Reviews

Liked It For Vibes, Chemistry, And Chaos

Let’s just start with this: what a wild ride from start to finish. The drama starts off with FL attending her fiancé’s funeral, it’s raining, she's in black, holding a red umbrella, and then, She kisses a man who looks just like her dead fiancé… on the coffin. I was instantly hooked. That opening was Insane and I loved every second of it.

The leads chemistry was fire! the tension, the kisses, the banter, the hugs, the looks… they were so in love even when they weren’t supposed to be in love. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing this pairing again—they were that good.

FL (Mi Chuxia / Huo Ruoyi) was adorable, quirky in the best way, and so full of life, even in her grief. Her moments of talking to herself are Iconic. And I loved her pouty face.

ML (Lu Nian Bai / Tang Jing Xing) was the perfect combo of playful and broody. The teasing? The “uncle” card? Sir. Please.

Let’s talk about cinematography,The colors, the funeral scene, the dance, the proposal, the flashbacks—everything had that dramatic mini-series gloss, but they used it well.

SFL (Lu Nian Qi) was stunning. You knew from the start she’d be the villain but she was so elegant and compelling, I couldn’t even bring myself to hate her.

SML though? NO. Certified creep. Obsessive, manipulative, unhinged. The kind of character that makes you side-eye the actor just a little (no hate though, He did a great job). And the attempted assault? Absolutely not. Not romantic. Not okay. I’m so over dramas pretending non-consensual stuff is passion. Hard pass.

Still, despite that moment (and a few too many “are we really doing this?” kisses), the show delivered on romance.
There were plot holes, yes. But you know what? I was too entertained to care.

Also—plot twist—I’d seen Season 1 before and didn’t even realize it until halfway through! Different actors, same characters.

Final thoughts:
Entertaining, emotional, and sometimes unhinged. It had everything a good mini drama needs, strong chemistry, drama, a wild plot, and some swoon-worthy moments.
Would recommend. Just… be ready for chaos.

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This is the first time I would actually describe a KDrama rich in makjang in terms of ´cool´.

"Cain and Abel" from 2009 presents itself in the best KDrama tradition of early 3rd Millenium makjang productions. In the background, the OST is repeatedly setting the rhythm proclaiming doom with implacable beats. The dramaturgical motifs are basically familiar: there are 2 more or less competing brothers, a wicked stepmother, a comatose father, amnesia in the meantime, two queens of the heart ... and what the hospital environment (specifically the neurosurgical department) has to offer is not just a brain tumor... It´s makjang at its finest. Eventually the scene is temporarily shifting to China, there also focusing on the unfortunate issue of North Korean refugees. It becomes action-packed and exciting. All in all, the plot doesn't seem too surprising at first glance, but as it progresses you might all of a sudden realize, how the story has long since grabbed and pulled you in.

This is the first time I would actually describe a KDrama rich with makjang in terms of ´cool´.

Admittedly, here the bad guys are actually truely bad guys. Forgiveness is not a foreign word, but sometimes one may want to question this concept in principle, regarding the unscrupulousness and maliciousness of the perpetrators.

Title and story explicitly refer to the biblical motif: the first murderer case in human history told in Christian terms, where the older brother chose his younger brother as a victim. Out of envy. In the competition for recognition. Here it is the recognition as a brilliant neurosurgeon ... by the father, by the professional world, by the supervisory board (as head of a new center for neurosurgery) and as a man (by his queen of hearts). The mother wickedly helps and sows the bad seed, which grows effortlessly.

This fraternal quarrel (in which obviously not everything is and always has been quarrel) comes to live with high intensity by the performance of So Ji-sub (who appears in a quite bold manner for long stretches) and Shin Hyun-joon (who has already perfected his characteristic ´sad look´ in "Stairway to Heaven"). The two really get into their roles and take the viewers with them. The story gains as 'little Abel' covers a good distance in a parka and among refugees in China. So the story not only takes place in the elitist world of doctors, between surgical gowns and suits, but also gets more down-to-earthness in the struggle for survival of simple and non-privileged people at the opposite pole of social life. The two female leads Han Ji-min and Chae Jung-an also embody the contrast of these worlds in their own way.

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Edited: 14/7/19
[This is my first 10/10 rating; though I tried to find reasons to rate it half a point less, there were none whatsoever.]

