Completed
Legend of Yunze
12 people found this review helpful
by chiha
Oct 18, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Cute lesbian romance in a fantasy setting

“There's something I still don’t understand. Can you enlighten me Ms. A-Ze? I don’t know why, but whenever I look at you, my heart starts beating strangely.”

Legend of Yunze is a short series focussing on the developing romance between the cultivator Jiang Zhao Tun and the fairy-like A-Ze. It is also a Xianxia series since it combines the elements of magic and demonic cultivation.

As our protagonists investigate the mysterious evil that has taken over the Changshui Village, they start to fall in love slowly and Jiang Zhao Tun’s experiences teach her that there is an evil inside humans which supercedes that of demons.

In 12 episodes of merely 3 minutes or less, Legend of Yunze manages to cover a lot of ground. For one, the romance is really cute with all the hesitancy and sweetness of first love. The CGI is also commendable, its not over the top but looks better than some Cdramas I have checked out. The actresses bring the characters to life and feel different here as compared to their roles in a previous drama, Legend of Yun Qian. There are some comical moments too which attribute a more light hearted vibe to this series.

Despite being a low cost project, this drama has managed to deliver. 8.5/10.

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Completed
I'm Not a Monster
12 people found this review helpful
by Gwyn
Oct 22, 2016
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This drama has a very interesting plot, I accidently stumbled upon this drama when I was on YouTube looking for Chinese dramas to watch. Even though the ending of this drama is..... the storyline is amazing *in MY opinion* and the episodes leading up to the last one. I think everyone should give this drama a try!! The actors and actresses may be newbies but their acting is on point especially Zhang Yu Jian's, he made me crack up in a lot of this scenes because of his facial expressions. I definitely recommend this to anyone that has spare time and that they like some supernatural things and a short amazing drama!!

This is the first ever drama that I ever reviewed and actually wrote (and I watched A LOT of dramas) I just think that this drama can be a BIG hit!! And that they NEED to make a season 2 ASAP!!

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Completed
Princess Hours
12 people found this review helpful
by Dodo
Apr 15, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

"A Royal Romance, A Timeless Classic - Feels Just Like First Love

Watching Goong (Princess Hours) felt like stepping into a modern-day fairytale,,,,but with a twist of reality and a whole lot of heart. From the very first episode, I was hooked by the unique idea of an ordinary high school girl suddenly becoming a crown princess. That simple girl, Shin Chae-kyeong, (My favourite ☺️) captured my heart with her innocence, goofy charm, and unshakable spirit. Her journey from confusion to courage inside the palace walls felt so real to me.

The story beautifully explores how two strangers ""Chae-kyeong ""and the cold, distant "Crown Prince Lee Shin" learn to understand each other after being forced into marriage. Their chemistry is slow-burning and heart fluttering but so worth the wait. Every stolen glance, every tiny moment of care between them made my heart flutter. I especially loved how their relationship shifted from annoyance to affection, full of emotional tension and tenderness.

Yoon Eun-hye whom I like very much was perfect as Chae-kyeong! Her emotions felt natural and relatable. And Joo Ji-hoon, as Lee Shin, carried that royal aura so well, but also showed vulnerability underneath his serious expression. Their performances made the love story believable and beautiful.

The cinematography was stunning the palace scenes were shot like paintings. Every frame felt elegant and dreamy, from the candle-lit corridors to the royal ceremonies. It honestly made me wish I could walk through those palace gardens myself.

And oh, the OST,,,,,it still plays in my head! The soft piano melodies and those emotional ballads added so much depth to the scenes. I could feel the sadness, the longing, the love... all through the music. It's one of the best parts of the drama.

Now... let’s talk about the second lead syndrome. Yes, I had it badly🥺! Yul (the second prince) was so sweet kind, caring, and supportive always looking out for Chae-kyeong. Sometimes I even wanted her to choose him. His eyes were full of silent pain, and I couldn’t help but feel for him😔

But nothing’s perfect ,,,,,there were moments I hated too. Some palace politics felt slow, and certain misunderstandings dragged for too long. Also, the Queen and the elders were so frustrating! I just wanted to scream, “Let them be happy!”

