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Completed
Ghost Doctor
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Brotherly Bond

I honestly wish this drama had more episodes because I was completely hooked from beginning to end. I do not usually enjoy hospital-themed K-dramas, which is why I avoided watching others in the genre. However, this drama proved me wrong and became one of the most entertaining dramas I have watched.

The chemistry and banter between the two male leads were absolutely on point. They complemented each other perfectly, whether the scene was serious or comedic, and I loved watching their relationship evolve throughout the story. Their brotherly bond by the end made the journey even more satisfying.

I also have to give credit to the OST because it was phenomenal. Several songs ended up on my playlist, especially the one that played during Rain's emotional scenes with the FL. The music elevated so many moments and made the emotional scenes hit even harder.

Overall, this drama had everything I was looking for. It was funny, emotional, engaging, and never felt dull. It completely exceeded my expectations and remains one of my favorite K-dramas to this day.

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Completed
Bad and Crazy
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
I do not usually enjoy action-packed dramas, so I was surprised by how much I ended up loving this one. Having Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon as the leads certainly helped, but what really kept me invested was how well the drama balanced action with comedy.

I loved the dynamic between Ryu Su Yeol and K. The contrast between Su Yeol's morally questionable personality and K's chaotic, justice-driven nature created some of the funniest and most entertaining moments in the drama. Their constant banter made even the action scenes enjoyable.

I also liked that the drama explored dissociative identity disorder in a way that felt fresh for a K-drama. While the premise itself was interesting, it was the chemistry between the two leads and the humor that truly carried the story for me.

Overall, this drama exceeded my expectations. It never felt stale, and despite being action-heavy, it remained consistently entertaining from beginning to end.

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Completed
Gyeongseong Creature Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

CONFUSING

I still enjoyed watching this season, but it never reached the emotional impact of Season 1. The shift to the modern setting made it feel disconnected, and instead of answering the questions left by the first season, it only created more.

My biggest issue was how many plot holes were left unexplained. I could not understand why the FL never revealed herself to the ML all those years, or why neither of them knew the other was still alive despite everything they had gone through. The explanations just did not feel convincing.

The ending was the most frustrating part. After everything the characters fought and sacrificed for, it felt like none of it really mattered. They lost each other again, their journey came full circle without much payoff, and I was left with more questions than answers. It honestly felt rushed, unnecessarily confusing, and nowhere near as satisfying as Season 1.

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Completed
Gyeongseong Creature
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 4.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

Don't dwell on the romance

I liked the setting during the Japanese occupation because it added so much value to the story. I honestly did not expect to enjoy this drama since it is action-oriented, which is not usually my preferred genre. However, the immediate thrill surrounding the Najin creature quickly pulled me in.

I also liked the overall story because the ML underwent significant character development. He started out only looking out for himself, but gradually changed as he began helping others. There was a reason behind his selfishness in the beginning, which made his growth feel earned.

Although his motivation was driven by love, I found the romance a bit confusing. It seemed to become the main reason for him to endure all the hardships of rescuing and fighting, yet I never felt that the romance itself was developed enough throughout the story. That part was a bit underwhelming for me.

Even though I like both the ML and FL individually as actors, I did not feel much chemistry between them. Still, I enjoyed the other aspects of the drama enough that I was able to overlook that.

Overall, it was an entertaining watch that pleasantly surprised me.

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Completed
The Boy and I Who Will Break Up in 100 Days
15 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers
One line from Itsuki stayed with me until the very end.

He compared himself to "a tropical fish that feels too hot even in the water where it is supposed to live."

I interpreted it as someone who isn't weak or broken, but simply cannot survive comfortably in the environment they were born into.

Sometimes leaving isn't running away.
Sometimes it's simply a survival strategy.

This drama isn't about deciding who was right or wrong.

Yuma loved Itsuki's freedom at first, but later realized he couldn't live with it.
Itsuki wanted to be accepted exactly as he was, and eventually realized that Yuma could never truly understand that part of him.

Neither of them was a bad person.
They simply reached a point where neither could compromise on what mattered most.

That made me think about relationships in general.

I don't believe living together depends on understanding everything about another person.
I think it depends on whether you can accept the parts you'll never fully understand.

Empathy is wonderful, but it isn't always possible.
Acceptance may be even more important.

The director said she wanted to create a film that could change the world.

Can a story really do that?

If people could accept differences instead of trying to erase them, perhaps there would be fewer conflicts.
But at the same time, I don't think the world is ever that simple.

