Reviews

warning!! watch first five episodes and you'll addict to it

This is one of the best cdrama I have ever watched
It has somewhat different story compared to other dramas
best for someone who loves a story with a silly girl and a mature boy
the acting is sooo goated and they slayed it that I almost felt like they were a real couple
the music is not bad and the dialogues and everything was an amazing hit
it felt soo real that in some episodes I even cried but felt soo touched

in this story the male lead is an archery champion and how his girl supports and encourages him totally inspired me
and it was an inspiring friendship of them in the drama
and finally
it was a hit for me and I hope it would definitely be hit for someone like me who is too picky while watching a cdrama
HAPPY WATCHING!!

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No Mid-Drama Outage

Some romcoms start at 100%, throw a few sparks, then crawl toward the finale on 3% battery. Others take so long to charge that you’re already drifting before they’ve done anything interesting. This one does neither. It doesn’t have that instant, laugh-out-loud hook that leaves you irrationally invested by minute twenty. What it has is rarer: it holds its charge.

A lot of that comes down to the power source. Kim Young Kwang is back in romcom mode, still offensively good-looking, and now with the range to match. He’s no longer just tall and handsome in flattering light, though he performs that duty with great commitment. Chae Soo Bin brings doll-like charm and a screen presence so natural it never tips into sugar. Together, their chemistry doesn’t need fireworks. It just runs.

What really sets it apart is consistency. It remembers who its characters are. It remembers its own setup. It never acts like the script was rewritten during a blackout. The antagonists don’t hijack the plot with motivations borrowed from a much worse drama, and even the second male lead is likable, which by genre standards feels suspiciously generous.

Then there’s the part that gives it heart: she saves him too. She isn’t just there to be adored. The current runs both ways, and the warmth feels earned, not wired in for points.

No, it won’t have you 120% seated from episode one. But it never overheats, never loses range, and never treats you like you’ve misplaced your brain cells. In a genre full of shows that die at 2% before the finale, this one crosses the finish line with battery to spare.

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I watched most of the drama on high speed..

disclaimer: these are just some thoughts I had while watching this drama, don't let me stop you from checking it out yourself because you may really like it. in hindsight I'm wondering if my thoughts are a bit harsh, because I do think the couple is cute..

RATING SCALE:
drama: 6.5 - still more meh, but decent because it has some good aspects (6 - average, meh)
romance: between 7 and 7.5 (7 - alright, but probably forgettable, 7.5 - good)
chemistry: 6.5

WATCHING INFO:
started watching on netflix: 10th october 2026
completed on netflix: 11th october 2026

THOUGHTS:
- I'm not really into these types of rom-com stories or a fan of CSB, but I'll check it out since it dropped all at once
- around 14 mins into ep 1, I watched it at 1.5x speed, for now any ways, but I'll try to watch it at normal speed the rest of the time (in ep 1 I watched the main couple's scenes on normal speed)
- as of ep 4, I watch all the side character scenes on 1.5x-2x speed, the only side character I like a bit is her sister, obviously mr. yoon is working for the bad guys.. or not? why all the sus-ness sir?
- I'm on ep 6 and haven't had one of those fangirly moments yet..
- my sfl is clinging onto the ml because of one encounter when they were teens -_-
- electricity powers: the scene in ending ep 6 was cool and ep 9, I watched those on regular speed and even replayed those scenes
- ML reminds me of phet actor (in strong will 2026), chen xing xu and lee min ho all together
- by ep 8 I was getting bored, by ep 9 I turned it off and watched once upon a time instead.. I know I should care about this drama, but I just don't really.. the romance is cute, but it's missing something.. maybe it's the directing? the comedy, never makes me laugh out loud, the only times I've laughed a bit were from secondhand embarrassment.. I know it is a silly drama, but then make it feel like one..
- never mind, I won't go watch OUAT I'll force myself to finish this first, on 2x speed if I have to! sigh.. I was supposed to be left feeling like hehehe, but I'm rushing to finish it instead..

if this is your first kdrama of this genre then maybe you'll like it more, but as for me, I've seen this clichés too often before, and since I don't like the main couple THAT much, it just feels meh.. I don't feel connected to the characters or story.. it's been so long since I felt that drama spark T_T

I didn't care about the business plot at all, they could've spent more screen time on our leads instead.

CLOSING THOUGHTS:
what is the show trying to be, is what I'm left thinking?

