Reviews

I mean I guess

Guys ... I'm honestly confused 😭 Like, every cp has incredible chemistry and acting skills. They use a bunch of fun and interesting tropes/archetypes. I think the dialogue is pretty enjoyable too. On paper, this show should be on my re-watch list until the end of time.

But for every story there would be some strange place where the story or a character would just drop the ball. Like, in all other ways, everything was executed really well. But then randomly there would be like.... strangely childish decisions about what a character would do or how events should play out??

Like I'm actually advocate number #1 for indulgent writing, but then it also has to... feel like I'm being indulged. The story would suddenly become incredibly uncomplicated in random places, and it would just ruin the momentum of other fun ideas or concepts.

By fun, I don't mean challenging or new. I'm also advocate number #1 for tropes that have been done over and over again; I'm not a believer in everything needing to be something never been done before. I think this show took a lot of fun ideas and then subverted them, but like in a way that was not fun 😅😅

This really confused me while I was watching. I felt like I was watching it wrong somehow for not being able to enjoy it 💀💀💀 I tried watching episodes and whole plot lines over and over again to see if I'd missed something, but it just kept being disappointing.

Again, in strong contrast to.... genuinely every other aspect of this show, which I had a lot of fun with. So. I feel like this is an opinion I'm (once again) going to be alone on... but in conclusion this show was okay. I guess?


(Oh and this review is about season 1 and 2, but season 2 was better, no contest.)

Read More

First Impression: The Prosecutor's Proposal

Overall: the first two episodes have me hooked. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7918/the-prosecutors-proposal-2026-e01 (not available in: Japan, Korea, Americas, Brazil, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Macau, Timor-Leste, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom and Oceania) and iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/a-proposal-in-the-prosecutor-s-office-episode-1-18yruwo0ctw

Content Warnings: there are major ones, this is a dark series, I'm keeping the review spoiler free for now

What I Liked
- unique premise
- tension

Room For Improvement
- continuity error in episode 1
- ai in the intro

Read More

"You were used by others for most of your life, haven't you had enough?"

Return to Dust was a story about Fate bringing two unloved and unwanted middle-aged people together in a poor rural community. Resigned to their lonely and meager existence, an act born out of callousness opened up a new world they’d never dreamed of.

Ma You Tie aka Fourth Brother aka Iron Ma is coerced into marrying Cao Gui Ying. Both are past the normal age of marrying. Iron is largely an unpaid worker for his older brother. Gui Ying lives in a shed behind her brother’s house and is regularly beaten. She suffers from a physical disability, infertility, and incontinence which has taken her off the marriage market. The two quietly wed and move into an abandoned house. Together they farm the land and gently take care of each other. Tiny acts of kindness and generosity cause the newlyweds to slowly come out of their shells. They begin to lean on each other, surprised that they could experience companionship and contentment so late in life.

While Iron and Gui Ying showed compassion to people, animals, even plants, such was not the case for the people surrounding them. Their families were neglectful and cruel. The local businessman exploited the old peasants working the land refusing to pay them the money he owed, shorting them when their crops came in, always offering one excuse after another. When it turned out Iron shared the same rare “Panda” blood type of the capitalist patriarch, the farmer was called upon to give the wealthy man regular transfusions. As more villagers abandoned farming and moved to the cities it created vacant homes. The government implemented a new beautification policy offering money for the destruction of those houses. City dwellers returned to grab the cash regardless of who had set up housekeeping in the houses, be it people or swallows. The caring couple had to move ahead of the bulldozers twice, finally resolving to build their own mud brick home. Having spent a lifetime being taken advantage of and never having anything handed to them, Iron and Gui Ying simply took the slights in stride.

