Reviews

Fast Food entertainment with a secret ingredient - crack.

This show took me to the times when I was a young teen reading Harlequin Romance and being obsessed over the domineering, rude, but deep DEEP down inside actually good and caring male leads. The best type of trash entertainment anyone can offer.

This is just that, but on screen format. Fang Tian Yi is hot and that’s the main trait this man possesses. That and good kissing skills. Saying Dong Ting Yao is brainless would be an understatement. Girl got so easily manipulated and used - customers at McDonalds have more respect for the workers than the majority of the characters had towards hers. The rest of the characters were just place holding NPCs.

The plot? Nothing made sense - her falling in love, him being surprised she does not trust him, the conspiracy and the barely existing investigation. The level of abuse she faced and always being completely fine the next day.

So how come I binge watch it all in one sitting? Because it’s a good type of trash tv. One that does not pretend to be more. One that is here for your entertainment and your eyes, giving your brain a moment of relaxation since you shouldn’t use it watching it. It’s a makjang, but with more shirtless scenes and abs and less kimchi slaps (but overall slaps it delivers). It’s so dramatic you end up having fun even during the intentionally sad scenes. You are here for chemistry and abs only!

Why does it also work? Because it actually has good acting and production. As cheap and ridiculous the plot is, it’s actually packed in a nice to look at box with pretty costumes, pretty faces, pretty make up, pretty set and pretty abs.

Overall, I think it should have been shorter, but it’s still highly enjoyable. I guess even with my brain off, at some point I just could not take how stupid female lead is. Enough is enough.

Now I regret my choices as I drink my coffee trying to wake up. I’m too old to stay till 3am to watch dramas.

Side note - that one guitar string they kept using, am I the only one who got Chuck Norris vibes from it?

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This felt like watching a shortened family drama. Most of the side couple content has been removed & they focused on the family conflict and the main couple, but it still had that family drama presentation. I think this could have worked better in the 50 episode format as well. Not because I would have wanted more of the same, but rather had the side couples each gotten a couple episode's worth of screen time I think the annoying things could have been far less pronounced and we had so many sidelined characters with immense rom-comedy potential, or I don't know we could have watched the younger sister training as a haenyo..

The biggest problems I've had with this drama are the absurdity of the old breakup & the absurdity of the decade long unrequited loves. Of course I found the toxic dad extremely annoying & his sudden change of heart ridiculous as well, but that is ultimately just one bad episode of 16, so that would not have been a deal breaker.

Overall I would say that this drama has been a bit sloppily executed. The cast is absolutely amazing, but many of the actors did not take this very seriously & immersion breaking performances were not corrected. In case there is a problem, it's the director's job to call out the ng, in this drama they settled for "barely acceptable" way too many times. This is very common with family dramas, but those are typically far lower budget, so the lower production values are to be expected.

The writing is all over the place & there are countless problems with character motivations, personality adjustments and just nonsensical stuff, even for this genre.

Can Triangle haters watch this drama? Well, I'm not sure. The second ML does not really do anything, there are no three way handgrabs and whatnot, but I found his character to be extremely annoying. (It's a poorly written character, doubt any of the triangle lovers would be able to feel SLS for him)

To say something good as well, I found the non-gloomy parts of the drama quite funny & it's nice how it's relatively low on product placements. Jeju Island is the product placement, but this is the best kind there can be :-)

Ah, I almost forgot. While this drama is not very tropy, it's really annoying how 30 somethings who have dated in the past for many years acted like preteens in love & we have even gotten two typical sleep together, but do nothing scenes.

--
Based on this review it may not seem like it, but there really was a lot of wasted potential here. They had most of the ingredients to cook a great meal, but unfortunately the cooks were drunk.

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I have fallen in love with this series and make me ship MK (Mark and Kimberly)...

It is always nice to find a drama with almost zero antagonist. All the conflict are self inflicted by the leads mostly by the female lead. I love that the show focus on everyone on the show and seeing everyone grow.

There are any cute scenes in the show that would make you smile. the leads are just too cute together.
You would see how they fall for each other with their every encounter... How Khun Tam slowly fall in love for Cha aim while she try her best to hide her real identity. The way he looks at her such swoon worthy.

The Music is really entertaining and fun. The characters are not just one color. They are young and impulsive especially Ameeka (Cha aim). They may not be easily understand their logic but she's just too lovable and funny so you'll end up letting it go.

I would love to rewatch this show if want just to be giddy and just need a fluffy cute couple and a good laugh. Definitely Recommended. A MUST WATCH!!!

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I am too emotionally involved

In the beginning I was actually rooting for Hyungyu and Sohui since they are highly intelligent and had winner potential. But as the shower progressed, I found myself rooting more and more for the underdogs (Eunyu specifically and even 7high) and was getting so frustrated with the upstairs alliance and their hypocrisy.

