Reviews

Oh my Goblin... I've always been a Gong Yoo stan since his Coffee Prince days, so there's no way I'm letting this show go without me watching it. Before I met oppa Ji Chang Wook, because of Gong Yoo's hiatus in the drama land, my heart got swayed, but he will always remain as my first love. LOL. Obviously, he's the main reason I watched this show. And to add icing to the cake, the writer is Kim Eun Sook! I personally believe she's one of the best rom-com writers out there.

What I love most about this drama is their comedic antics especially between goblin and the grim reaper. Their chemistry is on point, even much better than the chemistry between goblin and his bride. Sadly, for me, GY and Kim Go Eun didn't have that much chemistry. But don't get me wrong, their acting is good. It's just that they don't have that vibrant chemistry. Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na's chemistry is even better than them! So love their love story.<3

Some say, the series went downhill after ep 14 and the ending was forced and I somewhat, quite agree. But I also don't know how to end it any other way that would satisfy the viewers, so I have accepted the ending as good enough.

Rewatch Value - If I will watch this again, I will only watch this because of goblin and grim reaper. And Sung Jae, too! lol

P.S. This drama has one of the best soundtracks ever! I Will Go to You Like the First Snow lyrics is so heartbreaking.
I also love how the writer added a poetic touch to the script.:)

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I don't often use the word masterpiece. I've seen 1,040 films in my life, totalling 1,549 hours of filmography. There's maybe 7 I would label a masterpiece with full usage and definition of the word.

The Wailing is the eighth film of one thousand and forty films I very willingly, gladly and without hesitation give the title of Masterpiece to.

I'm not too big of a fan of Asian supernatural horror. Whilst I very much enjoy it and give most films a pretty decent average rating, I find a lot of them bleed into one another with similar plots and a very safe view on the supernatural. In Japan it tends to be curses that have people die in mysterious ways, South Korea, a cursed object that has people murder each other are the most common ones I come across.

When I clicked The Wailing was supernatural, I prepared myself for a 6 or maybe 7 out of 10 movie that was good but wouldn't hold its own too well in the vast expanse of horror.

The Wailing gave me some stunning frames. The cinematography in this is beautiful. The gore frames are gruesome, unadulterated and unapologetic. The ritualism and belief of South Korea are shown in their full glory without fear. Na Hong Jin doesn't shy away from racial tension between the Japanese and South Koreans with a slightly historical take with a beautiful twisting story that left me with my mouth gaping open but still feeling just slightly uncomfortable - something I believe Hong Jin did on purpose. I was shown acting that was so well done, no matter what I watch these actors in from now on, I will always know them from The Wailing. The varying supernatural aspects were unique, something that stunned me, unafraid to step out of genre restrictions and lead the way with something new. With a story line that is intriguing, stunning and just raw, this two and a half hour journey was worth watching.

This is a film deserving of the hype that numerous other Asian horrors got but turned out to be predictable messed. THIS is the Korean horror of 2016, the one that should have lead the forefront of South Korean, or even Asian, horror into 2017. This is a film that shows prowess, promise and skill. Hong Jin treats us to such wonderful skills from not just himself but his script writer, his cast, his editing team, his make up team, etc, everyone involved. You can feel the passion and love and pure dedication that went into this movie.

A full 10/10 is just not enough for this film.

A twisting, numbing, horrifying masterpiece.

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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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watch it, you won’t regret it !!!

This has to be one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. The actors did such a great job portraying their roles. I’m one of those people who don’t mind clichés, but sometimes I just need something “new” and different, you know ? Well, Hidden Love didn’t disappoint. The plot is unique, so bonus points for that. Just a heads-up for those who don’t like the age-gap trope : the ML was 19 when he first met the FL, who was 14 at the time, but it’s important to note that they DID NOT have any sexual/romantic interactions until much later in the show. The FL was of legal age when the ML started developing feelings for her. Personally, it didn’t bother me much, but I get why some people might find it icky.

Now I’d like to talk about the main characters a bit.

