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Ashita, Watashi wa Dareka no Kanojo
29 people found this review helpful
by agapi
Aug 26, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Need to love and feel loved - A bitter reality

Honestly, I was not sure if I should watch this drama or not, as the provided summary doesn't appropriately describe the true plot of this series.

CHARACTERS

In the drama we are following the story of 5 woman that seem to be related in a way. Yuki (portrayed by Yoshikawa Ai) is a 19 year old university student who is working as a Rental Girlfriend in order to make ends meet. When she is working and meeting with clients, she seems like a sweet, cheerful, and kind girlfriend; however, we get to know that in reality she has been through a lot and she carries a secret from her childhood that holds her back. Rina (played by Yokota Mayuu), who is Yuki's university friend, is a colourful, smiley, and cheerful girl that everyone likes and wants to be with her. In addition to her cheerful outside looks, Rina is a rather lonely girl that seeks attention and confirmation from people around her.

Ayano (played by Ugaki Misato) is working with Yuki at the same agency as a Rental Girlfriend and is mainly focusing on the outside looks of the people around her. This obsession with looks came from her bitter past when the people around her made fun of her due to her outside looks. The fourth protagonist is Moe Maya (played by Yanai Yumena) who is classmate with Rina, with low self-esteem and self-confidence. People around her call her ugly and she can't seem to belong anywhere, even though she is trying. Lastly, Yua (played by Saito Nagisa) is a cute girl that is a regular in a host club and is only visiting a specific host. Later on, Yua takes Moe to the host club that she is regularly going.

PLOT

The main plot of this series is to show how every person needs to feel loved and appreciated, in any way, from their peers. However, for me, the plot focuses not only the need to feel loved by others and love other people, but how important it is to love themselves. It is a rather bitter series which shows how shallow our society is, what are the expectations for women, and how easily women can be manipulated into doing things they don't want in order to fulfil the needs of their partners.

For example, in order Yua to help her favourite host (Haruki) in the host club, she is working in the adult world and she is meeting with clients that she can't refuse. She does that in order to help her favourite to rise through the rank and keep his sales high. Moe follows a similar story. Moe was a full time university student who after she started talking with a host she decided to drop out from her university, and in order to request for the host (Kaede) during her visits, she decides to also enter the adult world and do things that she doesn't want to.

MY OPINION

Honestly, this is a drama that is worth watching. Just a heads up: this is not a typical Romance series. Don't expect to find cute and colourful moments among the couples. This is a close to reality type of series. Unfortunately, there are many people who belittle other people's feelings and take advantage of them, and there are other people that are trying to survive in this world with noone beside them. I don't understand why the rating is relatively low. The rating here is not representative of how good the drama is (in my opinion!).

As an individual, I related mostly with Moe, as she and I share some common things. Since the moment that she answered Kaede's phone call, I knew that this is not going to have a happy ending. I was really routing for Kaede's feelings to be true towards her, but as we show in the end Moe was just a client to him. Even though, seeing her being depressed over him was sad, I was clad that in the end she was able to overcome her obsession and she took her life back to her hands.

Anyway, this is a good drama to watch, SO WATCH IT! BYE!

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Completed
Daughters
29 people found this review helpful
by riri_
Feb 13, 2021
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
If you are very sensitive or have a hard time watching/seeing drug addiction, abuse, rape, and suicide I will say be careful watching this series. I wouldn't recommend it at all if you can't handle these types of stuff. But I found it very interesting and realistic.

Story:
The story is about 5 teenagers and their family problems and addiction. Each character is very complex and had difficult backgrounds. It amazes me how detailed each storyline was. I don't think there were any plot holes. This series is one of those series that shows the reality of life and examples of a dysfunctional and unhappy family. It also really shows the effects of unhealthy addictions and drugs.

The series is straightforward but so complex at the same time. I'm not too sure how to explain it. In my eyes how the series played out from start to end was written so realistically. I don't want to say the ending is a happy ending, but I really liked how it ended off.

