This review may contain spoilers
A Top Drama for 2026!
Some dramas get overhyped but I don’t think that’s the case here. The story & cast deserve all the praise (& none of the hate) they’re getting! 👏🏻When a drama sucks me in & won’t release me even after it ends, that’s when I know I just watched a great story. That’s exactly what this team managed to do to so many of its viewers, so kudos to everyone involved in the project!!
The love story between this cold, battle-hardened ML & the quirky, butcher FL is filled with tender moments when their eyes say what their hearts want even if their mouths can’t form the words. Their chemistry is addictive & their kiss scenes can melt the screen!🔥🫠 As they move from small town life to reconnecting on the battlefield to navigating the capital’s treacherous terrain, their bond holds strong no matter the tension or circumstances. When all the truths are exposed they have to choose whether their love is enough so there’s the dreaded time of angst between them but even still - their connection refuses to be broken (thank goodness!!)
If you like historical dramas with the following, then you must watch this:
- smart, strong Leads
- lots of action
- touch her/him & d!e vibes
- psychotic villains
- loyal friend groups
- no real love rivals
- adorable kids
- found-family bonds
- gorgeous cinematography
- fantastic OST
+ so much more! 🫶🏻
Apart from the pure awesomeness that is our Lead couple, there are so many other characters who helped make this such a gem of a story. Like:
- The Pig Butcher Squad. These guys first came on the scene when they were bullying the FL. After a few be@tings, they learned to respect her & chose to befriend her instead. There’s more interaction in the 2nd half when they’re reunited in the army & this is where their bond truly shone through - these men had grown from lightly tormenting her to becoming her loyal followers/protectors.
- The ML’s closest soldiers. I truly loved how none of them ever questioned his choices regarding the FL nor tried to persuade him in any way. He had earned their loyalty on the battlefield & they trusted him completely. The respect they had for him as their leader was then immediately extended to the FL because of his love for her. So in the same way they wouldn’t hesitate to d!e for the ML they did whatever necessary to protect the FL, no matter the risk. And not a single one of them even contemplated betraying the ML which was absolutely refreshing.
- Mr. & Mrs. Zhao. Their love & support of the Fan sisters was one of the most touching parts of the story. They brought both humor & heart in such a memorable way. I loved the bond they shared with the girls & how they immediately included the ML in their circle despite how he came to be with them. I wish more dramas would have elders like this duo!
- The Headmaster/Counselor. The ML’s friendship with the him was so good. His constant teasing of the ML was so fun & helped bring levity to heavy situations. No jealousy or greed - they both respected one another & only wanted the best for each other. And his love story arc with the Grand Princess was so believable in its development. She’s also a really good person who deserved her happy ending.
- The villainous duo. Whoa - these dudes needed locked up in psych wards. While everyone else was mentioned for the good they brought to the screen, these guys are the exact opposite. Corrupt, greedy, selfish, & arrogant are good words to describe them. I do admit that I felt a tiny twinge of sympathy for the younger one when the truth was later revealed to him. I never felt any such emotion for the older one, though, even with his ending. And I kept seeing lots of comments on social media about the chemistry between him & his love interest (FL’s friend) but I could never sense that because his v!plent obsession with her was not shmexy to me at all. Even if she gave consent, it was coerced & not an act she wanted to partake in. We all know what it really is when someone doesn’t take “no” for an answer in a s3xual situation… so I only ever felt bad for everything she was having to endure just to survive & try to save her son.
This review is too short to accurately express how much I enjoyed this drama. I had planned to add some of my favorite scenes (like I did in my reviews for “Prisoner of Beauty”, “Love Like the Galaxy parts 1 & 2”, & “Blossoms in Adversity”) but when I started listing them out I realized I’d be mentioning one or more scenes from every episode because this story has countless parts that I love! So now I’m just going to leave my review shorter than I’d intended and instead encourage you to watch this drama for yourself so you can experience every battle, every interaction, every kiss, & every other beautiful moment too 🩵💜
This is a rewatch many times over type drama for me!!