Sang Zhi (FL) : She’s childish at the beginning of the show, but I promise it’ll get better (they skip 2 years foward to when she’s 19 in 8 ep, so dw). She’s quite shy and introverted, which isn’t much of a problem, not every fl has to be badass or wtv, but even after she gets with the ml, she has issues with intimacy and i’m not even talking about sex, just simple things like kissing. I found that a little annoying, because Imagine getting the man of your dreams, who’s not only hot af, but also respectful and considerate and not wanting to kiss him. Even when she did it, it felt kinda forced, like girl, kiss him like you mean it 😭 Aside from that, I liked her character and the way she stood up for others and herself.


Jia Xu (ML) : He’s the most considerate ML I’ve ever seen in a drama, he literally pays attention to her every little move. He’s too good of a man to be realistic tbh. Their relationship is healthy, no unnecessary fights or arguments, just pure love. He’s like a fatherly figure to Sang Zhi, but not like in a weird way, it’s just the way he cares for her so much and always puts her first.


Overall, I loved this drama and I’ll never stop recommending it :)

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The love bond between two lovers manifests in opposite ways, in the way they show to each other. It seems to each other, the other didn't care at all. its the Korean version of the Ali Macgraw/Ryan O Neal Love Story with a back to the past and future twists. Yet it has managed to retain a flavour on its own. I have watched it twice and each time it gives me a different feeling. Though sad, I'm hopeful true love will withstand test of time. If you are a fan of the JJangs, their chemistry shines again here, pls don't get upset bcos this love story is different. After this, I hope they will continue to work together.

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Such a Masterpiece!!

I haven’t watched such a good historical drama for a long time after Nirvana in Fire. I feel like I would have regretted if I didn’t watch it. Here are the reasons why I like Story of Ming Lan

1. Strong Chemistry
Though I know that Feng Xiao Feng and Zhao Liying are husband and wife in real life , I never thought that they would have such strong Chemistry. I love to see Gu Tingye teasing Ming Lan everytime.This strong chemistry between the two main leads is what took me from the beginning to the end.

2.Casts
As a C-drama addict, I saw so many familiar faces in this drama. Like Zhu Yilong from Guardians, Xiao Tao (Wang Zi Wei) from A Love so Beautiful, Gu Si Ye from Battle of Changsha and Surgeons, the new emperor from Nirvana in Fire and even Gu Tingye’s step-mom is from Surgeons. All of these supporting casts portray their characters very beautifully.

3.Cinematography
If u love the best cinematography, this is the right drama for you.The costumes and manors are very beautiful, Action scenes are done very carefully, and even the polo scenes are done with less CGI. Among the series I have watched ,Story of Ming lan is said to be the one of the few dramas with such great cinematography.

4.Strong Female Lead
I have always been a fan of Strong Female Lead and Ming Lan is one of them. Ming Lan is intelligent but had to hide her talents in order to survive. She is normally calm and pleasant but she will attack fiercely when one of her friend faces injustice. Zhao Liying portrays the character of Shen Ming Lan amazingly and as a fan of Zhao Liying, I would say that this is probably her best work since her debut.

5.Director
I was impressed with Zhang Kai Zhou in Battle of Changsha, Ode to Joy 2 and Love Me if You Dare, he did even a better work in Story of Ming Lan.

6.Strong Plot
A strong, tight- woven plot is everything that matters in a drama. This drama not only has a strong but also realistic plot. Unlike other typical dramas, the two leads didn’t fall in love at first sight. I love that their affections for each other grow with time, Ming Lan firstly calls Gu Tingye as second uncle, then Husband and Er Lang. There are also many funny scenes, like Tingye doing the make up on Ming Lan’s face.

7.Moral lessons
We want to gain something after watching a drama,right? I liked a quote that Ming Lan said “Being Moral is in itself a privilege”. She also taught us to be strong, brave and love your family.

8.Music and Rewatch value
I notice only one song by Yisa Yu and Hu Xia but it is not bad.I’d definitely rewatch after some time and enjoy it again.

Most importantly, you need to have patience while watching Story of Ming Lan. This is not a usual drama that will reach climax after 6 or 7 episodes and the character build-up indeed takes some time, but never drop this drama halfway, or you would definitely regret.

