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I just finish the drama and I'm shock. The story was good and it had power female characters. MC was a good hero and I ship him with Xun Er. I really happy that they didn't go the harem route for the MC like in the book. I hope he pick one girl to stay with.The only thing I dislike was that it has a lot of loop holes in the story, but there not too bad. You still can get the plot flow even though some time things are clearly missing. The story plot goes normal speed and isn't slow like a manga or webtoon tends to be.
I really hope there a season 2 and the MC comes back(there been rumors that his not coming back). I hope the MC pick ome girl and keep it that way for season 2.
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The creepiest, most disturbing, most terrifying study of the human mind!
Finally a drama made me write a review and this one deserves all the golden stars.The story keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat and keeps you guessing all the way through. The ominous atmosphere makes you feel like something terribly bad is going to happen any second. This drama studies human mind in such a terrifying and fascinating way.
Acting is top-notch! I checked this drama out purely because I love Lee Dong Wook and think he's the most beautiful man alive but I'd never seen this side of him before and I'm so glad I have now. This became my new favorite roll of his. All the actors in this drama knocked it out of the park.
The OST fits perfectly and even though I prefer OST pt. 1 by The Rose, I truly love and enjoy all the four songs.
Strangers from Hell is in my opinion a perfect gateway drug into dramaland for any lover of true crime or creepy psychological stuff in general. WE NEED MORE DRAMAS LIKE THIS!
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A well-structured but boring watch
PLOT: Starts entertaining, but sizzles out pretty darn fast--------------------------------------------------------------
Jun Ji Hoon (the ML) is an Interpol undercover agent working on a case that involves his Ah Reum's (his ex-wife's) close friend. When the job goes south, Ji Hoon is forced to keep a close eye on Ah Reum (the FL), reigniting his feelings for her in the process.
In the wake of a tragedy, Ah Reum decides to unofficially investigate the suspicious circumstances of her friend's death. The trail leads her to reconnect with Ji Hoon, her ex-husband, and then later to suspect Derek Hyun, her current husband, of being involved in her friend's death.
If you go by the summary, one would imagine this show to be Male-centric, since we know right off the bat that the Male Lead and Second Male Lead are both secret agents on opposing sides. And to a certain extent, the story begins with them. Yet Kang Ah Reum's character becomes the best thing about this show and the heart of the story until we cross into the second half.
Unfortunately, there's nothing memorable about this drama aside from the depiction of a consistently strong Female Lead, who just so happens to also be kind of boring and a bit self-centered.
While we could blame the incorporation of comedy as one of the weakest points, it's the bland characters that hurt this drama the most.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Simple, dull, and unengaging
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Kang Ah Reum:
An ambitious wedding dress designer who works hard to keep her business afloat, Ah Reum is not only smart, charming, and hardworking; but she's also stubborn, uncompromising, and committed to a cause. For a Female Lead, Ah Reum is always actively involved in the plot and, one could even say; she one-ups both Male Leads on multiple occasions. Credit where credit is due, the writer managed to keep Ah Reum from becoming the "victim" of the male leads' deceitfulness. That doesn't mean she doesn't feel hurt when she figures out both men lied to her, but rather that she isn't defined by that pain. Unfortunately, after a while, her character just falls flat and becomes boring. Her wishy-washy attitude towards the male leads certainly doesn't help. And she starts to showcase some flaws as we cross into the second half, during which she's shown to be self-centered, petty, and judgemental.
Jun Ji Hoon:
An undercover Interpol agent who's introduced as the ace of his team and Ah Reum's ex-husband. Unlike your typical Male Lead, Ji Hoon has been written with enough flaws to balance his strengths. He's a master of combat, smart, and loyal; but he's also emotionally-driven, ridden with guilt, and lonely due to his sacrificial nature. Outside of his love for Ah Reum, however, there's nothing of substance to his character. And let's just say there are even a few occasions where I wondered if he was referred to as the "ace" in a sarcastic way. Don't get me wrong, he's always a sweet character, but he's ultimately the most boring.