Oh, but Butterfly, what was the plot? None really. It was an exquisitely shot and scored slice of life about two outcasts diligently working the land and becoming utterly devoted to each other along the way. The villagers even commented on how Iron doted on his “peculiar” wife. It felt and looked very Zhang Yi Mou’ish. And just like ZYM, the director and film landed in trouble, too. *

Return to Dust was a tender, lowkey love story with two social outcasts that felt deeper and more authentic in comparison to grand passionate romances. Iron and Gui Ying may not have had children but they adored their bell wearing donkey (so did I!) and dutifully looked after their little chicks. No debt was left unpaid. For Iron, “The soil doesn’t despise us,” unfortunately, people weren’t always as reliable.

25 June 2026
Trigger warning: Suicide

*Those darned censors notes:
The film was yanked from being shown in China for reasons unknown. It was later released with an alternate ending. What was so offensive? The peasants were hard working, resourceful, and living a simple life without complaint. Perhaps it was the government’s house destruction policy that ended up harming the most vulnerable. Also, the most impoverished were offered low rent apartment housing. Iron wondered where he would keep his livestock. Illiterate and older, how was he supposed to support himself and eat without access to the land? I learned about the film being pulled when I went looking for answers regarding the ending. The last line of dialogue was contrary to the rest of the film and the previous scenes. Apparently, the original ending was replaced with a more acceptable ending to the censors even though it made no sense.

Read More

ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!!

I honestly doubted myself if I should watch this. BUT YOU KNOW THE DIRECTOR MADE LOVE IN THE BIG CITY SO I TRUSTED WE GOT SOME GOOD STUFF HERE!!

Anyway, it's a unique story, something we don't really see much nowadays (well if we talk about BL). The chemistry is there, the plot is good, the actors played their roles well and every scene gave us good ending hooks! Every ending has a cliffhanger that will make you so interested and impatient to wait for the next episode!!! I was so stressed waiting for 1 week but I'm so happy they weren't selfish in giving us two episodes per week. It's perfect!!!

AHHHH I lost interest in Korean BL these days but this show made me believe that KBLs still have it!!

WILL WAIT FOR THE NEXT MASTERPIECE OF SON TAE GYUM!!

Read More

It’s worth the watch

I think people are being too harsh on this drama, it’s not as terrible as they are painting it.

It’s not a crazy plot, it can be quite comforting at times and I actually liked how their relationship developed, they truly cared about each other. It can be slow in some episodes but I actually liked that, feels like it touched on some “mundane, not so deep” themes at times.

Now some things I didn’t like, it made me so angry how both leads blamed themselves so much for what happened and people around them did so too, they got too much shit they didn’t deserve. No one cared to investigate further the actual culprit of the incident, and the FL got it the worst I really felt so bad for her and how she was dealing with the whole thing alone.

I wish they would’ve given their mental help issues a better conclusion, not once they mentioned how they should’ve gotten professional help, not only for their guilt but also in regards to the pressure of their jobs, they went back to “let’s be super workaholic again” like that part of the plot didn’t see a moral of the story…

Also, the business proposal and kpop demon hunters references were cringe lol, like I get they wanted to use the popularity of those projects and do the “ha he was on those as well” but it was just so unnecessary.

All that to say (lol), just give it a chance it’s okay.

Read More

The lining of the Story

I love the first season of fourever you , and this second season really filled the story of what was needed. I loved both the first two story’s in this season , the actors had amazing chemistry and the story all lined up . my only issue was Suer and Nao’s story , it wasn’t really natural with the story that was already going on . Even though I liked their part and was entertaining to watch, it would of been better as a stand alone series . I felt as if their part was rushed and could of been better , and it also makes no sense how Nao is in the same year as North , to me the story does not line up . But other than that the whole season was amazing, both fourever you storys are great and I recommend both !

Read More

This kdrama really hit the nail!

Bullying is such a prevalent, occurring, and nonstop issue that has been addressed countless times, and this kdrama really brought light to how serious it really is. I live in America, and I thought our bullying system was bad, but Korea's is a whole other thing. The fact that this story and plot were created based on inspiration from tragic, controversial events is genuinely heartbreaking. Imagining going through these experiences is hard on its own, and this kdrama really brought these cases to life. Teach You a Lesson really dove into these hard discussions of topics such as obsession, drugs, and gambling, letting everything play out in itself. It's safe to say I thoroughly enjoyed watching this quick watch.

