Reviews

Strong Start that Petered Out in the Middle But Came Swinging for the Fences at the End

Wanted something cybercrime-CSI-ish and this seemed to fit the bill. Didn't know anyone in the cast save for actor who played ZY and Xu Lu a bit from previous series. Had a strong beginning that petered out in the middle only to come out swinging for the fences in the final 3 episodes. Definitely needs a season 2 with the same cast to properly finish the cliffhanger.

Pros: Probably the first drama ever that I will say had a really catchy opening theme that I didn't fast forward before I get into favorite character and other things. It made you actually anticipate what you were going to watch even when that failed to deliver. Favorite character was the ML or QH; man had the patience of a saint and his straight path towards justice and finding out who wronged his best friend and Godmother were beyond admirable. Next favorite character was Ms. Lin the lawyer; even though she didn't know until pretty much the end that her boyfriend was a class A douchebag, she never changed her morality or ethics towards her partners or friends.

Though I liked CM in the very beginning and once he got on board with QH, his whole arc with MT was very unnecessary. The two ladies who worked in QH's office were alright additions and out of the villains, the only ones that made any real sense were MPC and LB, though the latter needs season 2 to figure out. Had some semblance of comedy here and there and meaningful moments of care between the protagonists.

Cons: This plot took a nosedive in the middle and became very boring and confusing. The MT/CM arc (shoving a relationship into somewhere it didn't belong) just like the MT/General arc were unnecessary and very confusing. We assume it was the General who scammed Godmother in the beginning though there's no real confirmation or admission of that. ZY also an alright character; great in the beginning but then was dumbed down into an arrogant and dumb kid who spilled personal information to complete strangers online. None of it made any sense given the industry he worked in and the responsibility placed on his shoulders. He regrew his brains towards the end.

For seasoned hackers, they couldn't pick up on pretty obvious things and it just slowed the entire show down. When they "killed" the General off, he should have stayed dead. Bringing him back just to give the running of the bulls ending some semblance of action after a lackadaisical middle that was constantly seeing QH getting nailed by one villain after another by pretty much brain dead problems, was honestly laughable. Instead, in the last episode the General nearly beats QH and CM to death and then is just nonchalantly arrested. And still the LB plot was not exposed so the reasoning is that there will be a season 2? Writer and director must have gotten drunk together.

Would I recommend it? I'm not sure to be honest. TJC did a great job as QH, so much so that I want to see him in other, better things. So if you're a fan of his, maybe you'll like this too. The beginning and end were the strongest even with the open-ended cliffhanger finale, the middle could have been totally cut and you probably wouldn't have missed much. So decide for yourselves.

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I will start of by saying this is one of the best drama I have watch in a long time, sure there was some minor plot holes that other people have mention in there reviews (like how an abandon building isn't covered in graffiti and still has clues left behind), but it wasn't enough to destroy the strong story.

For both the leads, I think this is their strongest role yet, even the minor characters who are forgettable in the beginning but turn out to be a main player in the story. I have yet to see such a strong cast from the leads to the support, in most cases, some dramas have strong lead but very weak support character that kind of ruin the entire show. I was also surprised at how Kim Dong Jun acted, at first I was sketchy mainly because most idol actor are just there to improved the rating and most time the idol actor/actress are just pretty to look at but very bad at acting. ( I won't name names but Master's Sun had an idol actor that, to me, might as well have been edited out cause it was so bad)

The music was not overpowering and complemented well with the story line, but it wasn't something I would search up to listen to again.

I don't particularly like re-watching dramas, however because I liked the drama so much I wouldn't mind re-watching it again with other people.

I think I would have given the story 10/10 instead of 9.5/10 if they had shown Han Moo Gan alive again (*SPOILER ALERT* because Black cease to exist in people's memories and so it changed how Ha Ram was borned, but shouldn't also affect the real Han Moo Gan because then he wouldn't go back to Korea to search the truth) I also would have like to see who Ha Ram was married to and what happened to Leo after he died and how Oh Man Soo ended up. But I guess if they did that, they would need more episodes, so I guess I'll just leave it to my imagination.