A saeguk outside the confines of the castle and a fairytale-like setting and focuses on the common-person's fight for rights and equality? I did not realize I needed that until I watched this. A drama that does not beat around the bush and jumps straight into action? I did not realize I needed that either.

The plot is well-executed; it moves forward without losing steam and stays true to its story line and characters. Since it was based on true historical events, heartbreak and tragedies were inevitable. I appreciate, however, that it was not entirely based on real people - that is, the three main leads we have, including their families and friends, are fictional in an otherwise non-fictional historical setting. (I cannot comment on the accuracy of the historical events as I am not well-versed in Korean history, yet this compelled me to search about the Donghak movement and Japanese takeover of Joseon. I can say I am more enlightened than before, however.) The lighter, funny scenes were never out-of-place as they always centered around the heartwarming friendships between the characters. Side characters had their own story which prevented their screen-time from feeling unnecessary; even those you might be least invested in underwent growth that justified the writer's choice to include them apart from the otherwise obvious reasons. It should be noted, there were some shifts in plot that made me dread that this drama would go south, that it was headed beyond what was meant to be the conclusion, but that never happened; the plot proved itself to be excellent, and the characters served to ground and consolidate the narrative.

Now, it is time to expand more on the characters: their growth and changes were interwoven with the struggle they, willingly or unwillingly, became a part of. To be able to see many characters of varying backgrounds coming to terms with their identities, or altering them at whim, was extremely gratifying. Their decisions simply made sense, in light of their circumstances and personal convictions. The writer also drew many parallels while crafting characters - the parallels between the brothers, with the titles assigned to them that they wanted to break free from; the parallel between a teacher and a student, with their attempt to rise from their ugly decisions; the parallel between two parties who wanted to save their country, with one man joining hands with the enemy and the other party firmly resisting. And then these parallels evolved beautifully into a juxtaposition. Overall, it was a thought-provoking angle the writer took.

You might think I am being too generous, but I do have a tiny complaint about flashbacks in one or two episodes, since they felt needless, but what's a k-drama without those, eh? I have learned to take them as a necessary part of a k-drama recipe, so I am not counting it in this time around. (I guess I AM being a little generous.)

And need I mention how amazing the actors were, from the support to the main? Moo Seoung Choi was an excellent casting choice for Jeon Bong Jeon; the poise and leadership that oozed out of him stunned me, not to mention the sense of humour he possessed. Han Ye Ri is a subtle actress, perfect to portray Lady Song - calm, collected, sharp. Yoon Shi Yoon has a way with expressions, and they were more than suitable for a character like Yi Hyun. Finally, Jo Jung Sok made Yi Kang a lovable character who you wanted to root for till the end.

Loved the OSTs; the one by FORESTELLA often plays in my head. The BGM was not outstanding, but it complemented a good deal of the show. I especially enjoyed the rock music whenever action scenes came in. Adds to the excitement and just how cool the characters look!

I think this has great re-watch value. For one, it never drags, and the characters are so multi-layered, you want to come back and appreciate them. Despite knowing the plot, you might want to catch up on a few details that you may have missed, and certain impressive progressions.

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As I watched through the whole thing with some annoying distractions, I was able to finish it with a big fat smile and an urge to punch someone.

The film was really violent, but not in the violent notorious way. It was rather light for a violent film and with some comedic touches on the sidelines which wasn't really out of place. The graphics and effects were great. The setting, music, plot… especially the cast was perfect. I wouldn't want anyone else to be casted on this film.

Definitely Oguri Shun has rocked this film!

I am an Oguri Shun fan but I'm not rating this for being biased, the rating for me fits the whole movie because it was THAT COOL.

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You would think that I'm exaggerating the scores or just simply click 10 points for everything by coincidence but no!
This is a really great series. It reminds me of Tru Calling but in Japanese style with lots of jokes. We get to know new people and stories in every episodes. The first episode is a bit boring but don't trust it just give a try to the second one! :D I promise you won't be disappointed.
Keiko and Shosuke makes a great pairing in this drama who tries to solve cases because of Keiko's visions. They're joking around everytime. I laughed a lot.
This is an awesome series about crimes, investigations flavored with humour.

