Completed
Well Dominated Love
45 people found this review helpful
Jul 18, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
Like one of the other reviews, I personally think this drama was good too.
Like the other review said, no annoying characters, and not cliche at all.

The number of times he loses memory is perfect, not too much rather not too few and the good part is that it came as a shock, which was really good.
I like the FL's personality, she's super chill and not annoying or naive at all. She wants a simple wedding and wedding ring, it feels like she's very down to earth.
I also like the relation between the FL and the second ML, really close but only as friends.
The second FL, the actress, was also super cool and chill, she gave up really quickly as she realized that the ML only loves the FL.
There's a lot of comedy happening in the office and all the coworkers are really funny.
The ending was nice, I looks a lot like every character ends up finding someone, which is a very happy ending.
I recommend it.

And regarding the sound, then is most likely because you are watching it on youtube. Youtube is not the best place to watch dramas, i recommend IFVOD. tv, but it's only for Chinese speaking people, sry.

If you're looking for more dramas I recommend:
- Love Designer
- My Love, Enlighten Me
- Girlfriend
- Well Intented Love
- My Dear Lady
- Sweet Dreams
- Because of Meeting You
- Moonshine and Valentine
- Luckys First Love
- A Little Reunion
- Put Your Head on My Shoulder
- My True Friend

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Completed
Longing for You
45 people found this review helpful
Sep 7, 2023
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

A fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans

"Longing for You" offers crime and more at its best. Nice to have along the way: a bit of salt in the fresh air of the coastal town where two of the protagonists grew up in.

The public prosecutor's office and the police form a special investigation unit in the case of a serial killer. Solving the case is one thing - an that is overrun by further victims. The internal dynamics within the team as well as emotional complications between further characters are another. Both crime case and complex personal dynamics being jointly combined within a splendidly explosive mixture make “Longing for You” a fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans.

We abruptly stumble into an opaque spider's web. The KDrama thrives on its bizarre, strangely interwoven relationships. Abyssal. A bit chilly at times. Mostly harsh and brusque. But sensitive and touching in well-placed spots, too. Suspenseful until the end. Whenever you think you have a clue, the story takes a new, unexpected turn. As I said, a fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans.

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Completed
The Next Prince
148 people found this review helpful
by Jojo Flower Award1 Hidden Gem Recommender1 Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss1 Clap Clap Clap Award1 Mic Drop Darling1
Aug 2, 2025
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 27
Overall 3.5
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

All that glitters is not gold!

This drama had everything going for it. From stunning sets, dramatic costumes, popular cast and a trailer that promised intrigue, romance and political drama. Unfortunately, it turns out that lavish wardrobes and good-looking actors in them can't save the day.

The most glaring issue here was the writing. The drama just can't seem to decide what it wants to be till the very end.
Was it a royal romance? A musical drama? A political thriller? A princess diary fanfic BL version? There were too many storylines crammed in here. Instead of choosing one and committing, it tries to do all and ends up doing none well.
Let's start with tonal whiplash. One moment, you are dealing with serious political protests and in the very next scene, Khanin suddenly bursts into song with a piano playing softly in the background. I understand singing during protests is nothing new and it's a time-honoured form of resistance, but this was Broadway theatrical in a way that totally undermined the gravity of that scene and took all seriousness out of it.

Coming to the main couple, they definitely look good on paper, but felt like paper in execution. Khanin is both the crown prince and somehow the least interesting person in most of the scenes. He starts as an interesting character, a normal boy adapting to palace culture in a foreign land, but quickly develops into this lovesick puppy whose only job is to pine, pose and moon over Charan.
Charan, on the other hand, is a man of few words and fewer expressions.
He was stiff, stoic and emotionally blank for most of the drama. He definitely had an air of nobility, and we were shown a few glimpses of inner turmoil that could have been fleshed out more to give us something, but I never got a sense of what drives him. Was it a sense of justice or his duty? He was just the "dependable one" and that's about it. Also the amount of filters on Zee's face was a baffling choice. He is already handsome. There was no need to smooth out every trace of expression. We know his age and there is nothing wrong with showing it. Why try to hide what already works!!??

