This review may contain spoilers
Fighting For Garbage
LMAO, the screenwriter hoodwinked viewers into thinking that this garbage adaptation would still have the three important elements that drew people into the book which were the following:1. No palace drama
2. Strong and capable female lead
3. Female lead centric drama
Yet somehow the story shifts focus and the male lead becomes the main character and the second male lead becomes a background character/afterthought.
The only redeeming quality this drama has is that the fight scenes are pretty decent and that the ending was somewhat satisfactory since she did not end up with anyone and refused to see the emperor. However, they including her running off into the sunset made no sense to me. Honestly, this drama wasted so much of my time and was a big disappointment. Giving this 5.5 out of 10 stars was me being kind.
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Dying is easy, surviving is hard
All of Us Are Dead is adapted from the serialized Naver digital webtoon entitled Now at Our School, which was written by Joo Dong Geun and published from 2009 to 2011. I haven’t read the webtoon but it reportedly consists of only nine chapters. Therefore it would probably stand to reason that the live-action adaptation has expanded on its lore, especially when Netflix is involved where the potential exists for a series to be renewed for a second season, depending on the success of the first season.The drama is co-directed by Lee Jae Gyoo, who won a Baeksang for Damo and directing honours for Beethoven Virus, and Kim Nam Soo. It is based on the screenplay adaptation written by Cheon Seong Il, the screenwriter for Chuno and The Pirates. Principal photography took place from June 2020 to February 2021, which was prolonged due to the Covid-19 outbreak during filming.
In a nutshell, the story revolves around a group of highschool students who are trapped at their school, the ground zero for the onset of a zombie virus outbreak. The drama depicts them fighting to survive both the zombies and virus infection while waiting to be rescued. The rating classification for this production is R-18 and aside from the expected zombie action and gore, certain trigger warnings are present in the form of bullying violence that even borders on sexual assault.
In a recent interview with director Lee Jae Gyoo via the online presentation of the production in South Korea on 26th January, he had intimated that this drama would be uniquely distinct within the K-drama zombie genre that has become commonplace in recent years. According to him, All of Us Are Dead features thought-provoking themes that add a different meaning to a zombie apocalypse, where the focus is on the choices young students make at the boundary between life and death. In addition, the story also provides a satirical take on South Korea's educational system and school space.
What I Liked
I love the K-drama zombie genre and anything closely or even remotely associated in the form of mutants, monsters and the like, complete with the horror, action, adventure tags whether in contemporary, sageuk or fantasy settings. As much as I’ve enjoyed the recently aired Happiness, my preference for zombies leans towards the more feral variety with hordes of them rampaging through the populace annihilating anything and everything in their path, in the mould of Train to Busan (which gets a shoutout in this drama), Kingdom and Rampant. Call me sadistic but I’m all for epic levels of productions with economies of scale in delivering the exhilaration of the action, thrills and suspense, along with all the emotive aspects of human drama as well. Based on what I’ve seen of the depiction of zombies in this drama, it manages to convey all of the above, and has successfully fulfilled most, if not all, of my expectations.
A co-production between JTBC Studios’ Film Monster and Kim Jong Hak Production for Netflix, the quality of the technical execution is beyond doubt. No effort or budget was spared as even a huge four-storey set was constructed as the setting of the fictional Hyosan High School. The money was very well spent indeed as the production design looks top notch with all the nitty gritty details providing an intriguing backdrop to the zombie outbreak. The zombies themselves are deftly manifested in terms of the makeup, special and sound effects, as well as the blood, gore and contortions which complement the extensive range of expertly choreographed sequences.
The cinematography is deserving of praise with the crucial aspect for productions of this nature being the calibre of the camerawork, which for the most part does not let me down (or induce nausea). The well rendered scene transitions are testament to the standard of editing as well, where it’s worth mentioning that the chaotic scenes at the cafeteria and library involving 200 or so extras are reportedly the result of a single-take shooting.
As far as the narrative is concerned, the premise of a school-based zombie outbreak is refreshingly new to me. Some viewers may associate elements of Dark Hole to be of similar vein but personally it really isn’t despite the comparable vibes. While I wouldn’t consider the overall plot trajectory as particularly inventive or groundbreaking, what distinguishes this drama from most others that I’ve seen is the storytelling approach.