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The true definition of a hidden gem

Oh. My. God. Where do I even start!? This was a ride I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

This spine chilling and nail-biting thriller is fast-paced, addictive, dark, gory, and filled with revenge aka the best combination for a drama like this.

It's a very solid and well-made series, not a single episode is a filler, each scene and episode shocks you, it will infuriate you, upset you and satisfy you all at once.

At first, the synopsis didn’t really scream anything out to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but wow was I blown away... I liked seeing the perspectives of two interesting, mysterious people (one being a killer and the other a detective) with dark pasts. You’ll find yourself constantly questioning things and the plot will have you engaged the whole time.

It contains extreme bullying which I usually avoid as I find it upsetting and hard to watch, but I'm fond of how the scenes switch between flashbacks and present day, it balances out the disturbing vibe well and doesn't completely overwhelm you. Bullying isn't a new concept to base a drama around, however, this one was created in a fresh and unique way and was executed superbly. Also, I don’t condone any type of violence but I rooted for the killer.

The acting. It's outstanding in my books. The cast was picked perfectly. Kim Sung Gyu is so charming, every scene he appears in, he grabs my whole attention, from "Kingdom" to "One Ordinary Day" and now this... The younger cast deserves a shoutout because holy moly they can act (and their presence is very memorable)!! The pure fear, anger and detached feeling is well conveyed by the child cast to the adult cast. No character in TKOP is in the right, they have all done something bad, but you'll still have people to root for, even if it feels wrong at times.

To sum it up, this drama is INSANE. I can't believe people are sleeping on this, it deserves more recognition, so I highly recommend watching this if you like thrillers and the things I mentioned above, you won't be disappointed (or at least I hope not haha).

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This drama.. Ohhh boy.. It is very good. It talks about things and topics that needs more attention. In this drama there were enough of serious and comedic scenes non of them overpowered each other, what made the watching more enjoyable.

Story:
I liked how the story doesn’t have focus on romance but to the problems that any person can live through in their lives.

Characters:
I loved the fact that L finally got a main role in this drama and he proved his talent in acting. He had to play a serious and close- hearted character whom he did great! He was so cute that sometimes my UWU screamed so loud that I was even surprised.
Go Ah Ra’s character was the reason I fell in love with this drama. And how later on in drama her past was told and what she did go through as a teen.
Chemistry between characters was good too. How everyone tried to understand and help each other.
What I appreciated was the fact that Im Ba Reun confessing his feelings to Par Cho Oh Reum didn’t make things awkward between the characters, but let them understand the situation that is happening and bordering the characters.
Second lead character relationship was adorable too. How they interacted to each other.
I felt attached to every character in this drama.

Music:
OST was REALLY good. It didn't bother to stay focused on the scenes, but it felt more like the music completed them. It gave the right feeling to the scenes.

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Follow Your Heart

Can one feel love, and love without a heart or with a mechanical heart? Though unthinkable, this story assumes a mechanical heart works just as good as a real human heart when it comes to love, maybe even better in times of trouble. As it is a fantasy, let’s just accept that people don’t need a real heart to fall in love; a mechanic heart works just fine, and can make a person fall in love just like a normal person does.

This drama is narrated from the perspective of Jiang Xiao Ning (Xing Fei aka Fair Xing). 10 years ago, she got into a car accident and Gu Chuan (Ren Jialun aka Allen Ren) was there trying to save her, and got hurt himself. 10 years later, they meet again without recognizing each other initially. And they fall in love.

Gu Chuan is a very talented young architect, but he has a secret: he doesn’t have a heart, he lost it in the car accident while he tried to save Jiang Xiao Ning, and in its place, he has a mechanical heart. He knows his heart will one day expire and he will die. Imagine how difficult it is to live a life constantly reminding oneself of death, and this is what Gu Chuan has been tormented for the last 10 years; he has been preparing for his imminent death. His mood is always somber and dark as he cannot have excessive emotions with his mechanical heart. He also doesn’t want to love nor be loved because he wants to avoid any heart breaks in the event of his death. He’s like a lizard, cold and hidden. Ren Jialun has a natural sour face which I’ve come to love. Looking like an adolescent yet with an air of maturity, he is perfect as the somber Gu Chuan who doesn’t smile. Ren Jialun is natural with this role as his sour face makes him very believable and his acting is not stiff.

