Reviews

This drama was steeped in implausibility, ridiculous writing and plotholes. On the surface, it looks and feels exciting. There is action, romance, politics and betrayal. However, from the first episode, you are treated to nothing but an empty shell of a story, with subpar writing and the use of over the top action scenes to make up for the lack of character development and shallow plot.

The very first episode is at best, laughable, but at worst, unbelievably arrogant of the writers. We are supposed to buy that rich Korean conglomerates have that much influence and power outside of their country, in other continents and can even order around the Catholic Church and a police force in a European country?! Even Samsung doesn't have that much power! :p I was ROFL! However, I was mildly disturbed as I got to thinking. Does the average Korean who has never travelled outside of Korea really believe stuff like that? Something to ponder.

The rest of the drama doesn't get much better. It is from the same writers of Yong Pal, so even though not the train wreck that drama was, it is obvious that they were both born from the same simple and way too overconfident minds. As the story progresses, you can quickly discern the unbalanced character development. Our hero, Je Ha, should be a character with much depth and personality. Unfortunately, the writers apparently did not create him for that purpose at all. The character's sole purpose was to beat people up and to have a little love story with the main female. Poor Ji Chang Wook was totally wasted here. The whole first half of the drama, he barely has any dialogue. All he does is kick ass, kick some more ass, bleed and show his abs. The main female Anna is written so typically that she could have been plucked from any cliched K drama and just inserted into this one. She is sweet, innocent and always in distress. In fact, out of all the characters in this drama, only two show any interesting personalities, depth and growth. Those are Choi Yoo Jin and her brother. Those two characters were the only highly developed ones and I was mesmorized by both whenever they were on the screen. How much better would this drama had been had it focused solely on the schemes and manipulations of those two, instead of adding all that other crap to the mix. >_< Instead, the ending result was nothing but a big mess with an ending left with many loose ends and unexplained things.

I can't recommend this drama to anyone. Well, I take that back. I do recommend episode four. Episode four alone, though. Teehee.

Read More

The Story of Pearl Girl is Trully Masterpiece

The drama was truly outstanding, an unforgettable experience from start to finish. It combined a gripping story with exceptional performances that brought each character to life in a way that felt raw and real. The cinematography was breathtaking, with stunning visuals that drew you into each scene, making every moment feel immersive and vivid. The soundtrack was equally impressive, perfectly matched to the emotions of each scene, heightening the drama and adding depth to the storytelling. Overall, the film was masterfully crafted, leaving a lasting impact and reminding viewers of the power of great cinema. It’s the kind of movie that resonates with you long after the credits roll.

Read More

Like lighting a firecracker only to see a weak spark

1st half was awesome. Riveting and filled with so many twists that you are constantly guessing at who the serial killer is.
The middle felt a bit stupid and seemed like filler episodes showcasing the serial killer of the day.
The latter half started to get good again as it came back to the main story and we get to try to connect all the dots, but the ending was anti-climatic. They rushed to try and explain everything and it ended up becoming a bit too "easy" in wrapping everything up.

The main problem with this drama was there was just too much going on, too many people/relationships and it got very hard trying to keep everything straight. I felt like I had to take notes. Plus the timeline was really messy and confusing (I still don't understand when in the timeline, PD Hong Ju had her baby and why no one would notice that she was pregnant).

But for the most part I was engrossed at finding out who the serial killer was and how it all played out. Acting was great from the entire cast. I am a fan of Seung-gi so I mainly watched this for him. I'm not sure I would have stuck this out if he wasn't in it.
If you are a fan of thrillers or a fan of Seung-gi, then you may enjoy this drama.

Read More

Pro Bono vs. Lazy Critics: Guess Who Wins?

Pro Bono isn’t controversial, your privilege is. Some bubble dwellers voluntarily watched a legal drama (just 4 eps) and thought the biggest crime was queer representation or women’s autonomy. Spoiler: the only crime here is your complete lack of critical thinking. (You can find my criticism concerning this show at the end. This review only discusses first four episodes and the bad faith comments about them.)

“Too woke”
Okay, let’s unpack this embarrassing ‘hot take.’ You’re voluntarily watching a LAW drama, a genre literally about justice, society, and real life conflicts and your main critique is ‘too woke’? This show addresses teen pregnancy, anti abortion coercion, and queer rights (in first 4 eps). If that bothers you, maybe basic human rights just aren’t your thing….own it and move on.

