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Better than the previous one
Okay don’t eat me up but I’m from Yama-pi era where everyone was knocked off by his good looks and monotonous acting. The reason I’m giving so many stars are due to the following reasons. (I’m comparing it with the previous one).Hirano Sho has done a better job at portraying Kurosaki. From the surface you might feel he is less “serious and dark” compared to monotonous Yama-pi, but he has shown the deep emotions every where required. For a high schooler to go through so much pain and trauma, he is trying to move on and get revenge and get people in their right place. Act out fine in front of the world but he has the emotions bottled up somewhere.
The story was written well this time and flowed perfectly and honestly the casting was done way better than the previous one. Miura Tomokazu just did the best job. All the characters were more likeable this time. In 2006 only Horikita Maki was doing a good job trying to be the character and likeable at the same time. And the ending was definitely better than that from 2006. It has a proper closure in a way, that wasn’t there in 2006.
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Warms the heart while playing with the possibilities of fate
In a year where short-format K-BLs continue to dominate the scene, Always Meet Again arrives with the ambition of feeling like something more complete, more polished, more emotionally grounded, and at times more daring than its peers. Reuniting Jeong Shin and Myung Kim after A Breeze of Love, the series leans heavily into what made that pairing work in the first place: an effortless chemistry that doesn’t need grand declarations to resonate. There’s a quiet intimacy in the way they share the screen, where glances linger just long enough and emotions surface in restrained, almost delicate ways. It’s the kind of dynamic that feels lived-in, and it ends up carrying much of the series on its shoulders.What initially presents itself as a familiar time-travel romance gradually reveals a more introspective core. Rather than focusing purely on mechanics or spectacle, the narrative is more interested in grief, regret, and the desperate human urge to rewrite what was lost. The direction supports this approach beautifully, contrasting the muted tones of the present with the softer, almost glowing warmth of the past. There’s a consistent sense of longing woven into the visuals, reinforced by a carefully chosen soundtrack that elevates even the quieter moments. As the story progresses, it finds a stronger emotional rhythm, with later episodes delivering a more cohesive and impactful payoff than the somewhat tentative beginning might suggest.
That said, not everything on this canvas is painted in vibrant colors (tsk). For all its emotional strengths, the writing often struggles to keep up with its own ambition. The time-travel logic is, at best, loosely defined, and at worst, frustratingly inconsistent, leaving key plot points feeling underexplained or even contradictory. The subplot involving color blindness is perhaps the clearest example of this: introduced as something significant, it never quite finds a meaningful resolution or clear purpose within the narrative. Similarly, certain conflicts, especially those built around the idea of “pushing someone away for their own good”, feel more like familiar genre obligations than fully justified character choices, occasionally breaking the story’s emotional immersion.
There are also moments where the series hints at deeper layers, whether through supporting characters or secondary tensions, only to resolve them too quickly or abandon them altogether. This creates a sense of narrative imbalance, as if the story is constantly choosing between being intimate and being complex, without fully committing to either. The short episode format doesn’t help in this regard, often making developments feel rushed or undercooked when they needed just a bit more space to breathe.
And yet, despite these flaws, Always Meet Again remains an undeniably engaging watch. There’s a sincerity at its core that makes it easy to forgive its rough edges. When the series leans into its emotional beats, when it allows its characters to simply exist together without the weight of convoluted plotting, it becomes genuinely affecting. The performances, especially from the central duo, bring a level of nuance that elevates even the weaker scenes, grounding the story in something that feels real even when the logic falters.
By the time it reaches its conclusion, the series feels less like a tightly constructed narrative and more like an emotional journey, one that doesn’t always make perfect sense, but still manages to leave a lasting impression. It’s not flawless, and it doesn’t fully realize all the ideas it introduces, but there’s enough heart, atmosphere, and chemistry here to make it worthwhile. In the end, Always Meet Again may not be the best one out there, but it reminds us why stories about love, loss, and second chances continue to resonate: not because they are perfect, but because, at their best, they feel honest.
