Reviews

Bittersweet is the perfect way to describe how this series was. *A BIT OF SPOILERS*

I watched this drama when it first came out, honestly didn't used to watch these kinds of series because I didn't want to be depressed and so on. However, my mom and sister encouraged me to watch it, would I watch it again? Of course, actually I'm writing this right now because I'm going to rewatch it again, nothing can explain how much i love and adore this series. At first, I only knew the ml because of wifty and i knew the fl just a bit because of lap, didn't expect them to be this amazing, romance is a bit short which was never a problem honestly because of how beautiful the story is. However, I never wanted a kiss to end it I just wanted them to hug they were one of the most yearning couple in a series I've ever seen. I really hated the mom at first, but then I thought about it, she was just a mom that lost her daughter because of some man, she didn't want to repeat the same mistake, I honestly was 9 I think when this came out, it was the second time i cry over a drama, don't watch this if you don't like crying but you're still missing out on some nice series it was hearting warming; bittersweet is the perfect adjective for this drama I loved this again if you're feeling very sad or depressed just watch this but if you're very happy at the moment don't watch this you will become depressed again after you finish it. HAPPY ENDING

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I don't get this

Watching this or not wouldn't change anything in your life because there's barely a plot to begin with.

Well, I don't really buy the whole blackout drunk and can't remember anything that happened the night before thing. Coming from someone who doesn't stop drinking until I'm asking the Lord for forgiveness and promising never to drink again, I believe that when you're really drunk, you either throw up or fall asleep immediately.

Honestly, I feel like they're just trying to find excuses for their cheating asses at this point. You don't suddenly stop loving the person you're in a relationship with just because you met and drank with another man. Alcohol doesn't magically erase your feelings, nor does it wash away your guilt.

This could've been so much more fun if they'd used the other guy to spice up their relationship again or, better yet, let him actually become part of it. I mean, throuples are becoming more popular nowadays anyway, so why not go that route instead? At least that would've made things more interesting than whatever this plot was trying to do.

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why did we spend so much with the other couple?

First zombie bl drama I have seen, have to say pretty impressed. The setting was pretty cool, and the Soundtrack was also
amazing (not sure which songs were AI, I hope none). Both main characters annoyed in different parts but I think that makes it more realistic. I just think we brushed over A-lie's past a little too fast and we ran through the plot with the Herin organisation. Also if it was my choice, I wouldn't have given that much screentime to the other couple. I find it weird that they were raised as brothers, and then proceeded to fall in love. Also what the fuck is wrong with He Yao? His character also annoyed me constantly, but Liang's blind faith in his sketchy experiment that follows zero protocol annoyed me more. Anyways, overall,
I really liked it, I think in the future I might want to rewatch it, but not rn because trauma.

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A lovely, feel-good rom-com!

I absolutely loved this drama! The fantasy elements are an essential part of the story, and I think everything comes together beautifully over its 10 episodes. The pacing feels balanced, and the story never loses its charm.
What really won me over was the chemistry between the two leads. They brought their characters to life with so much warmth and sincerity. Their tenderness, little gestures, and natural interactions make their relationship feel genuine and effortless. They have such a lovely dynamic that you can't help but root for them.
Despite the more difficult moments, the drama has that lovely rom-com quality that makes you feel good and helps you unwind. It has just the right mix of fantasy, romance, and emotional moments to keep things interesting without losing its charm.
I genuinely enjoyed this one from beginning to end. The two leads were an absolute delight to watch!

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A Hilarious Ride with Heart and Substance ❤️

I had such a great time watching this film! Midnight Runners is an incredibly entertaining action comedy that made me laugh far more than I expected. Its greatest strength lies in the fantastic chemistry between Park Seo-joon and Kang Ha-neul. I already knew Park Seo-joon was excellent at comedy, but Kang Ha-neul was a very pleasant surprise. Their contrasting personalities, reactions, and comedic timing make their partnership feel natural and genuinely funny. The humour grows out of their characters and the situations they find themselves in, rather than relying solely on inserted jokes.😂

The screenplay keeps things moving with a brisk pace, combining comedy, action, suspense, and a serious underlying story. Although some plot developments follow familiar and predictable genre conventions, they never significantly diminished my enjoyment. The film knows how to keep its audience engaged, and its energetic storytelling makes it difficult to lose interest.