What I loved most was the emotional growth of the characters. They didn’t just fall in love,,,they earned it. Through misunderstandings, heartbreaks, and personal changes, their bond became strong and unshakable.

I’ve already watched Goong more than twice and I’m still not tired of it! Every time I re-watch, it feels just as magical and emotional as the first time. The characters, the love story, the palace setting… everything pulls me back in. It’s my most favorite drama, and no matter how many new ones I watch, Goong will always have a special place in my heart. I just don’t get bored of it,,,it’s like comfort food for my soul.


"" A fairytale that stays in your heart long after the credits roll"'

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Completed
Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion
12 people found this review helpful
by Alice
Jul 7, 2014
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
Okay so I have to say that I had great... Amazing expectations for this drama even though it was on the lengthy side with about 50 episodes that were promised and then all out of the blue it was significantly cut down to 26 episodes having everything fast forwarded and not even resolving a lot of relationship and questions.


But other than that the plot was a good ones that wasn't quite like many other that I have watched. The acting cast did amazing jobs portraying the character. The younger cast was amazing but I could just believe that because I did not see the adult cast act as much. The music was adequate and even enjoyable at times but I was more focused on the characters and what was going on.


Overall I would have to say that I would not rewatch this because of those last two episode in which it felt like the director(s) and writer(s) just gave up and crammed everything into this pathetic excuses for closing episodes.

The overall value was originally somewhere between a 9.5-10 but was dropped because of all the unanswered crappy-ness of the ending.

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Completed
Jazz for Two
12 people found this review helpful
by oikwo
Apr 1, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 2.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Was really good at first but quickly went downhill

I'm not very good at writing reviews and I have a lot to say so bear with me lol.

CW/ sexual harassment, bullying, SA, Spoilers, physical violence

Okay so I actually really liked this drama when it first started airing. If the rest of the drama was like the first few episodes, I would've given it an 8.5 or 9.0 easily. Entire cast was super cute and the acting was good!

HOWEVER! it wasn't long until I started seeing red flags and just terrible pacing and plot holes. Like did he own his dad so hard, he had to go into hiding?? lmao I wish we could have seen some character development and the reconciliation between them. Also, Taeyi grieving for 99% of the show and then suddenly letting go of his brother and trauma in the span of a minute? and the sudden reveal of both of their older brothers having feelings for each other felt so rushed and forced, it was unnecessary (was most likely just random plot thrown in to have them break up for .5 seconds lmao).

The biggest thing that turned me off of this drama was how toxic both of the relationships were.

Taeyi and Jooha treated Seheon and Doyoon terribly but a simple sorry (or a hug in Jooha's case?? lmao) was all they needed to forgive and forget? They deserved sooo much better. Jooha literally bullied and violently assaulted Doyoon MULTIPLE times (not to mention him sexually harassing Seheon and then it just never came up again/Seheon says "I'm fine now" and invites him to perform with them? like what?)

Both Taeyi and Jooha had really bad internalized homophobia which is a sad reality but they never resolved that or showed any character development and it kind of just felt like they were painting gay relationships to be something dirty and shameful.

And don't even get me started on Taeyi SA'ing Seheon outside the bar!! (what a strange and disgusting reaction to Seheon simply being there? no normal person would react that way, he needs to be locked up lol) Then he shows up like the next day, plays piano with him, touches his hand all affectionate lol, gives him a little "sorry I hurt you" and then it's all smiles and kisses?? Be so fr... and the way their relationship does an immediate 180 afterwards.. Taeyi didn't even seem like the same person! (ngl the winking at each other behind their hands was pretty cute tho lol). I had already checked out by the 6th episode and was powering through because I was already too far in, so by the time they got together, I couldn't even enjoy the cutesy moments/kisses/affection which is usually my favorite part ):<

They went from being hostile to acting like nothing ever happened. I wish they would've had the angst earlier on (or preferably not at all lol) and then showed character development for the last few episodes.

