Reviews

One of the most impactful dramas I've seen in a while!

Note: It doesn't really contain spoilers of the story, but I wanted to list the trigger warnings (that may cover on various scenarios that happen) that might be important for someone to know before they jump into this series.

I don't generally write reviews much, as it's hard to find the time/passion lately! But when a series or movie manages to amaze me to the point I actually WANT to scream about how much I like it, then it's hard to resist writing about it just in case somebody might be wondering whether this drama is for them.

I won't deny, this is probably one of the heaviest series I've watched in a while, as it touches on some topics that can be quite hard to take in, so firstly, here's a list of trigger warnings of the themes you can expect before you decide to take the plunge; suicide, bullying, depression, excessive violence, gore, hazing, sexual harrassment, blood, abuse, genocide, kidnapping, torture... please let me know if there's any I missed out!

This short drama has fast became one of my favorites after I binged it in two days flat (everyone who knows me is aware I usually can't concentrate on more than one ep a day of something lmao). From the outset, the cinematography and the way it was filmed and directed was absolutely captivating. The opening scene alone is uncomfortable, and subsequently sets the tone for the rest of the drama throughout, one which leads to a two-part crescendo that just rendered me speechless by the closing scene of the final episode. This paired with the phenomenal acting that had me on the edge of my seat throughout made this drama one of the most gripping, intense and exciting experiences I've had watching something in some time. The various guest appearances round out an already fantastic cast of top-class actors, all of whom impressed me immensely and only added further to my great level of immersion.

Thankfully the drama is not all violence, blood and abuse, as between the heavy scenes there is also dashes of light humor to break the tension, for the most part thanks to Koo Kyo Hwan's character Han Ho Yeol, who buddies up with Jung Hae In's soft-hearted character Ahn Joon Ho in order to track down and bring back soldiers who have deserted the military for various reasons. And this is the majority of the structure it follows, with each episode focusing on their various expeditions all while it slowly and gradually builds to a fantastic yet shocking climax.

I have to admit that although 6 episodes is a perfect length for the story it told, I still do find myself hankering for more, especially after thoroughly enjoying the duo dynamic between both the main leads as well as their various hijinks. Personally I can hold out hoping for a spin-off or a second season, but even if that doesn't materialize, I am happy to have encountered such a well-written masterpiece, which I hope many other people will also be able to appreciate!

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Stranger 2 : adequately fulfilling on it's journey to Stranger 3

Finally, it is all I could think at the start of Stranger 2, three years later, and it was captivating as I expected it to be, worthy of the over three-year wait. Having Lee Chang Joon's voiceover to start the episode was just brilliant. A reminder that the road to justice is long and rife with political tension. And, of course, where there is a crime to be solved, there is Hwang Shi Mok. I loved it. I always enjoy how he meticulously observes, sizes up a situation before questioning or jumping to conclusions. It was also thrilling to see Bae Doo Na reprise her role as Han Yeo Jin, love her with long hair, and Detective Jang. I love seeing them all at work; they click intuitively.

It's always great to see a woman in roles typically given to men and Jeon Hye Jin at that. I couldn't wait to see what she brought to the show as the police and ever-powerful prosecution office fought over independent investigative authority. I've always thought it quite weird how the prosecution had sole jurisdiction. So, I was interested to see how the fight would go down and how it would affect Shi Mok and Yeo Jin's fight against injustice. I am always ready when it comes to these two. And of course, Stranger 2 did not disappoint in how it tackled all the issues it presented, from coverups to police and prosecution corruptions to the embedded unscrupulous accepted and worse expected societal norms that hurt more than they help in junior/senior to rich/poor treatments and relationships. And I think what I find hardest to reconcile since I started watching k-dramas is that exactly -- the disappointments in the embedded unscrupulous accepted societal norms.

I loved the many twists and turned in this second installment but, more so, how differently the whole team handled the second season. I was glad to see that it was not a sequence of the first but rather a continued effort to justice's long and politically charged journey. And to see that journey can to an emotional ending as it hopefully continues to its next chapter to an incredibly penned, directed, acted, edited, and produced drama. The beginning and ending words of Lee Chang Joon sum season 2, SM and YJ, entirely—“Doggedly chasing after the truth and marching towards what’s right is a never-ending process. To stop for a moment is to fail. Marching towards change is like having two needles on your feet, with an invisible thread trailing after you, never stopping for breath as you march on. In the belief that a sliver of hope is better than immeasurable despair, we move forward with every determination once again.” This drama called attention to how arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence can, in mere seconds, bring down one’s life work (Chief Choi and Prosecutor Tae Woo). But at the same time, it showed us that one should never give up hope; it’s the light to a better and more fulfilled future for all involved. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” —Desmund Tutu.

