Reviews

second leads that are incapable of accepting rejection

Rainkissed Fate starts off quickly by thrusting you into the messy relationship of Yuchen and Bu Yan as the pair sign a marriage contract for three months. From the start this drama is chaotic and passionate. Bu Yan approaches Yuchen and practically forces him into the marriage contract and it is revealed very early that Bu Yan's insistence is because Yuchen is the unknowing father of her 5 year old twins and she needs to conceive another child in order to save her son who has cancer. Yuchen agrees to the marriage for money and because his sick mother wants him to settle down.

From the premise I already had a bad taste in my mouth with the idea that she was conceiving another child only to save her first. While I liked that Bu Yan is strong, independent, and fiercely protective of her children I also did not understand the point in keeping the parentage a secret for 5 years and still so after going back to Yuchen. Yuchen was another strong character with a chip on his shoulder but soft innards and a sense of loyalty. He comes off as mean and avoidant but not for very long.

To be honest any enjoyment you can get out of this series is from the chemistry of the main pair. This is their third porject together and do very well. But the characters that are crafted in this drama make it incredibly painful to try and get through. Both main characters may be strong and sure of themselves but are so easily manipulated repeatedly that by the end of the series you are just as annoyed with their stupidity as the plot that kept using the same devices. The second female and male lead are insufferable from the first episode all the way to the last. There is nothing redeeming about either one and at no point did I enjoy seeing them on screen. The SFL is the typical obsessed woman in a small town that laid a claim on a man that has had absolutely no interest in her and yet she continues to try and force him to want her over and over again. The SML is the returned ex that realized he made a mistake and wants her back but she no longer wants him so he tries to force her to need him/

The drama is messy and driven only through the main pair being constantly manipulated by every insufferable person around them. I think I only managed to get all the way through this drama because it was a mini and each episode was 10 minutes but the further I got the more I skipped just to see how much worse the plot could get. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. The chemistry and visuals will not save this one. There are so many other mini dramas that your time would be better spent on.

I am giving this a 5 purely because the show is styled very well, the acting is good even though the characters are poorly written, and the music is nice. So kudos to the crew. However the plot is a total miss for me.

Read More

"Let Me Introduce Her" had a very suspenseful start but soon became my least favorite style of melodrama. The story tried so hard to be shocking that characters became cartoonish, and hard to continue to take seriously. Sometimes campy melodramas can be fun for me to watch, but this soon became boring and hard to finish. I expected more of a thriller, based on the first few episodes, but instead got an overdramatic family drama, with unhinged characters and an underwhelming plot. Maybe some of this has to do with cultural differences, so some of the character's choices made absolutely no sense to me but may resonate better with an actual Korean audience.

The cast was pretty good, but I felt like a lot of talent was wasted. Nam Sang Mi and Kim Jae Won had decent chemistry, but the romance story became subdued and even dull once the story focused more on the melodrama. Jae Won played up the smiley nice guy role so much that his portrayal of Dr. Han Gang Woo seemed very one-note and even at times uninteresting to me. However, it's the character of Ji Eun Han that'supposed to drive this story, and Nam Sang Mi's performance wasn't strong enough for me to do that. Lee Shi Ah's performance felt much more exciting so the shift to a more subdued Nam Sang Mi was a dramatic change. It was almost as if Sang Mi was just too chill to play such an emotionally complicated role. Especially a role where the character has and makes such drastic and contradictory reactions and choices. Also, despite them trying to imply that they were similar, these two actresses were just too drastically different to be considered the same person at all. No plastic surgery in the world is that magical.

One talent in particular that felt wasted was Lee Mi Sook, who knows how to make the most out of a melodramatic character, especially this kind of mother role, but her performance felt more interesting than her character was written to be. Detective Kim was similarly underutilized, and the story was less interesting when he was less involved. Jo Hyun Jae was good as well, even when his actions were written in a way that made him more laughable than emotional. Also, Han Eun Jung did her best to play up the drama of her character, as written, but that made her character seem laughingly ridiculous by the end, and hard to take seriously. I also think the cute banter between Jung Jin Woon and Lee Ho Jung is worth mentioning as cute but wasted filler. Many of the minor characters, including the kids, were good even if their character wasn't written well.

That takes me to my main issue with this drama, which is the writing. It's not that the story doesn't make sense, but it's sensationalizes everything so much that I couldn't take anything too seriously, or emotionally connect at all. The drama surrounding a cell phone and a song lasted for so many episodes, which made the story drag. The music was often sinister giving even mundane conversations an extra dramatic feel. It made it seem like they were trying to force a suspenseful feeling at all times, which backfired on me. I did think the "Save Me" song was pretty, and although it also felt extra dramatic during certain scenes, was fitting.

