Reviews

For those who have kept up with Surplus Princess's weekly releases, such as myself, the biggest question that dawned was how the writer's and PD's would handle the episode cut. The story with the decision to cut four episodes was surprisingly well done. With an episode cut, one must realize that there will be multiple loopholes in the plot, simply because reveals and plot progression need to occur quicker. Despite these inevitable gaps, the writers weaved around it well and focused on what was necessary. That alone saved the story and the only decision I don't agree with was the closing scene. It was unnecessary and it deterred the quality of an overall well done finale episode.

As for acting and cast, Surplus Princess is a perfect example of a drama that has great casting. Upon starting the drama, I knew none of the actors/actresses (except for the one playing Shi Kyung because I finished Two Weeks as Surplus Princess was airing). But regardless, they drew me in with their individual charms and how well they all portrayed various emotions. While I found the drama hilarious, when tense scenes came, each character's emotions were portrayed beyond my expectation and they were believable and natural. Not to mention, all the love floating around is just absolutely adorable.

Thinking back to the soundtrack and BGM used throughout the series, there wasn't much that stood out, but everything fit in. The music felt well-placed and repetition of tracks was kept to a minimal. A couple of songs grabbed my attention, and I give the PD's props for using music sparingly.

As for the re-watch value, there isn't much to be found in this drama, but it doesn't mean that the ride wasn't worth it. The re-watch value for Surplus Princess depends on how attached the viewer is to the cast and the chemistry between them.

Overall, Surplus Princess stood its ground exceptionally well. The writers understood how the episode cut changed pacing and most importantly, they loopholes were irrelevant and the primary plot was executed nicely. Furthermore, the cast is lovable. The relationships that blossom throughout the series are cute and gave me more than enough reason to finish the series (as if ten episodes were a lot, hah). I recommend this drama for anyone looking for something light-hearted and easy to watch.

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I Love Lee Tae Ri was suppose to be a fun romcom with a twist so it definitely attracted my attention with the premise. However, I was up in the air about the cast going in to this...

Story: Like I said the premise was an interesting one but when I found out that the kid was suppose to be 14 and then the female lead is almost 30, I was scratching my head how it would all turn out in the end. For the actual plot, except for the first few episodes, there wasn't any and by the end i would just have eps playing in the background while i was doing other things. Whats funny is i didnt miss anything. By the end I was just like i want to see if the couple would be able to end up together. One thing I did like was the romance. It was so cute and well written. The ending was kind of open ended but not really.

Acting: Ive only ever seen the actress who plays Tae Ri and shes only played very serious or robotic characters so it was nice to see her play someone who is naive/innocent. She had good chemistry with the main actor from SuJu. And while I liked the supporting characters, NONE of the characters (main or side) managed to make me have an attachment to them.

Music: The song by the fake girl group in the show was fun but they played it so many times i got tired of it. There were few other songs but they fit the show well enough.

Rewatch: This is one of those dramas that could be watched again but the question is do you really have to see it another time...

Overall Lee Tae Ri is funny at times but nothing you have to go out of your way for.

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I knew that this would be a good one, but I didn't know I'd like it this much

First Impression
I found this drama from the trailer on a Youtube ad, and immediately mark my calendar for the release date. The trailer shows how weirdly fun the character would be, and loving Kim Jae Wook in Her Private Life, make this on my top Plan to Watch list.

The Characters
Noh Go Jin: From the start, despite how annoying the ML was, I root for him because he was just strangely funny. His cold exterior, rudeness, and strictness kind of represent most bosses IRL, but worse. His perfectionist traits also make it intolerable, but honestly what makes people hate him even more, was the fact that he's successful AKA people are just being jealous. His character wasn't a red flag to me cause who wouldn't guess that by the end of this drama, he would eventually be a better version of himself. The biggest challenge for the writer was how can they "make the change" possible, realistic, and acceptable. And if you have read other reviews or the comment section, you know that the writer succeed in making the best scenario for this.

Lee Shin A: Tbh I was kind of skeptical that I wouldn't like the FL. Don't get me wrong, I like Krystal and her acting was good in her previous projects, but I never really like the characters that she played. So, when I watched this, I didn't expect that I would love her this much. In the beginning, she portrays office workers in what would be a "quarter-life crisis", how her career didn't show progress and stuck with a boss/environment that she hated. She wanted a change, but she was only getting hardships in her life. Most people can relate to this character, the world was not fair. And as unrealistic as it could be, who wouldn't want to do a crazy frantic at least once in their life to fight against this unfairness. But once again, the writer did a great job with this character. Despite all the things that she faced, she was the most realistic mature fictional character that I have ever seen.