As sad as I was as excited for how it started and ended—strong and proud. I especially revered Chief Prosecutor Kang Won Cheol for standing tall for what matters most and putting his juniors before himself; that’s a mark of a true leader. As they say, it’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. Chief Kang’s last act was a reminder that it’s easy even for the best of us to be swayed and lose our way, but the courage is in acknowledging it and getting back on track. It takes a lot of courage to do what he did. LYJ Hanjo’s leader’s reaction to his resignation said it all. She underestimated him for sure, and his final words struck her worse than if she’d been hit by one of those kdrama white trucks of doom. Undoubtedly one of the best crime dramas ever, now and forever. Solid character arcs, acting, development, and portrayals, even SDJ’s character. I cannot wait for season three, finishing what Lee Chang Joon started with a takedown of Hanjo Group. Shi Mok's dream at the finale for me captured everything Stranger 1 and 2 stand for— Hope. I will miss this drama until its next installment and highly recommend both seasons if you haven't watched them yet. Not one disappointing episode.

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A rainbow of colours that disappeared too soon.

Well. We finally reached the end of the rainbow.

~~Story~~:

- Issues originating from the episode/drama lenght
My main complaint with the story is that like many others I do see the missed potential because of its short lenght. The ''color rush'' novel has content which the drama-version completely skips which is unfortunate. Because of this, some of the seemingly important plotpoints never get resolved or get wrapped up very quickly. There was also the issue of strange scene transitions which made some viewers confused about the timeline of the story. Then there was also a plotline that consisted of a few sentences spread around episodes which a lot of casual viewers easily missed. This all would've likely been handled much better if the drama was given more episode lenght/more episodes.

-The rainbow CGI
Whether you liked or disliked the rainbow CGI, I thought it was an original addition. I would definitely recommend people with sensitivity to bright flashes to be careful during the first few episodes. We got a look into the world of YW/the main character and I appreciated that. I wouldn't have minded if they actually went full black/white for the whole show for full immersion but I understand that's not as appealing for the general audience.

-The universe of color rush
The addition of the ''colorverse'' with probes and monos was interesting to me. Monos essentially are very much like humans but their urges for colour (or love) are something that only rarily occurs in humans and reflects addiction. Probes and Monos are basically soulmates with a catch to it because if it doesn't work between them, bad things happen. That hidden darkness element remains with the story up till the end and provides some of the mystery element for the show. I do warn against watching the 7th episode if you're sensitive to darker subjects.

All in all, highly enjoyed the addition of such a unique plot to a BL webdrama and again unfortunate that it couldn't be fully explored due to time constraints.

~~Acting/Cast~~:
Both the actors of YW and YH (main couple) did a good job. There's not a sense of natural chemistry in the sense of being comfortable with physical touching but this drama chooses to focus on different things. The tension between both actors was very present in a lot of scenes by the way they look at each other or their small interactions. The characters treat each other like fragile goods and that has a charm to it too. Also, the YH character (mask-guy) really knows how to act cute and its a shame we didn't get to see more of that.

~~Music~~:
It was fun to listen to. I also liked the calming BGM during a Color Rush event. All in all it gave the drama a bit of a surreal yet calming vibe and that was perfect for it. Like you're in a different but beautiful universe.

~~Rewatch Value~~:
I would rewatch it for the cute moments between the main couple and I think if you are the type to skip through the first episodes a lot then you'll be rewatching it too cause again those plotlines can be 1 sentence or you miss it.

All in all its a 7.5/10 for me. Definitely not for everyone but it was a refreshing take on a Boy Love story to me.

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No(n)sense...

Ok, before I start this review I have to say that yes, I did read the webtoon and yes, I was disappointed to find that they decided to go in an entirely new direction with the drama by only keeping one or two concepts from the webtoon itself. In saying that, I tried my utmost best to look at this drama separately.

Out of all the aspects, casting and story progression is where my main focus for this review will be because they stood out to me the most:

Firstly, they decided to go for an older cast, which didn’t bother me at all, however, I do really wish that they would have given (all) the couples a few more mature themes in a sense of dealing with dating in your late 30s which is vastly different than dating in your 20s. (For those in the comments saying this drama had a mature dynamic, I’m still looking for it because, besides their age, there was none? Also, this is not me saying that people are not allowed to be cute after a certain age, I’m talking about making the characters relevant and possible for the audience to connect to them).

