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365: Repeat the Year
52 people found this review helpful
Apr 28, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
''If we go back then, would we be a little different now?''

It was a bit hard to rate this drama to be honest. I believe it has some flaws and it could have been better, but still, it managed to entertain me a lot which, if I have to be honest, I didn't expect.

The thing I loved the most about ''365: Repeat the Year'' is definitely the pace. This type of story is not easy to handle, yet this drama did it quite well. It just gets better with each episode, it makes you extremely curious about what will happen next. I don't think I've ever seen a drama with soooo many plot twists, I'm talking seriously right now. We have new twists in almost every episode. If you think you guessed right, you probably didn't. The writer always managed to surprise the viewers more or less. Even if you can predict something, you still can't get the full picture and the question you ask after each episode is always ''What the heck is going on?!''

I think as a mystery and time travel drama, it did quite well. However, the last episodes were quite... meh. You know, you keep searching for answers throughout the whole drama but when you finally get them, you kind of... don't care? The biggest plot twist was supposed to be the climax and the most shocking one but it really wasn't. Because if the other twists were very undpredictable, the biggest one was quite excpected. And after it, I kind of lost interest and just waited for the drama to end.

Some were left unexplained though. But I guess the drama was complicated enough so if the writer wanted to go even deeper, then it would have been waaaay too messy...who knows.

The acting was quite good. I loved Lee Joon Hyuk as Ji Hyung Joo, he is such an underrated actor and I he was excellent here. Nam Ji Hyun was decent as Shin Ga Hyun and honestly, one of the things I really, really loved in this drama is the fact that the female lead wasn't stupid or something.

The only song I actually remember from the drama is ''Into My Life'' by Say'Z. Such a beautiful song and it was perfect for the drama.

I wouldn't watch this again simply because there's no point. I mean, there won't be any excitement since I already know everything.

Overall, I would recommend this drama if you're looking for a good mystery that keeps you guessing. I wouldn't consider it a ''must watch'', but it's definitely a nice show. And if you decide to watch it, please, avoid spoilers at all cost!

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Completed
Love in the Big City
52 people found this review helpful
Nov 3, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

A Different Take On Love

I'm not really into BL dramas, but, this one got me curious and gave it a shot. First, I really like the realistic approach. As far as I've seen, Korean entertainment is starting to loosen up their conservative side in terms of doing this type of genre, which is a good move I may say.

For the story, I got hooked on the first 6 eps. of the story. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I honestly liked Go Young's character. Not only he is cute, literally, but has a pure heart as well. The friendship he made with Mi Ae was truly priceless. I really loved the strong bond between these two. Though, at the back of my mind, I was hoping they would notch up there friendship beyond sisters. Still, the bond remained inspite of pursuing their different track in their lives. And yes, Mi Ae's wedding was so heartwarming to see. The song between these sisters show how bonded they really are.

Go Young's squad was another epic characters in this drama. Having friends through thick and thin are truly priceless. I'm just not sure if he was able to open up with them about his sickness. As far as I remember, he was too cautious for them to learn about it after seeing their reactions of one person they know who was infected.

The sad fate of Go Young's mom was another heartwarming moment in this drama. Though, I know there are times that he needed to vent out by going out to the club with his friends while his mom was being taken care of by a caregiver. It just felt a bit off. Like, thinking his mom was suffering and there he was clubbing. But, yeah, as youthful as he is, probably that's really his way to ease out his burdens. It's just sad that he never admitted to his mom his preference but yeah, his mom learned about it through the photo and yes, when she gave her full savings to Young, it's a sign of her acceptance. Am sure it was a really tough decision for the mom knowing she's active in Church based on the background given.