I'm glad the cases were resolved cleanly, and they brought justice and showed the victims' stories and what they have gone through. It's devastating that shows like these have to be developed in order to illustrate just how crazy bullying is taken and not accounted for enough in Korea, but this show really did its part. I'm pretty sure there have been protests surrounding this kdrama, which really shows how much netizens and citizens of Korea are not owning up to their faults. Conversely, there have also been rumors regarding a second season, which I'm all open to. I would love to expand on the story and maybe learn more about the characters and their backstory. Furthermore, I would also like to see more real-life inspired bullying cases to show the harsh reality of school in Korea.

This kdrama really showed how Korea isn't all that perfect. People wanting to live in Korea primarily because of kdramas is terribly embarrassing, so I hope this show really proves that living there isn't all that great; there are pros, but also cons. The experience of high school life may not be what you expected, and it's just absurd how many bullying cases are seen every day in the education system.

If there isn't something like the ERPB yet, then Korea should definitely implement a bureau like this one.

Read More

Rewatchable

The OST is literally one song played over and over again, but it didn't annoy me, and it's stuck in my head now, so~

Acting was really good, and I liked the chemistry between all of them as friends and Maxky/Bas & Pie/Golf in romance. Earth and Bas honestly have good chemistry, but I'm pretty sure they are also really good friends IRL. Pond & Earth honestly didn't have the best chemistry in my opinion; it felt very forced and one-dimensional, or maybe I was distracted by the fact that every character Earth plays feels the same. I've seen him in 4 series before this one, and all of the characters feel the same to me. Bas's acting really impressed me right off the bat because the only thing I'd seen him in before this was 2 Moons, which I had fun watching, but it was one of his early roles, and you could tell.

North, Dao, Ger, and Typoon were my favorite characters, while Hill and Easter were my least favorites. Hill was so sappy at times that it was sickening, and Easter's overly dramatic facial expressions paired with his constant whining set my nerves on end.

(Side Note: I can never get over how tiny Tonliew is. He's adorable.)

While watching this series, I was looking out for foreshadowing and little moments between the couples for season 2. I would have overlooked the little uneasy looks between Typoon and Tonfah if I hadn't been looking for them. Tiger is just too adorable in his crush, and I honestly feel really bad for him. And Dao! He and Arthit don't meet once! You'd think that, being in the same friend group, they would have met at least in passing, but nope!

The friend groups are easily one of my favorite things about the series. Great chemistry, and I honestly love the teasing. Ter teasing North about Jo did get annoying fast, but the moments were short. The "shipping" is also something I think aged poorly now that I know how crazy and toxic some BL fans can be. I would say this friend group is at least in my top 10 favorite friend groups. Maybe the top 5 after I watch season 2.

Moving on to the main couples!

I loved JoNorth so much. Their kisses. Their cuddles. The way that Jo is down bad and super possessive, but is still a green flag about it. Or, well, at least a yellow flag. I'm convinced his family has ties to the mafia. He and Tiger seem to have known each other a while, and Tiger's father is in the mafia (if what I heard is true), so I need answers. Both of them seem to have an unlimited amount of money to throw around, and if they want something done or someone to disappear, they have no problem doing it. What really happened to Day? I doubt he was just fired.

Moving on, their moments were my favorite, especially all the cafe ones, and they were honestly the only reason I didn't drop the show. I was about to give up on the show until their storyline was introduced in episode 6; that's when things finally got interesting. It's hard to go wrong with a plot where the love interest owes the other money. I normally like it to be enemies to lovers, like in We Are, but this one sucked me in. I think that was mainly because North was actually trying to work more jobs to get the money. That is probably the only thing I didn't like about North now that I'm thinking about it. Who uses their college tuition and rent on a gaming computer? The boy needs someone to manage his spending. . . . . I keep getting sidetracked, sorry. There are also many moments of Jo hugging North like he's the cutest thing, and pulling him into his lap. AKA the best seat in the house. I just love them being together.

