Reviews

story of my life

I absolutely loved the moral of the story and character development… throughout watching this drama, I found myself relating yo the characters experiences and especially the Cha household. Growing up with a perfectionist dad who a B was considered a failure for, spending my time doing anything but studying is a waste of time, policing me around, monitoring me, and controlling the way I study… all the emotional (and physical) abuse that I had to go through… just made the cha family speak to me. unfortunately I never had a mother that stood up…
At the same time, I felt agitated by the behavior of certain characters such as ye-seo and her mum… The lake of empathy, the greed… even after their character development it just felt fake to me… but a part of me also recognizes that they were products of their environment. Growing up with parents that embed the idea that grades and positions are everything and your worth depends on them… that care so much about what people think and their honor… I felt like it’s not fair to hate ye-seo for it… I’m sure I was greedy and rude at a point in time driven by the perfectionist ideals and social hierarchy lense I was taught to view the world through.

Just like to many of those families, they tied their worth to getting into SNU, I tie mine to graduating with a 4.0 GPA… I was always ready to ruin my life/humiliate myself/go through mental tortue just to maintain such GPA, because if my GPA is not 4.0, what is the point in anything? am I even worthy of anything? do i deserve anything?


The story telling was just amazing, the satire, drama, plot twists… it’s all just so engaging.

I will definitely be rewatching after graduating University…

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Brilliant Murder Mystery

Yes, this is a murder mystery, but it's so much more than that. It's a story about four kids that experience an ordeal so powerful at the time, they each carry a burden of it for 23 years, which is present day of this story. A story of murder, regret, first love, deception, lies and so much more.
The adult cast is fantastic, making a great mix of chemistry with each other. Ryoma Takeuchi & Noriko Eguchi are definitely my two favorite, especially Noriko, who is the relentless detective with many mysteries surrounding herself. In fact, each character is hiding something about themselves, which eventually all comes out as you get deeper into the series.
Episode six would definitely be the pinnacle episode for many reasons, but as many questions are answered, many more mysteries are created.
This is the kind of drama you watch the story spider out into so many directions ... and as you get to the final episode, you think you have it all figured out. Guess what, you're not going to even come close as to what the final outcome is for the cast and the story. A truly great final episode leaves no question unanswered, and gives a great shocking conclusion to the original murder from 23 years in the past.
Just a great suspenseful drama, with a touch of everything to make it super entertaining!

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"See you never!"

Tange Sazen: The Million Pot Ryo is a famous tale. My first encounter with it was from the 1935 film with a similar title. While the 1935 film took a lighthearted approach, 1982’s was much grittier. Not an unexpected turn from director Gosha Hideo and star Nakadai Tatsuya.

The “Shadow Shogun,” Gurako, convinces the shogun to have the Yagyu clan pay for the temple’s restoration. A sum of money designed to bankrupt them. Not to worry, the oldest Yagyu member of the clan knows of a treasure kept secret for emergencies, hidden within a vessel in the family vault. What he doesn’t know is that the walls have ears and now more than one interested party heads to find the vessel. When an orphan boy becomes embroiled in the mad chase, a one-eyed, one-armed ronin becomes involved…a problem for everyone seeking the fortune.

Tange Sazen had been unbeatable before the loss of his limb and eye. Even now, no one truly stands a chance against him. As cunning as he is skilled, Sazen manages to resolve the myriad of problems the treasure creates, though not how everyone else might want them solved. At 50-years-old, Nakadai still made for a compelling and fierce warrior. This Sazen was cynical, having been betrayed and maimed by people he trusted. Despite his missing arm and eye driving him back to his samurai life, he was still comfortable among thieves and prostitutes. The thieves Yokichi and Ofuji went from being adversaries to allies.

This made for television movie may not have been the highest quality project either Gosha or Nakadai worked on, but it was above average in entertainment as the different factions killed each other off in search for the treasure with Sazen always one step ahead or into his cups. Whatever he was up to, Nakadai’s Tange Sazen was fascinating to watch and worth a look at this older tv film.

17 March 2026

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frightening but good

The film was terrifying, and the fact that it's so treacherous and that something like that really happened is also very creepy. The first stalker, where you thought he was a murderer, was bad enough, but the real stalker-murder is so much worse. I already suspected there were probably several stalkers, and I found the guy, the murderer, who worked at her house somewhat suspicious. He looked at her so often. But I still think it's good that the film repeatedly led our search for the murderer to a different guy. My first thought it was her employees who helped her because, for whatever reason, he knew her house number.

I also found it really creepy that the stalker, and also the murderer, was always at her house in the evenings, showered, was naked, cuddled with her, and used her while unconscious. I also found it really weird that he cuddled with her again and said he wasn't creepy,and when she almost threw up, he immediately held out a bucket to her as if he were really nice etc.