Also, the fake/blurred kisses were a little weird. I'd much prefer they didn't even have Jooha and Doyoon kiss (and I'd much MUCH prefer that they didn't have a relationship at all LMAO)

My rating is much lower than the other reviews I'm seeing but I really cannot stand dramas normalizing abusive and toxic relationships. If it was just the weird pacing and plot holes then I would've rated it higher.

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Ongoing 13/13
My Secret Romance
12 people found this review helpful
Jun 1, 2017
13 of 13 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
This was such a cute romantic drama, it's full of misunderstandings "which is a must" for all Asian Dramas..

Slap Kiss
Crazy Ex
Mother In Laws
Misunderstandings
Another g / b having a crush on the same girl.
Jealousy
arranged marriages
fake marriages


I loved the secretary, his suits lol.. Colourful like Versace style :) I love the little brother Dong Goo, but even his half sister was not really looking after him, he was always with Hyun Tae, like Hyun Tae is his half brother or dad. Needless to say Dong Goo is the cutest little Actor.

Yoo Mi is ashamed of her mother, she was an erotic star (well I 'm watching a Thai Drama, main lady's mother was a prostitute mother is married to main guy's dad and the daughter is not ashamed of her mother, I don't know which is more acceptable, I think I'd feel the same if I was in Yoo Mi's shoes )

The problem with this drama was it was extremely slow, they don't get to anywhere. She's ashamed of her mother, her half brother..

When it comes to the cast Song Ji Eun is a perfect choice for Yoo Mi, as she looks innocent
Sung Hoon is and always be a perfect match for rich, handsome, casanova playboy looking but on the inside it's extremely the opposite chaebol.

Mother hhaah I can't find words to describe the mother Nam Gi Ae she is another actress that is a perfect fit for this type of mother. I believe I have seen her at least in the 6 of dramas I have watched in the last couple of years, maybe more..

I expected to see a little more of their love Jin Wook & Jin Eun, at least I wanted to see getting married but nay...

Until the Secretary meets the kitchen girl tbh I thought he's gay!!

ep 11-12-13 not worth of watching, if you wanna know how it ends although it is not gonna make you happy just watch ep 14 and that's it.

We have not seen why Jin Wook mother left we have not seen him taking Yoo Mi to his mother, or even both of them going to his mother's restaurant. We have not seen much of mother son time.

For a bit I thought Yo Mi's ma gonna flirt and hook Jin Wook's dad but I was wrong but if they made that way it way it'd be quite funny though.

The music was good.

I so wished that the lil bro was their secret love child but he's half bro :((

there are loads of incomplete things wish they make S02 for us.

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Completed
Ghost Lab
12 people found this review helpful
May 27, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Deep Dive into the Human Mind and Obsession

First time reviewer here, but I especially felt compelled to write a review for Ghost Lab. I am extremely unfamiliar with Thai dramas and actors, but the acting (and the storyline) was phenomenal here.

Ghost Lab stars off very lighthearted and almost comical, but you quickly get the feeling that there’s something very wrong. As you ride along with the characters, you take a dive into the psyche of not only the main characters, but their families as well. Ghost Lab attempts the explore the limits of human emotion and obsession through exploring ghosts and the afterlife.

10/10 would recommend giving it a watch!

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Completed
Coffee Prince
12 people found this review helpful
Jan 4, 2016
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
Some old dramas don't stand the test of time, or live up to all the hype. That is not the case with Coffee Prince. I've just finished marathoning through this classic (again), and I still love it just as much as the first time!

On the surface this is another romance about a girl who pretends to be a boy, and gets away with it, and a spoiled rich guy who falls for her. What makes Coffee Prince different, is that there is so much more depth than is usually in KDrama romances (yes, even the good ones). The themes are more realistic, and the content is more adult. Coffee Prince shows us how extremely complicated love can be, while still being fun to watch.