Secondly, hats off to Seo Ji Hye, who I absolutely loved watching. She had such a calming and regal sense to her acting that made it super hard to ignore and not fall for. I have thoroughly enjoyed her in everything I’ve watched of her so far and although her character was written to be very different from our lead in the webtoon, I think she did a great job with what she was given.

However, I really struggled to see the chemistry between Seo Ji Hye and Yoon Kye Sang and before you come for me in the comments, no, I’m not talking about his looks, I’m talking about the way the character was written and delivered. Something did not click well between them and I actually struggled to see anything between them being remotely believable, despite the steamy scenes we were given on replay in every episode. In fact, for the entire first episode, I didn’t realise he was the ML. The character in my opinion wasn’t a good fit for him. He did not seem comfortable in this role and quite frankly from what I’ve heard from moots who have seen him elsewhere, this wasn’t his best work. In saying that, I don’t think he had much to work with in terms of the way the character itself was written.

I do really wish that they would have taken more time with regards to the storyline and developing the characters, especially after having such a popular webtoon to back them. The last two episodes rounded things off in a very strange manner and completely changed the characteristics of the main leads. For such a short drama (only 12 episodes), there were some really unnecessary half-done fillers and loose ends that were added to progress the plot at the last minute, which the drama really didn’t need and could have done much more seamlessly with a well thought out plotline that ran completely separate from the webtoon itself. I'm not even going to get into that ending which was a train wreck in itself.

Overall, this drama was nothing particularly amazing and had made more noise with regards to people’s dissatisfaction over casting than the actual drama itself.

If you’re looking for an easy misfit watch, I say give it a try, but you have been warned about the lack of chemistry and lacklustre ending…

- foxx

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A Simple Story with Depth

When you first read the anemic synopsis , you can't help feeling like you've seen this exact plot summary play out multiple times in a plethora of different languages, timelines, and nameless faces . It then becomes difficult to stifle the incoming yawn once you realize that this drama is going to be set in a slow and meandering sea side village, and that the drama is going to attempt to use a character driven plot to keep audiences glued to the screen.

You find yourself tempted to skip Hometown Cha Cha Cha for the next generic Kdrama on your Recommended List. But then you decide to watch one episode. That felt great, light and breezy you think, and so you play the next episode. That felt even better you thought to yourself! Then you realize there are no more episodes... you are in trouble... this simple drama set in the tiniest of fishing villages has entangled you and a million of other fans in an endless loop of hungrily waiting each week for the next episode of a drama that has very little plot twists, dark mysteries and shock factor; and yet somehow has inexorably entranced a legion of Kdrama fans in it's simple story.

Don't let the simplicity of the story fool you though, as there is plenty of depth to be found in this drama. Hometown Cha Cha Cha aims to keep the audience hungry with it's strong character driven plot, and succeeds heavily in this regard. The time the drama takes to develop it's supporting characters with ample screen time and character depth are rewarded in the latter half of the drama as these characters, that would be nothing but fillers in any other drama are given life, their names carrying more weight, and their presence offering soothing support for the Main Couple of the story. No longer are these supporting character left to be skipped and forgotten but rather they serve as a blend of different characteristic that serve to enrichen, and color our black and white sensibilities in warming palettes that we can see and feel.

The writing of the plot, the direction, even the light and melodic OST all serve as the backdrop for these top rated thespians to showcase their crafts. Whether it's the has been singer, the nosy neighbor, or the tireless mother, these talented actors and actresses break out of the mold of the stereotypical kdrama side characters to breathe life into these tired and comfortable cliched characters that would be caricaturized with a lesser plot or thespian. The has been singer becomes multi-faceted, the nosy neighbor gains depth, and that one tireless mother makes our eyes swell with tears, as her quivering voice mask the inner cracks forming within.

The ultimate purpose of the development of the characters of Gongjin became apparent in the midway point as the supporting character's stories start to intertwine and intersect with the story arc of the main couple. Similar to theatrical plays like Hamilton, the audience is almost subject to an invisible fourth wall of which none of the Gongjin inhabitants are privy to. We see ourselves jumping from the life experience of one character after another, almost as if we are all encapsulated within the show, bearing witness to this beautiful romance blooming in this tiny seaside village.