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The Prince and The Lying Princess

What started as a very engaging series derailed itself with a fairytale ending. The good parts were the roles of Nara and Junichi. They actually captured my attention every moment they were on screen. The pacing was nice except for just a little too many flashbacks.

What messed up the storyline:
Makiko manipulating everyone at any given time.
Naoto willingly going to jail to protect someone who doesn't and never will love him.
Junichi using the nurse as a place holder for the one he wanted. At the end, she says she loves him. He is even forced to admit that he loves Makiko. She deserved more respect than that.
Makiko wanted to sleep with her ex-husband then changes her mind when Junichi shows up.
Makiko lying to her ex-husband the entire time without telling him the entire truth. Here I wonder if all fingers pointed at him, would she have allowed him to go to jail for her wrong doing.
Junichi basically inserting himself in Keisuke's life since childhood.
While I understand Makiko's pain, she was rewarded for everything at everyone's expense.
The most unrealistic end to a series about reality.
The last 15 minutes left a sour taste.

So no on a rewatch for me.

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Maybe not for everyone, but definitively for some.

a little bit of why I like this bl or to maybe understand why i actually liked it and enjoyed it: long story short the director of this show is a female so no shit its gonna be good, but secondly she directed a completely different bl way back in the day called '' Addicted '' and i got HOOKED on that bl. I really love chinese/taiwanese bl's and this hit the spot. I liked addicted for the story and the characters the acting is questionable at times and some choices are a bit odd, and overall because bl back then when it was shot it didnt have huge budgets or leeways as now and was quite odd i can forgive them but i have to admit looking at it now its a bit cringe but nevertheless i still enjoy it.

I dont remember 100% what was in the story as i watched this series a long time ago but I know that i really liked it. This series blew my mind because it portrayed the kind of chinese dramas that i usually see, the style, the lighting, the characters, the places they choose, the little clinic and the mother having health problems, WuSoWei living in the country side and having a cute little house from his childhood. I cant explain what i liked, I just know that this drama was something that i've been meaning to see in bl for a long time (Specifically in chinese bl) but about the ''gang rape '' or violence, I dont remember that at all, there could of been something like that but i really dont remember any scene having gang violence or rape? Im speculating here but if i remember correctly most of it was consensual.. yea chi cheng wasnt the most on consent but thats cause wusowei provoked him and pestered around him. Also, Chi cheng never pressed on if he didnt want to, so really, I dont know where the talk of gang rape or group rape even came from..
Edit: yes i do, a guy betrayed chi cheng so he left him with a group of bulky guy's and from the context given from their talk and the room they did indeed rape him. I however dont see this as a flaw in the story as it portrays Chi cheng's character very well, he is a boss, he deals with thugs, he has a whole underground snake fight that he deals in, theres a lot of sketchy things he and wusowei do so i feel like that part in the story just adds more context and rawness to the kind of business that he does. But you tell me, what do you think of it or the aspect of including such things into the story.

however beside all of that I really recommend this series, watch it for yourself and see if you like it or not everyone seems to be divided on this matter.

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This Was Alright...

This was alright. It needed a bit more depth for me and more happy scenes. I did really enjoy the ending and the other 2 couples in this show, but the main couple wasn't great. The ML takes waaay too long to understand, or act on his feelings. When he finally does, they get broken up and he does nothing to try and stop this or chase after the FL.

I do appreciate that the 2 exes are portrayed as being in the wrong, since they most definitely are. They had to grow as people in order to be better partners. It's good that they show some of that growth, but I absolutely hated the 2FL/2OHY. She was so terrible and selfish. They try to show her side of the story but, I'm sorry, she just comes off as entitled and self-centered. I don't really love her redemption arc as what she did and her constant gross behaviors towards the FL shouldn't have been brushed past. I just wanted to punch this girl all the time and the show really needed to be shorter so that I didn't have to feel that way all the time. Too much screen time for her with the FL. It could've been 12 episodes and cut out a lot of filler and wasted moments.

Anyways, I really did love the ending and many of the side characters. The leads had several cute parts towards the end too, but I wasn't as moved by them. I loved the FL's coworkers and parents so much. How often can you say that about a k-drama lol. Great cast though in many ways, I just with the ML was better as I felt he was very lacking in this story. I prefer a stronger, more secure ML, but I get they were going for something else. He also way too prideful for me and never wanted to really show affection or do anything that he didn't see as manly. There are a lot of men like this, but not my style and that's part of why I didn't like them much.