Cast:
The casting was absolute perfection. If you have never seen any of the main characters before, you have been living under a rock. Like always, their acting just blows you away. If you have seen any of the cast's past works, you'll understand what I mean. Plus I feel like most people came here for Fluke, but I came because of Ploy. I just love her acting.

Overall:
This drama is different from all the ones right now. This drama got me coming back for more because it was so good. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I have some type of connection to the characters of this series. Maybe because I relate or know people that have been through similar situations. If you think you can handle it, I REALLY recommend this series, but I will give you a trigger warning. I give it a 10/10.

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Completed
Make It Right 2
29 people found this review helpful
May 2, 2020
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 5.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
Thank goddess this series has a lot of cute boys who are mostly almost naked in the first few episodes - otherwise this series will be a total waste of time.

Season 1 was fun and engaging, this one is just a snoozefest - i cant remember how many times i dozed off while watching the entire season. This whole season is a continuation of season 1 which could have been done in 1 or 2 episodes. Scenes in each episodes are stretched far too long, just boys trying to be cute, with zero sense to what they were saying and doing.
There were so many things to hate:
1) almost all students in this boys school are gay with very few straight characters who dont even matter;
2) gay teacher who engages in online chat with student;
3) forced coupling (lukmo and yok);
4) oversexed high school student (book and frame);
5) i thought the jean issue would never end;
6) inconsistent characters (Nine, Rodtang, Fing)
7) absent parents who allow high school kids to live on their own with almost no supervision, parents who let other people care for their kid in the hospital, and those parents who are present but were mostly annoyance;
8) did i say the whole season was stretched far too long, the pacing was so slow, there were so many filler moments and just boys staring and sweettalking to each other that doest add to the whole story. By the end of this series, im also almost annoyed with the 2 main leads.

Just run away, skip this series. Just read the plot summary and be done with it, no need to torture yourself by watching this.

Im only giving this an overall 5.5 just because Ohm and Boom are so cute.

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Completed
The Queen of Attack Season 2
29 people found this review helpful
by Isa Flower Award1
Nov 12, 2021
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Summary of Seasons 1 and 2, as well as the 2 movies!

For those who are incredibly confused about the difference between Season 1 and 2, as well as the 2 movies in-between, let me lay it out.

In Season 1, a student named Liang Weiwei accidentally transmigrates into a historical drama starring an idol named Jing Qing. In that drama, her character is doomed to die within the first three episodes as a result of assassination. Throughout the season, she finds ways to avoid death, and eventually overturns the Emperor Jing Qing’s mistrust of her. They then end up in a happy marriage, which was cut short because she’s suddenly brought back to her own time where she meets a version of Jing Qing who seems to remember her from within the drama because they immediately embrace once they set eyes on each other. I don't know if this is the idol Jing Qing, but I suppose it has to be.

In Season 2, we realise that following the end of Season 1, she started dating Jing Qing back in her time. We are also led to believe that Jing Qing actually remembered her from when they were both in some alternate universe within the drama from Season 1. However, one fine day, Jing Qing just vanishes into thin air, and so Liang Weiwei finds her way back into the drama to meet him again, and ends up in another story where the characters are all largely the same, but the plot is different. This time, Liang Weiwei is the daughter of the previous Emperor and is now a villainous Empress destined to be usurped by her General Jing Qing. This General Jing Qing isn't the same as the Emperor from Season 1, but eventually, he does regain his memories of her in Season 1, and also falls in love with her anew in this new storyline. In the end, the General Jing Qing takes on the role of the villain in the story so Liang Weiwei can be spared countless deaths. When he dies, she vanishes and is transported back to her own universe. Compared to Season 1, I felt that this story was less exciting, although thanks to the ML and FL's good acting, I did shed tears when it came time for them to part again. The ending was left open, with the timeline fast-forwarding to 1 year on, when Liang Weiwei finds herself transmigrated into the same drama again, this time, slightly earlier in the storyline, as a princess while her father the Emperor is still alive. Presumably, this will then lead to a Season 3, which will hopefully be more exciting than Season 2.

