Reviews

the drastic change in storyline.

to be very honest, they just spoiled the ending of the drama. talking about the characters- PARK JAE EON, YU NA BI AND YANG DO HYEOK HERE. na bi is the most confused female lead in any kdrama ive ever seen. she would've chosen to stay single and pursue her future in paris, if i was in place of na bi i would've chosen my carrier instead of being in a toxic relationship with a jerk with whom i know living will be hell, neither will i choose my childhood best friend and make his life miserable as the likenesses will be one sided!? the ending of the drama instigates young teenagers to be in a toxic relationship even when u know the person with whom u are is a jerk. she doesnt care as the ending line says- "i know this will cause pain, but im okay with it" WHAT AN IDIOT NA BI IS. girl get a life! i just feel bad for my potato boy :") i rated this drama so low because the ending was not just appropriate according to me (different people have different opinion) otherwise, the casting of this drama was perfect, i was happy and satisfied about every other lead, the ost is catchy as well!! gonna miss this drama every Saturday :") signing off. ***AGAIN, I AM JUST ATTACKING THE CHARACTERS AND NOT THE ACTORS*** ps- i ship han so hee and song kang alot, i mean who doesnt?? NEED ANOTHER DRAMA WITH THEM BEING LEAD!!

Read More

My feelings about this drama are very mixed, because I did actually quite enjoy it for the first fifty or so episodes. However, for me, it went downhill around that point; as it progressed from there, it became increasingly repetitive and boring. I actually stopped watching for a while and watched another entire series (albeit, a much shorter one) before coming back to complete it. I didn't want to give up on it entirely because I was already invested in the characters – but unfortunately, I only found most of them less likable and interesting as a result of completing it.

I felt that almost everything about this drama was top notch in the beginning. The costumes, sets, and cinematography are beautiful. The music is dramatic, dark, and lovely. The plot was reasonably interesting. Most of the characters were complex and interesting.

Ning Yi is an especially fascinating character, as he is at once a gentle, compassionate, ruthless, and manipulative character. I'd never seen Chen Kun in anything prior to this drama, but I was very impressed with his acting. Of any drama protagonist I've seen, he is perhaps the most believable in his ferocity and ability to assert his power over other characters. Chen Kun has great screen presence. I enjoyed the character's capacity to manipulate and control his adversaries – and he is one of the darkest protagonists I've come across who remains mostly likable – but my favorite aspect of the character is his more lighthearted, frivolous side (even though it is usually fake). There is a genuinely kind and idealistic side to him that is constantly at war with the wounded, vengeful, and ambitious side of him, and watching him try to balance those two contradictory sides of himself is interesting.

Feng Zhiwei is also generally a very likable, fun character to watch for most of the series; Ni Ni is a beautiful and talented actress who imbues her character with warmth, charm, and wit. She is usually careful and well-spoken, but she sometimes struggles with restraining her emotional, impulsive nature - especially when her loved ones are in danger. I enjoyed her most when she was acting as Wei Zhi (the male student turned court official under the title of Ultimate Scholar).

I've seen some viewers comment about the lack of chemistry between Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei, but I actually very much disagree with that. Despite the fact that the show is pretty lacking when it comes to physical displays of affection between the two, I found their interactions to be mostly enjoyable until the latter part of the series. I enjoyed how much they enjoy each other's wit. There's more than enough foreshadowing in the early episodes to alert the viewer to the fact that their relationship will not end well, so the fact that things fell apart between them came as no surprise. Still, I feel like it could have somehow been done in a way that was not so tedious and frustrating to watch. Although I prefer happy endings and generally try to avoid dramas that I know will end tragically, I have seen it done well before. Alas, like the drama as a whole, their relationship just kind of became boring.

There are several other enjoyable relationships that offset some of that (although some of them fall apart, too). Zhiwei had an interesting, complicated dynamic with the emperor, as well as a cute friendship with her bodyguard, Nan Yi. (I lowkey shipped Zhiwei and Nan Yi, especially towards the end.) I also enjoyed her close friendship with Hua Qiong. Ning Yi also had a couple of close relationships that I appreciated: an entertaining, playful friendship with his advisor and close friend, Zi Yan, and a brotherly relationship with his loyal guard, Ning Cheng. His interactions with his father was generally interesting to watch, too, due to its complexity. The emperor loves Ning Yi and seems to find him the most relatable of his children, but there's a lot of water under that bridge and Ning Yi's siblings drive a wedge between them further.

