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MRIAG is like Dam's fav food; chicken - full of flavour, sweet but also spicy, and addictive!
When I say I want to watch a romcom that doesn't annoy or bore me, THIS is what I mean! My Roommate Is a Gumiho has everything I could want and more in a romcom.If you like light-hearted dramas with a sprinkle of intensity, you'll probably enjoy this. It's a stereotypical one, meaning there are some predictable cliché scenes, but that did not stop me from loving every second of this gem! I have to also mention the editing, I mean come on, it's just too good! From the funny sound effects to the scene of Dam dancing on meat while singing about her love for it. Overall, the plot is well written, has good pacing and nothing seems rushed.
The chemistry and interactions between the characters, specifically Dam, Woo Yeo, Hye Sun and Jae Jin (including Soo Kyung, although she's not part of the main cast), are the best. For me, that's one of the most important aspects of a drama and they chose the cast really well! They're all perfect for their roles. Lee Dam, in particular, has become one of my favourite characters in dramaland, she's so hilarious without even trying and I just love her wacky personality. It's been a while since I've seen a female lead so refreshingly honest and straightforward, it's awesome. Aside from the main couple, who I swoon over whenever they appear on my screen, the side couple was really sweet too!
I thoroughly enjoyed this, binging a whole 14 episodes in one sitting. Yes, I know, I have no life. I just happened to not be busy that day lol. The plot may not be very unique, but it sure entertained me and I've seen many romcoms. MRIAG's an easy watch, with it's light and funny charms being something you'll look forward to in each episode.
No doubt the best fantasy romcom I've watched this year.
Warning: Ki Yong's smile will melt your heart.
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This review may contain spoilers
Skip to the JohanNorth parts
This series might have been rated higher if it was based solely off the Johan North storyline. I had so many issues with the first couple. From the actors to the storyline to the script. Wasn't sure if was the character design or the actor but the character Easter just wasn't all that likeable. The acting felt very unnatural, a lot of strange face-pulling, exaggerated sighing, dramatic whining, yup nope. And the character Hill was so one-dimensional, and because I've seen the actor's other work, it's hard to believe that it was poor acting. The chemistry between the two felt extremely scripted and awkward. This is cliche done poorly. yawns...As for the second couple, they had a more interesting backstory, more natural dialogue, amazing chemistry and their script had a good mix of humour, drama and fluff. North grew on me over the course of his story and I was pleasantly surprised by the acting cos i had originally thought he was designed to be the "clown" and expected his acting to be over-the-top and cringey. This pair created so many heart fluttering moments with a good old enemies to lovers storyline, add on an interesting power imbalance with the debtor-creditor situation and a tsundere proud faced rich boy with a secret long term crush for a sassy, clueless, happy-go-lucky loser who has a ridiculous fear for ghosts and you've got me hooked. My two favourite scenes from this pair were when they reunited after Johan was a away for a few weeks, and when they were sitting next to each other in silence but in complete bliss during a basketball practice. This is cliche done right.
If you're looking for a fluffy series with a good tsundere rich boy-clueless poor dork dynamic I suggest skipping to the parts with Johan North i.e. episode 6 onward.
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Through the Storm: Wei Ruolai’s Riveting Tale in ‘War of Faith"
The pacing of this series is praiseworthy; it maintains a swift tempo without sacrificing the complexity of the story. Each episode builds upon the previous one, creating an engaging tapestry of events that leaves viewers eagerly awaiting the next twist. The narrative never drags, ensuring that the audience's curiosity is consistently sparked.Wang Yibo's portrayal of Wei Ruolai is a highlight of the series. His delicate performance accurately captures the multifaceted nature of his character. From the evident disappointment and heartbreak felt during his rejection at the central bank to the raw, unfiltered grief displayed at the loss of his brother, Wang Yibo's range is fully showcased. He conveys the innocence of a newcomer in the political maze, contrasting with the depth of his sorrow, demonstrating his strong acting skills.
The series excels in humanizing the political narrative through its characters. Wang Yibo's Wei Ruolai is not merely a pawn in the grand scheme of espionage and finance; he is a credible figure whose personal growth and emotional journey are as central to the story as the broader historical context. His interactions with other characters, especially with senior advisor Shen Tu Nan and the mysterious Shen Jin Zhen, add layers of complexity to his role.
I must add that Wang Yibo’s portrayal of Wei Ruolai is truly exceptional. We can observe how much the character has evolved from the beginning of the drama until now. The progression is remarkable!
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Story: Same old same old- jerk guy falls for the naive country girl despite himself and ruins every chance at the relationship by being a jerk. Nothing new, but I always get sucked in anyway so....
Acting/Cast: Great. I was especially surprised that some of the Kpop stars were as good as they were. It can go either way most times. I wasn't familiar with any of Monsta X's previous acting work (if there is any) so I was happy with how they played the overworked boy band. Such a stretch -_- And Yoon Bora was adorable, no complaints here.
Music: Daebak! There is nothing that gets on my nerves more than when a drama is centered around the dance or music world and the songs are crap. Not the case here! Especially since Monsta X is involved and performed their own music. I downloaded it immediately after I finished the episode it was in.
Rewatch Value: Although i really enjoyed this one I much prefer Noble, My Love as far as rom com webseries, but this was a decent one wrapped in a couple of hours worth of marathoning.