What I particularly appreciated was the substance beneath all the humour. Beyond the chaotic adventures of two inexperienced police cadets, the film addresses institutional indifference, social responsibility, and the courage to act when others fail to do so. The protagonists may be inexperienced and often hilariously out of their depth, but their determination to help someone in danger gives the story its emotional core. The contrast between their comic mishaps and the seriousness of the situation works surprisingly well.

However, the film is not without its shortcomings. Its portrayal of the Chinese-Korean community raises legitimate concerns about stereotyping, particularly when criminal activity becomes so closely associated with a particular ethnic group. A film can address genuine social problems without creating the impression that an entire community is defined by them. This was an aspect I found problematic, even though I appreciated the film's broader criticism of institutional inaction.

Nevertheless, these reservations did not overshadow what the film does so well. The comedy is lively, the action keeps the story moving, and the two leads are a delight to watch together. Most importantly, the film manages to entertain while giving its audience something meaningful to think about.

Midnight Runners is much more than a series of funny situations and action sequences. It is a highly enjoyable buddy comedy with heart, energy, and a social conscience. I laughed a lot, was thoroughly entertained, and came away appreciating both its humour and its underlying message.

A very strong 9–9.5/10 from me!❤️

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I have a love hate relationship with this drama

I started this drama because of Kimura Takuya after I watched long vacation. At first I genuinely really enjoyed the storyline and I thought the main leads were extremely cute together.

The first couple episodes I didn't mind that Teppei still had feelings for his ex girlfriend (Sanae) because him and Riko weren't a couple at the time so I thought gradually throughout the show he would get over his ex when he started gaining feelings for Riko.

I was so happy when Riko and Teppei finally started dating. However their relationship quickly started going down hill because it didn't feel like Teppei respected Riko or liked her enough to actually put effort into their relationship.

I think that Teppei lost all is likeability after he kissed his ex girlfriend (Sanae). Even after Riko caught them he still had the audacity to beg for her back like if you really care about her and not your ex why would you do that in the first place.

After that happened the rest of the show was an extremely hard watch. I don't agree with Riko getting back with Teppei because she deserves much better but I am happy that she took time to decide if she wanted to stay with him or not instead of getting back with him straight away.

I do still love this show but it would have been 100x better if the cheating plot never happened.

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The slow burn is perfect

Literally my favorite jdrama of all time, maybe even my favorite series of all time. I binged this series in 1 day, every episode was so interesting and I couldn't stop watching.

I absolutely love slow burns and this series portrays it extremely well. In other series the romance is normally rushed and very quick so I enjoyed something different for once.

This was my first 90s jdrama and it made me become obsessed with older Japanese dramas. I would recommend this drama because it doesn't get boring, has a good storyline and Kimura Takuya's insane visuals heh.

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FL character development arc - stunted much?

The male lead is phenomenal as he always has been, the suporting actors around his storyline are incredible.. and his performance and development almost leaves the female lead in a stunted character development that mounts frustration with each episode.

The emotional intensity rises, but there is fundamental conflict that seems irreconcilable and it's not about his toxic character but her character's positionality. She discovers another aspect of his character and we do not even get to see it through her world view, its through his eyes that we see her new experience of him, but always shortlived that one cannot begin to construct how she views him or what position he holds in her world, its all lucid and intagible but the cycle is the same - Changxuan intervenes in Pingjun's life. Pingjun resists him - he results to oppression until he realises he cannot hold it out any longer, he lets go, she gets in trouble, he rescues her, she reieves the asssitance while rejecting him, it loops back.

And because Changxuan is such a forceful character, his actions makes each repetition feel different, even when the underlying dynamic has barely changed. A rescue reveals his vulnerability; another, his desperation; another, the lengths to which he will go for her. The events vary, but the relationship continues to revolve around the same question and dynamic: how much will he do (good or bad) for a woman who does not want to be possessed by him?

Meanwhile, Pingjun's position remains remarkably static. Her central objection is that his behaviour threatens her autonomy, and that objection is valid. But the problem is not that she resists him. It is that her choices never seem to accumulate into a sufficiently developed character arc.

