Reviews

E.T. on Pheromones

This series is a must see for lovers of fantasy and office romance . Some scenes are so hilarious I’ve rewatched them already, but the story seems to be written with lots of liquor aside.

Plot
One evening an alien and her secretary get stuck on planet Earth, they transform into the earthy shape of a girl and a turtle. They rescue a man after a car crash, but their device that beams them up to their planet gets lost in the proces. So the search for this device begins, leading them to a lot of encounters with other humans.
If you think this story is pretty standard, take that: whenever this alien girl smells male hormones she looses control, wanting to sniff and fondle men all over the place, which brings her to a party with pretty samples in a night club. There she befriends the performing artist who turns out to be the younger brother of the unknown man she rescued. This car crash victim seems totally recovered, a rich and famous CEO from a perfume company who's involved in a power struggle. He’s a handsome cold man who turns warm whenever the alien girl touches his chest. Could it be his heart or something else? Moreover this CEO has amnesia caused by some trauma in his past that lets him forget all his girlfriends as soon as it rains outside. Last but not least he has an intended who is as cold blooded as he is, but somehow obsessed with marrying him. What follows is a chain of events leading to office drama and a love square, between the alien girl, the CEO, his brother and the fiancée. Will they all get what they wanted in the end?

The Good
Thanks to the alien theme this story seems more playful and fresh than the usual Chinese romcoms. Agreed, this show has all the k-c drama clichés, the arrogant CEO with a psychic disorder, his antagonistic family, a rich girl who wants to marry him, and a bubbly girl who turns his world upside down…but the difference is this alien girl acts way more sexy and bold towards the men she feels attracted to. It's funny to let pheromones play a crucial part in the encounter with an extra-territorial being, especially the pheromones of a CEO from a perfume company. I also love the conflicted feelings of this cold CEO who tries to keep up appearances but longs to be touched as well.
Actors Wan Peng and Hsu Thassapak are made for this romcom, they are funny and sexy, although their kisses were a bit lackluster with their lips stuck together in pause mode.
The other actors are also good, especially Alina Zhang, known from her role as the Fire Princess in Ice Fantasy.

The Bad
The problem with this show, and Chinese series in general, is the lack of a sound plot. My guess is this is due to the strict maintaining of marketing formulas, and drama censure. Chinese writers prefer to copy-paste certain censure-proof elements, that were successful before with other audiences. This causes a whirlwind of funny scenes, pasted together, but it fails to deliver a sound closure, leaving several loopholes and questions unanswered. Moreover it's a pity that our feisty heroine changes midway into the traditional role model for females. She suddenly acts shy when a man reacts physically to her own attraction techniques. But...

Verdict
..if you leave your brain on the shelf, don’t mind an unclear story or statement about men/women roles in society, you will love this series. The actors are adorable, there are plenty of funny scenes and Hsu Thassapak is a good singer.

*UPDATE

Did you know that the voice of Fang Leng is dubbed by the same voice actor as Lan Wangji in The Untamed? Now I know :-)

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So unlike other reviewers I actually didn't like the beginning. It was a little to weird- would have liked it better if we had just known who she was from the start. I think it would have made more sense. I really did not like the 1st episode. In the middle of the series I loved her talking to her old self in the refection. I love the actor who played Sa Geum Ran (Ha Jae Sook) and I liked that we still got to see her. I also liked that they did not change her personality they kind of kept her the same.

What I didn't like was how complicated the simple revenge plot kept getting. She just needed to seek revenge I don't know why people had to go back and forth about what they knew about each other. Near the end It should have built more on what they wanted than to add in the "running away" not running away filler.

What I disliked the most was that everyone seemed Repulsed by Sa Geum Ran, I wish, especially with Han Tae Hee that he would not have been repulsed by her in her "original" form.

Over all though I actually thought it was a pretty good drama overall. Fun, cute and even a little intriguing. The acting was very good, loved and hated almost all the characters. The story had weak points that needed some filler, but it wrapped up well.

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While writing this review I'm still crying mine eyes out... This story is so touching, so sad, so emotional, so beautiful...

I was inspired to watch Our Happy Time because of Kang Dong Won, recently I became interested in his movies.
What can I say, the story, cast and music are all great. I'm listening it right now, maybe it's not good because it makes me wanna cry more and more...

