Reviews

She's Got Some Things to Figure Out and You are Along for the Ride

Rating: 10/10

I wasn't sure about this one when I first read the synopsis. It sounded a little vague, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Now that I've watched it, I understand why! Ji-an (Jeong Ji-an) doesn't know what's going on either, so we're discovering the truth right alongside her.

I loved the way the story unfolds through her perspective while gradually giving us more insight into Jin-man (Jeong Jin-man) through flashbacks. I'm not usually a fan of lots of flashbacks, but they work here. I especially liked when we saw an event from Ji-an's perspective and then got to revisit it briefly from Jin-man's. Those little changes in perspective added so much to the story.

The action was fantastic! I'm a big fan of action movies, so that definitely influenced my rating. There are moments that remind me of Mission: Impossible, Rambo, and even The Terminator. It's hard to compare it to just one thing because it blends so many elements together.

Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun were excellent. Jin-man is such an intriguing character, and I loved learning more about him. Ji-an can be frustrating at times (there were definitely moments when I wanted to yell, "Just shoot him already!"), but she's also a young woman thrown into an unimaginable situation. Most people wouldn't find it easy to pull the trigger, so I can understand her hesitation.

I loved this drama enough that I would happily watch it again. I'm sure I missed things the first time around, and knowing more about the story would make a rewatch interesting.

It's definitely not for everyone. There's plenty of violence, blood, and gore, and it's not the drama to choose if you're looking for a strong romance or something lighthearted. But if you love action thrillers, mystery, suspense, and interesting characters, I highly recommend it!

I was also VERY happy that Jin-man wasn't really dead. I had been hoping for that the entire time! The ending would have frustrated me if I'd had to wait for the next season, so I'm glad I can go straight into Season 2.

10/10 from me! Great action, great acting, an intriguing story, and a rewatch definitely on the cards.

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Tis the season

Love in Disguise is an excellent drama. That is my one liner - in full... I can explain the rest of why I think this drama is so amazing below. I just wanted to briefly share that it is really good, and if you are looking for a 'should I watch... or should I not...' I would lean towards the should watch.

I was on the fence for watching this, simply because I am a busy person. I forgot the reason I watch dramas is because I want a break, and like to watch them for some relief.... recently not a lot of dramas have done that - korean wise.

I have slumps between korean, Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dramas. Right now, for the first time in a long time, there are at least one from each that I'm watching and trying to stay up to date with. Love in Disguise is one of them, and it is the one that I believe in the most.

What do I believe in? That this drama will follow through with its writing, production, acting... that sort of thing. I think the only thing this drama is missing is a great ost. I would see it getting more buzz like a few years back with Lovely Runner if it did have some music people would connect with.

WIP

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You want to know what comes next

Things I adored

1 The FL actress. She's gorgeous, the perfect body, the perfect face and quite a talent. I will definitely search for her other dramas. I'd love to see her in a rom com.

2 Yu Meng, the FL character. She was tough yet soft. Smart, playful and funny. I know sometimes you can be temped to yell at her to do something else, but I won't focus on that. Not when all in all the actress gave a great performance and the character came alive. I loved that she took time to find her path before committing to anything in her personal life. That was sensible.

3 The outfits of the FL. They were gorgeous. I think I didn't dislike a single one, and I always spot awful outfits in dramas. Here I think everyone was well dressed, but she was fabulous.

4 The intro music. I just loved that song. I listened to it once the episode started and again when it ended. I think it was perfect and that is the second or third time I like a song that much.

Things I loved

1 The little girl. What an adorable child. Although she didn't have many scenes, the actress did a great job, and the character was also cute and loveable.

2 Kang Long. What an easy wonderful character. I didn't like the way they didn't show more about his relationship with the 2FL and the little girl, but he did a great job to make me love the character. Charismatic and also a loyal friend and partner professionally and personally.

3 Harry. The actors is handsome and a great actor. He made me feel for him and I was rooting for him to be happy. He also may have some laps in judgment but he was a decent person and for his age that is more than commendable. I loved his relationship with the FL, the attorney and his mom. He was a good kid that had two crazy parents, so it's a miracle he survived. I would have loved to see him later in his life. He's the one we didn't get a glimpse. A shame.

4 The ML. At first I thought I wouldn't like him, but I was soon conquered. I'm not saying he's on my favorite actors list, but I don't mind watching him in another drama. Only one thing bothered me. He reminded me a lot another actor and that for some reason was always on my mind. His character was great, though. He was also a decent person and his attempt to help his ex-colleague was something I loved.

5 Weng Yue. I think the actress is beautiful and talented and I loved her character. I was so happy about the way she came through for the FL and how they worked together to save her sister. I'd love to see other dramas with her.