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8 minutes in heaven (yes it is a play on the game)
This little side story is way better than the drama is so far, it is sweet, and has more depth in 8 minutes than the first six episodes had all together.As these 8 minutes show both a different dynamic to the duo, not only do these 8 minutes sum up what the two have learned about each other so far, there is actually a plot in these 8 minutes including some suspense, drama and affection beyond the lust...So if you do watch the drama do not miss out on these, if you decide not to watch the whole drama you can still watch these 8 minutes of heavenly sweetness... 8 minutes in heaven, 8 minutes of playfulness... 8 minutes of cuteness, care and what not.
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Queer Joy
One of the most beautiful, heartfelt and genuine films I've seen in a long time. It screams queer joy with all its ups and downs and ends on a positive note despite life's troubles.I can't say how true it is to Haruna Ai's actual life but it tells the story of growth, pursuing your dreams and being true to who you really are in every aspect of the story.
Sometimes the timeline gets a little lost unfortunately, the title cards including the passage of time only set in later in the story but overall it isn't too much of a criticism.
In the end tears were shed of heartbreak, of happiness and we never lose this sense of hope for the future while watching until the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
Good and Evil Through the Tragedy of Choice
Waiting for a drama to premiere is an act of faith, and my journey with this one was a test of patience. At first glance, the storytelling felt muddled, a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite seem to fit. It wasn’t until the narrative settled into the familiar rhythm of the academy that it truly found its footing, building a genuinely compelling momentum. If I had to draw a line, the first half of the drama was a solid, engaging watch. The second half, however, wasn’t as satisfying; it stumbled where it should have soared. And yet, even in its imperfection, the final episodes held moments that resonated with a quiet power, leaving a bittersweet taste that lingers longer than a more polished, forgettable finale.Having seen other adaptations of this author’s work, I was prepared for a certain formula. I tried not to make comparisons, but the echoes were impossible to ignore. The drama leans heavily on familiar, even overused, tropes: the immature and childish female lead who eventually matures, the enemy-to-lovers dynamic, and a collection of obsessed, psychopathic male characters who blur the line between antagonist and outright villain. I had hoped that the second male lead, Ji Tongzhou, would be a complex antagonist rather than a full-blown villain, but the story took a darker, more definitive path—a common tragedy in these sprawling cultivation tales.
What truly anchors this story, however, and what saved it from being a simple trope-fest, is its core theme. Beneath the flashy CGI and frantic pacing lies a poignant exploration of nature versus nurture, of birth versus choice. The drama masterfully deconstructs the very foundation of its world. Everyone speaks in hushed tones of a past catastrophe, a great war between immortals and demons. The elders, draped in the robes of sages, indoctrinate a new generation to hate a faction branded as evil by birth and origin. But the truth they so carefully conceal is far more damning: the sages were never truly sages, and the devils were never born evil.
This hypocrisy is the engine of the drama’s tragedy. The so-called righteous immortals, led by the sanctimonious Cui Xuan, are driven by greed and a hunger for power they mask as divine justice. Cui Xuan’s secret prison, the Xiaoqian World, where he drains the life force of demon spirits to fuel his own cultivation, is a more horrifying evil than any act committed by the demon clan in the show. He didn't just kill Qing Cheng (Wu Gen), the master who chose love and redemption over transcendence; he betrayed the very essence of their brotherhood, exploiting his trust to imprison and eventually murder him. This act of intimate betrayal is the true face of "righteousness" in this world, a far cry from the "evil by birth" he projects onto the demon clan.
At the heart of this conflict stands Lei Xiuyuan, the demon lord Ye Cha. He has every conceivable reason to become the monster the world insists he is. He is born under a curse that forces him to consume the very personification of life, Jianmu (Jiang Lifei), or suffer a soul-shredding death. He is hunted, blackmailed, and manipulated by a scoundrel like Zhen Yunzi, who uses his dying brother Lu Shanhua as a puppet. The world, including the woman he loves, is a constant crucible encouraging him to embrace his inherent darkness. His fight is not just against external enemies, but against his own cursed nature, which drives him to uncontrollably hunger for the very scent of Jiang Lifei’s life force.
