Reviews

So far so good

Don't have a lot to say after just one episode, but it is pretty good. Pretty similar to the first season and an overall nice and enjoyable continuation to the original so far.

You can watch it on Viki: https://www.viki.com/tv/41798c-school-trip-joined-a-group-im-not-close-to-2#episodes
or GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9486/school-trip-joined-a-group-im-not-close-to-2025-s02e01?noresume=1

Things I liked:
1. Acting. No surprises here though since I loved it in the first season too.
2. Friends. They are a big highlight in both the first and second seasons.

Things I disliked:
1. Watarai's haircut. I'm sorry, but they did him dirty with that one.
2. Repetitive plot. I will probably change this one depending on how the next episodes will play out, but so far it is just like the first season. Not that it's necessarily too bad and it is not exactly the same, but I would've liked it more if they did something new instead of another school trip/study camp.

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Sword of Justice: What it means to be lawyers

I want to start off by saying this was a wonderful drama from beginning to end. Some dramas can fumble in the middle and even have a weak final, but this drama was strong from beginning to end.

The characterization of this drama was exceptionally well written. Our female lead, Xiao Longnv is a competent lawyer whose goal is to stand up for the common people. Usually, this type of character can come off as just brash and even naive, but Xiao Longnv is bold AND intelligent. She understands when she needs to back down and is able to accept and make up for her own biases. She is an actual working adult that is actually EXCELLENT at her job.

Our male lead, Li Xin, is another competent lawyer and serves as the FL's friend and rival (and also in love with her). His values align with Xiao Longnv, but he works within the system to try to better policies in big companies in the long run for the common people. Though he serves as the "opposing" side of FL with sometimes different perspectives, he is not set up as a villain and instead a comrade who also became a lawyer to serve the people.

The leads' dynamic with each other is very charming and despite their surface differences, they understand and respect each other greatly as fellow lawyers and rivals. They have great banter with each other and truly made from the same cloth even down to their personal conflicts with their fathers (which gets explored and gives the viewers even more of an understanding of their journey to becoming lawyers).

The supporting characters are also written very well. Both FL and ML have their own teams; FL with her gang of misfits and ML with his gang of junior lawyers. They all have their little quirks and provided funny gags. And if I did not mention it enough already, they can all do their job! Then there are the legal cases that are actually based on real-life cases from China. The legal cases were all explored and given importance of why some laws needed to be change and the progress that can be made. I also appreciated seeing other lawyer characters and their different values too.

Overall, this was a great drama with good exploration of different legal cases, funny scenes, and very likable characters. The romance is subtle, yet viewers can't help but swoon at the longing. I am looking forward to a possible season 2.

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NOW THAT'S A FOLLOW UP.

Was Honestly worried (plus excited) After Second Season was confirmed as I WAS WORRIED of what else they'd like to explore further and how they'd do that. Most at time, It ends up .. not so good. But after seeing The first episode? DROP THE WHOLE DAMN EPISODE ALREADY 😭

First Of all, THIS IS A FOLLOWUP DONE WELL (SO FAR.) The progression into the 2nd season from 1st one feels valid and logical. JBLs I've seen always end with them being together at the end without further exploration of "What comes after" And I think this season is beautifully handling that so far and I'm so happy and seated.

Watarai being "Possessivenes" and "Insecure" Is certainly not out of line given his character from s1. (so I don't see why the complaints) So I'm loving the further exploration of how that ties into the relationship.(I always love when we get a relationship arc and see how their already established personalities draws the relationship into a crisis) I love the tone set up as we're about getting their relationship dynamic (one in crisis) which is a brilliant follow-up as to uphold a more depth love story. Makes complete sense.

I love the view of having watarai (who is overly popular, loved by all, a school hunk hottie that you'd think has it all in terms of confidence and all) Having this spiralling insecurity over his relationship with someone not fully "School hunk popular status" . I think it goes a long way layering his character for more room to explore his life more (I hope the drama goes into that direction and have us zoom more into his real POV to get a glimpse of why he FEELS this way - I'd be grateful) And I also think Hioki's "lack of understanding" at the level of what watarai is spiraling over and coming to terms to understanding and working at that is a brilliant addition to the romantic dynamic given their already established personalities from s1.

And it's most interesting that "possessive" scenes from watarai doesn't just come off as " textbook" level "possessive boyfriend" to me alone but layers it into me feeling "sad" for him with an undertone of insecurity that needs working on. Love that because there I'm giggling and smiling and also going "Aww.. what is he being so insecure" (which parallels the same question Hioki asks while leaving for the bathroom.