And yes, for Go Young's series of relationships, the first cheater boyfriend who eventually gave him the virus on the latter part of the drama. And the very serious, Nam Gyu, the photographer who also ended up in a sad fate. In which, Young was really not into him. Then, there was Young So, the hideous activist. Really not the right partner for him, though he was very passionate with Go Young. The real deal Gyu Ho. I really liked how they met at the bar. and I think, GH was the one who truly cared for him. Accepted as who he was. Yet, they have different paths to take. I guess, their love for each other wasn't truly enough.
I was a bit confused with Habibi's character. He suddenly popped at the last 2 eps of the drama that felt drag for me. I probably missed how he met Habibi as I tried to forward some parts. Am not sure how he was related to Gyu Ho. And it seems he met him in a dating app I think or social media page, this I'm unsure of. But, his character seems just a filler towards the end. Nothing significant since he has a family and his work confused me as well. He is Japanese but speaks good English. He travels a lot I presume since they met in Korea and also in Thailand.

Anyways, the ending is just okay for me. But, not what I'm hoping for. The relationship of GY with his dad is another complicated story. Overall, it was a good drama. Actors absolutely nailed their roles specially, Nam Yoon Su. The steaminess in this drama were very well portrayed. It made me believe that it is their gender preference in real life. But like I said, the final 2 eps. simply drag for me. Lots of flashbacks of GY and GH that I find irrelevant since their not even getting back together.

This is really recommendable who's really in to BL dramas. Not really my cup of tea. But, the actors are truly commendable, honestly.

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Completed
Love Alarm Season 2
52 people found this review helpful
Mar 12, 2021
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 6
Overall 4.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.5
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Just stupid

So I’m relatively new to k-dramas and this was one of the first k-dramas I watched on Netflix and up until season 1 episode 6 I loved it,it all goes down hill from there, jojo and sun-oh’s relationship seems genuine and they both care for eachother a lot, atleast that’s the way it looks?! But then they flip it on its head by making jojo heartless, cold and indecisive in the process messing with everyone else’s feelings just because she can’t get her shit together, they way she breaks up with sun-oh pisses me off because why?! It doesn’t make any sense the fact she drops him just like that after 6 episodes of them building the relationship up what was all that for!? Then there’s Hye-yeong who’s a good guy but it just doesn’t feel real between them two, anyway season two is just more indecisiveness and throwing sun-oh and jojos connection out the fucking window,until she finally decided that hye-yeong is who she wants, shows like this make me tired, jojo becomes heartless towards sun-oh when he never did anything wrong?! By then end of it I started leaning more towards jojos cousin more than her and that’s saying something! Watch it if you want but for me it was a waste of time

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Completed
Love Crossed
52 people found this review helpful
May 25, 2021
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

BEST PLOT TWIST EVER

Omg I almost got scammed when I read the plot summary above. I thought the drama would be very light and easy to watch just like other hologram love drama.

THIS DRAMA IS WAY ABOVE MY EXPECTATION. First, there are 4 boys who are locked up in a castle-like house and they need to become perfect. Once they become perfect, the antagonist still does not want them to live freely. Instead, the antagonist wanted gain more profit from the four boys. Therefore, the four boys need to escape to gain their own freedom. They also need to accept the risk of not being accepted by the society, since they are isolated for so long. There two girls from the outside world that coincidentally get connected to this four boys and together they help the boys to find a way out.

There are a lot of plot twist but the best one is in episode 30, where I thought that there is no way out anymore, It turns out that they are not living in the real world. They are living inside a game and to get out they need to die in the game, Imagine killing yourself when you do not want to die yet. The most interesting part of this drama is the adventurous part, where they need to find way to get out of the house but are block by Xu Guang Han numerous time.

This drama is not like other dramas where the love story gets too cheesy and boring in the end. It become even more intriguing towards the end. THIS IS ONE OF THE MUST WATCH CHINESE DRAMA!

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Completed
My Love Mix-Up!
52 people found this review helpful
Jul 7, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 4.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 4.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

WISH I COULD USE THAT ERASER

Yes, yes, Fourth is adorable as Atom. He's super cute, the babiest of the babiest. Give him a sippy cup and a blankie. Clouds, cotton candies, rainbows, poppies, whatever... cute!