I'm giving a 6/10 for the great ending and the awesome side characters, but I need my ML to be better since he's half of the focus of the show. On that note, the FL was great, if a bit overly eager. I loved much of her honesty and vulnerability. If it didn't drag so much and focus on constant separation and desperation, I would have given this a higher rating. I recommend skipping a lot if you want to just get to the good stuff and the other couples. Still worth watching for them, I think <3

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This drama like unflavored Mung Bean Soup

I watched this since i liked Shu Tong acting. Plot is about FL's parents die in a car accident. To investigate the cause of death, she deliberately gets close to the ML, hoping to use him to uncover the truth. During their time together, the ML unconditionally supports her, doting on her like a father, and the two are mutually devoted.

The plot avoids exaggerated or melodramatic elements, and the romance develops naturally without dragging. Shu Tong and Zhai Yiying deliver solid performances and are quite compatible; their crying scenes and eye acting are particularly moving. The characters are likable: FL is intelligent, resourceful, and alert, while ML is powerful, capable, and meticulous. Their relationship has a push-and-pull dynamic, like an innocent rabbit and a cunning old fox, but they communicate effectively, trust each other, act side-by-side, and their feelings are mutual. It's a pity about ML's older brother; I initially thought he was a bad guy, but he turns out to be quite nice.

The downside is weak script. The revenge story with a gangster background only has a framework; the case is just a verbal investigation, and the tragic backstory is just a verbal recounting. There's not much plot to drive the emotional development; it's just a simple piling up of romance. Overall, this drama feels like mung bean soup without flavor. My expectations were too high, and I was a slightly disappointed.

Still recommend to watch though.

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Fun and Nostalgic

There’s been a lot of garbage kdrama released in the last year especially under the guise of ‘romcom’ but this was a pleasant surprise. Very watchable, especially the first 7 episodes. Park Shinhye has been great since The Judge From Hell and similarly here too. Her character is strong and funny and doesn’t take shit from anyone. Very reminiscent of the 2014-18 kdramas, so I enjoyed it, despite some parts dragging a lot and some storylines becoming repetitive. I liked that the villains were actually quite stupid so I was not that stressed out that they’d get away with their crimes. Overall it was fun and I did not cringe that much which is a huge feat for recent kdramas.

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Can we get these people to see a therapist?

I thought it would be a promising series because of the cast but nothing more annoying than these two/three on screen.
The fact that the entire show seemed very good from the teaser I found it very attractive and maybe intense but no….such a drag…such a vaste of useless drama unfolding on screen.
More than a turn off from the male lead with his insecurities and 30 years later still a man child with no back bone at all.
The female lead was a waste of a face and chemistry between themselves….i just couldn’t wait for the end.
I thought everything would lead on to something big but no…I’ve seen similar or worse drama with acting on screen like this but boy, do I hate these hopeless characters that need to go to group therapy immediately.
Watch it? No…

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Love, Mystery, and a Missed Opportunity

I watched To My Beloved Thief, and honestly I’d give it about an 8/10. I really enjoyed it—the story was interesting and the characters were fun to watch. I liked the mix of romance, action, and the whole thief storyline because it made the drama different from typical historical K-dramas. The chemistry between the main characters was also really good, which made their scenes enjoyable.

But at the same time, I felt like something was missing. Some parts of the story felt a little incomplete or rushed, especially toward the later episodes. I expected a bit more emotional depth or a stronger ending, so even though I liked it a lot, it didn’t fully reach a 9 or 10 for me.

Another thing that bothered me was the second male lead. I feel like he wasn’t really given a fair chance in the story. His character had potential, but the writers didn’t develop his role enough. It felt like he was mostly there just to create tension in the love triangle. Also, it was never really clear why he liked the female lead so much. The drama shows that he cares about her, but it doesn’t explain when or why those feelings started, which made his storyline feel a bit incomplete.

Overall, though, I’d still recommend the drama because it’s entertaining and easy to watch. It has good characters and an interesting concept—it just needed a little more depth to make it feel fully complete.

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Autopsy Ever After

If season one was about sparks flying in the courtroom and the autopsy room, season two is about what happens after the “I do.” The Imperial Coroner Season 2 follows the married life of the ever composed Prince An, Xiao Jin Yu, and the brilliant imperial coroner Chu Chu. Now juggling careers, marriage, and rising responsibilities, they team up once again with the young talents of the Three Judicial Offices to crack mysterious cases and maintain peace in the Tang Dynasty.

Right from episode one, the drama makes it easy to slip back into its world. The recap is short, clear, and genuinely helpful, even giving a quick refresh on the characters without dragging. Still, not everyone makes a strong re entrance. Xiao Jin Yu, Jing Yi, and Leng Yue feel a little muted at first, while Chu Chu ends up standing out the most. She feels noticeably more mature this season, from her calmer demeanor to her more refined tone of speech. It is a subtle shift, but it works. That said, I cannot lie, I do miss her iconic bangs.