When the games began to favor those with more pieces, I knew their was no chance. Compared to S1, I think the games were still very fun and interesting. But everyone in S1 was at least likable and a good sport. I definitely had ups and downs of who I liked and didn’t have any particular favorite until we neared the end and I just wanted anyone BUT Hyungyu to win. It’s fine to scheme and strategize but the dirty plays and getting to just easily coast in the living room and never fight for yourself *cough Sohui cough* (like the prisoners have to continuously prove) just felt unfair and rigged even. I know that’s being emotional but so what, I’m like Hyunjoon.

Once again I think Hyungyu earned his win, but I can’t say he deserved it. It was just so predictable and disappointing and boring. I guess that’s real life for you. Love to Tinno, 7high, Eunyu, Justin, Jiyeong, etc.

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Cute Moments Between Team & Win 

Overall: Cute, short episodes (between 4-6 minutes) with two or three skits per episode.

Content Warnings: body shaming, kicking a person off of a bed

What I Liked:
- the "warning" is really funny at the beginning of each episode
- many of the skits are cute
- the product placements were pretty well done (that baby powder one lol)
- the second skit of the 5th episode was awesome

Room For Improvement: (minor spoilers)
- even those these aren't meant to have a continuous plot, if they had put the last skit in the first episode as the first one, it would have made more sense
- I really disliked the 1st skit in the 3rd episode, Win continues to poke at Team's belly after Team asks him to stop multiple times. This skit was major cringe in a bad way, leave Team and his belly alone!
- disliked Win kicking Team off of the bed
- the comedic song for the final skit in the fourth episode didn't fit the vibe of that skit
- I wish Team was more into things, didn't like him wiping off the kiss in ep 5
- it is definitely lower budget camera/camerawork, I'm sure it was done with a very small crew

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Well... I was quite irritated when I started watching this (and almost dropped right away).

The first reason why people would actually get interested in this movie must be that beautiful poster. Hands down, they did a great job with that. But don't get your hopes up if you expect something epic.

The story is quite simple. A business man is developing a new area and in the process is killing mermaids whose existence he of course doesn't know of. Therefore the mermaids send their most beautiful girl to kill him. That doesn't go so well because she falls in love with him - and he with her. Of course.

Well, storytelling is as fast as a high-speed train (write off authentic feelings). The scenes are completely exaggerated and (in the beginning) went over the top. After a while though it achieves a balance and holds its ground to a point where the jokes are getting quite funny. There are some hilarious moments that really stuck in my mind. And suddenly the story turns from comical to sober within seconds. The movie takes on a new perspective and shows some really nice action scenes and drama. Adding some beautiful sceneries and sometimes well done CGI and it was easy to go on with the film and finish it.

Like this the movie managed to keep me watching till the end despite all the flaws, and the leads were also kinda charming.

To summon it up:
I went from "Oh sh**, what's that?!" to "Oh well, it's nice and sweet and stupid but enjoyable."

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Never expected that i will be hooked with this drama.

I dont recognised the actors well. I never knew Ma Tian Yu and Wan Qian before.

So, they arent my bias

I came to watch because they deserve to be watched!

First drama that i never skip even one single scene.
Love the leading couple and love the antagonist cast, too.
Everything went as purposely.

No dragging story eventhough it has 54 episodes. Love the plot and its pace.

Love the opening and the ending music plus song. They dont put any scene for opening instead of picture with black and white colour. So does for ending. They put picture of the cast. And it made the drama looked elegant.

This is drama that i watch raw and subs and rewatch before it come to an end.

Drama that will be kept in my memory.

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Cute & Quick

Perhaps it's because I love drama's centered around friend groups, but I really enjoyed this. It was a light, fun and quick watch of people navigating their stressful lives and turning to their friends for comfort. There was no set plot, but honestly I didn't mind because it's just a drama about navigating the day-to-day struggles of the working class in the fashion industry and dealing with problems as they arise. I do feel that the episodes got better as the drama went on and I greatly enjoyed the secondary and guest characters. If you're looking for something light and quick that'll take your mind off of things for a couple of hours I would definitely recommend this.

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This is a light hearted romantic comedy you could say. I had a smile most of the time between episodes 20-32 i think. Mainly due to the lead actorJiang chao who has a good flair for comedy and excels in the role of a nerdy CEO who is less strong physically compared to the female Kendo Master Shui Guang. Their interactions, his little younger brother a student of kendo, his mother and colleagues all bring comic elements to balance the very serious female lead.
The pace is a bit slow and story is told in a very leisurely way.