And yet, his defining act is defiance. His greatest strength isn't his terrifying demonic power, but his unflinching choice to be good. His iconic line, "Xin zhi suo xiang cai shi xuan ze" (What the heart desires is the true choice), isn't just a slogan; it's his life's thesis. It’s the mantra he clings to when resisting the soul-corrupting magic, when refusing to harm Jiang Lifei even to save himself, and when ultimately sacrificing his life to shatter her chains and set her free. He is a character who embodies the drama’s soul: a person born to be a villain, given every justification for villainy, who instead uses his power to protect the world that despises him. His internal battle is far more compelling than any external sword fight.
Juxtaposed against him is Ji Tongzhou’s downfall, which is a perfect, tragic foil. Unlike Lei Xiuyuan, who resists his cursed bloodline, Ji Tongzhou is consumed by a self-created one: his obsessive love for Jiang Lifei. He starts as a loyal friend but spirals into a demon of his own making, cloaking his possessiveness and ambition in the language of protection. He doesn't need a curse to absorb Jianmu's power; he does it out of a chilling sense of entitlement. His moral decay is so complete that he murders his oldest friends, in a fit of rage after being confronted with his own hypocrisy. In the end, he’s a hollow figure, painting portraits of a woman who will never love him, having destroyed every genuine connection he ever had. His tragedy isn’t his love; it’s his choice to let that love fester into a tyrannical need to possess, turning him into the very monster he claimed to fight.
Jiang Lifei, too, evolves from a source of frustration to a pillar of strength. Her initial childishness is grating, but her journey is one of painful awakening. She learns that the world her master Qing Cheng wanted to protect is full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Her most powerful moments are when she sheds her naivete, like when she mocks the assembled immortals at her public trial, brilliantly exposing Cui Xuan’s plot to enslave them all with her trap-like chains. Her decision to stand against the sea calamity at the end, not as a sacrifice to a cruel world but as a fulfilment of her master’s dream, completes her arc from a naive girl to a self-possessed woman who understands that true power is not in one's origin but in the sacrifice one is willing to make.
Sadly, this beautiful, thematically rich narrative is trapped in a flawed vessel. The acting is inconsistent, often failing to carry the heavy emotional weight of the plot. But the real villain of the production is the post-production work. The CGI and editing are, to put it bluntly, a hot mess. At times, the garish graphic effects were so blinding that I nearly dropped the drama. The editing gives the show a frantic, breathless pace, butchering scenes that should have been given time to breathe and resonate emotionally, leaving the viewer feeling pummeled rather than moved.
It’s a story that understands that the most profound monsters are not born in the netherworld but in the secret chambers of a hypocrite’s heart, and the truest hero is the one who conquers the monster within himself.
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Obsession and Possession
Enthralling. Intriguing. Mind-blowingIt is probably the perfect three words to describe this drama.
The whole drama narrates the story of Lou Qianyi and Hou Youze's relationship after an avalanche that renders Qianyi amnesic and how Qianyi tries to figure out her identity.
Initially, the plot of this drama is not straightforward and kinda complicated, which may leave your mind and train of thought all over the place. However, as the plot progresses, you will be able to gradually grasp the background and motivations of the various characters and understand the past incidents that shape current events.
The show is not draggy, you might get hooked unconsciously after watching a few episodes!! If I'm not mistaken, this drama was initially planned to have 40 episodes, and I am glad that they cut it down to 29 episodes. 29 episodes are the right number, it is not draggy and it is well-paced too. The pacing is well-paced and the drama also transitions seamlessly between suspense, tragedy and thriller with a few twists and reveals mixed in.
What makes this show spectacular is of course the male lead's acting. Ou Hao acted as Hou Youze, an obsessive yet pitiful person. His acting is spectacular!! He managed to bring Hou Youze role to life through his gaze and nuanced micro-expressions. I can't help but feel a bit scared while watching his acting. I watched a few of Ou Hao's dramas before, and he is really versatile, a quality which hopefully garners him more varied roles in his future projects!! Victoria Song's acting has also improved much!! She managed to play 2 different roles so well, she is getting better and better in each drama she stares in.
