Reviews

Snooze fest

If you're looking to get bored and waste your time, this is the series for you. I've watched A LOT of BL series and this is by far the worst one I've watched. It had a great start which is why i started watching and the actors have good chemistry and are the only reason i watched until the end, but after the 4th episode you start to wonder how long they're gonna drag it. I'm not against angst but this just went too far and fell flat for me, after the 4th episode i fast forwarded most of it. I feel like it didn't need to be that long, they just dragged it and made a bunch of filler scenes that made no sense, the confession didn't happen until that last 3 episodes, there are like 4 different couples whose storylines never made progress or had a proper ending. Waiting until the last episode for the main characters to actually start dating and realize their feelings for eachother after a 3 year time jump is insane. I honestly wish i had just skipped it, truly the most boring thing I've ever watched.

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When the Morally Gray Deuteragonist absolutely Steals the Show

Exactly as it says in the headline.

It feels ironic that in a drama literally titled 'Warrior Baek Dong Soo', it was not the titular Dong Soo, but the man who (supposedly) stood opposite to him — Yeo Woon, who grabbed by heart right from the beginning up until the end. So much so, that I have to admit that, in contrast, I found Dong Soo's pride and arrogance in the beginning a little annoying and offputting, even though that's meant to be a part of his charm. He's mostly talk and little action, and it is not until the second half of the show that he finally begins to mature and his actions are able to back up his big talk, and that really hampered with my engagement with his character. JCW played him well, it's more the writing that was the issue here.

Dong Soo's argument about fate, though right, also lands rather weak when one considers that he was universally loved and had a strong father figure to lean on, as compared to Yeo Woon, whose own father was horribly abusive and tried to kill him, and then he got taken un by Chun, the textbook example of a narcissistic abuser, who manipulated and abused Woon on a level much worse than his biological father. His conditioning of Woon is much more subtle as compared to the outright violent bio father, but it's still VERY MUCH THERE. When their foundations are so vastly different, and DS knew little to nothing of YW's predicament, his words to Woon about defying fate come off as the empty boastings of a protagonist who has never actually had his beliefs tested. This isn't to justify YW's morally ambiguous actions, but it's simply unfair to put the blame solely on him, when he was dealt a rotten hand right from the beginning. He was a victim just as much as anyone else, and this is almost never acknowledged because of the drama's bs obsession with fate or whatever. It wasn't fate, it was Chun's extreme conditioning of him that rendered Woon unable to express himself in the most important moments, that led him to believe that there truly was no escape for him.

DS also constantly promises YW that he won't give up on him... without actually doing anything to help him. Again, it's a contrast to YW who kept helping them from the shadows. Yes, he did terrible things, but those don't nullify the good he did and the numerous times he helped them at a crucial point— those were his slight attempts at fighting the 'fate' that he had given himself up to, yet none of it is rewarded or acknowledged meaningfully— in the end, he is met with betrayal by one of the only two people he had ever felt happy with, the only ones in whom he had entrusted his hope for redemption of some sort. These elements, along with blaring plot holes and a storyline that was all over the place, were some of, if not my biggest gripe with the show.

Now, grievances aside, I want to talk about the silver lining that actually kept me watching, summed up in just two words: Yeo Woon.

It doesn't hurt that he's played by Yoo Seung Ho, and I can see why so many people who watch WBDS come out a YSH fan because sameee. He portrays Yeo Woon with such nuance, expressing his grief and conflict through his eyes alone, and that takes immense skill. This, juxtaposed with Dongsoo , who wears his heart on his sleeve and both cries and laughs freely, made Yeo Woon's reticent nature pop even more, throwing him into a much more poignant light as compared to all the other characters in the drama. The slightest flicker in his eyes, the delicate sheen of tears in scenes where Yeo Woon is emotionally and morally torn, yet it's all subdued because he has been conditioned both by his past and Chunsoo that vulnerability is not something he is allowed, especially as an assassin— it's all expressed so gut-wrenchingly well that it's impossible to not feel for him and hope that he would find his way out in the end (which is also why the ending lands as so pointlessly tragic; it denied him the honourable ending a character of his calibre deserved).

Another positive is undoubtedly the OST. It's beautiful and the background score that plays in fight scenes is simply awesome. Overall, I'd say it's worth a watch for the captivating Yeo Woon alone, and the specks of bromance that we get between him and Dong Soo, because the two actors have really, really good chemistry.