PS: one last thing to mention - I truly appreciated how realistic they made the FL’s journey regarding fighting & the battlefield. Even though she showed her skills early on in the skirmishes at home, it was done in a believable way. Just because she had the know-how of fighting didn’t mean she was comfortable with engaging in serious battles where de@th was a very real possibility. And the first time she was forced to take a life in order to protect loved ones, she don’t hesitate to do it but she still struggled with it afterwards. After engaging in war on the battlefield & earning a name for herself, she still didn’t want to continue fighting. She didn’t get a big head nor did she seek glory & prestige. She wanted her simple life back. And even though she ultimately chose to continue fighting to help uncover the corruption in court & clear her late father’s name, it still never became something she took lightly. I just thought that the whole storyline of her growth in this area was really relatable. And, of course, I loved how the ML always supported her & comforted her as she struggled to work through the tangle of emotions that fighting caused her. It’s just another part that proves they’re meant for each other 💕
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.4 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: It’s complicated… 🤷🏻♀️
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This review may contain spoilers
They never get to finish a movie
Story is very well executed, although there are parts that frustrates me, but I know they're keeping it much more like a real life scenario. But that's what hard on adulting world sometimes, we complicated simple things. When 1+1 got too many added variables.Thame tbh is the only one matured on this, although this man ALWAYS fumble on his words, I wanna kick him. Hehehehe gently. But that's because he's just too innocent. But as soon as he knows what watching movie means, he keeps getting the excuse. Seriously man.
Shoutoit to Mick, that man is the hidden MVP of this series. I didn't suspect for a minute.
The Ms. President can still burn idc. Having visions doesn't equate to forcing the means. Her actions remains questionable to me. Like you want thai pop to flourish by using korean platform? It's like kpop trying so hard in western when they own have their own platform that is equally explosive. I really don't get those western validations. West is an audience, not your critics.
I just hope they got more extras where it shows Mars success, and more acceptance of fans openly to idols relationship. Like 3 years after or a year. Where they paid the debt, successful, and in open relationship that fans accepts.
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Apart from that, everyone else is fine. I started watching for Bas (who played Yue) and was hyped knowing that his acting will not disappoint. And I was right, his acting is great as usual. He really portrayed his emotions really well, whether it's sadness, anger or fondness. Everyone else was good too, I especially liked Fah, the actor played the power crazy character so well.
Gaun Hin as a boyfriend...Ying was right to dump his ass. He was being a jerk for no damn reason. Din's story line of suddenly liking Saeng came out of nowhere so that was weird. He moved away then realize that he liked Saeng more than just as his nong but made no effort to contact him prior to Saeng joining the communist? Yeah this feels so forced.
Honestly, it was an ok series. I would've dropped it if it wasn't for Bas. I don't know why me not liking Saeng ruins the whole series, probably because he's the main character and has so many screentime. I really thought I would like him more as the series progress, but towards the end, it was the acting that. I don't know if it's the way the character is written or how the actor played it, but I think it's both. Saeng is annoying and the fact that both leads end up together is very unconvincing. Saeng is a brat from the start and was just overall annoying. You can't convince me that this dude would join the communist.
The whole plot is too simplistic, there was barely any real change happened during the time that the students were at the base camp. By the last episode, the base camp was destroyed and they didn't achieve anything except getting new boyfriend lol.
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This review may contain spoilers
Honestly don’t understand the negative reviews but to each their own :)
A general’s daughter who’s been reborn teams up with a royal guard to rewrite her family’s fate & protect the kingdom.Honestly, I loved this despite the heavy political intrigue (which is really not my go-to genre). The Leads had such an incredible bond, even as “frenemies”, that I was quickly addicted to the drama. Amidst all the endless scheming & betrayals, they remained steadfast to one another as well as their duty to the crown. And I was there for every minute!
I love watching Leads like this. Both are super wise, loyal, & honorable. They’re amazing on their own, but dynamite together. I enjoyed watching them beat the 3 toxic baddies at their own games over & over! I like that both Leads had strengths & weaknesses, but neither used those against each other. They were a team who quickly went from tentative trust to full-blown I’d-die-for-you allies. The actor’s had great on-screen chemistry that sucked me in despite all the political ick.
And I really love how quickly the “issue” that arose between them was resolved & never lead to a breakup. Dramas don’t have to have that annoying trope all the time so I was super happy that the writer(s) skipped that plot line!