When I saw the title I though it will be just a silly love story. And after watching this movie I felt so betrayed. I wasn't ready for this kind of emotions that this movie put me through. How to love and forgive how to cherish life and enjoy someones company, how to smile and cry - this movie is all about that and much more. I highly recommend re-watching this movie over and over again.

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A Heartwarming Journey

I went into this drama unsure about it, even questioning if it was worth my time. In the first half, I was seriously ready to tell the female lead, "Girl... divorce!". But by the end, I was completely invested in their story. The drama turned into a surprisingly heartwarming and emotionally satisfying journey, and I ended up loving it more than I ever expected.

Plot Summary: At the beginning, the female lead is frustrated with her marriage. She lives with a meddling mother-in-law and feels like her relationship with her husband is stagnant. The male lead is close to being a "mama’s boy" who does not stand up for his wife, and their marriage is strained because of his mother's interference. The couple seems to be at a breaking point.

At its core, the drama explores the realistic challenges of marriage—the little frustrations, the miscommunications, and the changes that come with being in a long-term relationship. The female lead deals with a meddling mother-in-law and a husband who has trouble standing up to his family. It’s a candid look at how marriage can be full of ups and downs, and the idea that it’s not all hell or heaven—it's somewhere in between.

The male lead’s character development was one of the biggest highlights. He starts off as a passive figure, just going along with whatever his mother says, but by the end, he undergoes a meaningful transformation. He learns to stand up for his wife, becoming more self-aware and emotionally mature. His growth was something that really made the show feel rewarding.
I also loved the moments of humor and lightheartedness sprinkled throughout the drama. One particularly memorable scene had the leads involved in a dare-or-truth game, which led to some hilarious moments. There were moments when they were silly and playful, but also when they shared genuine emotional exchanges, making the balance between the two feel just right.

And that plot twist at the end? Emotional and satisfying! It added a whole new layer to the relationship and made everything come full circle in a way that was so heartwarming. I went from being skeptical to falling in love with their journey.

The final moments were what really solidified the show’s place in my heart. It was with a line about how "Prince and Princesses don’t always end up together happily ever after"—but it was real and grounded, showing how far they had come. Instead of a fairytale ending, it embraced the imperfections and unpredictability of life while still leaving us with hope.

Final Thoughts: Despite my initial doubts, this drama completely turned things around. It’s a perfect mix of humor, emotional growth, and real-world struggles in a marriage. I went from being ready to drop it to feeling connected to these characters by the end. If you’re looking for a drama that doesn’t just focus on grand gestures, but on genuine development and heartfelt moments, this is definitely worth a watch.
I’m giving it a solid 8.5/10—a fun, emotional, and surprisingly heartwarming journey!





Some moments i liked(SPOILER):






The Dating App Twist: The female lead downloads a dating app for work and matches with a man, not knowing he is her husband. She is upfront with him about being married, so they just chat as friends. However, unbeknownst to her, her husband saw the app on her phone and decided to match with her to understand her better. This twist was a huge revelation, and the emotional development that follows was a turning point for both characters.

Male Lead’s Growth: One of the most rewarding aspects of this drama was watching the male lead’s growth. At first, he simply obeys his mother, but as the drama progresses, he begins to stand up for his wife. His decision to match with the female lead on the dating app is a key moment. He realizes how much his wife needs emotional support, and this sparks his change. His slow but meaningful transformation was incredibly satisfying and heartwarming.

Mother-In-Law Dynamics: The relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law starts off tense and antagonistic, but it evolves over time. The mother-in-law, while overbearing, isn't portrayed as a villain—her actions are more a result of her generational perspective. The emotional development between the two women added complexity to the narrative and showcased the importance of understanding different viewpoints in family dynamics.

Key Moments:

Red Nails: One hilarious moment was when the female lead made her husband get red nails as part of a dare-or-truth game. It was a quirky moment that highlighted their growing connection and the playful side of their relationship.

The Bike Ride in the Rain: The final scene is a beautiful and emotional culmination of the couple's journey. They end up riding bikes in the rain, just like the grandma did earlier in the drama. The leads reflect on the realities of relationships with the line: “So prince and princess end up together living happily ever after? No, how can that be possible, even the North Pole is melting, how can anything last forever?” It’s a perfect nod to the imperfection of life and relationships, showing how they’ve grown to embrace each other’s flaws and cherish the small moments together.

Ending: The final twist shows how far the couple has come. The male lead’s growth and understanding of his wife’s needs come to a head in the final episodes. It’s a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion where they choose each other despite the challenges and imperfections, signaling that while "happily ever after" might be an unrealistic expectation, their love has evolved into something real and beautiful.