Gu Chuan doesn’t expect to fall in love with Jiang Xiao Ning but he does because she gives him the kind of optimism he has never experienced before. Now life has meaning, which jeopardizes all his death plans.

Jiang Xiao Ning has a totally opposite personality from Gu Chuan’s darkness. She is sunny and positive despite of her bad lucks; she always views her glass as half-full and grateful for everything she has. She considers herself like a crow which people normally associate with bad luck. Jiang Xiao Ning is smart, considerate and protective especially of Gu Chuan. When they are together, there’s a big contrast of the two characters: Gu Chuan dresses immaculately and somber, whereas Jiang Xiao Ning is sunny and active, and dresses in oversized clothing. Their chemistry may not be 100% but their romance is quiet and rather sweet. As two unlikely people come together, cold becomes warm, bad luck becomes good luck. And sorry to disappoint viewers, there are no hot kisses, as expected. Most of the presumed kisses are zoomed out and blurred. Any closeup kisses are so close that no one knows if the lips belong to the same actors. Xing Fei’s bright eyes that seem to smile forever fit her well into the role of the sunny Jiang Xiao Ning and her acting is very convincing, especially when it comes to her heart breaking scenes.

There is an over-powering second couple with overly mushy dialogues which feel overdone and banal. However, they also give viewers some hot kisses. There’s also something nefarious lurking under the sweet romance, with murders and corruption which gives some fireworks to the otherwise rather bland story.

OSTs
This drama produces some of the best sound tracks. I particularly love the beautiful song “Exchange” sung by Zhou Shen. It’s so touching and amazing that it can bring tears to the listeners’ eyes. I also love the instrumental music played by the cello when Gu Chuan is alone in his deep thinking, reflecting his torments.

My Verdict
If you like love triangles, there are plenty here. Both male and female leads have their respective secret admirers who become the antagonists and attempt to cause harm to their love competitors, but each time, their attempts are thwarted, either because our leads are smarter or plain dumb luck they have.

I love Gu Chuan’s philosophy in his designs, merging western architecture with Chinese wisdom and culture. Facing death is frightening, knowing it’s coming to take one’s life anytime soon. This drama helps us feel how it’s like for Gu Chuan.

Overall, the drama is not bad, neither is it excellent. It has some tropes, such as splitting up in a relationship for-their-own-good stuff, which can be rather annoying. The comedy can be rather stale at times. There are some minor flaws here and there but not enough to destroy the story.

Despite a rather bland story, there are some good lessons here. As Gu Chuan is teaching Jiang Xiao Ning, "It doesn't matter how others look at you, most importantly you cannot look down on yourself. Crow is the bird that most looked down by people, but they have their quality - they know how to put a nut in the middle of the road and let passing cars crush it. They are devoted to their partners and will forever remain faithful to that same partners." (I didn't know that.)

In turn, Jiang Xiao Ning teaches Gu Chuan, life is not forever. Life, no matter how hard it is, we must persevere. Be positive. Look at the positives. Take life as it comes and make the best of it.

I would have awarded this drama a 8.5/10 but the OSTs are so good that a 9/10 seems to be more appropriate. Fun watch. Must listen to the song "Exchange" by Zhou Shen.

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This film is a powerful gut punch for masochists ala --> ME. Jeez. Keep your sinus drops handy because you're going to be over working them. Seriously If you're one of those people who watched History Trapped and went 'not dark enough what sissy crap is this if only it was way way screwed up and sexual' you should watch this! Sadly, I am that person lol

Anyway, jokes aside if you know anything about me, you know by now I'm a sucker for obsessive love that goes beyond the boundaries of morality.

Absolutely one of those films and couples that will be my go to from now on.

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Thrilling: Beginning to End

I am someone who finished the 2 seasons of Kingdom very recently just to watch this sidequel in real time and I must say that I am so very impressed. I know all of us expected an entire season out of this but they had anyways said from the beginning that it will be just a special episode and I think it's because they had to delay for a 3rd season due to covid so to compensate the audience they came up with this. But who knows whether it was the case or they had planned it from the very beginning.

