Reviews

Standard disclaimer: I've only seen 4 episodes, so my feelings may change as the series progresses, but so far I love it.

I loved Nam Ji-hyun in Suspicious Partner, Shopping King Louis, etc., but this role really shows off both her comedic and emotional range in a whole new way. I've already rewatched the first four episodes once and several of her scenes more than once. I especially love her interactions with her aunt, played by Jeong In-ji, who I haven't seen before but fell for from her very first scene.

Kim Jae-yeong is perfectly cast in this role, as it calls for nuanced acting to get across the mix of emotions he's grappling with. For example, he's adamantly opposed to traditional notions of romance but also falling for Yeon-su while also trying not to fall for her, meaning he's dealing with multiple layers of subtext in his interactions with her.

What's great is that the series is about two people with opposing values when it comes to love, commitment, intimacy, etc. but doesn't judge either of them as right or wrong. It's not about one of them convincing the other to change but rather about both of them broadening each other's horizons. Yeon-su (FL) starts to break through Dal's (ML) armor in their very first encounter, while he pierces hers with a kiss she invited but didn't expect, thinking he was gay. The script even articulates this, with her talking about cracks appearing in her firmly held beliefs.

But it's not at all a show about rescuing a conversative princess from the tower of propriety. Both leads are stuck in perspectives that are closing off paths of self-discovery and fulfillment. Her path isn't about casual sex but rather whether to let her life be prescribed by family elders who adhere to inflexible tradition. His path is about whether to remain locked away in loneliness.

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This story came in like a bad fanfiction from the writers of the Marvel universe. The first two episodes were unbearably full of terrible humor every 30 seconds punctuated by ridiculous flying fight scenes, and I wouldn't have bothered continuing if not for my honor as a completionist.
Luckily, after those two episodes the "humor" abated and the story became more serious, but still it wasn't exactly good. If you liked season 1 for the romance, there might not be much here for you except being able to continue admiring your favorite characters for another 12 episodes and the interactions of the brothers. The plot was a lot of things combined together, it seemed that a lot of different subjects got stuffed in just because they'd be popular: There were lower level dieties (who got largely ignored but should have been more significant in the plot), two more companion mountain gods (but lacking the only other fellow mountain god we'd really met/heard about in S1, Bear), yacha (seemingly just for the zombie hype), Rang's subplot, the whole thing with red/white mask, Japanese colonialism, Japanese demons... It goes on and on.
Rang's story was good, but it would've been much better if it had been a bigger part of the plot. Seeing the brothers together again was nice, and his romance was cute but rushed. If this had been the main plot with a lot less focus on the rest, it could've been good. (Although it completely doesn't mesh with how he acted S1...) It was nice that Yeon was still committed to Ji Ah, so understandable that there would be no romance for him, but it would've been nice to see him missing her more.
Suddenly having two other fellow mountain gods was okay, but they just seemed obsessed with a past that would've been hundreds of years ago. (And I burst out laughing when they played obvious Studio Ghibli forest music for the scenes of them on the mountain as kids!)
The rest of the plots weren't very good, especially when it focused more on the Japanese demons who seemed like bumbling fools. Moo Yeong's story seemed like it was getting somewhere, but got completely abandoned at the end with no real resolution. Also the inclusion of Kim Yong Ji playing a different part than in S1 seemed like a desperate attempt to keep more of the original cast, but just ended up being confusing and strange. If she was acting in S2 I would've much preferred seeing her with Sin Ju in the present time, even just a bit!
Overall it played out like a superhero movie, with ridiculously strong characters spending the entire time pointlessly fighting over a macguffin and coming to the usual conclusion at the end. I didn't love it, although I did like seeing the characters again, and I felt the cast's talents could have been used better elsewhere. Season 1 ended on a beautiful note, and really didn't need any more.