She resists him when his behaviour threatens her autonomy, needs his intervention when circumstances become unbearable, and is grateful when he helps her. Yet that gratitude does not necessarily change her position on their relationship. She continues to accept the benefits of his power without confronting the contradictions of living within it. She objects to his methods without rejecting their benefits, yet somehow remains morally unsullied.

This is where her characterisation becomes frustrating for me. When retelling her time at Red Leaf, she repeatedly reiterates that nothing happened, that he did not touch her. I did not interpret this as her clearing his name or refuting abuse to put her family at ease. Rather, I saw her reverting to her constitutional principles without accounting for her own situationally dependent morality.

She is righteous and strong-willed until she finds herself in a position where she needs to be rescued by his power. She may reject him but she never rejects his power when she needs it, nor does she acknowledge that she is taking advantage of it. As long as she maintains her principles, she remains unsullied. But that gap between her moral convictions and her choices is precisely why her character does not develop. Instead, she revolves around Changxuan's growth and the opposite position she has to maintain, the wall between them is thick and almost difficult to imagine it coming down, yet when it serves her, it becomes invisible to her for that moment.

I am not arguing that she owes him love because he helps her. There is a difference between refusing to treat assistance as a romantic debt and refusing to recognise the significance of another person's repeated involvement in your life through a romantic lens.

The reason Changxuan entertains her in the first place is that he is making romantic advances. She knows this. It therefore becomes difficult to understand why she keeps returning to him through the same door, whether to express gratitude or to ask for help or to leave, it's the same door she uses. A normal person would never get to meet an army commander simply by waiting by the gate, yet she meets him because there is a door she knows, knowing very well what she will be presented with when it opens.

When she is arrested by the Japanese and Changxuan resorts to extreme exercise of his power, she is not repulsed instead upon his arrival, it is clear she waited for him based on her response, "you've arrived". When she is held at knifepoint, it is to him that she looks, recognising once again that he is the person who will rescue her because there is a door in him she knows.

She is smart enough to knows his rescues come with an expectation. She knows he wants something from her that she is unwilling to give. Somehow, her self righteousness is situational, never allowing her to suffer the consequences of his absence but vehemently strong enough to reject him once the coast is clear, but she never confronts her contradiction and this is what I find perplexing and missing from her story, there is never a moment of reflexivity or recognition of herself as a flawed person- after all she was not touched, although she in fact was touched, where is the grief or disengagement- there is no response from her over the psychological consequences of her own choices or his on hers, just reactivity.

If she cannot reciprocate his feelings, that is entirely her right. Assistance does not entitle anyone to love. But for someone who maintains such high moral standards, why does she repeatedly place herself in this position without ever meaningfully confronting the contradiction?

Her choices become narratively interesting when we ask whether she recognises the gap between her dependence on him and her moral judgment of him. Does she acknowledge her own motives? Does she recognise that she is repeatedly choosing to engage with someone whose methods she condemns because his power serves a purpose in her life? Does she ever examine what this says about her?

I am not asking her to be more vulnerable, more strong-willed, or more willing to give in to his advances. I am asking why her choices do not have the same psychological consequences as those of the ML.

Changxuan is not just toxic; he has a compelling story that makes him human. And that is the unfortunate reality: even abusers have stories and we only get to see their relationship through his world view because her story is too fragmented to reconcile with his on an equal footing.

His possessiveness, capacity for violence, vulnerability and growing attachment create material for a complicated psychological portrait. It is not just obsession. He draws you into wanting to understand his yearning, his social struggles with autonomy and power, and the contradictions within him. He reforms, but the struggle of growth is nonlinear. It is tangled, sometimes ugly, but interesting to examine, might I say I cringed each time he showed up on screen but still watched but his interactions with Pingjun or others builds upon one another, his behaviour has continuity, his complex psychology is not limited to her, we see it in his world.

Pingjun, by contrast, is predictable, reactive and almost abysmal to watch. Even her facial expressions become cryptic when you can already anticipate her response without finding any meaningful depth beneath it. She returns to a familiar position after each encounter. The circumstances change, but her underlying response remains remarkably the same.

She might become more aware of her own compromises or recognise that she has been judging his conduct without adequately examining her own motives. Or she might become more firmly convinced that his actions are wrong, but develop a clearer understanding of why she continues to engage with him despite that conviction and let the viewers in on why she allows and at times inserts herself back into his world after escaping it - either direction would represent a worthy development.