Overall: It wasnt the best, but darn it, it gave me the warm and fuzzies. So if you're in that kind of mood I suggest this and say enjoy!
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This show is definitely worth the watch. It will make you laugh and gasp. I highly recommend Lily Fever
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LOVE SCOUT: A mature workplace romance filled with tenderness and interesting characters.
I'll start off by saying "Love Scout" is written by one of my favorite screen writer Kim Ji Eun —the same person behind a favourite kdrama " why her " and my top drama from last year, "Wonderful World," and then "Lie After Lie," which I also loved. I'm thrilled to have another favorite series from her!The story revolves around a workplace romance between a female CEO of a headhunting company and her secretary, who happens to be a single father. Their first encounter is filled with tension, leading her to vow never to see him again. However, fate has other plans, and they find themselves working together as CEO and secretary.
One of the most intriguing aspects of "Love Scout" is the role reversal between the leads. Instead of the typical dynamic where the male lead is the CEO and the female lead plays the secretary, this drama flips that expectation. Our female lead takes on the CEO role, while the male lead becomes her secretary. This change not only adds a fresh perspective but also switches their personalities—she's cold and distant due to past traumas, while he embodies a warm, caring, and sunny disposition.
This reversal allows us to explore the characters in a new light, deepening our understanding of their motivations and struggles. It's fascinating to see how these dynamics play out, providing a unique take on workplace romance... this fresh approach to character roles makes "Love Scout" stand out in the genre.
This drama does a fantastic job of balancing romance with the work aspect, seamlessly incorporating moments of comedy and light-heartedness. The storytelling is so well done that nothing feels overshadowed; each element complements the others perfectly. The laid-back and relaxing setting adds to the overall charm, allowing viewers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
The challenges faced in the headhunting business are portrayed through various character stories in each episode, making it engaging and relatable. The female and male leads navigate these obstacles together, showcasing their growth and teamwork. There are moments that are emotional and thought-provoking, adding depth to the narrative.
Another stand out aspect of love scout is the The character development....as mentioned in the start I've watched lots of series from the writer and she has a knack for crafting characters that are broken, flawed, and ultimately relatable, making them feel incredibly human. This drama is no exception.
The female lead, who is cold and distant due to past traumas, is portrayed as professional and strict in her work life, yet at home, she battles loneliness and insomnia. The gloomy atmosphere of her apartment reflects her inner struggles, highlighting a life filled with pain.
What I love about her character is that despite her challenges, she is headstrong and straightforward, confronting her feelings with remarkable clarity. She quickly realizes her emotions and takes the initiative to confess, showcasing her growth throughout the series. As she interacts with the male lead, we witness her gradual healing and transformation. She's not weak; rather, she embodies vulnerability while also being a fighter. This nuanced portrayal makes her journey compelling and relatable.
The male lead truly steals the show. He’s not just handsome; he embodies a warmth that makes him incredibly endearing. His professionalism and hard work shine through, but what really sets him apart is his role as a devoted father to his little daughter. Their interactions are heartwarming and will definitely have you swooning.
He excels in multiple roles—being a good friend, neighbor, and secretary, all while being an exceptional father and partner. It’s refreshing to see a character who genuinely deserves the title of a "green flag." He’s understanding, mature, and caring, showcasing a high emotional intelligence that makes him a fantastic listener. His intelligence is evident, but it’s his kindness and warmth that truly make him stand out.
Other characters are also interestingly written..like the second leads that aren't necessarily the main focus but I love their interactions with the leads and their interactions with eachother...then the work place employees who add to the comedy aspect of this drama and how they each contribute to the overall work place setting of the drama through different character stories.
Another thrilling aspect of this drama is undoubtedly the romance. It features a mature-themed love story that beautifully tackles all my favorite tropes. From workplace romance to the dynamic of "she fell first and he fell harder," and even the classic grumpy-sunshine and enemies-to-lovers arcs, this drama has it all. The transition from strangers brought together by misunderstandings to an incredible CEO-secretary duo is executed perfectly.
Their chemistry and tension are palpable, making their interactions both squeal-worthy and giggle-inducing. A standout moment for me was how they engage in simple yet profound conversations about life, work, and their relationship. After confessing their feelings, they sit down to discuss what they’ve become and what the future holds for them, and that heartfelt conversation is just so warm and touching. The romance is refreshingly mature yet cute and sensual, and I’m loving every minute of it!
The acting is undoubtedly amazing...and so are the osts..thag are beautiful and sensual.
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1This is like a fine dining experience - to be savored and remembered. It deserves an 11/10.
