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Completed
Idol I
30 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2026
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 5.5
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

Lack of Everything

Premise: I’m not into heavy, highly realistic, plot-driven dramas, so I chose this one because I knew it would be cozy (or at least I thought so).
However, I think it’s much lighter than it’s supposed to be.
How can a murder suspect have time to flirt with his lawyer?
Why, at the very beginning, does the autopsy doctor say that the wounds were too perfect not to have been planned in advance, while at the end of the drama it turns out to be an accidental murder?
I usually hate angst, but this time it was actually needed.
Despite the very good acting, the plot is weak and pointless.

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Completed
Lady Revenger Returns from the Fire
30 people found this review helpful
May 4, 2024
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Alluring premiere, well executed plot, a badass female lead plus, an happy ending

I've watched many historical cdramas, but lady revenger returns from the fire is quite different. And why? Because most of the historical dramas I've completed picked up from episode 2 or more. But this drama captivated me right from the first episode. And that's not all, each episodes keeps getting better.

I've only watched the first four episodes, and upon watching those episodes, there's only one thing I could say, which is 'this drama is interesting'.

Luo Ai lian 'the daughter of the luo family' changed her identity to shen dan qing 'the daughter of the shen family' with the help of shen zi shan in order to exact her revenge against those who tried to murder her. The plot itself is captivating!

I like to see a strong, decisive, and badass female lead, and this drama has all those.

Shen dan qing is indeed the lady revenger who returned from the fire. I love the way she isn't showing her stepmother, uncle, and evil sister 'luo shuang shuang' any mercy.
She's executing her plans of revenge quite well. Indeed, 'this is a well executed revenge drama'.

Next, I'd like to see whether xu cheng feng is going to help or hinder shen dan qing in her journey of revenge.

Just completed episode 9. This drama is indeed getting more interesting. Here I thought luo xue er was innocent, little did I know she's the devil incarnate. But it's a good thing that shen dan qing now knows that she has no allies in the luo family.

Updated
The ending was satisfying!! When I was watching episode 23, I thought it's going to be a sad ending. But it turned out unexpectedly great. Each character had their own difficulties and struggles.
Lady revenger returns from the fire is indeed a wonderful and must watch drama!

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Completed
The Judge from Hell
30 people found this review helpful
Jan 29, 2025
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

Park Shin Hye Ate, Kim Jae Young Stole My Heart—Judge from Hell Was That Good!

Judge from Hell is an electrifying blend of thriller, romance, comedy, and fantasy, delivering a gripping storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. From start to finish, this drama offers an exhilarating ride, with no dull moments or unnecessary filler scenes. The well-paced narrative, stunning cinematography, and powerful performances make it a must-watch.

Park Shin Hye takes on a bold and refreshing role, showcasing an entirely new side of her acting abilities. She absolutely ate this role, embodying her character with unwavering confidence and precision. Every scene where she delivered justice and took her revenge felt incredibly satisfying to watch. Her expressions, body language, and overall presence made her portrayal both captivating and powerful. Despite this being a different kind of role for her, she fit right in, proving her versatility once again.

Kim Jae Young, playing the male lead, was an absolute scene-stealer. His character was charming and emotionally compelling, especially during the heartbreaking scene at his mother’s funeral, which left a deep impact. His performance was both raw and touching, making him an actor to look out for in future dramas. I would love to see him take on more roles in this genre.

The undeniable chemistry between Park Shin Hye and Kim Jae Young elevated the drama to another level. Their interactions felt natural and added emotional depth to the storyline, making their relationship a key highlight of the show. Additionally, the supporting cast provided the perfect balance of comic relief and intrigue, making the drama even more enjoyable. They truly served, adding charm and personality to every scene.

The plot was meticulously crafted, keeping me fully engaged throughout. While there were a few minor loopholes that left me wondering, they didn’t take away from the overall experience. One of the best aspects of this drama is that it didn't stretch unnecessarily. Many K-dramas tend to extend to 16 episodes, sometimes adding filler scenes, but Judge from Hell smartly wrapped up its story in 14 episodes, maintaining a tight and impactful narrative.