In addition to the multiple POV perspectives of the main characters, the screenplay takes its time to explore the origins of the zombie outbreak and motivations behind the actions resulting in the said virus being unleashed on humanity. The depiction of characters dealing with the tragic circumstances in the aftermath certainly elicits an emotional response as well.
True to the director's word, this drama tackles both existing and hypothetical societal concerns which provide added dimensions to the storytelling. Among the thought provoking themes incorporated into the storytelling - unchecked and unmitigated school violence, the ingrained hierarchical social order within a society segmented by wealth and power, the deeply polarised mindsets of the local government and communities in the event of an apocalypse or the aftermath of a mass casualty event. The role that technology plays in binding all these themes together is tackled as well in the form of the ever increasing reliance on and abuse of social media as an outlet that fuels the dissemination of actual and fake news.
The infusion of a number of side stories, character arcs and a narrative that steadily evolves as the drama progresses helped to allay my initial concerns of the story sustaining its momentum over 12 episodes. The dynamic between characters giving rise to various forms of conflicts, teen angst, and even hints of romance contribute towards preserving an atmosphere filled with tension and suspense. That said, I do think the drama could have been slightly shortened without adversely impacting the storytelling.
The main cast is made up of young actors, some of whom were prolific child actors and even critically acclaimed talent as well. Park Ji Hoo, Yoon Chan Young, Jo Yi Hyun, Park Solomon and Yoo In Soo portray the highschool students who are caught up in the ensuing chaos. Featuring roles of varying capacities, these youngsters provide a decent account of themselves through characterizations that are adequately written, for the most part. Lee Yoo Mi is particularly impressive here following her brief appearance in Squid Game, given her experience of being the oldest actress portraying a student and for her captivating portrayal of the antagonistic Lee Na Yeon that actually steals the scenes from the protagonists at times. Meanwhile, I would consider Park Solomon’s affable Lee Soo Hyuk, Jo Yi Hyun’s stoic Choi Nam Ra and Ha Seung Ri’s heroic archer Jang Ha Ri as my favourite characters amongst the students.
The supporting cast come across as being more familiar, where we get to observe Kim Byung Chul (Sisyphus, Doctor Prisoner), Lee Kyu Hyung (Happiness, Voice 4), Lee Yo Mi (Squid Game), Uhm Hyo Sub (King of Tears, War of the Son) , Bae Hae Seon (Happiness, Inspector Koo, HomeCha), Jeon Bae Soo (Stranger, Lawless Lawyer), Kim Jong Tae (The Veil, Sisyphus), and Yoon Byung Hee (Hot Stove League). The more nuanced acting in the drama is provided by these mostly experienced veterans, especially Kim Byung Chul as science teacher Lee Byeong Chan. Utterly intense, sinister, and convincing, unsurprisingly the best performance in the entire drama comes from this award-winning actor. Jeon Bae Soo gets to play the hero this time in a memorable performance as firefighter Nam So Ju.
What I Didn’t Appreciate
When it comes to K-dramas and school students, bullying and violence are par for the course - they’re never far away and will probably remain as a staple trope. It’s infuriating and disturbing to watch at times and seems to be escalating in brutality these days. The scale of the savagery seems to be higher than the actual zombie action itself but it’s something that all viewers of K-content will need to accept and get used to, unfortunately.
The main villain of the story is featured through the gangster wannabe and low-life bully Yoon Gwi Nam, played almost too well by Yoo In Soo. This despicable human thrash has the typical clichéd story arc that stretches far too long, in my opinion, before eventually fizzling out as a mere afterthought.
As mentioned earlier, I think the storytelling would have been better presented if it were slightly shorter, perhaps with 8 or so episodes.Despite the multiple POVs, too much time is allocated to the teen drama at school than is perhaps necessary. I would have liked to have seen Kim Byung Chul’s character more fleshed out in real time rather than merely as a series of flashbacks. The same goes for Jeon Bae Soo’s firefighter who is desperately trying to get to his daughter.
There are numerous annoying characters in this drama, some of whom supposedly supplying the usual ill-fitting comic relief that appears very much jarring to the senses.The tough girl wannabe and her whingeing companion, the cowardly police sergeant, and the bickering couples, to name a few. I think generally the boys are better written than the girls who come across as petty and physically abusive towards their male counterparts, as far as the youngsters are concerned.