Nirvana in Fire is an exceptional drama by any and all standards - nothing else I have watched comes even close to surpassing it. It truly checks all of the boxes in terms of a complex plot, an incredibly talented cast, excellent screenplay, well executed action scenes and overall movie-like visual impact and production quality.This is the story of Lin Shu's single minded quest for justice and reform. His father, a powerful general in command of the 70,000 strong Chiyan army is framed as a traitor while away defending the Liang state. Victorious but battle worn, he is slaughtered along with his entire army before they have a chance to return to the capital. Young Lin Shu barely survives and re-emerges 12 years later as Mei Changsu, the mysterious leader of the powerful pugilist Jiangzuo Alliance. His appearance is completely altered and he is a sickly, shadow of the vigorous young warrior he used to be. He returns to the capital amidst a power struggle between the crown prince and his brother Prince Yu as the Divine Talent, a brilliant strategist regarded as an emperor maker. He plays them against each other and is on surface allied with Prince Yu while he surreptitiously advances the out of favor Prince Jing. The complexity in the plot arises in the brilliant and occasionally cruel strategies he employs to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and all those complicit in his family's murder as well as to advance Prince Jing's position. This is not a story about revenge, it is about justice. It is also about reform as justice is worthless without reform. Making abiding changes to the court and the system that would be overseen by a just and moral ruler was an equally important outcome to Lin Shu/Mei Changsu. To achieve his mission, he had to do many things he considered despicable. Cleaning out the corruption in the court was the only thing he could do to make the senseless massacre of his family and comrades in arms mean something.
This is an impossible show to binge watch - I can at best get through two episodes in one sitting. We learn from the get go that Lin Shu is living on borrowed time. That imbues the drama with an omnipresent sense of sorrow and inevitability that grows as it steadily progresses towards the end. Whenever the mood gets unbearably heavy, there are welcome moments of brilliantly timed comic relief. The first episode is probably the most difficult to follow as most of the key characters are introduced all at once .Thankfully there are many excellent character guides online that are super helpful in the beginning. There are no unnecessary characters in this show; each one was brilliantly cast and has an important role in the unfolding storyline.
The role of Lin Shu/Mei Changsu is a complex one and not at all easy to play. This was without a doubt Hu Ge's defining role and he just killed it. Time and again he was able to subtly convey a multitude of intense emotions behind a superficially stoic expression. As Mei Changsu the strategist, he was brilliant, ruthless, calculating, Machiavelli and breathtakingly cruel when necessary while battling his self-loathing for the person he was forced to become. He is filled with longing, regret and fear of discovery as he re-encounters his former love, friends and relatives under this new identity. He masterfully portrays a callous indifference that masks unbearable hurt as his actions and morals are misunderstood by his best loved friend. As they inevitably begin to recognize his old mannerisms and think the unthinkable, he cannot help but tease them with the truth before skillfully evading their suspicions. The chemistry between Lin Shu/Mei Changsu and the rest of the cast and in particular Prince Jing (Wang Kai) is mesmerizing. Twelve years later Prince Jing still misses Lin Shu, his boyhood friend and cousin and was never quite convinced the Lin family could be guilty of treason. Despite his contempt for Mei Changsu's lack of moral scruple, the principled Prince Jing's soul knows him and he is eventually drawn into a strong and touching bromance with him . Equally moving were the rare smiles, flashes of humor and fatherly affection that emerges when Lin Shu/Mei Changsu teases Fei Liu, his lethally skilled and fiercely loyal boy protector. Despite his crushing physical weakness, he desperately lies to shield his loved ones from the extent of his suffering and true condition. I found myself grieving for not only the lost friendships and love affair that could have been but for the Lin Shu that Mei Changsu can never become again.
The character development in this drama is so sophisticated and multi-layered that even the worst villains of the piece are to evoke a sense of pity for their human failings and have some redeeming aspects. The story builds towards an epic climax that sees Lin Shu/Mei Changsu confront the person ultimately responsible for this terrible and unforgiveable betrayal. Both actors in this final showdown were phenomenal but I think the tyrant's rant from rage,to hubris, to denial, to defeat , to defiance and then finally to almost but not quite remorse truly blew me away. It is in this encounter that Lin Shu delivers his most excoriating, most tragic and and most damning indictment -"If you knew your son you would never believe he could betray you. If your son knew you, he would not have refused to believe you betrayed him." The script writing is powerful and we are treated to many emotionallly loaded lines but for me, this one was the one that summed up the root of the tragedy and made me weep for both of them. But Lin Shu/Mei Changsu was beyond tears. It is this ability to convey bottomless sorrow without shedding a tear that made this Hu Ge's unparalleled performance.
{Warning - Spoiler ahead]
I love it that this show pretty much ends after the climatic peak with most of the loose ends tied up well ahead. Even though we know from the very beginning that Lin Shu/Mei Changsu dies, it still broke my heart. Nonetheless, the drama comes to a very fitting and satisfying end. While this was an enthralling, immersive journey from start to finish, I think I need to take a break with something less intense. I suspect this will remain the very best drama I have ever seen for a long time although I still love Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms best.
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Just..... No.
Straight to the point "Review" ---- I thought this show had some slight potential to be a somewhat okay show, plot wise. Sure the acting isn't fantastic, it's both a little stiff and overdramatic at times, but they're all somewhat newbies so we'll let that slide.....But then the end of episode 3 happened - and after doing a little reseach and realising that it's an 9NAA production... it explains everything to me 😐
They did a good job at hiding the fact it was a 9NAA production (i only ever saw posters with Viu on it) otherwise I wouldn't have started it as I had vowed not to watch any 9NAA productions after the stuff that happened with Checkout the series and with Best and Cheque - and after checking out the bts vid for this episode it just confirmed my feelings for me, because they *once again* didn't seem to have any intimacy coordination prior to their NC scenes (it happened with Checkout too) and the crew seemed to be joking about the fact they should just get naked too so the actors would feel comfortable.