I felt their relationship developed too fast. They have chemistry and I don't deny that, but just not enough development for me to root for them. They were very bland. Even the infamous NC scene looked like a fever dream you would expect from a Wattpad fanfic. It felt overdramatic and oddly timed.

Meanwhile, the second couple, Ramil and Paytai, sitting on the bench at the side, actually had a compelling dynamics but barely got any screen time. They had something emotionally raw brewing, trauma bonding, guilt, co-dependence. We were served crumbs of them but that’s the only part I ended up caring about.

Then there’s Ava. I was genuinely curious to see how the writers would handle her arc and they disappointed me exactly as expected. They made her stand up just to knock her back down again whenever it suited the plot (or their mood apparently). So much potential, so little effort.
I will not even talk about Calvin and Jay because they got so little screen time. They were written in but weren't written for. All the side characters had a better story in my humble opinion.

The polished cinematography, sparkling costumes and wide shots of castles and palaces screamed high budget. But honestly, it felt like a hollow chocolate wrapped in gold foil. Pretty to look at but kind of pointless when you are left with nothing to chew on. And also, I wished they were a bit subtle about the product placement.
And I wasn't particularly impressed with any of the acting performances, especially of the leads. I don't know if it was the writing or what, but NO.

Overall, this was a disappointment for me, not the fun kind which you can laugh about. I am not sure if the team thought aesthetics could do all the heavy lifting. I will not recommend this.

P.S.- This review is not meant to discourage anyone from watching the drama. If you are interested, absolutely give it a try. :) And this isn’t also a jab at the actors either. My disappointment comes from a place of a viewer who was genuinely excited for the series. You might wonder why I didn’t drop it midway, well you can thank my NDD for that.

But if you enjoyed the show, please take this review with a grain of salt and as one person’s perspective among many.
Thank you for reading my review and I hope you have a lovely day. <3

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Completed
Full House
59 people found this review helpful
Jul 29, 2013
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
The first half of the series is good but the story begins to drag afterwards. How much fighting can a couple who is interested in each other have. If you really like one another there should be some sort of romance rather than expressing your feelings by constantly yelling at one another. If I were in either person's shoe, I would have given up on the relationship, based on the fact that I will eventually loose my voice. When they finally seem to be together, what ends up happening is more fighting. Some people gave this series a high rating but I believe that if they were kids and that the only way to express your feelings is by yelling, then I can understand.

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Completed
Still 2gether
59 people found this review helpful
Sep 11, 2020
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Still 2Gether: A Damage Control or How 2 Save Your Series

This season was clearly done to save this series after lackluster finale/final third of season 1. It very obviously addresses most of the complaints and comments we as viewers had while watching the original series and brings back everything we loved at the beginning.

And you know what? I liked it! I had a good time watching this!

Thanks to this bonus season, the first season of 2Gether wont leave such a bad taste in my mouth anymore, because i know this exists!

This is the first time in my life that i have seen such an attempt to save a piece of media that went downhill. And i honestly respect it, no matter if the driving force behind this season were money or actual genuine effort to save this series that stems from love for the source material. We could discuss their intentions ad infinitum but simple existence of this bonus season means they care about it.

The story was simple but entertaining. Besides damage control, the script focused on all the things we as viewers enjoyed - be it silly comedy or cute moments (or doubled-down on things the writer very obviously stood behind such as distinct TineWat love language). There were quite some plot holes or cheap plot set-ups like the two club rooms being directly next to each other or Tine missing Wat super hard after like… a week of separation. There are still some glaring issues from season 1, if you want to nitpick.
But lets just be generous for now and overlook these for a sake of general entertainment.

Acting was good and i think the overall cast chemistry was improved in this series. My only complaint is that some of the characters became caricatures of themselves at some point but at the same time it was, again, probably necessary evil so the series could be so entertaining.