“Pushing your agenda”
Calling women’s autonomy or queer existence an “agenda” is a rhetorical trick.
It reframes freedom as threat so that control looks like morality. Abortion as a personal vs. imposed choice. You completely ignore the distinction between personal belief and enforcing that belief on others. A religion can inform personal choices, but trying to force a fully grown woman/teen to carry a pregnancy against her will is coercion, not morality. Claiming this as “moral correctness” while decrying propaganda is contradictory.
If a belief cannot survive without being forced on others, then the belief, not the people living freely…. is the agenda. That’s the distinction.

“Propaganda”
Propaganda isn’t diversity, autonomy, or people living their truth, it’s the weaponization of belief to control others. Showing queer people on screen (for five minutes) or supporting women’s right to choose isn’t “pushing an agenda”; it’s acknowledging reality. The real agenda is hiding behind morality to take away agency: forcing a teen or sexual assault survivor to carry a pregnancy, dictating who people can love, or enforcing religious rules on everyone else while pretending it’s “for their own good.” It’s not about care or ethics; it’s about control. And the kicker? These people rarely give a damn about the outcomes, if the child is disabled, neglected, abused or struggling, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that their moral scoreboard looks clean. Freedom, choice, and empathy threaten them, so they call it an “agenda” to scare others into compliance. If your beliefs need chains to survive, that’s not morality, it’s coercion masquerading as virtue.

“This is Western crap, why bring it to Kdrama?”
Again, watching a LAW drama and complaining it’s “Western propaganda” is peak absurdity. This isn’t a romcom with rainbow sunshine; it’s a show about real societal issues which exist everywhere, not just in the U.S. Expecting a legal drama to ignore these realities is like complaining about rain during a storm. If discomfort equals propaganda, then reality itself is offensive, but maybe the problem isn’t the show, it’s the viewer.

Why did i take this drama as pro bono and defend it with my last two brain cells after scrolling through all the ignorant takes?
Because unlike some viewers, I actually understand what a law drama is, what human rights mean, and that empathy isn’t a ‘Western agenda.’ Yes, I got offended reading these comments deny basic human rights to fellow humans because it doesn’t align with their own religious beliefs. Religious beliefs should dictate how you lead your own life, not how you can control other’s life. I respect your religion and your beliefs. If you don’t want to abort your own baby, that is your choice and I will respect that. If you are not attracted to same sex, that is your orientation, I will respect that. Forcing it on others? Now thats a propaganda, not an opinion.

Media does not exist in a vacuum, it shapes what society sees as normal, moral, and acceptable. When topics addressed in this drama are ignored or softened, existing power structures are quietly validated. By portraying legal support for queer individuals and the real consequences of denying women choice over their own bodies, the show acknowledges lived realities that affect vulnerable people every day. This is not about promoting an ideology, but about refusing to romanticize control, questioning “clean” moral endings that overlook trauma, and reminding viewers that autonomy, consent, and dignity are essential to justice.


Addendum: Why I rated it high, what my actual critique is, and why that still doesn’t validate the comment section meltdown.

My initial high rating was intentional. The review space had already been flooded with low effort, ideologically driven ratings after just two/four episodes, people declaring the show “too woke” while admitting they barely watched it. The high rating was bait: to get people to actually read why this discourse matters.

That said, defending this drama from bad faith attacks does not mean I think it’s flawless or even particularly brave. In fact, my criticism starts precisely where the show pulls its punches. Despite gesturing toward queer rights, it never commits to a full queer centred legal case (yet). Representation remains implied, diluted, and safely peripheral present enough to signal progress, absent enough to avoid backlash. It is still a positive representation nonetheless. In a different perspective, this might be a stepping stone for upcoming law dramas. Similarly, the storyline involving a coerced teen pregnancy initially frames reproductive control as a legal and ethical violation, only to abandon that stance by episode four. The narrative retreats into a “neutral” resolution, having the disabled child adopted by an anti abortion hospital CEO, which conveniently avoids confronting the core issue: forcing a teenager to give birth against her will. This is narrative risk aversion. In other words, the show wants credit for raising hard questions without fully sitting in their consequences. That’s a valid critique. It reflects an industry tendency to appear progressive while ultimately reassuring conservative comfort zones. I also do not align with or endorse any alleged MAP symbolism or geopolitical propaganda some viewers have pointed out (till 4 eps).

Now here’s where the distinction matters: criticism is not the same as reactionary hate. Criticism interrogates execution, consistency, and ethical follow through. What I’m pushing back against in the comments is not thoughtful disagreement, it’s people collapsing at the mere presence of queer people or women exercising bodily autonomy and calling that collapse an “opinion.” Saying “the show avoids depth” or “it plays it too safe” is criticism. Saying “stop shoving this agenda down our throats” because marginalized people exist on screen is ideological panic.