Also, I can handle some weird stuff, but the fact that they made ACTUAL twins lick each others nipples was weird af to me. Why not just hire actors that look similar to play the twins? I could then *maybe* deal with it that way but not when I know that they are actual twins.
Definitely dropping this one. Will be continuing my stance on not supporting 9NAA shows in the future because they do not seem like a company who has their actors welfare as a top priority. No wonder other companies have pulled out of collabs with them and all their actors leave the second their contractually allowed too.
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All the puns on the series title are already taken, so I'll just say it's awful.
I'll start with the good:There's a scene where Gawin is almost naked.
End of the good.
OK, not quite, although that's why I gave this a rewatch score of "3". I will rewatch that scene. Many times. Although there's a better Gawin disrobed scene in Not Me (and even without the Gawin nudity, one of the best scenes ever, period. But that's not important right now.)
Force does his best as a noob playing Akk, and has some real charm, although he leaned heavily on his sad-puppy-dog face, which is cute but gets tiresome by the end. To be fair, there are some cute scenes between the main pair - the scene at the LOL fake Eiffel Tower was a rare well-written moment - not fairytale perfect, but just right for people that have been best friends their whole lives.
On to the problems:
The writing is terrible. The entire plot (except for the last 2 eps which fling a series of non sequitur plot devices in the way of our heroes) hinges on Theo's hunt for Enchante, a mystery suitor who defaces a library book to leave one single message for Theo, which makes him obsessed with finding the guy. If they had several back-and-forths that were beautiful and meaningful, we could have invested in the idea of Enchante - but because this did not happen, it was completely mystifying why he cared about this, and since it's clear by watching the opening credits who Theo will end up with, it's doubly pointless, which makes the entire rickety plot unable to support the leaden weight of this series. (To be fair, they do give a solid explanation near the end why he cared, but it will make you hate him.)
This could have been at least partially salvaged by casting somene who can act as Theo. I hate to criticize actors, but Book is terrible. I will mitigate this by suggesting this series had poor direction and he was playing a truly awful character, so only the most charismatic actor could have made him remotely sympathetic. But I noticed that really talented actors like Gawin and Fluke weren't great in this series, so a lot of it is probably poor direction.
Which brings us to the character of Theo. Having a spolied-brat malignant narcissist as your main character is not a great idea. Theo is the most self-absorbed and selfish person I've ever seen as a protagonist in a drama. I can't think of a single thing he did for anyone in the entire course of the series. EVERYTHING is about him. His parents' marriage (the actors who play his parents are sexcellent - needed to throw that out there), saving the literature department, Enchante, it's all about him. He never once asks a friend how they're doing (even though his supposed best friend Akk looks tortured all the way through this) - he just seems to expect the entire world to revolve around him.
At one point, it's revealed that Akk knew about something that he was aware would upset Theo, but it was absolutely not his place to reveal it, and if he had, Theo would have rejected it and reacted even worse than he did. Theo is extremely upset that Akk didn't tell him about it and won't speak to him. The problem is that just before this, it is revealed that Theo had orchestrated a colossal, monstrous lie designed to manipulate Akk and which caused him an immense amount of pain over a prolonged period, so the hypocrisy is so mind-boggling that it's LOL funny, after you first stare numbly at the screen until it sinks in that you did just see what you saw. Also, what Theo is upset about and how he reacts to it is how a pre-teen child would process this, not a 20-something, where it's so immature and self-centered that you wish he were an actual baby so that you could shake him.
At this point you actively hate Theo and hope he dies (or is murdered by Akk) so Akk can get someone way better (like Saifa. Or one of the hot football extras). This is made even worse by the lack of chemistry between the main pair, which is curious because they have it in BTS and other promotional material. Some of that is also directing. For example, there's a key cuddling scene where there's a huge stuffed animal between them so their bodies aren't actually touching.
Some of these problems, as well as a possible reason for the weak acting by Book, is almost certainly that a soft-fliter is used throughout the series that is so strong that I thought I had glaucoma. I think a lot of shadings of facial expressions are blurred away by the soft-focus. Note to Thai BL productions: We don't care if an actor's complexion isn't perfect. Nobody's is. We don't love actors for their perfect skin, we love them for their six-pack abs and chisled pecs. And their acting ability. And their muscled thighs. And gorgeous faces. Pert butts. But mostly their acting and the character they're portraying.
I can't recommend this. There really aren't enough redeeming characteristics to be worth slogging through the terrible writing and enduring Theo. I hope to see Force in a better production than this, so we can see what he can do.
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A deeply romantic classic wuxia
This drama is actually very different from the original novel. The first fourteen episodes follow the novel, but then the rest diverge greatly and essentially becomes a very different story. There are significant changes to the character of Zhou Zishu, and there is a major show only plot-point that makes his dynamic with Wen Kexing completely different. The plot itself is also nothing like the one in the novel, and several side-characters were given bigger roles in the overall narrative and even different characterizations. Tian Ya Ke, the source material, is a fairly straight-forward story, while Word of Honor is more like those dramatic, old-timey classic wuxia stories.First off, kudos to the scriptwriter! The pacing is top-notch, not too fast nor too slow. Nearly every scene ties in to the overall narrative, not a single episode feels draggy or unnecessary. No fillers to be found here! And while non-mandarin speaking watchers may miss this, it is very clever how the script incorporates poetry into Wen Kexing's dialogues. Not only is it a very clever way to subtly showcase his flirting, it also adds a layer of depth to his character. Since he grew up in the Ghost Valley and did not have his parents to teach him, it implies that he taught himself literature and the fact that he always uses poetry to express himself shows how proud he is of it. The tiny details are also impressive, like the difference in Gu Xiang's character when we first meet her. She acts like an exaggerated version of a young girl, and slowly becomes more and more genuine as the story goes on. The director did confirm that this is because Gu Xiang hardly ever leaves the Ghost Valley, and so she was trying to copy how she thinks normal girls act. I really appreciate scriptwriting that incorporates characterizations into details like this, because it feels very natural. It also gives the show good rewatch value because after you watch all the episodes and see everything that happens, you suddenly notice the subtle details you missed when you watch the show again.