I hope Still2Gether will become a case-study for any upcoming series. Not in a way that i want to see a shitty s1 followed by a damage control special season ever again but because im sure there are many ways a filmographer can learn from success, fall and eventual redemption that was 2gether the series as a whole.

My rating is probably a bit too high but i unexpectedly enjoyed this bonus series and i appreciate the amount of thought that went into “saving” 2Gether as a series.

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Completed
The Girl Who Sees Scents
59 people found this review helpful
May 24, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This is one of the few dramas that I've managed to complete this year. For me this was an enjoyable watch and I liked tuning in to every week for new episodes. Initially this drama started off as very interesting and fast-paced. Since this drama is a murder mystery I was only hooked to it till the end for its revelations. So did it live up to the expectations it set during its run? Somewhat yes and also a major no.

The plot is quite ridiculous honestly. It makes little or no sense. However, the cast is lovely and the main actress played her role quite well. I have seen her works previously and trust me, she has improved immensely here. This was a drama for me in which I stopped caring about the romance after midway. The murder mystery and villain was what it was all about! The villain is damn good and it helps that he was so, so attractive to look at. :D

This drama had some high-riding moments where you'd wonder who did what and why. A lot of things were wonderfully executed. For me this drama was a solid 9-9.5 till the last four episodes where things happened out of the blue.

This drama is no different from any other Kdrama because like every drama out there, it starts out with a bang and ends leading upto nowhere.

The OST was nice to listen to. It wasn't my favourite but it wasn't bad either.

I recommend this drama to people who don't mind mindless fun. Watch the first couple of episodes to judge if you like it or not.

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Completed
Before We Get Married
73 people found this review helpful
by Jenna
Aug 16, 2019
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers

I felt more frustration than "love" unfortunately

*UPDATE: Finale was a big MEH for me as predicted. Sad Panda.*
I will likely come back and update this once the final episode air.
SO, the acting is wonderful. I love the characters and the storyline and this is definitely one of the steamiest shows on Viki. I love everything this show could have possibly been. I still love the show but feel more frustration than "love" a lot of the times which is why I'm giving it 7 stars instead of 10 for right now.
My issues:
1. For a drama romance to work, there has to be a bit "more" to keep the main characters apart. In my personal opinion, after 10 episodes, the "why not" just isn't there and it drags the entire storyline down in a major way.
2. The Chu Kehuan's ex is a bit of a one-dimensional & psychotic/dependent/weak character on ALL levels and it makes her whole storyline aggravating to watch. Since they also keep shoving her in our face as a "reason" the main character's don't just get together already, it makes episodes painful to watch and honestly, cringe-worthy. When she keeps repeating the same shit over and over again about "10 year relationship" and "but I love you" and so on. So. Painful. Already.
3. Speaking of #2 above, we all know from little hints that she has some hidden secret of WHY she got an abortion all those years ago and broke her man's trust in their relationship, but IF & WHEN she finally reveals it... do we even CARE??? No. No we do not, so that plot point is null and void and won't make any impact on us as viewers because she's a douche and we couldn't care less at this point.
4. ZWW's ex, 321. He might be CLUELESS and a bit of a bore AND he has 0 skills when it comes to knowing what a woman thinks, and so on, BUT I feel like the writers turn him into a bit of a manipulating, violent ASSHAT in a single episode because they didn't know what else to do to vindicate ZWW's decision (as if she needed any other reasons) AND to keep the plot moving along with drama thrown in for good measure in nearly the last episode. Now, with ONLY TWO episodes left and the previews showing 321 still showing his ass in the next episode, well, I don't foresee us getting MUCH actual ROMANCE/happiness between ZWW and Chu Kehuan that we've all been anticipating with bated breath.
OK... I have more issues with the show than I realized. And, sadly, I'm only watching the last episode because I love the actors and have invested way too much time NOT to see the ending. :/

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Completed
Coffee & Vanilla
73 people found this review helpful
Mar 7, 2020
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Short sweet and refreshing

