Reviews

Life was Hard

2025 had some fun movies in Korean cinema, but no movie came even close to "No Other Choice"—not until I saw this movie. The Ugly is a simple but impactful drama that looks back on the hardships of a man and a woman, discovered by their son through a series of interviews. The premise may not seem that interesting at first, but it is made in a Korean style that I really like, contrasting the good and the bad in people and offering a deeply human experience without a mainstream happy ending. We often don’t understand the way of life of our grandparents, or even our parents, so this movie gives us a mirror to reflect not only on the story presented, but also on our society in general, and invites us to have more respect for our ancestors (and the cross they carried).

The movie has a mystery to uncover, but for me it didn’t offer any real surprises in the development of the story. Where the movie truly shines is in the actors’ performances. They did a great job portraying believable and deeply touching emotions.

The movie also invites us to reflect on what is ugly and what is beautiful. As it is written in the Bible, God does not look at outward appearance but at what is in the heart. So what seems ugly to the world may in fact be beautiful, and what appears beautiful may actually be stained with ugliness.

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Unexpectedly funny and fun to watch

Started without much expectations, plot is simple to follow and the interaction between Main leads is cute and funny.
Recommended to watch if you like villain turns main character kind of plot.

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A simple yet addictive drama

I never believed that I would love this series so much. Just started to watch this only because of Nam Goong Min and the first two episodes were never my cup of tea. As I'm not a baseball fan I thought this series would be too much for me. But I was wrong. This gave me a complete insight of what I'm seeing and never felt confused in any episode. At the same time, this is not a simple sports story where we would get to see the worst team winning the league miraculously with a single guy's effort. It dealt with everything that a manager needs to handle in a sports team but in an interesting way. The side story of the players, workers and the General Manager blended very well with the story and I love how each and every character is unique.

After first few episodes, I doubted that this will deviate into what trauma that ML had and some office romance between ML and a colleague but this series never took that beaten track and gave a nail biting story in its own way. I love how it never felt episodic despite it has many side story lines.

The Main thing I loved in this series is how they explored most of the characters in this drama. They didn't simply explore the leads but also many side characters and I love each and every character development. Most importantly those character developments never felt preachy in any way. I began to understand the characters I hated at first and I loved the realistic choices that certain characters took.

Being a fan of Nam Goong Min, I will remember his role as Baek Manager for a long time. Though I started watching this for the sake of Nam Goong Min's acting, fell in love with the whole Dreams team. Seeing the entire Dreams team was surely a breeze.

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Surprisingly cute

This is the fifth series from Star Hunter that I have watched and I must say that this one is the best one to date. It was a cute and simple storyline that i easily enjoyed watching these past five weeks.

Story-8/10
While the story doesn't really offer anything new, it was still done in a way that got me eager to come back and watch it every week. And whilevI may knew the direction that it is going, it still surprised me when they took it in that direction. And so for that I gave the story an 8.

Acting/Cast- 8/10
The casts actually surprised me. Especially since I watched Jet and Jame in a previous series (Gen Y) where they were fighting over another boy. And most of the viewers thought that they would have been better together. And here we actually get a series with them- and they are better together! All three actors in the main role did a great job!

Music-7.5/10
The music is cool and relaxing to listen to. So for this I give it a 7.5.

Rewatch Valu- 8/10
I honestly do see myself watching this again.

Overall- 8/10
Overall I enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised. If anyone wants a quick watch with no jealous girlfriend or objecting parents, this is the series to watch!

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First I need to say that it was not as disturbing or provoking as I thought it would be and that's why I could enjoy it even more, for example I think Gloomy Salad Days which deals with Taiwanese youth ( basically same theme as Hormones) with their own difficulties and issues was way more provoking and darker but it was less enjoyable not because it was more somber but because the characters were not enough developed which is not the case with Hormones, we got to see them evolving and see them making their own choices, changing and trying to becoming a better person and In GSD we don't see that unfortunately.
Plus I need to say that every character has its own appeal and no one has more screentime than another and that's cool, cause generally it's not the case. And also I have to say that it was a very addicting drama, I just couldn't stop watching it and always wanted to see the next ep.

