Reviews

It's a long time I watched Rom-Com drama and really Enjoy it, WOW I love every character of HPL, especially the lead role, I cannot stop thinking they are real life couple, to be honest, even they just stand beside each other but I feel so much by that simple action, his voice his gaze, KJW plays character Ryan Gold the best, I really love his acting it seems like he was really in love with Deokmi thier chemistry is lit and another level compare to the male lead PMY play with so far, with KJW she act really cute and comfort together like it was so real. OMG. the plot isn't that bad, it really fun watching and I will re-watch it again and again for real. The chemistry between KJW & PMY is amazing that melting my heart to dust, love them so much. Please cast them in another drama again!

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Strong murder plot that is hampered by terrible pacing and lackluster acting.

It's your typical manga turned Jdrama adaptation. Hire actors where specs trump acting capability. What starts off strong as a murder revenge plot quickly turns sour due to terrible pacing. It was actually good in the first half, especially around episode 4 or 5 or so, but then becomes mediocre due to a shoehorned love triangle and a pregnancy. It's supposed to be romance but there was no chemistry at all between the leads. The female lead was marginally better than her male lead who wears a poker face the whole time. I felt nothing when they broke up. On the one hand, it was supposed to be a murder mystery but on the hand, it was a bad soap opera. The ending was at least ok. I ended up caring more for Tsubaki's mom than his whole relationship with Nao.

The gist of drama is Hanaoka Nao goes undercover under a false alias and a fake marriage contract with her childhood crush Takatsuki Tsubaki at the Kogetsuan, the place where her mother last worked. Her mom was wrongly accused of a crime she didn't commit. Nao wants to undercover what really happened to the late heir to Kogetsuan and why and how he was killed and ultimately salvage her mother's name. From there, the pacing just falls apart. On paper, the plot sounds great.

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I laughed like crazy!

I started watching this drama because of the typical story: a secretary, a bastard boss and so on.
I ended up laughing like crazy because of the ML manners, the way he talks, the way he behaves (when he lifts his leg to open the bin, come on!!). And the FL suddenly becomes a new person who is not afraid to tell what she wants because she thinks she's running out of time. That wonderful episode when she goes to his house and hits him with onions? That was pure gold! What I mean is that there were several scenes which I didn't really expect to watch, so they ended up being the best ones.
I also think that there are things which could have been better because, from my point of view, they ended the story too fast or didn't focus in important things. The way they solved everything in the last chapter was a little odd. They decided not to deepen in the character's relationship. Everything was packed with everyone's goodwill. Why didn't they allow us to see what happens with Shin-A's dad and friends, for example?
In any case, I liked the drama and I laughed a lot! The music, especially "I'm crazy", was wonderful. The acting was very good, specially for the ML lead, who I think did an amazing job.
I recommend you watch it, since you will laugh a lot.

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I am aware that this is a remake of a Korean drama and the production team did not have the liberty to change the plot as they please. I usually only watch remakes of Kdramas that I loved but I made an exemption for this one. I don't have a comparison with the original story line in this review.

The storyline is not novel but I am a sucker for older woman-younger man romances (noona romance!). It did not have so much plot to offer compared to other noona romances that dealt with external factors of the relationship. It was more focused on how Najai would accept her feelings for Tofu. A bonus though is that I have unexpectedly liked Rachanu and her baby daddy. They looked so cute together. I wish we got to see more of that relationship too. Kan and Kiss shouldn't be back together. I was so happy she returned that necklace to dump him but I was wrong.

I wished they could've cut the chase about Najai's feelings and gave us more cute scenes with our leads and we see how their relationship progressed. It felt like they pushed everything on the last episode. But I still loved the slow-paced tone of the drama though. No major highs and lows. The opening score in every episode fits the show perfectly. It lowkey feels like a warm cup of coffee on a rainy day.

New always have had great chemistry with his co-stars. He and Pancake are good actors but they kinda lacked that burning chemistry I was expecting. This does not have so much fluff so if you're looking for something like that then this is not the drama for you.