This is one of those dramas that has every cliche that’s ever been in a drama. The male lead is a cold 30 year old rich CEO and the female lead is a very shy insecure virginal college student. All of the women want to be with the male lead. And of course all of the men want the female lead. So why am I giving it such a high rating? Why do I like it so much? It’s just so sweet fluffy and romantic. And I’ve never seen an Asian drama show so much skin in a drama. I mean it’s like a toned down version of “50 Shades of Grey.” I’m a sucker for a really romantic drama that has the romance heat up quickly. It’s just so rare and it’s soooo sweet. Very little angst and lots of sweet moments. I like how she’s always sitting on the floor curled up at his feet. And I like how he always runs up and gives her back hugs all the time. This is my go to drama after watching a really heavy angsty drama. It’s light sweet tone is really refreshing. And with only 10 episodes it’s a quick easy watch. It’s definitely not for everyone. But it’s my guilty pleasure.

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Completed
Mysterious Lotus Casebook
73 people found this review helpful
Aug 12, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is a dark 江湖/jiānghú story about the ultimately futile aspirations and obsessions of the martial world. In an epic battle for supremacy, Di Feisheng of the dark Jinyuan Alliance challenges Li Xiangyi, the leader of the righteous Sigu sect. Both men disappear from the martial world afterwards, leaving a vacuum at the top and their sects in disarray.

Ten years later, aspiring young detective Fang Duobing comes across Li Lianhua, a famous itinerant doctor whom he is convinced is a quack. Determined to expose him, he attaches himself to Li Lianhua as inextricably as a wad of chewing gum in his hair. They run into Di Feisheng, who immediately recognises in him his old nemesis Li Xiangyi. The two old rivals remorselessly keep Fang Duobing in the dark as they try to figure out who sabotaged their fight and search for Li Xiangyi's deceased sect brother Shan Gudao's corpse. An unlikely friendship develops as they work together to solve a series of strangely connected jiānghú cases.

Plot wise, this drama is solid but dry and unremarkable. The cases all unfold at a fast pace and are easy to follow, but do not engage audience participation. They are simply plants for clues to a treasure hunt for artefacts that unlock the main conspiracy. Despite a hint of the supernatural, the cases fall short of chilling or suspenseful. The hidden mastermind behind the main conspiracy is pretty obvious and revealed fairly early on, and even the ironic twist at the end is not much of a surprise. Both villains are one-dimensional jiānghú archetypes driven by vanity and delusions of grandeur. Wang Herun's scarily convincing portrayal of the Saintess of the insane cackle elevated the role beyond its one-dimensional character blueprint.

\What makes this drama a success are fascinating main character designs, strong rapport among the three leads, the scintillating dialogues, and well-choreographed and exciting action sequences. The real mystery is about who Li Xiangyi was and why he was killed. The answers are at surface trivial. Li Xiangyi was perched at the top of the martial arts world as the world's best swordsman and leader of the righteous sects. This made him the envy and natural target of virtually everyone. However, Li Xiangyi was far from the perfect hero of Fang Doubing's idealistic imagination. In fact, he was a self-absorbed, pompous ass who believed the universe revolved around him and his worldview. His swordsmanship is matched by a brilliant, cynical mind and a razor-sharp tongue that, according to poor Ai'man, can slay a person with a few words. If there is one thing lacking in Cheng Yi's otherwise stellar performance, it is that his Xiangyi is too empathetic. This masks his many flaws and hides how insufferable and difficult he was as a person. It took me awhile to realise that his sect had some inkling who Li Lianhua really was but they refused to recognise him because they just did not want Li Xiangyi to come back.

