Reviews

A fluffy rom-com that is easy on the eyes and meant to be just that!

This drama was my first official intro into k-dramas & k-entertainment as a whole so it somewhat holds a special place in my heart. And because it was my first, I didn't know much about tropes and what not in Korean dramas so I didn't think much of the plot. coming off from watching woke Hollywood stuff that no longer made much sense, I think I was in such a culture shock and seeing something refreshing that I didn't think much of the story and just enjoyed it for what it is. so it's a bit surprising for me to see that this show has so many negative reviews. And whilst I understand the reasons for these reviews especially since I've watched a fair share of dramas at this point, I still believe this drama was meant to be just what it was - it wasn't made to be served up with a side of thrillers, serial killers, unnecessary misunderstandings that never get resolved or are resolved way too late, and whatnot; just two gorgeous looking leads falling for each other spontaneously and working through their relationship as it progresses with whatever baggage it comes with. That in itself was the plot, every other thing was secondary, yes, even character development was secondary, I dare say.
Is it the ideal drama? Maybe not. But it was shot really beautifully though.
Does it also have its own tropes? Yes, and over the top too.
Was it perfect? Nope, not even in the slightest.
Did it deliver on what it actually promised to be? Yes, yes it did.
Were the leads a great pair? Yes, I think they were. And as for their acting, ML delivered way better on everything than the FL. in my opinion. They also had a great supporting cast as well.
I think this drama can be enjoyed by everyone if you just adjust your viewing lens to see it for what it is. This may be difficult especially if you are not new to k-dramas and have seen a fair share of other titles with more depth but if you just turn on the cute and fluffy all the way up for this one, then you will enjoy it a great deal.

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Sinking Ships but not a Sinking Show

Note about overall rating: For comparison, I also gave an 8.5/10 to Season 3.

Ahhh. His Man. The love/painful relationship we have.

You make me get attached and see promise in couples, only for any and all I root for with my whole heart to never work out. All my ships sink . . .

*sigh*

C'est la vie.

Again, I should be used to it by now. I think I am the iceberg to these Titanics.

But, at the end of the day, these are real people with real feelings and free will. No one can be made to like/love anyone. And, for those who do work out, I am genuinely happy for them, including those from this season. One couple, in particular, I didn't expect to be so natural and sweet, but really saw hope for a long-lasting relationship in the end.

As for the different choices made in the production side this season, I have mixed thoughts.

Obviously, re-shooting an entire season with only a few new people isn't ideal. But circumstances made it this way and I understand why they'd ask everyone else to come back to film again and did find value in people perhaps being braver/taking a second look at someone or even approaching a newcomer.

The diaries were another thoughtful addition that encouraged self-reflection for the contestants. I thought it was also a nice way to wrap up evenings and track dates/the progression of feelings.

And taking time at the end of the show for everyone to voice their thoughts on their time on His Man S4, even after making their final selections/finding out if they were mutually chosen, felt like a great way to carve out space for those who didn't end up with a partner. After all, their experience matters, too. Especially when S3 failed to follow up with everyone.

Eliminations, though? Believe it or not, I can see both sides of it.

Eliminating someone from a dating show for being closed-off/not interested in anyone does make sense; it removes those who aren't truly participating, frees up airtime for others, and encourages contestants to be more proactive in pursuing those they're interested in.

On the other hand, eliminations do ultimately hurt the feelings of the contestants who are eliminated (even if only temporarily) and take away the chance for them to break through someone's walls and reach their heart by the end. It also sends shockwaves through the house, putting people on edge.

I didn't want to see anyone be eliminated. But I could see why they introduced this new, controversial element to the show.

All in all, I still adore His Man and the journey it's taken me on (4 years now! Crazy!), and I hope we get yet another season.

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I Came to Fill the Void… but Found a Hidden Gem Instead.

I feel like I’ve found a hidden gem with this drama. I originally started watching it while looking for something to fill the void while waiting for the 7th episode of Duang With You, but I ended up discovering something really special.

I genuinely love everything about this series ... the story, the acting, the characters, the actors, and the OSTs. Everything just works so well together. The storytelling is simple but heartfelt, and sometimes that simplicity is exactly what makes it so beautiful.

The relationship between Thee and Peach is incredibly precious. The way their feelings develop feels natural, soft, and sincere. Their chemistry makes every moment between them feel warm and genuine. It’s the kind of love story that makes you smile one minute and ache the next because of how pure it feels.

