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Ongoing 10/10
Nevertheless,
10 people found this review helpful
Aug 14, 2021
10 of 10 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 6.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

great visuals but repetitive

This is the kind of drama where you know it is going to end badly but you find yourself watching anyway. I have no idea where this story is going to go because I didn't read the webtoon but I have an idea and it's not good.
This drama definitely has a few appeals: visually appealing leads, beautiful cinematography, and the romanticism of a toxic relationship. And sure we've seen college dramas, but this one centers around art majors. That's an interesting and unique touch to this show that I like a lot. But despite these things, the show still feels a bit bland. It kinda feels like the same thing happens every episode but in different ways and I'm kinda tired of it. Nabi puts her foot down, calls Jae-eon out on his bs, puts him in his place, and ghosts him, then he'll come crawling back and do something swoon-worthy and Nabi will let him off the hook again and again and again. I get that's kinda the whole point with this drama but my god did it get repetitive fast.

Song Kang has really surprised me by how many shows he's been in lately, not to mention how diverse his roles are. I hear he might be enlisting soon so he's probably trying to establish himself before serving, and I think he has already. His acting still needs improvement on the emotional side. Or maybe I'm just saying all this because the only thing I've seen him in besides this is Love Alarm. We know he can play the handsome, likable guy but I wanna see more depth from him as an actor. Han So Hee is okay here. Her performance is alright but I really expected more from her after her performance in TWOTM. She was very good there even tho her role was kinda minor so I was expecting a lot from her first lead role. Sadly I was disappointed. I like her character's background but it's frustrating watching her make the same mistakes with Jae-eon in every episode. At least she looks incredibly good with the ML, ri

Now unto Yang Do Hyuck a.k.a. potato boy. He is so gosh darn cute. He's so kind and sweet and humble-the opposite of Jae-eon. You prob already know which team I'm on(lol) but if Nabi ends up with Jae-eon and not him I will be so mad. How can you say no to his puppy eyes?

- I'm back after a month of seeing the finale and I gotta say in really disappointed in the ending.
(CAUTION: SPOILER ALERT)
So unrealistic yet unrealistic at the same time. Maybe I played myself but I had a small glimmer of hope that Nabi would choose neither of the MLs and perhaps take the self-improvement route. That to me was the more ideal and healthy ending. It's clear guy #1 wasn't good for Nabi AT ALL and I find it hard to believe that he really changed for her, but at the same time Potato Boy wasn't a good choice either. Yes he is the boyfriend that Nabi deserves but not the one she needs atm. She really needs to stop dating altogether and develop some sense of self worth, make get therapy for her previous traumatic relationship, and then seek someone who will truly value her for who she is and not what someone can get out of her. But instead we got her openly admitting to the second lead that she knows Jae-eon is bad for her and constantly hurts her, but she cant control her feelings for him so she ultimately choose him. I'm gonna be honest, I understand her logic as a girl with no self esteem or worth, but that did not make me any less livid. The last ending scene was the icing on the cake for me. Its just not possible for Jae-eon to do a complete 180 with his behavior because he "loves" Nabi. When he refused the girls advances and numbers, I thought the only reason he did that was because Nabi was around, bit given his track record, I guarantee if Nabi wasn't there he def would've entertained those girls. And that's the gripe I have with the writing the last episode. Jae-eon's "change" towards his relationship with Nabi was horribly done and felt insincere because it wasn't earned. I'm sorry but once a fuc boi always a fuc boi. Guys like Jae-eon don't change, especially for nice naive girls like Nabi. I already wasn't going to rate the drama so high but ep. 16 made me drop my rating even more.

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The Four
10 people found this review helpful
Nov 12, 2023
48 of 48 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

A classic combination of wuxia and romance!

This wuxia drama is based on the novel by Wen Rui An, and is one of the many TV and movie adaptations. I decided to watch this since I was looking for a wuxia or historical drama after finishing a modern one (Age of Legends), not to mention that the leads here are a treat to watch. I was not disappointed!