As for Li Lianhua, he is just a shard, a detached, sickly, disillusioned and world-weary remnant of the glorious Li Xiangyi. Cheng Yi really compels with his heart rending expression of this facet of the character singing his swan song without a shred of self pity. I lived for the sudden bursts of energy or sheer willpower that momentarily revives the breathtaking, dazzling and dizzying swordsmanship that propelled Li Xiangyi to dominate wuling. Only to all too rapidly diminish back into Li Lianhua again, a wickedly unapolagetic compulsive liar whose mantra is clearly, "Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies." This is how he keeps everyone, and especially the hapless Fang Doubing, at arm's length; to avoid new personal entanglements. Fang Doubing (which literally means "sickly") is a parody character, the typical naive, high-minded, young adventurer raring to make a difference in the martial world. The dialogue is well written and humorously illustrates how grudgingly Li Lianhua is moved by this pesty young detective and tacitly accepts him as his successor. However, this kind of clichéd relationship dynamic of the clueless sidekick that elevates the brilliant sleuth is too common and quickly becomes boring. Li Lianhua's lies to Fang Doubing went on for too long to the point it became cruel and unnecessary. Their relationship is over explored and shortchanges the more interesting relationship in the drama.

What disappoints me most is that the writers opted to very cursorily explore the more complex and interesting relationship between Di Feisheng and Li Lianhua. Di Feisheng is the most layered villain in this story; that rare antagonist who transforms into a protagonist. Like Li Xiangyi, he rises to the top of his sect through sheer martial prowess rather than by winning hearts and minds. They are enemies who become friends, both betrayed and searching for answers. But his story is sidelined for much of the drama, his backstory is rushed, and his relationship with Li Lianhua does not really get a chance to develop and grow. Yet the best moments of this drama, are when all three of them are together, like a found family.

I like that this ends with an action-packed finale and satisfying final confrontations with the antagonists. But as for the plot, the best reveal is when Fang Doubing figures out who Li Lianhua is, which isn't really a revelation to the viewer. And I can't really pinpoint when the plot reaches its climax, as none of the high points make a strong impression. As for the ending, it is fitting but not as definitive as I would have liked. Most of Li Lianhua's journey is about putting his affairs in order and offering closure to those he cared for; to help them move on from Li Xiangyi who in all the ways that mattered died ten years ago. Yet Li Lianhua continues to string poor Fang Doubing (and us) along, which is too cruel and inconsistent with the drama's core message about letting go of past attachments and moving on. These kinds of endings that try to please all audiences really annoy me. I still enjoyed this superbly well written drama, immensely even though I think it had the potential to be much better. For me, this is an excellent 8.5/10.0 and a highly recommended watch.

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Completed
Beyond Evil
157 people found this review helpful
by Jeana Flower Award1
Apr 18, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0

The Most Formidable Bromance of 2021 that will bring you to your knees

Where do I even begin? This is the best detective thriller drama I have ever watched. There, I said it.

How many of you have grown tired of watching crime shows that just don't feel exciting anymore?

So many times, crime dramas get lost in the 'next big moment' and finding the thrill factor that they stop connecting with the watcher.

Beyond Evil is a beautiful mix of emotion and supense. It's a blend of heartbreakingly slow, full of feeling moments and bone chilling darkness. It's not a super fast show. It takes its time as it unravels, develops and comes to fruition gorgeously- like a well simmered pot of stew.

The drama's biggest strength is its unforgettable characters and the mindblowing acting by the cast.

In the beginning it induces your trust issues in a gut punching manner by introducing its two seemingly morally grey and unreliable protagonists and then slowly but surely brings to light one of the best friendships the Korean cinema has ever seen.

Both the main leads are phenomenal, each holding their own and being a massive force to be reckoned with.

Shin Ha Kyun put out acting worthy of a Daesang. His reckless, passionate, wildly fearless and courageous detective with the biggest smile and eyes full of pain doesn't take long to cement his place in your heart.

Yeo Jin Goo, on the other hand, while young, owned his role phenomenally. His character Han Joo Won, a prickly, seemingly cold catlike man with heart of platinum and a strong sense of justice is extremely easy to fawn over.

Together, these two are a storm- infinitely badass with balls of steel; a dynamic team that you can't help but fall in love in with.

Aside from the two, all the supporting characters bring their own flavour to the screen. While their little self-proclaimed 'Avengers' police team brings instant warmth to your heart, the antagonists are blood boiling-ly good in equal measure.

