Reviews

Fine, Not Fantastic

Spooky In Love is like an everyday meal. Simple. It's not a lavish spread of a 7 course meal.

The show has a simple premise. FL (Cheon Yeo Ri) can see ghosts, whom she helps move on by uncovering their killers. She belongs to the 1%, while ML (Ma Gang Uk) is a fiery public prosecutor, more of a “salt of the earth” person. Spooky In Love is their journey through love, spooks, and succession drama.

To be honest, I went in expecting something like The Master's Sun. My expectations weren't met, but that doesn't mean I was disappointed. I enjoyed the show, and yet it will never be a favourite.

What I liked: ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

Characters and Performances: 
I'm a Park Eun Bin fan, and she has never disappointed me. Even here, I enjoyed her spooky encounters. She’s a queen of micro expressions. Her ghostly encounters and the walls she kept around herself, were beautifully done.

I simply loved Yang Se Jong's public prosecutor. His energy matched the principled, fiery, mad in love character perfectly. I haven't watched his Doona. The last time I remember seeing him was in Still 17, and he's come a long way from there. Ma Gang Uk was the one I looked forward to in every scene.

Everybody else did a good job too.

Romance: It's a gentle romance. Read that as not a blazing chemistry. Adjust your expectations and you'll enjoy it. It didn't have me kicking my feet under the blankets, but it did have me smiling at my screen.

Ghosts: What can I say.. I'm all for the spooks. ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ

ML's team: Fun and sweet.

What felt a bit meh: ┐( ˘_˘)┌

The forced connection between Gang Uk and Ji Hwan. The whole heart transplant track came out of nowhere and had no real impact on the story. Unnecessary add-on.

Yeo Ri's Chaebolness:

For some reason, I had a hard time seeing her as a third generation chaebol heiress. Part of it was her wardrobe. It didn't shout class to me. Part of it was the lack of a certain snootiness from her. Her Yeo Ri didn't have the attitude you'd expect from a CEO born with a silver spoon. I don't mean a hateful attitude, but the one that comes with the station she must have occupied from birth.

I had the same problem with Ong Seong Wu's Kang Min Hwan. It was hard to see him as a ruthless CEO. He looked more like a Manager than a CEO, and his angst didn't invoke much sympathy from me. Not saying he did a bad job, but he didn't stand out.

Ha Ri and her brother: her character was simply a foil for Yeo Ri, with no purpose beyond smirking and dropping mean girl comments. The two of them felt like filler. Their mother alone would have made a stronger antagonist.

Too much chaebol drama that didn't even feel high stakes, topped off with in-your-face promotion of Singapore tourism that felt very tacky. Damn Netflix.

Overall,

It's not a bad drama. It could have been better. Watch it as low stakes, lazy weekend entertainment without high expectations, and you'll be fine.

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All charcters need therapy ASAP

It has been ages since I was this invested in a BL, to the point of finishing it in no time. It has also been years since I’ve watched a Korean BL and honestly I’d say its been a year even since i watched a good action BL that didn’t bother me because of the bad acting or the boring plot.

As much as i enjoyed it, i am actually happy that it was short, cause it manage to kept the tension high for the entirety of the show, a thing that almost no action bl were able to do in all the years I’ve spent watching them. There was literally no dull moment. It was packed with informations and events beginning to end, and i was actually quite happy of it, even tho i think some aspects could have been explained better, like actually giving a somehow understandable introduction to the various victims without me having to guess half of the time who they were.

One thing: OH MY GOD. I cannot believe the whole plot, the whole deus ex machine, the whole fucking reason they met each other was to resolve the omicide of lee chaeha father and somehow at the end we don’t know who tf made it??? Like it was the whole point, it should have been explained, here should have been at least a confirmation of some sort (and to be fair, an apology from taeseon towards chaeha, but maybe I’m over reaching).

The chemistry between the actors was undeniable and i loved it so much. They were so fricking good together, and finally some kbl actors that were not afraid to open their mouth while kissing like we used to pray for times like this. Unfortately the romance was a little bit borderline for me. The first kisses were forced, their first time they were drunk (well, especially chaeha).. all red flags that I don’t like and don’t condone. And to be fair, even if its then explained why Taeson behaves this way towards Chaeha, the way chaeha fell for someone that treated them so badly was honestly scary like man go to therapy don’t stay here please. Well, actually, they should both go to therapy. No wait, every single charcter in this show should have gone to therapy. Like, there was not a single character that wasn’t either a full psycho or full of traumas that desperately needs some processing.

Both actors were pretty good, but oh my god Yoonsik. The performance was so impressive it scared me. He was able to convey so many emotions through his eyes it made me so happy cause i could finally watch a bl were not only they picked goo actors, but they even put them in role that measured to them (gmmtv, LEARN)

The videography and all the visuals aspects were pretty good, as usual for Korean shows. The dark tones fitted the image perfect, the production, even if the budget wasn’t the highest was pretty well done, the scripts were good, the character intresting. Everything was done very well

Would i rewatch it? Likely yes, but maybe after the first three or four episodes. I’d rewatch some moments and move on, its not exactly the most rewatchable show of all time, once u know all the plot twist.