What I like:
1) Amazing chemistry between Zhang Han and Janine Chang! I was eagerly looking forward to their scenes together, and looking for video clips of the two.
2) The strong bond/friendship of the four infamous deputies, as they solve cases and fight their enemies together. I also like that there are female deputies in the Shen Hou mansion.
3) Zhang Han as Leng Xue (Cold Blood), Janine Chang as Chu Li Mo and William Chan as Zhui Ming (Chaser) – they are my favorite characters in this drama! Leng Xue, as his name implies, appears cold and uncaring towards others, but is actually a man who cares deeply for the people dear to him. Chu Li Mo is the eldest but unfavored daughter of the government official in her hometown (she grew up with her father and stepmother), who tried to run away from her fate of being one of the emperor's women. She is pretty, smart but can be naive at times. As for Zhui Ming, he is the life of the party, the ladies' man and happy-go-lucky type, but who is also very devoted to his lady love.
4) Yang Yang as Wu Qing (Heartless) – Yang Yang looked so young here, not as manly as Zhang Han, but he was able to carry his role as Wu Qing, a man who looked calm and otherworldly, but was actually very emotional, and struggled to move on from his past love.
5) Mao Ji Jun as Tie Shou (Iron Fist) – he is straight-forward and loyal, but not as strategic as the others.
6) Mickey He as An Shi Geng – A villain you'd love to hate, he was really convincing as a man who becomes mentally unstable and cold-blooded as his thirst for revenge and power consumed him.
7) As this is a wuxia series, it has many fight scenes, and most of them were well-executed. The special effects during the fight scenes in the beginning were a bit over the top, though.
8) Good costume design, hair and makeup, and set design. I like Janine Chang’s look!
9) Although this is mainly a wuxia series with romance, there were also funny/light moments in the drama.
10) The ending was nicely wrapped up, though I would have wanted more sweet scenes between our main couple.

Other comments:
1) Some of the supporting female characters were quite irritating, such as the maids (except Ye Er) and the two sidekicks of Ji Yao Hua.
2) Princess Zi Luo and Ling Yi Yi were annoying in many instances, but I’m glad their characters grew up and were able to eventually redeem themselves.
3) I think there were a bit too many scenes of An Shi Geng reminiscing over his lady love, although I understand it’s meant to show his devotion to her.
4) Since it’s known from the start who the villain is, many of the twists were predictable. Nevertheless, it’s still very engaging and enjoyable to watch.

Final Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this, so I would gladly recommend it, especially if you like wuxia with romance!

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Phoenix
10 people found this review helpful
May 3, 2014
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
What's not to like about this drama! You have 2 handsome men sparring over a gorgeous ex wife and a beautiful fiance who will do anything, ANYTHING to keep her man. It is really entertaining to watch Eric Mun and Lee Seo Jin as rivals in love and business. And whenever the drama slows down a bit, MI Ran, the fiance, wil do something else outrageous.
If you want to watch this for the romance, it all happens in the first steamy, passionate episode. This is more of a revenge drama, which makes it rather unique. Mi Ran is reminiscent of Glen Close in the American classic, Fatal Attraction. Yes, it's not a relaxing watch, but it is definitely entertaining. The acting is exceptional and the music has some of the best pieces in any drama.

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Where Stars Land
10 people found this review helpful
Jul 11, 2020
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Sweeeeeeeeetest Drama

Where Stars Land 

Finished on 11 July 2020

I watched a bollywood mv of this drama on youtube and it looked so sweet that I decided to watch the drama. 

And now I love this drama! (And it's every main character.)

First of all, this is the most sweeeeeeeeeeeetest drama I have ever watched. It is sweet and sad, like sugar with salt of tears. Just wonderful! 

The plot summary above makes it seem like the story of hero and heroine is secondary and the stories of people on the airport are the main concept. Nope. The hero heroine are the main characters of this story, the rest is there to support them. While the story of our hero Lee So Yeon and heroine Han Yoo Ruem goes on constantly, each episode has a new problem at the airport for the employees to work on.