When shows avoid fully confronting coercion, trauma, or queer legal realities, they don’t become “neutral”, they quietly reinforce existing power structures. My review defends the right of these issues to be addressed in this genre while holding the show accountable for how cautiously it ultimately does so. This review is not a blind praise. It is a refusal to let bad faith outrage masquerade as media critique. You’re allowed to dislike this drama. You’re allowed to critique its writing. What you’re not doing, no matter how loudly you insist is engaging in honest criticism when your problem is that other people’s rights make you uncomfortable.

Read More

ONE thing I can say about this drama is that it is NOT a RELAXING drama, but a PAINFUL, STRESSING drama. You can't find any laughter or positive scenes in this drama, but you can witness how evil people can go, even if you are close to them.

HOWEVER, considering the plot and the setting, this drama was not that bad like others are criticizing.
I think the ending was well done, despite all the negative and betraying story line until episode 31. Until the end, this drama was full of sad, gruesome, irritating, and questioning scenes. I was really curious how the "motive", the three had in the beginning for Tae Hee, will cause issues, but over all, it was well scripted.
Story: I think it was based on a novel, but the directors did a great job turning into a screenplay. Not only the plot but the choreography and the shooting places were great too.
Acting/Cast: The casting choice had no problem. One thing I want to say is that they lack a bit of facial expression. Everyone had almost only one or two faces that they were really difficult to read their feelings sometimes. Some are criticizing Joy's acting, but I think she did a great job.
Music: I really liked the intense OST they had with violins.
Rewatch Value: If you watched once, I think you may rewatch it if you want to see the cute couple again.

Overall, this drama was well made, and I really enjoyed it. At some point, I was questioning how low everyone will go, since even some promising characters betrayed the viewers. I really loved the way the drama was rapped up, cause it was not something unreal, but logical and reasonable. To be honest, I was also okay if the drama was ended in a completely negative way...

Read More

Ending that rather rushed!

First of all, I’m not gonna write a long ass review about every detail of this drama. Just have a few thoughts that I want to throw it out here. Overall, this is not a bad drama, however it wasn’t that good either. It has so many potential to become a great one to be honest, but the writer-nim surely need to be more creative to make it works.

I do have a huge expectation from this drama since this is the first debut of Actress Jisoo, so I really wanted to see her performance and acting (even though I can make myself clear that I wasn’t a fan of Blackpink, not one of the blinks). Still, I’m rooting for Jisoo journey to be an actress. And, I gotta say, she did quite a good job considering this is her first debut. However, the story line do injustice to her role. Because clearly, the drama portrayed her as someone who is weak-hearted and stood still without doing anything worth mentioning. If only her character could grow and develop for a bit, I could really give a perfect score for this drama. But her actions, most often, unnecessary and she always in Soo Ho’s ways and that’s really complicate things. If only, they can let her take a gun and fight alongside with Soo Ho, they could be the strongest couple..

For me, the big problem here with this drama is the script itself. Very repetitive. I almost think the story is about hostages and the spy who got stuck in the dorm and unable to get out even though there’s so many ways to actually escaped from it. To be freakin’ honest, the scene where all the hostages come out from the dorm in finale episodes can be done in episodes 8, but how they took so long just to get out from that dorm? How can they think the idea of escaping by fooling Mr. An and bring the soldier to the main door only after 16 episodes? This is really mind boggling. They should make the second half of the drama for something else, out from the freakin’ dorm but instead they dragged it till the end. Disappointing is really the word I could think of.

However, despite my critiques towards this drama. I really appreciate all the hardwork from the cast members to bring this drama to life and watchable. Of course, Jung Haein’s performance unquestionably and undeniably good. Yoo In Na’s acting is really great, I am so satisfied with her performance. Thank God she have a good brain to leave the dorm and for once, think about herself. Ms.Pi and Buk-Ok character’s deserved standing ovation. I really hate Buk-Ok for what she did, she boiled me with anger everytime. Jang Ha-na is the real superwoman in here. She really know what to prioritize and I’m glad she did what she did in order to save the students. All the veterans actors did their fabulous job in acting, but their characters often too repetitive and overlapping with one another. And too bad, there’s no scene showing the proper closure between Youngro and her friends, they just left it hanging there. The ending tho quite rushed in my opinion. So many things left unrevealed, and without a proper explanation.