P.S. I realistically would've preferred if they divorced to be honest.

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This drama is funny but also has a lot of \"drama.\" I liked that the Hong sisters matured the characters a couple years and left enough episodes to tell their adult storyline. Doing this allowed for the drama to stay fresh. There were a couple eps here and there that were draggy. The leads were perfect for thier roles and had excellent chemistry. I hated the second male lead!! I wanted to punch him everytime he even spoke. The main guys dad was a riot. I really liked him. The ending was sweet. Id rewatch this drama in 2 years just to look back on the characters. This drama will tug at your heart with all the frusteration it brings. But thats what a true drama does right? Watch it!

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I did not get hooked on it initially as the first episode drag on a bit with the introductions. But it slowly grew onto me and just love the landscape, the paintings, the calligraphy and the tai chi moves. It brought back my passion to buy some paint brushes to practice my calligraphy.

I actually like Piao Piao acting a lot more that others, her tai chi skills were brillant. She came across as a strong female lead and although she pairs nicely with Wei Chu, I do not see a lot of passion coming across. BTW it is very G rated drama. So do not expect many kiss scenes here.

I am move fascinated with the art works and tai chi moves, and the story behind these than the usual romance drama. This drama has some quality to it and the scenes and locations they build and used are all very nice.

The story tells about how an outcast girl of the tai chi community made a come back helped by her master/boyfriend. They faced many challenges from the tai chi community, school, friendship and battles.
Very basic story line but worth the watch.

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A Refreshing and Outstanding Adaptation

"Boys Over Flowers" has been adapted in various versions, but one stands out as the best. This particular adaptation did a fantastic job of changing the story in a great way. Thyme's character was portrayed wonderfully, adding depth and making them different from other versions. Gorya's acting was top-notch, and she really nailed her character. Ren, who connected Gorya and Thyme, was also a favorite.

What I liked most was that they changed a plot point from other versions. In this adaptation, the main female lead didn't kiss the second male lead, which often made me angry in other versions. It was a welcome change that kept me engaged. However, I didn't like Thyme's mother. She was like a villain throughout, and it felt one-dimensional.

This adaptation beautifully showcased the strong friendship between Gorya and the other F4 members, something that wasn't as clear in other versions. The drama didn't drag on with too many episodes, which was a relief. It covered the whole story in just 16 episodes, maintaining a good pace. While I would have loved to see a wedding part, I still felt satisfied and overwhelmed by the overall experience.

The unity and loyalty displayed by F4 with their motto of "All for one, one for all" was heartwarming and added an extra layer of enjoyment.

In conclusion, this adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers" brought a refreshing take on the story, with standout character portrayals and strong friendship bonds. While not everything was perfect, it left me feeling satisfied and overwhelmed. If you're a fan of the original story, this adaptation is definitely worth watching.

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Balancing genius, intuition & healthy grounding in an elite jungle of an addictive financial world

How far can you go? The focus of these KDramas is greed for BIG money, which has long since lost any reasonable connection to life and people. It's about stock deals by the super-rich, insider trading, short selling, mergers and acquisitions.

Hiding behind the title "Midas" is the legendary story of the ancient King Midas. It is said that as a child, ants would put grains of wheat in his mouth while he was sleeping. He was later granted a wish by Dionysus, wishing that everything he touched would turn to gold. The consequences though were life-threatening, because actually everything he came into contact with turned to gold, including food and drinks... The story of the KDrama operates both with the dictum "to have a golden hand", which is inspired by this legend, and with the psychoanalytic concept "Midas complex", which has proven itself in connection with pathological greed.

The protagonists in "Midas" have an offensive urge, almost addictive, to make even more profit with daring investment strategies, sometimes risking to lose the ground under their feet and maneuver themself into existential situations. This KDrama is about the challenge of balancing genius, intuition and a healthy grounding within the elite jungle of an addictive financial world. Thrilling story, complex character studies and emotional rollercoaster are guaranteed. In this world where money, intelligence and high speed set the tone, the intuitive feeling for the right timing prevails. "Midas" broadens the horizon from the (rather usual) Jaebeol family intrigues and inheritance disputes, which also have their place here, to - without regard to losses - partly illegal machinations in the financial world.