Anyways Let me review.
STORY & PLOT:
So, as it was clear that the episode will be of 1.5 hours, I expected lots of contents but it wasn't the case. However, I am okay with it since it's just a sidequel showing the backstory of the major storyline that we have witnessed in the season 1 & 2. And as the name indicates, this side story is all about "Ashin", the female character we had seen at the very end of the season 2 holding a sword. It starts with the young Ashin who lives with his family in a border village of refugees. His father is loyal to Joseon and works as an undercover spy for Joseon (Won't tell further details because it's just an episode). The story advances with how her father, family and the entire village is betrayed; Ashin approaching the wrong side to avenge the betrayal; realizing the truth years later and deciding to destroy everything with her own accord and power.

I feel it's more like a prequel which to some extent also clarifies how it all started in season 1. Just as a group of audience had suspected and made theories, the reason the plauge's starting has been made clear. And in the season 3 the main story will be combined with this back story of Ashin as we have already seen her in the ending of season 2.

CAST & CHARACTERS:
Well, there are only a few major characters from the major Kingdom story in this drama along with Ashin, which is played by our yeppo noona, Jun Ji Hyun. Let me tell you that, Ashin's character in this special episode is almost mute. She doesn't have much dialogue but as always, Jun Ji Hyun has proved her acting skills with her performance which is dope.

Other than her, the center of attention in this drama is Park Byung Eun who has played the role of Min Chi Rok, the righteous inspector general in the previous seasons. However in this season he's in a different position of an Army General fighting at the borders and was in somewhat negative character. 2 other prominent figures in this are Koo Kyo Hwan and Kim Roe Ha. All of them did a good job at their respective roles assigned.

DIRECTION & EDITING:
Kingdom has had us thrilled since the first season even though the seasons had only 6 episodes and less than 1 hour duration each. The kind of sound editing always had my heart beating fast and they never compromised with cinematography, which is very enthralling, we must admit. The direction and screenwriting by Kim Sung Hoon pdnim and Kim Eun Hee jakkanim is totally a top notch.

CONCLUSION:
There is not much to say about this sidequel tbh since it's only 1.5hours otherwise one would end up spoiling. Also, less scope of reviewing because it's just an insight or pov of a main story that everyone gonna watch just to fill in the gaps. Anyways, this is a thrilling watch and I definitely loved it. As someone who don't believe in ghosts what scares me are gore, zombie, mutant and monster apocalypse.

Overally, Kingdom just like it's previous has a n adept writing, stupendous screenplay direction and, amazing acting, fabulous performance and catchy editing which cab attract a lots of audience.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEASON 3 AND EAGERLY WAITING FOR IT.

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When i tuned in for this season i thought it would a continuation of the last season, although I was excited to Xia Lin and Ling Yi Zhou with their new family from last season, i was not exactly disappointed with this season.
I thought that the alternate universe was a refreshing spin on the show and the still had references to season 1, which made the show all more enjoyable. I do believe this was the right way to go about season 2 because in season 1 LYZ faking XL's leukaemia was incredibly cruel. This reboot gave a less stalkerish role and he was someone you could root for the whole time. In this season, the way the couple came together was more natural and there were less mind games, which was better for everyone.
The side couples were featured a bit more than last season and their stories were still incredibly cute. Only thing I can say is I prefer Chu Yan and Xiao You/Ruan Meng in season 1. They were still very cute in this season. But i thought they were funnier in season 1, but their romance story is just as powerful.
I think you guys should watch it. I think the story is more approachable and has a sweeter touch to it. This season was funnier too.

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I'll be honest, I decided to watch Into the Ring because I heard Nana was starring as the main role. As my first Nana drama, I did not know what to expect, and let me just tell you that I was shocked. I went from watching because of Nana to continuing to watch because of the amazing cast, story, and characters.

Story:
Politics is a genre that I never mind watching. As someone personally interested in the matter, I am always up for a political drama. But with drama's, I usually find the political side either lacking or too hectic. For Into the Ring, I saw a perfect balance, which I loved a lot. I loved how it was not obvious how every issue would turn out, and I love how each politician was portrayed. I found myself laughing multiple times, and even shedding a few tears here and there. For me, there was a perfect balance of everything, and nothing went overboard.