I could also write about Oh Se Gi, Baek Soo Young, the Instructors, the Ex-Secretary, and other characters but that would be spoiling too much. Just to be clear, every character has their own failures, flaws, and beliefs, but to keep in mind, they portray people almost realistically, and no matter what their existence holds an irreplaceable value.

The Plot
The beginning was a "shock" to some viewers, because how the scenes were giving mixed feelings. And as most viewers experienced, after 4-6 episodes, you're hooked. It gives out a unique vibe that I never really feel in other dramas. However, after being in this drama world for a long time, we know that most plots flopped in their second half, and that's why I was always anxious watching episodes 10-12 of every drama. Once again, the writer was able to tackle this common failure, and I was just so excited to tell everyone that this plot is the best so far! Even the ending was super good, it was bittersweet knowing we have to bid farewell to this drama, but the only thing that the writer fail to do is to disappoint us HAHAHA

The Life Lesson
1. There are a lot of things that I learned from watching Crazy Love, but what would be the most important lesson is how people would go and hurt others to not get hurt instead. Accepting mishappenings or flaws would hurt us in some way that instead of doing it, we try to blame or hurt others to please our ego. It also happens in real life, that people with trauma tend to hurt others, sometimes unintentionally. This is normal and considered acceptable to a certain limit, as it can be the alternative attempt at self-acceptance and self-love. But when it goes beyond the limit, it might lead to a crime, just like our main villain here. So, it's actually our choice, to keep doing the alternative and not fixing the main issues or be the mature one to accept what we truly are and start developing ourselves.
2. The second one would be how misinterpretation and miscommunication would lead to the biggest conflict in our life. Thankfully, this wasn't a big problem in our ML-FL romance, but it was a big issue for ML and most characters. Of course, it was inevitable for such things to happen in our minds, but instead of jumping to conclusions (just like people who judge this drama based on the first few episodes), it would be best for anyone to try to understand the situations and see the full picture of something from different perspectives before deciding anything (giving a chance or not).
3. Last but not least, it was never a one-person fault but all your actions have consequences. So, before doing or saying or even planning anything, please consider how it will benefit or harm you or the people around you.

There are other things that I would like to point out which are the cast's acting and chemistry, the dark humor, and the OSTs are complementing the plot in such a good way. I've never rated a drama a 10 but this deserves it. Please watch this if you're interested!!!

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Not entirely a sexy romantic romp

WARNING: If you are looking for a light and fluffy sex-romp. THIS IS NOT IT.

I admit, I can be shallow. I came here at the prospect of seeing "more" of Chris Wu (Wu Kang Ren). Also, because I love Alice Ko (Ko Chia Yen). I must admit I do like the prospect of finding love later in life. And sure, this is a show about sex, and it IS hilarious, all the way through. BUT don't be taken in by the trailers: the very clear themes of this show, are loss, abandonment, grief and trauma, and as the episodes progress, if you invest, you will find yourself crying as much as laughing.

The story centres around Mei-Mei and her two adult daughters, Ruo-Rong and Ruo-Min. Both daughters are seemingly failing in their lives, because they are unmarried. And as the trailer will tell you, Mei-Mei believes marriage is a woman's purpose.

Mei-Mei decides to find a man to try to fill the gap left by the sudden passing of her husband Guang Hui Chen (played by Johnny Kou/Kou Hsi Shun). Ruo-Rong is a cheap romance novelist, working as a high school teacher, to pay the bills, whilst collecting stories from her uninhibited best friend, Kate (played by Vicky Tseng). Ruo-Min is a chicken shop manager, who is unable to let go of anything from the past, including an unapologetically cheating ex-boyfriend, whose smell reminds her of her father. Circumstances bring the three women together in the one house. Chaos ensues as they try to find a balance between their differing values, and their individual traumas.

The editing of the show is very sharp and sudden, and at first can be off-putting and confusing; however it becomes evident in later episodes that it was done this way for a reason. It also contributes to the sense of confusion and bewilderment the characters are experiencing, after the sudden loss of their husband/father.