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Romance scorching but not at all burning, not even sautéing!!

The title automatically translates as "Burning" or "Scorching Heat" but there's mostly scorching without burning 😊

~~On the Romance, briefly~~
The story focuses on the power struggle in the Pei family enterprise, and the romance triangle makes no sense. The Dìdi-Jiějie relationship though it starts with an intimate scene it unfolds more platonically and without emotional coherence.

~~Characters and Emotional Journey~~
~~~aka the Unintelligible Romance~~~
Most characters have a backstory so their actions have a logical basis when it comes to the corporate power struggle. Even the dramatic twist makes sense, which is not usually the case in verticals.
BUT, let's be true, I watched this drama for the romance, if I wanted to watch a story about power and corporate intrigue I'd rewatch Michael Mann's "The Insider".
And the romance does Not deliver. Bummer for those of us who weren't inclined on watching corporate struggles.

There is a love triangle, Dìdi-FL-Gēge. A good premise.
There is a one-night-stand. A good, or heavenly, start.
And then it all goes down the drain...

The hot Dìdi-Jiějie duo is not so hot anymore. Not ever more. Dìdi is a perfect hub/puppy althroughout the story, unchanging, no emotional journey with FL whatsoever. He just likes her. Jiějie moves from distrust to trust but without any major shift in her expressions towards him.
The Gēge- FL relationship starts off with a dominating, passionate Gēge who gets abandoned by FL because his greed for power lead to her humiliation. He wants power but he also desires her badly. Good. Great.
But he doesn't do much to chase her. And he just drinks to soften the blow. Poof goes this baloon too...
And it gets much worse after the plot twist, because, after it, all of Gēge's actions towards the FL right from the start of the story make no sense anymore. That is unless the two brothers bet her while playing dice, or toyed with her heart. And if that is the explanation, then out of the window goes the Dìdi's persona, he gets a revamp with a new cruel side of him which automatically undoes all of the Dìdi-Jiějie romantic relationship we knew till now; and, hey, why would she want him after he secretly gave her such a treatment? Goodbye good vibe romance!

So, no emotional consistency when it comes to the romantic trio;
and if you're here for the power struggle just go watch the Insider for a better corporate thriller ! 😄

~~The Production~~
All aspects were on the ok slope, without memorable down-or-uphills. Logical settings, make up and costumes; mostly logical editing, cinematography and directing; uneventful music and manageable sound. Ok sounds mediocre but it does mean much in short-dramaland!😊

~~The Acting~~
All actors played decently, some were more expressive than needed while there was often a feeling of detachment acting from the leading trio (I guess it was a directing directive, as all three leads expressed it).
Actor Zhang Zhi Yi had a memorable acting presence in the resolution scene, near the end of the drama (he plays Tang Hao, Tang fūrén's brother). This scene is worth watching for his acting, though he plays a minor part in it.
I think that without his contribution the scene wouldn't have had much dramatic value.
Support cast and guest roles are many times the strong frame holding the drama up. 🙂💐💐💐

~~~My take (All in All)~~~
All in all I continued to watch because of the leading trio, if not for their charming presence (unrelated to their roles) this story wouldn't have kept me watching for long.
The plot twist brought a cute note for family ties and utter catastrophe for romance logic.
The nice acting surprise by support cast actor Zhang Zhi Yi near the end was like a reward, a kind of "Thank you for staying till now, Oh, Dearest Audience" reward.

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Unexciting, just like any other MangoTV dating show.

Like most MangoTV productions, this dating show is enjoyable enough if you simply want something to watch and you already enjoy dating shows. However, it’s not a particularly big or impressive production, and the interactions between the contestants aren’t especially exciting.

One thing I did enjoy was the involvement of the contestants’ mothers. I like dating shows that bring the parents into the experience because it gives you a little more insight into the contestants and, in a way, makes them feel more genuine.

The show is also heavily edited, and aside from the main couple, who consistently chose each other from beginning to end, I wasn’t particularly invested in the other relationships.

My favorite girl was Meng Jiaye. She’s very blunt, sometimes almost too blunt, but for some reason, I find that personality really appealing. She stood out to me more than the other contestants, even when her straightforwardness was a little much.