The cast is perfect. Yoon Eun Hye is the most convincing androgynous character I've seen in any drama. It's more than her just looking enough like a boy, it's her whole demeanor that makes the idea of her being mistaken as male completely plausible. Gong Yoo is charmingly goofy, and instantly crushable (watching this began my minor obsession with him). Equally crushable is Lee Sun Gyun, who I would fall in love with again later in Pasta, but is much more kinder, gentler, and understanding in this role. Then there is Chae Jung Ahn, who is frustrating to watch, and hard to like, but equally brilliant. The chemistry between them all is amazingly acted, and their story is well written. People who aren't fans of romances normally, may appreciate how imperfect this story is. There are also plenty of cute moments to inspire butterflies in die hard romance fans. It also has the most beautiful love confession in the history of dramaland period ! (or rather, exclamation point)

The minor characters are also very well played. I loved the dynamics between the Coffee Princes too! This is the kind of cast that you miss when the show is finally over. I can't believe Lee Eon died shortly after, but he was my favorite of the other "princes".

The only thing mediocre about this drama is the music, which is fine, but I did not rush out to find the soundtrack, even after obsessing over this drama.

The other criticism is that the drama does become a little less engaging in the final episodes, but at that point you will probably love the characters so much that it won't make you love the show any less. The ending wraps things up perfectly in my opinion.

My main reason for writing this review now, even though this was one of the first dramas I ever saw, was to promote it's re-watchability. It also manages to not feel as dated as many dramas tend to be over time. Besides the flip phone technology, this drama could easily be successful today. It's also very timely, concerning issues regarding gender roles and sexuality, which is a hot topic these days. In that respect, maybe it's ahead of it's time.

So, yes, of course I recommend Coffee Prince! It remains high on my drama favorites list, with no signs of being bumped lower any time soon. If this is one of those dramas that you always meant to watch, but never got a chance to, just do it! This is one of those occasions when it is safe to believe the hype!

*warning: not only may you very likely crave coffee while watching, but you may either be tempted to eat everything in your fridge, or be too disgusted to ever eat again, after watching Eun Chan eat!*

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Completed
Backstreet Rookie
12 people found this review helpful
by krofal
Aug 23, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Light-hearted Rom-com

Not sure why this drama is rated as low but personally I've seen worst drama that as higher ratings than this. I would describe this drama as a light-hearted romance comedy.

Pros: The leads are visually appealing and the acting is good and the music/soundtracks are memorable. The over-the-top antics of the 2nd leads may or may not appeal to you.
Cons: There are no real depth to the story so if you are looking for some life-changing lessons or etc then this is not the place for you.

Personally, my wife and I enjoyed this very much. Overall, I would say I had a good time watching this and have no regret's on the time spend on this.

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Completed
Qin Dynasty Epic
12 people found this review helpful
Dec 30, 2020
78 of 78 episodes seen
Completed 15
Overall 6.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

Why I end up being disappointed with this epic

Qin Dynasty Epic used to be called Qin Empire 4, I watched the previous three installments last year, they were about previous kings/duke of Qin, all building up to this installment's Ying Zheng unification and start of 2000 years of Imperial China. I'm not overly familiar with Ying Zheng, but he's too well known and has too many achievements for this to not be epic, but I came away rather disappointed. (spoilers reference historical events)

First of all, the drama focused on the wrong bits and have terrible pacing issue. Ying Zheng died at 49, most of the common achievements people think of are unification at 38 and what comes after it. He had a fairly interesting childhood and rough start, so I totally understand giving fair amount of attention to that. I'm perfectly willing watch him grow from ascending to the throne at 13 to gaining control of court at 22, clearing obstacles and finding awesome generals and ministers before starting to conquer other kingdoms. Hell, aside from setting up prefecture system, standarising writing system, linking great walls and building roads for carts, his life after unification could have been neat too, he defended Qin against Huns, conquered Bai Yue (modern southern China), and did bunch of things to ensure his reform stayed. Not to mention there's the whole elixir for immortality, didn't name a successor that resulted in Qin's early demise.