And it doesn't get boring in any way. If only, it makes the drama better.

I have never been to an airport, because I or anyone close to me had never been on a plane. But if I were to start travelling in planes someday, I would understand the people there a little. The lives of people working in airports, I kinda understand them now. 

The heroine, Han Yoo Ruem: She is one of the best kdrama heroine I have ever seen! She did everything I wanted her to do, and nothing I expected of her due to my having watched 50+ kdrama heroines. 

Yes, she is a bit annoying in the first one or two episodes, but she learns quickly. You would understand her reasons later. Give her time. (Though I wish they had shown more of her past.)

She isn't the typical kdrama heroine. She doesn't go around asking annoying questions to hero. She is brilliantly understanding. And I admire and respect her for doing what is right despite all the opposition she gets from people around her. She gives me courage and inspiration.  I wish I was more like her. Braver about speaking my mind and doing what is right no matter what.  

Hero, Lee Seo Yeon: He is a quiet and mature man, exactly the kind of heroes I like to see, and I usually don't see in kdramas. He rarely raises his voice, but can get scary for others pretty quickly with his demeanour. 

Anddddd he really really loves Han Yoo Ruem (Another reason that makes him likable). You can see it in the way he looks at her. The actor, Lee Je Hoon, did a great job of portraying Lee Seo Yeon's emotions. I don't think any other actor could have done justice to this character. A big thank you to whoever selected Lee Je Hoon for this role. (I wonder why we don't see more of such a great actor?) 

He is also not a typical kdrama hero. He is kinda aloof sometimes, but he isn't arrogant. He doesn't have a big ego. If something is in his heart, he doesn't hide it out of embarrassment or something. His smiles are rare, but precious. He almost looks like an anime character. He behaves like one too (the way he moves and talks). 

Sometime before watching this drama, I happened to read a book which had a similar character as Lee Seo Yeon, so that made me sympathise more with him. (Can't mention the book, as it can give away spoilers). I cried a little for him from time to time, and for them both. 

I am gonna give some spoilers here, so please scroll down till you can see 'spoiler ends here' written in capital. 

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT 

SPOILER ALERT

My favourite scenes were: 
When heroine asks him if he likes her, and he says yes. I was also expecting him to say no, as most kdrama heroes do. 
When he is going through the hallways of office quickly while covering his arm with his jacket, dodging people. Although this drama had many heartbreaking scenes, this scene was the most heartbreaking one for me. And in the background they were playing, "Someday in your life, walking in different ways. Can someone come and take me to my way." He was trying to go home, and when he couldn't, he tried to hide, to find a place to disappear from people's eyes. 
When he tells her he is breaking. 
Everytime he saves her. 
When he beats up that guy for her. He was feeling guilty and he cried later. But he loved her a lot and I think he was feeling more guilty about not being able to protect her and being by her side. 
When heroine tells him that she would be his arm and leg. My heart melted there. Hero's expressions at that time, mirrored my own. 
When her compass gets stuck to his arm. 
That robot scene was so cuuute, when he almost collides into her while running away from the robot. 
My favourite episode was the one where that philipine foreigner refuses to go because he needs to see his baby. 

So the spoilers end here. 

SPOILER ENDS HERE

SPOILER ENDS HERE

SPOILER ENDS HERE

SPOILER ENDS HERE

Other characters were given a good writing too. 

I particularly liked Oh Dae Gi and Na Yeong Jo's character. They were funny at times. These are two security members who work in a team. Na Yeong Jo is curt and often cold and scary. I wished they showed her past story too. So that we can understand. Oh Dae Gi is a softie totally. This one actor doesnt often show up on our screens too despite the talent. 

Seo In Woo, actor Lee Dong Gun was annoying sometimes. But I understood him by the end. I am glad they showed his side of the story. 