So far I love the establishment from s1. and I'm curious how the show plays with it as I'll update my review soon. Given the fact that they worked their ass to get into this relationship, I'm curious to see how this relationship works.

{Plus THANK YOU WRITERS for keeping that giggling blushful scenes that always had me in s1 and reminding me why I fell in love with this adorable show!)

So Far I'm in love with where this direction is heading to and I can't wait to see THAT AT ALL

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One of the finest historical dramas!

Made in Korea is one of the most extraordinary series I have ever watched and, in my opinion, one of the finest historical dramas I have seen, particularly in its exploration of politics, power and diplomacy. Watching both seasons together made the experience even more complete, allowing the story to unfold as one cohesive and powerful work. 💯❤️👏🏻

The production is outstanding in every respect. The direction, cinematography, atmosphere, soundtrack, sound design and overall execution come together to create a truly exceptional experience. Every element contributes to the intensity and authenticity of the story.

What impressed me most was the acting. The performances were so vivid, convincing and intense that I sometimes felt as though I were actually part of the story, witnessing and experiencing those events as they unfolded in real life during that era. The actors did not simply portray their characters; they made them feel real, bringing their lives, struggles and inner conflicts remarkably close to the viewer.

Hyun Bin deserves special recognition for his extraordinary portrayal of Baek Ki Tae. The character is fascinating, complex and, at times, shocking, and Hyun Bin reveals so many layers of his personality through his performance. His intensity and ability to convey the character’s different sides left a profound impression on me and showcased the remarkable depth of his talent.

Jung Woo Sung, Woo Do Hwan, Seo Eun Soo, Won Ji An, Jung Sung Il, Jang Hye Jin and Roh Jae Won also deserve praise for their compelling and convincing performances. The entire cast is excellent, including those in smaller roles. The strength of the acting is not limited to a few leading performers; everyone contributes to the authenticity and impact of the series.

One detail that particularly resonated with me was Ki Tae’s insistence on yeomchi (염치), a sense of shame, honour and moral self-respect that prevents a person from acting without conscience. His words about people who betray others without the slightest sense of shame stayed with me. As a Greek, I found a meaningful connection with Aidōs (Αἰδώς), an ancient Greek concept associated with moral conscience, dignity and the inner restraint that keeps a person from acting dishonourably. Although these concepts are not identical, their shared emphasis on inner moral responsibility felt deeply familiar to me. The return to this idea in moments of betrayal made it even more powerful. It was a detail that gave the series an additional layer of meaning for me, reminding me that certain fundamental questions about honour, conscience and what it means to remain human transcend cultural boundaries.

A production of this calibre is the result of collective effort. From the writing and direction to the performances and every contribution behind the scenes, each part matters. Made in Korea is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when the entire team works together at such a high level.

An extraordinary series in its storytelling, performances, production and emotional impact. One that stayed with me not only for its quality, but also for the ideas it made me reflect on! ❤️ 10+/10

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WHAT IS THE COST OF BEING SPY

I came here right of the bat of finishing the series. of the 40 hours spent watching, I think i have fast forwarded 10mins worth of scenes. that is how good it is.

This is not your typical espionage drama. it is not a cat and mouse chase. Rather it tells a tale of what is the cost of somebody being a spy, in this case the one from Taiwan, and the one guarding the security in the mainland . and how it affect the people that they cross over during the time of their mission.

i have read that some netizen complaint on how much Jin Lina’s scenes are shown in the drama. but I think its the writer and directors intention of showing, how much of the girl’s life changed when fate bring her to Lin kanshan. and maybe to tell a cautionary tale, of how her situation makes her vulnerable for target for Lin kanshan.

this is also much of love story woven in a espionage drama. more than lin kan shan and Jin Lina, it is how the story tells the tale of Maqi, and He ChunXiao. of how much he chunxiao wanted to stay with Maqi, but in the end the both have their own road to travel. it almost felt like an unrequited love story.

I hope people give this a chance. it felt that 20 years of my life is gone with the characters. that is how good it is . I’ve watched a lot of drama, tonnes of them, yet I would say, this stand in the top 3 the best that I have ever watched.

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One of the finest historical dramas!

Made in Korea is one of the most extraordinary series I have ever watched and, in my opinion, one of the finest historical dramas I have seen, particularly in its exploration of politics, power and diplomacy. Watching both seasons together made the experience even more complete, allowing the story to unfold as one cohesive and powerful work. 💯❤️👏🏻

The production is outstanding in every respect. The direction, cinematography, atmosphere, soundtrack, sound design and overall execution come together to create a truly exceptional experience. Every element contributes to the intensity and authenticity of the story.