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Waste of my time

Maybe someone will enjoy it, it was a disappointment for me.
The writing was just really really weak.
Firstly I could not for the love of God figure out their family dynamic, it was not clear at all for me whose mom was who and how they were "brothers".
There was also basically a pretty non-existent story, like even to high-school drama standards it was a big nothingburger.
The conflict was something that could have been talked through and solved, and just because you graduate your relationships don't have to disappear, just saying...

Also time skip warning at the end!! I give you this heads up, because that's something that usually tells me, I should NOT watch this.

I did like the acting, the camerawork and lighting was nice too, it was also set in a pretty place. And that's about all the nice things I can say about it.
The script was just about as developed as their relationship.

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My Personal Power Bank

Korean dramas have a huge advantage over many of their counterparts: they can draw on a multitude of novels or webcomics for mass production. Recharge My Heart (or Charge My Heart) is yet another adaptation, taken from the web novel written by Hae Bon. There was plenty of good material to create an original, quirky rom-com with lots of zany—if not downright crazy—situations and deliver a solid family comedy. As I’ve said several times before, the problem isn’t stacking tropes or clichés, but how they are used, because the variations are endless. Unfortunately, here—and especially at the beginning—I felt like I was rewatching an old KBS2 drama. Yet the story started with a promising concept, featuring a heroine worthy of joining a superhero team. But the screenplay barely exploits this potential, preferring to pile on clichés to deliver a conventional narrative with no real stakes and, above all, one that is far too slow-paced. So yes, if you aren't too picky or if you're new to rom-coms, it might pass. But not for me anymore. The theme is electricity, lightning, love at first sight... But while the spark was definitely there, it never really managed to catch fire.

Na Bo-Bae (Chae Soo-Bin), struck by lightning as a child, possesses an electrical power that prevents her from having physical contact, on pain of electrocuting anyone who touches her. Depending on her emotional state, she can also cause power surges or recharge an electrical grid. Protected by her family and loved ones who adapted to this atypical situation, she is now a drama screenwriter. On the other side of the board, Baek Ho-Rang (Kim Young-Kwang) is one of the chaebol heirs to the luxury hotel group TS Resort. However, he has suffered from a severe disability since childhood: his heart is fragile. During a vital operation in which Ho-Rang undergoes the implantation of a revolutionary pacemaker, a major electrical incident occurs. Thanks to the presence of Bo-Bae, who was also supposed to undergo surgery, he is momentarily saved. However, one realization becomes clear: while waiting for a new operation, Ho-Rang will have to stay close to Bo-Bae, who has the power to recharge his implant. Initially reluctant, the young woman eventually accepts the contract proposed by this man—especially since physical contact with him causes no harmful side effects.

The beginning is very sluggish and leaves us with more questions than answers. The first being how a young woman with such a power managed to stay under the radar of the government or hostile forces without raising the slightest interest. It’s not a matter of demanding documentary realism from a fantasy rom-com, but a minimum level of coherence. Here, you sometimes get the impression that you just have to watch and keep quiet, or move along. The first six episodes are devoted almost exclusively to building the romance, and then the family intrigues and corporate scheming truly show up starting from episode seven. But all of that remains very brief: nothing is genuinely exploited. It feels more like an assemblage of scenes than a story with true overall cohesion. Over ten episodes, this turn comes way too late and feels more like filler. The plot twists are virtually nonexistent, and we rarely tremble for our sweet couple. The ending drags on unnecessarily, which once again demonstrates the poverty of the writing. There was so much better to do! We are truly in a romance aimed at a formatted audience that is given exactly what it came for. Personally, I crossed that stage a long time ago. It lacks spontaneity, and with a theme like this, there was real potential to offer something out of the ordinary instead of churning out a random romance.

Instead, we find the usual blueprint: ultra-wealthy chaebol, modest heroine, improbable childhood reunion, contractual relationship, forced cohabitation, accidental third-party kiss, heroine saved at the last second from a bicycle, etc.—the K-drama rom-com bingo card is almost complete. But the funniest part remains this shared childhood backstory, illustrated multiple times through flashbacks, which ultimately serves almost no purpose once the heroes are adults. What was the point of telling us all that if their shared past doesn't influence their relationship or its evolution? Just one more cliché, with no real narrative function. Added to this are the second male lead in love (Cha Woo-Min) and the rival convinced she will marry the hero (Shin Do-Hyun). It reminded me of a broom taken out of the closet just because you need it at a specific moment, and then put away once it's no longer useful. The most regrettable thing remains the treatment of Bo-Bae's power. At first, we are closer to a Baked Alaska than a volcanic eruption. Another element that bothered me visually was the small age gap between Kim Mi-Kyung, Kim Hye-Eun, and Kim Young-Kwang in their respective roles. Are they taking us for fools? The dialogues, often cheesy and melodramatic, and the over-the-top acting worthy of slapstick theater sometimes push the series into sheer sappiness.