Derek Hyun:
He's Ah Reum's current husband and a corporate spy working for an underground group who's wanted by Interpol. He's a master of disguise; charming and sweet, who has been groomed from a very young age in the art of deceit. And it's precisely how easy that smile lights his face that makes him a dangerous spy. For one never knows if he'll offer a hug one second and stab you in the back with the next. Out of all the characters, he was the most interesting but also the less explored.
Although the three of them may read quite impressive on paper, they failed to be fleshed out properly. Like I've mentioned, Derek comes closest to an intriguing protagonist, especially on those few occasions when he narrates his thoughts and exposes his contradicting feelings. But being locked in the wretched love triangle hurts his story; as his identity crisis (being a loving husband vs being a cold-blooded spy) is never dealt with properly. Especially because the drama reminds us constantly that he's the second male lead and we all know what that means, right?
With leads me to talk about the weakest part of the drama...
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Uncommitted & boggled down by the Love Triangle
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If you're not tolerant of a love triangle that drags throughout most of the story, then this one will test your patience. Add to that the fact that it's never made clear who Ah Reum loves from the two men (up until the very end), and this draggy mess of a romance becomes boring fast.
Ah Reum is certainly loyal to Derek, but at some point, it felt more of a commitment of the mind than of the heart. Long before certain events took place, it was clear she felt like she was "stuck" with Derek rather than she wanted to be with him. Which was a disservice to both characters and their relationship.
On the other hand, Ah Reum's feelings of guilt towards Ji Hoon, whom she felt she discarded when their relationship got too hard, makes her constantly gravitate to him more organically. And because Ji Hoon is still in love with her, their relationship felt like infidelity in progress --which is a hard sell for someone intolerant to cheating portrayed as romantic.
It's clear that reconnecting with Ji Hoon and finding out the real reason they broke up shook Ah Reum's heart enough to tempt her. Which caused her relationship with Derek to feel like a settlement of responsibility rather than actual love.
It doesn't help that the love triangle feels forced and unfair towards both male leads; who lose their identity by becoming little more than love interests.
The desire of the writer to keep both prospects equals in terms of pain also meant that most of the emotional aspect of Derek's story was left unexplored. Even worst, Ji Hoon got an uncompelling, watered-down version of Derek's story to keep him in the "running" for the audience's sympathy.
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy the romance at all, which is a problem since that's a big part of the dull plot.
SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Unmemorable
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There's not much to say about them except that they provided a few comedic moments. Ultimately, though, they were unremarkable.
ANTAGONISTS: Predictable & riddled with clichés
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The drama had too many antagonists and, as a result, they all felt shallow, cliched, and uninspired in their execution. None of them stood out or left an impression. How could they? There were so many, there was simply no time to make them unique or even slightly interesting, for that matter.
The only one who was mildly interesting because of his eccentricity was Jang Doo Bong, who showed Hyun Joon has some great acting chops.
OVERALL: Draggy and forgettable
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I think the drama struggled to create a good enough story for me to recommend it. This feels more character-driven than plot-driven, yet the characters themselves lack complexity or at least something interesting to make them stand out. The bland story, coupled with the uninteresting characters, made this drama a difficult one to muscle through. The pacing slowed and dragged even more once it crossed into the second half. So if this drama doesn't pique your interest during the first four episodes, chances are you won't enjoy the rest.
Perhaps The Spies Who Loved Me needed to have fewer characters to properly flesh out the important ones? Or maybe they could've gotten rid of the whole love triangle business sooner, so we could focus on the plot and the "twist" (I'm being generous by calling it that)?
Though Derek's story was the only interesting aspect, it wasn't original. Episode 15 may have touched lightly upon identity crisis, but it was never fully delved into. It's a shame because that aspect showed potential for an enjoyable watch. But the fact that he wasn't the Male Lead also meant his airtime was limited in service of giving Ji Hoon (a much less interesting character) more screentime.
While Ah Reum was certainly a strong female character, ultimately she was just as uninteresting as her male counterpart. I never felt emotionally invested in any of their stories. Even when the characters were in pain, the portrayal of hurt seemed superficial and irrelevant. There were also a TON of cringy moments when it came to the bromance; a relationship that seemed built for kicks & comedy at best, and queer-baiting at worst. Although the last few episodes did show a sweeter relationship between the guys.