Final Thoughts
All things considered and despite its flaws as well as the overly dramatic ending that has the potential for expansion either as a sequel or a side story, I had a great time mainly because of my love for horror and zombies. We honestly do need more zombie stories because there is too much romance, rom-coms and melodrama in dramaland already and simply not enough of the macabre flesh-eating, blood-sucking undead. All of Us Are Dead is not the best in the genre, where Kingdom still reigns supreme, but as a one-time weekend watch it definitely fulfils my insatiable hunger for such content, albeit temporarily.
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Insane Chemistry between all the leads
Honestly thought since this was a military drama would not find it as worthy of watching but chen zheyuan continues to surprise you with his choice of scripts. The plot starts very like your humdrum military drama that focuses more on romance, but there is so much love and chemistry between the leads. Additionally, there is an underlying sense of depth and intricacy that is present when handling some of the sensitive topics which tells me we are about to delve into a really dark theme and a side of characterisation that is very uncommon in c-ent. 10 eps in and all i can say i cant wait for more!!Was this review helpful to you?
From the social sciences point of view
Sociology being my major in undergrad made me appreciate this series. It discusses the purpose of religion in our our society. On the level of the individual, it exists to satiate people's search for meaning, answers questions that science still fails to address, matters that are beyond our understanding. As Karl Marx puts it, it is the "opium of the masses."On an institutional level, it serves to ensure social control. We have laws in place, and religion reinforces them in the form of introducing the concept of morality and guilt, of heaven and eternal damnation.
Not a lot of kdramas offer this kind of commentary, so I should say it's worth a watch.
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Story/Plot: -10- When my mom showed me this drama, I saw it was related to video games and I was like "I'm out! I am NOT watching this!" but I decided to give it a shot and I am so happy I did! The storyline is amazing, the combination between the game world and the outside world is such a unique idea that was brought out nicely throughout this drama. I love school/earlier adulthood settings so this was a major plus for my specific taste. Overall, the plot was perfect because it had funny moments, sad moments, and such cute moments all in one!
Acting/Cast: -10- Zheng Shuang and Yang Yang (Bei Wei Wei and Xiao Nai) had amazing chemistry! His character looks out for her in every way possible and it is just so cute! Her character complements his character and that makes this whole entire drama 10 times, NO! 100 times better. The whole entire cast was spot on for this plot. Er Xi and Bei Wei Wei's friendship is absolute GOALS! Speaking of goals, of course, Bei Wei Wei relationship with Xiao Nai is also goals! It makes me so sad because I know, in the real world, that there will never be anyone perfect as Xiao Nai! :( I also love how this drama mainly focuses on the two main characters and even though there are misunderstandings throughout the drama, it always comes back to focusing on Bei Wei Wei and Xiao Nai. This just adds way more meaning to their relationship in "Love o2o" and it is what makes this drama really stand out from the others.
Music: -10- The songs/tunes used in this drama are so adorable and they fit in with the events happening so well! There is also a song by Yang Yang in this so that just makes me love it even more! :)
Rewatch Value: -10- Saying that I have already watched this drama 3 whole times, from the beginning to the end, and still find it intriguing to watch it for the fourth and fifth and sixth time, I would definitely give this a 10 rating for "rewatch value." (I am actually planning to rewatch this for the fourth time, maybe tomorrow since I have nothing else to do)
Overall: -10- The storyline is perfect! The characters are perfect! The music is perfect! Everything is practically perfect! There is no other drama that has beaten this one yet, for me, so I absolutely LOVED this one! I might seem to be rating this drama really easy going, maybe in your opinion, but this drama hits the spot for me! Trust me with this review! :)
Thank you for reading this long review, but I hope it helped you guys! I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WATCH THIS DRAMA BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST ONE YET FOR ME!
Chào for Now!
Lily L.
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This review may contain spoilers
A perfect Feel Good Story.
For me, Hidden Love is one of the Best dramas of 2023.The relationship between the siblings was delightful to watch. They portrayed the day-to-day banter between Sang Yan and Sang Zhi very accurately.
The chemistry between the Leads was excellent too. They did a fantastic job to bring these characters to life, their personality and relationship was very real. The build-up took time, but after that, it was very real and heartwarming to watch.
All the characters helped the show in their way. Sang Zhi's University friends and Jiaxu's Office colleagues also contributed to the drama very much. They are an integral part of the story.
The main plus point is the drama justified its title "Hidden Love". Those who have experienced Hidden crush / Love can relate to the emotional journey Sang Zhi goes through.
Also, there is no toxicity in this show. So one can enjoy this show and this show can make one's spirit go up.