Did I say I would not write a long ass review? Argh, forget that one. I will just continue abit more —

The OSTs from this drama are quite good. Kim Hee Won - Friends & Jamie Miller - Wishes. These two are my fav. Both songs are really unique on its own, sorrowful and heartbreaking too.

Okay, my final thoughts.. watch at your own risk. This is definitely not a lovey dovey melodrama, it’s in fact a slow burn romance that almost burn you with anger. Lol kidding. For a sucker of sad ending drama like me, I’ve seen better and better dramas out there, this is still not that really sad considering you can actually expect that the outcome would be like that. I just hope that they can executed it properly without us audiences thinking that if they do this or that, things could have turn differently. Thus, this drama is just an OK drama that I would not considered to rewatch it again.

Read More

POSITIVITY

In my opinion , I really like this drama , I didn't see any racism or any kind of problem. The story is pretty good , and while watching it I couldn't stop smiling , it made my heart flutter. The main lead guy , he is just ideal type of guy, who every girl would want to have. I understand everyone has different opinion but it doesn't mean to show case in such a harsh way, every drama is not perfect , all the drama have some kind of spoiler in it. If you hate the drama then keep it with yourself , why to spread hatred through your own opinion. NOT EVERY PERSON HAS THE ABILITY LIKE YOURS TO THINK NEGATIVELY!!!
Please don't behave as if you haven't heard the word called humanity.

Read More

Great show with a great cast

I went into this show with high hopes and I was not disappointed this show has everything a Romcom should have. It has great cast, amazing characters, wonderful storyline, great family/friendship dynamic, beautiful Ost. Plus it has funny characters so far my favorite character thus far is Tan.


He is sooo hilarious the minute he spoke and the way he delivers his lines to the rest of the characters was just absolutely hilarious. He was so funny and even though there is only one episode out as if right now this show is wonderful. I have very very very high hopes for this show once it continues on being uploaded.

Read More

Bad Guys was unarguably one of the best dramas I watched this year. Every episode kept me on the edge of my seat and there was never a dull moment. It had great acting, as awesome story and expert direction and camera work.

Story: The story was really well-written! It had a lot of suspense and some really heartfelt moments. The bromance between these four men was great and I loved how each person had his own story. The thrill and action was gripping. I have never liked fighting scenes but the ones in this drama were intense and I found myself immersed in them. The mystery of Lee Jung Moon and Oh Goo Tak was very interesting and I loved how it all played out. All in all this drama was extremely well-written and well executed.

Actors/Characters: The cast in this drama was amazing! Everyone, even the side and not-so-important characters, did a great job! All characters were written really well and the actors fit into their roles perfectly. These characters were very real, each had his back story, each had feelings and emotions and it was easy to get attached to these characters and feel the pain they were feeling and be happy for them when they were happy.

Kim Sang Joon played Oh Goo Tak so well! I've only seen him in City Hunter and I loved him there! He didn't disappoint here either. Oh Goo Tak was a complicated character, like most characters in this drama, and most of the time I didn't know if I liked him or not. I did feel sorry for him. He was a very interesting character and always kept me guessing what was on his mind.

Lee Jung Moon was my favorite character! Not only because of Park Hae Jin's gorgeous looks but also because I love mysterious, psycho characters. I was blown away by Park Hae Jin's acting! I have seen him in You Who Came From The Stars and he was good in that but here he was amazing! He played mysterious and creepy so well! You can't help but be drawn to him. It was frustrating and also intriguing how I could never read Lee Jung Moon's mind. I never knew what he was thinking, what he was going to do next. I loved that Lee Jung Moon was more than what meets the eye and I felt sorry for the poor guy who got dragged into the whole mess.

Jo Dong Hyuk's voice is beautiful! I could listen to him speak all day and not get tired! On top of that he is really good looking and a great actor! I loved his character, Jung Tae Soo. Tae Soo had such style and charm but he was also such a romantic and that made me love him so much! His story was sad and more than once I wanted to give him a hug.

Park Woong Cheol reminds me of a teddy bear. He is like that. He is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Ma Dong Seok played him really well. I've seen him before in Shut Up Flower Boy Band but he was completely different here. I liked him here more, this character really suited him well.

Yoo Mi Young was so annoying I can't even! I tolerated her because the rest of the characters were amazing. I'm not sure if she was supposed to be this arrogant and proud or if Kang Ye Won played her that way but this was a character I did not like very much. Did she redeem herself by the end? Maybe. But not all the way.