What impressed me most was the acting. The performances were so vivid, convincing and intense that I sometimes felt as though I were actually part of the story, witnessing and experiencing those events as they unfolded in real life during that era. The actors did not simply portray their characters; they made them feel real, bringing their lives, struggles and inner conflicts remarkably close to the viewer.

Hyun Bin deserves special recognition for his extraordinary portrayal of Baek Ki Tae. The character is fascinating, complex and, at times, shocking, and Hyun Bin reveals so many layers of his personality through his performance. His intensity and ability to convey the character’s different sides left a profound impression on me and showcased the remarkable depth of his talent.

Jung Woo Sung, Woo Do Hwan, Seo Eun Soo, Won Ji An, Jung Sung Il, Jang Hye Jin and Roh Jae Won also deserve praise for their compelling and convincing performances. The entire cast is excellent, including those in smaller roles. The strength of the acting is not limited to a few leading performers; everyone contributes to the authenticity and impact of the series.

One detail that particularly resonated with me was Ki Tae’s insistence on yeomchi (염치), a sense of shame, honour and moral self-respect that prevents a person from acting without conscience. His words about people who betray others without the slightest sense of shame stayed with me. As a Greek, I found a meaningful connection with Aidōs (Αἰδώς), an ancient Greek concept associated with moral conscience, dignity and the inner restraint that keeps a person from acting dishonourably. Although these concepts are not identical, their shared emphasis on inner moral responsibility felt deeply familiar to me. The return to this idea in moments of betrayal made it even more powerful. It was a detail that gave the series an additional layer of meaning for me, reminding me that certain fundamental questions about honour, conscience and what it means to remain human transcend cultural boundaries.

A production of this calibre is the result of collective effort. From the writing and direction to the performances and every contribution behind the scenes, each part matters. Made in Korea is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when the entire team works together at such a high level.

An extraordinary series in its storytelling, performances, production and emotional impact. One that stayed with me not only for its quality, but also for the ideas it made me reflect on! ❤️ 10+/10

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If the Network Cut It Short to 12 Episodes, There Was a Reason

[Italian Version Below / Versione Italiana in Basso]

ENG

You can write long essays about "healing vibes" and "misunderstood art," but the harsh reality is that this drama was an utterly depressing snooze fest. Slow, fragmented, and thoroughly confusing — so much so that the network panicked over the abysmal ratings and cut it short. A 1/10 here is brutally deserved.

~ AI Obsession, Flashback Overdose, and Random Dishes ~

The entire premise feels like a fever dream. The male lead’s creepy obsession with recreating his ex-girlfriend’s memory into an AI device is supposedly romantic, but in reality, it just feels bizarre and off-putting. The plot is a hopeless maze of constant, jarring flashbacks. And to top it all off, we’re forced to watch absurd subplots — like a pianist suddenly producing ceramic dishes — so poorly integrated you wonder if you missed half the show.

~ Geological Silence and Magical Destiny Ties ~

The pacing is agonizing: unexpressed feelings and prolonged silences could literally be measured in geological eras. On top of that, the plot is artificially convoluted — who are these people? What are they even doing? At first, everyone seems like complete strangers, only to magically turn out to be interconnected by the red string of fate. Give me a break.

~ The Final Verdict ~

A confusing, dull, and painfully slow drama that mistakes endless melancholy for deep writing. If you're looking for a genuine, meaningful story on how to heal and cope with grief or loss, go watch Wonderland with Suzy instead.

Recommended for: Anyone suffering from severe insomnia looking for an instant, natural alternative to melatonin.

P.S. I cannot confirm whether the writers were under the influence of psychedelic substances. I can only confirm that, by the end of the show, I wished I had been.

---

ITA

Se la produzione l'ha tagliato a 12 episodi, un motivo ci sarà

Si possono scrivere poemi epici sulle "atmosfere di guarigione" e sull'"arte incompresa", ma la cruda realtà è che questo drama è stato un mattone deprimente e noioso. Lento, frammentato e totalmente confuso — talmente soporifero che la stessa rete televisiva ha dovuto accorciarlo a 12 episodi per disperazione di fronte alla fuga degli spettatori. Voto 1/10 pieno e meritatissimo.

~ L'Ossessione per l'I.A., Overdose di Flashback e Piatti dal Nulla ~

L'intera premessa sembra un delirio. L'ossessione intollerabile del protagonista nel voler ricreare il ricordo della sua ex in un dispositivo di Intelligenza Artificiale vorrebbe passare per romantica, ma risulta solo bizzarra e snervante. La trama è un labirinto inestricabile di continui flashback che spezzano il ritmo. Come se non bastasse, ci sorbiamo sottotrame assurde — come il pianista che si mette a produrre piatti di ceramica — raccontate così male che ti chiedi se ti sei perso mezza serie per strada.