Visually, the drama was stunning, with carefully crafted shots that enhanced the intensity of each scene. The OST was another standout feature, with Sunmi’s 'Crossroad' being an absolute masterpiece. It has been on loop ever since I finished the drama, and I have no regrets! The soundtrack perfectly complemented the tone of the drama, adding an emotional layer to the storytelling.

If you haven't watched Judge from Hell yet, you are truly missing out. This drama delivers everything—from thrilling action and satisfying revenge arcs to heartfelt romance and comedic moments. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I would definitely watch it all over again. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an exciting, well-balanced drama that keeps you hooked until the very end!

Obviously all of this is entirely my opinion and you don't have to agree with it...I believe that you should definitely watch the drama yourself and come up with your own opinions and perspectives instead of avoiding a drama based entirely on reviews which were not that positive..Hope everyone reading this has a great day!!

ヾ(^▽^*)))

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Completed
Memories of the Sword
30 people found this review helpful
May 29, 2016
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This isn't really a wuxia movie or action movie. Though the action is done great, this movie is mostly a tragedy-revenge-romance that fits well with the setting chosen to portray the story. As someone who despise sappy romance drama, this one just hit the right notes.

I won't talk about the action and cinematography much, just say it was stunning. If China is best at portraying colours in their wuxia, S. Korea is great at using different seasons to depict it. This type of experience is what differentiate watching movies from watching dramas.

Acting: great on all fronts. I was initially no big fan of Lee Byung Hun but he really commands the scenes he's in, from the first time we meet him. First time seeing Jeon Do Yeon and she was great. Seeing Kim Go Eun again is a treat and she never disappoints. You don't feel that she's acting with other big stars she's just immersed into the role. The rest of the cast fit their roles as well.

The story itself is nothing new, starting with betrayal the revenge that follows. The extend to which the character was willing to go for revenge it insane. It's really hard to judge it.

What attracted me most and kept my attention is the complicated characters and the disturbing love story. Deok Ki is corrupted and disgusting in every way, yet his love is so real and pure. As illogical it is, I just totally bought it. Same goes for Sul Rang, that carried true hatred towards him, leading to an insane revenge plan, yet wishing she could forgive him. This is the type of intense crazy romance I totally enjoy watching. There's something so raw and desperate about it. Hong Yi went through many phases in the movie, but I just love her in the last fighting scene, cold yet emotionally intense! Her side love story however was a bore, with typical kdrama cliché that I totally could've done without. Still it didn't remove anything from my enjoyment, it just wasn't too logical. However I find the main leads' love story also illogical but I totally buy it and believe it.

After finishing the movie I read many comments complaining about the movie calling it a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon copy. While I agree it alludes to it, the movie stands on its own telling its own story. Definitely worth a try.

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Completed
Monster
30 people found this review helpful
by Alice
Jul 18, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This movie was very enjoyable, a little fast paced but a really good watch. I enjoyed the the cast and how they portrayed each character. Kim Ko Eun portrayed the violent, dim witted bok soon very well and surprisingly I wasn't annoyed by this character. And one has to the the portrayal of the psychotic tea soo played by Lee Min Ki, I was glad that he really came over as this crazed killer. I can't say that I really loved the end where Bok Soon really proves how stupid she is but the very end with Bok Soon singing that song.
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Completed
Even if You Don’t Do It
30 people found this review helpful
by MPL88
Jun 25, 2023
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 2.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Interesting exploration into marriage without intimacy, before nosediving into absurdity.

This series took an interesting look at marriage and how things can break down over a lack of communication and intimacy.

Considering how things went for the two couples profiled in this, I thought their marriages had reached the point of no return. Makoto's wife was more interested in her career than having a family, and in turn denied him emotional and physical intimacy.

And Michi's husband did not want kids at all and rather work a mediocre job and play video games, while at the same time denying her emotional and physical intimacy for more than two years. In the mist of all that he decided to physically cheat on her with his colleague and had little remorse for it until she (Michi) started to pull away from him.

Makoto and Michi became emotionally involved due to their loveless marriages and ultimately divorced their spouses, but break up with each other after the divorces. Still they continue on with their lives. Makoto working on growing his career and Michi doing the same, but also learning how to stand on her own. I thought the story ended in a good place at the end of episode 10 and should've stopped there. I didn't understand why another episode was needed.