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I cried... and I laughed... then I cried again

First, I began watching this drama without realizing the emotional rollercoaster I was in for. Of course, the title gives a hint, but somehow I still expected something lighter and more fun. That wasn't quite the case... well, some parts were, but overall, I cried a lot. There was a moment when I was sobbing and asking myself why I hate happiness.
I recommend this drama because, even though it’s hard to watch, it remains essential. We have no idea of ​​the unfortunate situations people face throughout their lives, they suffer because we value money and a good public image more than a human life.
We talk and talk, but ultimately, we have no grasp of reality because we haven't experienced firsthand the pain the other person had to endure. To be honest, I can't even explain the importance of this drama, you simply have to watch it, and I don't want to ruin the impact it has.
I truly wish people understood the value of a human life.

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I hadn’t heard of this series until it popped up in my iQIYI top picks. Dual Stars is proof that you can make a great show on a low budget. In just six 20-something-minute episodes, they managed to tell a cute enemies-to-lovers story about two actors with opposite personalities at different points in their careers who are forced to work together on a controversial BL movie. I loved how what started as a fake romance turned into the real deal. Xu Xinglang is exactly the safe haven Jian Mo needed. Alan Chen and Ray Chen have such cute chemistry and delivered really solid performances. I’ll definitely be checking out their other shows. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it was engaging enough to keep me hooked. It's definitely worth a watch. Also, I am absolutely obsessed with the OST.

P.S. 1: Is the director of the show also Jian Mo’s manager? 🤔

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"Even if the world sees you as a bad person, someone will still love you for who you are."

There are some dramas that are just so good in the most unexpected ways. Never-ending Summer is one of those dramas for me. On paper, it has all the tropes I hate, especially the “almost step-siblings” trope. However, despite having its frustrating moments, this drama has become my ultimate comfort watch, mainly the reason being Lu Xixiao.

Lu Xi Xiao is easily one of my favourite male leads ever. He's an artist, a problem child, a rebellious teen, a clumsy lover, an adult who is not fully an adult, and most importantly, emotionally vulnerable(something romance male leads are scared to be).

He appears confident and nonchalant on the surface, and no one, except Zhou Wan, understood his insecurities, his fears, and loved him despite all his flaws. They become eachother's safe place, as she, too, had to put on a facade of maturity, and he is the only one she could be childish with.

• “I can't pretend anymore. I am only 18”. Lu Xixiao is the only person she can admit this to, and his reply to her confession of being tired of pretending is the reason she gets so scared when he gets harmed later in the show, infront of her, and eventually, leaves him.

• “I've never been really that interested in this world. I never had much hope for the future. Everything just felt kind of boring. But, now that, you’re with me, when I think about the future, I actually find it exciting. I never make promises, or talk about ‘forever’ with anyone, but this time, I really want to say this to you: Zhou Wan, lets spend every summer together from now on”. Despite getting abandoned by both his parents, LXX felt safe enough around ZW to propose something like this, as she healed him, yet she also abandons him, and tells him to forget her, but how could he— when she was the closest thing resembling to a family to him?

I love how ‘Never-ending Summer’ doesn't paint one character as a messiah, and the other as evil incarnate. Both LXX and ZW are flawed characters who hurt eachother, and I wouldn't say their relationship is healthy. It borders on codependency, but what could you expect from two grieving people who have been abandoned? Despite everything they've gone through, their bond is genuinely beautiful. You can tell they both love eachother. Their vacation arc, where they were free from their ‘family’, showed how perfect they're together when the adults in their life don't mess with them.

Talking about the adults in this drama, they're the most infuriating part. None of the adults are responsible, or mature, or rational in the slightest bit. It frustrated me a lot.

Another thing that was frustrating was the second male lead— Jiang Yan. His inferiority complex towards LXX is due to his parents(there are moments where I felt like the reason he still lingers around ZW after getting rejected is cause of he wants to have something LXX has). He resents LXX for getting everything that was supposed to be ‘his’, but that resentment is so misplaced. He crashes out on his mother (understandably so), and LXX, but he works for his father's company. He wants the approval of his father, and he resents the wrong person for not getting it.

Anyways, the casting is perfect. Whoever decided to cast ZKY and BSE in a drama together deserves a raise. Their chemistry is exceptional, and they fit the character so perfectly. ZKY really brought LXX to life. I think it'd be hard for me to watch other ZKY dramas without getting reminded of LXX. I wasn't a fan of BSE’s acting in G2G, but she's great here.