What does not represent much development is returning to the same moral posture after each encounter, without the accumulated experience producing any discernible change in her self-understanding.

The drama even hints at the possibility that Pingjun has some place for Changxuan in her heart, particularly during their parting before the fire. But this is what their relationship has always been: at each point of departure, there is the possibility of something more, some indication that she might feel more than she is willing to acknowledge. Then the cycle begins again.

Changxuan's character develops through the relationships around him, while Pingjun's character appears to be repeatedly reproduced by only his actions towards her, outside of the moral posturing and social activism, there isn't much substance to draw one in to being interested in her psychology.

This becomes even more apparent when Pingjun loses her memory. Her agency is understandably complicated by the loss of her autobiographical memories, yet her responses to Changxuan remain strikingly familiar. He reveals another part of himself, and she occupies the same position of reacting to what he reveals, she can acknowledge the discomfort and the wall between them even with the limited information she has.

Amnesia can disrupt memory without necessarily erasing personality. Her familiar responses could therefore reflect enduring dispositions. I wish the drama had offered more than a repetition of familiar reactions. We should see how those responses emerge without her memories and whether they differ meaningfully from those of the person she was before, where is the doubt in her own feelings after being presented with a different version of him? It doesn't exist, the wall remains, she did not even know her own name, yet she trusted what he told her but cannot question her discomfort with him.

It is as though her primary narrative function has consistently been to react to Changxuan's behaviour, removing her memories does not substantially alter her role. The same dynamic persists because her characterisation has never been sufficiently independent of him. This is the imbalance I find most frustrating.

Changxuan's contradiction is explored as an internal conflict expressed externally into his whole world through different lenses. We are invited to observe how it affects him, how it evolves, and what it reveals about the person he is becoming. The drama allows us to sit with the contradictions, the cruelty and the uncomfortable realities of his character and how others experience him, including Pingjun.

Pingjun's contradiction, on the other hand, appears to be recurring circumstance rather than an internal conflict worthy of the same scrutiny, it feels cyclical and exhausting, even Tao Ziyi is more compelling, her story grows and evolves, its hard to separate Pingjun from the high-school girl she was.

I do not need her to become more submissive or to give in to Changxuan's advances. I need her to become a more fully realised character in her own right. Her principles, compromises, desires and choices should have consequences that shape her understanding of herself, just as his choices shape his.

The tragedy is not that Pingjun refuses to love Changxuan. It is that the drama seems far more interested in exploring what loving her does to him than in exploring what their relationship reveals about her- ironically, as the story begins to sanitize his toxicity, the viewer is propelled to sympathesise with him while being subjected to the cruel rejection and apathetic reactions she offers to him.

Where are the contradictions and cruelty of reality to be explored through her character. Where is the same psychological complexity, the same uncomfortable questions, the same willingness to examine the gap between what a person believes and what they actually do. She dumped Xueting and managed to move on from a lifetime relationship with him as though it was not fresh, yet she gets teary as she says goodbye to Changxuan. How she reconciles the men, the Japanese lady, discovering the truth about her dad, we only see her reaction, but what it does to her, hoe it informs he world view, we don't. Changxuan becomes battle hardened against corruption because of what losing his comrades did to him, we not only see the pain, we see how it now morphes into his ideal and why he will probably not be apologetic over Pingjun seeing him murder a corrupt armsman, one cannot predict his response, but can anticipate his position and understand him because Changxuan is already a compelling character.

The question is why Pingjun, who occupies such a central position in this story, is not afforded the same depth.

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Hope (2026) — 6.5/10

I went into this expecting a thriller, but honestly, I found it more entertaining as a comedy. Some scenes were genuinely funny, although the pacing felt dragged out in places.

Jung Ho-yeon as Sung-ae and Hwang Jung-min as Chief Bum-seok were both good and added to the overall experience. However, the second half was where things got confusing for me. At times, I felt like I was watching without having the full context, and the lack of proper explanations made it difficult to follow everything. The CGI was also pretty rough.

Still, I think the story had potential. With better execution, stronger visuals, and a bigger production budget, this could have been much better.

Overall, it's entertaining enough if you don't take it too seriously. If you're looking for a great thriller, you might be disappointed, but if you just want something to watch for fun, it's decent.