Imagine my surprise when the main couples spent all of episode 11 ignoring what had destroyed their relationships in the first place, some of which were things that could not be overcome i.e. one person in the relationship wanting kids while the other didn't and extreme selfishness by one party in the relationship. Only to get back together in the end.

It was good to see Michi try to work on herself. Thus, it was extremely disappointing to see her reunite with Yo just because he told her he loved her. SMH. Very elementary and immature of her. This guy never worked for their relationship, except when that work would result in him getting what he wanted from her. Their relationship was never about them or even her. It was always about him. Moreover, he was unambitious, emotionally stunted and extremely selfish. In no way a match for what she envisioned for her life. It made absolutely no sense that he'd suddenly decide to leave the coffee shop and open his own. Honestly, I don't know how the shop he was working for stayed in business when there was never any customers in there.

This had to be one of the worst series I've ever wasted time watching and it was all due to the ending. I honestly had no investment in Michi and Makoto. I didn't care whether they ended up together or not.

However, I did think enough had been shown to logically conclude that both of their marriages were irreparably damaged and that they needed to move on. What a cop out to have them a) still interacting with each other, not just their exes, but the exes of their former "lovers" and b) to have the suddenly realize they belong together and reunite with their spouses. It made no sense whatsoever. Overall, the only good thing about this was the acting, which was actually pretty good. That aside though, this is not a series I would recommend and is obviously not worth a rewatch.

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Completed
Rich Man
30 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.5
First off, I didn't watch the original Japanese version so I'm not going to compare the two. Here's my review =)

STORY
At first, this drama was full of mysteries and you just couldn't wait for the story to unfold, but once they were fully revealed, the excitement dies down quickly. After the mysteries were unfolded, the writers should've then started to develop the romance more but that didn't happen, unfortunately. I guess I was expecting for this drama to be made up of at least 50% romance because, well, the genre IS romance & comedy. But it was more like 15% romance lol. The romance between the leads was very subtle and slow - as in, it doesn't develop until much, MUCH later on, so that was quite disappointing. It disappoints me even more that the main lead and supporting character had more intimate (but dull & unromantic) scenes together than the lead couple. Suho and Ha Yeon Soo actually look very cute together. They have chemistry and there was so much potential for this on-screen couple but the story was just really lacking romance. I guess it focused more on Lee Yoo Chan's past and his journey being a CEO at his own company. I also wished Bora had more character development or stories behind her character because she's one of the leads, but it seemed as if the writers began to neglect her character a little bit later on. She sometimes felt more like a side character.

Some episodes were completely dull. There were sooooo much fillers. The amount of time they spent on Min Tae Ra and the artist she admired was ridiculous. Although, I did find the NEXT IN employees and Bora's friend, Miso, and Cha Do Jin more entertaining than the main story sometimes, just because the episodes would get really dull and those small characters made it a little more interesting and bearable to watch.

ACTING/CAST
I wasn't too pleased with Suho's acting here. I love Suho as a singer, but as an actor... not so much. I don't know what happened to him here. His facial expressions seem really unnatural and awkward sometimes. Is he really lacking acting skills or is it just because he didn't really fit the role of Lee Yoo Chan? Or maybe his character was just poorly written?... I was kind of able to empathize with Yoo Chan because of what he had been through but he was still pretty unlikable most of the time. They should've made him a little bit more likable, at least. Not gonna lie but... if it wasn't for Suho's charming face, his character would've been way more unlikable for me lol I just couldn't seem to hate his character because he looks so angelic haha.

MUSIC
On a positive note... I really liked the OST. The songs are very calming and catchy. A lot of times, I found myself listening to Hard for Me by Cheeze and also Do Young's ver. of that song. Also, Kei's Let's Pray was a really cute song too.

OVERALL
This drama had a lot of potential but it just didn't work out for me, unfortunately. I'd say it was poorly written. I kept hoping it would get better later on because the whole concept of the show is actually interesting, but it didn't get any better. I honestly just continued to watch it just for the sake of finishing it. At least the ending was somewhat satisfying, though.

Would I recommend it? No. Save 16+ hours of your time and watch something better. But if Suho's your bias and you feel that you just really gotta watch it, then go for it lol.