BTW, not to be rude but during the last two episodes Go Ah Ra gained a lot of weight. She still looked very cute but it kind of made me realize that I was watching a TV show probably filmed over weeks and months. Not that it was bad, but I was so in the zone while I was watching and then she showed up looking very different than how she was one scene ago.

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Perfect Romantic Couple

If you’re looking for romance then this is definitely the drama to watch. The georgeous Park Min Young does it again with another brilliant role. I love the way she approaches romantic roles. I love her as a confident woman who loves with everything she has. Her portrayal of Sung Deok Mi, an art museum curator/fangirl, was fun to watch. Kim Jae Wook portrayal of Ryan Gold, the director of the museum, was the other half of this couple in love. These two will show you what a relationship should be. Amazing chemistry, each committed to the other, with honesty and caring.

I’m not going to nitpick the things I didn’t like, it would be a disservice to the great acting. Don’t let the side stories or the comedy get in the way. They are just there to create some drama and fun while the romance in unfolding. There are a lot of emotional moments over family and past events. Some of these moments will make you sad and some will pull your heartstrings. They all contribute to the beautiful story of two people falling in love.

There is enough chemistry to satisfy anyone who believes in true love.

Did I mention there were some steamy kisses?

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Story: A simple love story. If you are saturated with all those personality disorder, psychological thriller, alien, ghost,action, historical and mystery type romances that are all the rage nowadays and just want to get back to a simple straight-forward modern romance with a happy ending, this movie is the one for you. Kang In-Jun is a simple man who works hard to afford a home in Busan. He dreams of one day settling down and spending his days growing old with his girlfriend in that house. However, his girlfriend - a traveling photojournalist, hopes to spend the rest of her life traveling with her love one. Due to this incompatibility in life direction, one day his girlfriend packed her bags and left to see the world without him. Her first stop - Shanghai. Still very much in love, he travels to Shanghai in hopes of finding and conciliating with her. While in Shanghai, he meets Zhu-Lie - a woman who is about to get engaged but found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. Through an accident, Kang In-Jun and Zhu-Lie ended up living together. Hence, begins a love story between the two.

Acting/Cast: I have no complains for the acting of the main couple. Zhu-Lie seems to exhibit more emotion towards In-Jun who seems to be the naive, honest-to-goodness Busan boy type character. The only person with acting problem is the guy who plays the role of Zhu-Lie's friend who can speak Korean...it was obvious he's new and his acting was odd at places. Other than that, everyone's done a good job. There were a couple of odd 'bridging' scenes where ppl do not speak (or speak little) and just look at each other with multiple expressions on their faces. I put that down to the awkwardness of communication when one is speaking Mandarin and another, Korean. That can be interpreted as a natural scene in real life when you have ppl speaking different languages trying to communicate to each other. You'll end up using nonverbal communication and one letter words instead. The actors and actresses in this movie use 3 languages:- Korean, Mandarin and English. If you ask me, where international romances are involved, this is a very normal situation.

Music: Love the OST sung by Park Si-Hoo and the faster beat ending OST.

Rewatch value: I give this a pretty high rewatch value simply because it's a movie. This is an easy watch -simple love story and just require 1 hour and 45 mins of your time. Some ppl complain about the slower pace but I find the pace acceptable. I've watched many melodramas, a bit of an expert in Chinese movies (hence used to their style of story-telling) and trust me when I say the pace of this movie is much better than a typical melodrama. Everything flows nicely towards an ending that did not feel rushed. If you are bored out in a weekend and just want to watch something passable and uncomplicated, this is the movie for you.

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Sexy, sweet & visually stunning tale of baby drama

Gosh I am excited to have found this MDL page because I have been wanting to write a review of this vertical drama. I watched Have Babies for the first time on Christmas 2024 & have watched this drama repeatedly ever since.