There are many, many details that allude to future events, and dialogues that seem almost flippant in the beginning end up steamrolling you once you realize its significance in later scenes. Wen Kexing's "as a wanderer in this world, all I need you" sounds like casual flirting at first, but then you see how much depth that sentence holds once you see how their story ends.
The fighting choreography is very good, and really embodies the "fighting" in the classic wuxia I grew up watching. It's not just fighting, but also a sort of dance that reflects the dynamics of the characters. Sparring is basically Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing's love language, and you see the evolution of their relationship in their fights too. Their fighting scene in the pink forest, in the lake before Zhou Zishu takes his mask off and in the ending are very similar to each other, but with small changes that reflect the evolution of their relationship. The way the story uses tropes to show the romance between the two main leads is excellent. The sparring in the pink forest, for example, is a common romantic trope in classic wuxia, and so is the hairpin scene in the latter episodes. Another noteworthy detail is that in the first episode the romantic connotations of giving a person a hairpin is shown in the scene between Zhou Zishu and his shidi's lover.
I really want to express how happy I am with the casting choices, especially with Zhang Zhehan as Zhou Zishu. Most actors can show strong emotions convincingly enough, but with characters like Zhou Zishu it's important to cast actors that can nail scenes that require nuance and subtlety. It was wonderful watching him transform from cold and sarcastic to warm and playful, and it was all done so subtly I actually didn't realize how much he changed until I was watching a scene and realized that not only was he the one teasing Wen Kexing, he was also the one initiating skinship??? And there's this specific scene in episode 12 where they're drinking together outside and when Wen Kexing calls out to him, you can see how he frowns and mouths something briefly before responding. It was a small but significant detail, showing the gradual decline of Zhou Zishu's hearing. There are many more details like this scattered throughout the show, and I really appreciate this kind of subtle storytelling versus scripts that are too on the nose and obvious.
Gong Jun also played Wen Kexing very, very well. He really embodied Wen Kexing's many faces, and it was wonderful watching his character slowly unravel. And although it's not necessarily a requirement for me, I love how well they match the physical characteristics of their characters. Zhang Zhehan is very athletic and has a very good physique, which just makes him much more convincing (visually) as the powerful leader of an assassin organization. Zhou Ye was perfect as Gu Xiang, her acting in episode 35 was especially chilling.
Also, a more personal opinion, but I like how they stayed true to the novel and portrayed both Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing just as "masculine" as they were in the novel. I strongly dislike it when danmei adaptations make a character too effeminate. Of course, if the character is portrayed that way in the novel, then I have no issues. The problem is when when adaptations take a canonically more "masculine" character and portray him too effeminately, even when it's not the case in the original novel. Luckily, that did not happen here. There is something refreshing about a danmei that does not limit the personality and characterization of its characters based solely on supposed bedroom dynamics, and Word of Honor's casting and overall portrayal really delivered on that front. They really stayed true to Priest's (the author) work in that aspect.
As much as I enjoyed this show and gush about the script, it does have its shortcomings. The usual issues in the continuity of themes and the pacing of the last five or so episodes. Regardless, for me, the things the show did right definitely outweighs its shortcomings. Those who are expecting a faithful adaptation of the novel may not be happy with the direction this show eventually took, but as a stand-alone it really holds its own. With the issue of censorship in danmei adaptations, I did not expect this show to be as deeply romantic as it turned out to be, and I am still in awe of how they managed to pull this off. They could have gone for the fanservice approach, where they just give us suggestive moments without any real payoff, and yet they chose to develop the relationship properly and give it a real sense of intimacy and depth.
And lastly, I love that the ending credits song is essentially a summary of their romance. It starts with Zhou Zishu talking about his melancholic life and wanting to roam the world as an aimless wanderer, then Wen Kexing responds by lamenting about his own struggles and how it's a shame that he didn't meet Zhou Zishu earlier, and that he wants to give up "the adventures on horseback for a quiet life". Zhou Zishu then responds by saying he agrees to spend the rest of his days with Wen Kexing and the song ends with both of them singing ''I will be with you forever" at the same time. So yeah, kudos to whoever wrote that song because it really fucked me up after the ending. This show is insane and I am thankful to everyone who worked on it.
I love this drama so much!
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This review may contain spoilers
a saga of delayed justice and shattered innocence
There are crime dramas that want to uncover who the killer is.And then there are dramas that understand that was never the most important part of the story.
This one belongs entirely to the second group.
Inspired by the real Hwaseong murders, the series uses a criminal investigation to talk about guilt, abuse of power, and the lives destroyed when a system chooses to protect itself before protecting innocent people.