The chemistry of the two leads is electric. From the first episode till the last episode, you can't help but root for the main couple as they both try to fight feelings that clearly has bubbled over since they first set eyes on each other. Although there is a love triangle inserted briefly in the show, it's actually the main couples personal trauma that initially keep them apart at differing times of their relationship. Maturity is as the forefront of this drama, as most situations are dealt with the way that you would expect mature adults to act. Although there are scenes of skin ships in the show, it's actually the scenes where you see silent understanding between the two main leads that sets hearts fluttering. And with Kim Seon Ho's masterful use of micro expressions, a silent three second gaze speaks more volumes than the boisterous and often used "Sarang Haeyo". One of the most powerful scenes in the show is Hye Jin, slowly walking, slowly realizing her feelings for Dusik.

We are mesmerized by the beauty of both the ML and FL. Their laughing eyes, their toothed smiles, and their dominant dimples; all these things play a role in making us gently take a seat and enjoy the sea side ride. But as each episode further shows cracks in the main couple, we start feeling guilty in our comfortably relaxed position, as we start seeing tears behind those laughing eyes, cracks showing between those toothed smiles, and dark depths in those dominant dimples. We start realizing that all that happiness, all that selflessness may be hiding a tale deeper than we had anticipated when we first start to step into Gongjin. Just like Hye Jin's shoes, we feel we are safely in the white sandy beaches, unknowingly to us, when we look down, the tide has come in, and with it a tale of sadness, and a short snapshot of the importance of mental health and a proper support system.

Where I feel the drama may have stumbled is in the unnecessary tonal shifts in the last few episodes. But the drama ends on a high note, and the last few mediocre episodes is not enough to sabotage more than 14 episodes of good will. In reality, this is a drama caught in between. It should have either ended after 12 episodes, or it needed 20 episodes to properly flesh out the emotions and character development to properly close Dusik and Hye Jin's arc. But since the last few episodes was rushed to close as much plot holes as possible, the tonal shift felt out of place and disjointed, almost felt like watching two different dramas. The maturity and depth of the first 10 episodes start to dip in the remaining episodes, and it suffered from slightly inconsistent characterization. Of course, all these tonal shifts can be defended and explained in ones mind, but I actually much preferred the easily digestible characterizations the Main Couple had in the first 10 episodes, that the back 6 paled in comparison.

Is this drama a perfect drama? It is not. But if watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha has taught me, is that just because something is not perfect does not mean it isn't good. Just like a Mcdonalds cheeseburger can seem like a gourmet meal to a starving man, in a time when many people are healing from the mental and physical strain of the Pandemic, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is that perfect drama that captures so many different emotions and situations that we can all find something to relate and heal from.

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An intelligent, coherent and impeccable plot. It is a production made with a refined sense of Art.

Blood and tears alternate with extreme strength and beauty, cruelty and Poetry interact with vigor and grace. Human turpitude, vile ambitions, virtues, courage, lightness and fragility move in an absolutely precise game of chess. From an aesthetic perspective, the use of theatrical concepts is simply genial, including Greek theater elements in its conception. This theatricality causes a great visual and sensorial impact, enormously expanding emotional strength and plastic beauty. The characters are very well structured. The intricate relationship between the characters, despite being complex and rich in details, is easy to assimilate. Music is powerful and has important role, endowed with melodies and lyrics of great beauty and strength, it is an essential ally that enhances feelings, sensations, perceptions, emotions. The beauty of the images also impacts. Numerous scenes stand out as paintings that resemble masterpieces of Chinese painting. Everything done with extreme subtlety, from the point of view of ancient Chinese culture, its discreet, gentle and delicate art, its relationship with the mystique of death, its profound ability to observe the most imperceptible detail. How much beauty is the tea rite, a philosophical and poetic act. The actors’ synergy is enchanting. The performance of the actress Wu Jin Yan (A'Li), is simply masterful. It demands versatility in all the nuances of the immense human universe of pain, helplessness, loneliness, humiliation, indignation, love, joy, generosity, overcoming, hope. She's independent character, elevates women and removes them from the unfair and imposed passive and defenseless role. Also masterful is the performance of Wang Xing Yue (Duke Su). Through exclusively subtle nuances in facial expression, gaze, body gestures (as manly as he is kind) and voice intonation, he vigorously brings out a universe of feelings that dialogue with the viewer and leads them into this universe. The couple has an overwhelming chemistry, with a relationship that progresses with intensity, making the blood flow boil and the heart beat strong. This excepcional plot has the power to engage the viewer within its world. The plot flows with agility and reconciles hope with justice. I'm grateful for the aesthetic and emotional enjoyment of this series. I reluctantly leave the screen richer than when I entered this universe of ''The double". I'll miss it...

