in red bra. Then he started doing it and looked at the poster of the male actor and eventually cried. (is he imagining Oh Aew as the one in the poster? knowing that Oh Aew portrayed also this character when they were kids?) Teh really struggled and was confused on what's happening. It started with just sniffing Oh Aew's hair, then coconut, then coconut pen in paper, more sniffing of Teh and touching of Oh Aew's chest in ep 3 and finally kiss Oh Aew underwater ... Teh's sexual desires to Oh Aew has been growing and growing up to the point where he can't stop anymore..... and all he can do was cry after.


DIRECTION- Now let's talk about P'Boss. I have not watched "My Ambulance" yet but i love his previous work Project S: Side by Side. Watching the documentaries and how he explained the importance of the scenes, i have nothing but high respect to P'Boss. Much respect on reshooting many scenes because he's not satisfied with the post production. The way he motivated and get Billkin and PP into their characters were so spot on.



BILLKIN and PP: And for the last part, let's talk about my new favorite BL tandem: BKPP.... WOW! just WOW! did BKPP just elevated how BL actors should act? i mean, come on... both of them sacrificed so much and gave their all in this drama and we all can feel it. Both of them were so consistent in their characters from episode 1 up to the end.
The way Billkin showed his acting range in this series is crazy. We can feel all of his emotions from being confused, happy, jealous, sad, depressed... everything! he's that good! But we cannot disregard PP's acting chops. He portrayed Oh Aew's character flawlessly too. His best scenes are the bra scene, his lines whenever he talks to Teh especially on the last scene... that was really moving.

- the chemistry of this 2 is out of this world. We are not just talking about physical chemistry, but most especially their chemistry on acting.... They really help each other in showing their best emotions. I don't think this series won't be as good as it is if either of them are not casted on their roles. THEY ARE SO PERFECT TOGETHER! Let's claim it. Billkin and PP are Nadao's BL KINGS!


ITSAY just raised the bar on how BL series should be done. Having good script is not enough. Having good actors are not enough. Having good director is not enough. Having good cinematography and editing are not enough..... ALL of these components in making a Masterpiece should be in synced and this is what ITSAY did. It has everything we can ask for.

It may not be the cup of tea of others, but it's definitely not just a cup of tea, but also coffee, soda, soju and all other drinks to MANY! I have watched so many reaction videos and read many reviews and almost every one has all praises to this show.

Truly a Masterpiece, definitely a perfection. That's "I Told Sunset about You."

Read More

This show isn't about bullying or gossip or our main character, Nanno. I didn't watch the trailer and expected a Mean Girls sort of drama lol. The Girl from Nowhere is about social situations in schools that bring out the worst in people and lead to deep tragedy. We watch the episodic stories through the eyes of our new student "Jane Doe" aka Nanno. After each episode, you're left with characters reaping the consequences of their inner-demons getting the best of them & Nanno always conveniently getting caught in the middle. I personally LOVED this show; it wasn't afraid to go to some dark unforgivable places, plot had me hooked and the music was great. However, I could see the stories being somewhat predictable & making it easy to see who would be trashed by Nanno next. This show takes the role of "bullied girl fights back with a vengeance" to a deliciously new level. The Girl from Nowhere is badass and the fact that it knows it is the best part xx

Read More

Poetry in motion

Youth of May is definitely one of the biggest gems of 2021. It's a sweet old-school romance in the backdrop of harsh Gwangju Uprising. If you're aware of the political and social backdrop, you will probably enjoy it even more. But even without it, Youth of May is a soothing love story. It reminds you what it's like to be innocently in love. It's old-fashioned and sincere and gives you a satisfying sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't alive during that time.

Lee Do Hyun has proved his versatility as an actor this year. While 18 Again is the crowd-pleaser (and for good reason), I don't know why but none of his characters can steal your heart like Hee Tae. It might be bold of me to say this but Lee Do Hyun outshined everyone on this show.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that this was one of the best cast ensembles we have had in a while. An out and out pool of talent. I have laughed and cried and ached and sympathized with all of their stories and I am going to carry them in my heart for a long time (I guess that's what happens with heavy dramas).

The couple's chemistry was amazing. The sfl nailed it. I really liked her character. The sml also held his own and had some awesome moments, The brothers were AWESOME! The kids stole the show. We had an evil father and an amazing father, both of the actors nailed it. The mums were great too. The friends. The soldiers. The friend-soldiers. It was the perfect cast.

I would say, in conclusion, that even if you're wary of the possible sad ending, go for it because this drama is worth it.

Read More

A train wreck in the best way possible, The World of the Married is a drama with full blown craziness in all its glory.

No matter how beautiful a woman is. No matter how successful she is in her work life. No matter, how good she handles her house and children. No matter how smart, considerate, kind she is. Cheating men will cheat.

And then most of the time that woman has to deal with friends and family who will tell her to forgive the man, innocently selfish children who will ask her to compromise, outsiders who will gossip and an unapologetic man who will think it is his right to cheat. She'll be left with a destroyed family, broken pride and a stamp of a woman who couldn't handle her marriage.

This drama tells the story of what happens when you mess with the wrong woman.

Sun Woo is ruthless and takes no prisoners when it comes to revenge. Giving a new meaning to "Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned", she is obsessive, borderline psychotic, scarily intelligent, calculating and even selfish but at the same time she is incredibly strong, bearing and someone who's been hurt in the most profound manner.

Kim Hee Ae's acting is beyond phenomenal, not unexpected from a four time Daesang winner. She hits every emotion on the spectrum to the point you are fully attuned with her character. She will make you love her fiercely, frustrate you to no end, question her motives, pity her and even hate her.

The shock value in this drama is no joke. Things that you haven't imagined in your wildest dreams happen in the most iconic fashion and you're just left with your mouth hanging.

There's no passive watching this drama, for it wrenches feelings out of you. You'd be screaming at the screen, tearing at your hair and will probably think of throwing your phone at the wall once or twice.

Every aspect is exceptionally executed. Where there is emotion, you'll be crying your heart out. Where there is thrill, you'll be biting your nails to stubs. Where there is suspense, you would be sitting at the edge of your seat. Where there are makeout scenes, the entire room will feel hot.

None of the characters in this show are truly likable. The moment you start warming up to someone, they'll do something to screw you over. These people are extremely complex, selfish, vindictive, weak- human nature at its worst and that's the beauty of the show.

The music is amazing and added in just at the right moments. The writing plus dialogues are crisp (pretty loyal to the original series) but the direction and delivery by the actors takes the cake.

It's impossible to stop, once you start watching it and it maintains the tension from beginning to end with never a draggy moment.

A true masterpiece, that explores the dark waters of marriage, relationships and being human, it is not reccomended for people who can only root for righteous and wholly good characters. For this drama, leave your moral compass behind or it will explode.

Lastly, the drama beautifully succeeds in delivering its point:

Cheating is NOT ok and you don't have to forgive it. No matter how weak you get, no matter how hard it is (and it will be) no matter what the world says, no matter how much history you have, you don't have to compromise. No excuse should be enough.

The world of married is a place where there are no winners, you just have to do what's right by you. Because, before being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a working woman: you are your own person.

Read More