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My Sept Recommendation movie

Watch this because of recommendation challenge from 𝑵𝒐𝒊𝒓𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

The story follows Takashi Aoyama, a young salesman at an advertising company who is worn down by a hellish boss who treats his employees like slaves. Overworked and exhausted, he eventually reaches a breaking point and contemplates ending his life. Just as a train is about to hit him, a stranger named Yamamoto pulls him to safety.

Yamamoto is cheerful, speaks with an Osaka dialect, and claims to be an old classmate. He becomes Aoyama’s friend and pushes him to rethink what really matters in his life. Thanks to Yamamoto’s warmth, Aoyama’s mood begins to brighten, and his work improves as a result.

But then Yamamoto’s mysterious identity begins to unravel, and the truth comes out. The revelation makes Aoyama question everything all over again.

So, who is Yamamoto really, and can Aoyama still find a reason to keep going once he learns the truth?

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.

Overall this kind of movie is not really my cup of tea. I find it a little bit boring. But with Japan's work culture, it's really important to make this kind of movie. I really hope this movie can help some people with the same situation.

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Life can change for the better, even without money

I loved this show, but what really stood out for me was the coffee shop scene near the end quote “I haven’t spent a single cent of it (his winnings) but it showed me that so many things could still change….maybe I could live the same life, even without the money”. obviously having the money gave him the confidence to take risks he would not have normally taken and in the process changed his attitude….so in a way the money was still important…but he realised he didn’t want or need to change his life, just his attitude, this could be said for so many of us. To have the courage without the money… life could potentially be much fuller.

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This story made me laugh, cry and left me wanting more!

This is my first time reviewing on MDL, I just had to share how unexpectedly enjoyable this series is. I watch a lot of crime and thriller dramas so I was in need of something refreshing and fun, and this was just the thing.

While there is a nefarious plot and tragedy beneath the surface, the series never gets too dark or heavy. It could definitely be a great anime plot, and if you're a fan of isekai where the main character enters an RPG world I think you'll enjoy it. It's an underdog hero's tale of finding your inner strength and overcoming obstacles with grit and determination as our MC "levels up" with the help of unexpected allies along the way.

I personally rate all media purely on enjoyment and memorability. I may be more generous with ratings than many (though I can be brutal too despite popular opinion - my rating of Mouse is a good example 👎🏻) So I'm not saying it's a masterpiece or anything mind-blowing, but it gets a 10/10 because it achieves what it set out to do flawlessly.

While the ending is definitely satisfying, it is left open to a second season and I really hope it gets one. I love that kdramas don't drag on for season after season, and usually I prefer a series to wrap up in one season. But I would love to see the rest of our culinary hero's journey to become a legendary chef 💜

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A Dark Drama That Lives Uo to KinnPorsche

I don't normally like writing reviews, because the things that I like and enjoy don't necessarily reflect on the quality of a drama. I also don't think that just because I didn't enjoy something, that the drama should suffer because I liked it less; nor do people need to hear me rant online a lot. I liked a lot of things about this drama, overwhelmingly including Min's performance and the story itself. The production was top tier, the music and cinematography also stellar, and the satisfaction ending of the assaulters dying in the end. I only have one complaint with this series, and that the character of Jay felt lackluster. I don't necessarily blame the actor, but the character itself never got over his obsession with Sun. I never once felt that he actually truly liked him more than just a concept of a person, and the experience of that one amazing time back when he was at his lowest. Except, I didn't really feel him at his lowest because I never really saw his pain. We saw plenty of Sun's pain, and plenty of times for him to heal through the new people introduced into his life, and through him accepting his past and wrongdoings, and realizing that the revenge he wanted wasn't going to cure his own guilt and pain. However I never once saw vulnerability within Jay, nor that he was really able to be just a normal person with Sun; He always had to be this ownership and in control persona, and I wasn't a fan. I had no real reason to root for him to be with Sun other than that he provided a means to an end at one point and that Sun liked him, did he even like him back other than the fact that he was obsessed with him in a lust way? The rest of the series was absolutely magnificent and the cast and crew really outdid themselves. I definitely want to see more from this director and cinematographer.