The 2 movies in-between are actually just 1 movie split into 2 parts. It somewhat continues on from Season 1, but with a slightly different premise, so the entire continuity arc can be confusing. Just know that technically, it occurs in an alternate universe from Seasons 1 and 2. For the movie, a novelist named Liang Weiwei is dating an up-and-coming actor named Jing Qing. However, because she's always neglecting him in favour of writing, he eventually breaks up with her. While she's busy being devastated by the break-up, she gets forcefully pulled into a historical drama with a premise similar to Season 1, except this time, she isn't the Empress, just someone who looks exactly like the Empress Liang Weiluo, who is a woman scorned and has set her eyes on the throne. The Emperor here is the Jing Qing from Season 1, who has been searching all this time for his Empress Liang Weiwei. However, it's important to note that the Liang Weiwei from Season 1 is different from the one in the movie, so while she has some affection towards the Emperor because he looks like her ex-boyfriend Jing Qing, she doesn't love him. Because the main attraction of the entire series is the romance, I felt that the movie wasn't as much of a draw as Season 1 because it's almost like a one-sided love between Season 1's Emperor Jing Qing and the movie's Liang Weiwei. When the movie's Liang Weiwei returns to her own universe, she finds that the novel has written itself, and the Emperor Jing Qing never fell in love with anyone else for all 56 years of the rest of his life, as he promised her. To prevent that from happening, she rewrites the story and reunites Emperor Jing Qing with Empress Liang Weiwei starting from the day of their wedding. As for the novelist Liang Weiwei, she goes to find her actor ex-boyfriend Jing Qing, who welcomes her back with open arms.

So that's about it! I love how tiny and adorable the FL is, and the ML's acting isn't shabby either even though he isn't quite as eye-catching as the FL. Would definitely recommend a watch especially because the episodes are all so short. Hopefully a version with English and other subs will appear on YouTube's MGTV channel soon. Enjoy!

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Completed
Eternal Love of the Fox
29 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2026
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

This Drama Is a Fever Dream and I’m Weirdly Into It

This drama eases you in just enough to make you think you know what you’re getting into—and then promptly proves you wrong.

The plot and setting actually had me invested, so I was not prepared for the absolute clownery that followed. The comedy is loud, goofy, borderline cringe, and wildly unserious, yet somehow it still works. Everyone is acting like shame was never invented, and honestly? I laughed more than I expected. You will cringe. You will laugh. You may do both at the same time.

Visually, it’s thriving. The cast is ridiculously good-looking, the aesthetics are clean, and there is no shortage of eye candy. This drama knows its strengths and flexes them regularly.

That said, nine episodes in, the story is juggling a lot. Multiple plotlines, constant tonal shifts, comedy fighting for dominance with actual story progression—it sometimes feels like the show is doing parkour without a helmet. I’m choosing to believe this chaos is intentional and that everything will eventually click into place. Also… why is this full-length? That realization hit me like a jump scare.

The leads are solid. The ML continues his streak of choosing unconventional projects that somehow work, and I have faith. The FL gives strong My Uncanny Destiny vibes, which I loved, so no complaints there.

Overall, I’m having a genuinely good time—laughing, vibing, and enjoying the lightness while it lasts. Because let’s be honest… the angst is warming up in the wings.

Will update once I'm done with the rest of the episodes ✨

✨Update / Final Thoughts✨

Okay… wow. What a ride.

Overall, this turned out to be a genuinely unusual drama. The humor definitely won’t land for everyone, but if you look past the silliness, there’s a surprising amount of depth here. It tackles heavy questions, quiet contemplations, and some truly tragic backstories that hit heavier than expected. The Princess Consorts’ storyline, in particular, might be the most devastating of them all—easily one of the most tragic arcs in the entire drama.

And yes, I absolutely bawled my eyes out over the leads’ story. Especially the ML. A painfully pure soul. Emotionally unsafe levels of purity, honestly.