Yang Seo Geon, their team manager, was a good character to see on screen. I wish we say more characters like her. 

The drama dealt with everyone's story. They showed what everyone was like outside the office but they did it inside.

Their Director Kwon, he was an interesting character too. An ambitious man, who exchanged his name for a title. His character told me to never run after titles. Because then you loss your own identity. Now you are somewhere someone or something's director. 

And it's ost! This drama's ost Mystic World is one of the best things about this drama! It suited well for whatever scene they played it for. Mystic World is now in my playlist.  

Admittedly, this drama was not completely realistic, and had some flaws. Like some things were left unexplained. But it still left me with good feelings. There are heart warming stories in it, and there are heartbreaking stories too. I would definitely rewatch it after some time. I loved it. 

Here are some of my favourite quotes: 

"Why is that  important? It could take a person three weeks, three years, or three seconds to suddenly start liking someone." 

Lee Seo Yeon

"We are not much different from these passengers. Just like how they pass through here to get to somewhere, we are here temporarily before we move on. There is no need to attach a meaning to it." 

Said by a worker at airpot on his last day before retirement. This quote made me think a lot. Maybe he was talking about life. 

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The Justice
6 people found this review helpful
by Hanii
Oct 6, 2021
42 of 42 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Such an Astonishing Story and filled with Excellent Actors and Actresses

This drama is one of the most SUPERB Drama project this 2021 joining The Long Ballad, the story was just amazing, very well balanced and its one of a kind drama (For me:) ).Besides from the good story this drama has their very Superb Actors Starting from the main leads down to the supporting casts, guests and extras they are all really really good all of them played their parts very well, so Salute to the ones that have done the casting.

The story is very balanced, systematically arranged and well spiced. The story may have all the things that you have been looking for, Romance with great chemistry, Friendship, Life, Dreams, About social issues, government and has a little bit of comedy sometimes and many more.
One of the things that I was impressed of this drama was that how every single character developed, and you can see the character progress and how they changed from the 1st episode to the last, just like how Yi Zhi and Li Zi's Character.

I cried for some of the scene but the one that I cried the most was because of the reason that we've lost a lot of really good characters in this drama, their deaths really caught me off-guard, and how I wish that they could have make it to the end of the drama but then well as they say everything happens for a reason and their death made a big part on the story.

If you're wondering if there is a Love triangle I cannot say exactly say its a love triangle but I'll just term it as a Love interest there are people that are going to have interest to them, both ML and FL, but the feelings of ML and FL still remains for each other.

As soon as I have finished the drama I miss them all so much that I went back to the 1st episode and started re-watching it again.
I RECOMMNED this drama so much and If you're thinking if you should watch this or not all I can say is that_ "STOP scrolling and reading comments and spoilers and JUMP-in to the drama NOW and go find it out yourself I promise this drama is WORTH WATCHING." ;-)

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Completed
One Spring Night
10 people found this review helpful
Sep 11, 2019
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I looked forward to watching this drama because I liked the actors, writer, and singer-song writer. Unfortunately, I wanted to like it more than I did.

Story-The Good
A lot of US shows I’ve watched have a 6 to 2 or 7 to 2 ratio of male to female characters unlike real life. Strong female relationships are often sorely lacking. The writer of OSN has about a 50/50 ratio of male to female characters. The FL has close relationships with her sisters and friends! And surprisingly the mothers aren’t harpies. I found this encouraging and refreshing. I will seek out future dramas by this writer.

The Bad
I have no problem with slow burn romances but someone forgot to turn the crockpot on for this one. As of episode 18 the story was still trying to find traction. I struggled to connect with the FL’s motivation, the ML’s and her ex’s.

The Ugly
The FL had the characteristics of MLs I dislike. She was domineering, selfish, and unsympathetic. Just when she seemed to have some character growth she would revert back. The one time the ML showed vulnerability she pulled back instead of reassuring him and later punished him in a humiliating way. I couldn’t figure out what he saw in her and why he fell so hard when he had been burned badly before. I wanted to feel caught up in their romance but it felt flat to me.