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Don't miss out on this excellently written, acted and paced slice-of-life Family Drama!!

If you love “The Bond”, you will love “Romance in the Alley”. Both dramas are directed by the same person, and you can see a lot of similarities between the two. The drama title is a little misleading as romance is just a very teeny tiny part of this drama. Family is what it’s about. This is a well-written, well-acted, well-paced slice-of-life family drama that even someone like me who prefers plot-driven dramas, falls in love with “Romance in the Alley”. It reminds me of a hybrid of “The Bond” + “Go Ahead”. In fact, it’s actually a little easier to watch than “The Bond” as it doesn’t have characters that make my blood boil.


Family
This drama focuses on two families who live next to each other in the same alley. If you ever want a BFF or a good neighbor, look no further than the Zhuang and Lin families. We follow the lives of the adults, working hard to provide for their children. All they want is for their children to go to a good school, graduate and find a good job, have their own family and buy their own houses. A stable and happy life is what they want. However, you will find that each family takes a very different approach in supporting (or not supporting) their children. Their approach puts pressure on their children in not disappointing their parents and shouldering the responsibility of taking care of their siblings, parents or any family member. As I follow the lives of these children and watch them grow up to have their own families, I feel like a proud parent myself watching them from the 1st episode to the 40th episode.

Neighbors & Friends
Friendship in the alley is complicated. I bet many Chinese viewers resonate with all the complicated dynamics and relationships in this drama. One day, you support and help each other. Next day you scheme and try to take advantage of others. When there’s a common enemy (system change, rules change or company complaint), they band together and fight together. At the end of the day, you are still friends and neighbors, trying to live the best life you can. The dialogs are so well-written: heartfelt speeches, subtle digs here and there, sarcastic and condescending remarks. All of that gives the drama so much flavor.

Character development
As I said, I feel like a proud momma watching the three main children grow up. Tu Nan (the older brother) is a top student who is mature and responsible. Dong Zhe is the mischievous kid who is a little smartass with a good heart but lazy. Lastly, we have sweet and quiet Xiao Ting, the little sister who is perceptive and sweet. Watching the three of them grow up into responsible, mature adults without losing their tight bond is lovely to see. I was especially proud of Xiao Ting for growing up to be a more courageous, independent and sensible woman, who is not afraid to speak up and protect those she loves. Aside from the three main kids, you will follow the lives of other children growing up in the alley. Some you will love, some you will hate. But each one is a product of their family and upbringing. You might not like them, but you understand where they are coming from and empathize with them.

Sismance
The friendship between the two mothers, Huang Ling and Song Ying is the best thing about this drama. These two women are so different from each other: upbringing, marital relationship, personality, family lives, and child-rearing philosophy. Yet, they complement each other so well and support each other in their own way. They accept each other’s flaws, defend each other and unconditionally step up to help each other.

Acting
I applaud the casting director for doing an amazing job. From the youngest child actor, to the oldest veteran, there is no weak link. There are many child actors and actresses in this drama, and each one of them performs so well, especially those three who play the naughty little Dong Zhe. Many of them are actually experienced actors who started acting at a very young age. Before watching, I was hesitant about Fan Cheng Cheng’s performance. But I’m glad to report that he did a pretty good job as well, so much better than when I last saw him in “Once and Forever”, also with Guan Xiao Tong. In that drama, Fan Cheng Cheng is definitely the weakest link. His chemistry with Guan Xiao Tong as siblings here is so much better than when they played lovers in “Once and Forever”. Wang An Yu made me fall in love with him. He is so good in looking smitten and in love, just like in “Forever Love”. Guan Xiao Tong and Lu Yu Xiao are talented and beautiful. Of course, the veterans are amazing. I bet they help keep the younger ones on their toes, as they have many scenes together and the young ones can’t slack off.

Pacing
Slice-of-life dramas are a hit-or-miss for me. I prefer plot-driven dramas rather than character-driven ones as I often find the pace to be slow. But not “Romance in the Alley”. This drama is well-paced with enough to keep invested and interested. The writing does an excellent job in making me smile, laugh, cry, and shake my head in disgust throughout the whole drama.