Of course this drama is for a mature audience but in my opinion everyone above 13 could watch it without problem but I would rather watch it alone than with someone though ;D

The characters Honestly they are all relatable, we all have experienced something similar, especially family or friendship issues and I loved seeing how they were constantly dealing with their main family issues while being a student and trying to hide their problem to others.
I have three favorite characters:
-Tar ( the Guitarist) he is so kind, funny, mature, adorable and most of all carefree but not in a bad way, then
-Toei the girl who is simply normal and whom many other girls of her age can relate too, me first and that's why I love her the most, she's normal and a bit closer to the guys than the girls probably because sometimes it's easier talking with guys and I can totally understand that and for me she was so cute with Tar, I shipped them so much together,
- Kwan is my third favorite, the most intelligent girl of the school, very mature who always says the right things to the right person, who cares a lot about friendship, always there for her friends but also a very sensitive and I love seeing that despite being a brillant student she has her own flaws and shows them to others cause no one is perfect on this earth.

Other 6 main characters were interesting too and I love seeing their development as well especially Sprite's character who maybe grew the most throughout the show, then Mhog and Pu who is very conflicted about his feelings and also Win who's a very tortured soul I felt so bad for him in the end and at least for him I have to watch second season cause I can say everything I want about him, how irresponsible, brainless and unsensitive he can be, he is very lonely and I think he needs more support but for that he has to change too anyway even if at first I did not like him and couldn't understand all the fangirling about him I admit that his character is really well written and also quite intriguing.
Others were present too but I don't have special feelings for them (Phai & Dao), simply their characters were less interesting for me.

I totally recommend this drama not necessarily to everyone but for those who need change and want to watch a mature drama about youth and the obstacle teenagers have to overcome.

My last words will be for the OST which I simply loved, the BGM are so good especially the opening theme, I'm just so sad there's one instrumental I love but I can't seem to find it and I think I won't be able to find it either, and I love the ending song so so entertaining <3

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STORY (No spoilers)
It was by sheer luck that I came across a random recommendation for this seriously overlooked show and since the title intrigued me (it had 'Kyoto Love Story' in it, how could I NOT check it out, lol), I decided to check out the synopsis and when I read that the show was about a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto, I excitedly decided to watch it because I've always had a soft spot for shows which depict age-old traditions and cultures - there is just so much rich history and traditional customs embedded within them that really fascinate me.

Well, this show did not let me down or disappoint me, both from a traditional and cultural standpoint but also from its cinematic and absolutely breathtaking shots of historic Kyoto. This show is a marvellous showcase of the city, of its famous cultural landmarks and of the lives of the people who descend from established traditional families with the grand weight of history and legacy supporting them. While the show does centre around the 3 daughters of a traditional Japanese confectionery and the interesting workings and operations behind it, there are also brief introductions to other age-old Japanese cultural aspects such as kabuki, tea ceremony, ikebana, geikos, etc. And characters all speak with a delightful Kyoto accent. For me, to be able to see all this come alive on-screen was one of the absolute best things about this show.

Within such a rich cultural context are our 3 leading ladies - the daughters of an old established Japanese confectionery shop, the 450-year-old 'Fukuyado Honpo'. The show depicts their budding love lives and it's quite interesting to see how each girl grows into her own skin through their different characters and personalities. Their own love interests present different challenges to them and it's quite the ride to see how each couple work through their own issues and their own imperfections.

There is one thing worth mentioning though - a lot of the characters have one thing in common which is being TIGHT-LIPPED. Perhaps this is a natural result of living in a city so steeped in ancient culture and traditions but our characters all tend to hide away their thoughts, feelings and their emotions, maintaining a strict sense of decorum and propriety as far as they are able. This problem seems to be prevalent in almost all our characters and is the source of bulk of the conflicts within the show. It can be a source of frustration for viewers but patience is a virtue because thankfully our characters learn to work through their weaknesses and grow into better understanding of themselves and their partners. The ride can occasionally be rough but there are rainbows after the storm!


MUSIC
The OST for this show consists mainly of our opening and closing songs which are lively and catchy and very memorable. I particularly loved the closing song - the way it comes in at the end of the episode always lands with impact and gives additional oomph to the drama.