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An Unexpected and Unforgettable Experience with Xianxia Drama

Rather than a review, this is more of telling an experience. There I was, one night, trying to kill time watching some random shows on Netflix when this series popped up in the recommendations. "Ah~ A xianxia drama", I thought. I NEVER succeed in watching one xianxia drama, not even the infamous Eternal Love & Ashes of Love. I'm more inclined towards realistic period dramas without a shred of fantasy eg. Princess Weiyoung and Yanxi Palace. So, with absolutely no expectation at all, I watched it thinking I'd never make it till the end of the first episode. The lore in the prologue just flies over my head.

Oh, how wrong I was. The CGI is awesome and not cringy at all. CGI in xianxia dramas has always been the element that made me not giving xianxia dramas a chance. I know a lot of xianxia dramas have good storylines despite bad or borderline good CGI, but I rather not watching those dramas if I can't find myself enjoying them. Another thing that amazed me is the actors' and actresses' gestures, postures, hand and body movements look so natural in scenes such as conjuring spells, flying and fighting which required layer of CGI. The actors' smooth action scenes, topped with good CGI, ended up look so natural and satisfying. Though, truth be told, it's maybe because I'm not exposed to other xianxia/wuxia dramas.

The cliff hanger by the end of the first episode is enough to make me hooked. Other than the prologue at the beginning, the drama focuses its first few episodes on the introductions of the characters, especially the main leads, Xuanji and Sifeng, and this is where I applaud the drama for making me invested. Keeping the lore on minimum, and focuses on the characters establishment first. Convoluted lore is another xianxia element that tires the hell out of me. I want to know the characters and watch their interactions first rather than digesting a lot of information but not enjoying the characters interactions.

Getting over these two main obstacles, watching this drama is such a smooth-sailing experience for me. I'm a hardcore masochist when it comes to a tragic love story, and this drama totally delivers the angst I'm looking for. Misunderstandings, heartbreaks, deception and tragedy are a common staple for this genre. Many would state that they are sick of it, but for most viewers, me included, these tropes are drugs that made them addicted and cannot take their eyes off the story. To each his own.

Each character in this story has their own arcs, and they serve their own interests and move towards their own missions and ambitions. I liken the story arcs like the main quest and side quests in a game. All of them are laid perfectly throughout the drama. The closure this drama gives towards all characters is also a major satisfying point to me. Revelations are laid at a timing when it perfectly coincides with suspicions. Plot twists are done so well, it's been so long since I was so moved and shocked with plot twists occurring in a drama.

Now, how could I leave the fundamental core of this story? The romance between Xuanji and Sifeng is definitely one that I could never forget among a lot of main pairings in other dramas. Many argue that Sifeng sacrifice a lot more compared to Xuanji, and it definitely true to some extent. But Xuanji's growth from a naïve and childish character, to a person who knows how to love despite still being gullible, to recognize good and evil despite their backgrounds is something worthy of respect. Despite few mistakes, Xuanji can never be who she is at the end of the story without Sifeng from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoy watching their sweet moments and it certainly made those frustrating times worth it.

Of course, each drama has its own downside and this one cannot escape from that. There is one misunderstanding that went too long for my liking and I can't take some scenes in episode 50++ seriously no matter how much I watch. The OST placement at the beginning of the drama is awkward and I just can't help but laugh. Alas, the enjoyment I got from this drama outnumbers the dissatisfaction.

As someone who got into this drama blindly, I'd never expect myself to be this invested. Still cannot move on from this drama, I kept searching for BTS videos, listening to OSTs and watching FMVs.

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The guy’s got some serious talent, I tell ya!

Hey there, folks! I just finished binge-watching "Guardians of the Dafeng," and let me tell ya, it’s an absolute gem, eh? From the get-go, I was hooked! The storyline is a wild ride full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, eh?

Dylan Wang, oh man, he really stole the show! His performance as Xu Qian was top-notch, eh? You could feel every emotion he portrayed—whether he was fighting off baddies or having those heartfelt moments. The guy’s got some serious talent, I tell ya!