Mei-Mei swings from spoiled teenage princess (quite a feat for an older woman to pull off - props to Billie who plays it with conviction), to desperately grieving widow. But as the show progresses, it shows us who she truly is - loving, supportive and desperately optimistic in her pursuit of LIFE! And with her progression, we also witness the subtle growth of both of her daughters.

Alyssa Chia plays a compellingly complex Ru Rong but I can't say I was satisfied with her conclusion, even if I'm meant to believe that she was, and even if the whole "telling" of the story is essentially hers. And whilst we do see substantial growth from Ruo Min, played with beautiful subtlety by Alice Ko, I still felt like I had to fill in the majority of the story with my own imagination. Admittedly, I usually like shows like this - that assume you are smart and can figure the story out for yourself. But this time, for me, the characters were not explored enough. I was left wanting more, hence my lower "story' rating. The show admits to its limitations in telling the stories of the support roles - especially Xioa Cha , Ruo-Min's cheating boyfriend, played with gleeful charm, by Austin Lin. We get almost nothing about the true character played by Chris Wu. The lack of character name in the MDL page is a giveaway, but he is only ever referred to as '"Senior". I could have watched a whole drama about Jin (Shen Hairong) and Lu Yi (Wasir Chou). And don't get me started about the side characters like "The Live Streamer" (played with an endlessly photo ready smile, by Chole Xiang) and "The Pokemon Grandpa". All of this makes the "re-watch" value high for me, as I feel like there is so much subtlety I have missed.

The acting was fantastic. Even when there was potential for it to become pantomimic and melodramatic, it continued to be very realistic. My one area of disconnect was, the scenes in Australia. Robert's (played by John Henry Richardson) accent slips. A LOT. But we (being Australian) have a long and storied history of famous actors, getting the Australian accent WRONG. The supporting cast in Oz, don't even attempt an 'Aussie' accent. But if you accept that Australia is in reality multicultural, varied accents are perfectly ok and quite realistic. The travel scenes however, are HILARIOUSLY unrealistic. I took it as a tribute rather than an attempt at fact.

With all of that, I still rate this a 9 overall. It took me by surprise and probably caught me at a good time, to cry and laugh through the grief and mayhem.

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MUST READ!! (REALLY REALISTIC❣️)

This movie was SOOO good! I seriously cannot explain in words. I was kicking my feet the whole time and screaming at 3 AM and even got scolded, but the risk was worth it.Their acting was on point. Both of them are very handsome as well. It’s actually so good that I personally rewatch it every day.The people hating don’t know anything about a good BL. They’re just watching it for the spicy scenes and not the plot NOR the acting!! I need to see more of them😩😭 Stardust do your job and put them in another project together. The only thing bothering me and annoying me so much is the fact that the movie wasn’t longer!!It actually felt like I was watching two lovers. They fit their roles so well. The acting felt natural and convincing and the chemistry between the leads was incredible!!If I could watch it for the first time again I definitely would. I recommend this a lot. I LOVE this movie.🥹💖

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Honestly, when I started watching Tunnel, I had no idea what to expect. I knew it had a pretty loyal following, but I had no idea how this show would take me captive. Thus far, I haven't been very impressed with dramas this year. Tunnel is a great crime and mystery drama, but its best asset is its characters. This drama features rich characters with thoughtful story arcs and amazing chemistry.

Choi Jin Hyuk who is cast as the main protagonist delivers a great performance. I was really able to follow all his ups and downs as he tries to figure out life in 2017. Again and again, I am so drawn to Yoon Hyun Min. He is by far my favorite actor to provide as second for any bromance. His role as the young, misunderstood Sun Jae is something of legend. When I first saw Lee Yoo Young's character, she honestly freaked me out a little. The slow burn romance between these two is absolutely delicious. Their subtle advances are soooo deeply satisfying, and I felt this greatly complimented the show.

Tunnel features great story telling. Throughout the drama it unravels a well thought out and intertwined plot. This story had me clinging to my chair the entire time. I felt like every episode revealed another layer to the story. While some have stated that it was too predictable, I pretty much equated the predictability to all the spoilers I accidentally saw when it aired.

I strongly recommend watching Tunnel. It really takes you on an amazing ride. My only regret is that I wasn't able to watch it when it aired.