RE-WATCH VALUE
While the show might have been interesting in terms of its setting and the character journeys, it was not captivating enough for me to want to rewatch. I might just check out some of the scenes here and there but certainly not a full rewatch by any means.

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Powerful in its authentic acting & realism combined with dramaturgical abstinence

Does love have an expiry date? Or is it we humans who persistently fail to create a living co-creation from the promising 'WE' for which Cupid's arrow once set the course? "Maybe we Broke Up" doesn't have an answer to that. But! In impressive dramaturgical abstinence, the KMovie encourages us to think about it.

"Maybe we Broke Up" is also known as "Someone you loved". It documents in fantastic realism the unspectacular 'ending' of a relationship – like so many others. Almost as if couples in crisis could have applied to a reality show, whereas the camera team followed one of them through this difficult time and also for several months beyond. Everything seems real and lifelike and familiar. At the same time dramaturgically abstinent with neither comedy nor jokes through embarrassment, nor suspense, nor eroticism, nor violence, nor action being staged to get tempers boiling.

The couple's relationship story takes its inexorable course. And the problem with this relationship is that it has lost all its appeal. Habit, everyday familiarity, and being taken for granted have taken the place of tingling love. Concepts, expectations and relationship dynamics, which are now well trained from behavioural patterns, keep the radius of emotional highs and lows in check. The KMovie is consistent in this respect and doesn't try to sugarcoat anything. The camera just stays on and the viewers stay tuned to the action. We don't get emotionally involved, we just watch. Maybe we take a stand for one or the other. But that's our business.

The film doesn't want to push us into any corner. It just wants to take us along. Documenting. And it doesn't actually tell us anything new: A relationship gets more and more out of balance. Actually speaking out about the situation eventually brings it all down. There is no turning back. The 'WE' has become two individuals again, who now have to sweep up their emotional shards themselves and thus get the chance to learn the best from their mistakes.

The power of "Maybe we Broke Up" lies in the authentic acting combined with dramaturgical abstinence. The author is also the director. He stays true to his idea. There is no evaluation. And it is precisely through this simple authenticity that the realistic story spirals so poignantly into the mind, leaving the audience with their own record - their thoughts, emotions, questions and well-known stories, be it their own and/or those of friends and/or relatives.








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Side note: ---- Gosi Civil Service Exam in South Korea ----

The civil service career has been a priority in Korea for centuries. It stands for social recognition, but even more for financial security, up to retirement. Since the 14th century, candidates for civil service have had to pass a state examination. There are nine levels of officials. For the lowest ninth level, all you need today is a high school diploma. The competition is massive. The ninth "Geup" is for those, who get accepted, the start. With years of service and performance, or a degree, the civil servants can then advance to the middle civil service career. But for a higher career up from the fifth "Geup" you have to take the "Gosi" admission test, which only takes place once a year. It is quite demanding, but can be repeated indefinitely. Needing several attempts is not uncommon (and the high demands of the exam are always a popular topic, even in KDramas).

The Gosi exam is only the door opener. After that, the training takes place. A degree is also mandatory for the upper Geups, especially law, economics or political science. Since civil servants are/should be the pillars of society, only the most talented citizens are traditionally selected for this. In fact, most of the top five Geup officials hail from one of the three elite SKY universities (Seoul National University, Koryo University, and Yonsei University). An enormous market for tutoring institutes has now grown, not only for the university entrance exams, but also for the Gosi exam. In these, the candidates are intensively prepared. For many, this means nothing other than: study and study even harder, period. For one year. The better the preparation, the better the chances. However, you can get a lot of support for a lot of money.

The Gosi exam wants to separate the wheat from the chaff. For some, money may help, for others, iron will power, diligence and a certain amount of talent/intelligence must suffice. This combined with a supportive social environment, because in that preparatory year (and possibly subsequent preparatory years) there is hardly time for part-time jobs and everyday obligations...
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This is an incredible drama. I have loved it from the first episode up until the very last second. It was simply beautiful, perfectly narrated and overall had a really special feeling.

I loved how all the characters had their own screen time, everyone was important and there were absolutely no stereotypes.
The acting was amazing, everything seemed real and honest. The actors were perfectly chosen.