I only hope that, someday, both Yuma and Itsuki will find someone who can accept them for who they are.

Not every love story ends happily.
Some simply leave us with questions that stay long after the credits roll.

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12 days ago
60 of 60 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
Fifty Years Old, When the Mountains Are Full of Flowers (2025) is a nice family drama with a mature romance with ML: Yu Jun Bo (as Huo Ze Kai) and FL: Liu Mei Xi (as Han Cui Ru) in the leading couple's roles. The cast did a good job bringing their characters to life but there were too many loud and crazy people in her family that were constantly creating chaos everywhere the female lead went. The romance is almost insignificant because there barely any moments of warmth intimacy and the leading female was most of the time overly shy even though she showed that she felt comfortable talking to the male lead. The drama could've been quite successful if the story is more focused on the leading couple since, after all, the main idea of the drama is about Han Cui Ru finally finding love and support with Huo Ze Kai. Overall, the drama did not meet my expectations in the romance genre.
In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube: "【Blooming at 50】Abandoned by her family, she finally has her moment of glory! #familydrama #marriage" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I46ZiFQq3U)

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Dropped 8/16
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
8 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

D-FLAT

I honestly came into this drama expecting just right, feel good laid back drama. Especially since I love the actor's. But it did not feel good at all. The story was dragging, and while I love some parts, mostly it was boring.

I mean, I was not expecting a lot from it, and I tried really hard to stay on this drama and held out so I could make it to the end but I just can't. The story line just isn't giving.
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Completed
Cosmetic Playlover Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

Why???

Of all the Japanese series released in recent years, *Cosmetic Playlover* definitely didn't need a second season.

Nothing—I repeat, nothing—happens here. It’s an endless cycle of going to work, talking about what a great company ROMY is, walking down the street recounting the workday and going to sleep; that’s how the series plays out across the entire second season.

If the series had focused on Toma’s trip to Paris and actually developed that storyline, it might have been more interesting. But no, they’re saving that for—who knows—maybe a third season.

Completely unnecessary, unfortunately :(

So, here is a list of series that actually deserved a second season:
My Personal Weatherman
Our Dining Table
Happy of the End
Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to Be Recognized
My Love Mix-Up!
Depth of Field
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To
Tokyo in April Is...
I Hear the Sunspot
Love Is a Poison

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Completed
Love upon a Time
1 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

so much heartwarming time travel love story ?

i just finished to watch LUAT and i'm so happy and sad at the same time. i did all the route with the characters, i felt all their feeling and emotions. i liked a lot the story and above all the last episode warmt my heart so much. I'm so glad to have watched this show, the actors and all was just perfect. I felt like I was immersing myself in the past just as Nakun went back in time. I can't yet perfectly express what I felt watching this series, but a mixture of emotions seeing both the love story of Klao and Phop, and the one between P Jom and Kaew. I really liked how the two stories unfolded, despite the various vicissitudes and difficulties, love won over everything, even over time. I highly recommend this series, a true masterpiece ❤️😭

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Completed
Never-Ending Summer
27 people found this review helpful
by CV_58
12 days ago
29 of 29 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

Good Girl x Bad Boy with A Pinch of Teenage Angst and Chaebol Family Soap Opera

Disclaimer: This review only covers the first 17 episodes, so please do not attack me for marking it as completed. I need to do so in order to make a full yapping about this series as I'm totally pissed off after watching it.

I don't even have the slightest idea of the reason I'm coming to "Never-Ending Summer". I did try to read the novel once, but goodness only knows why, it's so full of violence and sexual contents which discourages me to continue - oh yeah, the ML is also a total jerk who only knows to flirt with other pretty girls since he's a carefree chaebol boy. I couldn't care less about that. However, when words got out that Zhou Keyu and Bao Shang'en would star this drama, I reminded myself it wouldn't do much harm to try watching a bit, 'cause I like Keyu (he's a super-duper pretty boy and a sexy one on top of that). So, let's see my take on "Never-Ending Summer".