The cinematography is beautiful, the characters are deeply lovable, and the ending—while technically a happy one—leans bittersweet. It took several tear-detox sessions for me to fully accept that happiness was, in fact, achieved. Even though the background music occasionally goes a little too hard for no reason, it doesn’t take away from how memorable and distinct this drama ends up being.

Also—special shoutout because this deserves to be mentioned—the drama actually references My Uncanny Destiny in a clever, self-aware way that ties in perfectly. Did not expect that lol.

Do I still think it didn’t need such lengthy episodes? Absolutely. But despite that, this is a hidden gem—quirky, emotional, and unexpectedly moving. Definitely recommended.

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Completed
Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo
29 people found this review helpful
by Jojo
Nov 7, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

The curse was gone, but messily and realistically. Though the journey was far from perfect!

The storytelling is in a very classic Hwang Daseul style—delicate and nuanced.
The drama dives deep into the complexity of trauma, self-discovery, guilt and love through the journey of DoHoe and Ju Yeong.

DoHoe's journey is filled with pain and inner conflicts, much of it rooted in the toxic environment created by his abusive father who runs a Taekwondo gym. Several moments conveyed the inner struggles of characters with small but very significant details.
Because of his toxic upbringing,he is someone who struggles to confront his past and doesn't allow or think worthy of himself to heal. His inability to face his wounds is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. As a result, his relationship with Ju Yeong is complicated by unexpressed emotions, the trauma that was never addressed and the weight of the past that neither of them can escape even after 12 years.

Ju Yeong was the emotional anchor that kept Dohoe from drowning by constantly reaching out and putting in more effort despite the hurt and confusion Dohoe threw at him. There were few brief moments of comfort amidst that frustrating yet realistic push-and-pull dynamics between them. JuYeong often compromised trying really hard to bridge the emotional gap that DoHoe can't seem to cross. The imbalance does seem unfair but at the same time, their love story is portrayed as both beautiful and painful showcasing how even when people are deeply flawed and overwhelming, sometimes the connection between them can be profound and will last.

The chemistry between the actors was undeniable and their emotional journey felt raw and authentic. It mirrors the complexity of moving past trauma and being in a relationship when both of them are carrying their own and shared emotional baggage.

While the narrative is filled with emotional highs and lows, the pacing felt rushed throughout. The rapid shifts in the character arc without addressing their actual issues in detail left me craving for more. I wanted to understand them better. It felt like there was so much more beneath the surface, a whole world which just didn’t have enough time to really explore.
While the supporting cast like Hyean Ho added a new layer to the story, I am still a bit unclear on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his and Dohoe's past. They introduced him for bigger purposes, but his character felt very undeveloped.

And my biggest gripe was the editing. It seemed choppy and confusing. There were many scenes that missed the mark and their meaning relevant to the story because of this.

Overall, while the drama isn't without flaws, it keeps you hooked with its nuanced portrayal of love and healing. It's a powerful attempt at exploration of how our pasts shape us and impact our future decisions.
Sometimes addressing those past ghosts is the first step towards healing. Definitely recommend.

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Completed
Cinderella Closet
29 people found this review helpful
Sep 17, 2025
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 11
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

Humans are not black or white, they are shades of grey.

First I have to say I watched this because of the actor Matsumoto Leo who played the best side character in "I Cannot Reach You" in 2023. Also the two personalities on the poster intrigued me. But besides that, I went in blind.

This is a story which was needed to be told. I applaud the creators to have the gall in Japan to tell a story which is against the conforming nature of japanese people. It teaches the viewers that man do not need to be masculine and even if they have feminin traits, it does not mean they are all gay. The same goes for the girl, who is on the tomboyish side without the typical expierence doing makeup and dessing up. I won't spoil the rest of the story here, but it was not earth-shattering, but quite nice.

It's more on the light side, telling a story of discovery and exploration especially for the girl. The only downfall is the story about Hikarus parents, especially his father who does not approve of his cross-dressing. We can assume the mother was on his side always and his father came around in the finale but maybe in this case they should have shifted the story more so we could have seen the wedding with the parents... as with many BLs the kissing was again just dead fish kisses which annoys me in EVERY romance.