Another thing that I adore about this drama is the OST. Its comforting, and befitting of the show's overall aesthetic. I have them on repeat. Especially ‘When The Milky Way Falls’ by Zhou Ke Yu, and the Sunset Counter one (i am listening to it rn).

Overall, ‘Never-ending Summer’ is a comforting watch. It tackles a lot of heavy topics, like suicide, emotional abuse by family, abandonment issues with care(tho, there's a scene where the ml and fl help a suicidal person, and i hated every bit of it). The main characters with estranged families are relatable, and the romance between the leads feel genuine. The editing might seem a bit weird at times, but the aesthetic of this drama is so beautiful. Its one of those dramas that'd make you fall in love with summer.

^^Bonus(yeah there's more):

• “She actually just stepped out of time. She returned to earth’s most primitive components— atoms, molecules. In the future, she will slowly return to you in another form. When it rains heavily, or the wind blows hard in the future, she can be the big tree that shelters you from the wind and rain. When winter comes, she can also be the sweater that keeps you warm”. Lu Xixiao says this to Zhou Wan after her grandma dies, and its such a beautiful way to view death. Instead of saying something clichéd, he answers in a way that is so him. ZW's mother keeps saying Lu Xixiao is just like his father, but I think he's more like his mother— artistic, sensitive, loving, and obviously, miserable :(

If you decide to watch this drama after reading my long review(tbh this is more of a character analysis), I'd tell you to focus more on the characters, rather than the overall story. Its a very clichéd plot, but the characters make it unique. Also, LXX is adorable<3

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Perfect all round happy ending for all

When I started this show I knew I would be getting 5 different storylines for all the pairings so I knew it would be an entertaining show. What I wasn't expecting was for it to be so varied in genres within those storylines.
It gave us longing, drama, rivalry, family secrets, forced proximity, healing, and more drama in all shapes and forms including murder mistery!

I will say though, that I personally got a little bit bored during Shouhua's arc so I skipped a couple scenes to get through it quicker, but that's my personal preference in regards to pacing. There's a little bit of everything for everyone in here.
My favorite sister was Leshan, maybe because I identify with being the youngest and fiercest in my family, but my favorite relationship arc was Haode's, followed by Kangning's.

The ending was quite satisfying with everyone happy and that's all I'll say on that.

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Spicy Ryan Ren scenes loosely stitched together with plot

I started out questioning the wisdom of the FLs choice to sport open toe'd, strappy heels as she marched across the soaking wet grass in the pouring rain (I would have slipped, sunk in the mud, & fallen on my face) - although, from a visual standpoint the scene was gorgeously cinematic.
I was quickly distracted by the unexpected appearance of our very gorgeous, dead guy taking our FL down for a spicy make out session... on his coffin?
This tells us a few things.
1. Ren Ren is crazy hot no matter what what you ask him to do.
2. If you are expecting a logical, plot based story, you have come to the wrong place.

Embrace the steamy goodness, but don't ask too many questions about things like timeline congruity or feasibility.

Once I embraced the chaos I found myself really enjoying this. I was even kind of surprised that I wanted to rate it 8, because I rarely give web dramas above 7.
The fact that this easily has the highest kiss count I have ever seen May have something to do with that...

Sometimes the FL's character got on my nerves because they liked using the old "a clueless idiot is funny" trope, which I find that annoying.
Other times she was utterly adorable and really funny.

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Slow and motives are confusing without context (understanding Korean corruption in the 80s)

My Rating: 8/10

Review

This is a good but not great crime drama. It features a serial killer element that will appeal to fans of those types of stories, along with some romantic moments, though it’s not a romance—it’s primarily focused on justice and current crimes. I would recommend it to anyone interested in court dramas, especially those involving a killer on the loose. People familiar with certain Korean history, particularly events that occurred in the 1980s, will likely find it particularly interesting, as they are more likely to understand some of the nuances. Fans of the lead actors will appreciate their strong performances. I wouldn’t watch it again, as it felt a bit slow and confusing at times. 

What I Liked

I really enjoyed the two main characters: Noh Chak-Hee (public defender, formerly corporate lawyer) and Jwa Si-Baek (public defender). Jwa Si-Baek was always very serious, which made complete sense given what he had gone through. Lee Kyu-hyung did a great job portraying that almost flat, emotionless but still kind type of character.