I'm doubtful I would watch this again, but maybe I would be more forgiving with a second viewing since I now know what the story is really about. My high expectations at the beginning made me more disappointed at what it turned out to be. Lower expectations during a second viewing may make me see this drama differently, and see earlier scenes differently. Maybe it would be less likely to bore me if I binge watched instead of waiting each week for new episodes, which I lost interest in keeping up with.

Overall, if you are interested in this drama based on the romantic mystery sounding synopsis, know that this is actually a wealthy family secrets centered melodrama that takes on a serious theme in a very senationalized way. Romance may drive the story, but it isn't the focus, so don't expect that part of the story to be very exciting, especially with two calm and repressed characters. The action feel during the early episodes doesn't last either, and that slowed down the pace for me too. Every question that arises in the story is eventually answered, and there's is a satisfying ending, but I still had a hard time with the pace of the drama, and with the story continuously holding my interest. Don't expect clever twists, even though many parts of the story aren't what they seem to be initially. If you have patience with the story everything pays off, but I'm just not certain that it was worth the price of watching. For a drama about amnesia, it is pretty forgettable.

Read More

“But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.” (The Little Prince)

I must confess, my love for this series was not love at first sight. The first episode made me rather skeptical. Too slow, too overdramatic, the intro seemed to be taken directly from the 90s and then also the talking furniture.....
Nevertheless, I gave this series a chance and experienced an unexpected masterpiece and a journey full of joy and tears because layer by layer the story as well as characters became deeper and more complex, showing this drama incredibly many facets and faces, be it a beautiful miracle, a deeply sad potrait about a dysfunctional family or a mystery story about an accident and deeply hidden secrets.
But most of all, it is the story of Nut, a struggling gay man in his late twenties. Punished with a homophobic and aggressive father, as well as a mentally ill mother who means well but doesn't have the strength in the past to support her son, it is his story that moves you deep inside like rarely before.
I have never been so close to a character, laughed with him, cried with him, been disgusted by him and then again wished him all the happiness in the world.
The story is not always nice and sweet and I can understand everyone who finds this drama too heavy and also the ending is more bitter sweet than happy.
But who finds the access to this story, will recognize behind all this suffering and pain true joy and beauty that makes you smile and believe in the good in humans.
All in all, Miracle of the Teddy bear is a milestone of an LGBT drama and shows without regret the heights and depths of a human life, with a power and an intimacy that I have never seen before and that will probably accompany me even longer

Read More

The target of the age group I think would be into 20's and above I mean it would be more relatable to that age bracket this is not a drama that filled with sweet candies. No.
24 episodes seems a lot for a romcom right? But no this drama is special. Yes a special kind of romcom. The plot is about love, relationship, choosing, complicated situation, life and the one that I appreciate the most is the career how they attack that field really strikes into me that I could totally relate. This drama is very hilarious! Believe me. Out of the dramas I've seen this is the funniest Lol...XD it would even make you confuse like am I supposed to laugh or not?lol

Acting: The characters were all played well beyond everything that is good. Jo Jung Suk is such a great actor, awesome and there's a bonus... his swag!!! so far this is the best drama of him. Gong Hyo Jin is always been awesome as usual. Supporting cast were all lovable too!

Let's talk about characters:
Lee Hwa Shin? Ofc in a dramaland it's given that male lead must be jerk. Yes he is. Out of the male lead jerk characters I've seen he's the best among them all, words are not enough to describe why. Hahanahha. XD No one can beat the overflowing confidence he have for himself. lol

Jeung Won? Yes the typical 2nd lead kind of guy that every girl would fall for.

Male lead and 2nd lead characters of it seems so typical in dramaland right? But what will happen if there's a twist? A change of situation like how it feels like for the second lead to get a taste of being male lead and vise versa. Are you curious now and interested? Now you'll get to know more of it and understand once you watch this drama.^^

Pyo Na Ri: a lovable female lead that is very persistent in everything I meant it in a positive way.
Aside from the main role I'll give shout out to Chi Yeol and Beom character they are my favorite^^

This drama is filled with triangles. Yes. With an "s" lots of triangle relationship that you have to look forward. All the characters are lovable and likeable, every kind of relationship.. wait... umm. some could be annoying at times but at the end of the day that annoyance will turn into like as always :)

Ost:
The ost perfectly suits to the situation like it could be hilarious, serious, sincere, love and sexy!!! XD

Rewatch: definitely!