The result is a dark, emotionally exhausting thriller that’s impossible to forget.
At first, it seems to follow a familiar structure:
a veteran detective, an ambitious prosecutor, and a serial murder case that comes back to haunt everyone decades later.
But it quickly becomes clear that the focus was never just about finding the culprit.
The story follows Tae joo, an investigator still trapped by the mistakes of the past as he revisits a case that ruined countless lives. Alongside him is Si young, a prosecutor willing to sacrifice anything to achieve results.What makes it interesting is that neither of them becomes a hero or a villain. Both carry guilt, frustration, and an almost desperate need to justify their own choices.
And that makes everything even heavier.
Much like Memories of Murder, the series is inspired by the Hwaseong murders that took place between 1986 and 1991.
For decades, the case became a symbol of police failure in South Korea. The real criminal was only identified in 2019, and before that, an innocent man spent years in prison after being tortured into confessing to a crime he never committed.
That tragedy becomes the emotional foundation of the entire story.
Because the drama has no interest in turning the killer into a fascinating figure. The focus is on the victims, the families, and the people destroyed by the investigation itself.Comparisons to Memories of Murder are inevitable, but the two works follow very different paths.
Bong Joon ho’s film was created while the case was still unsolved. There’s a constant feeling of helplessness and emptiness throughout it.
This story, however, takes place after the real killer has already been identified.
So the mystery stops being “who did this?” and becomes:
“How many lives were destroyed before the truth finally came out?”
The narrative trades suspense for guilt. Curiosity for pain. And it works incredibly well because of that.
⏩ Park Hae soo delivers an outstanding performance as Tae joo.
The character feels emotionally broken at all times, like someone carrying decades of regret without ever being able to move forward. It’s a quiet performance, but incredibly intense in its smallest details.
⏩ Lee Hee joon is also excellent as Cha Si young. The character could have easily become just “the corrupt politician,” but the actor portrays something far more disturbing: a man who genuinely believes the ends justify any means.
⏩ Kwak Sun young serves as the moral conscience of the story, constantly pushing the characters toward questions no one wants to answer.
The most terrifying aspect is realizing that the injustice is never treated as a simple accident.
The police wanted quick answers. The higher ups wanted stability. The media wanted someone to blame. And someone had to pay the price.
The innocent man who was imprisoned doesn’t feel like an isolated mistake. He feels like the inevitable consequence of an entire system functioning exactly the way it was designed to.
The structure jumping between 1988 and 2019 reinforces this idea constantly: the past never truly disappears. It survives through guilt, trauma, and silence.
Park Joon woo’s direction contributes enormously to the atmosphere.
Everything feels cold, exhausted, and uncomfortable. Even simple scenes carry a constant tension.
There’s also an interesting contrast between the two timelines:
1988 feels chaotic and suffocating. 2019 feels quiet, but haunted.
As if no one ever truly managed to move on.
This is not an easy drama to watch.
It’s slow at times, emotionally heavy, and completely uninterested in offering comfort to the audience.
But that’s exactly why it works so well.More than a crime thriller, the series is about collective guilt, institutional violence, and the human cost of turning justice into spectacle.
And when it ends, the feeling it leaves behind isn’t satisfaction.
It’s emptiness.
Fun fact: during the real investigation, the police placed scarecrows at the crime scenes with notes threatening the killer if he didn’t turn himself in. He never did. The scarecrows rotted away. The case remained unsolved for thirty years.
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This review may contain spoilers
Action thriller + Comedy feat. Tragic ending
D. P. (Deserter Pursuit) is a short Netflix Korean Drama which basically is a action thriller accompanied by comedy and shades of military life, which illustrates truth and tragedy. With 6 episodes of 50 minutes, this drama surely creates some impact on millions of hearts by making us think again about the harsh reality that negligibly changes.STORY & PLOT:
The drama is about D. P. Officers who are a group of specific personnels in the army assigned to go out of the bases to catch soldiers who have deserted or escaped from the training camps for various reasons.
The drama involves Ahn Joon Ho, a newly enlisted guy, serving his 2 years mandatory military service, who is appointed as a DP officer to replace someone and is then accompanied by Han Ho Yul, who partner each other to hunt down the absconding military personnels. Sergent Park Bum Goo is the section chief for DP dept. Captain Im Ji Sup is newly transfered trainer for the base.
Given that the drama is of only 6 episodes with short duration, it's difficult to narrate even the gist but I will try. So In the drama, Ahn Jun Ho and Han Ho Yul can be seen going out to catch deserting officers. They have to investigate and look for traces by of the soldiers by different means, even so they had to spend money. And after catching them, they come back to the base.
Along with it, their is a main plotline that continues simultaneously which is about Private Cho Suk Bong, who escapes more than once and even commits criminal offence. The drama ends with his case which was a tragic one.
CAST & ACTING:
Well, our favourite oppa Jung Hae In plays Ahn Jun Ho and obviously he's an great actor who did his job right. This character of him also similar to what he had played in Prison Playbook, to a great extent. He never responded to violence and injustice but is passionate about whatever he's given to do. With a bad relationship with his family, he thrives to live well.
Koo Kyo Hwan plays Han Ho Yul and I honestly fell in love with his acting and how he looked in here, especially his hairstyle and accent of dialogue delivery. He's someone who can't stand injustice either but since he can't directly object it, he tries to prevent things in his own way.