The background music and sound of this drama fits in perfectly with the whole ambience. The background music makes you feel the suspense and your adrenaline rushing. Though I feel like the background music was excessively used in some parts to the point that the background music is dictating you what you should feel. As for this scene, suspensive background music is used, therefore, you should feel suspense. But regardless of it, they still managed to make me feel the suspense and be on the edge of my seat while watching the drama.
As for the flaws, there are some scenes where it lacks logic and coherence. For instance, how can someone who just suffers a heavy accident and need to go through cosmetic surgery look so normal in just a month?! But if you don't really care about all the small details, you will love the drama!!
Another flaw is the CGI used during the avalanche, the CG looked so fake that I can't help but laugh a little, the cuts and CG used in the avalanche scene does not do justice to the quality of the storyline. But it is only a small part of it so don't mind too much!!
You might like or hate the ending. But for me personally, I think that ending is a perfect ending for this drama!!
Lover or Stranger is probably one of my favourite dramas of 2021!! It is rare to see a Chinese drama that takes on this genre, and in the future, I hope to see more kinds of Chinese dramas with this genre!! Give it a try, you might love it!!
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This is definitely not a drama for the weak-hearted, or if you're looking for a quick show to chill with over the weekend, I believe this show is not for you, from the start it is already very obvious how the ending would be.
So let's go into details on how and why I gave this rating.
STORY 8.5/ 10
This drama, is based on the bestselling novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, under the same title, Never Let Me Go. Well, I haven't read the book, and I don't think I will ever gather enough courage to go through the pain this story subjected me to, as an avid dystopian reader however, I would say this is one of the best dystopian story out there. It is probably why the book was on bestselling list and even made into a movie by Hollywood and now into a drama.
The story, as most dystopian story should be, is dark and filled with underlying messages. It is about clones (specifically three of the many clones that has been saving the world from many diseases and accident that would cost someone's life), it is about how they are growing up, the environment they grew up in made who they are, it is about the relationships they formed with one another, how different people have different personalities and all. Nature vs. Nurture, a famous theme being fused into many dystopian fictions, it is found here.
I do not want to say more on this as I don't want to spoil it for you. So, if you're reading this review because you're on the bench about whether to watch it or not, I would say, go for it if you're up for that 10 hours of deep, dark story that's going to unfold. You can even try and start to watch the first 10 minutes of the show, I believe you'll get the gist of it enough to decide for yourself if this drama is for you right now. To those out there looking at this review because they find the first "childhood" part of the episodes being boring, I would advice you to watch through them, it is just for about 3 - 4 episodes anyway, and the childhood part helps build up many things that would only make sense later. Good luck.
ACTING/ CASTS 10/ 10
Well, perfect score? Why?
Because all the main casts in the story has done such a good job in portraying their characters of course.
When I am rating acting and casts, I am not rating the character, but how well the actor and actress are playing their character, whether they are making their character come across the perfect goody-two-shoes or the crazy-bitch you want to slap over and over again, or that bad-tempered, bad-mannered boy who scream and shout whenever he is angered.
Ayase Haruka and Mizukawa Asami has probably stolen more limelight in this show than they should have, but they are actually the important main characters of the story anyway. Miura Haruma is one of the main cast, but his role has always been "that boy who stolen Kyouko's heart", so I am not really surprise by the lack of scenes and actions he gets in the show.
I have to say, I am actually amazed by Mizukawa Asami, for the first time I ever seen her on TV she was that tom-boyish(?), shy girl in Shitsuren Chocolatier, her acting as Miwa was surprisingly jaw-dropping, for so many times I actually felt like pinning her down somewhere and bitch-slapping her, she is that good. I believe I am going to keep lookout for her future projects now.
MUSIC 10/ 10
~Baby baby never let me go~ Never let me go~
Such cleaver lyrics that would remind you of the title, that tone and voice little melancholy, you would just feel your heart aching a little listening to the tune, and the thing is, this line stay in your head days after you've done with the episodes. Personally I went and searched for the song soon as I heard it the second time. It fits the drama, I think.