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Let me be honest by saying when I first started watching this drama, I put it on hold during the first episode. I decided to go back to it recently and finished it. I must admit that I regret putting it on hold on. It was a really great drama and with one of my favorite female lead actresses. I loved the male lead as well.

A few thing that I cannot stand in drama
1. long misunderstandings - misunderstandings were resolved fairly
2. fake kisses - the kisses in this drama were steamy! :-)
3. female leads acting all shy and coy - not a problem in this drama

I loved that the male lead was an emotional person. His love language was definitely touch. This drama gave you a glimpse into fan girls, which I found extremely interesting.

If you like steamy kisses; hot male lead that can add; minimal understandings then this drama is for you. If you do not like those things..umm keep it pushing and move on to the next drama.

Happy watching!! :-)

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Disappointing.

Despite the interesting premise, the execution did not work for me. The pacing was too rushed, and because of this, many character actions seemed inconsistent, and the emotional moments didn’t have enough time to develop properly. Scenes moved from one plot point to another very quickly, so the relationships and motivations often felt unfinished.

What bothered me the most was Xiao Shuhe and the way his character was written. It felt like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to use Duan Zi Ang or not, or if he wanted to take part in politics or stay away from it. Then his brother killed their father and even tried to kill him, but Shuhe still acted upset when Duan Zi Ang killed the brother. And also, Duan Zi Ang killed the only other heir, and then expected Shuhe to just leave the kingdom and be with him?!

Shuhe's brother also behaved in a very strange way. Maybe with better development his actions would make more sense, but because everything happened so fast, his outbursts looked sudden and cringey. The acting of his guard didn’t help either, so those scenes became even more awkward.

The Prime Minister's character was all over the place too. What did that man even want???

When Duan Zi Ang took Shuhe back to his kingdom, the story flow became a little better, and I could finally see the direction the drama wanted to take. However, the final dinner scene was really confusing. Suddenly they all sat together like friends, even though just one day earlier they were scheming against each other, and even afterward they still continued to work against each other. It was so weird and unfitting.

Overall, I think the drama has a good concept, and with more time or stronger character development it could be much more engaging. But because of the rushed storytelling, inconsistent character behavior, and some very odd plot-points, I couldn’t connect with it as much as I hoped.

If this wasn't BL people would tear it apart with criticism, but I personally cannot force myself to appreciate it the way it is. The main leads looked good together and their acting was alright, and it was visually pretty, but that's it.

Still hoping that one day we'll get a proper costume BL with satisfying and well developed story.

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not as good as its predecessor

I really, really wanted to like this series. I loved the first one and I thought sure, surely, the writing for this one will be just as good.

Sadly, I was wrong.

And it was the writing that let it down. All the acting was on point. The entire cast knocked it out of the park, so to speak, even if the script they had to work with was dodgy. The music was beautiful, the editing good and the story itself, if it had been translated into the script better, would've worked.

The plot involved Shi De and Shu Yi meeting again after five years. After unexpectedly having to stay in the U.S. for two years, rather than two months, Shi De comes back and runs into Yi's father, who has confiscated Yi's phone. He tells De, in less subtle terms, that he's not good enough for Yi, which brings back a whole lot of insecurities that De already had about their relationship and he agrees to stay away from Yi for five years.

Three years after that, De is running the successful Hua Cing Technology company on behalf of this mother, when who should walk in the door to oversee the company's merger with Cheng Yi Group?

What follows is the rekindling of Shu Yi and Shi De's relationship along with some incidental corporate espionage thrown in to make it all more dramatic.

My main problem with this series is the writing. I don't know what Lin Pei Yu was thinking with this. I was confused so many times about when scenes took place in the timeline. Non-linear storytelling is fine, but it needs to be clear and concise and this was neither. Scenes were just thrown in and we were just supposed to, what? Intuit that they were set in the past?