What I liked:
1. Visuals - Wow, what a visually stunning couple. Han Jia Hui is gorgeous (love her cheekbones) while Ke Chun is handsome (I get distracted by his big lips & raspy voice). Both actor & actress look extremely beautiful together. FL's outifts looked good on her & suit her character.
2. Romance - There are 2 intimate scenes and both times were hot. Even though there were not many kisses, the couple was affectionate with each other. I really enjoyed the playful banter between FL & ML.
3. Acting - I must say I was impressed by both Han Jia Hui & Ke Chun's acting. The scene in which ML told FL about his hidden identity was emotional & conveyed well. It's also great to see both of them in comedic & dramatic scenes. I became a fan of Han Jia Hui & Ke Chun and started watching their other dramas.
4. Supporting characters - I really like ML's sister. She bonded really well with FL & it was fun watching her scenes with FL & ML. I also like ML's mum especially the store scene. The child actors & actress were so adorable. I also like ML's assistant.
5. Pacing - Well paced & light drama. I watched this drama in one sitting.

What I disliked:
1. FL's ex - His proposal is just silly and darn too late.

Favourite scene:
When FL showed her wedding gown to her children & that playful banter afterwards.

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Anthology is a freaking love story that we might dream of but will never happen in our damn life.
One was a surprisingly good actor and his voice was just.... hawt
He is already in his middle 20s but he went on well with being a student and I loved it.
The chemistry between the two main characters were something I don't even have to mention (Duh man duh
The only thing that annoyed me (SPOILER ALERT)




should have shown a little grown up of him at the end... It was such an open ending...... UGH

anyways for a romance lover I watched this about 5 times? and Im still not sick of it. RECOMMENDEDDDD

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Not quite what I was expecting. The description I read gave me the impression that Shinigami-Kun somehow saved his charges or rescued the good guys. But that isn't really his job here. Instead he helps them accomplish their final wishes, protect or prepare their loved ones for the future, and generally set things to right. He is kind of like a gentle companion, walking them through the difficult moments and easing the stress of death. I must admit, the thought that someone is there with you at your final moments is comforting.

This show is partly a tear-jerker (people die obviously) and partly humor (poor Shinigami-Kun's confusion about human habits makes for some amusing situations). It helps that there are a couple nods to Soul Eater in the special effects and set design. The music and Shinigami-kun's bow tie also lend a perky, peppy touch to the storyline. Personally, I think they find a great balance between enjoying the funny parts of life and the strangeness of humans versus the solemnity deserved by its topic.

Sweet story. Unique in plot, excellent theme, and well done altogether. It did sometimes randomly drop off a plot point (or character), but we had fun making up stories to explain away the answers, so I can forgive it that sin. There is also the question of why the Shinigami does or does not know the things he knows ~ he understands human behavior, but not what "piss you off" means. He knows the concept of death, but not crabs for dinner. It's a little strange, but mostly just funny.


The star (and his immediate supervisor) were amazing, and I loved the akuma (devil) character (particularly his outfit). Although the speed with which the characters were willing to sell off their souls to a known akuma (devil) requires some suspension of disbelief. But, as Shinigami-Kun says, "He's a surprisingly nice guy!:"

The supernatural elements were surprisingly, well not realistic, but very well-staged overall. I was very impressed. They've come a long way from the early dramas. The supernatural-earth scenes flowed really well, better than I see in most Japanese shows. The guards chasing after the flying suitcase ~ AWESOME! Perhaps not the most suave, sophisticated, or smooth show, but that doesn't detract. It is based on a teenager's manga, and this is reflected in the show's audience. Great for young adults!

BTW--the two guys are HOT! :)

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A one of a kind in kdrama

To be honest, I actually do not like the acting of Lee Soo Hyuk and the female lead. But Jang Ki Yong deserve something big for his acting in this drama. He performed well as a man who only loves one woman, as a son of a serial killer who is being mentally controlled by the father and as the love rival of Lee Soo Hyuk who was also enemies in the past life.

The story is an uncommon one that can only be found in those Thai dramas. But, Jang Ki Yong has saved the whole drama. Not telling that other characters are bad but Jang Ki Yong was the perfect fit for his character in Born Again.

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Aired in 1996, this lakorn reminds me so much of the old-school HK dramas I grew up with, which adds a tinge of sentimental nostalgia to my watch experience. As quite a few viewers have observed in the comments section, this lakorn is a lovely, sweet, sweeping fairytale romance which is also nicely spiced with some kingdom politics and royal court shenanigans. A captivating, quaint and charming lakorn worth watching.