Fortunately, the drama is partly saved by this very endearing couple. Kim Young-Kwang is an actor I really appreciate, who can play any role with talent—which isn't given to everyone. Chae Soo-Bin, even if she never takes any risks and stays in her comfort zone, is just way too cute. And in the end, I'd say that's how we like her, right? There are some pretty funny scenes, but it's a shame that Bo-Bae's family wasn't exploited enough: I think an entire episode should have been dedicated to this family when circumstances called for it. In terms of romantic intensity, it's classic but relatively well done, even if they settle for the absolute minimum. Those moments are light and entertaining if you enjoy "déjà-vu" situations. On the other hand, the dramatic part is completely bland and a total failure: you can clearly tell it's heavy-handed and not credible, especially due to certain characters created with a trowel. We're in a permanent recycling loop of worn-out dramas tossed in a shaker, shaken well, and then topped with an electrical power to make it look new. The concept is great, but they didn't really know what to do with it. The worst part is that the format is short and the pacing should have been frantic, yet all too often, you feel like you could hit fast-forward without missing a thing.

With over 120 Korean rom-coms under my belt at the time of writing these lines, I now consider that the lightness of the genre doesn't justify any special leniency. A romantic comedy can be funny, touching, and full of clichés, but it must also exploit its ideas, respect its characters, and tell a story that truly stands out. Recharge My Heart had an original concept, but preferred recycling usual recipes rather than fully exploiting it. Generally amusing and pleasant, the drama improves over the episodes despite a botched ending, but it remains far too predictable to convince me further. I expected so much more, especially with this lead duo. In the end, My Personal Power Bank lives up to its name: a concept that should have provided enough energy to power a crazy rom-com, but ends up running in slow motion. The couple is endearing, a few situations hit the mark, and the entertainment value is there, but that isn't enough to make up for lazy writing, under-exploited subplots, and constant recycling of rehashed formulas. With a power like that, there was enough to make sparks fly; in the end, we're left with a minor shock, with no risk of blowing a fuse.

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A Mature Romance Wrapped in Ambition

What I really enjoyed about Irreplaceable was how mature it felt. Both the FL and ML were written as adults with their own ambitions, responsibilities, flaws, and ways of dealing with problems. Their relationship never felt like it was built purely around misunderstandings or unnecessary drama, which was honestly refreshing.

I especially loved Zhao Jin Mai's character. Her decisions, confidence, and the way she handled situations made her character incredibly interesting to follow. She wasn't just there to support the romance; she had her own goals, opinions, and growth, and I really appreciated that.

The office environment was another major highlight for me. As someone who's going into the business field soon, I genuinely enjoyed the different workplace situations, professional discussions, competitions, and the little details surrounding their careers. Some of the topics and conflicts were actually quite interesting from that perspective.

And then there's the romance. ❤️
I really liked how mature their relationship was. Instead of relying entirely on dramatic misunderstandings, the drama allowed their relationship to develop alongside their careers and personal growth. Watching them navigate work, ambition, competition, friendship, and romance together made the whole thing feel much more grounded.

I also enjoyed the friendships and workplace relationships along the way. The story wasn't just about the main couple; the people around them added another layer to the journey and made the workplace feel more alive.

Overall, Irreplaceable gave me exactly what I wanted from a mature workplace romance: ambitious characters, meaningful professional conflicts, mature romance, friendships, and personal growth.

Definitely a drama I enjoyed more because of its adult perspective on both work and relationships.