But listen. For the life of me, I couldn't keep myself from going 'SHAKE YO BOOTY, SHAKE YO 'AS' whenever Gemini came on screen! I am embarrassed. I am ashamed. No really. In that one episode where the poor guy got bitten by a whole arse snake, I went. 'PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR 2X.' Though, speaking of snakes, what in sorry arse reaction was that??? His reaction was literally like... oh...yeah....I guess a snake...bit me? CHILD???!

Anyway, this drama is not for people with rational thinking. I think it was made for a waay younger audience. Cuz like, Atom brought his blankie and plushie to a hotel! So yeah, that should tell you the audience this was made for. So if you are looking for something deep, my brother, go look elsewhere.

That being said, thanks to the many ads in this drama, (literally how many times did we have to see Kongthap poke himself in the eye to put in those lenses?) especially that yellow ice tea, which is in basically every drama, I finally went and ordered that yellow ice-tea, now tell me why it tasted like sawdust and cheap cargo shorts? It tasted like Wednesdays, don't hate it, don't like it. I supposed it's on me, should have known to stop ordering stuff in dramas when that seaweed snack tasted like chili and air condition.

Listen, I'm sure many people were frustrated with some of the decisions the characters made in this show. Like the nonsense misunderstandings , overreacting and miscommunications. Me personally, I wanted to reach into the screen and shake Kongthap in the last episode when he agreed with Atom that they should tell their parents about their relationship, but then immediately became a third party during the telling. Cuz how the eff you gonna sit there like a tree, blinking like a goddamn christmas light while Atom go through that alone? Mfer said and did nothing while Atom's self-esteem chipped away at the words his mother said. Arrggg.

As for Kongthap's mother, did she really need to be so vague and take those long arse pauses and make poor Atom cry like that? Damn woman made me yell at her and her son, while trying to wipe Atom's tears through the screen.

And yes, we can argue that Kongthap himself was nervous and scared, but literally he could have at least tried to say something instead of becoming a light pole with a flickering lightbulb. Even when it was Atom's turn to tell his mother, homeboy still went, 'ma'am Atom has something to tell you' This CHILD!!

PLOT:
Going in, I was afraid it wasn't going to live up to the hype and the wholesomeness of the Japanese version, which it sort of didn't. Because this version was much different. However Fourth held his own, orbit some over-the-top-scenes and Gemini had the whole clueless adorable house poppy look working for him, which frankly is his go to in all his characters, still, I think they did their best with what they were given.

As for the source material, they took the name of the Japanese series, a few similar scenes, then sort of threw the rest of the script in the rubbish, then did their own thing. Which gave us a fuller story, about first loves, the anxiety of getting into uni, and how hard it is to come to terms with your feelings and sexuality. It's sad that all those changes was packaged with over-acting, stiff kisses, awkwardness and childish behaviour. It would have been great otherwise. But personally, base on the changes, I think the writers did a good job adding something new so it doesn't just a repeat the original.

CHARACTERS:
First off, I'd like to give credit where it's due. Although the acting in this was nothing to write poems about, the finale showcased how far Fourth has come as an actor, and how far he can go! He did such an amazing job that I felt every bit of his emotions in those heavy scenes. I look forward to seeing him grow more in his acting, and to take on more serious roles, cuz I can tell he'd nail them.

Atom and Kongthap were frustrating at times with all the childish misunderstands and problems. Atom started the series with no dreams and in love with a girl, and ended up working endlessly to be a better version of himself. I liked that we got to see him struggle with what to study, it felt relatable. I cheered on him when he finally achieved his goals and grew as a character who didn't seem to have a care in the world, to a promising change man who had more hold on his future. I also liked how Kongthap opened himself to the idea of returning Atom's feelings and was supportive of Atom. I did like the relationship between Atom and Kongthap, although due to all that nonsenses problems, I came to enjoy the relationship with Half and Mudmee more at times. They felt so mature towards the end. Half knowing he wanted to be a better version of himself for her instead of following Mudmee's dream was great. I applauded that part, I was like yes, finally some grown-up decisions that doesn't come with overreacting and nonsense.