"Midas" is sketching a world of high risk and high numbers - abstract, fast pace, fashionable, cold. Yet it is an emotionally intense in-depth study about temptation, including space and time for morals. However, a spot here and there, where the warm and tender wind blows, is given, too. Some call it love...

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I absolutely loved it!! This series is so artistic and captivating.
It has beautiful scenery, costumes and mis-en-scene. It was so colourful and pretty to watch!
It was also entertaining to see the different tribes (where the lived and what they wore). The sets were fantastic, I loved all of the clans palaces (so well thought-out and designed).
The characters were so loveable! I just wanted them to all be happy ugh. Their entwining story lines were fantastic and sometimes heart breaking. The scores throughout the show were very well written. I personally like Ka Suo and Li Luo's theme.
This show doesn't follow the expectations of the audience and is often quite unpredictable. This is a great quality because after each episode your always left wanting to know what happens next.

I couldn't praise this show enough. It had me hooked from the first episode, and by the last I was wanting more.

I recommend watching this series with an open mind, it can have "tacky" or "cheesy" moments, but if you look past that you'll find a great show with an awesome story.

I cannot wait until season 2!

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This show is one of the biggest waste of potential I have ever seen. The concept for this show is so unique and interesting, it could be taken in so many interesting direction. However, this show decides to tell the same cookie cutter love triangle story line, with some of the most unlikable characters I have ever seen in drama's. Now I've watched shows with unlikable characters, I've watched show with stupid characters but never have I watched a show where all three of the main leads are unlikable and stupid at the same time. All of them make stupid selfish choices and when they come to regret them they make no effect to fix anything and wallow in their own self pity. Also that ending wasn't and ending nothing ended in the story there was no closer therefore it can't even be called an ending. It was a cliffhanger for the second season however, with these character's I'm not sure if I'll waste my time with the second season

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This drama really charmed the socks off me. I really liked having a drama finally focusing on some "good guys" for a change, instead of introducing a horrible chaebol heir seeing the error of his ways due to some candy.

My Rating: 9.0

In Short: I really liked the premise of this, It's simple, but original and effective, and gives off a "slice of life" vibe that I enjoyed. I also liked the cast, particularly our "lock and key" couple.

Pros: A realistic view of relationships in four different age groups, with a refreshing cast, great music and lots of charm. I also really liked the 14-episode format. For me, even 16 episodes can sometimes be way too long.

Cons: I would have liked to see even more interactions between the boys, not just their lives outside of home. I feel like the great scenes in the last episode really show us the potential in this. After all, five people who live together are bound to interact and influence each other a lot.

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What an eerily beautiful story.

Firstly, I did NOT expect for this movie to impact me this way. From the beginning I was thoroughly creeped out by the stalkerish antics of the male lead, but as the story progressed I slowly came to realize he had his issues and reasons behind the unusual choices he made. I found myself so intrigued by the actions and thought processes of this assassin that it was enough of a pull for me to continue on with the story. I'm still a bit startled at the fact that I can connect with the feelings of an odd assassin but eh, at least I'm not afraid to admit it. :P The female lead was as equally strange but understandably so. I mean, who can actually call themselves "normal" when they are in love? Is there really a "normal" love story? And who would've thought her innocent love would turn out to be so dangerous?

Secondly, what great acting of ALL the characters! Jung Woo Sung did an excellent job in portraying both an awkward/sketchy loner and a dangerous assassin. Because of this, every action, every emotion felt real and I found myself totally convinced by the love and the danger it entailed. Nothing was ever overly exaggerated or over emphasized. The mood was so subtle and yet so haunting. Really. I find myself thinking about the "what if" scenarios constantly. However, with that being said, if he wasn't such an attractive fellow, I doubt I would be so easily forgiving of his "stalker-like" nature. What a shallow thing to say, I know! I hate saying it, but it's true. >.<

The music was also fantastic. Call me crazy, but I felt as though half of the story was told through the music itself. It was pleasantly in sync with the storyline and I found that to be the most appealing aspect behind this movie.

Overall, I thought this was such a strangely fascinating and suspenseful story about a love lost then found. It makes one question what it is that we truly value the most in this life and I'd definitely recommend it to those who are looking for something much more dark and serious than your average rom-com flick.

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The truth disappears with love

This headline, "the truth disappears with love", is the series' catchphrase and after watching all 10 episodes, it encapsulates the whole theme of the drama.

TLDR: Saiai is an original suspense love story work made by producer Arai Junko and helmed by director Tsukahara Ayuko. Well-acted, with a tight pacing, enagaging story, and gorgeous music, this proved to be another masterpiece from the Arai/Tsukahara combi.