All in all, I can't recommend this drama if you're looking for an interesting plot. But if you enjoy love-triangles and don't mind a bland story, this one might strike your fancy.
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Extended Fan Service Special Episodes
I was only asking for maybe a couple of episodes just to tie up the original series properly, but instead we got 5!Its an obvious attempt to correct the shortcomings of 2gether and im glad that the relationship between Wat and Tine doesnt feel like bromance anymore. What i appreciated even more is the better screentime for Mil and Phukong, for Man and Type, and yes even for Dim and Green, oh and Boss and Pear.
Its supposed to be an easy to watch teeny boppy romance so lower your expectations and just enjoy the ride.
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Bloody mess
If you have watched some classic Takashi Miike films, you probably know what to expect. If you haven’t, I recommend you to check the tags and see for yourself if it is something that you can stomach or not.What I liked:
- Opening credits: a gorgeously made animated intro.
- Cinematography and directing: nice camera angles, great color grading, some beautiful shots and well choreographed action scenes. Certainly a pleasure to the eye.
- CGI and gore: The CGI looks realistic enough and the gore scenes seem like they came out from a video game or a webtoon. As a result not only you can feel the influence from the source material, but at the same time the gory scenes are as bloody as they should be to not disturb the viewer. The gore and disturbing scenes are actually pretty mild comparing to some of his work (Audition, I am looking at you).
- Duration of the episodes: each episode lasts from around 37 minutes to 50, something that greatly helps with the pacing.
- Female lead: we finally have a strong morally grey female character.
- Easy and fun to watch: again, if you are not into violent and gory series, you will probably hate this, but if you like watching these type of shows, you will be entertained enough.
- Jung Hae In looking like an anime character: self explanatory. I am shallow, I know.
What I disliked:
- Lack of suspense: even though it is a fun ride, as a viewer I didn’t feel like I had to watch the next episode immediately.
- Plot holes and nonsensical scenes: unfortunately there are way too much nonsensical stuff (plainly speaking the characters' actions are dumb).
- One of the characters that appeared in the last episodes: I found that particular character very unrealistic (I know this is a sci-fi drama but still).
- Comedic relief: I felt like they added some elements as comedic relief and even though they didn’t focus on them, I found them unnecessary for a live action.
- Unnecessary actions between our two main characters.
What I found mediocre:
- ML’s character: this is just a personal thing, but I found the male lead to be a bit underwhelming at times. He is definitely not your typical hero, but his foolish actions and the fact that he could barely fight made some of the scenes a bit boring to watch.
- Plot: even though there were a lot of plot holes and nonsensical stuff happening, like I previously mentioned, the plot had potential and the concept was pretty good. I definitely had fun watching it, as I knew I had to think illogically to enjoy it.
- Acting: definitely more on the positive side, but certainly it didn’t have the great performances that I expected.
All in all, it was fun and easy watch that you can only enjoy if you know beforehand that you need to throw your brain out of the window.
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2
1It's TayNew Magic
I always write my reviews with parting positive , negative points but there is no negative thing so I have to write my review in a paragraph . I have seen Tay and Newwie's acting before so I am not surprised right now . There are no words to describe how outstanding this drama is . Although this is not a BL but you don't need romance if there is Tay and Newwiee . Every scenes of this drama is chaotic , funny and awesome . If you are feeling bore then must watch this series . The cinematography , music ., visuals , story and the side characters are just perfect . And most likable thing is Tay and Newwie are doing different types of drama apart from BLs .Overall a solid 10 /10 for me .
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A must watch Cdrama in 2023!
"Here We Meet Again" is a captivating romantic Cdrama that left me thoroughly impressed with its amazing chemistry between the main leads. What truly sets this series apart is its portrayal of a strong, independent female lead and a male lead from a challenging background. The contrast between their lives adds depth to the story, making it all the more intriguing.One of the standout aspects of the show is the exceptional character development. As the story unfolds, we witness the gradual unraveling of misunderstandings and the building of trust between the main characters. The script beautifully captures the complexities of their circumstances, showcasing how burdens can hinder communication and create obstacles to their relationship.