STORY (No spoilers)
Set in a fictional time with three fictional kingdoms just barely maintaining a fine balance amongst each other, this lakorn nicely sets the scene by immediately introducing a key circumstance which threatens to throw this fine balance off-course. The King of Kasik has engaged himself to the Princess of Danta in what looks to be a win-win situation for both countries. Bandurath, stuck in the middle between these two countries, nervously observes in anxious anticipation. On the day when Kasik was to receive the Princess of Danta at the tri-point - the place where all three of the countries were connected - things took an exciting turn when said Princess fled into Bandurath soil to escape from the marriage. Clearly a diplomatic faux pas on epic proportions, this event sets off a whole series of future events and circumstance which would impact all three royal families like never before.

Does this premise sound intriguing? If it does, then you should really consider watching this lakorn despite its 1996-age tag. Yes, the video quality is not as sharp nor as bright and pleasing to the eyes as the newer HD lakorns these days, but I have to admit that considering its over-20 year age tag, it was not a completely fuzzy blur either. The outdoor open-air scenes were more than serviceable in quality with the indoor and night-time scenes being a little more patchy. It was still a decent watch, so if this is a sticking point, be encouraged to give this show a try because it is the story that will pull you in.

Being a romance-junkie, I am naturally a sucker for fairytale romances, especially of fairytale romances done right. This one charmed me off my feet with its delightful characters and simple but nicely-developed story. The romance between our main leads was this slow simmering bubbling burn with the intensity ratcheting up a little more episode by episode, and I don't know about you but I found myself getting goosebumps from it despite its restrained and conservative nature. So delicious!
Our main leads weren't the only ones to have a love story too - there are two other secondary couples also slowly being created alongside our main one. Each couple has its own very different dynamic from the others which can make for a refreshing change to the tempo, if you like that sort of thing. I, for one, was heartily absorbed in our main leads' romance, but I did appreciate the change of scene and intensity whenever it was these couples' turn on-screen. I think I might have slowly self-combusted under the main male lead's smouldering gazes if there was not a change of scene, lol.

And on that note, it is worth mentioning that the pacing in this lakorn is one that is measured and sedate - there are quite a few scenes where the camera takes its time to pan on the scenery or on the characters, which allows the scene to sink in and sit with you. This heightens and draws out the emotional scenes but some people might also find it to be too slow and too draggy. It is definitely a directorial style and dramatic license employed by the production team but I personally think that it adds and builds on the fairytale nature of the show, and therefore appropriate.

The kingdom politics does feature itself fairly regularly in between - inevitable considering the whole setup and premise of the show. It is not too over-powering though, and not too complicated to have lost you either. While some may be tempted to fast-forward through these scenes, I would like to encourage you to try and sit through them because they're not too heavily political but it does lend the show a more weighty and rounded dimension and it gives you added insights into the internal motivations of our characters too. And some of the banter between the ministers of each of the three countries can be rather amusing too.

Which brings me to one of the best parts of the show, in my opinion: the dialogue. I love the dialogue. It's not face-value words but, like your old classic literature, there are implied things and under-tones hidden amongst what is being said, and the repartee between our main leads, or those between the King of Kasik and his two loyal bodyguards (Benli and Rajik), are full of humour and hidden, implied statements. Such witty and clever banter is such a rarity in shows these days that I particularly appreciated and enjoyed it here. And the King of Kasik's romantic lines? Goosebumps-inducing stuff.

Final word on the production value. Not very high but I personally think it was decent considering its time and the scale of the story's setting. I surprisingly liked the unpretentious nature of this show but I also acknowledge that there are weaknesses in some of its sets. Minor issue for me, but I know this is a subjective opinion.  


ACTING/ CAST
While the show does provide generous amounts of screen-time for our main leads, it didn't forget to also allow its supporting and side characters to shine by giving them space to grow too. There are plenty of different personalities in this show, which is one of the things which make it charming for me because they add a lot of variety and spice. No real cardboard cut-out characters or crazy antagonists here. Another refreshing change from your modern-day lakorns. Each character down to the ministers, the bodyguards and the ladies-in-waiting were nicely and humanly portrayed, which helps to make this show come alive.