The main character who really never added much for me at any point is Helian Zheng. His persistence in vying for Zhiwei's love even after it has been made abundantly clear that she's not interested is just... so tiresome. He goes to great lengths to aid and protect her, and it's clear that he does care for her a great deal - but he is also self-serving in his motivations. He has a fairly big role in the story, so this aspect of it diminished my enjoyment of it a bit.

Although I did love many things about this drama, I can't recommend it. It is very time consuming and ultimately disappointing. I was honestly very annoyed upon completing it, because it had been so good. If I were to rate the first fifty episodes, I'd probably give it around an 8.5. Unfortunately, the story was stretched too thin and it ended up being a mess.

Read More

Light-hearted

You don't have to watch the first season as they do recap it in the first episode but it's better to watch it as you understand the background of how the male lead got his name 'Poong' and the situation of the female lead. Also the circumstances in which he started working in the clinic. Also the last episode will make more sense if you've seen the first season.

The second season was quite enjoyable for me. There was more focus on psychiatry in the second season which was one of my biggest complaints with the first season. I personally enjoyed this season more. Though there was some good mystery in the previous season as well. Don't be turned off by the SFL as her part is not much. But the SML can be annoying. The thing that bothered me is why Man Bok's character was not properly used. It didn't make sense.

There is more romance in this season but don't expect too much. Most of the time it is just awkwardness and spending time with each other.

If not for the finale, I would rate it as 8.5 because I was entertained. The final episode was underwhelming. Missed opportunity of cashing in on the couple that everyone wanted to see more of. It was overall sweet. Just missing some bang or maybe that's how I usually expect finales to go.

I actually didn't think I would even watch the second season after the first but I'm glad I did.

Read More

A recipe for pasta is simple at first glance, but it all depends on the seasoning, the addition of sauces, the quality of the ingredients to make the dish delicious. Some recipes bring back fond memories, others are forgotten as quickly as they were consumed.

Through the evocation of their common past or the glimpse of their current life, we feel that they have managed to preserve their good moments. I also felt the unsaid things, the affection that shines through, the care for each other and I think that maybe there is a possibility for them. Maybe the recipe at the time wasn't elaborate enough, or maybe it wasn't just right for the 20-year-olds they were.

Note: there is no predefined recipe for making a relationship work, each person finds the right fit in their own way to make it work.

Read More

I love time-slip movies and I was so happy to see Ryo-chan would play in one. It was a nice story, at some points hilariously depicting the cultural clashes between Edo and modern-day Japan.

I must say, I didn't much like the ending, well, it was better than happily-ever-after, and in some sense it was actually a happily-ever-after, but it left no room for a sequel or some more pudding!

In any case, the cast was superb, believable, the music, ok. I can rewatch it on long enough intervals (maybe once a year or something), I've already watched it three times since it came out and I can't say I won't do that again!

Read More

That Once in a Lifetime Type of Love

First off I would like to say how proud I am of Go Min Si for doing such a phenomenal job on her first lead role. In my opinion you could never tell that this was her first time leading in a drama. She is a natural - from her crying scenes to her scenes of joy, she absolutely killed it. Lee do Hyun also killed it of course (we know he is a fantastic actor already because of 18 again).

A C T U A L R E V I E W :

If you are looking to watch a BEAUTIFUL yet MELODRAMATIC TEARJEARKER ROMANCE then THIS ONE IS FOR YOU !!!!! This was one of the most sincere romance kdramas I have watched in a while. Although it was frustrating and bellowing at times it still held me captive in the best way possible. Not only did the drama give me some insight into the Gwanju Uprising that {in real life} occurred in Korea during the 80s, it also made me feel so nostalgic for some reason. Watching two characters genuinely fall in love with each other whilst understanding each others flaws with the possibility of a sad ending will always have my heart, even though they know it could end in turmoil the fact that their "love" or "like" for each other is strong enough to keep them present is so beautiful to me.

The only flaw I would have about the drama is that I wish that the second main leads had more of a conclusive ending in the last few episodes as I am a big fan of the character that played Lee So Ryoens older brother {Lee Soo Chan}.

Read More

Very beautiful and a personal favorite for a lot of people (including me)

I told the sunset about you is my first ever bl, and my expectations went off the roof. The story touches everyone's heart. The way they explore the character's sexuality to how they portray the struggles of that aspect is just written and directed well. In many elements, this story is very realistic as it shows disagreements, understandings, imperfections and a real story of coming of age. Every character is beautifully written and portrayed, and this series felt like a hug to my soul. It's also very comforting and easy to watch. I am recommending this to everyone!