6 Wen Xiao Xiao. Yes, she was meant to be a villain, but her arc was much more interesting. I loved the actress, beautiful and talented, but also her character. It wrung true since I do know from experience that when we are young we misjudge things a lot and I loved even more how her relationship with the FL ended.

7 Dong Jun. I loved the character and how loyal was to the FL.

8 The plot itself. I thought it was quite well done, although there were some things that didn't make sense and could have been better. But the whole arc was great and quite logic. Well, logic when people go crazy, but still. It was a good revenge story and not too dark. I skip more revenge stories because the people who seek revenge cross the line, but here she was perfect the FL.

Things I liked

1 The 2FL. She is a pretty woman and she was okay as character and as actress. I just didn't love her for several reasons although most aren't her fault. I didn't like the way she dealt with her daughter and Kang Long. I thought she was a little nonsensical sometimes and she irritated me. That said, she was a great friend and a loyal person. I loved her relationship with her daughter as well.

2 The relationship between the lawyer and the FL. I can't say I found they had the best chemistry, something was missing, but they had some sweet banter and I wanted them together. Unfortunately, although it didn't bother me that much, we didn't have time to see them explore their personal relationship, but the plot was compelling enough for me not to care. I would have loved a kiss though, or something more than what we had.

Things I disliked

1 The way they treated the second couple. We didn't have enough time with them, not enough conversations between them, not enough scenes with the little girl. The resolution was anticlimactic and to be honest I didn't see any chemistry between them. That was the major fault in that relationship. There was no spark between them, even when they clashed, it was too tepid. So this part was a failure to me and one of the reasons I lowered my rating to 9 instead of 10.

2 The mother of the FL. Yes she became reasonable later on but in the first episodes she irritated me so so much. I hate idiotic women, especially when they try to trap their children with nonsense. At least she redeemed herself.

3 Lu Hui. I can't put her in the list of hated since she was a victim after all. Did she do many awful things? Yes. But when you count them they all come from the same place. Her desire to protect her son. She wasn't really greedy, she never hurt someone on purpose, she even saved the father of the FL, and her only weakness was that she trusted a man who lied to her from the very first minute. Although we get to forget being compassionate over time I do know that when you are dealt with a dirty hand it's not always easy to find a way out. I'm happy with how she came clean and paid for her crimes and could be free and a better parent. Not to mention that it was sweet to see her side with the FL and help her. A complex character in a way although still not a great person.

4 President Tian. He was an idiot and I don't care if he came to his senses later.

Things I hated

1 Di Li Ren. Which means he did a great job the actor, although he's not my kind of handsome, he was good in his role and believable. Even though the FL was clearly much younger their couple didn't seem unnatural. Of course his character was well done and there were many surprises along for the viewer to continue to care about the next chapter. I'll be honest, I didn't expect him to go that kind of lengths to keep the company and I didn't expect him to have that kind of connection to the FL's father death. I was even surprised sometimes to pity him. That shows how good he was in his role. He was unredeemable until the last minute yet I sill had some kind of pity for him, and I shouldn't. He was despicable from start to finish.

2 Han Guang. I hated him even more than the ML: First of all, I dislike thoroughly the actor, although he played well the slimy despicable person. No pity whatsoever for him and I wish him a slow death. More about what he did to his wife than the rest. I think he was the character I hated most in this drama and I was happy never to see him again after a certain episode.

3 Peng Cheng. I hate the actor and apparently he specializes in awful characters. I have to admit I hated his character but that mean she did a good job.

4 The last scene with Di Li Ren and Lu Hui. I thought it was cruel and unnecessary and that is what made lower the rating. I'm sorry but what was the point of it? We had everything we need to be happy, why would we need to imagine that Lu Hui would be responsible for Di Li Ren and was bent to get revenge? Sorry that made me mad actually, They ruined the drama for me.

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The Double… and when the mask came off, I found Scarlett O’Hara

The series began with our Cinderella fighting her way out of poverty, facing her evil double, and constantly battling everyone who wanted her dead. Even her marriage was nothing more than a contract. But when the mask finally came off, I realized I recognized that face… or rather, the woman behind it. It’s Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind! Geez…

A woman fiercely independent, controlling, manipulative, and seemingly incapable of recognizing the love standing right in front of her. Yes, she helped the pooor, and I won’t deny the good she did, but even that came with a purpose. Like so many people she encountered along the way, they became part of her plans, pawns in her chess game, means of achieving whatever goal she had set for herself. Somewhere between fighting for survival and gaining power, our Cinderella became so obsessed with controlling her own destiny that, unknowingly, she started controlling everyone else’s. Even her love story…

And what about Lu Zhuo? He played the perfect Rhett Butler, madly, almost obsessively in love with his Scarlett. Yet dspite being such a strong character himself, he was reduced to a supporting role from beginning to end. And that fire in the finale? Tell me it didn’t remind you of the famous burning scenes in Gone with the Wind! The similarities were difficult to ignore.