I couldn't care less about Hill and Easter's relationship. All of their problems are from miscommunication and an unwillingness to communicate. Yes, the grandpa didn't help, and he's a right bitter old man that deserves a good punch to the face, but he didn't cause all of their problems. He just started them. They became a stronger couple because of it, and hopefully, they won't make the same mistake again.

We spent around 13 episodes, maybe more, of these two orbiting each other and refusing to talk about what happened and how they feel about each other. Ter thinking that Hill liked Mild or Christmas made me wonder how he saw Jo liking North. Jo wasn't very obvious about it, and everyone could see from space how much Hill liked Ter. It was honestly annoying, especially when Ter told North that Hill never showed signs of liking him in high school. I'm sorry, did you just dream that he had you half naked on his bed with his tongue down your throat? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE WERE NO SIGNS! He didn't contact you after? Did you ever think he got grounded and his phone taken away? Why did you never try to go to his house to check on him? Or ask his friends if they had heard from him? Why did you jump straight to blocking his number?

Then, when they meet again, you'd think that one of them would try to explain/inquirer about what happened, but nope! Hill just flirts, and Ter goes along with it because no matter how hurt he was, he still has feelings for Hill and lets him do whatever he wants, all while believing that he doesn't like him. Make that make sense! If you really believe the boy doesn't like you, then put your foot down. Stop letting him hold your hand, stop the car rides, stop all unnecessary contact!

Their whole storyline should have been 7 episodes at most, but instead it's dragged out through most of the series!

The flashbacks were also very annoying, and spread out through multiple episodes when they could have been all in 1 or 2 episodes. All of Jo and North's flashbacks took up 1 whole episode, and I was invested the whole time. Hill and Easter's were so spread out and sometimes so short that it disrupted the flow of the story more than it made me care. The only flashback that didn't do either of those things is when they are looking through a photo album near the end of the series, and Ter learns that he had met Hill long before Hill transferred to his school. That flashback wasn't out of place; it was long, and it got you invested.

Near the end, my interest in their relationship was at rock bottom, and my attention started to drift, so I began watching their scenes at X2 speed.

I do recommend the series because it was still good, and I really liked everything outside of Hill and Easter's relationship. Hill was actually likeable when it was just him and his friends.

Read More

A waste of chemistry

I haven’t written a review so bear with me. Honestly I had high hopes for this one because the reviews were higher than most lakorns but goodness me. I think most of the plot devices in this drama were highly irritating and irrelevant. The biggest one being the marriage thing. The two leads get married cause she says she needs money and she specifically picks ml to spy on his dad? And maybe get revenge on her cousin. The only plot that is actually explored to a satisfying level is the story line with the dad but even then, I skipped too much to even know what was going on.

Moreover, i really disliked ml and the storyline around him and janjaeng. He did not handle the situation well especially for someone that knew her mental state. The whole time ml was supposedly falling in love with fl, he was also being overly kind and misleading to her cousin to the point where even i was starting to get confused. Moreover, the whole him agreeing to marry janjaeng knowing that he has a whole wife and now a kid on the way was honestly just disturbing to me.

As much as I disliked the ml, I hated the fl more lol. I honestly think that if she wants to be alone so bad then he should have just left her alone. One thing i really hate about lakorns is that they always try to last ditch effort things. At the last minute on the second to last episode they have some drama to separate them so the drama can end in a hug in the last 3 mins after torturing us with more of the bs that happened in the middle. The whole palai refusing to be with him anymore and separation thing was just plain stupid. And he was dumber for going back. There were so many unnecessary things that occurred in this show that u don’t Ben know what it was about by the time I finished it. Oh not to forget. Half the cast is dead, I dont know if she got her company back or if her aunt ever confessed to any of the crimes she committed. All in all, I think this drama was just dumb.

