Reviews

A Time Paradox Not Fully Explained - Tragic but Fascinating Story

If you are looking for a drama packed with first-tier good-lookers, this one delivers—big time. With a star-studded cast including Liu Shi Shi, Zhang Yun Long, Ding Yu Xi, and Meng Zi Yi, the screen practically glows. Even the guest roles are top-tier, featuring fan-favourites like Peng Xiao Ran, Hou Ming Hao, and Chen Yi Qi.

At the heart of the story is Dongfang Huaizhu, who falls for a mysterious masked vigilante—leader of the Mask Gang, a group fighting for justice in the shadows. She does not know his face, but love blossoms. When she discovers that her masked hero is actually Wangquan Hongye, head of the YiQi Alliance and the powerful WangQuan clan - someone she deeply mistrusts, she is devastated—and abruptly ends the relationship.

Things take a darker turn when Huaizhu is captured by the Demon Lord Jiu Huo, transported 20 years into the future, stripped of her memory, and turned into a demon. Hongye and the Mask Gang must time-travel to rescue her, but standing in their way are formidable foes—Jiu Huo and his lover Jia Lan, who seek to plunge the world into eternal darkness.

But here is the twist: according to the history they learn in their time-travel, 18 years ago which is two years after their time-travel, they perished in a devastating war against Jiu Huo and Jia Lan. The YiQi Alliance collapsed, and the noble families were destroyed. This war happens after their time-travel, which means they go into war with full knowledge of who they are against.

If they return to the past, they are essentially walking into the very war they already lost.

Can they win this time? It introduces a classic time-loop paradox that is never fully explained. Logically, if they return, nothing would change as history has reflected the full outcome of that return.

Yet somehow, some things change—and some things do not. How is that possible? The drama does not offer a satisfying answer. In the end, the time-loop logic is left unresolved, relying more on emotion than coherence.

Despite all the loss and sacrifice, I am not easily moved—but I will admit, seeing the team fall apart under demonic manipulation tugged at something. And the ending? Quietly tragic in a way that lingers.

On a brighter note, the OST is excellent, with a lovely closing theme that captures the emotional tone beautifully.

All in all, despite a few narrative stumbles, I still rate this highly. A solid 9/10 for its strong cast, visual appeal, emotional beats, and unforgettable moments.

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Low production, cute/handsome actors

Sukfilm is known for their short series with few actors. While I feel some tensions between the actors, it's not the best chemistry. The series is partly steril. That's the fault of the settings. Even the bar feels lifeless. The locations besides the appartment are not choosen well and as always they can't fill the void with extras.

The story is cliché as usual. Childhood friends reunite and at least one of them is (still?) in love after 15 years! It's a bit much imho. I can't say it's bad, but it's also not good from a story telling view. It also makes the story not believable when you have no background at all. The clumsiness of the "writer" is partly cute but partly annoying. So I'm divided on this series. At least it felt not cringe or childish. You have to deceide yourself if you like this series or not, at least it felt not a waste of time.

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The unexpected drama that captivated me

I never thought I’d fall so deeply in love with a drama that wasn’t set in high school or didn’t center only around high school romance. That used to be my comfort zone, and I truly believed nothing else could ever top those kinds of stories. But because of the hype around When Life Gives You Tangerines, I decided to give it a try—without much expectation. After watching episode 1, I thought, Okay, this is good. But by episode 2, I was completely hooked. GwanSik and Ae Sun’s story pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop watching.

One particular episode that stayed with me forever was when GwanSik wanted to marry Ae Sun, but she had dreams of being rich and independent. She was supposed to go on a blind date with a man from the mainland—something she didn’t truly want, but with a crumbled heart, she went ahead with it. Deep down, Ae Sun actually wanted GwanSik, but her mind pushed her toward something else. But then, she suddenly had a change of heart. While GwanSik was on the ship, heading toward his future, Ae Sun came running to the port and called out his name. And in one of the most powerful scenes I’ve ever seen, GwanSik jumped from the ship and swam through the middle of the ocean to reach her. I honestly thought it was a dream—most dramas make moments like that imaginary—but no, it really happened. And that made me incredibly happy.

This drama shattered all my expectations. I cried rivers and oceans while watching it. The love, the sacrifices, the raw emotion—everything hit so deeply. GwanSik set a new standard for what a husband and father should be. Despite being poor, he treated his wife like a queen and loved his daughter with everything he had. Even after death, his presence remained in the little things. When Life Gives You Tangerines is not just a drama—it’s an experience. It has officially become my number one favorite, and I genuinely wish it gets the worldwide recognition it deserves.