What I appreciate most is that the drama doesn’t rely on overly complicated plots or unnecessary drama. Instead, it focuses on wholesome moments, emotional connection, and the quiet growth of their relationship. It’s fluffy, comforting, and the kind of series you watch when you just want to feel good.

In a genre where many stories can start to feel similar, this one feels refreshing and special. It has a warmth and charm that stays with you even after finishing an episode.

This is easily one of the best BL dramas I’ve watched, and I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance. It’s one of those rare shows that quietly finds its way into your heart and stays there long after the story ends.

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the story is so wasted, Run Yu deserve better!

I am so disappointed by this story.
The show is great but I was very annoyed by some elements of the story
The night deity/ Run Yu is absolutely lovable and deserves so much better. He rocks the show.
I really hate his bond with Mi’er and the way he suffers because of her. Kuang Lu would have been a much better choice for him. And the love story between the Jin Mi and the Fire deity is not as beautiful as we would like. It is actually cringe and disturbing sometimes.
I really don’t like her role and the way she behave btw.
The fire deity is also great but pitiful sometimes, less majestuous that we could have expected, especially in the way he defends his witch mother the empress, as being his mother doesn’t excuse her naughty actions. We feel sorry for the damages caused to the brotherhood between him and Run Yu
Otherwise, it would have been a 10/10
Special mention to Mu Ci heartbreaking story

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Amazing

This show has 0 cringey moments. The acting is amazing, the chemistry is on point, the storyline and plot make sense, and add up. Sadly, it runs for only 7 episodes, but this show truly showcases quality over quantity. The ending does not feel rushed. No useless drama (that doesn't follow the plot) or fillers getting between the main leads. There is no cringey music that doesn't work well with what's going on in the moment. This show genuinely surprised me, and everything about it was well-made. I hope these actresses and this company make more GLs with them and give us amazing and well-written storylines like these.

Another element of enjoyment from this show is that the GL aspect is not the main plot but rather a side plot. The main plot centers around the main character's life and the mystery of her father. We see the build-up, tension, and love between the main characters as they do things together, rather than being abruptly given 2 main leads and expected to fall for each other. We can see every moment where the character is falling more and more in love with their love interest. Overall, this production was amazingly made, and there really isn't much I would tweak or change tbh.

10/10 show
10/10 acting
10/10 chemistry
10/10 cinematography
10/10 plot

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A fun rom-com

This one was fun.

The whole virtual boyfriend thing was so ridiculous (and scary). I think they were trying to go for a swoon worthy male options but all of those scenarios were really fun to me. All of them looked a bit weird on this show though, I wonder if they edited/filtered their faces cause all those actors are usually very handsome.

I liked how slowly Mirae and Gyeongnam relationship developed. We could see that he liked her even before his virtual lookalike appeared. I would have loved to see more scenes from his pov.

They handled the aftermath of the app as well as they could. Its just such a weird situation. We get to see that Mirae healed from her insecurities by herself so it took the weirdness away.

The sets and locations were so beautiful!!! The budget was put to good use. The cameos were such a fun addition too, I wished they didn't reveal it before the show aired.

I would have rated this higher if we had some more episodes of them dating in real life and dealing with the whole app thing in a more detailed way.

The acting was just standard rom-com acting, I wish Jisoo's next project is something a bit dark.

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jisso slayed and bee acting has improved a lot

first of all I dont really watch kdramas because I think the episodes are too long but I watched this drama mainly for jisso and it was my first ever kdrama I really enjoyed it they really handled the enemies to lovers trope very well and the virtual dating gadget that part was also super good all the actors that was casted acted very well specially eun-ho I really liked ep7-10 the most the two leads starts to have more conversation during these episodes and their chemistry was like super good I dont know how to explain maybe this drama will lead me to watch more kdramas in the future and I hope jisso will do more dramas like this

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Unchained censorship and forbidden justice to the audience