Here’s the irony. What I loved about this series was the strength and determination of A Chou/Wei Rao. What I disliked was that very same strength and determination becoming practically the sole driving force of the entire script. Just like Tian Xiwei’s knife-wielding butcher in Pursuit of Jade, our heroine was almost unstoppable. Her anger and thirst for vengeance never seemed to fade, and some of her more emotional performances felt a little overbearing. I was reminded of that scene in Pursuit of Jade when the neighbors were killed. Different drama, same overwhelming intensity.

And then there’s the storytellling. The rinse and repeat cycle eventually wore me down. Another enemy, another deception, another battle for our Wonder Woman to win. Then suddenly, toward the end, everything came crashing together like Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. Characters, revelations, and conflicts all arriving at once, as though the writers suddenly realized they were running out of episodes.

And TBH, the ending fell flatter than a pancake. No amount of crying or additional fighting could rescue it. After all that buildup, I expected an emotional explosion, something that would make the entire journey worthwhile. Instead, it lacked the intensity and emotional payoff I’d been waiting for. It was like having the most intense foreplay imaginable… only for everything to end in premature ejaculation. All that anticipation, and I’m left staring at the screen thinking… seriously, that’s it?

Ultimately, this was a story about a woman determined to gain control over her destiny, with everyone around her falling like chess pieces. Some sacrificed, some manipulated, some loved her unconditionally, but almost everyone served her journey toward power.

I started this drama expecting Cinderella and Prince Charming. I ended up watching Scarlett O’Hara conquer her world while Rhett Butler stood patiently in the background.

And that’s my biggest disappointment. This wasn’t really a love story… it was her story. Unlike Against the Current, which explored the life, love, and struggles of its heroine while allowing the people around her to have stories of their own, this drama seemed determined to make everyone else’s existence revolve around one woman.

I have no problem with a strong woman leading the story. I just wish the writers had remembered that even Scarlett O’Hara needed Rhett Butler to make Gone with the Wind unforgettable.

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Xiao Zhan is describing as "intelligent, meticulous, skilled, and kind

Xiao Zhan intentionally lost weight and spent time in a real hospital to experience the daily routine of a doctor. He even observed a live craniotomy, focusing on learning every detail—even when faced with exposed brain tissue.
Medical consultants highly praised him, describing him as "intelligent, meticulous, skilled, and kind"—qualities that shine brightly through his character, "Liu Zhengliang."
It is incredibly refreshing to see a medical drama that shows such deep respect for the profession.
Jiang Yan isn’t your typical C-drama heroine. She’s earthy, witty, and full of that Dongbei realism.
Born in Northeast China, she nails the accent, humor, and everyday grit.
She even studied the funeral business for this role. Dedication level
She’s known for grounded, natural acting—exactly what Small Town Prescription needs. Pairing her with Xiao Zhan shows the crew values skill over hype.
Some fans questioned why Xiao Zhan no longer pairs with top-traffic actresses.
But that’s the point.
He’s moved into content-driven projects, focusing on acting depth and realism.
From Duolo Continet to The Hidden Sea—he’s evolving fast.

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Overall a Great Series, But Leaving It Unfinished For Season 2? Be For Real ?

I know I know — I’m incredibly late to the party and everyone has probably moved on by now, but I finally finished the series.
TL;DR: It’s a good series overall with a great musical score, excellent humour, and a solid attempt at Western-style cinematography. However, the ending is incredibly frustrating because they left things completely unfinished just to force the prospect of a Season 2, ruined by confusing superpower rules, unnecessary romance, and an overlong finale with terrible pacing.
The humour in this show was actually great, but they tried way too hard to make Cha Eun-woo look cool all the time, which became pretty annoying after a while. The superpower rules also became completely confusing, especially in the last episode. If they spent an episode or two training or learning a pattern, how could they not have a grasp on it? Chae-ni just kept appearing and disappearing or needed a stupid excuse like coffee to make things work.
To make matters worse, the romance aspect was completely unnecessary. It felt incredibly forced, and when they actually tried to focus on it, it just felt completely one-sided.
What I really want to moan about, though, is that last episode. The extra-long duration was totally unnecessary, packed with scenes that easily could have been cut. The main villain suddenly shifted for no reason whatsoever. They didn't bother to explain what actually happened to Chae-ni when she disappeared—leaving everyone clueless as to whether she was even alive or dead—and then out of the blue, she just comes back looking incredibly rough.
Instead of fixing these gaps, they dragged us through two long-ass reunions at the end when they could have easily done it all in one. It was so obvious they only split it up just to shove that romantic undertone they keep trying to push down our throats.
It is so annoying when a show leaves massive loose ends just to push for a renewal. You can easily tie up a series arc properly and still leave the door open for a continuation. While the music and cinematography make it an enjoyable watch, they completely sacrificed a satisfying conclusion just to chase a sequel.