Minor Criticisms
As much as I love this drama, “Romance in the Alley” isn’t without fault. There are two main areas that I would have liked to see better writing - the passage of time and romance. Because this drama spans a long period of time, about 20 years. The drama doesn’t always tell you what year it is. Viewers have to pay attention to changing lifestyles or the addition of new household appliances starting from TV, fridge, home telephone, microwave, etc. Because it’s sometimes hard to tell time. For example, I would see one scene when the parents are disapproving of their children’s decision (a BIG decision) and then the next scene, the conflict is resolved and it’s not a big deal anymore. Or in one scene Tu Nan and Li Jia would be arguing about their relationship, and then time passed and they openly spoke about it, as if the previous conclusion of their relationship didn’t matter anymore. Regarding the romance criticism, I would have loved to see Xiao Ting and Dong Zhe’s transition from friends to lovers more clearly. The realization of feelings and subtle confession were so short that in a blink of an eye, you could have missed it. I miss the early days of their courting/dating.


With a Douban rating of 8.2 at the time of this review, I can totally see how Chinese viewers resonate to the family values and struggles, and a trip down memory lane with change of times in this drama. International viewers might not agree with the values and decisions made, but that should not stop anyone from appreciating an excellently written and acted drama. “Romance in the Alley” will make you smile and laugh, cry and frown. It has put me through an emotional rollercoaster. I cried so hard when the Lin family moved away from Suzhou and when the two mothers' tight friendship was put to the test because of their children. If you read all the way to the end of this long review, I wish you would give this drama a chance.



Completed: 12/1/2024 - Review #523

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boring

It’s fine to watch once, but not something I’d want to rewatch. The acting and the chemistry between the characters are good, but the storyline feels generic and overused. A wealthy heir with childhood trauma, a sweet innocent poor girl, a fake relationship, and a childhood connection — all the usual elements you see in many dramas. Because of this repetitive plot, I ended up dropping it without watching the last two episodes.Overall, the plot becomes predictable starting from episode 6, so it gets a bit boring. But if you’re looking for something light and time-killing, give this one a try.

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A forbidden love story with Lakorn choas and adults throwing temper tantrums!

Love in the moonlight is set in a fictional kingdom where secrets are traded as often as silk and adults who seem allergic to both sense and reason. The series starts with the classic formula - forbidden love wrapped in duty and deception. Prince Saenkaew, a gentle soul burdened by past trauma, crosses paths with Sasin, a hot-headed man, who happens to be the cousin of the bride Prince is arranged to. What follows is a slow-burn romance between trust, betrayal and over the top emotional whiplash. Add in scheming trash relatives, a gallop of political backstabbing and a suspiciously high number of evil adults and you have a 12-episode cocktail of chaos served with period-appropriate tears.

If “I didn’t mean it, but I did” could walk and talk, it would probably be Sasin. He is the archetype of the impulsive hero...quick to anger, slow to think, yet somehow forgiven because his charm softens every misstep.Sometimes I wanted to shake the screen and snap at him and sometimes just tell him that it's gonna be okay! He brought a full spectrum of emotions out.

Saenkaew, our sweet rabbit on the other hand is more on the emotional side. Very soft-spoken, painfully pretty and haunted by more trauma than a palace should legally allow. His “sad doe eyes” do a lot of heavy lifting, but sometimes they overstay their welcome. It works beautifully when he is in pain, but during playful moments, that eternal melancholy feels slightly off. Still, his gentleness grounds the show.

Pin, bless her pastel-colored soul, starts off as the cinnamon roll everyone roots for. She was sweet, sincere and initially immune to the typical “female rival” curse of BL dramas. But by mid-series, she veers dangerously close to the edge of that trope cliff and well, let’s just say the sympathy meter crashes. Her later actions are frustrating, though her eventual redemption arc tries to clean up the mess(emphasis on TRIES).