Watching the initial episodes of this drama, I was honestly confused 🤔: why can’t this drama cross the 8.5 rating mark for the quality it delivered? 🤷 Up until episode 20, it truly felt like an 8.5+ banger. The plot moved with a smooth rhythm, weaving together clever twists, palace conspiracies, slow-burn romance, and that deliciously forbidden dynamic between consort and eunuch. Add some censored yet unapologetic gore, subtle comic relief, a solid supporting cast, and of course ❤️ ❤️ Dylan Wang ❤️ ❤️ as the lead, and you’ve got a very promising ride.
But from episode 20 onward, the drama seems to trip over its own robes and fall straight down the palace stairs. Characters who were initially likable suddenly become unreasonable and irritating. 😮‍💨The storyline starts wandering into chaos where logic quietly packs its bags and leaves the building.😩
1. The FL’s sudden downgrade in brainpower
The FL begins as a brilliant survivor. This is a woman who outsmarted death three or four times, invented unconventional escape plans under pressure, and even marched into her enemy’s territory during her own kidnapping… only to leave victorious with extra cash after beating her in a card game. Absolute legend behavior.😌... Yet in later episodes she somehow becomes helpless in front of a spineless coward king who murdered a nine-year-old child to take the throne. Then in the final episode she suddenly appears as the great messiah talking about saving the nation. Quite a dramatic promotion for someone who couldn’t even save her own maid. With each episode, the chaos around her becomes so unnecessary that her screen time turns from exciting to exhausting.😔
2. The strange message about filial piety
The show also sends a rather questionable message. The FL’s father sends his daughter to the palace as a concubine to gain royal favor, only for her to later be disposed of as a tribute woman and almost executed after the king dies. Father of the year, truly. But when that same father commits endless crimes, murders a child, and launches a rebellion that kills countless people, the FL still shields him in the name of filial piety. If she cares that deeply, why not share the punishment as a dutiful daughter instead of emotionally manipulating everyone to beg for mercy for him?⁉️⁉️
3. The villain’s confusing ending
The closure for the villain king is baffling. The ML has every advantage: rebels at the gate, ministers opposing the tyrant, and clear evidence that the king murdered his own nephew to take power. Yet our saintly ML decides to save him. Why? What moral lesson was the writer aiming for here? Because the audience mostly heard… 🦗
4. Censorship cutting important scenes
Some impactful scenes were clearly removed due to censorship, which makes the narrative feel incomplete. This is puzzling because other dramas have shown far more intense action and romance, so it’s unclear why this one got the scissors treatment.
Credit where it’s due though. Dylan Wang absolutely carried the show. His charisma, presence, and acting were a solid 10/10. The FL also delivered a strong performance with expressive reactions and lively dialogue delivery (though a better makeup artist wouldn’t hurt).
The background music and OST were surprisingly soothing even without lyrics.
In the end, the drama probably should have wrapped up around episode 25, right after the ML resolved his brother’s murder. Everything afterward felt like unnecessary bonus content nobody asked for… like an extra season of chaos stuffed into a few episodes.

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A Story Full of Hidden Identities and Emotional Payoffs

What really surprised me was how layered the story turned out to be. At first it felt like a pretty standard historical romance setup, but the deeper it went, the more political tension and character complexity started to unfold. The pacing isn’t perfect some middle episodes drag a little but the emotional payoff later makes it worth sticking with.
The main leads carried the drama really well. Their chemistry felt natural instead of overly dramatic, and I liked that their relationship developed through trust and shared struggles rather than instant romance. There are a few moments where the writing leans into typical drama tropes, but the actors sell the emotions enough that it still lands.
Visually, the drama is gorgeous. The costumes and scenery have that polished historical aesthetic that Chinese dramas do so well. Some of the palace scenes especially look stunning, and the cinematography adds a lot to the overall atmosphere. What I appreciated most was that the story didn’t make its characters purely good or bad. A lot of the side characters have understandable motivations, which makes the conflicts feel more meaningful.
If I had to criticize something, it would be that a few subplots feel rushed, like the writers wanted to wrap things up quickly. I wish certain characters had gotten a bit more resolution.
Overall, I’d say Pursuit of Jade is a really enjoyable watch if you like historical dramas with romance, intrigue, and strong character moments. It’s not flawless, but it kept me invested and emotionally engaged.

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Never seen such a shallow drama (＠´＿｀＠）)

PLOT: Upon his (forced) return to Thailand, AI, the ML, bi & player, falls head over heels for Nhai, a quirky student (the MC) from his university. When Nhai's heart is broken by the girl he was after, Ai confesses his feelings and they end up spending the night together. The next day, a lost Nhai wants to forget, but later, Ai confesses his feelings and they end up living together on a trial basis.

THE "NOT TOO BAD"
+++ The two leads are cute and have great chemistry, but they're very young and not always convincing.
+++ Seeing the two fathers (Porsh & Arm) was nice.
Decent OSTs

COULD HAVE BEEN (much) BETTER
### Terrible direction: low budget (it shows in the sets, costumes, etc.) but [perhaps due to the editing] everything is poorly executed, arrives without transition... In short, it just doesn't work.
### The actors (all of them) are unconvincing, everything rings false (especially the angst scenes). Episode 9 is an anthology of what can be done in a truly awful film!
### Many unnecessary scenes and characters.
### Dialogues full of nonsense, errors, and contradictions.