The story tells us the angsty romance story between Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao. Zhou Wan is a straight-A student whom the teachers always brag about. She also has a nice and kind-hearted personality and is extroverted enough to build a connection within her classmates. However, nobody ever knows her family condition and that she's now living in a run-down apartment with her sickly grandmother. To pay her grandma's medical bill, Zhou Wan becomes a manipulative person and secretly works as a tutor by posing as a college student looking for part-time job. Sometimes, she also makes note and sells them to a nearby bookstore, hoping that her school friends will buy dozens of them. Zhou Wan comes from a broken family as her father had died during a factory accident and her mother Guo Yan (better known as Guo Xiangling) fled to the Lu Family to have a better life, preferring to abandon her biological daughter with her grandma. On the other hand, Lu Xixiao is your typical bad boy with a rebellious streak against his controlling family. He has zero interest in studies but is zealous over painting (as painting is his mother's favorite hobby). Xixiao accidentally meets Zhou Wan in an abandoned swimming pool behind their school and she helps to tutor him so that he can go abroad to delve more into the painting world. Since then, the two develop an unusual bond and become each other's emotional anchor since they both come from dysfunctional families. Nevertheless, there will always be obstacles hampering their relationship. As they approach their adult years, their love and loyalty are tested repeatedly, and they finally find their true selves within the storm.

So, what can I say about the plot? Well, nothing much to say maybe, because the story is so awfully generic that even writers who love rich-boy-x-poor-girl trope know how to combine this spice into a hot mess. I grow frustrated over times as I watch this drama and always skip endlessly as the plot rumbles with a pace of a snail. Zhou Wan grows into a frustrating character as she always gives mixed signals to Xixiao. Well, she only approaches him so that she can have her revenge against her bitchy mommy and extract money from her to pay for grandma's hospital bill. Unbeknownst to Xixiao, the pair of mother and daughter has concocted scheme that will threaten the couple's relationship. All I see from Zhou Wan is crying like a little baby, mumbling about suicide after grandma dies, breaking down in front of Xixiao, being bullied by a gang of thugs, and complaining interminably to Jiang Yan (her neighborhood friend). However, the next day, she will turn into a completely different person and attempts very hard to make Xixiao hate her, like gurl, can you be more specific about your feeling - like you love him or not? If no, please leave Xixiao alone before he hates you that much. But she doesn't seem to be aware of her actions and acts like a double-faced liar instead. For Xixiao, I don't know why you always have to listen to your sugar daddy and listen to every of his order. Firstly, you want to escape abroad then he threatens to sell your mommy's residence. Secondly, you want to play along with Zhou Wan, then he grounds him in the Lu mansion. Thirdly, grandpa intervenes as well and wants Zhou Wan to stay away from you. Okay, this is getting more and more tedious and I don't care the single fuck you want to do anymore. I'm also tired of seeing him repeatedly forgiving Zhou Wan despite her manipulative behavior. After the forgiving, they will act as if nothing happened, then fluffy couple scenes will be thrown in your frame and you are going to see how both of them flirt endlessly, including kissing, I guess.

In the above paragraph, I've said pretty clearly that I don't like the main couple. Now, let me list what I also dislike from this drama. Firstly, congratulation for the bitchy mommy Guo Yan/Guo Xiangling for being so awfully selfish and abusive that I hate her the most. Secondly, the whole Lu family (except for Xixiao's auntie) for being so fucking lucrative and only thinking about their company and whatsoever. Thirdly, the second couple Jiang Fan and Gu Meng for having the most lackluster bickering relationship - I see no spark between these two people. Fourthly, Jiang Yan and his mommy - mommy previously had an affair with sugar daddy Lu and she got pregnant with Jiang Yan, then the two of them were kicked out of the Lu mansion due to their underprivileged economic background. That's why she always encourages Jiang Yan to loathe the Lu family, even though not all people are the same as sugar daddy. Fifthly, Jiang Yan gives mixed signal as well, sometimes being hostile to Xixiao, and sometimes secretly helping the couple to escape by having meaningless talk with sugar daddy. Sixthly, the hooligan Luo He keeps abusing Zhou Wan and uses violence to harm her, and yet his elusive gang always disappears before the police comes. Seventhly, Xixiao always comes to Zhou Wan's rescue whenever she is harassed by Luo He's gang, like they are in some kind of mafia mini dramas. I don't have any idea about the stabbing scene, but that comes off as cheesy to me.

Now, to the acting. All the actors have performed very well according to the script, and I appreciate all their hard works. This is my third drama of Bao Shang'en after the reboot of "The Legend of Condor Heroes" and "Generation to Generation". I feel Shang'en still has room for improvement for her next roles, and she radiates the bubbly yet resilient and independent aura of Zhou Wan seamlessly, proving herself as a promising future actress in C-drama land. Meanwhile, Zhou Keyu has come out of his comfort zone and has better micro-expressions which are shown during the scene of Zhou Wan lying to her and how he forcefully kisses her in ep 10. Other than the leads, I've only known Fu Weilun from "Extraordinary" and Ke Chun from numerous mini dramas. Their performances are so-so, so I don't think I'm going to complain much further. And please tell Ke Chun not to take any of this abusive role in the future. He's too good to become a real rogue juvenile delinquent.