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Completed
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
30 people found this review helpful
Feb 6, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

An OK Drama

Bulgasal literally means 'impossible to kill'. This drama is based on a Korean folklore. Bulgasal is mythical immortal creature or monster that feeds on human blood. This folklore dates back to the late Goryeo period.

Bulgasal: Immortal souls is directer by Jang Young Woo and screenwritten by a husband-wife team Kwon So Ra and Seo Jae Won.

Dan Hwal played by Lee Jin Wook was a human who was born with Bulgasal's curse. He bacame a Bulgasal himself after a series of incidents 600 years ago which led to him losing his family. He is now in search of a woman, who he believes to have killed his family and turned him into a Bulgasal in her past life. She has now reincarnated as Min Sang Un played by Kwon Na Ra. Hwal needs her soul to break free of his curse of immorality and leave the world.

The first episode is set in the late Goreyeo period, when monsters were alive. It shows the original story of Dan Hwal from birth to how he became a Bulgasal. Honestly, though a lot happened in the first episode, I didn't really feel anything. It felt really uninteresting and slow. There was a war inside my mind whether I should continue this show or put it back in my PTW list (I don't drop dramas) after I finished the first episode. Then, I decided to give the second episode a try. Most of this episode was set in the modern times and in this, unexpectedly the whole look and pace of the drama changed. It became more and more interesting and intriguing in the next episodes. It's really unpredictable what will happen next and arouse our curiosity. Each and every episode arises new new questions which keeps the story compelling.

After starting this drama during the airing time, I realised that it was not a good decision because we will be at our wit's end wating for the next episode. The whole drama was fairly fast paced with no lagging.

Both Lee Jin Wook and Kwon Na Ra are veteran actors. As I usually watch C-dramas and only recently ventured into the lands of K-drama world, I have never seen them in any drama except Lee Jin Wook in Sweet Home (which I never completed). I liked his acting in Sweet Home and I think I know why he is cast for this role. Dan Hwal's character needs a commanding as well as terrorising (sometimes calm and caring too) look which Lee Jin Wook had.

I'm not really a fan of Kwon Na Ra but I canno't deny that her acting was nice in this drama. Eventhough the she was a bit annoying at first, she fairly pulled off her emotional scenes. But she dosen't make up to the list of my favourite actresses.

The actor that I liked the most in this drama is the villian's. I won't say who it is (probably you know whom I'm refering to) but, his acting is just superb. He nailed his character and this is what I really want from an villian character. His look, gestures and everything is really apt for his character.

Also the supporting character play a major role in the story of this drama, especially Min Shi Ho (Min Sang Un's current life sister) played by Gong Seung Yeon, Detective Kwon played by Jung Jin Young, Nam Do Yoon (an orphan who is often abused) played by Kim Woo Seok and Lee Hye Suk. Without them, the drama would feel incomplete. I really liked their bond between eachother. I won't elobrate their relations to eachother in their past lives as I don't want to spoil the fun for the future watchers.

The cinemaorgyaphy is awsomely done. It correctly captures the feelings of a scene. Also the background music is really eerie which well fit the atmosphere of the drama and makes our hair stand on end.

Some other OSTs from this drama:
"Leave" ( 하루) by 4Men
"Tunnel (with Kardi)" (터널 ) by Kim Ye Ji
"Can't Forget You" (잊을 수 없다면) by Min Seo
"Beyond The Time" by Jannet Suhh
All the OSTs are nice. But, Leave and Beyond the Time are among my personal favourites.

The main story arc sometimes feel difficult to understand and is confusing. It is like pieces of puzzles which we, audience, have to join and understand. Although there are only a few main and supporting characters, I was confused of their relations with eachother in their current and past lives at first.

Another problem lies in the romance part. There was absolutely no need of romance. Sometimes it works but sometimes not. If we understand the underlying logic in the romace part, it can sometimes be heart fluttering. But, this is not a drama for romance lovers. There are not kiss or intimate scenes. Just some piggy back rides and hugs.

However, I have to give a warning to everyone who is thinking of watching this drama. This is really bloody. This drama gives you pain and shocks. There are many scenes of self-inflicted wounds, deaths, monsters and many more scenes which give you goosebumps.