=> Don't waste your time on this, it's empty!
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Jamais vu un drama aussi creux （＠´＿｀＠）

PLOT: A son retour (obligé) en Thailande, AI, le ML, bi & player, a le coup de foudre pr Nhai, 1 étudiant (le MC) bizarre de sa fac. Qd celui-ci a le coeur brisé par la fille qu'il convoitait, Ai se déclare et ils finissent par passer a nuit ensemble. Le lendemain, Nhai, perdu, veut oublier, mais + tard, Ai se déclare et ils finissent par vivre ensemble à titre d'essai.

LE "PAS TROP MAL"
+++ Les 2 leads sont mignons, ont une belle alchimie, mais ils sont très jeunes et pas tjs convaincants.
+++ Voir les 2 pères (Porsh & Arm) était sympa.
OSTs correctes

LE "POURRAIT MIEUX FAIRE"
### Réalis° nulle : peu de budget (ça se voit ds les décors, les costumes, etc.) mais [peut-être à cause du montage] tout est mal amené, arrive sans transition, ... Bref, la sauce ne prend pas.
### Les acteurs (tous) ne sont pas convaincants, tout sonne faux (surtt les scènes d'action （＠´＿｀＠）)
L'épisode 9 est une anthologie de ce qu'on peut faire ds 1 navet !
### Bcp de scènes et personnages inutiles.
### Dialogues plein de non-sens, d'erreurs, de contradictions.

=> Ne perdez pas votre temps là-dessus, c'est creux !

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Ignore the negativity, embrace "Woojoo's Universe"!

I've been following this show since it was first announced and it has been the happiest six weeks for me watching it every week as it aired. The overwhelming negativity for this show feels completely undeserved and feels more like viewer dissonance with the drama than the actual maker's fault.

I will put it out there right off the bat that this drama is for people looking to watch a slow burn relationship built on a foundation of shared grief, responsibility, and friendship. If you are looking for instant gratification in grand pink-filtered dates and overt romantic moments, you won't find it until the end.

What this drama does well though is actually much rarer for kdrama standards. It shows how real feelings develop from scratch between two complete strangers who began their journey being bickering enemies, then to indifference, then slow attraction and finally deep love. It also shows how feelings manifest in real life unlike the usual loud moments that have become a prerequisite for romance shows.

These are evident in how Taehyung chooses to pick up the camera he vowed not to ever again just so that Hyunjin and Woojoo would have warm water at home, how Hyun Jin encourages Taehyung to give photography a try again and how both of them cheer for each other in their personal successes, how Hyun Jin worries about Taehyung the whole day even when she's out with her first love, how Hyun Jin stays up all night to tend to a sick Taehyung because she knows he hates the rain and how lonely he gets when it rains because of his childhood, how Hyun Jin only ever allows Taehyung to help her, see her vulnerability, tears and complaints, how Hyun Jin instinctively understands Taehyung's harsh words to her were from a place of fear and helplessness and how Taehyung immediately regrets what he said and comes home with a peace treaty in the form of food, and so many more instances I would need a rewatch to catch them all!

This is what love in real life looks like. And it was so refreshing to see these moments in a drama amongst the sea of other shows that always get the loud dramatic moments right but never stop to dwell on the smaller more "mundane" stuff that ironically create more lasting impact on the foundation of a longterm relationship. And even more rare to see them from a female lead when lately especially, it's always become the male lead showing up in small and big ways for female leads that hardly ever reciprocate the same kindness.

This natural camaraderie is obvious from the first day Taehyung moves in with Hyunjin and Woojoo, and how easily each of them fit into their individual roles in their "new family". Anyone observing from the outside can see the potential that already exists.

Both the leads have realistic and well written character arcs. Taehyung goes from being traumatized, selfish and afraid, to healed, selfless and responsible. Hyunjin goes from pampered and immature to emotionally stable, mature and accountable.

All because the other helped them and stood by them through actively choosing to provide for and be responsible for Woojoo, the center of their universe.

The title is completely apt here because both of them truly give Woojoo the universe, and it shows up in how every thought and action of theirs keeps Woojoo at the forefront. How Taehyung and Hyunjin choose to learn through their mistakes and find stability and love together. Like I said, this is so evident from the start that when they eventually acknowledge their mutual feelings and become a couple, it feels like any other day in their already established life together because they had already been a family long before both of them even realized it. The shift isn't jarring, but like any natural progression of a real world relationship.