Acting
I was underwhelmed by Han Ji Min and I loved her in Hyde,Jekyll, and Me. And who took the light out of Jung Hae In’s smile and the salt out of his tears? The baddies seemed tired and toothless as if they couldn’t figure out why they were doing what they were doing. Overall the acting wasn’t terrible but I’ve seen several of these actors do a much better job.

OST
As always, I love Rachael Yamagata’s music. However, the music clips often didn’t match the mood of the scene.

Rewatch Value
Not likely. Or maybe one day I’ll try again when I’m in a different mood and it will speak to me. Sadly I don’t think that it will as much as I will want it to.

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Completed
Chocolate
10 people found this review helpful
Oct 5, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Took me forever to find a place to watch this but it was so worth it (viki is the best place to watch it by the way) In the beginning I admit I was extremely confused about what was going on but it wasn't long till things started to make sense so just hang in there. The characters were fantastic in playing their roles and the lady who played Zen in the beginning was absolutely stunning. As for both the child version and older version of Zin, I was blown away by how well they acted out someone who is autistic. plus the combat choreography was superb. Some of the best I've ever seen in an action movie in fact. You never got bored watching the combat scenes because there were always some refreshing new interesting moves being thrown in that kept you on your toes. over all, fantastic movie. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this one.

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Completed
It's Okay to Be Sensitive Season 2
10 people found this review helpful
by Mars
Mar 21, 2019
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
Just like with season 1 (and like all stories that cover topics like these), there are storylines and characters that will infuriate you, characters who will make you want to reach through the screen and throttle them, and that feeling demonstrates just how good a job this drama does at bringing light to these issues.

This series continues to utilize it's format as a web drama very well, with excellent pacing and well put together episodes that manage to discuss and deal with difficult topics in a short period of time without leaving the viewer feeling wanting. It also manages to handle the complexities of the issues in a way that emphasizes how frustrating they can be while still putting forward a positive message.

This season dealt with issues in the workplace, a good continuation from the first season, and also managed to capture the difficult nuances of workplace harassment, the complicated nature of reporting problems, and the very real issue that is the lack of support and belief in the workplace. It also demonstrated the importance of women supporting women, particularly female mentors and superiors, and the role of male peers supporting women. One message I especially liked was that you do not have to forgive someone who harasses you, especially someone who doesn't actually apologize.

"Let's try our best and become happy together."

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Completed
Hilarious Family
10 people found this review helpful
Oct 12, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

An Irresistible Blend of Laughter and Love

"Hilarious Family" is a slapstick drama characterized by its exaggerated expressions and actions. Despite this, the comedy remains relatable, with natural and genuinely hilarious jokes. Each character is distinctly unique, realistically portrayed, endearing, and undergoes well-developed growth. The deliberately exaggerated acting, though, is both convincing and playful. At its core, the story follows a widow who raises her four daughters by selling tofu. Now that the daughters are grown, the widow is focused on finding suitable husbands for them, providing a satirical commentary on societal norms that still resonate in today's world.

The story introduces multiple romantic couples, each with their own amusing yet heartwarming stories. The music dances with a whimsical charm, amplifying the actions and emotions of both the events and the characters.

Du Ruyu (Liu Lin) adores all of her daughters equally, though there are moments when it may seem like she favors the eldest and overlooks the second. This, as it turns out, is a misunderstanding. Her strong sense of pride and concern for social image often lead to comedic mishaps. Her own romantic subplot adds a sweet and amusing touch to the story.

The eldest daughter, Chun Jinrong (Han Yunyun), at 29 years and 18 months, is fervently in pursuit of a husband. Her mother pulls out all the stops to assist her in this quest. Jinrong is the most refined among the daughters and invests the family's limited resources in clothing and accessories, all in the hopes of attracting a wealthy suitor. Initially appearing as a potential gold digger, as the story unfolds, we come to understand her motives and see her love for her family. Her escapades and encounters are hilarious.