The drama covers up to unification so 78 ep over 38 years, which I somewhat understand, since it's more positive ending then setting up for tragedy. It spent 13 ep on first 13 years of his life, bit longer than what I expected but hey it's a long drama, and then 9 ep on last 9 years. These are IMO the best parts of the drama, not just due to pacing but also acting and writing were the best. I'm happy to note that the drama bought up some of the reform fairly early in the drama, and it's sprinkled here and there, so it's not just battles and unification. But these last 9 ep should have been the focus of the drama, I understand that battle scenes are expensive, you could have given me more time to battle strategies? Or other kingdoms' internal issues? Like Chu Kingdom, it lasted less than 2 ep!

Ep 22 to 60 covers him from 18 till 22, that's roughly 10 ep per year, is that really necessary, drama? There's two major events that I expected (from wiki'ing Ying Zheng when I saw him ascend the throne), one lasted 3 ep (bit longer than I expected but reasonable pacing for this story), one lasted 15 ep! There were number of episodes used to set up Zhao as a major opponent, which I don't mind as they were historically rather strong and formidable at the time (featuring two well known generals of Warring States, the other two are Qin's), but I do feel it could have been shorter, or again maybe other kingdoms could have used some focus too? Other episodes feature one major battle and two minor battles, and couple small notable events. Zhengguo Canal was a marvel at the time, but we never saw other big construction projects either, like mausoleum or the roads mentioned in later parts of the drama? The way the drama is paced, the ending arc where the meat of the story should be just feel really rushed. If you slash the middle by half, the pacing would feel much more balanced.

Secondly, the drama's writing was all over the place. Some of the dialogue swere classical Chinese, some of it were fairly plain modern Chinese, which is fine. What's not fine is certain word choices, why does the drama start with what sound like a translation of a western king's speech? What was with that conversation between Ying Zheng and Lv Buwei at ep 12 (?), they make me question if I'm watching a historical epic or a fluffy romcom? To get across the shock, hurt, and confusion, there could have been a lot of other ways, in fact if you just delete some sentences, I wouldn't be all "wtf???" Not exactly word choice, but how the scene was shot, what was with the assassin scene? Okay he got his hair cut to show it was dangerous, but why was he rolling on the floor? What were the other people doing? Why was he fighting like a samurai, it seriously looked super kendo-y? Director, did you just watch the 1998 movie and used that as inspiration and called it a day instead of using historical records?

A big part of the drama was humanising Ying Zheng, as his image to average person is a tyrant. That might have partially been due to Han's Sima Qian's "Record of Historian" demonising him and Qin, since Han is Confucius while Qin is Legalist and dynasty they overthrew, not to mention Qin probably overdid it when it was reforming. That said, I'm constantly confused by the drama being bizarrely in love with "pls love me one more time" narrative, I guess because he had troubled childhood, it make sense and it plays up the tragedy? I found it rather awkward though and it was used way too many times for my taste. The drama was also very intent on selling him as a benevolent king, and it feels super wrong to me. It's fine to have him want to conquer the other kingdoms AND also help some common people he might have met, but why does every decision where he has to kill someone, it's always like he's forced to? He's an emperor, I'm sure they sacrifice some things for their goals, and I'm sure there's some calculated moves, that would made this more interesting. Even with all his flaws (even including tyranny + elixir) , it doesn't diminish any of his achievements.

I had a lot of fun celebrating amazing relationship between previous kings and their ministers because they shared common goals and overcame obstacles together. Ying Yiren and Lv Buwei sort of have that, but there were too little time for it. Lv Buwei became a reluctant antagonist at some point due to circumstances, but Li Si didn't fill his gap as he should have. In fact, Lv Buwei was the most interesting character of the drama, and I could see his love for Qin and I bought everything he does is for mighty goals. Li Si on the other hand, tend to be all talk and not much action, or what little he does seems to end up with a huge mess, e.g. Lao Ai. The writer's plotting simply isn't as awesome as they seem to think, and they really spent way too much time where every single person seem to think unification was totally sure-in and shout it at every chance they have, that's not the case!