The story was unique and well written. The character and story development had the right pace, even though I was sometimes frustrated with the characters - Looking back at it, everything else wouldn't have fit.

Finally, the ending was the only fitting end they could have given this drama. I didn't expect it (this drama managed to surprise me until the last episode, I couldn't foresee anything!) and I loved it.

Definitely recommending this, watch it. It deserves the good ratings and reviews.

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'Nobody Knows' is a crime drama about finding one's life purpose and fulfillment. This is not your typical crime kdrama in which you will spend about 80% of the time trying to find the clues that will lead you to the killer or culprit. It's very common in some crime dramas like '365: Repeat The Year' or 'Memorist' for the audience to be as clueless as the cast and actually 'work together' to solve the cases and find the killer/culprit. Most crime dramas make you break your head to think who could be the culprit and that's a considerable part of the plot and the fun of the drama.

However, what stood out about 'Nobody Knows' for me is that this is not the type of culprit-hunting kdrama. We actually see the culprit as the culprit in a rather early stage of the drama and we get to know him as a character much earlier than when the police even starts suspecting this person. And still, it does not take the fun out of it because 'Nobody Knows' manages to deliver a perfectly-written story with nothing but outstanding acting, plot, greatly likable characters and an amazing character development and self-growth.

Cha Young Jin is a detective whose life changed when her best friend was brutally murdered by a serial killer and she decides to spend her life trying to find the killer. I can't imagine how strong you must be to make your life be absolutely about finding a killer and to succeed at work because of that one goal. She threw everyone out of her life in order to fulfill this goal. While doing so, she was shown as a cold-hearted woman who let nobody in her life, but there was a kid who touched her heart and she opened the door for him. I love the fact that even though she was this tough woman since the very beginning of the drama, we could always see how warm and caring she was about Eun Ho, and that's something I truly loved about her character.

Go Eun Ho is the strongest middle schooler that I have ever seen in a kdrama. We usually just have school dramas about high school, kids that are almost about to graduate and start college, etc., but here we see a kid in middle school who happens to have such a powerful energy to change everyone around him. He turned Cha Young Jin into a person who was not closed to her feelings anymore, he made Dong Myung stop being a bully, Min Sung gain confidence and stand up for himself, his homeroom teacher Lee Sun Woo realize his previous mistakes and gave him a new opportunity to be a good teacher; he was powerful enough to even change his mom. This boy is the purest, softest and strongest kid ever, as he didn't let his hardships outshine his kind personality. Such a beautiful kid.

I loved every other side character that was directly or indirectly related to Young Jin or Eun Ho. Lee Sun Woo's crush on Young Jin was undeniable and even though we did not get anything, not even a tiny hint that could make us think that they may start a romantic relationship, there's no way that anyone can make me think that Sun Woo wasn't head over hills for Young Jin and wanted to be much more than whatever their relationship was about. I loved how supportive and willing to cooperate he always was, he also made sure that as far as his scope went, he could be of use to resolve the cases. The actor is so tiny and cute but this character had such a strong personality and was absolutely lovely.

Dong Myung and Min Sung were the best friends that Eun Ho could ever have, as they were never perfect and never even intended to be, but they were mature enough to own up for their mistakes and try to do better in life; and all of this was thanks to Go Eun Ho. He really changed everyone around him and these two boys will forever thank him for helping them become the good kids that they are. I really loved the three friends dynamic and how worried and caring they were all about each other.

Getting to one of the highlights of this drama: Baek Sang Ho. This man! What a masterpiece of character and portrayal he was. At first I did think he was suspicious or probably just very crazy and creepy (like when Young Jin and Sang Ho were at Millennium Hotel's rooftop in the very first episodes and he said that he hoped Eun Ho was pushed instead of jumping by himself because that would be much more traumatic for Young Jin --hinting a possible suicide), so it was a nice surprise to slowly reveal all his madness and get to know his thought process, how everything he did had a meaning and it was to make someone suffer as much as they can. Baek Sang Ho was a traumatized kid, and although trauma definitely does not justify crimes, he was definitely not 100% to blame for becoming this psycho. When BSH and CYJ were again at the rooftop in ep 16 and he saw how YJ saved him because of Eun Ho (basically), he was reminded of his dark past and wondered if his life would've been different if he had been saved by CYJ... I almost felt for him. At the core, he was still a human (like the detective later said) and had human emotions that were suppressed by another psycho and turned him into one himself. Nonetheless, BSH was definitely perfectly built character and Park Hoon's portrayal was academy-award worthy.