The music in this show is more or less perfect to me, seeing how this is not a cheerful show of course the music would have to match. I have listen to sountracks puts together by Yutaka Yamada before (in Boku no Ita Jikan, any fans of Haruma would know), I have expected good from Yamada-san, and he has not disappoint this time.
REWATCH VALUE 6.5/ 10
Now, rewatch value... I would really love to put this up higher, I really do, I really really really do... But I doubt I will be rewatching this show the second time, not unless I am on my depress mood and really need to get a release. It is a great show, I assure you, but at the same time it hurts too much in that not-so-good way, I don't think I can handle a second round. >.<
OVERALL 9.0/ 10
Because I still think this is a good drama, because the casts and the productions has made so much effort in bringing this show to life (and I am pretty sure they never miss out much from the fiction work, I may not have read the book line by line, I've seen the movie and I've read things about it). It should deserve an award of it's own, say perhaps the best sci-fi adapted drama or something, because I think it is.
Last word of advice, if you're preparing to watch this, prepare yourself a whole box of tissue, or two, or a dozen. Enjoy!
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Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
20 people found this review helpful
by Foreigner 
1
1 The real magic is the happiness it will make you feel.
Cherry Magic was definitely one of the best things -- if not the best one -- that happened to me in 2020, but I'm not the only one who has had such a positive experience with this show. In fact, Cherry Magic has become an international phenomenon thanks to its impressive formula: good production quality, excellent comedic timing, humane and relatable characters, a touching storyline and genuine feelings. The pure happiness it was able to spread among its viewers almost felt like a miracle. I've often found myself wondering how a series could connect so many people around the world and make them all feel the same way. Well, the answer is in the title: magic. Yes, because the real magic in this series is not Adachi's power, but the relationships that the series established between the characters, between the characters and the audience and between the viewers, too. The connection you create with those around you and what you get from that -- support, affection, care, inspiration, motivation, joy... -- is one of the things that make life worth living. This is the message given throughout the series. All the characters end up touching each other's hearts and seeing how that affects their growth as human beings is just beautiful.Honestly, I can't put my love for this series into words. You need to feel that happiness building up inside you episode by episode yourself. What I can say is that the humanity and the sincerity of the characters have reached my soul. Every expression, every gesture, every word has shaken me, entered my being and left a permanent mark. Cherry Magic is unique, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that I'll never forget. It will always have its own place in my heart. I highly recommend this series to EVERYONE. I swear it will touch you heart.
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Super fun, cute and worth watching
I feel like this is actually super fun and worth watching! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Please note it is not a documentary on airline operations, but it is an addictive high-flying romance with a focus on its female lead's career goals with respect.The series is fast-paced. It's important to remember that while she was initially cold and sharp-tongued, she was right about him. At the start, he was prejudiced against her and disrespected her with harsh words and actions. He deserved it, and she gave him a taste of his own medicine.
He too realized quickly that he was wrong about his judgement and made amends. His character grows when he falls for the FL fully knowing about her career oriented ambitions and also her emotions and trauma from growing up alone. I felt ML was soft and indulgent towards her because of this. And of course he had an excellent upbringing.
Although love story in the plot starts out
far-fetched, as the story progresses, the relationship grows into something genuinely meaningful, realistic, and emotionally deep. The FL faced many hardships, setbacks, rejections on her path to success. Despite her flaws, she is a hardworking, determined woman who is passionate about her career, strives to do her best, and refuses to compromise her morals or beliefs to get ahead. She is a deeply traumatised person, abandoned by her mother, afraid of being too attached to other people, of letting dependance on other people make her vulnerable. She is a woman with self-worth who doesn't touch a penny sent by her estranged mother, instead, works extremely hard to realize her dreams step by step. Therefore it will be too unrealistic to show her as someone who makes compromises and sacrifices readily and suddenly to accommodate love. She has only just started her career as a pilot and has a long way to go to. She does realize slowly and gradually how much ML does for her and what he means to her and then she stops running away from her emotions and reciprocates his love. This is more realistic. Sure her words are hurtful but it's more of a defence than a true intent to hurt.