Read More

The Luckiest Character in Japanese Drama Ever!!!

This is not your ordinary type of romantic comedy, it is a love story between two opposite type of people, there is an age gap issue and you will scratch your head thinking how the hell she fell in love with him. Most of you will be turn off because of this and I don't blame you as I were like that during the first episode. Though I grew liking the guy's character as the story progress I also think this drama would be better with a younger and bit more good looking lead.

Meet Yuji Tomioka(Teppei Arita), a guy in his late 30's, never been in a relationship, he is living a boring life. One night during his work as a security guard, he wishes to a shooting star to have friends. Then later we are introduced to a Azusa Hada(Tsubasa Honda) mysterious girl who is stalking Tomioka and secretly in love with him. Let me give you a warning to the tone of drama, it is weird and a bit jarring as it starts as a comedy then take a dark turn in the middle episodes. If you are familiar with the movie Himeanole this drama has the same tone but unlike Himeanole it keeps its fun elements even after that dark twist. The comedy here is really good like seriously it is one of the funniest shows I've watched and the situation where this hot chick is in love with this guy and this guy doesn't give a damn is best thing about this show.

The pacing is really good, flow of each episode is a breeze, and every moment is dedicated to the development of these two characters. I would separate this show into 3 arcs, first part is when he gain friends, second would be that dark twist, third is where their love blossoms. If you are looking for a quick watch, fun drama this would be it.

Though they look awkward together these two characters do have chemistry. When I said chemistry I didn't mean romance but the comedic aspect. It's always fun seeing them together. Tsubasa Honda is the hottest stalker I've ever seen, and if you are a guy you would envy the lead guy in this drama, he is indeed the luckiest character in Japanese drama ever. Also, If you are a fan of Tsubasa Honda this is a must watch as this drama shows her cutest form yet.

Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/

Read More

Window into the life of a Star who only wanted the chance to be herself

I can't say I knew Sulli or was even much of a fan, but her death deeply saddened me. She was everything the Korean entertainment industry needed for a positive, if not better, change. She became the change she wanted to see but sadly gave up on that change to the people who made her famous and who were also the ones who pulled her down to the lowest point that she felt the only escape was to leave it all to them. Given the opportunity, I truly believe she would have been the beginning of the change needed in the industry, making this documentary is proof of that. It is so hard to watch at times. For us fans, everything looks so glamorous watching from our TV screens. I can't fathom the hardship, discrimination, control, mental, physical, and even sexual abuse many of the stars we adore suffer to bring us the phantom joy we live in for a few hours or weeks.

More than the short film, the interview was hard to watch, at least for me, hearing and in some instance feeling her pain, imagining the hardship, and ultimately, picturing the decline in mental health is truly heartbreaking. I wish she knew she had other options, but it is easy for me to say this now. I wish the people around her helped her realize there were other choices, including her management company. They must have witnessed her pain first hand. I genuinely believe the entertainment industry itself bears a lot of responsibility for her suicide and the many others like her. They treat celebrities like commodities from whom a few powerful agencies can squeeze as much income in as short a time as possible. They strip them of any semblance of a normal life, letting the fans go too far in their obsessions and sometimes giving into their demands of not allowing idols to be in relationships or even marry.

The crazy fans who obsessed over Sulli's life choices are also to blame for her death and the death of many gone too soon in this industry. I realize the many celebrity suicide deaths in the past decade or so have brought the issue of suicide and mental health to the forefront, as Korea has the highest rates among developed countries among civilians, and is attributed to academic and work pressure, the stigma around mental health, among others. I can't even begin to know the solution, but I would guess an open and honest dialogue like this one is a great start. Rest in peace, Sulli and the many others who left this earth too soon. I highly recommend giving this a try. Sulli earned at least that. I only gave the rewatch value an 8 because it was just too hard to watch at times.

Read More

Opening 2022 with a boom!

Just finished this drama a minute ago, having basically binging it in a few days. I’d say this drama is a delightful surprise for me. I just basically come across this in youtube while surfing around after finishing A Girl Like Me, directionless. The first episode started with a boom, and me, being a special force enthusiast, am efficiently hooked even from the first episode.

Plot: I like that this is almost 85% pure armed force stuffs and only 15% other plot/romance. And it doesnt hurt that the 85% was really quite well done imo. The cast/production/directing really do it beautifully. All the trainings/special mission/equipments/artillery are very impressive and engaging. Well done! I enjoyed all the episodes, just maybe a little less on the arc of FL’s PTSD, those few episodes are quite draggy.