Spotlight on the main leads:
NAT MYRIA BENEDETTI as Darshika, Princess of Bandurath, was a good casting choice. She was beautiful and carried herself regally throughout the show, befitting her character as the intelligent, noble and strong-willed princess who captured the heart of a King. I loved her character in this show, and I loved how Nat portrayed her throughout. She was entirely believable as someone born into royalty from birth and given all the education and teaching in kingdom politics and operations so that she would be an able support and helper to her brother, the Crown Prince of Bandurath. She had the haughty dignity of her station, but could also be warm and kind to those serving around and under her. In short, she was royalty personified. Well done to Nat here.

NUM SORNRAM TAPPITUK  as Rangsimant, King of Kasik, was also great casting choice. His complexion, his hair and his looks which gave him a tribal, warrior-type vibe was very appropriate for the savage reputation of Kasikans. Especially when you contrast him with the Crown Prince of Bandurath who had a very european look (the Bandurathian royal family have very european looks in this show - nice consistent casting call here).
I liked how Num was able to show so many sides to this initially enigmatic and mysterious King. There were so many rumours about him, and his reputation as a savage had definitely preceded him, so it was interesting to see whether he would live up to them or not. Num did have this aura of command, and his serious, stern facade added weight to his kingly character. But it was his ability to show how differently Rangsimant's approach to Darshika was (which was very sweet) that sold his character for me. You could see his passionate, tender and caring side through his interactions with her. The soulful, smouldering looks he gives her, coupled with his romantic lines, can genuinely incur goosebumps. His King of Kasik was my favourite character in this lakorn - many thanks to Num for bringing him to life here!


MUSIC
I liked the music in this show. The background score reminds me very much of the old epic HK dramas I used to watch - very much a product of its time but one which I enjoyed. I also liked the songs in this show - those with vocals or their instrumental versions. I thought the background music and score were generally very well-employed throughout the show and there were some scenes which were made a lot more impactful because of them. Nicely done.


RE-WATCH VALUE
I don't have many Asian fairytale romance dramas in my database to enjoy so this show has entered my store of shows with a very high re-watch value as a result. Dated production value aside, this show has been enthralling, captivating and charming. I wished I had more episodes of it to watch, gah.

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Bittersweet

This movie although having many erotic scenes has some pretty deep meanings in it. The lack of love and attention from parents results in many issues among women and men alike. This is very true for Sawako because she's trying to fill that void she feels from the lack of attention she gets from her father. The dialogue and acting is very nice and sometimes it's funny, and sometimes it's kinda philosphical. Then you throw in a little bit of those steamy romance novels in it and viola you have Te. There is romance in it but it's not a fluffy and sweet movie. It contains many taboo subjects such as infidelity and our main characters have a sense of realism in them as they are far from perfect. The main takeaway from this movie is how the main character Sawako discovers her inner self and grows as a person, and how she tackles her issues. And lastly....wow! This movie is steamy steamy!

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Well I would have given a slightly higher review if the ending was less messier. IT felt rushed? I won't actually say rushed but for me it just ended slightly abruptly. I mean it was supposed to be like that I guess from the story but still.

Also at the beginning I really didn't like the second male lead he was almost not there and suddenly he formed feelings for our FL? How did that happen? And the worse part? By the last episode I was actually rooting for him, mainly cuz our ML was literally missing for 3-4 eps!!!!

Before all of that I was highly rooting for the OTP and shipping them hard. She brought a really cute side of him out.

For people who are discouraged by the reviews, don't be. This drama is actually good. The whole story has a very realistic edge to it and the FL is relate-able and the way our OTP falls in love is very natural. This is one of the only dramas I've watched where the falling in love part is very natural. You could totally imagine it happening to you too (it's just that we're not that lucky enough). Their relationship is very healthy. Their breakup is also because of natural terms which makes you wonder that it can happen to anyone. It is not cause by nonsensical matters. Except for the last few eps I totally totally loved the story. I also loved how the side characters matured on their own too. Senior Li was by far my favorite side character. He was such a cutie. There are no character you hate in this story. Just real human beings who have real flaws. Which makes it more realistic.