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I don't know what to say?

I've been really looking forward to this drama since the trailers have been circulating, especially since the cast is said to be popular.As a newbie I was disappointed with this drama.

I thought the luxurious setting and costumes would deliver stunning visuals in this drama. But in reality... This drama is a dud from the start, with uneven pacing. The filming is messy. The male lead is simply silent, his expression indistinguishable. There's also the angle of the shot. The rotating footage makes your eyes dizzy, instead of adding to the tension. What is this? Is this 2026 or the old days with technology like this? Even the production is rough, vintage, from the past. It's not noticeable because there are too many beautifying and whitening effects. This drama overemphasizes beauty to the point that everything else is ignored and lacking. Apart from the tense plot, as befits a drama, The Republic and the family turmoil had no positive value until episode 17. Many people commented that they were sad and carried away by the atmosphere. Even though I think the crying scenes were even made up. They couldn't Acting crying really.

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An unexpected favorite.

I did not expect china to come out with this kind of plot anytime soon, and honestly? they did a good job executing it. Some scenes made my blood boil and genuinely hard to watch. Children are a big factor of this story and god its just gut wrenching to see what they go through, whether shown explicitly or not.

The acting is amazing from the two leads. Both have suffered familial lost and their anger, grief and anger could be felt through the screen. It touched me right in the heart.

Though with such a good movie, the music is a bit underwhelming. The saving grace was a metal song during a fighting scene.

The action scenes in this movie is-to put it simply-what china is great at. Seriously, are we gonna doubt china for their action scenes? Tie it with the leads' amazing performance and phenomenal fight choreo. It's a hit. It's bloody, intense and merciless. To my fellow Jun fans who wanted to see more of him and his fighting in TSE, you will enjoy it here. Not only more screentime, but a more rough, wild and improved fighting.

The villains? oh boy the villains. They genuinely disgust me. I hate how realistic they are. I hate how they try to justify their sick motives like they are the same as the victims. Sometimes a villain's good looks overshadow their evilness but these villains..I didn't even glance at their attractiveness, that's how bad they are. I couldn't even be bothered to praise how good looking they are because I was constantly mad and digusted at them. Felt genuine joy when they died.

The plot twist was so surprising to me. I personally did not expect a plot twist in this movie. I expected the movie to end with both leads completing their revenge and happy ending. But whoa. Speaking of ending, I'd say this is a bittersweet ending. It's a satisfactory ending for me but other people might not agree.

Overall, this is a solid movie. I'm not a movie critic or a picky viewer so I'm easily entertained and satisfied. So, this is a 10 for me. I do recommend this to anyone to watch, just with discretion. The plot is triggering so anyone with a sensitive heart should be careful. Personally, I'm someone who can handle heavy topics like this. But this movie has me got me grimacing. Maybe because it hits a little bit close to home.

Last but not least, fellow Carats and Huihuis...Jun is unbelievably handsome in this!!

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Comparation with the book

Be My Player Two is set in the fast-paced world of competitive e-sports, and follows Thi and Zo.

Thi, known online as "THR33," is an elite streamer celebrated for his top-tier skills, intense competitive drive, and notoriously sharp tongue. His pride takes a massive hit when he suffers an embarrassing defeat live on stream against an anonymous rookie going by "DERYA MK12." The loss happens in front of thousands of viewers, and Thi becomes obsessed with tracking down whoever embarrassed him — but the winner never shows his face, so all Thi has is a username.

Determined to reclaim his honor and prove the loss was a fluke, Thi tracks down the real person behind the name: a shy college student named Zo. He challenges the rookie to a rematch to settle the score once and for all, and Zo agrees, too scared to risk the anger of Thi or his fans. Thi sets the terms himself — if Zo loses, he has to show his face on camera. For someone who's spent this whole time hiding behind a username specifically to avoid that kind of attention, it's the worst possible outcome.