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I am very disappointed.

After the impressive first season of Sweet Home, I was hoping that the second would build upon the tension, character depth, and emotional power that made the original so impactful. Unfortunately, Season 2 didn’t live up to those expectations. While it had a few strong moments and visually striking scenes, overall it felt scattered and unfocused – a season torn between ambition and poor execution.

One of the biggest issues for me was the lack of narrative focus. Whereas Season 1 thrived in the confined setting of the Green Home apartment, creating a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere, Season 2 expanded into multiple locations, which diluted the tension. The idea of a broader world was intriguing in theory, but in practice, it led to a chaotic pace and underdeveloped subplots.

The characters I loved from the first season felt either sidelined or altered in a disappointing way. Many returning characters barely had screen time, and the new ones didn’t manage to connect or evoke much sympathy. Cha Hyun Soo, who was the emotional core of the first season, felt passive and distant this time around. The internal conflict and growth that made him so compelling were largely absent.

From a technical standpoint, the production still shines – the monsters, though less terrifying this time, were well-designed, and some action sequences were genuinely dynamic. However, visuals alone aren’t enough to make up for a weak script and lack of emotional depth. The music, unlike in Season 1, didn’t stand out – it felt more like background noise than an emotional driver.

The writing was the core problem. Many scenes felt rushed, character motivations were unclear, and some dialogues came off as forced. The show seemed to aim for a bigger, more epic scale, but lost the human element that made Season 1 so powerful.

Overall, Sweet Home Season 2 was disappointing. I gave it 5.5/10 because it still had some technical merits and interesting ideas, but compared to the first season, it felt like a step backward.

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Beautifully excellent drama.

Our Unwritten Seoul even by the name I was so hooked. Genuinely loved the acting, cast, story and the soft cinematography of the show. Just watched 2 episodes and they're a really a good start .This drama is so easy - not rushed, not slow no overacting but also setting a strong emotional character development. Park Boyoung outpassed my expectations. Also Park JinYoung is such a great actor. Everyone in tha drama doing an amazing job.Felt like this is going to be everyone's comfort drama.Excited for more episodes.Go for it!! 🙌🏻

Okay so I'm here after completing this drama and I'll still say the same. This drama was so good. 🫶🏻

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Sweet home s1...

Sweet Home Season 1 was a truly emotional and visually captivating experience that exceeded my expectations. From the very beginning, the drama pulled me in with its dark, suspenseful atmosphere, charged with deep human emotions. This isn’t just another monster story – it’s something far more profound: a tale about battling one’s inner demons, holding onto hope in despair, and preserving humanity even in the darkest of times.

The main character, Cha Hyun Soo, played by Song Kang, was without a doubt one of the strongest elements of the series. His transformation—both literal and metaphorical—made me reflect on how pain and loss can completely change a person, and yet, hope and kindness never truly die. Song Kang delivered a powerful performance, capturing the vulnerability and hidden strength of his character beautifully.

The writing was skillfully structured. Each episode ended with gripping tension, leaving me wanting more. I appreciated that the show didn’t rely solely on action and horror, but focused deeply on character development and the connections between them. Every resident in the Green Home apartment had their own backstory, told with empathy and depth. I was especially impressed by the characters of Lee Eun Yoo and Pyeon Sang Wook – they were both tough and vulnerable, making them incredibly human.

Visually, Sweet Home was on a very high level. The special effects and monster designs were impressive, especially considering it’s a Korean production with a more limited budget compared to Hollywood. Still, the effects were convincing, and the atmosphere was tense and claustrophobic. The soundtrack was also very fitting – both the songs and instrumentals complemented the emotional and intense moments perfectly.

The only reason I’m not giving it a full 10/10 is that some storylines could have been developed a bit more, and a few characters felt underused. Despite that, the series remained coherent and compelling overall.

In conclusion, Sweet Home Season 1 was an outstanding experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different – a mix of horror, drama, philosophy, and humanity. I truly hope the next seasons maintain this level of quality and expand on the unique world they’ve created.

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IT COULD BE PERFECT BECAUSE OF THE PARALLEL AND TIME TRAVEL ELEMENTS BUT...