The visuals? Stunning! The cinematography is like a postcard from a beautiful Canadian landscape, but with a fantasy twist, eh? The action scenes were choreographed so well that I found myself cheering for the characters like I was at a hockey game, eh?

And can we talk about the supporting cast? They brought so much energy and humor to the show, making it feel like a big family gathering, eh? The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and it made the emotional moments hit even harder.

Honestly, I can’t recommend "Guardians of the Dafeng" enough! It’s got everything you want in a drama: action, romance, and a sprinkle of comedy. I’d give it a solid 10/10, no question about it, eh? So grab your popcorn and settle in for a fantastic ride!

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3 reasons to watch this series

I have one principle when I start watching a series: I don't expect anything, so at least I won't be disappointed. Then I give it three or four episodes to decide whether to watch it to the end or not, which usually takes at least an hour or so. This time it didn't even take ten minutes, because the total runtime is 70 minutes for 30 episodes. Was I disappointed? No, I was surprised.

There are three reasons to watch this series: 1. Junior, 2. Kad, and 3. it's fun. It's fun because many of the things that make 'normal', i.e. longer, Thai series so hard to watch sometimes are simply not possible when there's less than 3 minutes per episode: no staring at each other for 10 minutes, no endless crying scenes (there are actually none at all!), no distracting side couples, no shrieking bl-fans, even the ex-girlfriend isn't toxic, and she doesn't get more than 2 minutes of screentime.

I won't spoil the plot, there isn't much to spoil anyway. The episodes display short scenes about two roommates who are different from each other, but there isn't the worn-out hater to lover trope. There are just 30 glimpses of two boys getting closer, and I find it surprising how well they are being characterized. Junior and Kad have a fantastic chemistry, and they obviously enjoy the opportunity to show their talent as comedians.

Cinematography is also surprisingly good for a tiktok series, as is the soundtrack.

The series is now available at youtube with English subtitles, all episodes put together without any commercial breaks, and if you have 70 minutes to spare, and if you want good, light entertainment, and if you like Junior and Kad, then this is exactly right for you.

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One of the best of 2025 (for me)

Everything in the story has its purpose, even if it doesn't seem like it at first.

The OST superb.

It has a great balance of comedy and seriousness, the story itself is very dense so the comedy is very much appreciated, and it never falls into cringe territory.

The main couple's chemistry is amazing, they share so many little moments it's impossible not to root for them, you can truly feel they are bounded by fate.

Overall amazing drama, the only fault is some casting choices (at first, it's jarring, towards the end the actress improves so much, I'm happy for her)

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A continued mix of annoying and frustraing

Disappointing. The intimate scenes are hot, sure, but the main relationship and story overall left a lot to be desired. Watch the love scenes on YouTube and save yourself the time and emotional frustrations of this show.

The character Pat is annoying and Jeng is frustrating.

Pat is whiny and rude, his character "development" is too little and too late. I personally understand the difficulties with emotional disregulation, but the struggle to manage strong emotions does not excuse thoughtlessness, obstinance, self-centered-ness, and a "oh poor me, everything is unfair" attitude. And "being cute" is not enough to make this character really likeable.

I do appreciate that Jeng tries to evolve the way he behaves with others once it's pointed out to him. The struggle to change something so ingrained was portrayed fairly realistically.

The boss and subordinate dynamic in this show stayed uncomfortable. This is where the frustrations with Jeng's character comes in. (More below)

For a healthy, sweet, and realistic-feeling boss/subordinate BL I recommend The New Employee, a 2022 Korean drama. It doesn't have intense intimate scenes like this show, but I found it overall so much more satisfying!

Generalized SPOILER regarding this show's relationship dynamic & why it was frustrating:
The boss & subordinate relationship is poorly handled by both characters, but especially Jeng, the boss, who is also much older. I was so frustrated that he didn't take any proactive steps to protect Pat socially and professionally. As time went on it felt like Jeng repeatedly purposefully put off thinking ahead and planning for a future where they could both succeed together. Instead focusing on just getting what he wanted with Pat romantically without caring about any ramifications for Pat.

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Your standard family drama. Love the first 20 or so episodes. Hilarious, filled with lots of family warmth, cute romance and a tolerable amount of drama that doesn’t go overboard. Not at first, anyway.

You'll meet one of the wackiest drama husbands/dads ever. Best way to describe the guy is to imagine the bombastic personality of somebody like say … Hugo Chavez, only he's Korean.

