Reviews

A wonderfully complex drama about, first and foremost, the camaraderie of two women, and second a legal drama about divorce lawyers. Jang Nara and Nam Jihyun have a real sense of chemistry that really makes the last few episodes of this feel more bitter than sweet. I wouldn't go and recommend against watching it, but I hope others at least know what I mean.

Divorce/adultery arc is fantastic, and provides a lot more nuance and emotion than other more simplistic portrayals in movies and TV often do. The social commentary is constantly there, with feminist themes that feel like they're genuine instead of cashing in on a social zeitgeist or hot news stories like some other dramas can at times. It feels honest, and that's nice. I adored how Han Yu-ri was portrayed as not wanting to be in a relationship without the show condemning her for it.

And then the last few episodes. Boy. They aren't bad enough to invalidate the rest of the show's quality but they are enough to drop it a few places down in my mental ranking. First, we get shoved into a really overwrought tonal shift that takes the nuance and empathy for victims and turns it into your typical "evil chaebol heir tries to get away with literal murder" shit that works in a makjang but definitely not something subtle and grounded in real world issues like this. It could've been done well, but I also feel dirty. And then in two episodes it's all settled and we may as well have never seen that happen.

And then they ruin the other thing I loved, which was Han Yuri. To be blunt, I despise her and Eunho. As friends they can be tolerable, but he's so pushy and irritating that it feels like he always has a chip on his shoulder about the time he was told no, like he's investigating Yuri for lying to him about not wanting a relationship. Dating app episode being a prime example. Just can't stand the fucking guy.

So, of course, we have them actually get together because Han Yuri the misguided lost young woman has to end up in a relationship with a male coworker because this is how things have to go. You put the pop idol in your show, he has to get with the female lead. Honestly, as someone who can't really give a shit about Korean pop music post Uhm Junghwa, it made a lot of sense when I learned where his origins are. I try to be rude as little as possible but I just really don't like that character and I hope since Nam Jihyun isn't returning and their arc is "complete" we can see a better, less irritating side of him. Please don't mention anything about their marriage, I don't think I could handle thinking of Han Yuri in a relationship.

Embarrassing as hell, but I honestly got the same feeling seeing a ring on her finger as I did when I learned at 19 that a rather close (church, naturally) friend I'd grown up with since I was a very small child was getting married to some guy I had never met. Just endless things swirling around my head, like, is this really what you want, or is this just religious and societal pressure? Maybe airing things out too much, but I just get this weird feeling about their dynamic.

Worse part is, we have Cha Eunkyung right there, with a man she has genuine chemistry with where building a relationship would make sense. I get her character is focusing on divorce and family first, but if you absolutely need to have a heterosexual relationship, why not Woojin? It wouldn't make me feel like I'm falling through my own legs in confusion. And of course he isn't returning for S2 either, so that's a plot thread left permanently unresolved. I'd also suggest a third relationship option involving Eunkyung, Yuri, and neither male lead, and I'm perhaps considering it canon no matter the story... but I digress. I'm beginning to realise that I've always been a sucker for "older, professional, level headed woman who's a little too rigid" and "younger firebrand who's a little too willing to piss people off" ships. Anything that reminds me of Halt and Catch Fire or Queenmaker's main lesbian ships, I'm there.

Anyways, I'm glad I got this introduction to Jang Nara (and Nam Jihyun!), consider me a new fan. I was disappointed to see that Jihyun isn't returning, as she's half the lifeblood of the show, but despite her relationship I like the way her character arc was resolved. I can think of millions of worse actors to compliment Jang Nara than Kim Hyeyoon, and I'm excited for later this year when we see them together. I'm sure Hyeyoon is tired at this point of that one role following her around but I would like to see a little bit of "Yehsuh as a lawyer" with season 2. It just feels right that she would end up choosing that path.

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this could have been amazing

The idea was promising. It had so much potential. Wu came with an interesting concept, a fantasy world, unique characters, and impressive production elements. The CGI, the atmosphere, and the variety of characters were all there. On paper, it had everything needed to become something special. But somehow, the execution stayed on the surface.

Watching Wu felt like eating a pizza that looks absolutely mouth-watering—the presentation is beautiful, the toppings are exciting, and you can't wait for the first bite. But once you taste it, you realize it is missing something. Not bland, not bad, but lacking the seasoning that would make it unforgettable.

The fact that I finished the entire series says that Wu is still enjoyable to watch. It has enough charm, visuals, and interesting elements to keep me invested until the end.

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If you're looking for a good biopic movie centred on Ip Man, this movie is a good intro to you. Donnie Yen did do a good job in embodying the role of Ip Man and portraying the strength of the Wing Chun martial art style that may often get belittled, just because it was created by a woman. The storyline is pretty simple, as we get to see how Ip Man had been living peacefully in Foshan before his life was upended after the Japanese invaded China. While at first, he preferred to remain in passivity and refused to take in disciples despite his impressive martial arts skills, Ip Man ended up making a choice to stand up against the Japanese and help his fellow countrymen during times of need.