Thirdly, our protagonist is completely miscast. I know casting Ying Zheng is real difficult, there's lot of expectation. He did so much when he was young but your average 20-something probably can't hold down such an epic drama and act reasonably well against so many veteran actors. I also know that dramas try to have main lead come out early, but if Han Wu Emperor's Chen Baoguo can come out at ep 22 (out of 58) and leave a classic epic behind, so can you! Casting 40 year old is totally expected, though I would have preferred 30 year old since aging makeup is easier than deaging someone. I can handle 40 playing 20, but you can't possibly convince me they are 13, especially when your actor look older than their age! Couple with some plot points that only make sense if he's super young, he constantly pulls me out of the drama. What's wrong with having him appear in ep 20 or 22 out of 78? You know what, your drama ends before Ying Zheng even catch up to Zhang Luyi's age!

I've been a casual fan of Zhang Luyi since I watched his slow burn republican drama The Red. He fit that role perfectly, he even had a tinge of Shanghaiese accent despite not being one, (it's fairly rare for accents or dialects to appear in cdramas!) Oof this role though, he really really doesn't look like an emperor, ok? He didn't look like one playing Li Longji in Legend of Demon Cat, and he doesn't look like one here. He doesn't always hold himself straight and seem to lean forward at times, it's very apparent when he meets up with Zhao Yan, who looks real regal next to him. The winter costume piled onto him also made his neck disappear, and couple with his posture, it's....not pretty. He tends to yell a lot during intense scenes too, it's not that he can't yell, but he doesn't have that powerful volume? powerful aura that I expect him to have, sometimes I think the scenes would have been more effective if he was quieter. e.g. there was an intense scenes with him and two kids, he looked dangerous and it was nerve-wrecking.

Then there were other little bits that's just really annoying. I know you want to differentiate the countries, but you can't possibly tell me Han could afford purple for the whole army 2000 years ago! Purple is not an easily found natural dye, especially one that bright, it's why nobility/royalty likes purple, did this not cross anyone's mind? Zhao Ji is really really stupid and appeared way too much, Lao Ai shouldn't have that much power and shouldn't look like a final boss! Seriously, why was there street celebration for that arc and not unification? Why was sexual assault even necessary as a plot point? Being Uncle Ying Xi is real suffering, but he was supportive all the way, just because of that one look? You could have implied something happened during that night or was it two nights (ep 12?)? Don't tell me they just stood there and talked?

Despite all of my complaints, I did like fair amount of it. It opened and closed with epic battle scenes, best battles I've seen in cdrama, thank you tencent for all your money. I really like the music, I think that one song that makes me cry is from previous installments but I still love every scene that use it (and important scenes really love using it). I actually rather like Zhao Kingdom's cast and their characterisations, they were source of comedy at one point, later on they had fabulous Queen who could actually scheme and plan and very hateable Guo Kai that I end up half rooting for. There were some memorable supporting cast that only appeared for few episodes, like Ying Yiren who managed to win people's heart with that one speech, or Han Fei with his lofty goals and dignity in dire times. There were a lot of segments I really liked as well, Ying Zheng and his dad overseeing the army and stating their goals, Li Si detailing Qin's couple failed opportunities to conquer, Lv Buwei's final scenes, Zhao Yan's entire visit to Qin, Ji Dan sending Jin Ke off etc.

At the end of the day, epics like this are hard to come by, so I definitely don't regret watching it from day 1. I think if you don't come in with expectation like me, and don't constantly compare drama to history, you would have lot of fun as others did. I had a lot of fun wiking and discussing with others in the comment section. I even made a timeline and everything, since I wanted time to move, which I'll post in the review comment section, as well as some other interesting bits I found that might be helpful. Shoutout to @PeachBlossomGoddess and @WandereR for encouraging me to post a rather negative review, since I wasn't going to write one as it felt bit like raining on people's parade. Little did they know, once I start, I can't stop!

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Completed
Brain Man
12 people found this review helpful
Jan 6, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This movie is way better than any Hollywood's action and suspense ones. The story was not that special for similar type of movies, but they delivered it well. There were even lots of scenes that made me forgot to breath.

The acting was superb! Ikuta Toma deserves more than a standing ovation for his acting skill. His expression and gesture were the ones that made this movie special. Also, I love the way they expressed emotions using background music.

Although there were still missing points and, for sure, non-sense matters appeared in this movie, I would say the director, the writer, and all team member did a really great job. Thanks for making this movie!