He runs his household with an iron fist and expects full submission from his wife and daughters, but there's no doubt that he loves his family. In fact, he's close to perfect husband material in many ways, but a dictator nonetheless. He, along with his wife, are the highlight of the show, believe it or not!

Fans of the very cute Song Joong Ki will not be disappointed. He and his lady love are an equally humorous duo, esp in later episodes.

As the series progresses it delves into more melodramatic territory which takes away a bit of its charm. The story meanders into a repetitive mess of parental blackmail & coercion, relying heavily on a series of coincidences and contrivances that would make even a 6 yr old scoff.

I did not care for the Kim Bo-Ri story arc, much of which consists of making mountains out of molehills when her situation was easily resolvable.

Moreover, she was the typical innocent, naive ‘country girl comes to the big city’ type heroine with noble idiocy that you see all over dramaland. I didn't hate her, but I didn't care for her either. Throughout the show I kept wishing she’d go away; sadly she remained to the very end. I much preferred the confident and warm-hearted Jang Inho (though you never did see any tears when she cried! lol).

A few aspects of the show compromised my enjoyment:

The drama details the important role of fathers in Korean society. I found this notion of single fatherhood novel because in a strongly patriarchal society where women are upheld as the sole caregivers, it serves to show that men too are just as capable of nurturing children. Confucian values that permeate Korean daily life, those of strong family bonds and honouring one's parents/elders, are also explored.

You’ll fall in love with Kim Sung Soo as the disillusioned, down on his luck single dad struggling to provide for his children. KSS didn’t really convince me with his acting, but his character was nevertheless wonderful here. The only ‘nice guy' hero I’ve seen in a long time that gets my full love and support without reservation.

Now obviously if I was looking for shows which espouse Western values I wouldn't be watching Asian dramas, but the show presented a few cultural and social mores that were a bit hard for me to swallow.

First and foremost, the parents in this drama were appalling! (except Dictator Dad). Manipulative, coercive; blackmailing their children with threats of disownment and suicide if they didn't do what they say, was their default approach to EVERYthing. I couldn’t fathom how in the world such callous & bizarre ultimatums constituted love, esp when your child is rendered utterly miserable as a result of your unreasonable, draconian demands. It made me dislike the parents … a lot; and these adult children too, to some extent, because they NEVER once tried to take charge of their own lives. Not even a little bit. I’m not saying they should turn against their parents, but certainly some form of protest, defiance, a rebuttal even, would have seemed more credible than complete surrender in the face of being treated like objects rather than human beings?

Basically, this story is all about parents constantly denying their grown children the right to manage their own lives. Over and over and over again for at least 30 of the 54 episodes.

Secondly the drama misleads its viewers in 2 major ways:

1) Halfway through the lead characters are switched. So you start out thinking one particular couple is the focus of the story … you root for them and fall in love with them … only to see their screen time gradually reduce to barely 5 mins of the 1+ hr runtime. dafuq? This particularly annoyed me because I could care less for the couple who took over the spotlight.

2) For the vast majority of the show you'll be shipping certain couples only to be blindsided by the end of the drama. I hate, hate, HATE when writers pull these stupid ass stunts. HATE. IT. To avoid disappoint, don't take too much of what you see in this drama at face value.

Last but not least while romance was constant throughout the drama it was exceptionally DRY. Please tell me how many times can you hug someone as a show of affection when you're supposedly passionately in love? I know there are strong censorship laws in Korea, but certainly characters can show affection for someone they claim to be madly in love with without locking lips (or resorting to one lame ass hug after another)? Writer-nim, PD-nim, how about tender kisses on the forehead, kissing the hand of your loved one, nuzzling the face, jump into his arms lean your foreheads together & stare deeply into one another's eyes, walking arm in arm, cuddling on the couch etc? It IS possible to create authentic intimacy without blatant sexualization. I guess I'll never get used to Korean prudishness as shown on their TV...

In closing, I simply can’t get on board with the overall moral of this story. First, we’re no longer living in Silla. If you’re an adult in modern society you should have some say in how you live your life. After all your parents aren’t going to keep you warm at night or satisfy your sexual desires. Second, making sacrifices for one's children is inevitable and a natural part of being a parent. Nevertheless, biological parents shouldn’t be together at all costs just for the sake of a child. Even when you’re a parent it’s not healthy to neglect your own wants & needs ... as long as doing so doesn’t compromise the physical and or emotional health of the child. You only have one life to live, and if you’re happy, likely your kid will be too. JMHO.