Also, whilst in a visual medium you always want to try and show rather than tell, you have to actually show things so people understand them. I don't want to just make assumptions - I want it to be clear that I'm making the *right* assumptions. And I shouldn't have to go on social media to find out what the writer is trying to show. I shouldn't have to reference other media to understand the one I'm watching.

Why did Shu Yi suddenly forgive Shi De between one episode and the next? Why did Pei Shou Yi go from (apparently??) rejecting to accepting Yu Zhen Xuan in the space of about five minutes? Come to that, why is Pei Shou Yi running a bar instead of being a Doctor? Did I miss the explanation for that?

Was that blonde woman actually Ashley? I assume so. Is Ashley Shi De's stepsister? Is she the nanny? My assumption is stepsister. Why throw in that special episode and answer no questions about it? Because Shu Yi has decided that he trusts Shi De (apparently out of nowhere) that means we, the audience, don't get to know?

Tell me how I did with my assumptions, show. Tell me!

A smaller, yet as important problem, is also the casual ableism that runs through this series. Yu Zhen Yuan has real feelings for Pei Shou Yi, but they are dismissed as him being "crazy" because Shou Yi thinks Zhen Yuan suffers from filial imprinting, paranoia (which we see no signs of) , Aspergers, mild depression and prone to autotomy (which apparently means Zhen Yuan is prone to cutting his own limbs off.)

Pei Shou Yi makes all these diagnoses despite the fact that he wasn't a psychologist and hasn't been an actual medical doctor in years.

It's like the writer just went for an out-of-date DSM and randomly picked things she thought would make the character as woobie as possible.

And, even assuming that all these diagnoses are correct, that still wouldn't mean Zhen Yuan's feelings for Shou Yi aren't real. To claim so is ableist and wrong.

Pei Shou Yi himself says he suffers from an affective disorder (but never specifies which one) but if he suddenly declared he had feelings for Zhen Yuan, nobody would call him crazy.

A third series was teased, and I'd like to see Bing Wei and Zhe Yu's wedding, because that proposal scene was lovely and they're the most sensible couple on this show.

I can't give this as high a rating as 'No. 1 For You', but I still rate this highly and I did enjoy most of it. It is fairly re-watchable and I give this my sincere recommendation.

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So I guess im the first one to write a review about this drama. Lets start with im glad its over. That was long and tedious.the cast was great and the acting was good. In the beginning its too intense and u will find urself hating tae wons family especially the grandma.after a while when the dust has settled around the 15th episode, things start changing direction and peoples characters change.
The grandmas character doesn't change but shes more tolerable and funny how shes so mad and how she makes faces and sounds.
The little girl seul gi is the center of the show coz everything revolves around her. She did an awesome job being in all 40 episodes and maintaining her character.
The mom eun soo is stubborn but her conviction and strong morals are impressive.
The other sister hyeon soo is just complicated and no one can change her.
Ahjumma turned out to be my favorite to watch coz the things she says under her breath are hilarious I dont know how she survived living with grandma and the aunt.
The rest of the cast did good and in the end it doesnt turn out how we first expected but its satisfactory. I couldnt stop watching coz the previews would be juicy.

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This was one of those cute dramas. You know, where the main couple just love each other. They can't love each other, obviously, because he's human and she's a nymph, but they do anyway, and it's beautiful. Ton is a kind, understanding man who will do anything for his friends and his love, and Vana is a kind, beautiful Nymph who just wants to save her friends and the forest. They're perfect for each other, and there's no fighting, no misunderstandings; any conflict comes from outside forces, not from themselves. The two of them band together to fight the bad guy and so we follow their journey; that's the plot. But they have a connection immediately, and so their relationship grows from there. There are also two secondary couples as well as the main couple, and they are both also really lovely to watch. Frustrating sometimes (Ton's friend Yoghurt is super annoying at first but she gets better), and more generic than the main couple, but overall funny and sweet.

I would say that it's not an overly original drama but that it doesn't feel cliched in a bad way.