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JUST DIDN'T LIKED THE REEL FORMAT

The only thing I do not like about this drama is its format , but every thing here is good and easy to digest and a binge watchable, thanks to the sources out there who made a compilation of this reel type series to be put into a 1-2 hour range video that made it possible for me to watch the entire series .
FIrst I love the cast ! they were so beautiful guys like specially Moon Do Ha .. the way he expresses his jealousy and his love language to Ja Yeon was all over his eyes .. and Jae Yeon's response in acting was all perfect.
what I like most about it was the sweet moments of the leads specially when Do Ha was asking Jae Yeon to go out with him they were really cute .. everything here was just simple and fluffy and just a feel good drama I really hope I may see these two guys again together in a non reel format BL please !

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Here’s the thing; I was really looking forward to this drama, and for a while it met my expectations. But then it just started dragging and getting annoying and now that it’s over, I’m just disappointed.

I had been wanting to watch this drama for so long because the plot really interested me. I love the forced living situations. But it wasn’t on my netflix and for the longest time nobody was uploading it. I ended up building up a lot of personal hype and was very excited when the streaming websites started uploading it.

I liked it at first. It had a lot of the classic cliches. Although it wasn’t a very unique story, it had a really cute vibe.

But then it started to drag. They overused the same conflict and it just got annoying. I started getting agitated with everyone and everything.

At first I thought that Uehara wasn’t like bullying her, he was very closed off and guarded. But the more I watched the more I realized I was wrong. 90% of the time he was cold and distant and rude and it got worse after they started dating. Not to mention the actor wasn’t that good so Uehara was expressionless throughout the drama.

I didn’t like Daichi. At all. Part of the reason was because he looks like my friend’s asshole ex and the feelings were transferring over, but then he started disregarding all of Nao’s feelings and was incredibly hypocritical about the living together situation and ugh everything about him bugged the crap out of me.

In these dramas, I always have a problem with the lack of trust. She always second guessed Uehara, like she never believed in his feelings from the beginning.

Nao was so frivolous about Uehara and he got really cold towards her. They had terrible communication. This was always one of the biggest problems I have with the ItaKiss stories.

The writers kept repeating the lack of trust and terrible communication causing issues between Nao and Uehara and it got so tiring. It was the same thing over and over again, and Nao got so whiny and annoying and obsessive. It wasn't a healthy relationship.

Like for a long time it was so cute, and when the two of them did have moments together they were really sweet. Like I thought the ending was really cute. But overall, the characters were annoying and the acting wasn’t great. Issei was the best part of the drama, give me Kentaro in a lead please.

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No(n)sense...

Ok, before I start this review I have to say that yes, I did read the webtoon and yes, I was disappointed to find that they decided to go in an entirely new direction with the drama by only keeping one or two concepts from the webtoon itself. In saying that, I tried my utmost best to look at this drama separately.

Out of all the aspects, casting and story progression is where my main focus for this review will be because they stood out to me the most:

Firstly, they decided to go for an older cast, which didn’t bother me at all, however, I do really wish that they would have given (all) the couples a few more mature themes in a sense of dealing with dating in your late 30s which is vastly different than dating in your 20s. (For those in the comments saying this drama had a mature dynamic, I’m still looking for it because, besides their age, there was none? Also, this is not me saying that people are not allowed to be cute after a certain age, I’m talking about making the characters relevant and possible for the audience to connect to them).

Secondly, hats off to Seo Ji Hye, who I absolutely loved watching. She had such a calming and regal sense to her acting that made it super hard to ignore and not fall for. I have thoroughly enjoyed her in everything I’ve watched of her so far and although her character was written to be very different from our lead in the webtoon, I think she did a great job with what she was given.

However, I really struggled to see the chemistry between Seo Ji Hye and Yoon Kye Sang and before you come for me in the comments, no, I’m not talking about his looks, I’m talking about the way the character was written and delivered. Something did not click well between them and I actually struggled to see anything between them being remotely believable, despite the steamy scenes we were given on replay in every episode. In fact, for the entire first episode, I didn’t realise he was the ML. The character in my opinion wasn’t a good fit for him. He did not seem comfortable in this role and quite frankly from what I’ve heard from moots who have seen him elsewhere, this wasn’t his best work. In saying that, I don’t think he had much to work with in terms of the way the character itself was written.