There's also talk of a sequel, so hopefully the next one makes better use of the story's potential.

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DON'T DROP IT DURING THE DIVORCE PHASE — EPISODES 23 & 24 ARE WORTH IT! ??❤️

A Hidden Gem That Deserves SO MUCH MORE LOVE! ❤️‍🔥

Not gonna lie, The Last Oath turned out to be an absolute masterpiece for me. 😭🔥 I genuinely wish more people would give this series a chance instead of dropping it halfway through.

First of all, THE CHEMISTRY. THE TENSION. THE WAY THESE TWO ARE TOGETHER. I CAN'T. 😭❤️‍🔥

Lin Zai and A Leh have such an incredible dynamic. It's not just about the romantic moments; it's the tension, the emotional connection, their interactions, and the way their relationship develops that make them so compelling to watch. These two have me completely hooked!

And to everyone who dropped the series during their DIVORCE PHASE... 🌝 PLEASE, I AM BEGGING YOU TO GIVE IT ANOTHER CHANCE!

I know that part of their relationship can be frustrating, especially when you've grown attached to both of them. But please trust the journey and stick with the story. Episodes 23 and 24 made the wait SO WORTH IT for me. The payoff is everything! 😭❤️

I'm not saying every single thing about this series is perfect, but sometimes a story can have its flaws and still give you something genuinely special. For me, the characters, their relationship, and the chemistry between the leads completely won me over.

And honestly, I'm sad that more people aren't talking about this series. It deserves so much more love and recognition. It's such a hidden gem, and I wish more people would discover it instead of letting one frustrating part of the story decide whether they continue watching.

PLEASE DON'T DROP THE LAST OATH DURING THE DIVORCE PHASE. TRUST THE PROCESS! 😭🤌❤️‍🔥

And if you've finished all 24 episodes, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. 🌝🫶

Chen Liang and Chen Minghao deserve all the love for bringing Lin Zai and A Leh to life. Their chemistry is FIRE, and I'm going to miss these two so much.

GO WATCH THE LAST OATH. GIVE THIS HIDDEN GEM THE LOVE IT DESERVES! ❤️‍🔥

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A Beautiful Love Story That's like a Warm Hug ❤️

Hidden Love (2023) — A Beautiful Love Story That Feels Like a Warm Hug ❤️

Rating: 9.5/10 ⭐

Some dramas make you fall in love with their stories, while others make you fall in love with their characters. Hidden Love does both beautifully!

Starring Zhao Lusi as Sang Zhi and Chen Zheyuan as Duan Jiaxu, this 2023 Chinese romance drama is a heartwarming journey from innocent teenage feelings to mature, unconditional love.

Zhao Lusi is the absolute highlight of this drama! 😭🩷 Her portrayal of Sang Zhi is incredibly natural, charming, and emotionally captivating. Her adorable smile, playful expressions, shy glances, and little pouty faces make her character almost impossible not to love. She perfectly captures the innocence of a girl experiencing her first love while gradually transforming into a confident young woman who understands her own feelings. What makes her performance special is that her cuteness never feels forced. She brings warmth, sincerity, and life to every scene.

SPOILER ALERT! 🚨

One of my favourite aspects of the story is watching Sang Zhi's childhood crush slowly become something real. Initially, Duan Jiaxu sees her as the younger sister of his friend, but Sang Zhi's feelings never completely disappear. As they reconnect years later, their relationship develops naturally, creating some wonderfully romantic moments.

The scene where Duan Jiaxu finally reciprocates Sang Zhi's feelings is especially satisfying because we have watched her carry those emotions for so long. Their sweet interactions, teasing conversations, and affectionate moments make their chemistry irresistible. ❤️

Beyond the romance, Duan Jiaxu's painful family circumstances add emotional depth to the story. His struggles and Sang Zhi's unwavering support demonstrate that love isn't simply about butterflies and cute dates; it's also about understanding someone and helping them heal.

Final Verdict: Hidden Love is a comforting, beautifully acted romance that leaves you smiling long after the final episode. Zhao Lusi absolutely shines, making Sang Zhi one of the most lovable female leads in Chinese drama history.

If you love adorable romance, emotional storytelling, and exceptional chemistry, this drama is a must-watch! 🩷

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