The series effortlessly balances comedy and romance, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The natural progression from friendship to a loving relationship is depicted in a way that feels authentic and heartwarming. The palpable chemistry between the male and female leads adds an extra layer of depth, keeping viewers engaged and rooting for their relationship.
I particularly appreciate the healthy jealousy displayed by the main leads. It adds an element of realism to the story, as they navigate their feelings while still maintaining respect for one another. This aspect adds complexity to their relationship, making it all the more compelling to watch.
Prepare to have your heart racing and your cheeks flushed as the male lead makes his grand entrance. That particular scene, where he appears and utters the words, "Do you really want him to see you like this?" is a game-changer. The chemistry between the main characters reaches its peak, and it's impossible not to be swept away by the sheer passion and emotion on screen.
I have to admit, I lost myself in that moment. The intensity of their connection, the raw emotions conveyed through their expressions and words, it all culminates in a scene that will make even the most composed viewer blush. It's a testament to the exceptional acting skills of the cast, who bring these characters to life in such a captivating manner.
"Here We Meet Again" has already secured a spot among my top romantic Cdramas. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating love story with well-developed characters, engaging plotlines, and chemistry that will keep you hooked until the very end.
Note: This review is written by me, edited by ChatGPT for readability.
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This review may contain spoilers
A merciless play with people's fears. Witch-hunt revisited. Gloomy. Upsetting. Horror with no escape
"The Netflix production "Hellbound" started even more successfully on the global streaming platform in November 2021 than "Squid Game". Dystopias (stories about gloomy visions of the future) these days obviously hit a sore spot in the global mass consciousness - the fear of what still is to come, considering that nothing will be the way it used to be....Accordingly, "Hellbound" generally plays with people's fears. The characters in the story also play with people's fears - here in the face of a hell on earth that is spreading inexorably, flanked by a modern form of witch hunts and establishing a new order in which there is little room for hope and light. Because even as a reward for a righteous life, only death awaits in the end. At best, you don´t have to be ashamed and getting ridiculed of it.
The focus for the 'not righteous' is a heavenly or better hellish special commando, which arrives from the afterlife in the form of huge hell gorillas and stages a small earthly hellfire from human bones. No less shocking is the moment that meticulously announces the day and hour of this death in advance.
Rarely have there been so many crazy, delusional people in KDrama (here namely in the realm of the sect). The number of truly honest people can be counted on one hand. And in between there is the vast majority of the terrified masses, blinded and tamed by the New Truth Society's threats sold as hope...
The prospects are really daunting. Not just unearthly prophecy and execution of the death sentence for the shameful, despicable sinners. Even more actually what this scenario does to the people. There is the group of the "arrowhead" who, already sort of detached from any aspect humanity. Their members receive the carte blanche from the ordained sect priests to use the brute force and terror in order to carry out a multimedia-fuelled new edition of witch hunts. They are allowed to live out their wildest violent fantasies . And then there are the would-be ´gentlemen´ (and ´ladies´), CEOs and high priests of the New Truth Society, who submit their new 'commandments' to the people, and the VIPs who solemnly attend the celestial court processes live and in the first row...
Eventually, it can´t get any worse than that. "Hellbound" effortlessly catapulted humanity back into the deepest Middle Ages - yet in the midst of the modern, high-tech 21st century. Business with sin is very popular there. From now on it is no longer about the hope of eternal life (in the hereafter), but merely about not to unnecessarily embarrass yourself as a sinner in the face of the inevitable earthly death...
For me, "Hellbound" is highly ambivalent. It's done great again. Ecellent actors. Exciting story. Upsetting, because maybe not so absurd in terms of social dynamics... But do you really want to/do you have to look at it? There's practically nothing positive coming out of it. Even the hopeful spark at the end remains under a hood of fear and horror and somehow doesn't really find its way back to the light... (A 2nd season is in discussion... maybe then? Or just more fear and horror from which there is no escape?)