Read More

At least something different...

is the best I can say about this show. It had soooo much potential but the script and acting could not let it shine.
Compared to most of the Thai BL crap we get, this had an interesting premise, but the script did neither develop the characters nor made sense of the whole "drug" case. For me, it felt cobbled together in a hurry.

I have no clue how the case resolved with all the dead around. I can only asume the notebook - or was it a tablet? - was found or Chu left it with Mr. police gay guy, otherwise how could they solve the case? To have two Kims as ML is quite funny to me, but the older Kim was not good in acting at all... he felt out of place at times. Besides not really capable to be a police officer he often felt lost. The younger Kim did his best and I see his talent but he can't lead a BL alone when is partner is not capable - yet.

For young/new talents a workshop would have worked wonders, but I doubt they had one, Production quality overall was good, even the limited locations did not bother me. But the biggest question, how did Mr. police guy find his love? Not explained, he just appeared and we get the typical happy BL end - which I could have lived without. A time-jump where they meet by coincidence, for example Mr. Killer would have his first art exhibition... would have made more sense.

It's no secret that I don't like stories which leave questions or are not logical, especially if it's a kind of suspence, crime or thriller genre. The initial idea was good, but the execution failed. The team gets bonus points for presenting us with a novel concept, with some characters acted out well and suspence background music. Overall it's ok to watch, it's not stellar and not catastrophical bad, but not good either.

Read More

This drama series delivers an unforgettable experience from the very first episode. The plot masterfully weaves together suspense, romance, and emotional depth, creating a story that is both captivating and heartfelt. Each scene feels purposeful, drawing the viewer into a world where every twist carries weight and consequence. The pacing is tight, maintaining tension without sacrificing character development, which ensures that the emotional stakes always feel earned.

The standout element of the series is its performances, particularly Xu Kai’s portrayal of the lead character. He brings an intensity and vulnerability to his role that makes each moment feel authentic. His ability to convey complex emotions with subtle expressions keeps the audience fully invested in his journey. The supporting cast complements his performance perfectly, adding layers of warmth, humor, and tension to the narrative.

Visually, the drama is stunning. Cinematography, lighting, and set design work in harmony to create a rich atmosphere that enhances the storytelling. The soundtrack heightens the emotional resonance, with music cues that linger long after an episode ends. These production choices elevate the series from a simple drama to a deeply immersive experience.

What truly sets this drama apart is its ability to balance heart-wrenching moments with uplifting scenes of love, hope, and resilience. The writing never feels forced; instead, it flows naturally, allowing the characters to grow in ways that feel both believable and impactful. By the end of each episode, viewers are left not just entertained but moved, eager to see how the journey will continue.

This series is more than just a story—it’s an emotional ride that connects with its audience on multiple levels. With its seamless blend of gripping plotlines, compelling performances, and polished production, this drama stands out as one of the most memorable offerings of recent years.

Read More

Must watch .. best drama ever

I don’t know what’s wrong with the people who rated this drama, but it’s easily a 10/10 for me. Ignore the rating and just watch—I’m sure most of the negative reviews came from haters. This is hands down the best drama of 2026. Oh Xu Kai! I love him so much, and his performance here is truly award-worthy. The acting is top-notch, the chemistry between the leads is electric, and every scene feels alive with emotion.

The story itself is gripping from the first episode. It blends romance, suspense, and heartfelt drama in a way that kept me glued to the screen the entire time. Every twist and turn left me wanting more, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The character development is beautifully done; you really feel connected to their struggles, hopes, and triumphs. The writing is sharp and emotional, perfectly balanced with moments of humor and warmth.

The production quality is also worth mentioning—the cinematography is stunning, the costumes and sets are breathtaking, and the soundtrack fits every mood perfectly. Each episode feels like a cinematic experience. It’s the kind of drama that stays with you long after you finish it, making you think about the characters as if they were real people.

I truly believe this drama deserves more recognition. Give it a try, watch it without paying attention to the ratings, and I promise you will not regret it. For anyone looking for a drama that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love, this is the one. Thank you to the entire cast and production team for creating such a masterpiece.