The OST complements the show well too.
Every good thing has to end. Hidden Love has ended too. But I will rewatch it soon and no matter how many times I rewatch it, THIS DRAMA WILL never be old or monotonous to me.
I recommend everyone to watch this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nobody is flawless
People these days can't handle flawed characters, and that's why they hated this drama. From the moment it aired, people kept bashing it, so of course I was discouraged from watching it.What a mistake would that be if I didn't give it a chance because I enjoyed it and absolutely loved it!
Both Qian xi, and Ying Tao are flawed characters. Qian Xi is selfish. Ying Tao is unhealthily obsessive.
The highschool years showed us how immature and childish they still were. They lived in this bubble, where they thought everything would went well after the grow up. But the college years showed us their development. Ying Tao found out that love isn't easy like in fairytales. Her roommate was a great example of that.
Qian Xi went from the highest top, to the lowest one. His was selfish for telling Ying Tao "Don't forget me." when he knew, he wouldn't see her again. But I believe he wanted at least one person to think of him in his hardest time. I understand that he had a pride, that he didn't want her to see him like this. His mother always wanted him to be perfect, and when you spend years in this illusion, you cannot simply get out of it.
You'll always think, you have to be perfect in order for people to like you, to love you. Otherwise, you're not worthy of them.
Their relationship is toxic, but beautiful. This drama is the proof of it.
Their love surpassed everything bad, and left only the good in their relationship.
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I was hunting down Lee Min Jung's films and so I found this plus the rest of the cast seemed great so I end up watching this with great expectations.
2) Storyline/Plot:
The general story wasn't attractive or somethingspecial, it was sort of average.
Positive points:
*I really loved the opening story. At that moment, I thought I would rate this fim with a 8-9 but then everything didn't went the right way.
*I really can't seem to think about any other positive points.
Negative points:
*The story wasn't captivating which created many balnk moments.
*The leads mixture was really unnecessary because it was obvious who's going to end up with who.
*The general plot wasn't pleasant to watch.
*The story's development didn't deliver anything memorable.
Story: 4/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*The only thing that counts for this film is the acting departlent. Although it wasn't impressive but the cast was pretty good.
*Park Shin Hye: she lead the stronget character here, (I kept remembering how she looked like in you're beautiful but I believe that's a normal reflex): she did a good job and her role was the only likable one.
*Lee Min Jung: I was unsure about her character here but the acting was well done.
*Uhm Tae Woong: Although I like the actor, his character was so much resentable that I almost hated the actor but his acting wasn't bad.
*Choi Daniel: No comments on his acting but as a cast he was okay.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 7.5/10
4) The ending:
The ending is something good too, it was nicely made and fun to watch especially the last scene.
The ending: 8/10
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I didn't enjoy this film. In fact, I was counting time until it ends because I don't drop films.
*I was bored and regretful for watching this.
My impression 2/10
6) Overall:
*If you're rom-com lover then you may want watch this..
*If you like several cast films then you may like this.
*If you're not a fan of any of the lead actors then don't even bother about this.
Overall: 5/10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Final review : Sadly it crashed towards the end
When I started this drama, I really enjoyed it and looked forward to each episode every day. But from ep 25 onwards, I became impatient to know who Yesha was, so I started getting a little bored. The final six episodes were disappointing, though still somewhat acceptable to me.Towards the end—especially in the last six episodes, the drama seemed to throw in every leftover plot points randomly and illogically just to wrap things up. The twists felt confusing instead of shocking, and they were rushed, leaving the audience no time to process anything.
For example, at the start of ep 31, they suddenly decided to kill off Tong Shuang—not even five minutes in and then immediately jumped to the mourning scenes. Right after that, the remaining four sat together, and out of nowhere Xiao Beiming announced that he had discovered the identity of the Yesha who committed the murder back then (Miao Yue at Fengbo Lake), and that there was actually a second Yesha. He then rattled off the how, why, and what, ending with the conclusion that the second Yesha might be Miao Yun, Miao Yue’s adopted Haiya orphan. The whole thing felt anticlimactic, and the “build-up” to Xiao Beiming realizing Tong Shuang was Yesha was unconvincing. Like, what do you mean he just needed some alone time in a cell, squeezing every last brain cell, to magically connect all the dots?