Also those kisses though. Damn. In the finally, I was like... Kongthap honey, at least move your neck, or lips, or head, do something child, you're in high-school. He gave Atom nothing, which makes me think Atom would have been better off making out with those chairs instead. But again, given the audience, I wasn't holding my breath that we'd get more than stiff kisses. They almost had me with the firework kiss though.

Half and Mudmee were such good supporting cast and made it enjoyable to watch them. Half is a whole mood on his own, he seemed so chill with everything most of the time, my kind of vibe. I look forward to more work from both the actors.

Anyway, although this wasn't deep, and came off mostly childish, I think GeminiFourth fans would really enjoy it. I'll recommend this to anyone who likes middle-high-school first love series. Watch it if you have time and looking for something light to watch. I look forward to GeminiFourth's next series.

SHAKE YO BOOTY SHAKE YO AS'... God, why am I like this? Wish I could use that eraser to erase that Gemini performance, cuz every time I come across him, it's the first thing that pops into my mind. ^^

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Completed
Manner of Death
52 people found this review helpful
May 18, 2021
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 13
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

COMMENDABLE JOB

Are you curious why I wrote "commendable job" in the title? It's because the writer and director of this MoD actually need some applause for making this unique Thai BL.

I am so so so happy that finally Thai BL makers are coming out of their comfort zone and trying out genres which are way beyond of their league. Crime thriller is absolutely not what their area of interest.

To be very honest, I found many flaws but I think it's worth looking them away for they've come out of their box probably for the first time. In fact, they've done a pretty good job in direction, screenwriting and screenplay, which I thought they might not work out.

It was a pretty good story with plots, twists and turns placed at their rightful places. Few things felt absurd but can be totally ignored. They didn't research about the forensic stuffs properly which they could have done by consulting experts of the respective fields. And the thing about the police station organisation didn't feel right either.

But anyways, I was intrigued by the ending and tbe way the main culprit was revealed.

It was overally a good watch. I hope they keep making such Thai BLs.

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Completed
Cheo Yong
27 people found this review helpful
by Fiona
Apr 17, 2014
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
all to their own opinions ;

............... I like Have have no words to describe this ....... Phenomenal , Amazing , Breath taking , funny , thrilling ..... thats only a few words that could describe this drama for me ...

Like just WOW ! I love the cast and there acting was so perfect . Its my 14 time re-watching this drama ...i know right , I am addicted ..... well it had comedy , and mystery really well put together , some cases were solved in every episodes and some weren't . I would recommend this to detective lovers that are ok with fantasy elements . It was a fresh take on the detective series and thats why I think I fell in love with it the first time I watched it ..And any one who is looking for some light comedy :)

PS : I know , some people just look at review and are like this person is probably crazy just giving it 10 ... and read others and never end up watching the drama ...well for this one PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY , if you don't want to watch the whole first episode, just watch the first part of it ...! Hope you enjoy :)

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Completed
I've Fallen for You
27 people found this review helpful
Feb 19, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.5
I wasn’t about to watch this drama mainly because the plot itself didn’t look too promising (& I’m highkey a picky historical cdrama watcher) but I ended up watching it for my bb Esther Yu. I’m not even kidding the first few eps got me rolling LMAO and I’m glad this was more of a light hearted drama (compared to other cdramas w messy harems). However towards the end the entire plot got too messy, things were too rushed and the main leads’ acting just weren’t the same¿ It had me questioning whether I should continue to watch which in the end I did. The ML’s acting definitely looked forced and awkward at times especially when he tries to speak in a low voice. However other than him everyone’s acting was really good and that was mostly why I stayed towards the end. The relationships of the support roles w the main leads were so wholesome, main leads chemistry was good especially during the kISS SCENES SDHDHS, OST was good, and overall just a lighthearted and funny drama.