Every other side character that was part of this amazing cast and drama had a reason to exist and that's one of the many things that I loved about this drama. I thought multiple times that it was just amazing how everything was connected and how every character added something either to the stigmata murders, or Eun Ho's case. Baek Sang Ho's villain squad, the violent cases team, Eun Ho's mom Tae Hyung, the school director, etc. All these characters contributed to make this such an amazing crime drama that is worth every single minute of your time. Definitely one of the best 2020 K-Dramas and one of the best in general too.

As an ending note, I'm not giving this drama a full score because there were some very little plot details that I am not satisfied about, like whatever happened with Young Jin's parents, or how Baek Sang Ho saved Bae Sun Ah (it was never revealed); and also I'm not sure if it was during the whole drama or just by the end, but the editing felt too off for me in the last eps. There were a couple of continuity errors that put me off: simple things like if a chair was placed in some way in scene A but then the camera changes and the chair is in a completely different position, or a character posture in the same context, the content of the glasses being different in one camera vs another, etc. Also, the action scenes by the end were not very fluent (Young Jin's fights against Doo Shik and Hee Dong), time lapses were not shown properly... I studied TV production for about 2 years so I know a bit about these things, which makes me pay attention and spot this kind of mistakes and that's why I'm giving it 9.0. But overall, it's definitely such an amazing drama worth watched.

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Revenge + Obsession + Buckets of Blood + Found Family

Completed - 4/15/2022 - 8.75

It's been a while since I last saw a drama with so much gore and blood. The last one was probably "Arthdal Chronicles". If you get squirmy with blood and violence, this might not be the right drama for you. However, if you can get past that, this is an exciting fantasy drama about reincarnation, revenge and freeing from a curse. Along the way, characters from different backgrounds and personalties came together to become a family.

This is a beautifully produced drama with great cinematography, action scenes, and incredible makeup. Not a small budget production. I don't think I have commented much on a drama's makeup before, but I got to give props to the makeup artists here. There's so much super-realistic blood all over the place, wounds of all shapes and sizes, protruding bone and slashes, and of course, facial makeup of our Bulgasals. Aesthetically, it just puts me in the right mindset to watch this drama. The OST is beautiful as well. Whenever the theme song is played, I feel all the emotions in the scenes, and the background music complements and sets the mood well.

I am quite familiar with the acting of the two female leads, having watch quite a few of their dramas, esp. Gong Seung Yeong ("Are You Human Too?", "Circle" & "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency"). Kwong Na Ra ("Secret Royal Inspector" & "Suspicious Partner") and Gong Seung Yeon really look like sisters. Both have beautiful eyes that can convey emotions very well. On the other hand, this is my first drama of the two male leads, Lee Jin Wook and Lee Joon, and I am quite impressed with their acting. I think I am most impressed with Lee Joon, because his character just gives him so much more to work with. I love how his crazy personality matches all of his over-the-top outfits. Kim Wook Seok is adorable as the high schooler and his acting has improved tremendously since I last saw him in "Twenty-Twenty". The supporting cast is great as well with both veteran and child actors.

But the main attraction to this drama is its plot. Viewers need to be patient and pay attention in order to not get confused. Not everything is explained in the first few episodes. The history and entanglement between the characters are slowly revealed throughout the drama. You don't get the full story until the finale. I personally quite enjoy the storytelling as I try to piece together what's been revealed and guess what really happened many years ago. The pacing of the drama is pretty good (maybe just slowed down slightly in the middle) but I was focused and engaged throughout the drama. I would like to see more of the story told in historical times. And I would have liked for Dan Hwal to find out the reason for his family's death a little sooner. Because then, the found family and small romance can truly develop, and have more heartwarming scenes (that's just the romance-junkie in me talking). Dramas oftentimes do not finish strong, but I think "Bulgasal" has a strong and satisfactory finish. I was quite emotional in the last couple episodes. Ahh... I love the found family and wish them all have happily-ever endings.