PS. The plot twist were pretty predictable, but still pretty nice.

PPS. Yoonsik you are the prettiest man alive, kiss whoever gave you that hairstyle.

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when a series feels like home

When Oranges Fall genuinely became one of those series that i know im going to remember for a long time 😭 i gave it a 9.5/10 from the very beginning, and somehow that rating never changed even after finishing the whole series. if anything, by the end i was honestly questioning whether i should just give it a 10 because i loved it THAT much.

there was just something about this series that really got to me. i got emotional, i got butterflies, i got nervous and there were so many moments that genuinely gave me chills 😭 i really love stories that focus on friendship and growing up, and When Oranges Fall gave me that exact feeling. it actually reminded me a lot of Reply 1988. obviously the stories are completely different, but the feeling was somehow very similar. that warm, nostalgic feeling of watching a group of people grow together, care about each other and go through life together. i LOVE that kind of story.

and i absolutely have to talk about progress because OH MY GOD 😭 his acting as ko-neung was SO GOOD. he fits this character ridiculously well. like genuinely, i can't imagine anyone else playing ko-nung besides progress. he understood the character so well and delivered every emotion so naturally. there were so many moments where i was just sitting there thinking, "yeah, this role was literally made for him."

and then almondprogress… 😭😭 their chemistry was INSANE. like genuinely, they had EVERYTHING. the butterflies, the tension, the nervousness, the little moments, the emotional scenes.. i felt all of it. i was getting nervous WITH them. i was getting butterflies WITH them. their chemistry felt so natural that i completely forgot i was watching two actors at some points 😭 i honestly can't imagine ko-song being played by anyone other than almond either. they were just THAT good together.

i also really want to appreciate the entire cast because everyone did such a great job. every character felt believable and every actor actually delivered their role instead of just being there. even ko-neung's mom was SO good. the casting in this series was honestly one of its strongest points for me because everyone felt like they genuinely belonged in their roles.

and obviously, there's also the whole justin situation. thats honestly the only reason i hesitated about giving this a full 10/10. justin moir was actually really good in his role, which makes the whole situation even more disappointing. its such a shame because his performance was genuinely good, but considering everything that happened i can't separate the series from that controversy completely.

but honestly, the more i think about it, the more i feel like this might actually deserve the 10/10 😭 because i genuinely loved this series THAT much. i finished it feeling emotional and weirdly attached to these characters and thats something not every series can make me feel.

overall, When Oranges Fall is definitely one of those series that gave me EVERYTHING i look for in a good story. friendship, romance, chemistry, emotional moments, amazing acting and characters that actually made me care about them. i was genuinely invested from beginning to end, and there were moments where i literally got chills watching them.

9.5/10, or honestly maybe 10/10 because i clearly cant stop talking about how much i loved this 😭🤍

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A stylish, performance-driven dark drama

Thai revenge drama that trades standard romance for a dark look into grief, corruption, and the entertainment industry.
​The Good
​Performances: Fuaiz Thanawat steals the show with a complex performance as the antagonist Sunny, complemented by Min Thanakorn’s quiet, grief-stricken Sun.
​Tone: High production quality, stylish noir aesthetics, and a bold focus on industry exploitation set it apart.
​The Bad
​Pacing: The revenge plot bogs down mid-season, forcing a rushed, boardroom-centered finale.
​Uneven Romance: Sun and Jay’s connection feels forced, jumping awkwardly from manipulation to genuine affection.
​Verdict
A stylish, performance-driven dark drama that delivers high tension, despite a few narrative stumbles along the way.
Overall, i liked it a lot.

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After nine episodes, Little Jane remains just as annoying

I've watched nine episodes and I'm waiting for the rest. I'm watching the series and I think the cinematography is good and the cast is okay except for the one called Little Jane. As another reviewer here also wrote, this actor doesn't fit, he gets on my nerves, and the only reason I gave the stars I did isn't because of him! He really pushes my patience to the limit. I'm not sure why, but he's just annoying! His whiny face is irritating, in intimate scenes his face doesn't show what it should in such a scene, I can't tell if he's laughing or crying, this actor who plays Little Jane is downright annoying. So, the only reason I keep watching is that I like Big Jane. He's awesome, expressive, acts really well, even in intimate scenes, you really believe him, whereas Little Jane... is annoying.

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Wonderful drama with good feels!

So I learned a valuable lesson when watching this series-Don’t not watch because you read some negative reviews. I almost didn’t give this series a chance and so glad I did. Yes it has some formulaic tropes. But don’t all the good ones! The male and female lead have an authentic romance wrapped around other aspects of life’s challenges. There are a few other romances going on which are also interesting. Love their community. Enjoyed the crazy over the top evil parents. No one is perfect but we are all trying and evolving and shouldn’t give up on our dreams!! Give it a shot-you may enjoy it like I did!