Overall an atypically japanese romance with atypical people which is worth the watch in my book!

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Nov 22, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

Unique, Humorous, and Heartfelt

This series defies the cookie-cutter feel of much of what passes for BL in some circles and instead offers fans a genuinely touching, and often hilarious, star-crossed romance driven by its well-cast characters' personal hangups and journeys of growth. Some may quibble with what's NOT there (I won't, because I just enjoyed the whole experience so much, naysayers be damned), but I'd rather highlight what IS there: namely, surprisingly diverse, positive, and humanizing representation of different LGBTQ characters as well as a really uplifting central message.

In fairness, yes, it has one notable shortcoming (I'm sure others will address it), and the camerawork and production are not perfect (you can feel the limited budget in places, as happens with most BL). But, frankly, who cares? If you want pathos, laughs, a bara-within-a-BL, a BL-within-a-BL, shippable idols, stalker-y journalists, and one of the most adorable opposites-attract main couples in recent years, then give it a chance!

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Ongoing 24/24
Love & the Emperor
29 people found this review helpful
Apr 5, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers
This drama is a pretty solid drama for me.

The female lead works at a VR gaming company. She is very ordinary and has a crush on her boss. However her boss doesn't like her. She ends up being the first person to try out this game created about falling in love with an emperor. Inside she is an ugly maid . She also chose the setting of most difficult level , therefore she encounters a lot of difficulties happen to her.

I like the female lead and her acting. Her character is cute , likable and quirky. She has one speciality which is cooking. She works her way up from being a maid to a palace chef. She tries to find the button to save her progress during the game, and that's were she ends up meeting the male lead.

The male lead is the emperor. He is a very smart , caring loving guy. The female and male leads encounters are funny and their romance which blossoms is cute and enjoyable. They have really good chemistry. Lol a good number of kissing scenes for you fans out there ;)

The storyline flowed really well and eventually back to the reality. It goes back full circle .

If you like drama genre "reality to game ", then this is the right drama for you.

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Completed
Elegant Lies
29 people found this review helpful
Oct 14, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Fantastic, the (red) thread - in every respect.

I have been reading only positive critiques about “Thread of Lies” all over the place. It just took a while before I could see the KMovie for myself. Basically, all the praise has already been said. Nonetheless! The story, which is sad in itself, is told, staged and acted in just such a wonderfully clever way! Despite the seriousness of its topic, the basic attitude is positive and light. The complex and complicated underlying social and emotional mechanisms are so sensitively identified and processed, I can't help but find words of praise for "Thread of Lies" myself, too! Absolutely worth seeing! The characters, their motives and backgrounds, their conflicting feelings, the gray in the shadow, the light in the darkness, everything comes across as multidimensional authenticity.

The older sister sets out to find out the actual reasons for the suicide of her younger, 14-year-old sister. We with her. There are traces – Suspicion. Culprit. Fault. Shame. As far as the eye can see... ...including the look in the mirror. Yet, it is not the index finger being raised. Rather, there is a hand, valiantly reaching out. Powerful!
It is not about accusation and blame or justification and defense. It is like it is. It was what it was. Recognizing THAT for what it is. Not sugarcoating it. No excuses. Recognizing each individual’s own contribution to some tragedy. It's all about this. To learn something out of it? In the best case!

In this KDrama, bullying (or mobbing) comes without bloody beatings and physical violence. Rather, it is the psychological, manipulative, nastily hidden, difficult-to-understand social-emotional mechanisms that are elaborated in an extremely sensitive, comprehensible way. A girl is forced into inner isolation at an age when the peer group actually becomes more important than family. Friendship, dependence, abuse - the boundaries are not yet so clear. When it comes to that, the young are still 'children' – perhaps with high ideals already, but still without lived friendship-experience. Friendship is a word with deep meaning, a powerful concept. It is related to high hopes and yearnings. It is needed, in order to survive in this world.
In contrast, there are parents who know better and still duck away. There are bullying victims who somehow survived. Also parents, who are absorbed in their own world. And in the middle of it all, a young girl says goodbye to this world. Decided and definite. Yet at the same time hesitant, too. Desperate after all. Helpless. A 14-year-old says goodbye to a world in which the only one, who knew about how she truly felt, was a stranger...