As the story settles, the dynamics start to shine again. Leng Yue wastes no time reminding us why she is that girl. Her fight scenes flow so smoothly they almost feel effortless. Now married to Jing Yi, their relationship is equal parts adorable and hilarious. She leads with quiet authority while he happily clings along, and somehow it just works. In fact, this season flips expectations in a fun way. The women are strong, decisive, and career driven, while the men take on a more supportive, occasionally clingy role.

The show also keeps many of its signature elements, which is a huge plus. The reenactment role play scenes are back, still dramatic and slightly theatrical in the best way. The autopsy graphics remain clear and engaging, making each case easy to follow. Even the POV narration at the start of episodes returns, adding a familiar storytelling rhythm. Solving cases with this team feels a bit like playing a mystery simulation game, where every clue is laid out just a little too perfectly. Sometimes a bit too perfectly, like that oddly flawless footprint early on.

Romance, however, takes a different route this time. Since the couples are already married, the tension that made season one so exciting is mostly gone. At first, it feels a little flat. Sweet, but predictable. Yet as the episodes go on, the charm slowly creeps back in through smaller, quieter moments. A simple act like Jin Yu washing Chu Chu’s feet, then gently washing hers right after, becomes unexpectedly endearing. By the time we get to his drunken hug, it is hard not to smile. It may not give butterflies, but it gives warmth.

What truly strengthens their relationship is the trust they have in each other. Even when rumors try to stir trouble, neither of them wavers. The real conflict comes not from jealousy, but from their roles and responsibilities. When Jin Yu removes Chu Chu from a dangerous case, it initially feels frustrating and even unprofessional. Their reactions seem off, and the tension lingers awkwardly. But once Chu Chu’s perspective becomes clear, everything clicks into place. She is not upset about the danger itself, but about being treated as someone to protect rather than someone capable. That shift adds depth to their relationship and makes their reconciliation all the more satisfying.

Among the male characters, Jing Yi quietly steals the spotlight. There is something about his mix of competence, loyalty, and slightly clingy husband energy that makes him incredibly appealing. Yang Ting Dong brings a charm to the role that feels both playful and dependable. Xiao Jin Yu, portrayed by Wang Zi Qi, remains solid and composed, but the writing does not give him as many standout moments this time. It feels less like an acting issue and more like a missed opportunity in the script.

Then comes You Chen An, a character who adds intrigue the moment he appears. His presence brings a layer of unpredictability that keeps things interesting. You are constantly wondering where he stands. Zhang Chen Xiao does well in key moments, especially when leaning into the character’s darker side, though his performance still feels like it is finding its footing. The character itself has a tragic and compelling background, but the buildup is not quite strong enough to fully support his role as the main antagonist.

The emotional beats of the story are a mix of impactful and rushed. Wu Jiang’s death feels both heartbreaking and unnecessary, while Chu He’s journey takes a surprising turn. He starts off frustrating, almost like a walking headache, but ultimately redeems himself in a deeply tragic way. His sacrifice hits hard, especially knowing it was driven by love and loyalty. The connection between him and You Chen An also carries a certain warmth that could have been explored more. There are also moments of unexpected humor that keep things light. One scene in particular, where Jing Yi is left hanging upside down while everyone else calmly investigates, feels so absurd that it becomes genuinely funny. It is these small, chaotic touches that give the drama its personality.

That said, the flaws become more noticeable as the story progresses. Some emotional scenes lack impact, particularly from Su Xiao Tong, who excels in portraying Chu Chu’s intelligence but feels more restrained in heavier moments. Certain arcs, like the surgery storyline or Xiao Jin Li and Luo Yan’s relationship, carry strong ideas but feel rushed in execution. The biggest issue lies in the overall structure. This season does not quite feel like a full sequel. The central conflict lacks weight, and when the main villain’s plan finally unfolds, the payoff feels underwhelming. The resolution comes too easily, almost as if the tension built up over many episodes dissolves in an instant. Even the ending for the main characters feels surprisingly basic, especially after everything they have been through.

And yet, despite all these shortcomings, the drama remains an enjoyable watch. It may not fully pull you into its world, but it keeps you entertained enough to stay. It is the kind of show you turn on when you want something light, familiar, and just engaging enough without demanding too much attention. In the end, The Imperial Coroner Season 2 feels less like a grand continuation and more like an extended chapter. Not as impactful as the first, but still charming in its own way.

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Good and sweet, but I would have liked more.

I found the moments between the two of them very sweet. I got butterflies in my stomach when they kissed. The scene where she came back and said "I found it" and hugged him was soo sweet too.

I wish they had taken revenge on the "exes". Or at least those who were confronted about it. They stopped and didn't directly cheat, but they still wanted to cheat.

The murder at the end was a plot twist, but I would have preferred a more sinister atmosphere. Someone was murdered, and they act like it's not a big deal.

Still cute though. The two children too.

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