Memory in the Letter follows Aksorn, who gets kicked out by his dad for wanting to chase his dream of becoming a writer. He ends up moving into a new dorm, where he discovers a mysterious guy named Songjam, who lives inside a mirror. Yup, inside a mirror. The vibe of this series actually reminded me a bit of the Filipino BL Happenstance (2020). I haven’t seen all of Happenstance, but the similarities are definitely there.

I honestly adored Memory in the Letter. The mystery element is super engaging, and the plot keeps you guessing in earlier episodes. It’s unpredictable in a way that makes you want to keep watching.

Visually, the series is stunning. The color grading gives off this old-film vibe, which fits the overall mood perfectly. And aside from the whole parallel universe thing, there's also a time travel element, which makes it even more intriguing.

That said, I wish the episodes were a bit longer. It would’ve been great to see more of Songjam’s world, since the series mostly focuses on Aksorn’s perspective

I don't want to give spoilers but the plot twist is a bit weird that didn’t really make sense, and I think that’s where the story started to make viewers disappointed. I personally felt more chemistry between Aksorn and the original Songjam than with Kyo, which made it a bit frustrating to watch.

Another thing I noticed is they cast a 32 year old actor to play as 45 year old man, the face is young to be 45. It is not very convincing. The show leaves so many questions unanswered, and that vagueness really hurt the storytelling. From episodes 5 to 6, it got kind of confusing, and I honestly didn’t know how to react anymore. Just... watch it for yourself. If you’re worried about wasting time, don’t stress, it’s only around an hour total for episodes 5 and 6.

In my opinion, this series had a lot of potential, but it really lacked detail in the second half. It almost felt like the screenwriter or director got sick after episode 4 and someone else with totally different ideas took over. They changed directions and adding things that didn’t quite land. Still, Memory in the Letter is worth checking out, even if it leaves you a little confused in the end.

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a good but tiring movie

one of the movies that is hard for me to explain, I try to explain it but I feel empty-headed, might because I still lack insight into it. but still gonna try to explain

its start with a very hard-to-understand scene. because at the beginning it tells the story of Rong's family and their relationship with Dream Interpreter, I don't really understand this part because it's too fast. but finally got the hook when Xiao Lili realized Jinzhen's talent and bring his home

and after that the story start flowed easily. this movie even though at the beginning it was like a flashback POV from another character, but its actually Jinzhen's POV

Our wallflower, Rong Jinzhen. well portrayed because his appearance suit a picture of math genius

this movie is also very epic in terms of cinematography, they break the wall with so many 'weird' but 'out-of-box' style of shot. the depiction of dreams experienced by Rong Jinzhen and Liseiwicz also often makes my head hurt :)

the focus of this film is ultimately not just Jinzhen's genius, but the dynamics of the characters while he tries to decipher, and the competition between Jinzhen and Leisewicz.

Leisewicz even said "Don't do Deciphering, because it will drive you crazy"

with so many numbers, conflicts, and dreams, you can imagine how complicated Rong Jinzhen's head is. and don't forget this is set in the 1940s, a time of war & Chinese revolution. with so much propaganda, spying, missions. complete headache 😭

although heavy, but strangely addictive. the pace is solid, very detailed, and every scene makes you curious about what this is all about

the confusion between dreams and reality, plus Jinzhen's iconic action of playing with lamp, is a distinctive feature of this film

I was actually curious about dream interpretation, because he could dream that deep that he could jump to a certain conclusion

I also thought about what would happen to him without dream interpretation, and it turned out to really happen. you all need to watch until the credit scene ⚠️

my impression of this film is 'just watch it once' because it could be like Rong Jinzhen who gets stressed about ciphers and dreams

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An industry shaking BL

I'm going to be honest. Since I started watching BLs in 2022, there aren't many that I've both finished and absolutely loved. I have dropped many shows. But something about this show is so special. From the amazing acting to the beautiful screenwriting. And P'Boss, the director, is so thoughtful. I love watching him in interviews and I'll miss hearing him talk about the show and his thoughts process in Twitter spaces. My only issue with the show is some of the hairstyling in a few scenes. But it's minor enough for me to overlook, especially because everything else works so so well. This is one of those shows I'll probably rewatch every year (maybe even a few times).

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Mainleads mismatched

I was really looking forward to this drama, but now I'm really a bit disappointed.