✦ STORY ✦
The story is original but draws the familiar themes of suspense/mystery and forbidden love. What would happen if after 15 years, you reunite with your first love, not as simple colleagues or friends but as a detective and a person under suspicion of murder? The premise is tempting and would catch the eye of lovers of drama. Add in the mystery/suspense part - of the unsolved case 15 years back and more unresolved murders in the present - and you have a neat, interesting package. The pacing of the story is tight, with revelations and clues unfolding in each episode, but the strongest episodes are those of the first half and the last. The 6th and 7th episodes are more subdued and might seem draggy since they deal more with character relationships. Despite this, the plot continued to develop and move forward. There were also some characters that I wished we have seen more on the screen, but I'm glad that at least they were used quite well in the story.


✦ ACTING/CAST ✦
The cast delivered in their roles, playing each character wonderfully, I'm so satisfied with each actor's performance. There were two in the supporting team who were quite shaky at first, but gave more nuanced performances as the episodes went on. What I also like about the characters is that they're all so capable in their jobs, from our main three to the supporting cast. It's so inspiring and so amazing to see.

Our main three actors were impressive. Yoshitaka Yuriko gave so much life to Sanada Rio, I often find myself taking too many screenshots of her expressions in each episode because she's just so captivating to watch as the character. She mentioned in an interview before the final episode that she felt that Rio's living somewhere out there, and I fully agree. Like what I have mentioned in the comments below, Sanada Rio's character may be someone that can draw annoyance due to how people always protect her, but the writing and Yuriko's charm and performance made her someone you would want to protect, someone lovable.

Matsushita Kouhei's Miyazaki Daiki is so freaking cool. I noticed that Kouhei always gives off a different vibe for each of his roles and it's no different to what he did for Daiki. What I like is that his performance and the writing made Daiki not just that "cool and capable detective", he's also very much human, he's someone who truly cares for his beloved people. He is very capable in his job, but he also has his flaws, and he is - at the core - just someone who lives to help other people, especially Rio and Yuu.

Iura Arata's Kase Kenichiro is a big cinnamon roll, he's probably my favorite character in the series. Kase Kenichiro is a strong, reasurring presence in the Sanada family's lives, and he's there for Rio every step of the way. Iura Arata's acting solidifed Kase's warmth and sharpened the edges that the character also possesses. Kase on paper is Sanada Wellness' watchdog with all the teeth and warmth,Kase on the screen is all that, magnified even more with the presence that Iura Arata gave him.


✦ MUSIC ✦
The music is so beautiful!! It actually really helped in the whole experience, especially in the first episode. Speaking of the first episode, the first two minutes of the pilot ep is a very good hook, and the accompanying music elevated it. The soundtrack was able to give off the feel of "15 years ago in Shirakawa-go", and "today, in Tokyo", and served as good backgrounds to key moments so kudos to Yokoyama Masaru! Aside from their use, the absence of music in some key scenes (!!) is also very tasteful. In these particular scenes, it leads viewers in on the suspense, waiting with baited breath along with the characters on the screen.
(Here's the whole OST on Spotify btw! : https://open.spotify.com/album/7qv1By236WWMlwMWEg9772?si=jOOeq8EvSB60gea8BYKFLg)


✦ REWATCH VALUE ✦
After watching the last episode, you'd want to watch the first episode all over again to catch all the clues and hints that you missed. The character relationships and plot progression would be better appreciated if you binged it, so yes a rewatch is in order haha. The series is very binge-worthy, the pacing of the episodes and the bite-sized clues and hints in each one makes each episode interesting.

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All in all, Saiai - literally "beloved" or "dearest" - was a satisfying drama from start to finish. I was a bit apprehensive of their pacing in the last two episodes in terms of the big reveal, but I'm very glad that they wrapped everything up nicely. There were just two plot threads that I think were not fully explained, but overall, it was a very good last episode. The theme of the drama was also drawn out very well, I can't think of a better title than Saiai, and indeed, the catchphrase "the truth disappears with love" holds true.

What a ride. Saiai is now under my 2021 favorites and my all-time favorites list, and it's all thanks to each part of the series from the production, to the story, acting, music, and rewatch value. Despite my love for this series, I won't erase the truth - and that is that it is a satisfying, well-produced drama that deserves to be watched. So if you haven't yet, this is your sign to watch it now.

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