And then there’s my favorite bit of absurdity: Zhong Xueman recognizing Miao Yun from a portrait drawn by Zhuge Tong and saying he “seemed familiar.” Plot twist: she’d seen him ONCE, three years ago, and they locked eyes for less than a minute. Girl. Be serious. If you can pull a three-year-old, one-minute memory out of thin air, you need to be studied by science. I can’t even remember who I bumped into yesterday.
The reveal that Tong Shuang was Bei Kun and wanted revenge also fell flat. He just failed and died? I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. I didn’t expect fireworks, but I did expect something more than “welp, guess that’s over.” Also, maybe it’s just me but I noticed that as they uncovered more about Yesha, the camera sometimes focused more on Tong Shuang, even when he wasn’t the main subject of the scene. At first, I found it odd, but now I think it might have been a deliberate hint or it's just me overthinking.
As for the ending, it was exactly what everyone expected: the leads’ second marriage ceremony. Predictable, sure, but after all they’d been through, it made sense. Still, I’m sorry but they just didn’t have chemistry or sparks as a couple. Maybe it’s because the story didn’t focus on romance, so their emotional connection never developed in a believable way.
On the acting side, Wang Xing Yue did well overall, especially in emotional scenes. Xiang Hanzhi did her best, and while I get why some people complain about her, I think it’s also because the character was written in a way that made her hard to love. Personally, I didn’t have a big problem with her acting, but she didn’t wow me either. Most of the side characters were fine, but when it came to He Luoluo as Yesha, I found him a bit underwhelming. He lacked the aura of a true villain, and it took me a while to take him seriously because the image of bright, adorable Tong Shuang was still too strong in my mind.
In the end, I enjoyed the character bonds and the way they stuck together through thick and thin. The first half of the drama was solid and right up my alley. But as it went on, it kept testing my intelligence with increasingly ridiculous twists until I couldn’t ignore the nonsense anymore. Final verdict: not the best, not the worst but definitely the kind of ride where you start off cheering and end up sighing.
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This film is powerful. Pure art. I know it's not the sort that most people will get because it's not a guilty pleasure relief or melodrama, you can't 'ship' and expect trivial tropey dialog and sentiments, this is more like watching poetry. But if you do enjoy artistic poignancy and want to watch something with a little more meaning and depth, then please watch this one. The dialog is raw and honest and the love is always sincere and painful. Doesn't matter who you wanted the main character to end up with this film will teach you a great deal about love... and life. I don't like using words like ' literary tour de force ' at the risk of sounding like a paid review on a Dan Brown book jacket but I can't find any other words that fit.
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1Shallow
There were things I liked about this: the cast, the colouring, the songs, Jun. Overall, though, the writing and directing left much to be desired. This series struggled with a serious lack of depth and character development. I know more about the characters from the director's tweets than I do from what was illustrated on screen. Each member of Mars, for instance, had an episode for their stories to be told but they provided only a surface-level peak at them. Thame and Po's instant love left me with nothing to anticipate or cling onto and Thame was essentially a Mary Sue. The most interesting I found them was when they were briefly at odds in episode one. By far the character that created the most interest to me was Jun. I would sign on to watch the Jun show.The most disappointing to me, however, was the clear lack of research done into T-pop. While it was sold as a look behind the curtain at the T-pop industry, the director evidently just pulled from K-pop and maybe an older era of Thai entertainment and gave T-pop fans nothing. The most obvious example is that T-pop artists can and do have relationships, so while I could've accepted the idea that Oner Entertainment in particular didn't allow it, the way it was framed as if the idol path would prohibit it was blatantly inaccurate. Furthermore, T-pop fans have no problem with their idols being in relationships. They shamelessly base an entire episode on the concept of a "perfect all-kill" from K-pop. For some reason, they expect me to believe that Nano, a longtime member of a supposedly top group, would not have been trained in singing before so they start offering him lessons like he's some slow child.
Aside from episode five which I genuinely had a great time watching because of Jun's games, the other episode that impressed me, surprisingly, was the finale. From GMMTV, I had no expectations that they would put the production efforts that they did into the concert, and I would've liked to see even more of it than we did. I think that overall, the show lingered on things that I couldn't get into and skimmed over things I would have most liked to see. Because it's fresh in my mind, from the finale, I would've liked to see Mars establishing their own label or meeting with a company that wanted to empower them. I would've liked to see them rushing around backstage and the little moments of connection on stage rather than a flat depiction no deeper than what the audience in that auditorium would've seen. I would've liked to see Po with Thame in the quiet driving home after his reunion, what raw emotions he would've felt, the relief and excitement from being out together for the first time.