Totally deserves a rating of 10.
You know what makes it special? Usually a genre that is filled with laughter or romance (yah romcom. lol) could give butterflies into our tummies, random feels but let's admit it most romcom, the foundation of the story of is kinda weak, lacking but Jealousy Incarnate manage to overcome that kind of struggle and relay a wonderful and genuine kind of message .
Best drama of 2016. Great way to watch it before the year ends^^

This is a kind of drama that you would not want to let go once you're close to the ending. I'll miss everything about it.

Ps: being jealous could not be bad you know. Wink

Read More

This drama is bad, really bad. Craptastically bad. It starts off making fun of having to poop when stressed, which gives you an idea of the quality of storytelling we are dealing with. I know this drama isn't meant to be taken so seriously, but I think it just tries way too hard to be funny and fails. A lot of that has to do with the terrible story, but I also blame the cast.

Oh Yeon Seo as Joo Seo Yeon is ok. Yes, just ok. There are some likable things about her character, but most of the time she looks shocked, mad, or embarrassed with her eyes bulging through most scenes. My favorite moments of hers were with Kim Seul Gi as her bff Kim Mi Kyung. Kim Seul Gi is definitely a scene-stealer, and her commentary and instigating is probably the best part of the whole show. I kinda wish she was the romantic lead with Heo Jung Min, but instead Yeon Seo is matched with Ahn Jae Hyun as Lee Kang Woo who is this drama's biggest flaw. I admit that I have disliked him in every single drama I've seen him in, and this is the best of the worst. At least in this drama, he almost has a personality... a goofy one, an awkward one, but it's better than his usual lackluster roles. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but I am just not a fan of his at all. It doesn't help that he always plays arrogant characters who are supposed to be so "good looking" but to me, he looks average at best. I honestly don't get his appeal.

Then add to that the forced romance between Seo Yeon and Kang Woo, which is underwhelming. I just don't think they had any believable chemistry. This is definitely a case where I liked the 2nd lead much more. I loved his sweets obsession. I also liked the cousin rivalry at times, but as a love triangle, it was played more for laughs than anything else. It's hard to like a romcom if you don't like the main couple, but it's impossible if the story is crap too.

I initially liked the idea of a girl who likes "less attractive" guys but it didn't take long for that plot point to not be relevant anymore. This drama is full of random plot points... Kang Woo's IBS, a weird homeless girl, a fraudulent therapist... that feel like filler with no substance or meaning. They did try to tackle a gay plot, which was decent, but again lacking any chemistry to make me really care. Something about it just seemed lacking. They also added a little bit of family melodrama but it honestly just felt out of place.

Would I watch this again? I'm surprised I didn't drop it this time, so no. This drama is so silly and over the top, and I think the short episodes were the only reason I could keep watching. I also kept waiting for a payoff that never came. They actually try to wrap everything up in the last 30-minute episode with everything resolving way too easily, but at that point, I didn't really care I just wanted it to finally be over.

Overall, this drama is one you can skip. It's mostly a comedy but I don't remember laughing even once. It's a romance but peripheral characters' relationships were way more interesting than the main couple. They had good intentions with the gay acceptance subplot but it wasn't done well. I should have known from the moment that doves flew from the toilet seat that this drama was a mess. Fans of this type of humor may feel differently, or fans of Ahn Jae Hyun, but to me, this was a forgettable drama that I watched just to pass the time. If you love awkward moments, silly misunderstandings, and poop jokes, then this drama delivers! Sadly, that's about all it delivers. I think Drama with Flaws would've been a much more accurate title.

Read More

Messy writing for Ja and First again

I really wished that for once Ja and First would get a good script for a show, but sadly it wasn't the case. This show violated the most basic rules of writing: Show, don't tell; Delete any unnecessary crap that doesn't serve the plot or the characterisation; don't leave or start random threads that lead nowhere or have no starting point. Achi remained characterless without any backstory, there were so many unnecessary scenes, stuff was brought up out of nowhere and lead nowhere and the issues created and resolved were confusing as hell. The story between the doc and Mueang was making the most sense and 90% of their scenes were NC scenes.
The story between Achi and Punn could have been good, if they had leaned more into Punn waking up from his idol worship and realise who Achi really is and if he liked that person just the same (or more) because of his flaws. This was all they needed to set up a good plot. Instead, we still know nothing about Achi and who he is- aside from being famous, Punn is still a weird fanboy and they created this weird "he took notes" issue that made zero sense.
Writing wise, as well as directing wise (where did this weird overacting scene from First come from in ep 12? Achi barely showed any emotions for 11 episodes and then he acts like this out of nowhere? Wth?!) this show is a mess.
The only thing they didn't do wrong is paint abuse as romance, so they get a star for missing that trap.