Now does this show have flaws? Absolutely yes. The production quality is inconsistent and creates awkwardly paced editing jumps from time to time especially in the first few episodes, crucial scenes that appear in BTS videos like an almost kiss between the leads don't show up in the final edit, the plot introduces a mostly unnecessary love triangle that could've been concluded sooner and worked into one more episode of Hyunjin and Taehyung navigating coparenting, building new bonds with their neighbors who become their found family, and developing their relationship further so we might've ended up having two legal guardians for Woojoo (rn it's only Hyun Jin even though Taehyung is just as involved in Woojoo's life) and a wedding with Woojoo as their flowerboy ^^ !!

But none of this derails the show because there is adequate space given to all the secondary characters and plot points like the neighbors, their individual work lives and the inevitable legal obligations regarding guardianship. The leads have chemistry for days and this stays consistent throughout the show. The love triangle objectively doesn't take up any more space than is usually the case for this trope with the leads getting appropriate screentime together and individually in every episode. There is humor, friendship, romance and a whole lot of adorable moments between the leads and Woojoo to make this a worthwhile watch.

Bae In Hyuk is a fantastic actor with impressive comedic timing who gets a lot of moments early in the show to explore these strengths, his emotional moments could use some more work and I hate the makers for making him do all that aegyo in the end there but he makes them tolerable regardless, and his screen presence reminds me of Seo In Guk in so many ways and I can see a promising career for him in the future.

Roh Jeong Eui has the most loving gaze and prettiest smile when Hyun Jin looks at Woojoo and Taehyung. She makes her character thoroughly lovable and relatable. I cried with her when she breaks down in front of Taehyung seeing the insurance papers for her sister's death. It really hurt to see a character that had tried to remain so strong up until that moment finally lose it when she realized the true gravity and cruelty of that moment.

Park Yuho who played Woojoo is the highlight of the show. His tiny dialogues and adorable presence make every moment he's in even better. His reactions are truly the highlight of this show, so many meme worthy adorably hilarious moments from start to finish.

Park Seo Ham is unfortunately very forgettable here. He lacks screen presence in this drama and the show doesn't really do him any justice either with how one dimensional his character is written. The usual way green flag MLs and SMLs are who have no personality outside of serving the FL with no sense of boundaries and personal choice. Adding to this is how he also comes across very condescending and lacking awareness of his own privilege while also weaponizing it and his feelings for Hyun Jin to push Taehyung away in a very manipulative underhanded manner.

The neighbors, Taehyung and Hyun Jin's work colleagues and friends and neighbors on the other hand make a much better supporting cast and create many memorable moments as well as add to great world building.

This is a show you should watch for its slow appraisal of finding love where and when it is least expected, learning to be brave enough to rely on others, and the unique moments that come out of coparenting and shared living.

Is it the best? No. Does it deserve all this hate? Absolutely not. Does it get things right so many shows don't? 100% yes. Does it deserve a fair chance from new viewers? Absolutely yes.

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Who doesn’t love One Piece with all its goofiness, grit and curiosity?

The second season is every bit as exciting as the first one.

It’s packed with adventure (with a capital A), friendship, cleverness, and total silliness. The story manages to be both super entertaining and genuinely emotional at the same time. The characters are interesting, they’ve got amazing chemistry, and the world-building pulls you right in. I really loved how they balanced the action with humor, and the cinematography and CGI look fantastic overall.

Okay, fine—I’ll admit it: I’m completely in love with these characters.
They’re all so distinct, each with their own quirks, strengths, and personalities, and they’re dead-set on chasing their dreams no matter what. Along the way they run into ruthless Marines, a shadowy organization, and increasingly bizarre islands. And at its heart, it’s a story about friendship—about finding the people who truly get you and discovering a place (or a crew) that finally feels like home.

My only issue with the show was that the ending came very quickly. I want more.
I really love this story, and this season is a nice addition to it.

See you on the Grand Line.

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Finished it just to finish it but it wasn’t so bad

The series lacked the punch for me; there were times I either skipped scenes and dialogues or I scrolled on my phone even while it was on. Thirty-two episodes is a little too long for this one in my opinion, and though I loved even the recurring side characters and I love that the actors were given much screentime for it, some scenes just felt a little too draggy for me. The final battle felt too quick to be resolved and the last two episodes felt like it just kept going on.

On the bright side, it was still entertaining enough for me to not drop it midway, but I definitely just finished the series just so I finished it and can move on already.

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