This drama is an ok drama for me. It had really great potential which is ruined by substandard direction and writing. It could have been a lot better. However, this is a recommended drama for mystry and supernatural genre lovers.

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Completed
A Balloon's Landing
30 people found this review helpful
May 16, 2024
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Love it and enjoyed it, amazing acting

Watched it in the cinema with friends on the first release day in Hong Kong and it was a pleasant experience. I love how good the actor's acting are when it comes to expressing all the detailed emotion. Especially when i had enough of BL drama full of sexual scenes, this movie certainly gave me a refreshing break. If you are hoping for some crazy hot and spicy love story, sorry but this is not one of those. But you are looking for beautiful scenery, music, people and subtle emotions, this is certainly a must watch. The lyrics in the theme song pretty much stated out the whole story line.

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Ongoing 11/12
'Cause You're My Boy
54 people found this review helpful
by ADRIAN
Sep 18, 2018
11 of 12 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 4.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
Storywise, this series had a lot of holes. Things kept happening without explanation and the story line is confusing. Many scenes are pointless and the more you watch, the faster it’s going downhill. I tried giving it chance but since I started it and invested time watching the first few eps, I decided to finish it.

Acting. So-so. You can clearly tell that they don’t have much experience since they act so scripted/directed and not natural. But it’s still okay and tolerable.

Music. The ost is good and memorable even if I can’t understand Thai.

Production. I think this series has a low cost production and it shows. TeeMork and GordMorn have so much potential. They deserve better storyline and production.

I think the reason I watched this is because I don’t have so much option when it comes to BL series. I’m a sucker for BL series. Most likely I will not watch this again.

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Completed
Glass Heart
105 people found this review helpful
by Jojo Flower Award2 Dumpster Fire Award1 Lore Scrolls Award1 Clap Clap Clap Award1 Boba Brainstormer1 Lore Librarian1 Mic Drop Darling1 Big Brain Award1
Aug 1, 2025
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 21
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5

When the music burned brighter than the actual plot!

Sometimes, music is the way to express ourselves, and the drama leans heavily into that. Music didn't just set the mood here, it hijacked the plot, stole the spotlight and not in a subtle way. It's the heartbeat of the story. With every strum, beat and verse, the drama tries to convey things its characters can't say directly and even when the writing slips, the music saves it all.

The story revolves around Saijo Akane, a drummer who her previous mates abandoned, and gets a second chance when she is invited to join the band "TENBLANK".

TENBLANK band members or should I say the "plots" :
✨Fujitani Naoki: He was the genius but eccentric composer with a messy heart and even messier hair. The creative nucleus of the group. I would describe him as intense, obsessive, borderline reclusive, but a fascinating creature. Under all that facade, he is a man weighed down by unresolved emotions and secrets he would protect at all costs. Takeru Satoh did a great job. I know he is a fine actor and it showed. I recently saw him in Marry my husband and the character difference shows his versatile range.

✨Takaoka Sho: He was the guitarist who didn't demand attention but had mine from start to finish! He was soft spoken, observant and incredibly skilled. Machida Keita completely stole the show for me. From episode one to the finale, his styling was absolutely flawless. From the turtlenecks to that effortlessly perfect long hair, every detail was on point. I know this isn't exactly about his acting (which is already well-respected, no need for testimonials there) but the look he served in this drama was iconic. He had me catching second lead syndrome so bad. I mean, imagine ignoring Satoh... and yet, here I am.

✨Sakamoto Kazushi: He was sharp, confident and wasn't afraid to speak his mind, especially when it came to challenging Naoki's authority. But I feel the writing didn't give him enough to fully bloom. We get glimpses of pride and conflict but it feels underdeveloped. Shison Jun did a solid job in portraying this character. He played the perfect tsundere.

✨And the newly added member was Miss Sajio Akane, the underdog drummer, as they say. She had grit, she listened, she learned and she put in the work, not just for show. Nothing she did felt fake or wasted.
Miyazaki Yu gave a genuinely likeable and grounded performance. She played the perfect mix of insecurity and inner fire. I rooted and cheered for Akane.