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Completed
You Are My Hero
12 people found this review helpful
by ritz
Apr 12, 2021
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

A ride from start to finish

I've watched many romantic dramas, but I would never call myself a fan of the genre. This is mostly because, while the couples may be cute, there will always be unnecessary misunderstandings and drama to make the relationship "strong." Many romance dramas have a tendency to romanticize red flags that is often borderline abuse. I don't consider myself a romantic person and, hence, rarely do dramas make my heart flutter. However, this one not only made my heart flutter, but it also made me melt into puddles from the sweetness. Often, I caught my silly, ecstatic reflection on the screen and wondered what this drama has done to me.

Right off the bat, I noticed the similarities with DOTS like many others have mentioned. The general premise of a law enforcement officer falling in love with a doctor is similar to DOTS. The truck dangling off the cliff, and the earthquake rescue mission is also similar to DOTS. But, the similarities end there. The main characters are entirely different people from Kang Mo Yeon and Yoo Shi Jin, and so is their dynamic as a couple. Someone commented below that DOTS is a "blockbuster" meant to grip the audience and keep us at the edge of our seats, while YAMY is a good balance of high octane action and a slow, sweet, realistic slice of life. Unlike DOTS, Xing Kelei and Mi Ka are not "heroes." They are ordinary people who are also very competent, passionate professionals, trying to navigate their daily lives, and on more than one occasion, encountering something out of the ordinary.

Bai Jing Ting and Sandra Ma are an unlikely duo, and so I had my doubts at first. I ate my words within the first episode. This couple has so much natural chemistry; it blew me away. Sandra Ma is a fantastic actress. I cannot imagine the compassionate, capable Mi Ka being played by anyone else. Sandra Ma has impeccable dialogue delivery; her soft voice, sweet giggle, puppy eyes, and tender disposition are all so naturally conveyed. The drama being undubbed made her feel most authentic because her diction and voice modulation really adds to the acting. Sandra has the ability to portray characters as dynamic. She made Mi Ka cute and warm without making her annoying. Mi Ka is kind but not a pushover. She knows how to stand up for herself and does not let anyone walk over her. She's calm, level-headed, reasonable, and by far the most realistic female lead I've watched in a long, LONG time. She also shows so much character development; the contrast between her in the first episode and episode 39 is striking.

Xing Kelei is just as well written. Truth be told, I never pegged Bai Jing Ting as being able to carry the role of a police officer. But I'm so impressed with his acting abilities that I can unabashedly say that I've become a fan. He's charming and powerful as a captain. In many cases, dramas tend to boil down military/policemen to macho men with a false sense of superiority and ego, two sizes too large for their body. This toxic masculinity bleeds into his romantic relationships. It makes him the dominant one who makes all the decisions, the one who takes the initiative and drives the relationship. Xing Kelei is confident and well aware of his charm and talent, but he is far from egotistical. To see the tough, mean captain of the Tigers be clammy, shy and timid around Mi Ka is so adorable. The contrast between him as an officer and him as a boyfriend is so stark; it makes you swoon. In a relationship, the two are partners, on equal footing, and the two respect each other's choices and opinions. This relationship is by far one of the healthiest I've seen in dramas. There is consistent communication and no room for misunderstandings. Even when the two fight, neither lets feelings stew nor hesitate to apologize. Even when they miss each other due to their demanding occupations, they understand and respect each other's careers and accept that sometimes their jobs take precedence over each other. Every time you expect conflict, the two surprise you by being level-headed and mature. It sounds like the bare minimum, but it is still so refreshing to see. I enjoyed the natural progression of their relationship. While it may be slow and awkward at first, it is very realistic, given that it is their first relationship. I think this is what makes their interactions all the more authentic. Their conversations feel natural and casual, akin to your day to day interactions with the ones you love.