Sergent Park Bum Goo is played by Kim Sung Kyun, my personal favourite and a great actor. I usually prefer him in comedy roles but he can ace any character given. His character is a morally upright man who can go to lengths to do his job, but anyways in the right way. He might be strict with his underlings at workplaces, he cares for them to a great deal.
DIRECTION & WRITING:
Direction is cool. Everything has been well executed. They did a good job in organizing and synchronization of events. There is not much to sound editing as they go bland mostly, but those subtle thriller editings and upbeat background scores at suitable places were good enough to keep the thrill going.
Writing is nice as well. Story progression and plot development is quite good. The showcase of humanitarian values in between, was a great idea. The illustration of harsh things like bullying and abuse inside the military bases leading to desertion, hierarchical competitions between higher authorities, isolation & violation, senior complexity are very well done. Corruption and the idea of hiding truth are also touched.
CONCLUSION:
I feel the drama is not just meant for entertainment or thrilling, it also asks us to look behind the scenes and think how cruel it is to go through injustice and yet having no way to escape other than escaping from life. I'm sure it'll create some impacting by making the audience think how wrong it's to bully and abuse someone who is weak. It also demands the change in system and regulations in the military laws and to create a safer environment for not just people serving mandatory military service, also for the professional army personnels.
Overally a good drama and worth the one time watch.
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More Horror, Less Comedy, Good Lessons
Daebak Real Estate is the kind of rare Horror Kdrama which has more horror side to it unlike many other horror comedy Kdramas where even the ghosts are part of the comedy and the scenes are clearly over-edited. Some horror scenes in this were really scary. In fact, every horror scene felt intense.About half of the story is about the basic steady plot that's going on smoothly & slowly, gradually involving more characters, one by one along with many connecting plots which are more or less related to the central story.
The story involves 4 major characters: Hong Ji Ah (Jang Na Ra), a skilled and stupendous exorcist, continuing her family business of exorcism through a real estate agency, Daebak Realty. Oh In Bum (Jung Yong Hwa), a conman disguised as exorcist who later turns into a psychic to help Hong Ji Ah. Together they discover the past about their families, that they had forgotten in the course a tragic incident. Joo Hwa Jung (Kang Mal Gum), the real estate agent at Daebak Realty. Heo Ji Chul (Kang Hong Suk), Oh In Bum's partner-in-conning who also joins Daebak Realty as a Chief.
The storyline is a good one and the direction is well-organised. One or two episodes felt a bit slow as they were just busy investing stuffs but manageable. Have some tissue paper by your side as at many instances, it will be too overwhelming because there are lots of crying scenes. Also, watch it with a minor TW because there are some triggering scenes which are obvious for a horror drama. Every character did their acting well, especially Jang Na Ra again proved her skills.
Romance part of the leads in the drama is almost zero yet some conversations seemed like flirting but who is complaining about that? Not me! Hong Ji Ah's character is cold yet very very strong but she's soft from inside too. She'll make you cry more than anything else. I can't just see NaRa noona crying. Also, my Yong crying few times made it worse for me TT.
Another thing to point out is cinematography. In most of the cases, the horror dramas hugely rely on VFX and editing even for the horror scenes to look scary but in this drama, they used cinematography to keep the atmosphere simple and look natural and at the same time give off the horror vibes.
OSTs of this drama aee good too yet it felt under-utilized a bit but I think that's fine because their intention was to keep it intense. The bg themes are thrilling and melancholic I must say. And Jung Yong Hwa's OST is definitely a catchy one.
Note: If you're expecting anything very extraordinary, you've come to the wrong place; but it's not bad at all. It's worth giving a watch because the story is definitely a good one :)
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The Road To Revenge Is Full Of Plotholes
THIS HALF-RANT IS FULL OF SPOILERS and is written by one in need of vengeance against these scriptwriters who don't communicate with each other about what the drama they're writing is about.***
Come here, sit down and have a cup of the lovely Undying Flower Soup while I rant a wee bit.
Kill Me Love Me is touted as a revenge drama. The novel had a Blackest Flag male lead and an abused female lead who loved him in spite of being treated like dirt by him, and anyone who read this story knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell C-Dramaland was going to have the real version show up in their adaptation. Nonetheless, the first five episodes of Kill Me Love Me delivered an exciting promise of a different kind of male lead--one who was a bit depressed (about his loss of self and reputation), plenty angry (about his condition, the betrayal of his brother) and quite, quite ruthless in his ten -year plan to exact revenge.
Liu Xue Ye delivered Murong JingHe as he should have been THROUGHOUT the book in these five episodes and got many, many viewers hooked. He handpicked and trained an assassin in a secret assassin school, spending years making sure she was one tough nut, to be a tool in his plan. This assassin was a victim of a city siege fire that MRJH had been framed for setting, killing 100000 citizens in its wake, so this woman, who willingly underwent very brutal training would attempt to assassinate HIM, MRJH. This woman was Mei Lin, who had lost her parents, who hated MRJH, the General of the WeiBei army, so much for the death of her parents and friends, that she swore to kill him. The fascinating angle to this whole buildup to the revenge was Mei Lin having no idea that her Master Trainer/Lord was MRJH himself, who always appeared as a shadowy figure.