🔥 Wild card Toya: I know he isn't the official member of TENBLANK but he isn't the one to ignore. You just can't! He is the kind of character who could walk into a scene mid-chaos and steal every ounce of attention. He is a loud, intense bona fide rockstar who seemed crazy but beneath all that is a man who is haunted by choices, loss and love that never really left. He is both tragic and unforgettable. Some scenes definitely tossed realism out the window, but it served the drama and I ate it up.
Maski Suda devoured this role. At first glance, I didn't recognise him. He was raw, a bit feral and had the reckless energy exuding. You just can't look away.

But not everything in the mix felt right. While the music and the stellar cast were a win, the pacing was all over the place, especially in the second half. This would be just me but we (I) DO NOT need a romantic subplot to show up like the last-minute guest. The story would have worked fine without a romantic storyline, it might have worked better if I were being honest. We could have focused more on the other band members and their stories. I feel there was barely any spotlight given to them. There were times it felt like a one-man show, but then a group performance glossed over that feeling, but it definitely lingered more than it should.

Another thing I noticed and maybe this is just me (again), was how the energy and adrenaline would spike during each performance, but then drop off right after. It didn’t really carry over once that fantastic music stopped playing. The in-between moments felt a bit dull and I kept waiting for them to practice or be back on stage to feel that energy again.
Maybe this is what happens when you have full-blown performances. This wasn't just "slap a ballad or two on it" drama but it gave us actual bangers. I feel the music is the main plot here and the rest of everything feels secondary.

The cinematography was stunning, especially the rain shots. And the camera work during the concert sequences was pure artistry. It screamed budget in the best way.

Overall, despite the scratches, this was an entertaining and binge worthy watch. It didn't exactly stick the landing or maybe I had high expectations from the actual plot "writing", but the journey is worth it for the vibes, stellar cast and amazing soundtracks. It's the kind of predictable plot where you will be rolling your eyes a bit but still replay the songs on loop. Not perfect, but comfortable in its own ways.

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading my review! <3
I thought I was going to keep this short… and yet here we are lmao. If you decide to check out the drama, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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Completed
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy
48 people found this review helpful
Jul 23, 2025
Completed 0
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT!

as an original orv fan, this is such a disappointment. it’s not that orv fans hate your faves — it’s just that the way the director RUINED the original work (the novel) is beyond frustrating. HE RUINED THE WHOLE LORE OF ORV. we’re angry because this adaptation completely disrespects the heart of the story and characters. i said what i said, COMPLETELY!

i’m sorry, but this is one of the worst adaptations i’ve ever seen. it’s NOT THE REAL omniscient reader’s viewpoint.
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Completed
To My Star Season 2: Our Untold Stories
110 people found this review helpful
by jpny01
Jul 3, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 34
Overall 5.5
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Shallow angst masquerading as, well, something.

Drama and people crying seem to be often taken for quality of storytelling and acting. It can be, for sure. But not here.

This is also a story that could have been told and been successful. Also not here.

The problem is that this is a sequel, with established characters, and the behavior of one of them is so at odds with who he was in the original that it doesn't make any emotional or narrative sense.

So we have a grumpy chef who's a bit of a old man trapped in a young man's body. He has no patience for celebrity, but ironically has to live with the biggest and most narcissistic celebrity in Korea. Naturally they fall in love, opposites attract and all that - both of them have big hearts and are beautiful people underneath the pride and narcissm, and they live happily ever after.

Then comes S2, and we discover that rather than being happy, Ji Woo was seething with resentment, crippling low self-esteem, and crushing loneliness. Forget that this is the opposite of who he appears to be and that we got not the slightest hint that any of this was going on inside him, or that this is incompatible with the character as already drawn.

So suddenly, one day, Seo Joon comes home to find Ji Woo has left, dumping him with a post-it note, and has disappeared completely. A year later So Joon finds him in the greyest and most depressing seaside village imaginable - in the depth of winter, of course, because winter is grey and the previous series was during summer. Clever subtle contrast, right? And then Ji Woo proceeds to treat So Jeon like absolute shit, with the typical "I never loved you" and even "you never loved me either, it was an illusion."

Bleak and grey covers the first 8 episodes - a campaign of sledgehammer lack of subtlety and depth of any kind in favor of shallow drama and shallow and inauthentic "exploration" of... something, I guess. I'd say inner emotional life and the tensions in a relationship, but there are no tensions - it just snaps in half and is replaced by cruelty and hatefulness.