Bonus - their bond with the child emperor is absolutely adorbs!! 😍
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10💋
- Together : ep.17 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💍
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This review may contain spoilers
When Two Wounded Hearts Heal Each Other
In Your Radiant Season is, in my opinion, a drama that successfully delivers a warm and emotional healing romance. The story does not focus solely on the romantic relationship between Sunwoo Chan and Ha Ran, but also explores past wounds, loss, guilt, family, and how someone tries to rediscover happiness after going through painful experiences. For me, the drama’s greatest strength lies in the emotional development of its two main characters and how they gradually influence each other’s lives.One of the things I liked most is Sunwoo Chan’s characterization. At first, Chan is a quiet person because of the pressure from his father, who prevents him from pursuing the dream he truly wants. However, after surviving an explosion and losing part of his memory, Chan becomes a much more cheerful person. His cheerful personality is actually his way of leaving the past behind and trying to forget the painful events he experienced. Because of this, the more we learn about Chan, the more we realize that his smile does not mean he is free from pain. Rather, it is one of the ways he chooses to cope with his wounds.
Meanwhile, Ha Ran also has an interesting character development. At first, she becomes cheerful again after regaining her sense of happiness through her conversations with Sunwoo Chan, whom she believes is Heyokchan. However, as the story progresses, Ha Ran becomes depressed again because she begins to believe that whenever she feels happy, that happiness will eventually disappear. I think this is one of the more emotional aspects of the drama because it shows how experiences of loss can change the way someone views happiness. Ha Ran is not simply a character who is sad because she lost someone; she is someone who has become afraid of being happy because she believes happiness will always be followed by loss.
The relationship between Chan and Ha Ran becomes even more interesting because they gradually heal each other. Chan manages to bring Ha Ran’s happiness back and helps her experience the joy she had once become afraid of. This moment feels important because it shows how their relationship develops. Chan is not simply Ha Ran’s romantic partner, but also someone who helps her change the way she views happiness and her own life.
Towards the end, their relationship faces another conflict when Chan still has not fully regained his memories and continues to believe that Heyokchan’s death happened because of him. His guilt leads him to distance himself from Ha Ran. In my opinion, this decision makes sense given Chan’s emotional state. He is not simply running away from Ha Ran, but also trying to escape from his past and the guilt he has not yet been able to confront.
What I liked is that the drama does not end with Chan simply leaving. Ha Ran’s determination eventually brings them back together. If Chan was previously the one who helped Ha Ran rediscover her happiness, this time Ha Ran is the one who refuses to give up on Chan when he is at his lowest point. This makes the healing theme of the drama feel even stronger. Their relationship is not simply about one character saving the other, but about two wounded people gradually learning to face their pain together.
Aside from the main couple, the supporting characters are also one of the drama’s strengths. One character I particularly liked is Hayeong. She always tries to remain strong within her family and continues to hold herself together whenever problems arise. However, when she is alone, we can see that Hayeong is actually quite vulnerable as well. She may appear strong in front of her family, but she still becomes tired and needs someone to lean on when no one else is watching. This contrast makes Hayeong feel very human. I like how the drama shows that someone who appears to be the strongest person in a family may not actually be doing okay.
The other supporting characters also have their own stories that are quite interesting. Some of their relationships are even very entertaining and provide variety amid the emotional main storyline. Their presence prevents the drama from revolving entirely around Chan and Ha Ran, while also showing that every character has their own wounds and struggles.
Visually, In Your Radiant Season is also very well done. The cinematography is soft and beautiful, with the atmosphere and changing seasons being used effectively to reflect the characters’ emotional development. The visuals fit the healing concept of the drama very well. The music also supports the overall atmosphere, particularly during emotional scenes, although I would say it is not as prominent as the acting and cinematography.
Speaking of the acting, Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop are among the biggest reasons why the drama remains engaging. They manage to make Chan and Ha Ran’s relationship feel natural. Their emotional transitions are also portrayed convincingly, particularly when they have to shift from warm and lighthearted scenes to more emotional moments. In my opinion, the chemistry between the two leads is one of the best aspects of the drama.
That said, I still feel that there are some parts of the drama that could have been stronger. Some developments and conflicts do not have quite as much impact as their potential suggests. There are also moments where the emotional aspect feels stronger than the plot itself. However, I can still accept these shortcomings because the drama places greater emphasis on emotional journeys and character development rather than presenting an extremely complex plot.
Overall, I enjoyed In Your Radiant Season because of its acting, chemistry between the leads, characterization, supporting characters, visuals, and healing theme. The drama may not be perfect in every aspect, but it succeeds in delivering many warm and emotional moments. What I especially liked was how Chan and Ha Ran’s relationship developed from two people carrying their own wounds into two people who gradually helped each other rediscover happiness. Characters like Hayeong also reinforce the idea that facing life does not always mean having to appear strong all the time.