The set up was Gothic, full of darkness and ravens, of people screaming at an indolent and uncaring MRJH in his wheelchair, of the watchful hate in Mei Lin's eyes as she got nearer to her target. It was akin to the Madhatter's Party in Alice in Wonderland, where every character was questionably insane, yet all the colors were pretty and there were pretty cakes and silly rhymes and we the viewers were getting highly entertained by the push and pull of the sexual tension between our leads as they confronted each other in the flesh.
Then POOF, Alice in Wonderland took a pill and became tiny. The Gothic story disappeared and our ride became bumpy with the first set of plotholes before we were suddenly plunged into a ROMCOM world of happy village people living the idyllic life of happy unaffected people, and our two leads were suddenly in couple clothes and doing very romantic things. Which was all fine and dandy, except, without any transition from the danger of almost dying a few days agp from hunger and cold, of almost being killed by the evil brother, we were left scratching our heads with these three or four episodes of Happy Couple, tralalala-ing in the fields.
Then POOF. Alice in Wonderland took a pill and we were back in the Palace of Intrigue. The stakes were high and our leads' revenge was nigh. We were so ready for it because this was what it was all about--the truth would come out and the Evil Brother would die a good bloody death, etc. etc. Oh wait, Plothole ahead. Bump Bump. And I'm at a loss at how to explain what happened next.
The revenge? A whimper. The Evil Brother's death? Kinda peaceful, in the arms of the woman he freaking lied to and seduced, no less. And the ten-year plan? Long gone, actually--it disappeared in the first five episodes because Mei Lin already found out MRJH wasn't the one who ordered the fire. We were led to this point where we'd expected the PAY OFF--these two would face Evil Brother TOGETHER and get their vengeance. That's what a revenge drama is all about!
And Poof! Poor Alice. Small again. Our ML went and did the "noble savior" act and denied the assassin HE trained any of the revenge action! My head about exploded here. Mei Lin was sent off as Princess in marriage. WTF? What the loving frack?! The plothole here cannot even be filled in. Yes, yes, the noble savior trope was the cement bridging the next segment of this sad story, but can we get back to the Mad Hatter Murong Jinghe? This man, our slightly crazy hero of those first episodes, who wore vengeance with a casual sexy ruthlessness, had turned into the emo-child of some grunge festival, crying about angsty self-hatred. And Mei Lin, the amazing assassin we've grown to love was no better. She was suddenly some regal lady of the court, with the mannerisms of nobility, speaking of "different paths" and changing her focus to saving another man, her sudden betrothed.
What? WHAT? I get it. She was mad about the Big Sekrit of who had trained her. I get the angst. But shouldn't she be angrier about NOT BEING INCLUDED in their revenge? What was this about her agreeing to be saved? She was Mei Lin! She didn't need saving! She was the one saving everyone, remember? This essential change in her character gave me the second whiplash. Because...Plothole. Where were the other assassins who had trained with her? Why would she just meekly go off when she had never done so before? And if she was so clever in the beginning at figuring out that MRJH wasn't all bad, why was she not clever in figuring out that her betrothed, the Xiyan Green Tea Prince, wasn't all good?
(I know you're wondering what gave me the first whiplash. I wish I have time to include other character plotholes. But the first whiplash belonged to a secondary character, who was almost (ALMOST, if only the darn writers could decide together) the 2FL. One moment she was hankering after our ML for 13 years and then she took a whiff of sexy incense, and she was in love with Evil Bro. Y'all just have to hatewatch the drama to see what I mean)
And you know what? Alice never got big again throughout the drama. Mei Lin remained weak. MRJH said (and rightly so) that he was to be blamed for killing her. But dude, you had the cure. Why let that Other Guy take the credit?
The rest of the plot after the revenge was added on for lovers' angst, which was fine. I admit, I enjoyed MRJH's anguish because Liu Xue Yi was hella sexy when he suddenly turned Heathcliff and ran off digging up the "dead" Mei Lin. Now, THAT was a memorable scene. Where did we ever see a ML carrying a "corpse" around, drinking wine and trying to feed her medicine? THAT was the MRJH from the first few episodes--a man unafraid of the darkness within him--but this Gothic Self was merely bookends to the drama. In the middle was some other persona.
The romance was sexy at first, then turned rom-com sweet, then went all angsty. The loss of sexual tension really hurt the push and pull of these characters. They just jumped from one segment of episodes to another segment like they were in different dramas. I love the actors' chemistry, and boy, did they hard-carry this show, but many, many balls were dropped while we traversed this road full of plotholes.
Did I enjoy the drama? Yes, mostly. It had many entertaining scenes. But these stitched up scenes lacked coherence. So many things had to be explained away, until we all got a bit silly and started asking silly questions, like Where did the pet dog go? Or, how did the village people change our couple's clothes while they were unconscious and when Mei Lin wouldn't let go of Jing He's hand for days? Or, shouldn't rigor mortis have set in--why was her "corpse" so malleable?
So, yes, I was entertained, even at the "ending of repeated deaths." They should have titled the drama Kill Me Kill Me Again And Again. Just ignore the Plotholes. And the writers' attempt at making ironic symbolism like the Undying flower for the couple.
It's more 7.2 than 7.5. I'm kinda torn. I want to avenge MRJH and Mei Lin for what the writers did to them.
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