I loved Noh Chak-Hee’s character development. She started out extremely immoral, selfish, and corrupt as a high-powered lawyer, but humbling herself as a public defender helped her find her human side. Jwa Si-Baek played a big part in that, and I really liked their interchanges—they felt authentic, like two people who would naturally banter and complement each other. Other viewers have echoed this, appreciating how their dynamic drives the story.

The deeper dive into legal, social, and political themes added layers that made it more engaging for me (in my 50s) than for my daughter (who is in her 30s and rated it closer to a 7/10, finding much of it dry and boring).

What I Didn’t Like

I was disappointed when Noh Chak-Hee suspected Jwa Si-Baek of killing her grandfather. By that point, she should have known him better, especially given the timeline of one particular night that would have made it virtually impossible for him to have been the serial killer. Since he was tortured, and they knew that by then, she should have known it was the serial killer. The police officer saw through it more readily as she doubted Jwa Si-Baek's guilt despite his confession. But Noh Chak-Hee remained deeply suspicious and didn’t initially look for other possibilities. I know she was grieving initially but, in giving the other side evidence, she crossed some thick ethics lines. I thought she had progressed past that. I also wished there had been more development around why he confessed (a discussion explaining to her) and just a deeper conversation between them in general. 

After she learned it wasn’t him, they didn’t really talk about it—no real expression of remorse from her for how harshly she treated him, even though she had viewed her grandfather as family and later discovered the horrible things he had done. She was blaming the victim. And I thought she should have acknowledged that. Especially finding out he wasn't the one who killed the grandfather. That missing emotional payoff felt like a letdown. Their relationship did not feel fully heeled from the hurt they caused each other.

The historical and political context (drawing from real Korean history where authorities targeted people for political or social reasons, using torture and false accusations) helped explain some otherwise confusing lack of clear motives. Once I looked that up, the story clicked more, but I shouldn’t have needed external research for it to fully make sense. Other viewers have noted similar confusion around the motives without that background.

There was so much potential for romance between Noh Chak-Hee and Jwa Si-Baek, but her suspicions seemed to kill a lot of that momentum toward the end. They implied some reconciliation, and he probably understood her reactions, but I was disappointed we didn’t get more from it. They were actually a very believable couple. And I enjoyed their interactions. I did miss their being a romance with them.

Noh Chak-Hee didn’t fully break out as a standout lawyer after becoming a public defender. There were a few impressive moments, but overall it didn’t feel like she truly shone in that new arena. She was so fixated on going back. Even after she saw how immoral and unethical some of her past actions had been she was still so tied in with that law firm. It still seemed like her ultimate goal.

The ending was not very satisfying. There was little emotional payoff—no real discussion between the leads about what they thought of each other, where she might have gone wrong, or where he might have. The trial resolution felt implied rather than shown, and while public opinion turning helped, it lacked a bigger rewarding payoff (like some form of justice or closure). It left me wanting more resolution overall.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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GO WATCH THIS PLEASE I AM BEGGING

It's been a hot minute since I saw this drama but I just had to come back for a review.
To anyone who has not yet watched this or the ones debating whether or not they should give Litchi a shot, and perhaps even the ones who've seen it once already, PLEASE WATCH IT. It's a beautiful drama that's more art rather than your classic formulaic BL and THANK GOD, because it is truly so valuable in its core with the symbolism and the deeply philosophical questions that are touched on in the series. Let alone the phenomenal acting, directing and cinematographical work!! ART!!!

Let me take a quick dive: I've seen some of the BTS material and when you watch the directing and how the actors pick up the instructions and use them, it's fascinating to see and makes you understand how much intent and skill lies behind every shot, every frame. The emotions, the quiet moments where there's no dialogue and only body language, really show just how amazing the actors are. The directing pushed this work to its highest quality in terms of storytelling. You were forced to immerse yourself in the story because it truly came alive onscreen and pulled you in with its distinct vibrant feel and display of emotions. This story was crafted with intent, love for the cause and it seemed to me that it is truly the creators' idea fleshed out, you can feel the soul in it. This is not something you can binge-watch and forget again.

Phew. Okay. What I originally came here to say was, that everyone who hasn't done it yet, should go check the studio's YouTube account where they released the episodes (I believe all of them are still uploaded and accessible for free) and go read the comments of the creators. They put a lot of thought into this drama and Lizzy even replied to comments asking about the philosophical values of the show. It was this that led me down a rabbit hole of philosopher Hegel's work. This show is nuanced, masterfully curated with attention to detail and visually stunning, with amazing acting and a soundtrack that makes every second memorable and enjoyable. Go watch!

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