Chun Peilan (Jackie Li), the second daughter, is a gentle and domestic individual. Her aspirations are centered around cooking, managing household chores, and caring for the family. While no one anticipates her finding love, she captures the heart of a very handsome man with dreams of becoming a valiant hero and a dashing sword fighter, but he couldn't use a sword.

The third daughter, Chun Banxia (Wu Jiayi), is a principled individual intolerant of any hint of wrongdoing. She is well-versed in the law and medicine, and assists her uncle in running a small clinic from home. The humorous exchanges she has with her mother underscore her sharp wit and determination.

Finally, the youngest daughter, Chun Keling (Li Jiaqi), is a spirited tomboy known for her youthful courage and impulsiveness. She enjoys venturing outside, often accompanied by a pair of friends, to confront bullies and teach them a lesson. Unbeknownst to her, a remarkably handsome young man falls in love with her for her distinctive qualities. However, not every girl dreams of marrying a prince, and Keling is no exception.

The final episode strikes a poignant and insightful note, yet the comedy continues, offering a delightful contrast. Lu Buping's hilarious kitchen scene and his comical daikon cutting leave deep impression. Chun Peilan originally requests the daikon to be diced into small cubes (丁), which is the true essence of cutting into "ding". Lu Buping, however, took a more literal approach, sculpting it into the shape of the character 丁("ding"). Despite its slapstick nature, I'm consistently impressed by the exceptional writing and acting on display.

My Verdict

Rowdy and constantly chaotic, this heartwarming story does away with traditional antagonists. Challenges faced by the characters often find resolution through serendipity. Every chaotic mishap can be traced back to a series of comically absurd misunderstandings. The romance is tender, endearing, and injected with humor. The dialogue is natural and witty, and the performances are praiseworthy. It's an easy-to-follow, enjoyable relaxation suitable for the entire family.

Recommended!

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Ainu Mosir
11 people found this review helpful
Jun 10, 2021
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Beautifully shot and quietly observed coming of age drama.

Kanto is an Ainu teenager living in a small tourist town of Japan’s northern Island, Hokkaido. Still struggling with his father's death one year prior, he's eager to leave behind the rural and isolated town he grew up in. When the village elder Debo tries to educate Kanto in Ainu traditions, two ways of living collide.

The Ainu are an ethnic group indigenous to northern Japan. Through the film the viewer gets to experience several Ainu traditions such as dances, music, rituals and feasts. It also shows different generations struggling with their identity and doesn't shy away from social commentary. My favorite being the moment a tourist compliments Kanto's mother, a fellow Japanese, on her Japanese skills. The irony of that hits pretty hard.

Nature plays a huge part in the life of the Ainu, so it felt only natural that it was a big part of the movie as well.
It offers an abundance of gorgeous shots of deep, green forests, beautiful seashores and the rural town. The changing seasons as well as the long and calming shots give the movie an incredibly relaxing atmosphere.
This felt like taking a relaxing walk through a beautiful landscape.

With its documentary style, 'Ainu Mosir' quietly observes younger and older Ainu generations trying to find their place in our modern times. Never judging but simply exploring their day-to-day life. Paired with the convincing performances of the non-professional Ainu actors, this makes for a compelling, grounded and authentic watch.

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Room Alone
10 people found this review helpful
Feb 12, 2016
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
So... Room Alone ist about people (students) who are somehow lonely. It tackles exactly 10 stories of 10 habitants of a condo.

I kind of liked it? It wasn't extremely special in some kind but it is a really good lakorn in it's genre. These days the theme internet gets more and more attention in movies, series and books. And this lakorn was about it. Facebook, Instagram, Line and Tinder (!) were the means to get to know each other to communicate with each other. You could see yourself in the characters.

They were ordinary stories every could relate to one of them or more and the actors did a good job, as everything seemed really natural, they were just some students who felt lonely in this society.