The music is fantastic- sombre and dark at times; sometimes cheeky and playful and other times enough to wreck you. There are a lot of stunning shots and the drama is both extremely well written and directed.

The character development is amazing and the bonds these characters form among each other is a powerful thing to witness. There's so much nuance in these relationships and it's hard not to catch feelings and let go of your heart when it comes to a show like this.

Honestly, for me a good psychological thriller is hard to come by and this was by far one of the best. I was so invested in it that some of the scenes made me bawl my eyes out, while others made me laugh, giggle, swoon and shout HOLY FUCK at the top of my lungs.

They nailed both the emotion and the 'whodunnit' aspect in a way that's very unique to the genre.

It was a wild, crazy, full of thrill and heart ride that I almost don't want to get off of.

Surely, a must-watch. Highly reccomended for fans of psychological thrillers who like their dramas with a little extra oomph!

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Completed
The Shipper
194 people found this review helpful
Aug 10, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 15
Overall 5.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
In the past year the BL community has had the odd experience of three expensively-produced BL productions reaching their final few episodes only to collapse under their own aspirations, angering viewers and overshadowing all of the elements that they might have gotten right.

In all three instances it can be said that these series (HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count, 2gether, and The Shipper) were trying to do something "different" with the BL genre. For 2gether, the intent was to reach a more global and conservative audience by toning down the gay aspects of Boys Love and replacing them with bromance. For HIStory 3: MODC and The Shipper, the directors aspired to transcend the BL genre and deliver something more realistic and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the way both of these series did it was by killing off a beloved main character.

For me, a main character's death is as inappropriate in a BL production as a high-kicking chorus line would be in a production of King Lear. In the case of The Shipper, an artful story was already being told very well, and the series actually did seem to be transcending the genre. So many commenters on the MDL page have mentioned how the body-swapping theme sounded unpromising at first, but after giving the series a try they found that it played exceptionally well. Why, then, did the series end up killing off one of the main characters, even before they'd had a chance to actually be in a relationship with their partner?

I still have yet to learn how Kim's death in The Shipper served the themes of the series. At least in the case of MODC, the director had a theme that she wanted to promote ("make sure you cherish every moment with the person you love because you don't know when they'll be gone"). Attaching such a theme to a BL series proved to be a mistake, but she had her reasons.

For The Shipper, the character death seems gratuitous because its theme about ships, shippers, and the people being shipped doesn't need for anyone to die in order to get its point across. (Plus there's that tease about a sequel in the very last moments of the final episode. If Kim can live on in a sequel then why not in the original?)

Now, I've seen where because the main character of The Shipper is Pan and the "real" Kim has limited screen time, people have said that the series doesn't qualify as BL. Pan's journey, though, is mainly about discovering who the real Kim is, and as she learns more about him the viewers learn along with her and their affection for him deepens. By the time she hits the paydirt that yes, Kim and Way have a relationship that goes beyond friendship, we've become completely invested in that pairing. We're in it to win it! We thrill over Way's epiphany that he actually loves Kim, then get even more excited over the proof that Kim also loved Way, and from that point on Kim has become as important to the series as any of the main characters who've had more screen time.

How sad, then, that none of these revelations can ever get acted on or rewarded because one of the boys turns out to be dead. We discover that what's been served up is a full-blown BL storyline but with a tragic ending. And if anything doesn't belong in a BL storyline, it's tragedy.

It must be said, too, that the longer Pan stays in Kim's body the less appealing she becomes as a character, deciding to intervene with the people in Kim's life to make sure they know that he's actually not a good person. At one point I became disgusted by her judgmental attitude and smug sense of superiority. I'm not convinced that she ever truly lived that down, thus weakening her standing as a main character that people can sympathize with completely. In this regard Way is the much better person, and all the more deserving of the happy ending that the series squanders on Pan.