~ Silenzi Era Geologica e Parentele Miracolose ~

I tempi sono estenuanti: i silenzi prolungati e i sentimenti inespressi si potrebbero tranquillamente misurare in ere geologiche. A questo si aggiunge una confusione generale sui personaggi: chi sono? Cosa fanno? Da dove spuntano fuori? All'inizio sembrano tutti perfetti estranei, per poi scoprirsi miracolosamente legati dal filo rosso del destino. Ma per favore.

~ Il Giudizio Finale ~

Un drama confuso, soporifero e inconcludente che scambia la malinconia a tutti i costi per profondità di scrittura. Se cercate una storia matura su come affrontare un lutto e superare una perdita, fatevi un favore e guardate Wonderland con Suzy.

Consigliato a: Chi soffre d'insonnia e cerca un'alternativa naturale (e istantanea) alla melatonina.

P.S. Non posso confermare che gli autori fossero sotto l'effetto di sostanze psichedeliche. Posso soltanto confermare che, a fine visione, avrei voluto esserci io.

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watch it, JUST WATCH IT (you will not regret it)

this was so beautifully written, the plot was too good. Qiao man and Wei Shao - best pair, they are the principled and conventional ones but there was another one too: Da Qiao and Bi Xi their love story can be hated by many, but as she said: "in this world, who said we should always do the right thing?" this was so fkn true, why must she sacrifice her lover, her husband, her lover for the family that didn't even consider her wishes? why should she care about the people of Yanzhou?

but Qiao Man did, she cared for the people hence even when Boya refused reinforcements, she took it upon herself not to break the promise she made to Wei Shao and to save the innocent soldiers. She, a lady raised in luxury, went to the woods, devised a plan with just 500 soldiers with no hesitation and fear against tens of thousands of soldiers of General Lin, and even went to an extreme by showing herself as the bait and never once cared about the consequences about losing her life because that is how much she loved him, she went that far not only for the people but to save her lover, her husband. Two different loves, but who can judge them? At the end of the day, both of them wanted their husbands to return to them safely and live happily.

Their relationship dynamics, if there were any other one in place of Qiao Man they would have been easily powerless and used like a rag doll. But this is QIAO MAN, Lady of Yanzhou, raised by the honourable leader Qiao Gui, known for her beauty but only to those close to her know how smart and resourceful she can be. She never once backed down, NEVER even when she was expelled from Yujun, made to stand out in rain for 3 days, when the Wei army decided to kill her (but she still decided to burn sulphur to save them), when she was not able to go to her hometown for her own grandfather's ancestral rites (because she wanted to succeed in getting Wei Shao by her side). Such is the story of one of the most courageous and fearless Lady, she NEVER once backed down and didn't give in to injustice but at the same time knew when to repay hatred with kindness and when to repay with wrath.

Wei Shao? My man saw his grandfather, father and brother all die infront of his eyes while he was hiding from those enemies. He swore to wipe out the entire Qiao clan, but married that same clan's daughter. Yes he did mistreat her in the beginning, but did he change? fuck yes, he took care for her, stood up for her, protected her AND saved the very same clan which betrayed his family 15 years ago. Who can put such deep hatred down? but HE DID, for his ManMan.
Both are made for eachother, they deserve eachother. I LOVE THEM

I wish I can find someone like that too, the way both hug eachother and comfort eachother. Damn, I was so jealous. Qiao Man never let any misunderstandings grow longer, she confronted everything and stood up for herself each time. She never let any such misunderstanding sour their relationship. Their kisses and whispers still linger in my head. They both were very wary, doubted each other in the beginning but after going through so many they realized their love for each other. Even the confessions, everything was so beautifully enacted. For a girl to take initiative is a demeaning thing, but ManMan or Song Xuer never shied away from that, she wanted to show/express her love and did that. Wei Shao/Liu Yuning also portrayed how a husband should be, even when he was so fkn dense he never once showed disrespect to her. He carried her, listened to her, BELIEVED in her and SUPPORTED her in every way he can.

I cried in so many scenes, when Wei Lang died, Qiao Man's father bowing towards Wei state, Miao Jing standing alone in front of General Lin as bait and so many more. I just loved her character she was so fkn cute especially that drunk scene, she was so effing adorable, I just love her. And him? Initially he looked so bad but slowly his charisma moved me. He is actually handsome, I love him now. Not everyone can look good in historical costume, so understandable. Anyways, love you guys.
I don't think I can move on from this couple.