Read More

Before I "officially" start this review, I'd like to just throw this piece of appreciation out right in the beginning, lest I forget later on: I love that Misty kept the atmosphere of the drama consistent throughout all 16 years episodes. I have seen absolutely wonderful dramas suddenly change tones in the middle of the run and become horrible, something I was SURE Misty was also going to do considering how delicate and dark the show is (and hence, hard to keep a firm grip on.) I really commend the writer on this part.

Now...onto the actual review.

Plenty of other reviews all the amazing things about this drama (atmosphere, acting, relationships etc.) I won't really touch on that, not when other great reviews have already pointed them out better than I can. What I WILL touch on is the parts other reviews skim over most of the time: the not-so-amazing parts.

Let's start with Go Hye Ran's relationship with our main guy, Kang Tae Wook. Maybe I'm too basic for this stuff, but their romance made no sense, especially with that ending. 80% of the drama is spent with the two ignoring each other and barely talking. Then, all of a sudden, you want me to believe they're in...love? Lust? Because neither of them have gotten any in a long time? It's really disappointing considering all the other great relationships in the drama, with Go Hye Ran and her entire Newsroom team, Kang Tae Wook with his fellow public defender, Go Hye Ran and her reporter friend etc. It shows that the writer is capable of building credible relationships, but somehow, somewhere, fell flat on the romantic ones.

This point wouldn't have annoyed me as much if it hadn't been THE MAIN POINT OF THE DRAMA. The basic story is so fresh and new, of a love-less couple falling in love with one another while the husband defends the wife from being charged as a murderer, of eternal loyalty and blood trumping all others etc. Gosh, was it too much to expect a little more relationship development for what is essentially supposed to be a love story? I hope not.

Some side characters weren't always very likeable, in the sense that I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why they did what they did- Ha Myung Woo (...a guy with a 19 year old "crush" on Go Hye Ran?) and Go Hye Ran's boss (sorry, too lazy to search for his name on MDL). Ha Myung Woo because the way he was written was so sloppy and strange, like really, you expect me to believe he does everything he's doing because he loves Go Hye Ran? What? It logically doesn't make sense and the writer doesn't try to make it sound logical either. Maybe that's the intention. Whatever. Go Hye Ran's boss was also someone who was very inconsistently written, with his being Pro-Go Hye Ran at times and Anti-Go Hye Ran in the other. He seemed like more a minor catalyst for future events than a fully-fledged supporting character.

Read More

If it's ugly, don't show it

"If it's ugly, don't show it." — Jiang Xu’s icy words to a hopeful admirer, proof that love is the last thing on his mind... until Ming Tan forces her way into his life. Adapted from the novel Xiao Dou Kou (小豆蔻) by Bu Zhi Shi Ke Cai, Youthful Glory originally centered on political intrigue and government corruption. However, the drama adaptation shifts focus, turning the conspiracy into a backdrop for a sweeping romance. From the first episode to the last, the main couple is utterly infatuated with each other, their love story punctuated by two equally swoon-worthy side romances.

The Story
Jiang Xu and Ming Tan first cross paths in a temple—he fleeing an assassination attempt, she gathering evidence to break off an unwanted betrothal. Their encounters multiply, yet Ming Tan remains oblivious to the fact that the man before her is the Prince of Dingbei. To her, he seems like a fugitive evading the law, a far cry from the cold, ruthless prince of rumors. This leads to hilarious misunderstandings when Jiang Xu unexpectedly petitions the Emperor for her hand in marriage.

Beneath the rom-com charm, a darker conspiracy brews. Jiang Xu is investigating corruption that has left his northern border troops impoverished, their funds embezzled by greedy officials. The villains retaliate with assassins, and when Ming Tan marries Jiang Xu, her family is dragged into the fray—her father framed for smuggling, his reputation in ruins. To clear his name, the couple must uncover evidence to expose the true culprits.

Characters & Acting
As the formidable general guarding the northern border, Jiang Xu has little interest in romance—until Ming Tan enters his life. Intelligent, disciplined, and a master strategist, he is fiercely loyal to the Emperor, who treats him like a younger brother.