The side couples are just as adorable. Each couple has a different dynamic. Shu Wenbo is so obtuse; it's hilarious. Unlike popular opinion, I didn't find his cluelessness annoying. In fact, I found it quite endearing because as soon as he realizes his feelings, he's quick to act on them. Ruan Qing Xia is assertive and forthright without being annoying, and as an aspiring journalist, I admire her professionalism and sensibility. I adore the relationship between Keyou and Shou Yuhan. While Kelei and Mika are like spring- new, fresh, pure; Keyou and Yuhan are like autumn- comforting, familiar, warm and mature. All are different types of love, but equally as beautiful.

The romance is a slow burn, and the pacing of the drama is slow. There are arcs of thrills and action, followed by periods of the characters figuring out the mundane complications in life. The balance is perfect, and the simplicity of it is what made me keep watching. Each period of hardship unlocks a different level on Kelei and Mi Ka's relationship. The earthquake episodes are interesting, and the confession is especially heartwrenching. I have a special appreciation for episode 39. The writers did an impeccable job maintaining the thrill from the beginning to the end of the hostage situation. The addition of the lovers' fateful encounter after a long period of separation is heartwrenching and really adds to the experience.

Is it perfect? On most days, when I am much more practical and not in my feelings over the end of a fantastic drama, I would say no. However, today I choose to be impractical and argue that yes, it is perfect. That being said, the editing can be a little choppy, especially when stitching together multiple takes of the same scene. But that can be easily forgiven. While there are some recycled tropes earlier on in the drama, there are no unnecessary plot devices, and every bit of the story is there for a reason. There are no unanswered questions or plotholes. The product placements drove me a little nutty, but I just chose to ignore it.

I don't usually watch long dramas, and 40 episodes can be considered long. Yet, the episodes flew by, and at the end of it, I hoped for more. But now that I've finished watching it, I'm left with hollowness. This drama was truly a joy to watch. It's the type of drama that I wish I never watched, to experience the unadulterated joy of watching it for the first time. It also left me with a lingering sense of warmth and solitude. A drama that has joined the ranks of my most elite. Undoubtedly, a ten on ten for me.

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Completed
Mask Girl
12 people found this review helpful
Aug 18, 2023
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

DARK COMEDY/ THRILLER AT IT'S PEAK

The retro style of the beginning and the calming before the storm was very well executed, and the upcoming peak and set for story at 2 EP was very well made!!

Really recommend it!! Saw my self laughing for things I wouldn't expect it...

Although thriller is the main genre.

O estilo retrô do começo e a calma antes da loucura foi muito bem executado, e o auge que foi planejado e executado pelo 2 EP foi muito bem feito!!

Realmente recomendo!! Ri com coisas que eu não tava esperando...

Apesar que suspense é o gênero principal.
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Completed
Shining Days
12 people found this review helpful
Nov 19, 2013
80 of 80 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
So this is a REAL drama. With 80 episodes, it still leaves you hungry for more. I really love the story, it´s unique, a little bit predictable - but also surprising at some moments. It´s one of those stories that makes you cry a river and laugh.

I loved the acting and the cast, especially Peter Ho. The girl that plays Ye Lin is gorgeus and her acting skills are great.

Also, the music was good. Both the OST and ending song are sung by Peter Ho. ??? and ??.

Overall, this is an amazing drama. The only thing that I kinda didn't like was the fact that there were too many flashbacks for my liking. Otherwise, this is a drama I would recommend to all of you that loves drama.

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Completed
One Night Only
12 people found this review helpful
Jan 21, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0
The beginning is quite confusing I watched with few friends and we got lost but did try to follow up story. Though like after 15mins we finally began to catch up what was happening, so we might be just slow. So on second part of movie we understood it's two different movies yeah we are that slow we didn't get the description properly. I personally didn't like 1st one it was confusing and not that great. Didn't see much connection between Han Jae and Hoon.

So I will focus on second part of it.
Friends go to a new bar that is near and it has hint of comedy that I didn't find in first story. This one was more fun watching. Honestly, it would have been better if it were separate movies even if it took only 33minutes. So a guy falls in love at first sight and it leads to cruel ''reality'' like some comments said and well where most of bl movies do a sad ending as if gay men can't be happy which I find it cruel. But the story was easy to watch.

So ignoring first part I give this 8.5

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