The plus side and take aways from the drama would be

1. No really horrible villains / evil mother in law trying to separate the lead couple- even the girl Yuri pursuing Zheng Lan and the guy protecting Shui Guang are shown with lot of character and fair spirit
2. The CEOs character is mature and he handles issues both at work and personal life with great amount of perseverance. I like to learn such things that a good leader cannot be impulsive and have lot of ego but must treat his employees with trust and kindness. I liked how the writer /director portrayed that this character accepts that their mother leaves him and young brother to go abroad (the reason is explained in later episodes and how she redeems herself by helping her sons boyfriend to overcome her own tendency to escape from reality) and despite this comes across as a sane and balanced guy.
3. All the characters redeem themselves in the end. They prove that love, understanding and patience/ kindness help in bringing back people together
(I believe we all become what we constantly watch so watching good things will influence us to make us better people- as watching hatred revenge etc make for interesting watch but they do not make us better human beings- sorry for the preachy tone...this is a reminder to myself)
4. The guy never gives up on the girl or his love - he makes up his mind and does not let others influence him unlike other dramas which create stupid misunderstandings. And the way Yuri accepts that she is rejected is nice and refreshing. She is very cute and along with Luo Zhi make a nice pair

The negatives the lead actress's acting is a bit wooden - yes her character is supposed to be that way but the liveliness and expressions after she falls in love could have been portrayed much better. The main reason why the lead girl is blamed for her ex-boyfriends death is too thin and doesnot warrant such a heavy reaction. The accident is nothing so ghastly as they make it out to be and the scenes are repeated a lot

The episodes from 32+ etc is a bit draggy and i ran through them as it was just fluff - could have ended by 30 i think. Some characters such as the policeman and his girl in coma are shown with lot of promise but end very thinly.

But overall go for it if you are in a mood (and a lot of time 45 mins of 40 episodes) for a light romantic flick with some techie background.

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"But there must be a reason behind it all"

"Do you want me to teach you how to be good at work? Don't ask yourself: Why?''. I think this whole show was a commentary on how we stay in the well known patterns, even if they are not productive, simply because things have always been this way or they bring us monetary gratification. But why do we even care so much about money? Because this is what society tells us is important. A vicious circle of bullshit.

Trying to suggest change is scary, and since everyone accepts the current state, it means it's working so why would anyone even try to challenge it? Everyone cannot be wrong, it's more likely I don't understand why it's like that. Stuff like the Milgram experiment or Asch Conformity Experiment explain it well. Both good examples how awful people are at going against:
1. Authority
2. Groups of people.

And if you add actual reward (money) for the conformity, people will do a great type of mental gymnastics to justify the current state.

Like drawing the circles, then erasing them and doing the same with x, just because the boss said you have to do it. I'm sure many of us did things we knew were pointless, but they were orders we just had to do. You can think you are not part of the problem, but you most likely are. Not to the same extent as the characters in the show, since everything was over exaggerated, but as long as we participate in the society, we do stupid things for the sake of some kind of benefit - money, popularity, recognition from strangers. But why do we care?

Each episode presents us with different takes on what one can sacrifice for money: pride, self-esteem, time, family, morality. It also shows what we truly want - connection, love, freedom, a feeling of belonging, self-worth.

The show opens with the best episode, so keep that in mind. On one hand it sets up the story well, but it also makes the remaining episode have less impact. Each short story is connected to each other, even though they changed the main character. Personally, my favorite episodes were “Dancing on the sand” and “Family Vacation”. Both had strong messages that resonated with me and my experience.

The production and the acting were phenomenal. Truly would not change a detail. The short duration of the episodes (most were a bit over 20 minutes) made the show more digestible and left some room for interpretation and reflection for the viewers. I feel like depending on your own life experience, perspective and expectations, you will see something else in each and every story.

Overall, great watch, but not for everyone. It’s weird and symbolic. While on the surface the overall message is easy to understand, there is far more than “what people will do for money” if you start digging deeper. It’s also an impactful watch if you are willing to reflect on how the messages fit into how you are handling your life.

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Last Doubts Vanished: One of THE most meaningful LGBTQIA+ series

A mindful spirit, braveness, and an open mind are what it takes to possess the power to produce something meaningful. GMMTV has again gifted us with another meaningful, heart-wrenching, and impressive series called "Last Twilight".

The story, which evolves around the disability to see efficiently, dealing with heavy burdens like the suicide of a loved one and being reliant on others, is well-written and paced. Both Mohk and Day are realistically flawed characters and are also portrayed as such. I´m convinced this is one of the best series in the genre of LGBTQ+ in Southeast Asia to be released in 2023 and 2024.