Characters: Almost half of the characters who are in Blue Lightning Commando get their own highlights and not only the ML and FL. Applaud the scriptwriter. 👏🏻 I know that it makes sense that in such a high risk job, you just cannot run away from death. And from the start, i dunno why, but i’ve always have the gut feeling that the most understanding, selfless kindest guy will bear the brunt of being the one who died, and lo and behold, i spent the entire ep 30 bawling my eyes out and basically 2 episodes after that intermittently crying. Thanks to all the cast, my whole face and eyes are swollen with all the eyebags and panda eyes for an entire night of marathoning. I havent seen any drama of Vengo previously (yes i know!) and he did quite well in this, balancing between being a thanos whilst having a good heart deep inside, and also kind of giving me a feelings of an ex delinquent having to grow up but still a brat deep down lol. The FL is also a nice surprise. Although not quite as tall as the ML, i didnt get the height difference vibe from them because she just appears ‘taller’ with her confidence and self esteem presence. Other supporting casts as the Blue Lightning Commandos are a gem, each of them has their own strength. I truly admire the comradeship of theirs and as i said previously, everytime each of them shed tears while trying to be strong at the same time, my heart broke with them. Aishhhh Lin Yi!!!! (Still cant get over it! Lol. And did i mention, Lin Yi’s final sacrifice scene is beautiful? Lol)

Music: very appropriate to the plot/general military vibe.

Subtitle: this is basically my pet peeves of an otherwise very delightful experience. I spent almost 13episodes watching this on youtube with questionable subtitle and then changed to weTV app. However, the subs are also a disappointment there. Luckily the 20plus years of watching chinese dramas come in handy for sub self correction. Lol. Hopefully someone somewhere will amend this in near future because such a gem should be able to be enjoyed by more viewers.

All in all, i have always love a good thrilling military drama, and this one, really delivers it! 👏🏻

Read More

My dark horse thriller of 2025

In the last days of 2025, three different thrillers aired, and after a rough personal year in the genre, I wasn’t craving anything extraordinary - just good dramas. And, as with many things in life, the positive surprise came from the least expected. That’s how **The Truth Within** turned out to be my dark horse thriller of 2025 - *The Hunt* remains my favourite.

Without diving too much to avoid spoilers, this is a five-case thriller with an underlying mystery (the sixth case), where case-solving and criminal procedures, with a strong emphasis on the forensic aspect, take center stage, very much in the vein of the best era of CSI: Las Vegas. Here, there’s no room for cops’ family affairs, personal life matters, the old master-apprentice trope, or the social commentary we usually see in the genre.

It’s a stylized suspense drama, far away from a gritty vibe but also from the overly artistic aesthetic that’s becoming the opposite trend in the Chinese entertainment landscape since last year.

The two Taiwanese directors - there’s also a third, Chinese one who collaborates with them - have a renowned portfolio in thrillers, and you can tell. I love the storytelling here and how they enhance a solid script. The lighting, the overall cinematography, where the framing and the use of the camera help create the atmosphere, together with neat and efficient dialogue, give this project a distinctive and fresh personality that I deeply appreciate. Silence and unsaid words are also protagonists, but again, used with precision.

The straight, clean, and plain focus on the case-solving process feels refreshing. Although short cases aren’t my preferred jam in any genre or format - and that was one of my two main gripes about it - they have the right amount of length and flow, are interesting, and even tackle a theme I never expected to see in C-dramaland. The underlying mystery is well interconnected too, and the viewer accompanies the investigation team as the clues unfold. Overall, the pace feels right: neither slow nor rushed.

Production is excellent despite it not being a super-budget drama, and my other gripe with this type of series luckily didn’t become a nightmare: procedures don’t have major flaws that make you roll your eyes, and they managed to introduce the main role of the forensic doctor quite logically within the team dynamics and stories, resulting in balanced and fair screen time among the main team, as it should be.

I liked how they presented the dynamics between the characters. I appreciate that every team member has a distinct personality, and that they didn’t go over the top or force comic relief with any of them. Despite the precise approach to cases, you find yourself getting attached to all of them when danger arises - proof of a good script, solid execution, and good acting from the entire cast, not only the main leads (by the way, not the usual suspects in these dramas either).

If I have to remark on the things that bothered me, the one that sticks out the most is the three or four images that were unnecessarily censored around the middle of the drama, once it gained more views.