Now, there are characters you don't even need to watch. I fully admit that once I got to episode 6 or so, I just started fast forwarding straight past the rich mother/father pair (who were meant to be humorous but all of their scenes were either the father cheating on his wife, or the wife screeching about something), the douchebag and mistress pair, and even sometimes the evil witch and his cronies. It's the kind of drama where seeing those scenes at triple speed and not reading every single subtitle is fine because there's nothing you can't figure out when Ton and Vana are next on screen anyway.

The special effects were about what you'd expect. I've definitely seen worse.

I would rewatch this but just Ton and Vana's scenes, just to watch them stare into each others eyes and look beautiful. Those actors had chemistry, I hope I can see both of them in more dramas to come. It helps that they're both very attractive.

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This is a typical anime heroic story line, secret hero of the oppressed dressed in over the top European clothes and long flowing Purple hair. Your basic BL story (but then copped out and used a FL that everyone refers to as a boy). Mind you this doesn't stop Gackt from kissing another man.

Over the top camp (cheese, what ever you want to call it) story involving love for your crappy home town even though everyone else thinks that place is the pits. Great Cast, great shout out to huge names in Japanese entertainment From Chiba and Saitama. I love a movie that doesn't take itself seriously and is made out of love and fun.

Make sure to watch then end credits and song lyrics.

This review will self destruct in 5 seconds. ; )

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A Heartfelt Ode to Macau

Begin Again is a charming drama aired during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to China after over 400 years of Portuguese rule. Beyond being a simple drama, it serves as a love letter to Macau, showcasing the city’s idyllic lifestyle, unique culinary heritage, and cultural blend of East and West. Macau is also a unique confluence of Mandarin and Cantonese, and the drama beautifully highlights this linguistic duality, adding depth and authenticity to its portrayal of the city.

Set against Macau’s slower-paced lifestyle—a stark contrast to the hustle of nearby metropolises like Hong Kong and Shenzhen—the series weaves its story through vibrant visuals of local delicacies, historic landmarks, and contemporary attractions. Its promotional intent is clear, and it delivers beautifully on this front.

Storyline
The narrative takes its time to introduce the four main characters, whose chance meetings evolve into meaningful connections. While the overarching plot takes a backseat to Macau’s scenic and cultural showcase, the character interactions provide a gentle framework for the drama’s progression.

֍ Mai You Ge (Amy Chen): An advertising executive in Macau to oversee a promotional video project for an international hotel. Lost in a foreign city where she doesn’t speak the language, she meets Xu Jun Le (Sunny Sun), a charismatic local who doubles as her informal guide and companion.
֍ Chen Jia Hui (Zhong Chu Xi): An art director and artist representing Macau’s glamorous and artistic side. She crosses paths with Han Jun Hao (Elvis Han), a professional race car driver in town for the thrilling Macau Grand Prix. Their first encounter—a spontaneous and adrenaline-fueled motorcycle race—sets the stage for a story brimming with speed and passion.
֍ The third and quirkier subplot involves a hotel manager who finds herself babysitting an 8-year-old Eurasian boy—a piano prodigy preparing for a recital.

Each storyline feels secondary to Macau itself, which remains the true star of the show.

What Worked
The drama shines in its portrayal of Macau as a city of contrasts—new and old, glamorous and traditional, East and West. The slow-paced, idyllic lifestyle is a refreshing escape, and the sumptuous local cuisine is almost a character of its own.

֍ Cultural Representation: Through Mai You Ge’s wide-eyed exploration, viewers are treated to a culinary and cultural feast. Her onscreen enthusiasm for food is contagious.
֍ Character Diversity: Each character offers a different lens on Macau. Chen Jia Hui embodies sophistication and high society, Han Jun Hao captures the adrenaline-pumping excitement of the Macau Grand Prix and the city’s thrill-seeking side, and Mai You Ge represents those yearning to escape the chaos of modern life. However, the standout is Xu Jun Le (Sunny Sun), whose carefree, carpe diem attitude is infectious. His simple yet rich life philosophy resonates deeply.
֍ Language Differences: Though both Mandarin and Cantonese are considered Chinese, their spoken forms are vastly different—almost like separate languages. The drama cleverly highlights the nuances of these differences, often using them as a source of humor. Misunderstandings due to language barriers and differing terminology provide moments of levity and authenticity, giving viewers insight into the cultural and linguistic richness of Macau.
֍ Cinematography: The city is beautifully shot, with an emphasis on its blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy. The Grand Prix scenes, in particular, are brimming with energy, capturing the electrifying rush of high-speed racing and the iconic atmosphere of the event.