STORY 9.0 >> 9.5
As I have already mentioned at the beginning of this review, the innovation and braveness to portray a story that evolves around disability - which shouldn´t be left out of the film industry as it is part of our world and nothing to be ashamed of or shushed about - has pleasingly surprised me. The issues that come with disabled eyesight are not coming too short and it doesn´t feel like the disability is only a tool for more views and attention, but honestly more as if GMMTV wants to raise awareness for and normalize the thematizing of disability in our lives, as well as showing what those affected by the suicide of a loved one go through. This series offers the possibility to reflect on our world and the entertainment industry, by raising awareness for both these crucial topics and also offering to witness a romance forming despite all the burdens faced by the main characters. Truly beautiful. Truly insightful. Truly inspiring.

I have never changed my opinion on the rating of the STORY to a better rating, UNTIL now. "Last Twilight" has convinced me to be one of the most time-worthy series out there to watch. I feel so blessed to be a witness to this tragic but beautifully written story between two young men trying to overcome this world's difficulties.

ACTING / CAST 8.5 >> 9.0
The chemistry between Jimmy and Sea is probably already well known among GMMTV viewers, but this series raises their bar even higher and makes me feel really happy and warm inside. I wonder what they´re doing in their workshops etc. to create such a natural tension. In "Last Twilight" they have gone over and beyond many bars I have ever imagined to see in the next few years. I am so happy they came this far and immensely pleased by the performance.

What I also like about "Last Twilight" is that the side characters have also become more meaningful for the main story and are not separately dragged along. Especially since they don´t have "that side couple", but it´s focused on Day and Mhok. I´m very pleased to witness that this again proves that most series of GMMTV have improved their screenwriting, especially since I have been part of the journey for more than 6 or 7 years now.

MUSIC 7.0 >> 7.5
The music is usually what provides room for comic relief. With heavy topics as portrayed in this series, it´s unavoidable to provide uplift, as it can also help deliver a more meaningful picture of what it is like to live with a disability where life will most likely also have a shift of positive and negative events and feelings, as we are all are feeling humans after all.

OVERALL 8.5
Masterpiece. Over n´ out!

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I can't nit pick anything about this drama that I don't like. And I've tried. Its beautifully directed, the actors are perfect for their parts (yoon eun hye is believable as a boy, not to mention awesome passionate acting from everyone), the sets and cinematography are wonderful (I swear it raised the tourism in Korea), the music is just great and unique (it doesn't reuse songs like the usual hyped up dramas), and it feels FRESH.

That's my word for it...FRESH. It feels GOOD to watch it and I can't really say that for any other drama other than It Started with a Kiss.

Coffee Prince is probably the best drama I've seen. Ever.

I've had the very unfortunate experience for it to be one of the first dramas I've ever watched, so since then all the ones I've watched after was crap. It seriously raised my standards.

The rewatch value is VERY high. I've seen it so many times now (this site should have a # times watched option!) maybe about 4 or 5. I will probably make it an every year or second year thing. Even my very white-washed brother and skeptical mother watched and enjoyed it. Yeah it can be a family thing too.

The storyline was great and I felt like every single scene was important. When you watch it its like you're so engrossed in what's happening you don't even notice that time is passing. The story was so good that I was surprised it wasn't a book to begin with. I think its best to watch in your late teen - 20s years, when you can really empathize with the characters after all the heart breaks. It helps you move on and has good morals.

If you want to watch something inspirational, creative, fresh, heart warming, heart wrenching, sometimes tear inducing, beautiful, hilariously funny, wholesome and passionate drama/comedy, then watch it. It makes you laugh, cry, sympathize, fall in love, be inspired, and just plain happy. Its a MUST SEE.

p.s.
If you're sick and tired of the lame "peck on the cheek" kiss scenes (usually at the end) that you see in soooo many dramas, then see this. Passionate acting and kissing. This drama satisfies everything that you don't get in all the other dramas.

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Ending Again is, much alike XX, a more adult/serious themed drama than those that Playlist usually opts to produce, going as far as to carry out a controversial (my opinion, based on both of their motives) fake marriage story.

Although the clear intention of wanting to showcase something emotional and deep, a story that perhaps adults can relate to more was there, personally, this drama came off as vague. It lacked Playlist's usual "sparkle", that element of endearment that leaves you sad that the series is over, that makes you want more, that leaves you... attached.

The characters (all very gorgeous) had empty-like personalities, built around in a very basic way around the relationships each of them carried out. It seems that to be more mature, the writers sacrificed their characters, making them one dimensional. The story was okay, put as dramatic as they could in 12 episodes, and the performances, especially Soo Min's, were great, although I did wish that Geon Won wasn't pouting 90% of the time.

One thing I must praise is the choice of osts (sung by Rothy and Park Won) and the incredible quality of their filming. It helped paint and shape the scenes a lot more. The art within the drama was also beautiful.

Overall, Ending Again isn't exactly bad, but for someone that has seen many dramas from the same team, it's a bit disappointing.

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