This is by no means a perfect drama. I am still a little confused about Ok Eul Tae's obsession with Dan Hwal. Why was he so obsessed for so many years ago? It also seems like a very roundabout way to device a complicated plan to achieve his ultimate goal. When we finally get to the finale to find out what started all this mess, it was a little bit anti-climatic. I thought the origin of the curse and the entanglement would be a much bigger deal. The modern times monsters could be more terrifying and could be used more. And what happened to the fire inside the room with the well?

Objectively speaking, this might not be highly rated. But if I don't think too much and enjoy the ride, I quite like this drama, thus, a very generous 8.75 from me.

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Old School BL cuteness

This is a charming indie series filmed on phones with companion quality issues but I forgave it because it was so very old school BL. Taiwan leaned all the way into the ultimate puppy/cat meets jock/nerd pairing. It’s adorable because the feel of it is so nostalgic. Like if "Mr X and I" got courage, cuteness, and no censorship. This has a kinda old fashioned aura, like early BL out of mainland China used to be, but with no damaging or problematic tropes at all. What a bit of unexpectedly charming fluff. Thank you, as always, Taiwan. RECOMMENDED but it is VERY short.

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Lawyers are humans, too.

''Innocent witness'' is unexpectedly a very heart-warming movie. The beginning was painfully slow, but the second half when the main characters finally started interacting, was much much better.

The storyline was quite predictable, if I have to be frank. I won't spoil anything, but you'll probably guess what's gonna happen in the end.

I loved Soon Ho and Ji Woo's relationship. Soon Ho changed a lot throughout the movie and he changed in a good way. Ji Woo was my sunshine. My heart ached whenever someone laughed at her or made her feel bad (I swear, that friend of hers was horrible). The movie shows how awful people sometimes can be. It shows that, when we see someone different, we laugh at them. It's heartbraking because the movie shows the truth. It was very realistically written.

I also loved Soon Ho and Hee Jung scenes. They were actually pretty funny. Soon Ho and his father's relationship was also nice to watch. When his father told him that it's okay to bring a guy at home my heart melted. I mean, we don't often see such a nice parents, do we?

As for the acting, it was brilliant! Especially kudos to Kim Hyang Gi, she was amazing! The movie wouldn't have been such an enjoyable ride without her presence.

Overall, I do recommend ''Innocent Witness''. It's very slow at first, but the ending was amazing and it's worth seeing! The movie shows what is to be ''a good person'' and it tells an important message.

Enjoy!

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Warm human drama

I am very excited to watch this drama as this is the first lead drama for Machida Keita, and right after Cherry Magic where he is currently at the new height of popularity. The drama is very short, only 6 episodes 24 mins each so it is an easy watch. I like it quite a lot, the story is warm and light, the characters are well-acted and overall it is a well-made drama. I really couldn't find any fault in this show, except that it's rather short and I don't see enough Machida ^^

STORY
The synopsis will remind you of Midnight Diner, where the episode focuses on the troubles of the customer who comes to the establishment. But due to the short duration, the story is not as deep as Midnight Diner and is not explored further. You also get glimpses of the background of the three main characters (Amamiya, Nakauchi and Kobayashi), even though at the end Amamiya's background is still relatively unknown. I think it is also because the original manga is still very new (only 1 vol released so far) therefore they can't really explore his background further. The possibility of any sequel is very much open at this moment.
I also really like the visual of this drama, it is dominated with yellow/brown color which exudes warm atmosphere.

ACTING
All the characters are very well acted, including the guest roles which include some famous figures such as Kaji Yuki and Nakayama Miho. Machida is great as beautiful bartender even though I wish he had more lines and more scenes to show more of his acting capabilities. Fujiwara and and Morisaki also did a great job portraying their characters and I find Kobayashi's character is very interesting.

MUSIC
I think this is one of the J-drama that has the best music imo (besides Cherry Magic). The OP (Entertainer by I Don't Like Monday) song is very catchy and addictive, and the ED (Tooi Hoshi wo Kazoete by Sard Underground) is the remake of song by one of my favorite singers, Zard. Definitely recommended!

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