In the end, I like the concept and not the execution. Consider my rating a 5-7. It depends on the last episode I watched
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Low expectations but it surprised me
I was a little hesitant to start this drama because recent Korean legal dramas this year was just so not my cup of tea, unlike before. When I tell you, episode 1 really lured me in. I was hooked, I experienced the thrill, the engaging emotions and all that, I was greatly impressed! I did not expect to like it very much either. I would easily put this in my top 5 Kdramas of this year! While it did it get rough for me in the middle of this drama and some cases I did not like, every episode was still so unique and will really catch your attention. There's a slow burn romance but I thought it was paced perfectly given where the characters started, their work relationship, and how much time they have actually spent together, it felt very natural in it's progression. Good is an understatement for their chemistry, it was simply off the charts!More often than not I enjoyed this drama, and overall it's worth the watch. It was very well executed and well acted, kudos to the director on this one.
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2The White Olive Tree – A Journey of Frustration, Pain, and the Only Two People That Mattered
I don’t even know where to start with this drama… The White Olive Tree was an experience, but not necessarily the good kind. It had potential—there were moments that gripped me, and of course, Ben and Sa Xin were the soul of the entire thing. But when I look at the drama as a whole? It was a frustrating, dragging mess that somehow managed to get even worse toward the end.Plot & Pacing – A Slow Burn That Burned Out
This drama had a mix of war, espionage, and romance, and while that sounds exciting on paper, the execution? Exhausting. The pacing was inconsistent—some parts felt painfully slow, and others rushed through major developments like they were checking off a list. The storytelling lacked the emotional depth it thought it had, and at times, it felt like the show itself was unsure of what kind of story it was trying to tell.
The war-torn setting had potential, and there were moments of raw intensity, but they kept getting overshadowed by unnecessary subplots and forced emotional beats that didn’t land. There were entire episodes that felt like filler, circling around the same conflicts without really progressing anything.
And then, that ending. I have no words. I sat there, staring at the screen, I sat through 30+ episodes for this??? I feeling completely robbed. That was the closure they thought we needed? That was supposed to be satisfying? If anything, it left a bitter taste.
Characters – A Mixed Bag of Wasted Potential
Now, here’s where my emotions get really messy. Most of the characters were… there. Some had interesting backstories, but the writing never fully let them shine. And others? They overstayed their welcome hard.
Son Rang – She was supposed to be a journalist, but I never really felt that from her character. There was no strong investigative presence, no real depth in how she approached the war through her profession. It was like they just labeled her as a journalist without making it believable.
Dr. Pei – I actually liked her character, but let’s be real—she was just there for the censorship. That’s how it felt. She had some good moments, but her role in the story never really clicked for me beyond that.
Sa Xin & Ben – The Only Reason I Survived This Drama
Now let’s talk about the real stars—Ben and Sa Xin. Because HOLY SH— THEIR SCENES WERE EVERYTHING. The tension, the way they saw through each other, the way they always had each other’s backs?? THEIR SCENES?? THEIR DYNAMIC?? The way they owned every moment they were together?? I breathed for their interactions. The writers knew EXACTLY what they were doing with them, feeding us crumbs while still leaving things "open to interpretation" BECAUSE OF CENSORSHIP??? I WAS LOSING MY MIND.
They weren’t just comrades. They weren’t just friends. They were everything. And the fact that the show kept tiptoeing around it instead of fully committing was frustrating as hell.
Ben was this emotionally closed-off, self-sacrificing mess, and Sa Xin saw right through him. The way Sa Xin called him out, the way Ben protected him like his literal life depended on it—I LIVED for every second of it. They had more chemistry in five minutes of screen time than any other couple in this entire show.
Now the OSTs: They are amazing..
Final Thoughts – A Mess, but Ben & Sa Xin Were Worth It
Would I recommend The White Olive Tree? Honestly? If not for Ben and Sa Xin, my answer would be a NO. It was messy, frustrating, and ultimately left me feeling drained. But because of them… I can't fully regret watching it.