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Father Johan Would Boost Church Attendance

#Halloween Watches

This review is for both seasons.

The Good:
• Cha Eun Woo looked amazing as the supernatural priest, Father Johan. In his black cassock and white collar, he was a striking representative of heaven. However, when he was garbed in casual clothes, his attitude changed, and I wished he'd been kept in his priestly character more consistently. This was my favorite role of his. Cha Eun Woo was always beautiful on screen, but I felt he nailed this role without relying on his stellar visuals. I kept thinking there was something more to this priest, something darker, that was never revealed. Perhaps that was saved for the season that never was. His action scenes were outstanding, also. He could easily do a spinoff as Father Johan, and I'd watch every moment.
• Kim Nam Gil and Lee Da Hee were perfection in their roles: he as the tortured lust demon and she as the poor rich girl who was dropped into the midst of a horror story.

The Bad:
• For a shorter drama, it was unnecessarily convoluted and disjointed. The FL was sent to the island, as a punishment, to fill in as a teacher, but it seemed she worked one or two days and was off brooding elsewhere the rest of the time.
• I wrote about Father Johan's inconsistent character, so I should mention the FL, too. She started as a strong, resilient, and even abrasive character. Later episodes reduced her to a crying damsel in distress. I understand she suffered loss and faced monsters, but she shouldn't have fallen apart like that.
• I hate, with a fiery passion, when a drama introduces a new villain late in the game and then goes absolutely nowhere with him. I suppose The Powers That Be were counting on another season that didn't materialize, but it left so many loose ends that the drama frayed.
• Cue that freaking time skip at the end! We resumed the story without any explanations, opened new possibilities, and then, nothing. End scene, and everyone went home.

Well, it tried. The drama started strong and snarling, but it ended wobbling and whimpering. The actors gave compelling performances in this muddled drama, but that couldn't resuscitate the script. I'd love to see the same actors with the same premise in a better-written drama.

Scare Factor: There was more reliance on tension and violence than actual frightening occurrences. There were exorcisms, monsters, and murderous mayhem, but I could handle it.

I'm adding a half star for Father Johan's visuals. He is anime pretty with superhero vibes.

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Father Johan Would Boost Church Attendance

#Halloween Watches

This review is for both seasons.

The Good:
• Cha Eun Woo looked amazing as the supernatural priest, Father Johan. In his black cassock and white collar, he was a striking representative of heaven. However, when he was garbed in casual clothes, his attitude changed, and I wished he'd been kept in his priestly character more consistently. This was my favorite role of his. Cha Eun Woo was always beautiful on screen, but I felt he nailed this role without relying on his stellar visuals. I kept thinking there was something more to this priest, something darker, that was never revealed. Perhaps that was saved for the season that never was. His action scenes were outstanding, also. He could easily do a spinoff as Father Johan, and I'd watch every moment.
• Kim Nam Gil and Lee Da Hee were perfection in their roles: he as the tortured lust demon and she as the poor rich girl who was dropped into the midst of a horror story.

The Bad:
• For a shorter drama, it was unnecessarily convoluted and disjointed. The FL was sent to the island, as a punishment, to fill in as a teacher, but it seemed she worked one or two days and was off brooding elsewhere the rest of the time.
• I wrote about Father Johan's inconsistent character, so I should mention the FL, too. She started as a strong, resilient, and even abrasive character. Later episodes reduced her to a crying damsel in distress. I understand she suffered loss and faced monsters, but she shouldn't have fallen apart like that.
• I hate, with a fiery passion, when a drama introduces a new villain late in the game and then goes absolutely nowhere with him. I suppose The Powers That Be were counting on another season that didn't materialize, but it left so many loose ends that the drama frayed.
• Cue that freaking time skip at the end! We resumed the story without any explanations, opened new possibilities, and then, nothing. End scene, and everyone went home.

Well, it tried. The drama started strong and snarling, but it ended wobbling and whimpering. The actors gave compelling performances in this muddled drama, but that couldn't resuscitate the script. I'd love to see the same actors with the same premise in a better-written drama.

Scare Factor: There was more reliance on tension and violence than actual frightening occurrences. There were exorcisms, monsters, and murderous mayhem, but I could handle it.

I'm adding a half star for Father Johan's visuals. He is anime pretty with superhero vibes.

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Got to watch a thriller movie after a long time, and honestly it was quite a good watch. The acting, the plot, the story, everything was quite engaging.
It was not one of those naill biting, edge of the seat type thrillers but had me thinking at a lot of levels. The stalker, the twists, how kyung min ended up finding the clues for herself and saving her life...quite good.
It just feels now that how traumatising it would become for her, having that fear and always checking under the bed to see if someone was there...i guess the movie did a good job delivering that fear and trauma through the screen.

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