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A different perspective
Overall, the premise was interesting, cast and acting was outstanding. The unique musical taste added a memorable flair to the entire drama. I truly enjoyed the entire ride, though there were some major flaws which did not sit well with me. I'll focus on mainly the negative points as most of the other reviews here are positive.- I don't watch too many action movies as I'm not a big fan of fight scenes, and this drama really reinforced that in me. The main character, Doki, just seemed invincible to the point where there was no conflict during any fights. You were not rooting for him anymore because you just knew he would survive. Too many times he would go 1 vs 15... and win... Even at one point getting whacked by a baseball bat over 20 times, then escaping and going 1 vs 15... TWICE, and winning. Another time getting stabbed in the shoulder and taking down an entire legion of men with baseball bats, solo. Not humanly possible, no matter what level of military experience.
- Judging from the title, you'd expect more involvement of the taxi or the taxi driver. I loved the style of the first two revenge cases - the factory and school violence cases - picking up the client in the taxi and hearing their stories. From the data centre case onwards, it just became so convoluted. The agency picked up cases where they had no stakes in, and it felt like the drama shifted more to focusing on the content of the cases rather than the agency's role in protecting the victims.
- Potential spoiler ahead! The last episode left a sour taste in my mouth. I interpreted the last scene as the gang getting back together, DESPITE already agreeing to part ways just 20 minutes before (1 year in the timeline). So what was the purpose, then, of building up the whole 'Revenge begets revenge' narrative? I felt like it was a clear money grab at securing a second season, and, speaking of money grabs, the product placement was a little over the top that that was all that stuck in my mind after watching the finale.
With all that being said, it was definitely an enjoyable ride as, after all, it's just entertainment. In terms of Kdrama quality, this was undoubtedly an extremely well-produced drama, with a memorable plot as well. I wouldn't call this my favourite crime/thriller, but I'd give it bonus points for going beyond just the mundane cat and mouse plots typically found in police dramas.
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Many of you will know that SitR ties closely with One Spring Night, whether it be the casting, music or directing styles. This doesn't mean that OSN is simply a carbon copy. No, it's much more than that. This show is a picturesque amalgamation of modern romance, societal pressures and conservative values without the unnecessary plot devices employed by other Korean dramas. But that's just Ahn Pan-seok's (director) style, and it's why I am a huge fan.
Lets go through this methodically so I don't lose track of my objective here. OSN is a story of two people with their own complicated situations, falling madly in love despite the inevitable backlash that will result from the stigma imposed by their cultural values. This is also something that should be kept in mind. This is a story based within Korean culture and society so there may be huge differences in values to what you are used to. Nonetheless, there may be decisions and moments where the character's rationale is incomprehensible. I understand that, but try not to let it detract from your experience. All that aside, this is a drama that provides an important social commentary on modern day Korea's outdated values, something that Ahn Pan-seok (director) and Kim Eun (writer) have successfully conveyed in their earlier work, SitR. Akin to SitR, OSN provides a realistic take on the romance in question. While it is a gradual progression burdened by eventual complications, it is an authentic romance between two people that can't help but tug at your heartstrings and make you feel all giddy inside. There are one or two unresolved story points, but I feel that is largely appropriate and shouldn't be taken as a gripe. This is a realistic story and not everything can be resolved at once. The essence is that things have fallen in place and the rest will be resolved in due course.
Acting/Cast? Perfect. Jung Hae-In and Han Ji Min were both superb in their roles as the couple deeply in love despite their 'flaws'. Their chemistry was electrifying, similar to Jung Hae-In's performance with Son Ye-Jin in SitR. I truly do not believe that anyone else could pull of Han Ji Min's role as well as she could. That's not to say that the side characters weren't also quintessential to the story. Unlike many of the other dramas, the side characters in OSN are seamlessly natural in their performance and appropriately impactful on the main characters. They aren't caricatures or plot devices used to fuel the story, but rather, they have their own lives and accompanying struggles. Side note, it's a bit jarring seeing Kil Hae Yeon as an endearing and accepting mother in OSN, given that her character in SitR is quite the antithesis (and one of my most hated characters).