I do really wish that they would have taken more time with regards to the storyline and developing the characters, especially after having such a popular webtoon to back them. The last two episodes rounded things off in a very strange manner and completely changed the characteristics of the main leads. For such a short drama (only 12 episodes), there were some really unnecessary half-done fillers and loose ends that were added to progress the plot at the last minute, which the drama really didn’t need and could have done much more seamlessly with a well thought out plotline that ran completely separate from the webtoon itself. I'm not even going to get into that ending which was a train wreck in itself.

Overall, this drama was nothing particularly amazing and had made more noise with regards to people’s dissatisfaction over casting than the actual drama itself.

If you’re looking for an easy misfit watch, I say give it a try, but you have been warned about the lack of chemistry and lacklustre ending…

- foxx

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A most unexpectedly sweet gem

Not every day needs a 120 mph roller coaster or surfing thirty foot waves or dining at a 5 star Michelin restaurant or sporting the latest haute couture fashion. Somedays, a casual walk in a familiar neighborhood in sweatpants and a hoodie followed by a simple grilled cheese sandwich is just as enjoyable. At that’s the vibe of “Once Upon a Small Town” - a leisurely, pleasant sojourn on a warm day.

No one will find anything remotely novel in the setup - a city denizen gets shipped somewhat against his will to a rural enclave. He initially recoils at everything unfamiliar but is won over not only by the community but also by a potential love interest.

And no one will discover any new angles on the romantic entanglements involving childhood relationships, ex-significant others, easily avoided misunderstandings, awkward confessions, friendzones and the like.

Nor will the vast majority of the supporting cast of rural inhabitants break any of the stereotypes from other slice of dramas.

In fact, mere minutes into the first episode of “Once Upon a Small Town”, the direction, destination, velocity and signposts on the journey are all readily apparent. But somehow that doesn’t diminish the ride. A short run of twelve episodes and runtimes of 30-40 minutes per episode deserve a decent amount of credit for keeping things moving without getting bogged down in secondary storylines and extended montages and endless rehashing of backstories. But there’s more to it. Director Kwon Seok Jang manages the pace of the storyline well, mixes in just enough interaction with supporting characters and doesn't let anything fog up the focus on the romance.

Choo Young Woo has a fairly light resume but he's got the basic attributes for carrying a lead role. The character of Dr. Han isn't particularly demanding - look pretty, feel awkward in uncomfortable surroundings and otherwise let everyone else around ham things up. And for this, Choo Young Woo hits all the marks (easy targets though they may be).

Meanwhile, Joy may find herself in as much demand as an actor as she has been as a singer. The Red Velvet singer has had two strong performances this year (the first as one of the very few bright spots in an otherwise rather dismal "The One and Only") and now to even greater effect here. A police officer would not be the instinctual direction for an ideal character for Joy, but this isn't a hardnosed violent crime detective. She's more everyone's little sister on the personal side and professional household problem solver. It may be a case of an actor and a role simply almost perfectly suited for each other, but as the show progresses and Ja Young becomes a more complex character, it seems less and less that "it's just Joy being herself" is what's happening here. Regardless, she's ebullient and extroverted and a delight at nearly every turn.

Props also to the sound editors who spare no opportunity to add all the buzzing insect noises in their inventory. Helps remind those viewers that might pull up stakes and head for the countryside in search of a dashing vet or comely policy officer that there are also less welcome inhabitants there too.

Recommended.

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Delightful and entertaining.

This is becoming my favourite series to watch in the evenings. I normally only watch a series after all episodes have been aired, but i don't want to wait.
I really like the ML and FL i think they have good chemistry together. There is intrigue, investigation, enough danger to make things interesting.
The story so far is good, but i have only watched 21 episodes so far.
since episode 16 they have switched the translation i think to a machine, and it really doesn't work. the first 16 made sense when reading the subtitles but on occasions now it is difficult to piece together the conversations, so i hope they go back to the same team who translated in the beginning.
i will update when i have finished watching all the series.
Ok i have finished watching and it was worth the wait. It did not disappoint. It was delightfully entertaining. I could pick some holes in the story that is why i rated it for me a 9 however it was overall worth watching. The music seemed to fit quite well, cinematography was good. the fight scenes were well crafted. what's not to enjoy. many thanks to the crew and cast for such an excellent series.