It also bothers me that the hetero-normative couple gets the happy ending while the m/m couple gets the dead boyfriend. Back in the 1950's, death was in store for most gay characters because the morality of that era demanded that they meet a tragic fate. In this sense The Shipper is terribly unenlightened and regressive. It would have been so easy to give both the m/f and m/m couples a happy ever after, and it would have more effectively communicated how every kind of love deserves nurturing and respect.

A happy ending for all would also have been befitting the BL theme of the series.

I would have liked to listen in while the creative team for The Shipper worked on the storyboards and reached the decision that Kim would be killed off. What the heck were they thinking? They obviously misread their audience in a fundamental way, and I can only hope that GMMTV takes heed of misfires like The Shipper when they hire the next production company to mount a BL series.

In about three months I plan to do an experiment where I'll approach a few BL fans at random and ask them what they remember most about The Shipper. I think I know what the answer will be. In the meantime I'll be checking in with The Shipper's MDL page every now and then to see how many comments are NOT about the crappy ending. (Not many, I bet.)

This is the danger of messing with a genre that people absolutely love. But, after what amounts to three disastrous decisions in three expensively produced series, I'm starting to wonder if anyone in charge really cares.

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Completed
Mr. Plankton
54 people found this review helpful
by kara
Nov 24, 2024
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

for mentally ill

this drama is filled with every possible emotion that you can imagine and that's why i like it so much. it's like writer was taking me on a roller coaster ride with two messed up people. also, casting director knew what he was doing while casting these leads. WDH and LYM's chemistry carries this drama.
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Completed
Vice Versa
54 people found this review helpful
Aug 15, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

fun little fantasy romance

I liked the chemistry between the two lead actors. I liked the fantasy aspect. I'm not one to deeply analyze a program. This to me has a feel good vibe and I'm liking it. Others have criticized this program for being shallow. Is it predictable where the story is going? yes but I'm fine with that and I'm enjoying it. Sometimes it is okay to turn off your mind and have a fun story to watch and this series is one of those.

The thing about the port keys and dreams could have been better but I'm okay with it , I think it would be nice it they had some time clues on how long the main characters have been in the alternate universe . Not until episode 9 do you a definite time sense because in that episode they have a 1 yr anniversary party for Friend Credits.

I liked that they didn't make the first movie they made a success. it was be interesting to see where things went from there. There was a little foreshadowing in episode 5 with the gentleman that came back after 5 years to find his life destroyed. I liked how that played a part after Talay returns to the main universe. I liked it when Talay and Puen meet in the main universe again and there was a reference to a scene from episode 2. I liked how it had a happy ending and you also got to see what was happening in the other universe. I was satisfied with the ending. In episode 12 be sure to watch the "Anywhere with Lays" segment after the credits roll. Not to spoil anything but you'll want to watch it. It makes the ending a little more satisfying.

Overall I really liked the series and If you are not an analytical person I would recommend it .

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Completed
Road Home
54 people found this review helpful
Mar 25, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

"It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight."

Road Home is not your typical Cdrama, where you expect to see the most unexpected of them all.
In essence, it's just a melodramatic, feel-good, piece-of-life sort of drama. Be prepared to see lots of romantic scenes, Kisses, hugs, long gazes, beautiful locations, and most importantly; how to LOVE and LIVE at the same time.

Plot summary:
This drama is focused on First love. Two youngsters fell in love at first sight and broke up due to fate's plan. Seems simple and predictable at times, yet they take you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. How to grow up and cultivate the love you once lost. It's mature, warm, and heartwrenching at times; yet you will enjoy every single minute of it. Be ready to see flashback scenes and the younger versions of the leads and their interactions.

First Impression:
The drama starts pretty simply as the plot suggests. The pacing is decent, since the leads find each other rather unexpectedly and reconnect because they want to! There is no hatred felt from both side unlike what we see in Asian dramas mostly. From the first episode, you can feel their longing and desire. It's like they are destined to set foot in each other's lives once again.
As the story progresses, there are minimum complications, and no cringe-worthy scenes ( except a few scenes where the leads are cut and can't communicate well). There are no jealous exes or love triangles to mess up the drama. Just sit back and enjoy watching two long-lost, lovey-dovey human beings. However, the ML is a SWAT member, as a result, there are scenes exhibiting his life and work by himself.