I feel like it's also appropriate now to talk about directing styles. As you can probably tell, I revere Ahn Pan-seok's modern-romance directing style. He has a way with capturing a scene that encompasses all the quiet nuances and raw emotional value in a colourful, minimalist fashion without any unnecessary distractions. These scenes convey a beautiful and somber melody that truly captivate viewers like myself. It's a style hard to perfect, and something that a lot of directors and producers should aim to achieve nowadays especially when grappling with romance.
The music in OSN was also flawless and appropriate to the story. It boasts the ensemble of Rachael Yamagata, who produced many of the OSTs in SitR, as well as a song from Oscar Dunbar and Carla Bruni. These songs aren't just great for their addictive repetitions on your phone, but they seamlessly blend into the settings of OSN. One song in particular, Spring Waltz by Carla Bruni. My lord, that song was perfect for OSN and an absolute delight to listen to. Even if you don't watch this drama, which I highly doubt by now given how much you must've read of this review by now, you should google that song and play it on repeat. These songs are limited, just like in SitR, but it shouldn't really be an issue.
Rewatch value is ambiguous. Personally, I'll be going through this again very soon (maybe in 2 or so days), but for others, it depends on your enjoyment for romance. I highly believe that this is a drama worth at least one rewatch. For the sceptics, give it a couple of weeks after you've finished the last episode to play it all again. I do concede, however, that I have seen SitR about 4 times by now, so there may be some slight bias but I know OSN will give it a run for its money.
Overall, OSN has ranked definitively in my favourite Korean dramas of all time. It's needless to say at this point in the review, but the casting choices, music and directing styles were all impeccable. OSN showcases a captivating love from one to another with endearing characters from varying social backgrounds. It's truly a romance that will keep you engaged in the show from all their ups and down. I will definitely miss seeing this on my 'Continue watching' list on Netflix, but all good things must come to an end. There is this faith between the main characters that persists throughout the show, and it's a faith I have for the romantic dramas to come from director Ahn Pan-seok and writer Kim Eun.
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What started off as just your normal cliche' filled K-drama, appeared to be a pretty decent story. It seemed it could possibly surprise you a bit, and then you set yourself up with great expectations. Then, out of nowhere, the storyline starts to fall apart at the seams. It's like the writer wrote themselves into a corner just after the first five episodes. All this talent from actors... wasted on pathetic dialogue and pointless scenes. But worst of all, it went from just your usual amount of cliches to being riddled with cliches. Could they possibly get anymore in? Was there a contest for Drama With Most Cliches happening somewhere????
You remember in Dragonball Z how there would be almost like 5 minutes of the characters doing nothing but standing around staring at one another? Yea, that sucks. You know how 1 song plays on the radio 7 times in one day? Yea, but imagine that 1 song playing 7 times within just an hour... every... episode. A horrible, horrible song. No wait, a horrible, horrible chorus of a song THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. A chorus of a song that will haunt you in your dreams and make you want to punch your computer screen as soon at you hear its impending arrival. Love cannot be the "moment" of anything!!! It's an emotion, damn you!
Something strange happened, though, and it's that I came to completely root for the bad character. This had nothing to do with how the story went, but with how well Kim Woo Bin played his character. If there would be any reason I'd have to recommend to you, dear reader, to watch this, It would be him. The chemistry between the two main characters was non-existent, and Park Shin Hye proved herself (at least to me) to have been a very poor casting selection for the role as she was dull and brought nothing to it. Lee Min Ho seemed to do much better in scenes with every other cast member besides her. Actually, most of the other actors showed fairly good effort in trying to work with what they were given. However, none of it can quite come together for the supporting roles if the main ones are so bad off.
Outside of Kim Woo Bin, other unexpected thefts of the spotlight for this show were: Krystal Jung as Lee Bo Na; the wonderful dynamics between Kim Sung Ryung as Han Ki Ae and Kim Mi Kyung as Park Hui Nam; and Choi Jin Hyuk as the crown bearer Kim Won.