The OSTs are giving mixed signals as well because I like some of them and dislike some too. My favorite will be 梦与环游 by Xu Ziwei and Cui Shiba, Sunburn by Brian Cheng, Frozen Heart by 8Bite and Dyrox, 最蓝核梦 by Murphy's Law band. Other than the songs I list, all sounds kinda meh to me, or maybe I'm too overwhelmed by the shitty stuffs happening in the drama.

Of course, my last words will be do not try to watch this drama unless you're in a total drama slump or you want to see beautiful fashions of the leads here or you need a daily dose of sizzling chemistry of these two people (all is up to you). Thank you for reading my whole yapping and I'm so glad to take everything off my chest. Good luck and happy watching!!!

P.S.
If any of you ever know about an Indonesian novel titled "Long Lost Memories in Daejeon", the ML's tragic backstory is more or less similar to Xixiao's. However, the characterization of the FL is completely different and she's a full-time simp too. On the other note, another Indonesian novel titled "Act of Money" heavily resembles this drama too - ML has a controlling father and FL is a straight-A student but constantly gives mixed signal to the ML and even dares two-timing with the SML (you can imagine him as Jiang Yan 2.0).

Edit:
I'd watched ep 19 - 22 and found out that the kidnapping and stabbing scene is "spectacular" and more or less similar to my imagination. Anyway, I also felt the emotional impact when Xixiao desperately wants to save Zhou Wan - this is the most memorable scene of "Never-Ending Summer" as far as I can reminisce.

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Completed
The First Jasmine
2 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

The First Jasmine (2026) was such a pleasure to watch from beginning to end.

The First Jasmine (2026) was such a pleasure to watch from beginning to end. It wasn't trying to be overly dramatic or packed with unnecessary twists—it just told a genuinely good story that kept me invested the whole way through.

What I appreciated most was how well-balanced the plot was. It flowed naturally, never felt dragged out, and kept me looking forward to the next episode without relying on overused drama.

Of course, the highlight was the relationship between the male and female leads. Their interactions felt refreshingly genuine. There were no exhausting jealousy arcs, no unnecessary third-party love triangles, and no frustrating misunderstandings. Instead, their relationship was built on trust, respect, and simply enjoying each other's company. It felt relatable, which made it even more enjoyable to watch.

The side characters were another pleasant surprise. They added so much charm and humor to the story, especially the scenes between Bai Lu's sister, Ye Ying, and Hang Ming Xi when they first met. Their awkward, hilarious interactions had me laughing every time they were on screen and gave the drama an extra layer of warmth.

Overall, The First Jasmine (2026) isn't trying to reinvent the romance genre—and it doesn't need to. It's a heartwarming drama with a solid story, lovable characters, and just the right amount of humor. If you're looking for something light, sweet, and easy to binge after a long day, this is definitely one to add to your watchlist. 🌸

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Completed
The Romance of Tiger and Rose
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

A Drama That Completely Surprised Me

~ First Part (No Spoilers) ~

I honestly didn't expect to love this drama as much as I did.

When I first started watching The Romance of Tiger and Rose, I expected a fun, lighthearted romantic comedy. And it definitely delivered! The humor was one of the first things that won me over, and I found myself laughing countless times throughout the first half of the drama.

What surprised me the most was how naturally the story became more emotional. Without even realizing it, I grew incredibly attached to the characters, especially Han Shuo and Chen Qianqian. Their relationship begins with hilarious and adorable moments, but as the story progresses, their romance becomes surprisingly heartfelt and emotionally powerful.

One of the biggest reasons I loved this drama so much was Ding Yuxi's performance. After watching him in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and Moonlight, I already knew how talented he was, but Han Shuo quickly became one of my favorite characters he has ever played. He perfectly balances confidence, jealousy, vulnerability, devotion, and comedy. Whether he was making me laugh with his dramatic expressions or breaking my heart during the emotional scenes, I believed every single emotion he portrayed.

Of course, Zhao Lusi was equally wonderful. The chemistry between Ding Yuxi and Zhao Lusi was absolutely fantastic from beginning to end. Their interactions always felt natural, and together they created one of the most lovable couples I've watched in a drama.