The music was good for those pats that I listened to them, it didn't disturb the flow or was annoying (like in some tw & k-dramas).

You should watch it if you want more GMM, youth dramas, light fluffy dramas :D

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BetCin
10 people found this review helpful
Dec 4, 2021
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Huge potential, poor execution and disappointing ending

Let me preface this by saying this was one of my most anticipated dramas of 2021. From the trailer, it looked like we were finally getting a good sapphic love story with an actual, intriguing plot. I was so, so wrong.

The story revolves around Beth and Cindy, an online couple with thousands of followers. They seem to be the perfect couple in their fans, the Umamis, eyes. But unbeknownst to others, every thing they post is a facade of what they want other to see, with one cheating and the other exploiting their relationship for likes/subscribers. When Beth finally snaps and demands they call it quits so she can move in with the person's she's been cheating with, Cindy reluctantly agrees. Right before they can announce their breakup, fate sends them a message that could change everything. They could earn millions — only if they can convince others they are head-over-heels in love, and therefore deserving of the cash prize in a relationship goals contest.

They only have to pretend for 10 days to achieve this. What could go wrong? A lot, as this drama properly showcased. What could've possibly gone right? A lot, as this drama didn't showcase at all.

This was one of the most toxic relationships I've seen in a series. There wasn't a single moment in the show where I wished they'd end up together. All I wanted to do was put them on opposite sides of the Earth and wish they never interacted with each other again. Cindy was extremely manipulative and never really expressed remorse for her actions. Making bad decisions without thinking was Beth's strong point, as she proved continuously over the span of 8 episodes. At the penultimate episode, there was a small glimmer of hope — maybe they were about to do right thing for once. But the ending completely crushed my hopes. It felt unsatisfying and abrupt. In a way, it also filled me with dread. Every lesson they had learnt was suddenly un-learnt. There was no point in this drama at all.

They tried to distract us from the weak plot and irritating characters with a dash of humour every now and then. Unfortunately, it didn't work. I didn't really notice the music in the show because I was too busy seething with rage. Rewatch value is 1.0 only because MDL doesn't allow a lower rating than that. I wouldn't touch this drama again with a 10-foot pole.

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Choice Husband
10 people found this review helpful
Feb 9, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
I am really a fan of the ML but this one fell a bit short for me. I originally thought it would be about an unexpected bond between two people but it turned into a complete mess. Almost talk show worthy. Definitely not a rewatch for me. It had many of the things that I dislike such as extended misunderstandings, lack of communication with those you claim to love, believing everyone excepted the good guys. FL started out smart but by mid series she really just seemed ridiculous. I’ve never rated a series this low with e ML in it but this one was a hard watch. When you have one character that constantly does the ridiculous thing only to realize later it was ridiculous, I just can’t like it. It was excessive and the ending was putting a bandaid on a stab wound.

If your here for romance, you get a few scenes but the majority is plotting, misunderstandings and poor choices.

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Completed
Yume no California
10 people found this review helpful
by Dounie
Apr 28, 2015
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
If you want to watch a drama about friendship, family bonds and people overcoming their hardship then Yume no California is definitely for you. Just be aware that is a slow drama and those who like this kind of story will surely enjoy it till the last minute. So it goes without saying that if you're looking for fast paced dramas you knocked at the wrong door.

But let me tell you what's the most appealing about this show : firstly, the story begins with Shu's family, He shows us around how he is living with his older brother and parents, at first sight it seems to be a good home with lovely people, but something is wrong, cause he still does not know what is his place in society, as if his future is uncertain and still obscure and in some way I can totally relate to his character and that's probably the reason why I love him so much.
So with the help of friends, Kotomi and Keiko (who were his classmates) he will finally be able to find a purpose in life and the answers to his questions.