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The real monster is the justice system slowly killing the innocent.

This show should awake the fire inside of us. This speaks a lot about the law and justice a country is pushing. What happened in the series mirrors real events happening. They said that no one is above the law but it's a complete mistake. Power is above it. The powerful can bend laws into their favor and trample on the innocent. It is actually saddening that money can buy everything.

This series is about who to side: the justice prevailing by the killer? or the law that everyone believes in. This is DewTee's first series together and their execution is top tier. This is no romance but the chemistry is sending me. And Tumcial's expression is really scary like how can he do that? And do you think kiss the most romantic thing at all? Watch them lit each other's sigars.

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READ THE NOVEL!!! (trust me, you will love it)

(Disclaimer: I didn't use spoiler tag because the drama and novel are too different from each other)

Usually I don't give any reviews but now I just couldn't resist myself. I watched till ep 20 and stopped to read the novel. In the beginning, I couldn't stand Chen Yi and thought thank god the drama version of him is so much better. But I persisted, I was curious how will they both end up together after such irreversible damage done to each other.

I maybe right or wrong but after ep 20, I stopped watching any reels or edits of the later episodes so I woudn't know how its going on. Initially, while reading I imagined SWL and ZJY but later it struck me how different the drama version made them.
Chen Yi is crude, swores frequently, Tu Li was his actual gf AND lived with him. She found out that he lusts for the girl whom he claims to everyone around as 'younger sister'.

Miao Jing is too cold and berated him at any chance. She is more aloof than the drama version, offered herself to him at 18.
So as you can see there is a lot going, too many mistakes and impulsive decisions which can make one think if these 2 are really the perfect match?

but in the latter half of the novel they prove how compatible and made for each other they are. All the hardships that they faced strengthened their bond, 2 kids abandoned by their parents, braving storms amidst misunderstanding but at the end of the day support each other. They are too different from the traditional relationships we are accustomed to. Because they were forced to grow and mature fast, rely on themselves for food(yup literally food, they were scavenging because there was no adult to provide for them). Chen Yi was Miao Jing's father, mother, brother AND lover; and Miao Jing was Chen Yi's mother, father, sister AND lover. Sounds too unusual right? but hey, who are we to judge? With such circumstances, I don't think any of us could have even survived. If I were in MJ or CY's place, I would have unalived myself. I am not joking.

[And thank god this is just a novel, I am not someone who really likes the idea of marriage and children BUT after reading I made a vow that if I ever have a child I would treat them with the utmost care and make them feel loved.]
I just wanted to give a hug to both of them


I still don't get why the drama changed MJ's job to auditing. 90% of the novel is pure angst and tension and all about their relationship so I think they wanted to add some more extra in the crime genre side to make up for the screentime. But with the release of chinese BLs like Revenged Love and ABO: Desire, I thought they will be more open-mided to such scenes but ig we are still have a long way to go.
My fav part: Them going to Columbia and the novel covering those years is the peak amount of love and affection. You could feel it as if you were right near them third-wheeling. (Kudos to the author for such immersive storytelling)

I just absolutely loved and devoured those chapters. MJ and CY gets married, has a cute baby girl, and return to Tengcheng. You could see them living such fulfilling lives as if compensating for their lost carefree childhood. Ahhhhh gosh, they moved me to tears. I just love them soooo muchhhh.
I wish the drama version gives justice to their relationship.

Guysss please give the novel a try.

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Watch Season 1 First!~

Aishhhhh it's just the first episode, and Watarai is already so much whipped for his kawaii Hioki like seeing them on my screen once again and being all lovey dovey made me squeal hard UwU Like thanks to them, my Sundays won't be boring anymore hehe I missed them so much ^V^ Seeing my two babies start their senior year literally makes me feel so much proud also Watarai's possessiveness is completely understandable yet unhinged T-T Like having him as a boyfriend in real life would be a hassle for real though I'm not complaining also THAT KISS at the end gosh I'm so down for the next episode >//3//<

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Great idea, hit or miss execution

The first 15 eps were great and the games were interesting but as the drama went on the games became less creative and less entertaining to watch.

In the middle the plot was kinda dragging and was getting a bit boring. The episodes felt repetitive and supposedly 'smart' characters made 'not so smart' decisions.

The last 5 episodes really picked up again and I really enjoyed them however the ending was just meh.

The acting was good. The cinematography was also good considering the budget.

In summary, this show had so much potential but it only sometimes delivered.

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