Another aspect I really appreciated was the character development. Several characters completely changed my opinion throughout the story. Some that I disliked at first eventually became some of my favorites because of their growth, while others surprised me in ways I never expected. I won't say more because discovering their journeys is part of the fun.

I also have to praise how creative the story is. The concept feels fresh, constantly mixing comedy, romance, emotional moments, political intrigue, and clever references without ever feeling repetitive. Every episode kept me invested, and I was always excited to see what ridiculous or emotional situation would happen next.

My only small criticism is that one particular misunderstanding arc was emotionally difficult for me to watch. Not because I thought it was badly written, but because I had become so attached to Han Shuo and Qianqian that watching them suffer genuinely hurt. Few dramas have made me feel that emotionally invested in a couple.

Speaking of emotions... I honestly didn't expect this drama to make me cry so much. Since watching Love Between Fairy and Devil, this is probably the drama that has made me cry the most.

I also have to mention the soundtrack. The ending theme became one of my favorite parts of the drama. Every time it played, it made the emotional scenes hit even harder, and it's definitely a song I'll keep listening to long after finishing the series.

Overall, this drama completely exceeded every expectation I had. I came for a funny romantic comedy and ended up discovering one of the most heartfelt, entertaining, and emotional romances I've watched. I laughed, cried, fell in love with the characters, and became completely invested in their story. I will definitely remember this drama for a very long time.

---

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️

If you haven't finished the drama yet, stop reading here!

The biggest emotional challenge for me was definitely the misunderstanding arc. Watching Han Shuo genuinely believe that Qianqian had never loved him completely broke my heart. I didn't dislike this part because it was badly written—in fact, I think it was one of the strongest parts of the drama. It simply hurt because I had grown so attached to them that I felt every bit of their pain.

This was also the moment where Ding Yuxi impressed me the most. His portrayal of Han Shuo's heartbreak, disappointment, and unconditional love felt incredibly real. Even when Han Shuo was at his lowest, you could still feel how deeply he loved Qianqian. His performance made those scenes almost impossible for me to watch without crying.

One thing I really appreciated was how the drama allowed several characters to grow. Qin Li is probably the best example. At first, I struggled with her blind loyalty to Chuchu, but after everything she experienced, she gradually became one of my favorite supporting characters. Watching her finally make her own decisions and find happiness was incredibly satisfying.

On the other hand, Chuchu's development was one of the most disappointing parts of the story for me. I don't think she was poorly written at all—quite the opposite. Her descent felt believable. But as a person, I found myself disliking her more and more, especially when she became willing to sacrifice someone who had always been completely loyal to her.

I also have to admit that the fake suicide completely fooled me... even though part of me had started wondering if the drama was tricking us! Because of its absurd humor, I kept thinking there had to be another twist somewhere. Seeing Qianqian suddenly step out of the coffin was both hilarious and such a huge relief.

Another scene that deeply touched me was when Qianqian finally confessed the truth about her identity and revealed that she wasn't actually from Han Shuo's world, but the screenwriter who had created it. After hiding that secret for so long, the confession felt incredibly emotional, and Han Shuo's reaction made the scene even more heartbreaking.

The ending completely won me over. I loved that they found each other again in the real world, but what truly made the ending unforgettable for me was when Han Shuo called her "Orange." That single word confirmed that he remembered everything they had lived through together. It made me cry all over again, and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying conclusion.

I even found this ending more satisfying than the ending of Love Between Fairy and Devil. While Love Between Fairy and Devil remains my favorite drama overall, The Romance of Tiger and Rose gave me exactly what I always hope for after an emotional journey: the certainty that the main couple would truly be happy together.

If I had one tiny wish, it would simply be a few extra minutes showing them living their new life together in the real world. I'm always greedy when it comes to happy endings, especially after becoming so attached to a couple like Han Shuo and Qianqian.

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Completed
Never-Ending Summer
27 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
29 of 29 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Summer ? was never been better than that ??✨

Seriously i should say this was them most beautiful Cdrama 🫰 on my list after WIFTU ,TFF,S&L,L&P,HL,OS,&Now my xiao wan 👑 Never ending summer 🌞.
The actor being the same age 2002 liner the character they both potray & their chemistry was top notch 🫶.
If i can watched them together again 🫶 I can watched many drama of them as a lead .