The reason for breaking up with him too was in a way to protect his position and for him to make successful reforms. The board members were already making a huge fuss of their relationship and making things so difficult for ML. Obviously someone with a childhood trauma like her might avoid things and outcomes out of fear and end up with this extreme mindset: "I'll just focus on my career and ditch everything else."
I really liked the directing where they showed FL and ML emotions when they saw the empty apartment she vacated. While she saw an empty place with just furniture, he saw a place filled with their memories. And then when she met her ex college mate as he was talking about what he can do by being in her life she realized what ML did already in her life. That was the turning point. She came back emotionally strong and her love deep for ML. She just needed to confront her own feelings during that time which she did.
And the proposals which followed were so sweet and the wedding was so beautiful and apt!
The visuals, music, and vibes are all on point. Every character feels real and grows throughout the story. If you look past the surface when watching a drama, focus on the core vibes instead, watch without skipping or skimming, it's a thoughtful, quality drama worth watching.
Miles's acting was amazing as always and he just puts my mind at ease every time. He's handsome as always, super steady, and gives off such a reassuring vibe. His expressions convey everything. FL is good too.
That scene where Fu Mingy took a flight just to show the FL the sun rising in the west by piloting a plane westward at a speed faster than the earth's rotation, thereby reversing the timeline of dusk, causing the sun to "rise" back up over the western horizon cracked me up 😂😂 Fu is very clever! There are so many laugh-out-loud moments that I will definitely be coming back to this often for a boost ☺️💖
PS- This is my first ever review for a drama ☺️
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This review may contain spoilers
Better than Season 1
Yes I liked this better than Season 1. Probably because I like Jinyoung (who plays Yu Ba Bi) ;)S2 introduced some new cells which added to the humour and storyline. I especially liked the tongue cells having tea together LOL!
Yu Ba Bi was great!!! Until he wasn’t ... :( he was the perfect guy and bf. Until he too started lying and hiding things from Yumi, with the ruse of not wanting her to worry, or overreact. Is it a guy thing to think like that? Whereas all the women want is for their man to be honest and open. Yumi was right to be upset and hurt, but I felt it didn’t warrant such a quick break up without even talking it through and giving some time to think and breathe. I also understand why BaBi was upset that she could break up so easily, as if her love wasn’t deep enough to hold on. And couldn’t she trust him? Couldn’t he hv been more honest?
After the break up, the character of BaBi didn’t make sense any more. It seemed the writers just needed a reason for the 2nd break up. Him hiding the accident, thinking of regrets and then proposing marriage?? What the... and they didn’t even discuss their issues after getting back together. Such poor and unhealthy communication. No relationship can last like this.
However I did like the professional development of Yumi becoming a writer. But Wung becoming a CEO in just two years?? That’s a bit far-fetched. I really loved the scene where he and Babi met at the hospital and they had a who’s-better-for-Yumi tiff off. Hahaha
Don’t expect too much with the storyline. It’s not a happy ending per say, but a good realistic one. :)
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A MUST WATCH DRAMA
I seldom write long reviews but Dear Missy deserve it. So I started this drama as it is an adult life drama and the filming seemed good from the trailer. It was better than expected. The series revolves around two friends and the people around them. Friendship and relationships are the main theme. Each character was well developed, actually you can find a little bit of yourself in every character, this is what i felt at least.Every relationship and every person had its ups and downs and the way characters dealt with their problems was completely realistic. Nothing was exaggerated and that is what I liked the most. Everything seemed like a daily life encounter, nothing was unreal.
At first, I couldn't understand why a second lead couple had so much screen time, but later I realized that if they hadn't i would not have gain so much from the series. This couple is actually all young adults. At the end this drama, made me see things from another perspective, and I am so grateful,this is something that rarely happens and I believe writers and director is to thank.