Despite these complaints, I DO recommend My Precious You to family drama lovers. Is it perfect? No, but it's worth watching at least once, esp if you’re used to or no longer suffer from culture shock regarding the issues expressed herein. You’ll enjoy the family warmth, the comedy and all the secrets are revealed at an even pace so things don't get too drawn out in that regard. If you’re still a drama newbie like me this drama will be enjoyable if you go in knowing what to expect. That way things don’t come across so shocking & bizarre. It is in this capacity that I hope this review has been helpful to you.

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Dylan aka Xu Qian carried the show!

This show is a lighter version of Joy of Life and Sword Snow Stride mixed together, with a whole lot of laughs, drama and nice fight scenes. It has politics, lessons on cultivation, the justice prevails over all else theme and a bit of romance here and there.
Dylan Wang with his cute family and gang of bronze, silver and Gold Gongs won over my heart. I also like that the underlying theme of the drama is consistent throughout the show, also the writers take on what it truly means to live your life. The part where Xu Qian has to defeat the Heaven sect avatar and when he is stuck in the formation with never-ending cycle of his sad life and stuck in hospital, that part was great, also those were the scenes that I laughed at the most. I'm pretty sure it was Dylan more then Xu Qian character throwing questions at the Heaven sect guy and making him so confused that his Avatar was split in half lol.
Even though the show is focused on Dylan, there were some great side character growth arcs. Xu Qian relationship with his teacher/ master was shown really well, the genuine love between Mr Wei and his naughty disciple and the teacher saving Xu Qian arse everytime the Majesty/King tried to take his head 😆
I did skip some of the romantice bits cause I was way too invested in the part about the mysterious robe guy and Mr Jiang having a fight of their own, and the last reveal!

Episodes 38-40 were really EPIC! Truly broke my heart and made me cry fr! Awesome acting from Dylan, the Gold Gongs and Mr Zheng. As Xu Qian said - he was there to redress the wrong, to serve justice to the fallen people of Chuzong and Mr. Zheng and his family and let the people of Dafeng hear the truth that idiot Emperor was trying to cover up.
Really good cliff hanger and ending to a good series !
Fingers crossed we get a Season 2 soon!!

Rewatch value - 10/10 !

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always choose the 2nd lead!

1st of all I have to say, I'm a huge fan of both SYJ and KKW, but I'm not biased when I say their acting performance was amazing!

I'm not sure if they were purposely "obvious" cuz they just wanted the journey not the shock value, or if it's just as I call it "mystery genres are dead"

I have lost hope in all crime genres and mysteries, it's been atleast 5 years since I thought a twist was shocking or revolutionary so it's nothing new for a twist to not faze me, and indeed I saw through it all but still it was a great watch


now for the story, to be honest, with stories like this there's always 2 options; it's real or it's fake. we've seen so many stories about having visions of the future so it's not that shocking to see her believe it, but I'll say the writer played it too safe by making all the "unfortunate" events around girls and worse, those girls didn't talk

so the only outcome is, memories, ie recalling which shows how a good title can atleast hide the plot, or they never intended to


so basically their plot twist was obvious, they wanted to make us doubt Seon Woo because that's where it usually leads to, the girl who forgets and the killer who pretends to be her husband, Secret Obsession had that plot to T. so even if the 1st time it seems "twisty", I knew they weren't going there..
also, actually the point I liked this was how obviously Seon Woo loved her. though as an actor I know he can pull both the sweet and the dark so I didn't doubt him as a serial killer but it was a nice subtle touch. as if to say "never doubt him"

also the fact that Yeom Hye Ran came and heavily implied that her husband abused her was a clear sign, also the way Seon Woo acted when he finally got caught, as if he was begging Soo Jin to believe his lies..



now the only thing that shocked me was how Ji Hoon was alive xD I thought that was another recalculation leading to the moment she got hurt, but it was wrapped up too fast and I hated how they had to kill Seon Woo cuz you know, he killed before and he's a main so he can't have a happily ever after

so I refuse to acknowledge that ending and will think they both finally fled their misfortunes and lived happily ever after

ok, I'll complain more on how both events would've been "self defense" so they reeeaaalllly didn't need to hide it or even worse bury a live body..

the ost was basic but I appreciated the low volume on the chewing, and I'd actually want to rewatch this but I would want the fire and hospital scene cut xD

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