Then there is Saenkaew’s father, the royal poster child for bad parenting and questionable decision-making. He was just I-N-S-U-F-F-E-R-A-B-L-E. The way he tried to gaslight himself, Saenkaew and others around him , that what he was doing is the right thing for his child and for the family was just baffling. This is the brand of love that ruins lives and then blames the child themselves. He had no redemption arc in my eyes. One has to be blind and delusional to ignore everything and move on just like that. Technically, he should be in jail if you ask me.
Again, nothing is non redeemable in fictional world, but atleast make it feel earned.

Now, the reason why I stuck around was Sasin and Saenkaew. From the first time they met at the train station, their relationship was painted with that deliciously forbidden shade of love. You know the kind of love , that will burn everything in its path including themselves but can't help reaching and giving in the temptation anyways.
Every time they share a frame, there was this unspoken pull. They didn't need words... just intense eye contact, half-smiles and that dangerous proximity that makes you yell at the screen, “Just kiss already!” Their banter, especially early on is gold. I loved the rabbit nickname story! Their connection felt very natural. Even before they understood their feelings, they moved around each other with ease. I enjoyed their banters and I loved how gently they handled each other.

But this isn’t without its storm clouds. For starters, the show is drowning in villains who just seem allergic to both joy and logic. It’s hard to enjoy the love story when more than half the supporting cast are just terrible adults with morals in the mud. I didn't like how people who took terrible and selfish decisions were just redeemed in a single episode. Even if I put on a rose colored lens, the evil caricature-ness behaviour is still visible! In the end, I just got tired with them throwing temper tantrums.

The pacing also wobbles in the second half. It felt a little draggy. I understand they had to give us the angst but this could easily have been 2 episodes shorter! Also, alot of things happened because for plot conveinence rather than actually making sense of it. You have your leads abandoned on a deserted island, miraculous recovery, the infamous everyone knows everything, yet no one knows anything, the last minute change of heart...all conveinence.

Acting was a mixed bag. Pearl as Sasin was very convincing. Both his sassy and emotional side shined through. But Peak as Saenkaew could have been better. I felt he was too stiff and a bit melancholic even in the playful scenes. Supporting casts were also decent like Pin, Sasin's friends but others veered too far into melodrama.
Production seemed decent and cinematography was beautiful, capturing that period drama essence very well.

Overall, it's the romance between the leads that carried the drama and somehow overshadowed the clunky subplots. It's a mess but a chaotic one and that's the part of the charm I guess.
Ohhh the drama can be frustrating ( I am not even exaggerating) and some characters deserve permanent exile, but when Sasin looks at Saenkaew like he is the only light left in the world, all those flaws kind of melt away.

It’s not perfect like few things drenched in moonlight ever are but it is entertaining. I will recommend it if you are okay with thai lakorn style storytelling (over the top, dramatic, soap opera-ish).

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For mature audience (not in a sexy way)

PSA: One thing that I really appreciate on MDL is that little thing called "tags". It helps you know what you're getting into before deciding to watch a show. Sometimes, I feel they are misused (I had a little rant about it already actually). But most often, they are used the right way. For example, for this drama, you can clearly see "extramarital affair" as a tag, this will help you know if this is catered to you or not. Take me for example, I wouldn't watch a drama with the tag "heavy torture", then give it a 1star and complain about all that torture in the show. Why? Because that would be immature, and irrational.

This show is about real people, living real situations. It's not a romcom, it's a drama, as in, heavy themes being employed here. It's really well acted, produced and written. I found the story absolutely compelling. All the characters were very 3D, and their motives made all the sense in the world. This type of story is very common place actually, even though it remains a taboo topic (illegitimate children being raised in the household). I am not a cinema buff, but even I was able to appreciate the cinematography. I also never really pay attention to the music, and this time around I was hearing it and appreciating it (the use of happy music in very bittersweet moments for example).
What I mostly care about in dramas are the acting and the story. I already gave my opinion on the story, very good.
As for the acting, all the actors did a really good job, especially the two leads. I've known Tanaka Kei from Ossan's Love, let me tell you, this guy can act. You will see a completely different character, deeper, darker and also more restrained. But Matsumoto Wakana (FL) definitely gave him a run for his money, she is great in this.