There were other minor issues that didn’t ruin the overall tone of the show: a subtle (edit: perhaps more than subtle for the trained eye) drop in quality in episodes 14 and 15 - I guess they left the direction to a director’s assistant/apprentice? - and a few inconsistencies toward the last two episodes, where the story changes the vibe a little due to the logical progression of it. Luckily, the uniqueness returns in the last 15 minutes in all its glory, and the show ends on a high note.

**The Truth Within** is not a gritty drama, nor one that delves deeply into social topics and leaves you ruminating after it ends, but rather one that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to press play on the next episode.

For those who like this type of thriller and want a project with personality, it’s a very tight drama.

Read More

I finished this ~10 minutes ago so I have to be realy carefull to not spoil this for you.
So, firstly I have to say that this is an amazing movie. Realy. At the moments it's funny, other times it's romantic and kinda dramatic. The whole story is amazing. Even though it can make you feel sad but the sadness is not depressing. I even think it's amazing.

Secondly : the actors did a wonderful job portraying their characters. Tamaki Hiroshi (Makoto)showed all the feelings you can wish. Silly laugh he does when he's with 'Shizuru' is funny and his tears look very sad.
And about Miyazaki Aoi (Shizuru) - I think she was even more amazing. Even as a girl myself I can say that she's a realy beautiful model and yet she succeeded in portraying a girl who looks like elementary school student. So I think that she did a great job with both : outside and emotions.

Lastly I'll just say this - this movie is amazing no matter if you watch it with your lover, friend or even alone. It leaves you kinda sad but not depressed and even. . warm ^^

Read More

The calming pace of Archery with some romance kicking in high gear and almost too intense at times. It's been pointed out that the male lead's actions really aren't portrayed in a sympathetic way and I agree, the character could've used some more work but with full length film, things don't always work out that way sadly. The story itself was very self explanatory and not complicated in the least. Sorta a call back to the quote, 'We accept the love we think we deserve.' Both leads acted beautifully but the rewatch factor just isn't there because it wasn't exciting or memorable in that sense from other films available. An okay movie with not much going for it which I think was intended.

Read More

Game over... Best short drama during the first three weeks of 2024

If you go to this drama thinking that it will be like other death game series, such as Squid Game and Night Has Come, then you are wrong, and you will not find what you expect if you are a fan of this genre. However, this show will attract you because it stays in the genre of games with many genres mixed together in a perfect way, it is a mixture of school drama that sharpens its plot with bullying scenes intersected in the style of a drama (2019's Class of Lies) and follows the atmosphere and direction of 2023 Bitch X Rich and Weak. Hero Class 2022.
But the basic premise of this game is out of the ordinary and does not place itself in those dramatic circles because of its depth, and each episode contains a new discovery and battles of intelligence provoked by some games for social survival that quickly escalate into an intense psychological war.

It is a 10-hour lesson for all bullies and bystanders that looks at the hierarchy of societies in a school setting as a microcosm, noting in this triangle that exists in all societies that it is the provocation of the upper classes that creates class conflict, and the existence of bullying between classes is nothing but a reflection of slavery.
I also appreciate the way they cast a ray of hope. Not only is it a dark or painful story, but its poignancy is softened as camaraderie blossoms between the girls, meaning “friendships can be made that transcend the boundaries of class and status.”

Aside from the content, the best thing about this drama is the cast. Every actress was amazing and every character made it exciting and unpredictable. Although there are many, each one contributes to advancing the plot and raising the level of tension by depicting the nature of the relationships between them. It keeps viewers guessing not only how the game will be destroyed but also the nature, background and behavior of each one.
The music is also one of the drama's best points and the OST in particular is great, making every moment intense as if sending the message, "A dangerous battle of wits will take place."
Summary of the statement...
The drama (Pyramid Game) is wonderful and entertaining from beginning to end. It was a tightly directed story whose facts and characters were unpredictable and ended satisfactorily. It was also characterized by an ideal crew and excellent acting with a perfect rhythm.
Therefore, as a high-level production, it succeeded in arousing global interest
As the only Korean content among the selections of the Series Mania 2024 festival, which is the largest event in Europe dedicated to TV series to recognize the best works.
Therefore, add the pyramid game to your list, but do not play it in your social life. Rather, try to break it whenever you find yourself trapped in such a situation, because what is certain is that this hierarchy will remain in place as long as human society continues, and this is relatively what the conclusion represents.

Read More