I would probably recommend watching this drama if u just want a good laugh tbh or if u just wanna kill time don’t quote me on that tho :0

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Completed
Bridal Mask
25 people found this review helpful
by Freya8
May 9, 2014
28 of 28 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10
When I first saw the trailers and who was in it, I didn't really give it a second thought. I didn't recognize anyone in the cast and I remember thinking that the guy looked weird in the mask. So I skipped it and just had it in the back of my mind. I finally watched it and all I have to say is, why in the world are you still reading this review! Go watch it! Now!
It has a great cast and Joo Won and Park Ki Woong are amazing in it. The story is interesting but different, since it is set in the 1930's, so you get a different part of Korea's history and there is a modern-saeguk feel to it. The music is exciting and upbeat, plus you get to hear some 1930's music in there, if you like that type of music.
I am totally going to rewatch this! Truth be told, I have already moved on to another drama, but I still occasionally go online just to rewatch my favorite scenes or to listen to the OST. It is a really great drama.

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Completed
The Legend
27 people found this review helpful
by haru7
Feb 12, 2012
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
what I have to say?? I really enjoy watching period drama and in this story there is the addition of fantasy and also adds mythical elements. I don't know why but I wasn't interested in the beginning. It didn't seem to me a remarkable story, only later I realized that I was beginning to like it. I hoped in more scenes of affection. I prefer romantic stories even so I was impressed by scenes of war, so I can't say that the romance is the central theme (who is looking for a love story in the past I suggest trying another drama). The music is not less than the story (composed by Joe Hisaishi) and some actors were really good in acting.
P.S. Sorry if there are errors, I'm not very good in English =)

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Completed
My Bromance 2: 5 Years Later
27 people found this review helpful
by lestay
Mar 7, 2021
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 3.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 2.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Watch at your own risk

The adjectives that I could use to describe this series are not very pretty. And I feel bad for those who were excited and curious to see the continuation of this couple cause for me personally, it was a letdown. And I choose to binge watch, cause sometimes that helps in watching a series. However, sadly that wasn't the case. If anyone who is reading this still wants to watch this series...well then- watch at your own risk!

Story- 3/10
Here's the thing- if it was only Golf and Bank and maybe the storyline with one of his friends and the guy with fewer episodes, then maybe this series could have been salvaged. But then we are introduced to secondary characters who are not linked to the main couple except for the fact that they are attending the school that Golf and Bank previously did (except for Hungray who was a student of one of thier friends).

Also, while I have come accustomed to typical BL storylines and would tolerate like one or two in a series, this one had a field day (with at least two of them sleeping with druken boys that I clearly did ot see as consent) as well as older man teying to force themselves on the younger men cause they have some form of power over the success of the younger men.

And what's up with that ending? Giving us a wrap up story that no one clearly asked for. I mean, Arm broke up with Bank so that he could be happy but they really wrap t up and say 'he dies a month later in a car accident? ' What the frick on the frack?! Nah! This just wasn't it for me!

Acting-5/10
I'm giving this score cause while the storyline was shit (I don't care what anyone says- it was), I can say these actors honestly tried. So I will give them half for thier effort.

Music-2/10
Unfortunately, nothing stood out for me. Like...really, nothing.

Rewatch Valu-1/10
Why? Cause I can't give it a zero.

Overall-3/10
This is now officially the second worst series that I have watched after I Am Your King 2. And yes I watched WTD and WTD2:FC. But still...this was worse than them. And it's unfortunate, cause at the ending of the series it was said that the movie before this series started LGBT shows in Thailand. And, five years later, we are given this hot piece of mess. I will most definitely not recommend this series to anyone.

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Completed
What Is Love
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 22, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
The Quickie: The feels! So many feels! Excellent drama without the stereotypes, over used plot devices, evil exes or monster in laws. My computer practically combusted from the chemistry. I shipped so hard. Any time Chris Wu's mug filled my screen I had a mini heart attack. I spent the final episode biting my nails at two in the morning and bawling my head off. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with this show. Show, you complete me.