I give this drama 8.5/10. For me, In Your Radiant Season is suitable for viewers who enjoy romance with emotional storytelling, strong character development, and themes of loss and rediscovering happiness. It is not a perfect drama, but the emotional journey of Chan and Ha Ran, combined with the strong supporting characters, makes it a memorable drama to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
What a sweet surprise of a drama!
A SWAT officer falls in love with the surgeon he once saved. Will she love him in return?Super short review but I just wanted to share my opinion on this unexpectedly delightful drama.
I definitely recommend this series if you’re wanting action in the workplace without any drama trauma from the romance department. Though these Leads have a bit of a rough start, they work through it all before it’s even halfway over & from then on they’re together & totally solid. Nothing comes between them & no one is able to tear them apart because they fully & completely trust one another. They’re loyal, devoted, & steady.
They both face trials at work due to the nature of their jobs. Their careers force them to make hard choices. They face danger & intense situations regularly. And they do it all by choice out of a sense of duty to help the citizens of their country. They’re both admirable individuals for their courage to do the hard things. And I love how they’re both there to support one another in every thing they face, from the big things to the little seemingly inconsequential stuff.
Watching this SWAT officer and doctor fall in love & develop an unbreakable bond is so worth seeing. Their innocent & pure love made me swoon & happy sigh. 💕
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.21💋
- Together : ep.17 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💍
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Warm & Easy Watch
In reality, the FL is a famous musician & he’s her biggest fan. In online gaming, though, she’s a novice & the ML is the famous one.Their first in-game meeting doesn’t go well, but once he discovers her identity, he’s all in to help her develop her skills. Will their online friendship translate to real life when they meet in person?
This is an easy watch. There’s drama due to her life as a star & all the jealousy that brings. Add his hidden online identity so she only knows him as her college junior & there’s some angst there. But overall, it’s low on the drama scale.
I like that they’re both confident in their abilities, but they’re not self-centered snobs. They’re humble & kind, always showing appreciation for the people in their lives. They also stand up for themselves without being cruel.
Their personalities really mesh too. Their weaknesses & strengths are shown in healthy ways. They both have insecurities & life stuff that they work through together. I loved watching their bond develop & deepen. The love they have is so strong. They’re both mature, but also sappy cute when together.
Their chemistry is 🔥🫠. Their easy & open affection with one another is one of my favorite parts. Their kisses are super swoon worthy! I really appreciate when the Leads aren’t all awkward & weird after becoming a couple.
Also, I liked how, even though he was the younger one, the ML wasn’t incompetent. He was fully capable of being the man she needed - one who could protect her & support her while she chased her dreams, while still pursuing his own. He helped & inspired her a lot, & she adored him for it 💕.
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.20💋
- Together : ep.20 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: I don’t think so 🤔
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This review may contain spoilers
My Kind of Enemies to Lovers
This is what fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope want! Rivals who’re intent on k!lling each other turning into allies who go all out to protect one another.When this fierce prince & fiery archer join hands to unveil the truth to bring down the baddies, their tension & chemistry is a pure delight for us viewers! 🔥🫠🫶🏻
The plot & pacing worked very well, imho. I was sucked into the story & surprised by how quickly I went through the episodes. Kudos to the writers & all involved in bringing this script to life. 👏🏻
This is action packed with lots of well-done fight scenes. There’s palace plots & familial drama; loyal subjects & greedy rebels. There’s true friendships & deep betrayals; righteous victors & bitter losers. Heroes & villains, characters we love & those we love to hate. There’s so much happening & I was totally hooked while it unraveled.
The best part is the love between the Leads. I adored how quickly their bond developed & how fully devoted they became. They never faltered in their affections - never played childish games or questioned the other’s heart. They trusted each other 100% which showed in their every glance & interaction. No annoying love rivals, misunderstandings, lame breakups, etc. Just absolutely pure love between two people capable & willing to take down any threat that rises against them. (I LOVED every time the FL’s arrow protected the ML💘 And every time he was there to catch her [iykyk] 💞)
I heard some other viewers commenting on how equal this couple was & it made me laugh. What did they mean? It’s how they stayed on equal footing by making sure they both experienced the same things (intentionally done by the writers, obviously.) Examples include but are not limited to:
- She shot him with an arrow so he later pierced her with a sword in the same spot
- He tied her up & beat her so she strung him up & returned the beating
- She bit him after her torture so he bit her after his
- She lost her memory in the beginning so he lost his later on
It doesn’t just apply to their enemy era, though. They stayed that way as lovers too!:
- He helped her regain her memory so she made sure he regained his
- He saved her from experiencing a fiery death so she rescued him after being buried alive
- He protected her first so she was determined to always have his back
- She trusted him at her weakest so he trusted her at his
- He loved her with an intense passion so she loved him with utter devotion
- He was willing to burn the world for her so she would set it ablaze for him
Seriously, I adore them. They’re so perfectly matched, both on the battlefield & in their home. They’re both wise & strong individuals who use their gifts for good. They never try to undermine each other’s authority nor do they belittle one another’s talents. They’re an extremely mature & healthy couple who I enjoy watching again & again.