The complex story is processed in a non-linear manner. Compact and yet differentiated. The tragedy of the unspectacular is intensified by a rather subtly developed arc suspension. Touching, but not told in an overly emotional way. And what can I say... the story unfolds in such a true to life manner that you can't even be angry with the venomous perpetrator. At least not as much as you would like...

Fantastic, the (red) thread - in every respect.


PS:
The story is based on the novel “Elegant Lies” by Kim Ryeo-ryeong in 2009. Actually, the film production had a rather low budget and its initial difficulties to get started, as the topic is considered highly sensitive, especially in South Korea. The KMovie, however, gave the lie to the doubters. The response was enormous and consistently positive.

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Completed
The King: Eternal Monarch
29 people found this review helpful
by Osaf
Jun 27, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 5.5
Recently completed and I must admit that It was an excellent drama. The theories of parallel universe, monarchy and a love story, were all beautifully woven together. The acting skills were exemplary. The way Lee Min Ho perfectly got into his role as an Upright Monarch was very impressive. Kim Go Eun on the other hand potrayed a strong female lead, her character as Jeong Tae-ul and her acting skills were my personal favourites from this drama.

Her character as Luna was also impressive as the character as Luna was completely different from that of the character as Jeong Tae-ul. the formal being a pick pocket thief with a vast criminal record and the latter being an honest, strong and diligent police officer Wo Doh Hwan also did an excellent job at potraying 2 different characters who were poles apart in personality. One being a stiff and upright bodyguard cum soldier and the other being cheerful and chilled out person. All other actors too did a very good job as most of them played in double roles from the 2 parallel worlds. The screenplay and direction too was applause worthy.

Kim Go-eun, God, I am falling in love with her acting skills. Just saw her Goblin TV series and she was amazing. She didn't disappoint me. Her strong-willed and sarcasm character made me love her even more. The Superb supporting cast Woo Do-Hwan and the enigmatic Villain Lee Jung-jin shines here. You will fall in Love with their characters. Highly recommended must watch!

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Completed
Love Is Phantom
29 people found this review helpful
Sep 26, 2021
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 4.5
This review may contain spoilers

From 0 to 100 real quick!

Just finished this and I was left confused.
They legit kiss as strangers, and then the next day they are in love and dating like they've known each other for decades.
If the romance had any realistic progression whatsoever, it would be very normal for the main couple to share such an intense love for one another..but no.

Just a heads up, there is a 16-year age gap between the ML and FL. Although, that didn't bother me since they were both adults.

I guess my advice would be: If you want to watch this, don't try to make sense of what is happening.

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Completed
My Unicorn Girl
29 people found this review helpful
Sep 10, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Cute, cliche, & cheesy

Likes: Darren Chen looks super cute and did a really great job at making a cheesy script a lot less so. It's a breeze to watch.

Dislikes: Do you like xtra cheese in your dramas cuz you're gonna get it in this one. The FL. She was miscast IMO.

Every cliche romcom scenario you can think of will be in this drama with plenty of cheese and corn, and yet...I still finished all episodes. ..and it's because of Darren Chen. I remembered him from Meteor Garden, but wasn't a fan or anything until now. Honestly, this drama had so many lame cringeworthy scenarios that made me either laugh at the stupidity or gag from the cheesiness, but it would have been a lot worse had it not been for DC. He somehow made most of the cheesy lines charming and cute and oh man, those gazes! Tingles. hahahaha. And he was able to create that underlying tension with the FL who in my opinion was as bland as they come.