If you're expecting this movie to just be an impactful action movie, you may end up being disappointed since there were quite a number of slow scenes... as well as some interludes of several historical events that happened in between the story. There were some parts that weren't quite satisfying to me, as there wasn't much focus on Ip Man's relationship with his wife and son and how his status as a martial artist affects them indirectly, which made the latter scene that's supposed to be emotional, feel a bit lacking. And the movie seemed to be unable to decide between being a story about Ip Man or being a documentary about the life during the period Ip Man lived in. If you're used to high-impact action movies like those directed by Tsui Hark, you may find this movie a bit boring for most of its duration. But if you don't mind all that, you may give this movie a try.

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Between Pages and Politics: Masks, Meals and Muted Revolutions

How Dare You takes a familiar transmigration premise and gives it a softer, smarter edge. Wang Cui Hua an ordinary workplace rookie suddenly lands inside a novel’s world and finds herself teamed up with Zhang San another transmigrator hiding behind the identity of a quiet hidden king. What follows is less about flashy plot twists and more about how two people learn to survive, trust and protect each other inside a world that seems determined to crush them.

What makes the drama work is the balance between its leads. Wang Cui Hua brings a lively, practical energy that keeps the story grounded, while Zhang San’s restrained presence gives the romance and political tension a steady pulse. Their dynamic feels genuine because it grows through shared danger, small acts of care and an unspoken understanding that survival is not just about staying alive but about staying true to oneself.

The drama also handles its court intrigue with a measured hand. It doesn’t rush to expose every scheme at once which gives the betrayals and shifting alliances more weight when they finally surface. Once the cruel prophecy about one of them not surviving is brought into focus the story becomes even more emotionally layered because the characters are forced to confront how much they are willing to sacrifice for a future they may never fully see.

Visually and structurally the series stays consistent even if it doesn’t always aim for grandeur. The costumes and setting support the mood well and the supporting cast adds enough texture to keep the world from feeling empty. Prince Duan and Xie Yong Er in particular help sharpen the emotional and political stakes without distracting from the central pairing.

Overall, How Dare You is a satisfying watch for anyone who enjoys slow-burn romance, survival-driven storytelling and dramas where affection grows out of strategy, loyalty and shared hardship. It may not reinvent the genre but it tells its story with enough heart and restraint to leave a lasting impression.

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the unnecessary sequel

If you already watched the prequel, ITSAY, and were satisfied with the happy ending and the character development, you can honestly skip this one. However, if you still can't get enough of Billkin and PP's chemistry, then you should definitely give this a try.

The quality itself did not decrease. The chemistry is still there, and the execution remains good. The problem for me is the character development, which feels like it took a step backward.

A lot of people dislike the cheating storyline, but personally, I don't think the plot point itself was unrealistic or forced. It actually felt like something that could happen in a relationship, especially when someone is entering a new phase of life and gets caught up between personal ambition, temptation, and emotional immaturity. My problem isn't with the storyline—it’s with the characters' choices and how they handled the situation. Teh's betrayal was frustrating and watching Oh-aew chose to take him back in the end makes it unsatisfying.

So, while I Promised You the Moon is still well-made and Billkin-PP's chemistry remains its biggest strength, the emotional experience is much more complicated. It doesn't ruin the series, but it does make me miss the character growth and emotional satisfaction that ITSAY gave.

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if you don't like this genre skip this but if this is your cup of tea don't trust the ratings

THE RATING IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIGHER. I understand that this genre might not be for everyone, but the execution is genuinely strong.

What impressed me the most was the acting. Every actor brought their character to life—you won't find stiff expressions, awkward body language, or performances that feel forced. The emotions feel natural, and even the quieter moments carry weight. If you want to see how GMMTV can maximize their actors' talents, I think 10 Years Ticket is a good example. It shows that their artists are capable of handling heavier material and delivering performances with real emotional depth.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but the quality of the writing, direction, and acting deserves more recognition than the current rating suggests.
(notes: low rewatch value rating is because it's heavy and emotionally draining)

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Came for the Action, Stayed for the Laugh

In the midst of transition between Goryeo and Joseon era, a loyalist soldier Jang Sojeong became a traitor when he went against his commander (who turned to be the future first king of joseon) and had to become a bandit in the mountains. As he led his small army of ex-loyalist bandits, they came upon the news that the Royal Seal bestowed by the Ming Dynasty was swallowed up by a whale on its way back to Joseon and that the navy is searching for it. Seeing this as an opportunity to hold the seal hostage against his ex commander now king, he led his ragtag of mountain bandits to the sea in search for the whale, clashing against the pirate Captain Yeo Wol and her shipmates in their fight against former pirate Captain Soma and the Joseon Navy.