As for the main leads Li Yitong and Gina Jin I have no words, their acting skills, their chemistry everything was amazing. It was like seeing two real best friends. Gina thought (OMG QUEEEN) in this role is amazing, such a dynamic woman, something that we rarely see in Chinese dramas.
I would like also to comment on the direction. It must be one of the best directing in Chinese series. Each episode was like watching a movie. After that I will definitely watch the works of the same director.
To conclude, if you are into adult life dramas or a young adult I definitely recommend this drama. Don't be discourage from the comments here (this is what happened in my case and at the end the drama was a masterpiece for me) I feel that my review cannot express well how good was it so please give it a try
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Although this story turned out to focus more on society issues, and less on the actual relationship between the leads I still enjoyed watching. The acting was very good and the actors were able to portray their complex characters. I wasn't a fan of the ending, although it wasn't the worst Ive seen...
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This review may contain spoilers
The second lead stole the show.
I'm a little sad because the actress playing the female lead is the only reason I picked up this drama but her character(s) didn't have much dept, and surprisingly I ended up liking the scenes where the male lead interacts with the second leads more than the ones with the female lead.The male lead doesn't have much of a life or motivation aside from maybe one day being with the protagonist, but he made me giggle a couple of times so I'll give him that.
The second female lead is a bit weird, but it didn't bother me as much since she's supposed to be a dumb bird (literally).
The character I liked the most was by far the second male lead, 10/10 comic relief but also did pretty well on the more serious scenes, he was a surprisingly positive character and pretty much the only reason the other three didn't die by the halfway point of the drama, between the female lead who never knows what's happening, the male lead who's a bit too eager to saceifice his life at every opportunity and the second female lead who's dumb as a rock, I guess the writers needed someone to keep the ship going.
The villain could've done better, they only started showing him as a suspicious person almost at the end so it was a bit of a shift with the character, I think there could've been a better way of showing that he was suspicious from the start and to reveal his plan at the end without making it so cartoonish.
Didn't like the ending, it was what dropped the grade for me, I was willing to forgive all the flaws from this drama but a unsatisfying ending I can't forgive, in my opinion it was poorly executed and rushed, they could've cut all those flashbacks and given more time for the fourth life and closed things more neatly.
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Or is it?
Yamaguchi Kaede is shy, and when approached by other people, a bit dismissive and rough. She likes to eat alone and being by herself while sneaking glances on her crush, her similarly shy classmate Nomura Yusuke. Feeling ignored and shunned by him, she quickly lets go of any hope of being with him and tries to forget him.
Enter Ji-Ho.
Ji-Ho is a seemingly simple girl, and the complete opposite of Yamaguchi. She's overly friendly, and puts her emotions on display. She makes it her mission to help Yamaguchi find happiness, but is very secretive about her own past.
This movie is, without looking any deeper, a cute lovestory that is kind of predictable. But if you look a little deeper, you'll see there's a lot more to it. It's all about character development, and how to help someone else in need whilst helping yourself. This movie shows changing oneself doesn't have to be a bad thing, and that some memories just aren't meant to be forgotten.
If you're looking for a lighthearted and silly lovestory, I'd steer away from this. However, if you're looking for something a liiiiittle bit deeper, this would be a fine match.
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This season, just like the first one, had witty writing and strong characterization (something that’s lacking from many Korean dramas) which made it very appealing. The thrilling events never disappeared and the captivating action was always there.
This season’s cases were more complicated and very difficult to predict. Although that was very good on the mysterious/suspense level; it felt a bit slow at the thriller/action level, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that the cases were boring because that’s not true but there were some slow cases and sometimes over dramatic ones.
In this season, I also disliked the near absence of outside-cases interaction between the main characters unlike the first season that held many side conversations between them. Except the two firsts and the two last episodes; we only got 30 seconds to one minute at the end of each episode which wasn’t enough to deliver a proper conversation and made me want more.
This is still an amazing detective drama; one of the best dramas produced in Korea even if it doesn’t get the appropriate attention. So basically, if you liked the first season, this one is a must watch.
One thing to add: The first season’s ending was way better than the second but it’s still exciting. I will be impatiently waiting for the third season.
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