Also, the secondary characters really add to the plot rather than just feeling like fillers. The baddies are truly wicked with their selfish schemes & endless plots. The fellow soldiers are admirable with their loyalty to the Leads. The ML’s siblings are flawed but ultimately loving (surprised the brother didn’t ever turn against him & glad the sister got her redemption arc). The FL’s crew are complicated & interesting.
So in conclusion - my recommendation? Watch this!
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.17💋
- Together : ep.17 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💝
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It's way too good
I didn't even noticed that they have real name . it's a very really good drama it has a small enemies to lovers while he loved her since he met her
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhhah toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood rewatch value it's tooo much
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Well made, good writing, good acting. Yang Sẽ Jong is outstanding.
It’s a typical Korean romcom but a good one that wasn’t boring in any part, which is rare. Two good actors in Park Eun Bin and Yang Sẽ Jong. Bin is always good. Yang Se Jong is the real standout in this show. He isn’t the typical kdrama pretty boy, though he’s certainly good looking. He just comes across as so likable and sincere that he’s magnetic. He moves so gracefully and his presence is captivating. The chemistry between the two is very engaging.The story is enough to make me want to watch the next episode. It didn’t fizzle out with stupid writing half way through.
Very solid.
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The Smart Jellyfish
Never underestimate a silent man. He is not stupid. He is not clueless. He is doing what most do out loud- Thinking. This series brought out two emotions constantly. Frustration and awe.Frustration:
Lack of communication by both.
Lu Xin's twisted audacity.
LXF's lack of pride.
LXF's soup. Replaced by congee. Both making a final appearance in ep 12. Consistent to the end.
LXF's brother, sister and father. The mother gets a pass. Barely.
BLQ's mother. Appeared once and was the most vulgar just by looking at her.
LZY's duplicitous behavior on occasion.
LT's complete lack of morals. He needs a special mention. Proved to be the most stupid of them all.
Awe:
LXF proving there was brain activity between his two ears.
LXF's ability to show compassion to nearly everyone and understand their pain.
LXF finding the spine to walk away from everything.
BLQ's desire to marry him never wavered even on the brink of bankruptcy.
Old Bei's fairness for LXF. Yes, he still tried to protect the Bei's name, but through it all, he respected him.
LZY's love/hate relationship with LXF. He couldn’t understand his simplicity but was a better friend to him than most by trying to wisen him up.
LZY's undying loyalty to BLQ.
The guy probing his loyalty throughout to LXF after LXF helped him and his father after being beaten by BLQ's crew.
LXF's mother accepting her son being used like a woman. This one nearly took me out. I cackled.
LXF finally getting his man.
BLQ proving his love for LXF over the years. If only LXF had the wattage at the time to see. The phone fiasco. Wow!!
LXF's mother giving her disgusting family a final no. Seeing the worth of her son and her failings as a mother.
Paraphrasing:
"I just want to be remembered. Even if it’s hate."
Sigh. Don't we all.
The story in itself was a little above average when the last three episodes are taken into consideration. It progressed as a bundle of loose threads that seemed to keep loosing and retying with every greedy or narcissistic act of Lu Tao and Lu Xin and lack of communication from both mls. There were many a time I felt the urge to use violence against both.
I especially liked ep 12. Connecting the dots neartly without it feeling rushed. Seeing their happy domesticated life. BLQ proving still at the end, he'd do anything to make LXF happy.
Whatever it lacked was made up for by being very entertaining.
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Girls Fighting
"Run" is an action movie in which the main characters are young women who must fight against the oppression they face at every turn. However, it is not a feminist film, as it also uses femininity to attract the male gaze. In other words, this movie is aimed at guys who want to watch beautiful women while also receiving a mild lecture about treating women with more respect.In essence, this is an indie adult action movie with quite a few fight scenes, but it lacks the charisma and polish of films with better production values. The plot is too basic, and both the acting and the action are not very convincing, so there is nothing particularly special to recommend. I guess, the main appeal comes from the attractive female actresses showing how badass they can be.