Glad I watched them and found them 🫶✨.
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Completed
A Tale of Thousand Stars
0 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Yearning final boss

I had such a different idea of this show in my head than it ended up being. I love EartMix and their other shows are incredibly good and as someone that has seen each of their shows, I have to admit that this one had the best acting together with only friends dream on. I really lived with this story and I could honestly feel more from Tian's side than Phupha's. I have had this series on my watchlist since 2021 (since it started airing) but I was always to scared that it wouldn't be something I liked, and boy was I wrong. I did have very different expectations.

Started with what the hell is going on, didn't really understand it because a lot of information was thrown at once, so I missed a slight part. The second episode everything cleared up pretty fast and it wasn't bad that the build took so damn long. One thing that irritated me in the beginning and it's not particularly bad is that it gives off those typical 'person that died' vibes. Always the camera and the slowed laughing scenes. Gonna excuse this series since it is slightly older (2021 feels like yesterday). It just kinda irritates me and that type of scene is really over used. The Intro gives me 2021 Gmmtv flashbacks and it makes me sad. The drawn characters and everything... I miss it.

Like I mentioned before I expected something veryyy different. Actually I was expecting a university trope, especially since GMMTV 2021 did that trope a lot. If you follow my reviews you know I'm lazy asf and just randomly select something without looking at the context and watch it. I always do that also for this one. 0 regrets and genuinely one of my fav tropes Is the village/community trope once. It's cute.

My father's EarthMixx. I love sooo many of their series, like I said, this one is one of my favourites. The acting is fucking excellent, better than in most of their series. The fact they were both pretty new in the industry makes me really proud. I was genuinely shocked at the acting work. I could understand everything from Tian's side the most, since the clear attention layed on him. He was the new one to the village, and the one with the big secret. And we didn't know much about Phupha in the beginning.

Incredibly unique story, creativity was a need in this project. I love the colouring extremely much as well. I like how they kept adding weight to Tian's chest. Adding rare feelings like actual yearning, guilt, identity and more. Another strong thing I liked when watching it was how Tian kept a secret from Phupha and how it changed their relationship. I love the uncommon tropes. Also funny that Tian is a rich boy.

Sometimes you don't need words to show your love or interest to a person. As for Phupha, he was staring. It was so cute and the tension was amazing. The staring was looking deep into Tian's eyes filled with love. There was this weird ache whenever they were alone. This series is pretty slowburn, which I like extremely much. One thing about me is that I'm not easily emotional, but this series made me cry, which is rare. The cinematography is amazing, like every thing in this series.

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Dropped 2/10
Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
13 people found this review helpful
12 days ago
2 of 10 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

ONLY A SHADOW OF S1

I really tried to give this season a fair chance. I came into it with no expectations, yet it still failed to keep me interested in so many ways.

First of all, while I understand the soul-shifting concept, I still think replacing the main FL (JSM) with GYJ was a huge mistake. I know GYJ is technically the real Naksu from the beginning of Season 1, and I understand what the writers were trying to do. What I don't understand is how Bu Yeon's body suddenly transformed into Naksu's physical appearance. Throughout the series, soul shifters retained the appearance of the body they inhabited. That was one of the established rules. Then suddenly, for this season, the body itself changes to match the soul? Even for a fantasy drama, that was a stretch beyond a stretch. Soul shifting was already confusing enough from a viewer's perspective, but now we're adding body transformation into the mix? It just made the whole explanation even harder to accept.

What disappointed me the most, however, was the chemistry. Everyone kept talking about how amazing it was, but... where exactly? I genuinely could not feel it. No offense to GYJ, but her performance felt too restrained for my taste. She came across as emotionally detached, making it difficult for me to connect with her character. Every time she was on screen, I found myself more confused than she was supposed to be. 😭

It genuinely felt like ten years had passed between Season 1 and Season 2. I watched Season 1 and immediately started Season 2, yet I still felt so disconnected from the story. Everything suddenly felt unfamiliar and confusing. The warmth, humor, lively cast dynamics, and emotional spark that made me fall in love with Season 1 were gone, replaced by a much gloomier tone. I understand that the title is Light and Shadow, but for me, all I could see was the shadow. It honestly felt like I was watching an entirely different drama.

I am very picky about the dramas I watch. I look for emotional value, engaging characters, and a story that hooks me from the very first episode. Season 1 did exactly that. It immediately pulled me in and never let go. Unfortunately, Season 2 failed to capture that same magic.

Of course, I understand that many viewers loved this season, and I completely respect that. This is simply my personal experience. Because Season 1 set such a high standard, I could not help but compare the two, and for me, Season 2 fell short in almost every aspect. Hence, I dropped it.

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