First of all, the two main actors, who in my opinion have absolutely no chemistry with each other.
In "Everlasting Longing," Song Wei Long and Angela Baby made a truly beautiful couple. That's not the case here at all. There's absolutely no chemistry between the two main actors. It's as if an adult were playing with a child.
How can you pair such a striking, male actor with someone so bland and childlike? It really doesn't fit at all.

Of course, the whole story suffers from this, and I'm now seriously wondering whether I should continue watching.

I find myself constantly fast-forwarding; for me, there's just no tension. Others may see it differently, but unfortunately, for me, it's a no.

The story itself is nothing new. There are a lot of better dramas ongoing, with good pairings (Serendipity, The prisoner of beauty). I feel bad for Song Weilong, because i like his acting.

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HOOKED on Prisoner Of Beauty!

Okay, someone please send help because I am officially addicted to this drama! "Prisoner of Beauty" has me in a chokehold (the soft, romantic kind), and I’m not even mad about it.

Every episode just fills my heart with love, joy, and a weird urge to rewatch it all over again. It’s like a warm hug, a cup of bubble tea, and a love letter all wrapped in one. I swear, my face turns into the heart-eyes emoji every time I hit play.

If you need something to brighten your day and give you all the happy feels, trust me—this is it. Just be warned: once you start, there's no going back!

💝💝💝💝💝💝

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Good story, disappointing main leads

A spin-off of Hospital Playlist, Resident Playbook is centered around 4 1st year residents, as they go through the chaos in their daily routine of hospital life.

Although the story starts well, with day-to-day medical emergencies encountered by doctors in real life. While the show was good, but it didn't meet my expectations and was a par show compared to another medical drama released this year, The Trauma Code.

The main characters didn't have an impact and while I love Go Youn Jung, she didn't seem at her best with this drama. The positives include good real-life medical setting with a sense of urgency and chaos and honest part played by the side characters. The negatives I would say are the leads, as expectations were high from them and a bit stretchy runtime with less emotional impact.

Overall, Resident Playbook is a good medical drama show that shows a real side of medical life, but couldn't reach the heights of being excellent due to a stretchy runtime with little plot and disappointing main leads.

My Rating : 3.5/5

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Powerful lakorn about trauma and abuse

As of this writing, the tags are misleading and inappropriate. I'm compiling evidence (which means going back through every episode trying to find dialogue to screenshot) to get them changed.

My changes to the tags were accepted early June '25. Please realise that reviews and comments made before then were primarily from viewers who expected it to be a lesbian romance/GL because that is how it was tagged.

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Rakkaew is a powerful psychological - almost Shakespearean - lakorn about trauma and abuse, sexism, controlling parents, control and abuse in other family/non-family relationships, and how the wealthy are able to use money, power and position to skirt the law.

It is dense and complicated, messy in content but well-structured in form, with callbacks, symbolism and use of parallels between characters. There's a lot going on but it's always clear, at least if you pay attention, especially to things like who is making incorrect assumptions and why Sai says some of the things she does.

And those stunning monologues delivered by Cris which wouldn't be out of place on a theatre stage. They explain a lot, like why Rangrong couldn't have been written as a male character. Amongst other things, societal and parental sexism are very much part of why she is as she is.

There is something of a romance tucked within but it isn't a focus. There are a lot of supportive friends, and a found family accumulating around Sai. The tags I'm asking to be added are mostly heavy but, like the majority of Thai works, it adds plenty of warmth, light and compassion to the shadows.

Three older characters say homophobic things. Three younger characters are very clear in explicitly saying the opposite. This is in keeping with the call for social change in things like approaches to parenting.

I don't know how the 1971 novel treated Rangrong, her mental illness, hatred of (abusive) men/assumption that men will be abusive, or her orientation. The title, Rakkaew (Taproot), has repeated thematic significance regarding parental love (or lack) and the consequences of how children are raised, which suggests those aspects were vital to the novel as well. In the hands of this director, writer and actors, the story is very much an exploration of deep trauma. They are careful to repeatedly and explicitly root Rangrong's actions, feelings and psychological state in the sexist abuse she endured.

If you're looking for GL, this isn't it. If you're looking to watch as a form of fictional gossip, there's plenty to react to. If you're willing to give this your attention, it is compelling and absorbing - like a Shakespearean play with 18 hours to explore and reveal itself.

And it is very much worth that time and attention. Rakkaew is amongst the best I've seen.

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