What Could Be Improved
While the child actor playing the young Eurasian boy performs admirably, his babysitter Casey suffers from awkward and stilted dialogue. Additionally, Isabella (Lisa-Marie Tse) feels overly exaggerated, making her scenes slightly uncomfortable to watch.

Final Thoughts
Don’t expect a gripping or intricate plot from Begin Again—its primary goal is to promote Macau, and it excels in this role. The lighthearted stories of the characters serve as a vehicle to explore the city, its cuisine, and its culture. The Grand Prix scenes add a much-needed dose of adrenaline, and the language differences inject humor and authenticity.

More than just a drama, Begin Again serves as an invitation to visitors and expatriates alike to take a break from their exhausting "996" work lifestyle. It even subtly encourages the idea of moving to Macau for a life inspired by carpe diem—a slower pace filled with rich experiences and simple joys.

At its heart, Begin Again delivers a powerful reminder: the most important part of life is not about results, and it’s not just about the journey—it’s about the company we keep. The last two episodes are especially moving, as they highlight the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and making changes when life isn’t fulfilling. As Einstein put it, “If you keep doing the same thing over and over again, it will not give you a different outcome.”

For anyone curious about Macau or simply looking for a cozy, picturesque watch with a touch of high-speed excitement, Begin Again is worth your time.

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I adore this drama. When i first heard about it I was a bit torn about whether to watch it or not. A human falling in love with a robot? No thankyou. However, I'm so glad I did!

The plot might seem silly but its actually really good and heart warming. Its about teaching someone how to love. Even though the plot is a bit far fetched its still believable and thats one of the main things I love.

The acting is good, however I've never been a huge fan of Hayami Mokomichi and find his acting a bit lacking. I will admit I was biased and mostly watched this for Mizushima Hiro.

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WARNING: This movie is not for the faint-hearted!
This was an amazing movie but must be watched with the happiest, fluffiest, brightest movie you can possible find right after! *you will understand when you watch it* The main actress does this amazing job of protraying a blind person. And for some reason its very entertaining to watch Yoo Seung Ho PLAY HIS AGE! (lol!)
A great thriller, not really horror but its graphic (not in the sexual sense). But I WARN you its not for anyone that A) is very sensitive when it comes to death and rape and B) cries whenever the animal adoption harmed puppy dog picture commercial...thing comes on T.V.
Another Great MOVIE that is NOT ROMANTIC!!! (said from a die-hard romance buff...ME)!!!!

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An average story with outstanding actors

Vigilante - a person who tries in an inofficial way to punish a criminal.

A very apt title to the story line. Here we get to see vigour of a young cop who is determined to punish criminals not by using law but by his own will. I absolutely enjoyed watching Nam Joo Hyuk as JiYoung, he perfectly expressed the angst and wrath hidden in JY. Must say i am more impressed by the actors than the story.

The story was just average to me as we already know who the vigilante was and expected kindof satisfying ending . No major twists in the plot and it just keeps flowing like a river with no barriers.

There are better thriller and investigation dramas out there but this stands out in terms of acting. I really like NJH, JiTae and JoonHyuk so whoever likes watching them can give this a try , like its just 8 episodes and definetly would not feel like a wate of time.

What i loved about this series is that they did not leave us on an edge cliffer hanging, loved how they ended it perfectly rather than dragging it to next season (if any)

What they failed to portray, we clearly know jiyoung has faced injustice in the past and has lost complete faith on the law and govt yey whay made him want to be a cop who abides by law ?

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