Overall: The drama was mind-blowingly amazing and I had a lot of fun watching it! It was a thrilling ride and I would highly recommend it to fans of thrillers and crime dramas.

Read More

Only Friends Season 2 Is Hotter, Wilder, and Completely Addictive

After 2.5 years of waiting, Only Friends Season 2 kicks off with a bang. The first few episodes are electric, easily a 9 out of 10. Seeing so many talented GMMTV actors in one series still feels unreal.

Season 2 is sexier, bolder, and messier than ever. The chemistry is stronger, the emotional chaos hits harder, and the storytelling feels confident and exciting. I love seeing actors break away from their previous roles. Earth and Mix, known from A Tale of Thousand Stars, step into completely different characters, and it’s a joy to watch. Joss and Gawin also shine, proving their versatility in this lively university setting.

The standout couple has to be Boom and Aou. Their bathroom one-night stand was steamy, bold, and utterly believable. The tension is off the charts, and I’m hooked on watching their dynamic unfold. Plus, I cannot wait for Neo to appear because he is bound to stir up even more chaos.

However, the series hits a slump in the second half. The story becomes repetitive and drags across 12 weeks. I still enjoyed parts of it, but the excitement faded, dropping my final score to an 8.

Overall, Only Friends Season 2 starts strong, sizzles with bold chemistry, but loses momentum toward the end. It is still worth watching, just brace yourself for the slower stretch.

Read More

It's a happy ending drama , but after watching the last ep. I am disappointed & confused.

Why I am disappointed & confused because when she transmigrated from 2026 to 1983 after she fell asleep I knew that in the last ep. she will wake up from the sleep & it will be like a real dream , but after few eps. it felt for me like maybe fate have given her second chance by having her reborn in the year 1983 by transmigrating her in the body of a girl whose name is same like her , but no , what I expected , it happened like that. If she may have transmigrated into a book whose character name have same name like her , then I wouldn't have been disappointed. But she got transmigrated in real life from 2026 to 1983 where she had mother , uncle , aunty , a nice family , made friends , met Zhou Cheng who fell in love with her & she also feel in love with him & they got married , became a successful businesswoman , but at last she again back to her real year 2026. If she is bound to come back to the year 2026 , than what's the point of going to the year 1983 , like fate have given her a second chance.

Read More

Er Miao ❤❤

I am not sure how I feel about the drama ….there were times when I felt things could be done logically but the writers chose not to and at times I felt like I was enjoying too much to the point that everything could be ignored ….military medical combo has always been something I really look forward to and this drama kept me invested ….
Do I recommend you to watch it ….if you are looking for a military medical setup or if you have a soft spot for the leads you can give it a try ….but then for a 40 ep thing I really won’t say much cuz it’s a huge number …!!

Now moving to things I liked and disliked …..

Could have been shorter ….I always feel like long dramas have too much of not so necessary stuff …..
The show lacks logic at times, sometimes the FL outshines experienced doctors (I don’t mean to say that it isn’t possible but you know….. ) and at times she behaves too irrationally ….like I seriously wanted to tell her- go find the brain you were using a min ago ….
ML was most of the time likeable ….and no major issues with his character
Mi gu the most stupid character I have ever come across recently…. She was so damn annoying that I had to kick her out of my screen in order to keep my sanity ...( I entirely ignored her existence even then she managed to annoy me ....)
The cat Er Miao, officially my fav pet ......until I find someone I love more than her …. Too bad she did not get much screen time in the later half ….
The side stories of FL’s teacher ( sorry I am bad at remembering names ) and ML’s cousin were some of the things done right ….!! I enjoyed both the stories
The show started off well for me, the first few eps were really engaging….I liked the cohabitation part and some pinch of hate to love along with it, was really enjoyable ....
The ending, quite predictable ….no surprise element as such ….in fact I felt like some things were forced to fit and did not make too much sense ….(talking about zhao ran thing…..)

To sum up ….first half was really enjoyable and the second half could have been way better …..I would say that you should try it if you enjoy the genre …it might feel a bit draggy in the middle but I think if you can bear till the end ...it’s a decent watch !!

Read More

I don't recommend this AT ALL.

While it may be an erotic movie (which is really obvious), the 'plot' they tried to put in was really bad, and didn't work at all. Honestly, I spend 2 hours watching this movie, and I still have no idea what was actually going on, besides some people almost being murdered and constant sex between multiple of the characters. Fighting one second, but having sex only a minute after that, was a really weird transition and I couldn't get a hold of whatever was going on.

I don't want to waste anymore of my time on writing this, since it really was that bad.

Read More