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Gay Coming of Age
This is labeled as BL, but I saw it as more of a gay coming of age drama.Il-Tak is being bullied and decides to befriend tough guy, loner classmate Hyun-woo. Hyun-woo is closeted and has a secret crush on Il-Tak.
Most of this drama plays out like a typical high school drama of boys fighting and vying to be top bully with Il-Tak stuck in the middle. There is the typical miscommunication you expect in BL, but no one is in a committed relationship at the end. Instead we watch these boys struggle to realize their feelings, the head bully not understanding how to make true friends. Il-Tak trying to get Hyun-woo's protection, but not understanding that he is playing with Hyun-woo's emotions by inadvertently leading him on.
Il-Tak is portrayed by Han Se Jin, who previously was a lead in the BL Mr. Heart, where he plays a similar role.
This drama isn't groundbreaking, but it's good for a vertical. There are a couple of clipable moments and it's engaging enough to keep you entertained throughout. There is no romance in this drama, instead there are dumb high schoolers making weird decisions as they try to navigate the high school hierarchy. I found it an engaging dramatic comedy.
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Formulaic Reprise
Season 2 of Pride of the Temp is a formulaic reprise without much of the charm that made the principle characters interesting. It is possible to watch this series without any prior knowledge. For those who already know the principle characters, the lapse of 13 years have had very little impact, though the business reason for crisis has changed.Was this review helpful to you?
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You can watch the cut version without missing anything important
This was a rewatch (I watched the cut version last time), but I remembered nothing from it, and honestly, I won't remember any of it this time either. Addicted and Stay with Me just did everything so much better: from the plot to the characters to the balance between seriousness and humor. Also, I don't know how, but this version somehow does less than the others when it had the time to do it right. If you want to watch the major red flag that Hero is supposed to be, then watch Addicted. If you want a fuller & just all-around great adaptation of the novel, then watch Stay with Me. Don't waste your time with this adaptation, or at least watch this one first so things only get better. (Stay with Me was my favorite).What didn't help this series at all was the translation. The series already wasn't doing too hot, but then there would just be random moments where they didn't translate anything being said. I know some basic Thai, but not enough to understand most of what's being said, even with context clues.
I had no problems with the acting, really; they did the best they could with what they were given, but I wish they had recast either Mac or August so that our main couple could have actually kissed. This couple is supposed to be VERY intimate; this is a fact in both the novel & original adaptation, but they couldn't really do that here because Mac was underage. So every fake kiss and intimate moment was blocked or black-screened. I'm not the biggest fan of NC scenes, but they are a large part of our main couple getting together, so avoiding them like the plague made the romance incredibly fake because it had little to build on. It also felt like it came out of nowhere; I'm not even sure when it started. The chemistry between them was also hit or miss, but as I said, the actors did the best they could; I'm honestly surprised that their chemistry was as good as it was.
The characters themselves weren't even as good as the originals. If you are going to take out the NC scenes, you can't also take out the back-and-forth between them. Them playing tricks (bullying) on each other built the tension and showcased how smart Bai Luo Yin (Poppy) is. Without it, the relationship felt imbalanced & Poppy came across as just an everyday student with nothing really special about him other than his handwriting and Hero noticing him. In the original series, it was a great way of showcasing his intelligence without relying on basic school knowledge. Hero was also just straight up weaker than his predecessors. This isn't anything against the actor; they just didn't do a good job of showcasing it at all.
Even the tension with the parents felt lacking, like it didn't actually feel dangerous at all, even when a gun was involved.
Our side couple was probably the best thing about the series, and that's only because we get no resolution from them in Addicted or Stay with Me, and here we at least got a kiss.
The plot itself felt patchworked because of them avoiding the NC scenes & glazing over some of the more relaxing moments the main characters shared that would have helped build the relationship. They didn't even include the whole ordeal Bai Luo Yin had to go through with Gu Hai's uncle. But the one thing that really bothered me is how they chose to start the series. We start with them as adults after they've been apart (if you haven't read the novels, it was 8 years), & they had no reason to do this. Why show us that if you have no plans to do that time skip in the series? Why do it if you're not even going to make it to where the time skip happens? It was completely pointless to include this scene because it didn't add anything to the plot except confusion.
So yeah, unless you are really interested or invested in the series, I would give this version a hard pass.
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