I just wish they had been in a better drama. A better story. A story that actually deserved them. 💔
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This review may contain spoilers
This Show Feels Weird in a Good Way
Our first Japanese Mafia BL and it did not disappoint. This series is haunting, strange, and unforgettable, a story that dives into love, trauma, and redemption with a kind of poetic brutality only Japan can pull off.Odajima’s past shattered my heart. No child should grow up in a home where love is replaced by violence and silence. His father’s cruelty and his mother’s refusal to protect him created a boy who learned to survive, not to love. When he killed his father, it wasn’t born from hate, it was the only way out. And when his mother asked to die by his hands too, something inside him broke beyond repair. From that moment, Odajima became a man who could take a life but never believe he was worthy of one filled with love.
Then comes Kataoka, his light and his undoing. Odajima was sent to kill him, yet Kataoka became the only one who taught him how to live. Their bond unfolds slowly, through teasing, warmth, and quiet gestures that speak louder than words. When Kataoka talks about marriage, it’s both ridiculous and heartbreakingly sincere, because you can feel that for the first time, Odajima is learning what love might feel like.
And then the title makes perfect sense, A Journey to Kill You. Odajima’s mission is to end Kataoka’s life, but his heart refuses to obey. The man who was never loved has finally found someone who does, and that is the cruelest pain of all, to love the one you were meant to destroy.
This series delivers some unforgettable moments: Kataoka half-dead in a hospital bed, still managing to flirt with a nurse saying, “If I stay here, my wife will get jealous.” I laughed through my tears. And then, that lipstick-on-the-lips-of-a-dead-man scene, shocking, bizarre, yet somehow deeply fitting for a show that constantly blurs the line between madness and devotion. Japanese BL never fails to surprise, and this one proves it again.
What I didn’t like was the inconsistent tone and low-budget feel. The first episode throws you straight into an SA scene that’s brushed off too casually, and it left a sour taste. Some moments, like the dead bird scene, felt random and disconnected from the emotional core. Kataoka’s violent outbursts contrasted oddly with his tender moments, making it hard to understand who he truly was at times.
Still, despite the flaws, A Journey to Kill You is a bold and deeply emotional series. It’s not just about love, it’s about pain, redemption, and finding warmth in a world that taught you only how to bleed. It’s unsettling, poetic, and strangely beautiful.
Ironically, the car scene in Episode 1 was the one everyone hated.
But in the final episode, that same setting became something else entirely, filled with emotion, chemistry, and one of the most beautiful kisses I’ve ever seen.
This is why we watch BLs.
In just six episodes, we witnessed two characters grow, change, and learn to truly see each other.
By the end, every glance, every touch, felt earned, a quiet reminder of how love can blossom even in the shortest journeys.
I even wrote a poem inspired by one of my favorite scenes, it was that powerful and beautifully tragic.
Odajima’s childhood is a wound that never heals,
a small boy trapped in a house where love was slain.
No child should ever bear such sorrow,
to wake beneath the same roof as rage,
where a father’s fists spoke louder than words,
and a mother’s silence hurt more than any blow.
She gave him life, yet turned away from it,
her gaze a cold winter that froze his heart.
His home was no home,
but a battlefield of broken dreams,
where laughter died before it could be born.
When he raised his hand against his father,
it was not hatred that guided him,
it was survival, desperate and trembling.
But fate’s cruelty was not done,
for the woman who should have saved him
begged to die by his hand as well.
In that moment, the last light in his soul went out.
How could a boy like that ever learn
what love is meant to feel like?
Then came Kataoka,
the man Odajima was sent to kill,
yet somehow, the man who taught him to live.
Kataoka’s warmth melted the frost of his years,
his teasing words, his careless laughter,
his gentle talk of marriage,
all small miracles that stitched Odajima’s heart
back together, thread by trembling thread.
But destiny is merciless.
His mission whispered, kill him.
His heart screamed, don’t.
For the man who had never been loved
had finally found someone who did.
And that, perhaps,
is the cruelest agony of all,
to be torn between duty and love.
When danger came, Odajima stood ready
to give his life for Kataoka,
but it was Kataoka who took the bullet instead.
Now he lies in a cold hospital bed,
his breath shallow, his heart fading.
Odajima weeps beside him,
his face shattered with grief,
his voice breaking as he pleads,
“Please don’t die… you are the reason I live.”
There is nothing sadder than this,
a man who spent his life unloved,
who finally found warmth in another’s arms,
only to lose it in the blink of fate.
Odajima’s heart beats now
not for himself,
but for a love slipping away.
And as the monitor hums its sorrowful tune,
the world watches a tragedy unfold,
a boy who never knew love
learning it only through loss.
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