What I loved the most, is the strong bond between Shu, Kotomi and Keiko. They are from different world but it did not prevent them to enjoy life and having fun together. Okay, Shu is the only guy between two girls but he simply wants to share his happiness and daily issues with friends, it just happened that Kotomi and Keiko were asking the same questions as him and wanted to find happiness and see if there is a future waiting for them. Shu sees them as confidants and trusting persons with whom he can tell anything about life, family and work.
It was simply a pleasure for the eyes seeing them experience what is the true meaning of ''friendship'' and enjoying all these little moments of life.
I do really like Shu's family, his parents and brother are really funny and always putting him in some embarassing situations when his friends come and visit them. I loved how his parents are really open minded and let people coming to their house and discussing about anything freely ;)

I was also really surprised to see how the scriptwriter managed to deal with suicide, divorce and dismissals without making the story too heartbreaking. Of course I felt sad for the characters, as they have to cope with their own problems because nobody can do it in their stead but they never wallow in self-pity.

The music was great too and I always appreciate when Japanese insert some American songs in their shows, it makes it even better and ''California Dreaming'' was appropriate for Yume no C. as for the ending song I liked it too, it is a Japanese ballad style, like I love them.

To Sum it up, it was a great show about friendship, just a bit slow. I expected a lot from this one and I ended up to be a little bit disappointed because I found the first three eps to be really amazing and then I don't know why but the show lost some of its magic. So that's why I'm only giving it an 8 score.

PS: I was so happy to see Kudo Kankuro, crazy as always. Anyway ''craziness'' is his trademark and it is always a pleasure to see him in dramas too.

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Completed
Yes, I Do
10 people found this review helpful
May 23, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers
I would definitely recommend this to anyone! This Chinese Variety show is basically a dating show whereby the people (contestants/contenders/competitors for&of love) live in the same house. By living together, they would obviously start interacting with one another. Everyone starts out by keeping a lookout on their love interests and then proceeds to the courting and etc. I don't wish to spoil so much... but I would give a tip of advice for those who are planning to watch this, there really are certain times where you would hate or dislike certain people (the contestants) in this show.

At the same time, there is kinda like a panel of judges (they're all celebrities) and they give love advice or talk about a lot of topics concerning the idea of love and of relationships... It's quite fun honestly, watching them somewhat debate on various topics pertaining to love, makes someone like me, a hopeless romantic and also somewhat of a love expert feel envious because I ALSO WANT TO JOIN THE PANEL!!! Besides that, there's also free ice cream on every episode for the contestants living inside the house and the judges in the panel... damn it...

Also, in this season, there's actually a season 2 already, I'm currently watching it, the panel of judges have largely changed but the main three still remains to be the main hosts for the second season. Ok on to the main point, in this season, the contestants or contenders for love are actually ordinary-but-not-really-ordinary-people at the same time. You'll know once you start watching the show. But don't worry it's not scripted or anything. It's just that "majority" of the contenders are actually ELITES... or could be considered as they're all pretty successful on their own. By successful, I meant career-wise. Really, it's very exciting!!! It's like watching an actual idol drama but without the scripts and with a lot more realism to it as well as the subtlety (or maybe not) of a typical love story one might possibly experience in their time on this planet. And throughout this journey of watching this show, you'll get to have your ships sailed and on the way only to end in the Marianas Trench or whipped by a thunderstorm called the "third-party". With some being like the Titanic, it seems like sunken transportation with no hope of seeing the daylight... but no, no, no my dear people. If you remember carefully, even though physically, Jack didn't and Rose did. Jack went to heaven or nirvana or whatever place you believe a person goes to after their time on Earth. So technically they did move on and have a new life... What do I exactly mean by using this analogy or comparison, you might ask. Well, I'm basically giving you an overview or a sort of foreshadowing. I won't explain because it not only might ruin your fun in watching this show, it would also ruin my fun in making this somewhat suspenseful spoiler/review... idk honestly... but yeah!

I really hope more people would watch this!!! Great way to relieve the boredom as well as the thirst and itch for a bit of romance, especially for the hopeless romantics... lol

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