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Very good acting couldn't save the tedious writing

This drama starts off strong. The story is interesting, the characters feel ambiguous and real. I didn't know what to believe and that's something I love in a crime drama. After about 8-9 episodes, watching got really tedious. They are running in circles, coming back to the same conclusions they had already come to before. The story suddenly becomes very predictable and the last 6 episodes were an absolute drag for me. It's not build up when the story falls flat in the middle of it, no matter whether or not everything gets wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end. I was really disappointed with this drama.

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Probably the calmest and most beautiful drama I have ever watched

This drama is different from all the others I’ve seen so far. It’s calm, almost serene. The story develops naturally at a pace that is neither boring nor hurried.

What makes this drama especially interesting is that the story is shown rather than told. You have to pay attention, because there is very little exposition or explanation. Instead, the drama lets emotions, small moments, and the characters’ actions speak for themselves.

There are no fast cuts, and the scenes are long and almost tranquil. It’s relaxing and heartfelt, yet it still managed to make me shed a tears.

I highly recommend this drama. And make sure to watch the credit and post credit scenes.

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I loved it

I have to confess: as someone who doesn't usually gravitate toward historical dramas, I didn't expect to enjoy it this much, but it completely surprised me. It was fun, engaging, and filled with humor alongside a thrilling, fascinating, and emotional plot.
What I loved most is the emotional depth of the story. The heart of the drama is the seemingly impossible conflict: knowing the leads can never truly be together as long as she is forced to live under a stolen identity as the Crown Prince. The thought that they cannot build a future together while she is trapped in a role forced upon her is truly heartbreaking. Throughout the entire series, I kept wondering how the story could possibly resolve this—how they could end up together, and how they could carry on knowing how deeply in love they were. Thankfully, the ending offers so much comfort and a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.
Beyond the romance, the series beautifully highlights core values of true friendship, loyalty, and deep trust. And the cast? Absolutely outstanding! Park Eun-bin delivers a masterclass performance in such a complex role, and Rowoon is not only stunning but also proves what an incredibly talented actor he is.
Personally, I found myself binge-watching this show every spare moment I had. Highly recommended for anyone who loves high-quality romance and compelling historical dramas

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Easy binge but I have my issues

This was actually a pretty easy binge, the leads are good at their job, have nice chemistry and most characters are pretty okay to watch.

However the plot makes very little sense to me, how is wanting to marry a murder suspect less dramatic than maybe seeing ghosts? So whoever touches her sees ghosts for a month and then what? Its lite the trail period is over? And the heart transplant. Love that they made a male lead to be a transplantee without making him week, o making a too big of a deal of it but dude has no scare? has a cardiac arrest and just gets up? and meds? food restrictions? its like oh he had a heart transplant and then all was fixed... I also hate that they know who gave him the heart. But that said they delt with those parts okay towards the end.

And then comes granny, who is so obsessed with superstition I wanted to scream...

But then agin if you can look beyond all this its a decent romance with some moments of suspanc, cliches and highly predictability.

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watched it only to see Song Kang on my screen :)

The plot of this drama was kinda realistic, and even a bit sad at times. As a viewer, I found myself feeling empathy for Na-Bi, completely understanding and relating to the process of her falling in love.
In that sense, the show felt exceptionally realistic rather than depicting an impossible fairytale. Entering an informal relationship and unexpectedly developing deep feelings is something that happens to a lot of people in real life.
If there is a core lesson this show teaches, it is the fundamental need for honesty. It was clear from the beginning that both leads were drawn to each other, but all that was missing was simply being honest with one another about what they truly wanted. Regarding the ending—I would have loved to see a more detailed epilogue showing where they are a few years down the line and whether the relationship actually lasted. At the same time, perhaps leaving it open was for the best, as perfectly neat endings usually only happen in fairytales.
With that being said, i felt like this is not the greatest drama i've watched, I really don't like han so-hee's acting, she's giving me a Bella Swan vibes and i just can't stand it, I definitely watched it mainly thanks to Song Kang —but it wouldn't sit at the very top of my absolute must-watch list

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So many emotions in one drama

It is an incredibly moving and heart-touching drama.
While there is a tiny romantic storyline, it is definitely not the main focus. The true heart of the series is the complex relationship between the mother and her son—a dynamic that was initially very painful to watch.
There were so many episodes that literally brought me to tears. But the beauty of this show is that as the story unfolds and you understand the reasons behind the mother's actions and their circumstances, everything makes complete, profound sense.
The actors give absolutely outstanding performances. Their acting is so convincing and powerful that it was extremely hard for me to step away from the screen, and I found myself staying up late into the night just to watch one more episode. The plot is surprising, captivating, and deeply layered. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful, high-quality drama that really hits hard

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