If you decide to watch this, go in with no expectations at all and understanding it will be hard to quit even if you find yourself hating it. It is, indeed, an addictive drug with bad side effects. You've been warned
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We are all grey, a mix of white and black
Where to even start? This series delivered in all sorts of ways. I absolutely loved the imagery, the production, and the OST of the series. The imagery is extremely powerful throughout the series, through what is said, what is done and through the characters themselves.The series addresses a plethora of different social injustices and problems. And while it might primarily focus on Thailand and its problems, it can be easily translated into the culture and system of almost any other country around the world. Rich and powerful people are often above the law or are exempt from it, how unfairly disabled people are treated in the society, the problems of homophobia and marriage inequality, the sexism… and I could go on and on. I think it delivered so many important messages. It made a statement. It also showed that people have power, but only if they stand together.
The characters were extremely complex. I feel like most of the repeating characters were extremely well developed. They weren’t just there to take up some screentime, they were there to drive the plotline and to tell their stories. All of the actors did an amazing job portraying their characters.
Black and White – I think even their names are symbolic. One is supposed to be bad while the other is supposed to be good. But the fact is, once White starts to live Black’s life, we are shown the truth. No one is just good or just bad, there is a bit of both in each of us. We are all grey, a mix of white and black. White struggled a lot to live his brother’s life, but it also taught him a lot. Something that stuck with me is that he recognized himself as part of the problem, part of that society with connections. I think we were able to see a lot of changes in his mindset. I am a bit disappointed that Black’s story is not developed more, especially with regards to what happens after. He might be shown as cold and unforgiving, but in reality, he loves his brother deeply, cares for his ex-girlfriend and would die for his friends. There was just so much more potential for developing his story further. Gun outdid himself by playing the twins. The two characters are so different, but he was able to portray each of them so clearly. You can tell exactly which twin it is just by looking at his eyes which is incredible.
Sean – he is mostly driven by hate, thirst for revenge. He is willing to risk everything, including his life to see his agenda through. But throughout the series, we get to see him open to those around him. We see him realize that causing harm to others might not be the best way to go about achieving his revenge. He might not have any family left, but he found a family at the garage. They all did, in one way or the other. And him falling for White while battling with his need to bring Tawi down, was pulled off incredibly well. Off was brilliant in his role, he really excelled in showing the emotions, the struggle of Sean.
Yok – giving First this bad boy kind of role was a smart decision. He really pulled it off well. His story is very well written. I love how he wishes to do more for the disabled people, especially after seeing how much his mom struggles with keeping a job. He does seem very impulsive at times, very bold, but with what the boys are doing, risking their lives, it seems very fitting. He doesn’t know when he might die, so he tries to make the best of the time that is given to him. He does teach us a lot about forgiveness.
Dan / UNAR – he was an interesting character. Once his identity was revealed, I knew what the plot twist would be. But there were still things that surprised me about him. It is obvious that he is carrying a lot of guilt within him, as well as resentment towards the injustices that he cannot help, change. There are a lot of inner struggles that he needs to cross. Choices that he needs to make. Hard ones. Ones that will affect people he loves, one way or the other.
Gram – can I start by saying that the silver hair looks so damn good on Mond? It really was an iconic look. He is probably one of the most supportive friends one could wish for. Not only that, but when he loves someone, he loves them fully. He is willing to let that person go if they are happy with someone else. He is very quick witted, and I love his relationship with Nunch. The two don’t really see eye to eye on many things, but they are still friends.
Let’s talk about the girls – Nunch, Namo and Eugene. Nunch is trans, something that is mentioned a few times in the series. I absolutely love the fact that she didn’t become a comic relief character. She was strong-willed and smart, outspoken, and there for her friends. Both Namo and Eugene got their hearts broken, but neither of them let that bring her down completely. They each grieved in their own way, but they both overcame that and moved on. The fact that the two had a story that went beyond just being a pretty girl in love with one of the main guys, is something I really liked.
Gumpa – he felt like a big brother, almost like a father figure to the boys. He was always there to help when they needed it. He always took care of them, he trained them and made sure they were ready to undertake all of their missions. He is smart, he can see through them quickly. I think his behavior really shows that. He knows when they need support, when they need a buffer and when they need a kick in the butt. Sadly, his story is not really developed much. I feel like he would be an interesting character to get to know better.
Todd – he is another character whose backstory was not really developed enough. The plot twist relating to him was not that surprising, his motives were though. But again, they were really not explained enough. I do like his relationship with the twins, especially Black, no matter how complex and difficult it seems to be. It’s obvious that the two care for each other, whether that is romantic or not, we might never know.