The movie started off on a serious tone when ML had that fight against an army of soldiers during his mutiny, then that scene of Yeo Wol taking over the pirate ship after Soma decided to sell his men out to the Joseon Navy. I never thought this would turn out a comedy instead with the mountain bandits keep getting into mishaps in their efforts to hunt the whale. I laughed non stop, and the seasick pirate-turned-mountain bandit Chul-Bong who had to return to the sea when his chief decided to hunt a whale was the actual star of attraction. The mishaps that happened here looked so natural and fun. The waterwheel scene reminded me of the scene on Pirates of Caribbean though, they must have inspired by it cuz the similarity was too striking.

I love the FL Yeo Wol is such a badass that never really turn into damsel in distress for the sake of making the ML look cool. She has her own story, fights and make decisions that she doesnt falter from just because the ML hoodwinked her.

I love the ML too, he’s fun, he’s tough and he’s a gentleman enough for a bandit. Love seeing his banter with his banditmates. Psst, he’s good looking too!

The ending is somewhat depressing for the whale, but a good ending for the mainleads. Each had their revenge exacted the way they wanted it.

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Never Ending Summer (炽夏)

The best drama ever in 2026, their chemistry is very good, a very romantic drama and a love full of struggle with a happy ending. Really liked the couple Zhou Keyu and Bao Shang En. Hopefully they will be reunited in another very good drama too.


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The pioneering work of the Thai GL TV series worth watch again and again

The pioneering work of the Thai GL TV series was able to completely open up the commercial market due to the unparalleled chemistry between the main characters and the deep and delicate love they shared. It inspired everyone to hold on to their love. Viewers who had similar experiences were moved to tears and thanked the show for showing them the possibility of achieving something beautiful. If you watch this series, you will understand why it became a pioneering work. Although the acting skills of the actors were a bit immature, the extreme tension compensated for this, and it is worth repeated appreciation.

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As someone who loves rom-com K-dramas, I'm probably the target audience for this. Whenever I'm craving romance, K-dramas are always my go-to. So repetitive tropes like modern monarchies, contract marriages, and (not-so) enemies-to-lovers don't bother me at all—in fact, I enjoy them when they're executed well. That's why Perfect Crown had been on my watchlist long before it premiered. The cast alone had me sold. IU and Byeon Woo-seok, together they just looked expensive. I expected them to deliver something memorable. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it.

The biggest issue for me was IU's character. Instead of being a charming female lead, she came across as simply unlikeable. I kept waiting for the moment I'd understand or root for her, but it never really happened.

Even more disappointing was the chemistry—or rather, the lack of it. For a romance, chemistry is everything, and I just didn't feel it between IU and Byeon Woo-seok's characters. Individually, they're both charismatic actors, but together, something just didn't click. Ironically, the premise wasn't the problem. I love this kind of story. The actors weren't the problem either. On paper, Perfect Crown had everything I usually look for in a rom-com. It just never came together in a way that made me want to keep watching.

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Well-Researched, Yet...

I can tell the director put a lot of effort into researching this series. The behind-the-scenes documentation of the production made me expect that the Catholic aspects would be handled with care, and for the most part, they were. That said, the one thing that kept bothering me was the ordination timeline. I genuinely thought the one who was going to be ordained was BarthTanrak's adopted son (I was assuming they adopted a child or maybe children), but it turned out to be Kongdech instead. I know there's no maximum age for ordination in the Catholic Church, and people can certainly become priests later in life. But speaking about what's usually the case, someone who enters the seminary after high school would normally be ordained in their mid-20s. A "20 years later" ordination puts Kongdech around his mid-30s, and the series never really gives us a reason why his formation would have taken that much longer. It's not impossible—it just felt a little off.
Another tiny thing that lowkey annoyed me was: Tanrak sighs. A lot. Like... "hhhheuy." Every. Single. Time. I kept thinking, "Is your life really that heavy, nhoo?"

Moving on to the good stuff. The idea, the plot, and the execution are genuinely great. What I loved the most was Barth's backstory. His struggle with God wasn't only because "I'm gay, therefore I hate God." It went much deeper than that, which made his character so much more compelling.
And lastly, thank you, Gemini, for bringing back crying with snot. That is, unironically, my gold standard for a convincing crying scene.

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The wonderfools is an absolute masterpiece

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10! The Wonderfools is an absolute masterpiece. The perfect mix of mystery, action, comedy, suspense, and heartfelt emotions. Cha Eun-woo delivered a powerful, natural, and emotional performance. His acting was natural, powerful, and emotionally convincing. He portrayed his character with remarkable depth, expressing every emotion with sincerity and making every scene feel authentic. Whether the moment required intensity, vulnerability, humor, or determination, he handled it brilliantly. This is undoubtedly one of his strongest performances, showcasing his growth and versatility as an actor.The entire cast was outstanding. Highly recommended! ❤️

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