Read More

This is the BL We Lived For

This is the BL We Lived For. The BL genre is so saturated right now and its good to see production companies try to deliver unique plots even with limited budget.

Short summary. A hunky Guy suddenly appeared in a man's house looking for an evidence of a crime 10 years ago. Guy put the Houseowner in a cage in his own basement because who doesnt keep a cage in their basement, to search for that evidence. Suddenly, Houseowner's friend - an obviously gay twinkie Cop who is looking for a way to clear his father's name, appeared in the house and met Guy - who pretended to be Houseowner's brother. Of course Cop would believe and flirt with Guy because why not? They made love and fell in love. However, Cop realized soon enough that Guy is not Houseowner's brother and is keeping his friend in the basement, but still chose to believe Guy's explanation over his friend. Guy found the evidence he was looking for- same evidence that can clear the Cop's father's name. Chaos ensues as more people appeared the house. After all the killing, Guy and Cop remained alive, and they lived happily ever after, in a beach somewhere.

The good:
1. Great camera work - i dont know what type of camera they used but shots look cinematic, plus great editing and color grading.
2. Unique story.
2. Capable and good looking main leads.

Im so sick of watching Korean BLs with 10+ min per episodes, i honestly dont understand why they cant just make episodes longer when their intended broadcast platform doesnt have limitations on episode length. can someone please explain it to me? That why, i am glad that the episodes for this series are slightly longer than the average Korean BLs. The 5 to 10 minutes added per episodes gave the story enough breathing time so the execution doesnt feel rushed. It felt like a well executed complete story but still i cant help imagine what the show could have been if its a regular length series.

However, the show isnt perfect and there are some loopholes in the story:
1. However twinkie the cop may look, why would he need a self defense training from a random stranger - he is a cop for crying out loud, isnt self-defense and all other kind of defense and offense training already part of cop training?
2. Why would the criminals wait for 10 years to look for the evidence that can implicate them in a crime?
3. its an expensive looking house but people kept showing up unannounced - dont they have a front door or something? Even the father cop suddenly appeared in the living room without even knocking and announcing himself and has the guts to say lets do it by the books.
4. I may get a flak for saying this, i had a hard time identifying all the other cast members - they all look alike with the same styling even in the flashback scene from 10 years ago.

Will i recommend? Yes definitely. it's a 9 out of 10 for me.

Read More

I’M HOOKED!

an investigator who’s the son of a murderer meets a prosecutor who’s an absolute psychopath? I’M SEATED!

this is probably my second time seeing Korea doing a crime-thriller BL (first one being The Lie We Lived In, just finished airing today, the same day The Prosecutor’s Proposal started airing!)
I’m always a sucker for crime dramas when it’s done right. and this one seems to be doing a great job at it so far! the production quality, the acting, everything makes it seem like I’m watching a whole a$$ kdrama and not a BL! Korean bl has stepped up their game, and I’m so here for it🥳

this is the story of Lee Chaeha - a newly appointed lower grade investigator, and Ju Taeseon - an infamous highly righteous higher graded prosecutor. Chaeha lived most of his life bearing the “murderer’s son” tag. Taeseon spent most of his life hating murderers, and finding every possible way to punish them.

now, as a prosecutor, Chaeha has immense respect for Taeseon and his work. meanwhile, Taeseon feels nothing but hatred for Chaeha - the son of a murderer.

I had high expectations from the moment they first dropped the trailer for this drama. and then I found out this is directed by the same director as Secret Relationships, my expectations grew even higher. and after the first two episodes, they did not disappoint!

the cinematography is absolutely stunning. the storytelling is full of suspense, keeping us on the edge of our seats. both main leads are doing a phenomenal job. especially Ju Taeseon. bro made me convinced that he’s a psychopath 😭 and the chemistry between them is absolute fire!

the first two episodes have me absolutely hooked. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds!

my only complaint is, WHY SO SHORT😭 we needed AT LEAST half an hr episodes of this amazingness🥹

Read More