Full Review:

Generally, I don't get into Taiwanese dramas as much as I do Korean dramas. The length of most well known Taiwanese dramas is too long for me. The use of multiple romances going on as at once is interesting, but also distracting. I have my favorite Taiwanese dramas but not many.

What is Love changed that. I fell so hard for this show. I watched it day and night, squeezing it in between work and sleep. I wanted the drama to never end. It is now one of my all time favorites. Funny that for the first two episodes I felt like barfing.

In the beginning I thought all the people in the show were either on happy mushrooms or so desperately lonely that they would fall for ANYTHING. The main lead was a 32 year old Wholesome Woman (Li Yi Hau) surrounded by loving family and friends, whose one goal in life is to get married (ugh). She then falls for the Big Bad Wolf (Bai Zong You), a dashing playboy, whose one goal in life is to play the game of love and win- with multiple women. Love was battlefield. For Li Yi Hau the game of love is won when she stands at the altar. For Bai Zong You, the game of love is won when he gets laid. Li Yi Hau finds out the truth of her relationship with Bai Zong You fairly quickly (Thank God) And things get much more interesting. She gets revenge for her broken heart and the hundred's of girl's before her. That should have been the end of their ill fated relationship. Of course, Bai Zong You has to have revenge for what Li Yi Hau did to him. He makes a bet that she will fall in love with him first and when she does she has to admit that she is a loser in love.

The premise of this drama sounds horribly cliche. It's been done a hundred times before. For me, this drama is the best bad boy gets the good girl story I have ever seen. The strength of this show is in it's execution. The acting was phenomenal. The balance between breezy romance, heartbreak, growth, family, and love appeared effortlessly. The writers answered sincerely, without plot devices and evil second leads, what love is. In this case, love not only changed the "bad boy" but also the "good girl". You can see a progressive growth in all the characters of this drama. Chris Wu (who plays Bai Zong You) is a FANTASTIC actor. I have to watch all the dramas he is in because of the raw emotion that sizzles on the screen.

The moment I knew I would love this drama for life was during the finale. Most dramas tapper off towards the end, wrapping things up in a pretty bow with a cute happily ever after. This show did not. It was grounded in realism. There is a happy ending, but it was so much sweeter because of the final conflict.

Show, I love you.

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Completed
FAILing in Love
27 people found this review helpful
Apr 28, 2020
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
Okay so after finishing this drama I have mixed feelings about this. What I most like of FAIling in Love is the cinematography and the OST, a few times i was like 'this feels like i'm watching a movie'. Also the production was good. But, and here is one of my problems, I wanna talk about Pa Rang, because at first it was the typical character you may like because is cute and innocent. But after seeing a few chapters my opinion change and i was like 'oh I don't like him, he's so unmature' but after knew his story I fell in love again, and then at the final I found it childish. He's my favourite character, after all I think he's a really good person, innocent and he doesn't have any bad thinkings. He's pure and the most real (even though his weird behavior). But, after a few mixed feelings about the characters, it was a really good drama, with an amazing script. I recommend it because it's so easy to watch, you will be involved with all the characters and the story, really, they did a very good job. At first I was insecure to watch it because it doesn't catched my attention, but thank god i didn't pass and i finally decided to watch it, because it was a big surprise. I hope to see more works of any of them ^^ I recommend it a lot! (sorry if i have a grammatical errors, english is not my native language)

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Completed
Love in the Moonlight
27 people found this review helpful
Oct 23, 2016
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
I really loved this drama in the beginning, and thought the story was great throughout, so maybe it's Sageuk overload that made me not fall completely in love with "Love in the Moonlight/Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" (this is my first time watching 2 Sageuks at once). This drama isn't exactly innovative... we have leading lady cleverly disguised as a eunich, a love triangle including friends turned rivals, political greed, betrayal in the kingdom, and a young prince who must learn what it takes to become a great king... it's literally all been done before, but the cast brings this particular story to life in a way that stops the story from feeling too cliché. It did lose much of it's early appeal in the later episodes, switching it's focus from romance, to palace politics, which made me less eager to watch the next episode. Even so, I can't find much that is wrong with this drama. I think it's just a matter of genre preference, and how much you've fallen in love with the cast.