IN SUMMARY: Watch this if (1) you are a grown up who wants to see grown ups going through grown up things, (2) you know fiction is supposed to make us think of situations that may or may not have happened, so that we can walk a mile in someone else's shoes, (3) you're just a cheating cheater who cheats ;D
PS: there are worse things someone can do to their spouse than cheating. Like raping them for example. Just sayin'

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Indigo no Yoru is my all time favorite drama <3

Most people are unfamiliar with the type of drama. It's a midday drama, so it's targeted towards housewives and stay-at-home-moms. It's a drama that touches on a variety of themes such as marriage, family-life, homosexuality, etc. Not only is it a moving drama, but it is also funny and entertaining. The best part is the cast though. Moriguchi Yoko is a powerful actress who leads the rest of the cast. Along with Kato Kazuki, who as usual is his sexy self. Then there are a variety of fun actors like Takagi Shinpei and Takagi Manpei, Mayame Akihiro, Amano Kosei, Wada Masato, and Kaji Masaki. This is a drama that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something different and fun, but with lots of plot twists and a detective-style feel. Oh, and bonus, it takes place at a host club. How much better can it get?

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Nice cast, but messy series and so many plot holes

First, I really like the Pit Babe cast and I watched all the Boys’ Journey episodes. So it’s sad to see them being so underutilized in a terrible story. The show feels rushed, and it gets worse in the second half of the season. A lot of development happens off screen and there’s no intention of explaining things. I hope the cast will be utilized better in future projects, specially with some changes in “partners”. Nut and Sailub have so much chemistry, and Ping and Garfield was a great surprise in their scenes.
Now, let’s check on some loose threads:
North and Sonic: Are they a couple? Are they just friends? The series had no interest in trying to answer that because they needed another scene to try to create chemistry for Alan and Jeff. It’s wasted time because that chemistry never materialized.
Babe’s dad: Why? There’s no payoff with him being alive. How did he end up being part of the “cure” team? How did Jeff get to know him and the doctor that helped to fake Charlie’s death? I feel like that was a major plot hole. He just briefly mentions knowing them.
Pete/Kenta/Way: Does Pete like Kenta back? Did Pete like Way or just cared/was worried for him?
Guns that are not used: Why does Tony and his team not kill people?! Tony’s plans would’ve all worked out if he just shot people. Every single plan from Team Babe goes wrong and they end up with guns pointed at them, but the bad guys never shoot. That makes zero sense! We saw Tony killing a child with a sword in the last episode, he definitely would give the ok to just kill random people, like Alan, Kim, North and Sonic.
Also, why would Tony let Kim go?! Unless it was Kenta who helped him escape… but that’s doesn’t get mentioned.
All the kids from the Foundation: what happens to the kids? Did they get rescued? What about the kids that were already sold?

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Why stop at second chances?

A light but enjoyable watch for me. Even though it was 40 minutes per episode like a regular drama, it felt like a web drama production. The plot moved at a good pace, and the issues were resolved quickly. Some silliness here and there but overall, the humor was good. It did come across as a lower-budget drama and the sets and props were not impressive. However, what the show lacked in budget, it made up with good fight scenes and lovely outfits, particularly notable in the dresses, accessories and hair-styles for the FL.

The story was interesting, and refreshingly unique. There has been a lot of "second chances" dramas lately but this one went beyond that with the opportunities to "do-over" in multiple episodes.

The romance was sweet and the leads looked good together, with the chemistry between them adding to the appeal. I liked the leads - both seemed pretty new and could certainly use more experience improving their acting. However, the potential is there, and they already have a good start with their good looks and charisma. Hankiz Omar is gorgeous, and Yan Xu Jia is attractive even though I think he could have been styled better, especially his wig.

The OST was nice, my favorite was the romantic song (不宣 - Bù Xuān: Unannounced by 司鴻博 - Si Hongbo) that came on during the poignant scenes between the leads.

The supporting cast felt mostly amateurish and certain characters were over-the-top annoying for the most part. However, the ending was good, wrapping things up, showing character development for most. Given how fast-paced the show was, the ending felt appropriate rather than rushed.

Overall, I would recommend this if you are looking for a light-hearted and engaging diversion.

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