Acting:
It was my first time seeing Seven Tan in a drama and I dare say I was impressed. She plays her character so well. You can easily see her development from a teenager to an adult through the course of this drama. She suffers in her childhood as it's depicted through the flashbacks and develops into an independent woman who wants to love and settle down. She expresses her feelings and desires fully and Gui Xiao makes you believe in love if you don't already lol

Jing Boran aka the Male lead Lu Chen. The heartthrob of this drama. I wanna applaud his acting in this drama. It's hard to deliver a rather tough and broken character in a drama, and i must say JBR did a wonderful job delivering a police officer's employment and love life. Not to mention depicting affection and brewing loving chemistry with Seven Tan.
In essence, he is just a simple guy who doesn't talk much but just look at the way his eyes and body move. That is another level of acting in my opinion. Some simply watched the drama for his good looks, Well, you're not alone!

All other actors involved in this drama deserve kudos. Everyone played their respective roles in alignment with the story and this is what makes the drama interesting in my opinion.( A special kudos to the kiddo who plays Qin Xiaonan)

Writing:
This drama is based on a romance novel and the Author is also involved in script writing of this drama, which is a great contribution. I haven't personally read the novel, yet those who have had before mentioned that this drama is closely following the novel's footsteps and we are not deviating much from the novel ( as the novel readers say, the drama followed the novel closely. so if you see things missing or don't make sense, the original book is the same). As a result, the author's presence had a great effect on the script and character development.
Yet again, the only downside was that the second lead had minimum screen time and their relationship was kinda rushed. So we are mostly focused on the main leads.

Production and cinematography:
If you have watched Cdramas before, you are fully aware that their production system is a bit different( In terms of using CGI and dubbing voices, however, in this drama the actors' original voices were used) But this drama uses beautiful locations and picturesque scenery. We see a variety of locations and buildings, camps and bases, and cities too!( not to mention the tents and camps they showed us!)
The episodes that are shot in Qining are the best of them all, which adds to the value of this drama. If you watch the drama, you realize the importance of this magnificent place for the lead's destiny.

Music:
The selection of music is a bit limited, however, the background classical pieces used in different scenes definitely bring about good vibes.



I just want to mention that if you're a romantic and die for romantic dramas with the least complications and cringe, and at the same time crave romantic scenes and beautiful chemistry, be sure to check this drama. It's a solid 10/10. highly recommended.

And another side note. Some did not like this drama. Understandable! Not every drama made in dramaland is aimed to satisfy everyone. But this drama is not at ALL lame and bland. It's designed for a more mature audience who wants to see something realistic and romantic.



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Completed
Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo
54 people found this review helpful
by Queen Finger Heart Award1 Flower Award1 Coin Gift Award1 Hidden Gem Recommender1 Reply Hugger1
Oct 23, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

"Your hand touching mine. This is how galaxies collide.”

One of the best Korean BL drama with super charming characters . A super healthy storyline .


OVERVIEW - Do Hoe , a brilliant student who grown in a brutal and abnormal atmosphere without his parents love and care . He never felt happiness in his life like other children but suddenly he met Ju Yeong who carried the light of his love in Do Hoe's life .

POSITIVE - Super handsome and soft hearted ML with charming and cute MC . Their chemistry is unbeatable . The way they always stand side by side in each other's trouble really makes my heart melt .

The visuals , cinematography are awesome . Really felt like I was watching a high budget drama . Smiles of both ML and MC are heartwarming . The ice cream and rain scene in ep 1 were definitely romantic .Tiny slow music when they did eye contact ...ah it's ear candy .

NEGATIVE- I haven't found any negative points yet .
OVERALL- People who like to watch healthy, slow burn romance dramas then they can try it . It's really so good.

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