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50 Shades of Betrayal and One Pot of Ink

The Heir
If you ever wanted a masterclass on how many disasters can happen over a block of ink, The Heir has you covered. 😆 What starts as a fascinating journey into the history and craftsmanship of tribute ink quickly turns into a marathon of twists, betrayals, greed, murder, family secrets, revenge plots, and enough scheming to keep every villain employed for life.

The strongest part of the drama is easily its unique subject matter. I never expected to learn so much about the history and importance of ink production, and the writers deserve credit for making such a niche topic genuinely interesting. The acting is stellar across the board. The villains are properly evil, not the watered down kind, and every actor fully commits to their role.
The male lead is undeniably handsome, but for much of the drama he feels more like a boy trying to survive a storm than a man steering the ship. Meanwhile, the female lead absolutely carries herself with confidence. She has that no nonsense attitude, sharp intelligence, and quiet strength that makes you believe she could walk into a room full of schemers and send them all home for detention.

My biggest frustration was the pacing. Every plot twist seemed to arrive carrying three more twists behind it. Just when one misunderstanding was about to be resolved, another betrayal appeared from the shadows. The story often felt like it was making us wait in line for outcomes that could have arrived much sooner. If dramas can suddenly time skip years for an epilogue, surely they could have shortened some of the endless untangling along the way.

The romance is mature and grounded. The separation between the leads never felt like a silly breakup manufactured for drama. They are pulled apart by circumstances, family obligations, and the sins of the previous generation. In many ways, they are paying the price for battles they never started.

Overall, The Heir is a well acted historical drama with a fascinating cultural backdrop, strong leads, memorable villains, and a believable romance. Just be prepared for a plot that sometimes treats "one more twist" as a personal life philosophy. By the end, you'll know more about tribute ink than you ever expected, and you'll probably have survived enough betrayals to qualify for emotional compensation.

Rating: 8.5/10
Worth watching for the history, performances, and mature romance. Bring patience for the endless plotting.

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"The Crowned Clown" is a great historical drama in so many ways. Don't think of it as just a Korean version of "The Prince and the Pauper". It has an excellent cast, an intriguing story, and is visually beautiful, but this is the kind of sageuk that I think you have to be in the mood for, and for me, the slow deliberate pace made me a little less excited as a viewer. However, Yeo Jin Goo is so good in the title role that I had to keep watching no matter what.

I do think everyone in the cast was excellent, with no weak links, but Yeo Jin Goo is exceptional playing a completely convincing dual role as a King in the middle of a mental breakdown, and a clever clown forced to serve as his double. The fact that he is only 21 is amazing to me, and clearly means he has an awesome acting future ahead of him. The fish out of water/imposter storyline is pretty overdone, but this story is told with so much depth that it feels original and even plausible. His performance alone is enough to make me recommend this drama.

Although Lee Se Young is great as his love interest, and they have some sweet romantic moments, the relationships that interested me more were between Ha Seon and the Royal Secretary, Guard, and Eunich, and the host of villainous rivals within the royal court. Maybe it's because the character of Queen Yoo So Woon was so stoic that their romance felt more understated than exciting. Watching how Ha Seon faced the challenges of his dual life is what held my interest when the pace started to feel slow. A few characters are incredibly frustrating to watch like Ha Seon's sister, The Queen Dowager, and The Left State Councilor, and this also helped to keep the story exciting, and even had me wanting to yell at the screen more than once. The cast helped to make every aspect of the story feel authentic no matter what.

When it comes to the plot I am torn. I think it really was well written from beginning to end, but it still felt like it dragged in some moments. Even though the plot itself stayed interesting, with a few unexpected twists, this drama seemed to linger on certain moments for too long making me almost want to fast forward through some of it. This is the part where I admit that I may have just not been in the mood to watch this style of drama. Instead of enjoying watching the story slowly unfold I felt myself getting impatient while watching several times. That's also why my rewatch score is pretty low. Now that I know what happens it would be hard to watch this again without wanting to skip a lot of it. I'm a fan of this director's other dramas ("Money Flower", "Fated to Love You"), and I loved the way this drama looked, so I suspect that maybe the writers are more to blame when it comes to the overall pacing, including some longwinded dialogue at times too. Still, once I started rooting for Ha Seon, I knew I had to keep watching till the very end.