Overall, it was a good series that addressed a lot of incredibly important topics. My only complaint is that there are quite a few loose ends and lack of backstory for certain characters that makes it a bit hard to understand them and their actions.
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The story doesn't have much to it,trying to transform a "ugly" girl that it's already pretty but y'know,kdrama logic. Put some makeup on her,take her glasses off and add a dress and she goes from ugly to a model in a sec. And there were many random scenes that made me cringe like crazy.
But overall for being a product placement drama,it was pretty cute.
I recommend it if you have 8-15 minutes to spare, but don't expect too much.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Beautifully Painful Drama Of Life
This drama caught me off guard. Not with plot twists or flashy romance, but with its honesty. It’s a slice of life, but the kind that doesn’t taste sweet all the time. It’s a little burnt around the edges, soft in the middle. Real.Cheng Le Le is in her 40s, doing stand-up comedy that barely stands on its own. So she works part-time at a convenience store too. That’s her life. Not a dream, not a tragedy. Just life. Her story unfolds around the people in her orbit, her dad who believes in aliens, two friends who shouldn’t make sense together but somehow do, a husband she once loved, maybe still does in some quiet corner of her heart. But deosnt matter as the marriage life is near its end.
There’s no climax. No victory lap. Just roads she has to walk. Because life doesn’t come with a final destination. It flows. Sometimes like a river, sometimes like a flood. And when loss comes, no amount of preparation saves you from breaking. What hurts even more is when you realize you have to keep walking, even when your legs don’t know this new path.
The show was labeled with a healing tag, but don’t believe that. No one heals here. Not in the way we want. They endure. They laugh, they cry, sometimes in the same scene. And I cried with them. For joy. For grief. For being alive.
That’s the thing about Taiwanese dramas. They’re too real. They don’t pretend. They remind you you’re human, beautifully, painfully human. And I love them for that. Even when I say I hate them.
I was especially grateful this wasn’t about some teenager/20-something figuring out life. This was about a woman who’s already halfway through it, still stumbling, still unsure, still trying. Cheng Le Le is not your ideal protagonist, and that’s what makes her perfect. She’s ordinary, unpolished. She turns her pain into punchlines, not healing. Just survival.
And her dad—what a character. He says, “Being childish for your whole life is quite an achievement.” And he’s right. I’m going to hold onto that. But let’s not pretend his life was all sunshine and UFOs. His sadness was there too, packed deep inside, not hidden from us, but from himself. I liked him. I really did. And like Cheng Le Le, I’ll keep looking for aliens after him.
His death was a quiet, painful unraveling. But the harder part was watching her feel it. That kind of grief lingers. It lingers even now.
Visually, the drama is stunning. Not dramatic. Just beautiful in the way reality is, natural light, soft shadows, warm colors that bleed into everyday spaces. The kind of cinematography that makes you feel like you’re there.
And this line will stay with me:
“Others call their dads superheroes, but I call mine an alien. He always said the universe is infinite, and humans are insignificant. We should take it easy in life. However, he forgot to tell me, humans exist in the world, and humans are complicated.”
What a beautiful, aching piece of work.
8 out of 10
And a piece of my heart with it.
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Tearjerking is an understatement.
I postponed watching this for a while, everyone was talking so highly of it that I was scared it was not gonna reach my expectations, but oh boy. It was totally the opposite.This might be probably one of my favorites genres, but the fated trope didn't disappoint me.
I loved the speed it was going, the way emotions were portrayed, honestly a masterpiece.
I must say I'm sad we didn't get more of some side characters, but the two romances the story gives out are so well put, they made me cry more than once.
And honestly I didn't expect the happy ending, but I was so relieved.
This will probably end up taking a sweet spot in my heart cause it just got me so emotional.
The cast is amazing, they made me fall for each one of them. Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na made such a spectacular performance, their tears were my tears.
The ost was great, also there's not once I skipped the opening or the credit song cause they were SO good.
I'll probably rewatch it often cause it was just way too good to be forgotten.
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