But as the duel unfolds, Thi's expectations are shattered. Far from being a fluke or an arrogant troll, Zo shows real mechanical skill, sharp tactical focus, and a calm under pressure that genuinely earns Thi's respect. Thi wins anyway, and Zo has to make good on the deal — except he has one trick left. He shows up wearing a bear head, technically complying without actually revealing himself. Thi lets it go. The two become friends after that, but only online: Thi respects Zo's privacy and never actually sees his face.

Then an important tournament comes up, and Thi's team, BS Brothers, is missing an essential player. Thi realizes that Zo's play style naturally complements his own aggressive one — and that the rival he once wanted to crush might be exactly who the team needs. So he goes hunting for the man behind the username all over again, and this time, he finally succeeds in unmasking him.

Zo still doesn't say yes easily. His hesitation about going pro is tangled up with a traumatic past and his own shy, guarded personality. When he finally agrees, it's on one condition: his identity stays secret. He'll fight for the team, bear head and all.

As the two train together under high pressure, their early friction melts into a real partnership — and slowly, being teammates turns into something more. But just as they're trying to manage what they feel for each other, a new problem arrives: Ten, a member of the rival team Blue Viper, starts trying to recruit Zo for himself. To complicate things further, Ten has history with both Thi and Jack — history that was never resolved.

So how does it all end? Does BS Brothers win the championship? Can Thi and Jack's relationship with Ten ever be fixed? And can Thi and Zo figure out what they are to each other before the tournament forces the answer out of them?

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.

For me this drama has quite a lot of differences from the book. But first let's discuss what I love and don't love about the drama.

What I love:
+ How CUTE my Bas. Oh my gosh, he's a lot cuter here than in Fourever You.
+ The tournament is quite interesting. Once more the drama makes me want to play the Mobile Legend Game.
+ The friendship between BS brothers is also great.
+ Thi’s relationship with his family.

What I don't like:
+ Maxky is too much. I don't like Thi character at all. It makes the drama overall become too exaggerated & childish. I don't think it's Maxky fault though, I blame it more on the director's direction.
+ They make it all only about boy's love. Like how they ‘force’ Jack & Ten relationship, and also about how they erase Thi ex-girlfriend.

Overall if I need to summarize the drama in one sentence, I think it's too exaggerated & just too childish for me. If not because of how cute Bas was, I don't think I'll finish this drama at all… Haha…

Now I'll talk about the difference with the book. If you don't want to know, just stop reading until here…













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SPOILER ALERT!!!
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The changes:
* My biggest disappointment is that thi's ex-girlfriend character, Belle, was removed from the storyline. In my opinion, keeping Belle in the picture would have brought more color and depth to the story. It also would have given the drama a different point of view than most other BL dramas offer.
* They only feature one game throughout the drama. I understand it’s probably difficult to get permission to use multiple games, but it would have been better if they’d stuck closer to whatever game was used in the book instead. I kinda want to see that game instead of another Mobile Legend.
* In the book, Ten & Jack's relationship is purely platonic & still has a little grudge till the end. And Ten is actually kinda annoying in the book, so yeah Ten’s character is better in the drama than the book.
* The book the characters feeling, Thi & Zo, are have more depth. But the drama talks more about friendship & their goup as total package

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I’m being generous

Wanted to love this. It’s a one watch for sure, but so many issues.

Acting for starts seems wooden EVERYWHERE.

But the plot doesn’t make an awful lot of sense either, and then we go from despising to in love in what feels like a quick jump. I also didn’t get the final pledge to fix all the things and love her like he should have earlier to not be together and have that yr apart.

I dunno maybe it was the billion ads per episode that just unnaturally broke up the flow of the drama that I might have missed a valid excuse. I guess at least all ends well.

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