Then it just... resolves, and they go back to Happily(er) Ever After, with no real discussion or processing - a light switch is flipped, and we resume the story of S1 just where it left off. A man leaves his bf with a short note, disappears for an entire year with no communication whatsover, then treats him like shit when he finally tracks him down. Here's the reconcilliation.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Give me a hug."

"Ok."

I'm not joking, that's it. The director thought everyone would forget the first 8 miserable episodes if she dumped a pile of fluff on us for the ending.

She was right, judging by the glowing reviews.

I would skip this, so it doesn't ruin your happy memories of S1. Or just start with Ep 9, and pretend they had a minor fight (which you'll easily be able to do), and then enjoy the cute frolicking, and Ji Woo's really lovely white overshirt, which I want.

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Completed
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love
35 people found this review helpful
Feb 14, 2024
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Heart warming, touching, admirable.

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love ❄️❤️
I finished watching all 30 episodes, last watched ep 30 at 3:15 am and since that moment I've been feeling blank.

This drama made me feel a lot, and taught me quite some interesting points of life too. Their first giddy yet awkward love story may happen to anyone else too. The feelings of falling in love for the first time, the struggle to keep a conversation running, the unsaid thoughts, the sensational skin ship. Everything's relatable.

Not to mention how they portrayed the background stories of each characters and their growth. How they may be immature and hard headed at first but then learnt better of how to get a hold of themselves and think about others. Particular conservative Chinese identity that some character showcased, the importance of respecting others especially elderly, they showed great effort thru all of those. They also portrayed the sport amazingly well even tho there are some flaws still in the real sport terms. The dedication for the sport they love, their brotherhood and the bond they created while striving for a sport that they are proud of are so admirable. From coaches to the team and fans, they legit put on a great sportsmanship.

The actors and actresses blended well in their characters as if the directors hand picked them out from the novel. From main to side characters, they each have their ray of lights. The panoramic views from different location they shooted this, the soothing melodious music background and original song tracks they produced for the show were so brilliant and fit the concept exceptionally well.

Relationship, either with your family, friends or lover, relationship exists everywhere. There might be times where things won't go the way we wanted but surely, patience and tolerance will save us. There's more to relationship than just hugs, kisses, or compliments. Sometimes they can be words of comfort, acts of service, and even the presence alone, of both parties in well condition is enough to link up a relationship.

This drama is truly a relaxing healing drama. Worth the wait, worth the hype, worth the time watching. Surely gonna repeat watching this all over again anytime soon.

Kuddos to the author for writing such masterpiece and to the director, crews, actors and actresses for making such a beautiful series.

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, after every snowstorm, there'll sunlight again, and then, you may feel the warmness again.

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Completed
Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce)
35 people found this review helpful
Apr 19, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 5
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5

A Screenwriting and Directing Masterpiece

It seems people want to criticize this series for being too honest. To me, it’s a depiction of the current social environment around us. Not the most appealing, but never the less, it’s there, and we’ve all seen it. Infidelity is a dirty word to one person and a taste of freedom to another. I think this series tells us that we all view relationships differently. Our thoughts, needs, and values are different. We even view love differently. The story I watched for sixteen episodes was a bitter look into the world of betrayal. It shows us how people justify their actions when faced with diversity in a relationship. It also shows us how fragile marriage can be when you don’t nurture it. It shows us how hateful and desperate people can be. It also shows us the ugly head of temptation. I think this series took a lot of thought and work to put together. It was a raw look at the emotional struggles of human beings trying to survive in a world that pulls them apart.

I thought the acting was perfect. There were two standouts for me. Lee Ga Ryong’s portrayal of Hye Ryung was just fantastic. Playing this type of character and making it seem real is not easy. Another one of my favorite parts was in episode 7 when Hyang Gi (Jeon Hye Won) told her dad what she thought about him divorcing her mom in no uncertain terms. She said everything her mom wanted to say, and it was priceless. Hye Won shined in this supporting role, and it left me with a favorable impression of her acting skills.

The music pulled everything together, and the subscripts were great. I enjoyed this because it was different. Is it worth watching? Cudos to Im Sung Han for her screenwriting and to Yoo Jung Joon for directing a masterpiece.

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