Overall fans of historical dramas should definitely watch "The Crowned Clown". Even though I shockingly didn't cry once, this is definitely a drama that may evoke emotions. Those looking for fast-paced action, romance with a lot of chemistry, or hilarious comedy should probably save this on their MDL queque for another time, but there's still enough action, romance, and comedy to make the story feel balanced, and not just non stop political betrayals and revenge. I'm personally glad I watched it, even if it didn't quite fit my current mood, and I definitely felt satisfied by the ending. What was good about this drama outweighed what could have been better. I'm certainly now a fan of grown-up Yeo Jin Goo for sure! I guess it takes a good actor to play a good actor.

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an older women younger man drama with much more depth

i just finished binging this series and if you are into older woman younger man dramas that is both bittersweet and realistic, then this is the drama for you. although it has areas that can be improved, overall it was a great watch. here's my breakdown of the pros and cons..
pros:
- even though the lead actors have a 19 age difference, i thought they pulled off their characters very well and their interactions didn't seem awkward at all
- the script was actually written quite well, this was a older women younger men drama done WELL
- the story in general is entertaining it's quite hard to write a love story with 12 year age gap that allows the audience to actually understand why two people are together and get along
- the outfits and just general styling of the characters were very well done
- i absolutely adorable the shen ruoxin, i think she's someone that girls can look up to, very independent women with her own views and she's just such a badass while keeping her gentle personality
- qi xiao is honestly such a cute bean, to be honest dylan wang didn't leave the best impression for me especially after meteor garden i rlly didn't like his character, but here wow he's proved that he's worth the hype, presenting his character as a very cheerful but mature man
- some other side characters i really liked were qi xiao's mom she's such a chill, caring mom, as well as you sijia very cute and supportive character, i also want to add that xu mingjie although i did't like him in the beginning, he's a great ceo and mentor for shen ruoxin
- i personally really like office business centered dramas so this was a great watch in general

cons:
- shen ruoxin's mom holy that woman needs to go for real, she gets on my nerves so much, i tried so hard to understand her very traditional perspectives but she needs to understand her daughter can make her own decisions in life, good thing she learned from that tho, in the end accepting the mains relationship
- i skipped a good amount of parts especially near the middle of the drama it just get's kinda draggy but does pick up near the end
- the side character stories were honestly kinda boring in my opinion like i really didn't care for them
- some of the characters like shen ruoxin's pursuers men were just so annoying at times but i think that's just part of the plot build up

overall a great watch if you are looking for a medium lengthen drama to binge with a great cast and entertaining story and set up

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Seoul Mates

The first time I watched it, I stopped around the 15-minute mark—I got distracted and went to do something else. But then it suddenly hit me that I had just watched Your Name Engraved Herein a couple of days earlier, and I was really craving a girl/girl story, whether romantic or platonic. I had high hopes for this one, but honestly, the messy pacing kind of ruined it for me.

I see a lot of people blaming the guy for ruining everything, but in my opinion, while he did play a part (unintentionally), the best friend also sabotaged the relationship herself. Why is no one talking about the dinner scene where her stunts pushed Ha-eun to storm off back to her room—and then the best friend just left? That was wild.

There were so many moments that could’ve been resolved with a bit of communication. Ha-eun also misunderstood things twice: first during the kiss scene, where she probably thought her best friend and boyfriend were in love, and then again when the boyfriend brought her drunk best friend to his place after the lover’s suicide.

Let’s talk about the boyfriend—he literally decided to marry Ha-eun while still being in love with Mi-so. He apologized and said he would make up for all his sins by staying with Ha-eun for the rest of his life. But honestly, I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Did he really love her, or did he just settle for her because he couldn’t have her best friend?

And then there’s Ha-eun, who realizes on her wedding day that she loves her best friend more than her future husband. And instead of confronting anyone about it, she just... leaves. Another case of running away. Guess they're truly soulmates, because both of them are pros at avoiding things rather than facing them.

Aside from all the unnecessary worry they caused others, I had mixed feelings about the movie. There were moments I loved and others I hated. And what was with the strange blending of future and present timelines with no clear transition? One minute Mi-so has long hair, the next she’s getting it cut—and I couldn’t even tell what was real, what had already happened, or what was just imagined.

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