Characters:
The thing that made me love the drama the most was no doubt the characters and the relationship between them. Starting off with the leading lady, Goo Se Ra. From the first episode, I already loved Goo Se Ra. I loved how passionate she was and how she never gave up. I was happy to watch a character that would keep trying instead of breaking down and cry when things don't go her way. The leading man, Seo Gong Myung, was another character I cherished dearly. I loved how we got to see how Gong Myung transition as he starting helping Se Ra. Which speaking of, Se Ra and Gong Myung were such a cute couple to watch. I loved every scene they were in, even before they starting dating. No doubt one of my favorites couples in kdramaland. For other characters, Yoon Hee Su and Kim Min Jae were two characters that I could never decide whether I like them or not. Despite my personal feelings, I think they were good characters and brought a lot to the drama. Cho Maeng Duk, the "villain," was another interesting character to watch. Although his character infuriated me multiple times, I do think he was a great character with how he was set out to be. I loved the relationship between Se Ra, Han Bi, Woo Young, and Ja Ryong, which speaking of Ja Ryong, he stole so many scenes he was in! Overall, all the characters stood out and made the drama what it is. I also applaud all the actors, especially Nana and Park Sung Hoon. They portrayed their characters flawlessly and I couldn't imagine anyone taking on those two roles.

Other:
As someone who took a film class for my senior high school year, I'm all too familiar with camera angles. From the first episode, I'll admit it was weird seeing camera angles I've never seen before, but after a few episodes, I grew to love them. I thought the angles complemented what was happening very well, and I think it was an interesting addition. Personally, I wouldn't change anything about them, as I cannot imagine this drama without those fascinating angles.

Final Thoughts:
Into the Ring is no doubt one of my favorite dramas of the year and one of my favorite dramas of all time. Every week, I found myself counting down to a new episode, and when I saw one had been subbed, I would immediately stop what I was doing and watch it. I hope people don't ignore this underrated gem because of the political side and instead give it chance. If you're hesitant to watch this drama, I'd say go for it. You never know, you could be pulled in by the characters, plot, relationship, or everything wonderful this drama has to offer.

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A viper's nest.

After growing up in the countryside, Zhuang Hanyan returns to the capital to claim her rightful place as the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family. Her reception is mixed—some family members seek reconciliation, while others fiercely resist her presence. It soon becomes clear that the Zhuang household is a viper’s nest, but Hanyan is no naïve country girl. There’s more to her return than meets the eye, something her late sister’s husband, Fu Yunxi, quickly discerns. Their relationship evolves from adversarial to conspiratorial as they uncover each other’s secrets and forge an uneasy alliance.

The Glory/ 雁回时 is another in a recent wave of revenge dramas that starts with a suspenseful, addictive hook but fizzles in the second half. The reveal of Ruan Xiwen’s tragic backstory and her complex, scheming dynamic with her daughter Hanyan forms the emotional core of the drama. Unfortunately, after this peak, the narrative devolves into dog-blood melodrama, riddled with clichés, plot holes, and unconvincing motivations. Wen Zhenrong delivers a vehement, emotionally charged performance as the bitter and wounded Ruan Xiwen, anchoring the first half—but once her arc concludes, the tension noticeably deflates.

Though I typically adore ruthless, morally grey characters like Hanyan and Yunxi, their pairing falls flat. Their silent staring contests and psychological battles feel insipid, especially compared to over-the-top performances by older actors like Yu Entai's exaggerated facial contortions and whispered threats. That said, Chen Duling shines as Hanyan, balancing hidden depths with fiery resolve. Xin Yunlai, however, is stoic to the point of woodenness, though his awkward, crooked half-smiles carry a strange charm.

The biggest flaw lies in the overabundance of toxic characters with nonsensical motives. Why does Hanyan—clearly talented and resourceful—fight so hard for acceptance in such a dysfunctional family? The schemes lack payoff, the villains are cartoonishly petty, and the central "hidden treasure" subplot feels pointless (why hoard wealth with no heirs to inherit it?). The second half is a mess of twists without cohesion, and the ending—hinting at Greek tragedy but lacking the courage to commit—leaves a wishy-washy, unsatisfying aftertaste.

Yet, despite its flaws, I found myself oddly engrossed. Like a drink that starts intoxicating, turns bland, then ends bitter, The Glory is a flawed but strangely compelling ride. 7.5/10—great potential, squandered execution.

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