The main problem I had with this drama was with the FL. She was entirely miscast. It was so obvious that she can't skate and can barely lift a hockey stick, yet we're supposed to believe she's this skilled hockey player that can magically get into a hockey team? I can overlook a lot of things, but when the central theme is about hockey...you need to make sure you cast someone who can sell it. And she doesn't. She also adds nothing to her character. Like no personality whatsoever. I could see any other actress playing this role.

But these two did have some chemistry and there were a lot of scenes with just the two of them so I did enjoy that aspect. Also the side stories weren't that bad either. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense to me, but that may be contributed to the fact the the subs weren't that great. Overall though, it's a light hearted drama that is easy to watch mainly due to DC, but be prepared to overlook the major flaws.



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Completed
Broker
29 people found this review helpful
Aug 17, 2021
42 of 42 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

A very flawed drama for die-hard LYX fans with a kick-ass FL ...**BUT**...

If you are a die-hard Luo Yunxi fan, Broker might be worth it as it really showcases his talent. He gives an emotional performance as a flawed and tortured anti-hero who falls in love with a woman who changes the entire course of his life. Broker could also be for you if you love your female leads strong, brilliant, independent, and mature. Victoria Song’s portrayal will have you wishing there were more characters like her in Chinese dramas. (I was going to add sensible to the FL's list of attributes, but unfortunately I can not due to her actions and words in the final two or three episodes.)

BUT. And this is a huge BUT. For everyone else? It’s kind of a toss-up. Broker is flawed and messy, and whether it’s for you or not will depend on your enjoyment or tolerance of soapy, unrealistic melodramas and other elements that some people love and others hate: the science talk, the office politics and scheming (only in the early episodes though -- it's great later), the secondary OTP, very tortured heroes/heroines/antogonists (To say Leo is put through the wringer, especially at the end, would be an understatement). As the series progresses, it also flirts increasingly with “dog’s blood (狗血)” plotlines -- until it VERY predictably goes all-in on the makjang melodrama in the final quarter. (A couple of the characters even reference “dog’s blood” dramas, which makes one think it’s a sly nod of self-recognition.)

Personally, I genuinely enjoyed nearly every ridiculous, soapy, melodramatic moment and couldn’t wait for the next episode. At the same time, I have a lot of caveats. I did park most of my usual standards aside and simply went with the flow. I tried not to think too much about details that didn’t make sense; annoying tropes; the rather ham-fisted effort at depicting anti-Asian/Chinese racism; the heavy-handed overtones of patriotism/nationalism; inconsistencies in pacing, tone, character depiction, and story arcs. Unfortunately, these last elements became very difficult to ignore at the end, especially in the final episode. While expected, the execution of the story arc was frustrating -- and almost cruel -- at times. (You can read my more spoilery views about the ending in the comments section below.)

REWATCH VALUE: If I could break it down, I'd give all of Leo’s scenes a 10 (no bias here :P) and many (but not all) of Victoria’s very high marks too.

MUSIC: Like many Chinese dramas, the instrumental background was sometimes too much, but the songs were solid. I especially adored the closing credit piece, Signature (署名) by Azora Chin (尤长靖), and Leo’s haunting theme, It’s Time To Stop (时间停止吧), by ANU.

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Completed
First Time
28 people found this review helpful
Jul 1, 2014
Completed 14
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
THIS IS TRULY A FASCINATING MOVIE! At the beginning it was a little confusing and the romance was developing really quickly, but don't give up yet, cause after 30 mins the story is taking a BIG twist! From then the puzzles were putting in their place.
The cinematography was beautiful and the whole theme of a movie. It became my favourite one!

The acting was really, really good, especially the mother's. She must stay strong and do anything to make her daughter happy. The main actress did a great job potraying a sick person whose memories are dissappearing as soon as the new day come, but also a very intelligent young woman. Chao Mark was playing a two roles and he managed it to do it perfectly.

I loved the music. It will give you all the feels and the lyrics are beautiful, especially the song at the end. I couldn't stop crying and I still can't while I'm writing this review. :'(

Overall I can see myself coming back here and watching it all over again in a near future hehe ;) :D
Give it a try and believe me you won't be dissapointed! ^_^

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