Another main factor, the acting of the FL. You are gonna love her. She's one of those characters that you cannot help but actually love. There are no cliche acting in here at all. Everyone acts out their parts perfectly adn the ML's smile *swoon*

Finally don't feel discouraged by the teacher-student tag. They are not exactly teacher and student. For those who like me hate those kind of stories, he's actually someone like a teacher's assistant and PhD student in the university who's covering classes for the main lecturer. Though they do have a tiny bit of an age gap. It doesn't sound exactly scandalous as the synopsis says XD

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this was just a weird and captivating movie. just from the beginning you are like wot is going on. every crazy goon has their own weirdness. one walks backwards, one eats alot, one is obsessessed, one steals emotions and one is a cyborg. i mean all this crazys in one spot. i love rain generally but in this show i loved the cyborg most. the two were the best but this girl is talented. i also loved her in a tale of two sisters she's awsome. and to think that shes 32 two years older than rain is incredible. she looks young. rain did a great job being a loon himself he cared for her and wanted to help her eat. the door scene on her back was so creative. the kiss scene gave me chills i had to replay only coz its rain. anyways this movie is weird, crazy and confusing but ul get hooked.

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A Lesson About Love In Tokyo...

It’s a romance formula that has been seen and done countless times before ; the naive and eccentric country girl arrives in the “ big city” ( in this case Tokyo), develops a crush on someone older than her / out of her league, makes a frenemy and is totally oblivious to the second male lead’s evident feelings for her in every way possible.

Taken frown the eponymous and popular Japanese manga series,Daytime Shooting Star is the epitome of the typical high school romance formula - binding cliches , romantic triangles and a fairly good cast together in hope of making a profitable production . Yet it will probably come to your attention both through the synopsis and previous comments, where the more ethical issue issue lies within the plot and certainly if it will ruin your experience of the overall movie.

Before coming to that point, it’s important to say that our main cast did bring the movie to life through a mixture of comedy and angst on the big screen; Mei Nagano was brilliant as our main female lead, Suzume Yasano- a country girl with a big heart desperate to make friends in the city, whilst costars Alan Shirahama ( playing taciturn high schooler Mimura) , Shohei Miura ( as teacher and Suzume’s crush Satsuki Shishio) and Maika Yamamoto ( who plays Suzume’s frenemy - turned best friend Yuyuka Nekota) were all fairly good within their performances.

What still remains prominent in terms of storyline for viewers, however, is Suzume’s relationship with her teacher Satsuki. Teacher- Student / older lead and younger lead have long been a popular trope in romance dramas ( note Chugakusei Nikki and Hello My Teacher for examples) , however, determining if they’re “ right” for a piece or not should really depend on several significant factors; the age difference between the characters, the purpose of this relationship and what the intended message by the director or screenwriter is for this relationship. ( For example, in Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta, this isn’t sugarcoated and is used to deliver a lesson about life.)

As far as Daytime Shooting Star is concerned, the age difference between Suzume and Satsuki is officially never brought up, however, the implications are strong that he is a lot older . The way the storyline goes, Suzume’s crush on Satsuki and Satsuki’s actions are both questionable and interesting, as Suzume. begins to understand more about Mimura’s feelings - the ending is perhaps not the one many viewers saw at the beginning, however, Suzume’s ending is fittingly sweet and happy.

Overall, not an original concept but certainly sugary sweet and a guilty watch - the element of Suzume’s growth as an individual is quite inspiring, however, there are some issues which are nonetheless raised by parings.

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This is now one of my favourite mini-dramas/web series, it was only 3 episodes long (around 11 mins per ep.) so it is perfect to watch in between longer dramas or if your in a drama slump, and cannot find anything to watch, or if you simply don't have enough time to commit to watching a 16+ episode drama. It is really sweet and was really pleasant to watch, I do wish it was a little longer, I hope they make a season 2. Overall I thought the main leads were really cute together and I will definitely watch this again! Also I rated it a 10, not because I thought it was the most amazing drama I have ever watched, because obviously there is only so much you can fit into a 3 episode series, however if I measure it against other web dramas I have watched, I rated it 10 since I enjoyed it so much!

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