I think the entire cast was excellent. Park Bo Gum is perfect. He is completely charming as the young Crown Prince. I totally fell for his smirk, and truly empathized with his struggle to become a true leader within a corrupt system. He is matched with Kim Yoo Jung, who I was very impressed with. Usually underage romantic lead actresses seem so obviously out of place to me, but she was a formidable leading lady, and the age gap wasn't so big. Beyond pulling off the gender-bender trope pretty well, she was also very believable expressing the range of emotions Ra On had to go through. They had an extremely cute chemistry, and seemed to be generally falling for each other. They are definitely the MVPs of this drama.

Aside from the main couple, there are two young actors who also deserve praise, Kwak Dong Yeon and Jung Jin Young. Byung Yeon was so bad@ss, and although a man of few words, his was the only character that made me actually cry. Jung Jin Young as Yoon Sung is the perfect second lead. I didn't exactly have second lead syndrome, but I came close a few times. The friendship dynamic between all four is complicated, which makes it even more interesting. Nothing is what it appears to be at face value, and that's the kind of storytelling I think this drama did well.

There are too many great minor characters to mention them all. I honestly can't think of a single weak link. The villains are extra villainous, and some of the more comedic characters are completely silly, but they all felt real, and not just included to fill up space and time.

This story is more complicated than it initially appears to be, so it's not as if I was ever really bored, but I still wish that the second half of the drama didn't lose all of the fun the initial episodes had. At the same time, it makes total sense to the story that it was told exactly the way it was, so maybe I was just in the mood to watch something lighter. I'm really trying hard to find something solid to complain about, but the music... the direction... the amount of episodes... it all worked well. Some aspects may have been a bit repetitive, which was frustrating at times, but that frustration served to motivate the Crown Prince, so I think it was necessary. It isn't exactly filled with epic twists either, which makes it not extremely exciting at times, but also not unnecessarily complicated.

Would I watch this again? Sure. I also wonder if being in the right mood to watch this kind of story would make me like it more. I also liked that it all ended with no loose ends, which made watching the whole thing more satisfying. Even the title is explained, which was a nice touch.

Overall, this is a great addition to the pantheon of guy-falls-for-girl-pretending-to-be-a-guy dramas. Lovers of historical romantic dramas should definitely watch. Romance fans should make sure they are ready to watch something that isn't lighthearted. I also think it's a great vehicle for some impressive young talent. I look forward to seeing what's next for them.

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Completed
Rainkissed Fate
27 people found this review helpful
Mar 2, 2025
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Irresistible Chemistry, Heart-Fluttering Moments and a Few Frustrations!

Dai Gao Zheng and Chen Fang Tong strike again with their insane chemistry! I’ll try to keep this spoiler-free, but let’s start with the pros—this drama has even more swoon-worthy kisses and interactions than their previous ones, making it my favorite in the romance department.

I love that the female lead is strong and takes the initiative, even making the male lead a little shy, which was adorable. The story hooks you right away, but around episode 20, it starts to drag because of frustrating side characters who exist just to create chaos. My advice? Ignore them and focus on the leads to save yourself from the frustration!

I do wish the leads communicated more since there were a lot of misunderstandings. The plot was messy, which lowers the rating, but their incredible chemistry makes up for it. A nice touch was including an OST from their second drama, Forever Love, along with a great new one.

Would I rewatch? Absolutely—for their scenes alone! Plus, they’ve just wrapped filming their fourth drama together, and I can’t wait to see it. Oh, and if you love their chemistry as much as I do, I’ve compiled a Drive full of their cutest behind-the-scenes moments—check the discussion for the link!

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