Song Wei Long delivers a compelling performance, seamlessly transitioning from a wrathful prince bent on justice to a lovestruck man utterly devoted to Ming Tan. His chemistry here with the FL surpasses that he has with Angelababy in Everlasting Longing.

Ming Tan, the daughter of a deseased mother and an absent general/duke father, has managed her noble household since childhood. Sharp-witted, independent, and impeccably stylish, she occasionally indulges in brattiness—a forgivable flaw given her upbringing. Beneath her spoiled exterior lies a kind and compassionate heart.

Bao Shang En shines as Ming Tan, blending charm and believability, though her occasional startled expressions may confuse viewers. Her chemistry with Song Wei Long is palpable, and her dynamic with her cousin/best friend, Bai Min Min (played by Dai Lu Wa), adds warmth to the story.

Jiang Xu’s camaraderie with his three friends—particularly the comedic Zhang Huai Yu (Bai Shu), brother of the Empress—is another highlight. Bai Shu’s impeccable timing makes Huai Yu both endearing and laugh-out-loud funny.

The two side couples further enrich the narrative:
- Zhang Huai Yu & Bai Min Min: Their enemies-to-lovers arc is a riot, with bickering that slowly melts into affection.
- Shu Jing Ran (Quan Yi Lun) & Yun Yi (Ke Ying): Their love-at-first-sight romance faces potential societal scorn due to their differing statuses—until Shu Jing Ran takes fate into his own hands.

Final Thoughts
Youthful Glory serves heaps of romance against a backdrop of conspiracy and corruption. While the male lead battles enemies and uncovers truths, the female lead and her cousin hunt for ideal husbands. The contrast—girls daydreaming of perfect matches, boys prioritizing duty over love—fuels humor and lighthearted misunderstandings.

The pacing slows in romantic moments (of which there are many) but picks up during the sparser action and scheming scenes. Despite some repetitive editing, the drama remains an enjoyable watch—perfect for romance enthusiasts. If you prefer tightly woven plots over love-struck fluff, however, this might not be your cup of tea.

Read More

To start off, I really enjoyed this drama and found that it had the perfect combination of comedy and tragedy. They did a good job being able to bring you down then lift you back up and leave you with a feel-good feeling in the end.

The story was very interesting and I thought it was done really well; however, towards the ending I felt that it lost its charm a few episodes before the ending and became too serious and very cliche. It was able to redeem itself in the end though.

I also agree with everyone that they were a little too metaphor heavy and I found myself having to rewind some parts just to fully understand what they were trying to say.

The actors were of course brilliant and I saw no flaws whatsoever. I absolutely loved the cast and their characters.

The music.....it got annoying. It is definitely not a soundtrack I will be listening to again. The instrumental version of the songs were nice but the other songs just did not stand out to me at all and were more of a nuisance than anything.

Overall I think this makes it to the list of 2013 dramas to watch because it was a good drama and it had a cute romance which is a plus for me.

Read More

All dance lacking dialogue and story

A lot of work has gone into this,the dancing is superb and highly choreographed showing the training leading up to the big event.

There is chemistry between the leads however there is very minimal dialogue and quite a flat story. The dance elements are the main focus. It is a stretch to call this a romance as those elements seem quite disjointed from the choreography. There are only a couple of decent conversations between the leads and the rest is dance with some backstory.

If you came here for the BL elements you will be disappointed, if you came for the dance then you will love this.

If the focus was more on the relationship development and romance then this would have been perfect. It's a shame some areas are just hollow.

Read More

Personally, I'd have to say this is by far the best Korean drama I've seen. Primarily, I was hesitant to watch it; seeing how this drama isn't 'popular'. Compared to the dramas I watched before this specific one, I wasn't certain if I would be prepared to watch another with a more serious storyline, and a political setting. I thought it would bore me. But watching it, I was never bored. In watching this, I had no regrets.



So why do I find this drama so great? The story, the acting, the music, everything.

Storyline is really interesting. The acting -- let's just say I cried oceans while watching. When the characters were sad, I was sad. When they were aggravated, I was aggravated. They made the viewers feel their pain. And the leads. THE LEADS. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop from the beginning to the end. Their chemistry together was ELECTRIFYING. The yearning, and the expressions; I couldn't handle it. It was just captivating. To add on to the dramatizing, the selection of music for scenes jerked more tears. Although I had no idea what the words were in the songs, they just set the right mood.



Don't miss out on this drama.

Read More