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The drama refuses to take the easy route

A Love Other Than Yours works because it refuses to take the easy route. Most dramas about a long relationship under strain need someone to blame, but this one understands that the real conflict is internal: the sudden flutter of attraction after a decade of comfort isn’t a betrayal, it’s a human reflex, and the misery comes from a conscience and sense of loyalty that won’t let that feeling go anywhere. That tension is drawn with real honesty, and it’s why I find myself rooting for Ho and Mi-do rather than judging either of them. The absence of a hateful character is deliberate and smart, since every person pulling at the couple is written with enough sympathy that the story never becomes a contest with a winner and a loser, only a question of what love actually is after the newness fades. Even the business threads on both sides earn their screen time, not as filler but as a way of showing the separate pressures shaping each lead, which makes their emotional choices feel grounded rather than contrived. It’s rare to see a romance this unwilling to simplify, and I hope it holds its nerve all the way to the end.

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What A Schemming Drama

This is a drama that needs a set of fresh brain and clear mind to understand and enjoy the story.

I myself needed to watch it twice to understand everything from beginning to the end.

It's not just a typical refreshing drama that you want to watch after having a hectic working day.

It is a drama that you will watch to challenge and 'train' your mind to understand the schemming, the manipulation, the deception, and the likes.

Nevertheless, Li Xian and Li Yi Tong successfully delivered this drama in a great manner.

I remember watching them both in Sword Dynasty few years ago and I still rewatch it up until now.

Li Yi Tong is actually a smart actress, too bad that not many of her works really showed her talent as a smart actress.

As for Li Xian, his choice of works mostly showed a playful person on the surface but with more layers of personalities inside.

This pair is what made me watch this drama, and it's definitely not a disappointment.

Worth to watch if you are into such a schemming and deception drama.

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Revenge is best served as a concerto

This is not your typical makjang, but it will hit you in a similar way.

Setting a drama in the classical music world is nothing new. It is a ready source of human drama after all. To reach the top usually requires total dedication and a herculean effort. It also raises the question of nature vs nurture. There is a story behind every success and, more often than not, failures.

While the A-plot is relatively straightforward, the main strength comes from the cast. In this regard, the production hit paydirt. Our two male leads are top stars. When you combine them in such a drama, we get fireworks.

I am going to keep this review spoiler free as there are not many twists. One spoiler can give the whole game away. ;)

So, what can we talk about? The music for starters and what music! It is the foundation of the show. Many pieces used are familiar and help to build a lovely musical backdrop. The production did not cheap out on us. Nice!

Then we have the music makers. Both the people involved in the business end as well as the performers filled the roster. To say some of them are temperamental is an understatement.

This brings us to the human element. There is no doubt obsession played a key role. Both in terms of the drive to performed at the highest level, but also the unhealthy winner-takes-all attitude of some parents. It is a witches brew. Song Kang's family is the source of much angst and toxicity. There is no shortage of pontificating and many feelings are hurt in the making of this drama.

Considering how these performers are put under a lot of pressure from a young age and then throw in teenage angst, bullying and stage fright. You have a pressure cooker ready to explode. There are lots of triggers. You have been warned.

This brings us to the acting of the ensemble. So many emotionally charged scenes. It is a challenging watch at times. Of course, this show is not about being subtle. There are lots of emotions on display. Sometimes it is raw and heartfelt while other times it is pure makjang.

Credit where credit is due. The production managed to make our actors look good as classical musicians. They have to undergo months of training and learn to channel that state top performers enters when they are totally immersed into the music. Much credit must go to pianists Park Joo-young and Lee Min-sung who were their "performance" doubles as well as coaches. Bravo!

They also used some serious filtering to get our leads to look 10 years younger for their schoolyard scenes. That is some serious movie magic. The overseas segments gives the series an international flavour. It is a little awkward at times, but definitely more than a token effort.

Now the elephant in the room. Is it BL? The show left it open ended. There is a strong bromance between our male leads while they were at school. It feels a little contrived at first. There is definitely a hint of BL, yet the show also has a strong religious undertone. They are not comfortable bedfellows.

It seems to lean more towards a straight friendship as the show progressed. How you want to interpret the finale is up to you.

This show is good. It can be both exhilarating as well as disturbing. I would say "go watch it" if you like makjang and/or you are a classical music lover.

I gave the music bonus point. Our ML's also deserve credit. The makjang side lost mark with me. I would buy the OST without hesitation. Sadly, this show won't be on my re-watch list. Peace.

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Occupation-based drama with a slice of slow-burn romance.

This has to be my biggest guilty pleasure of this year.

If you're looking for a good story, this might not be it. But here is what you will find:
1. Lead characters with depth,
2. An enemy-turned-lovers story with good chemistry,
3. a ML who isn't trying to insult the FL's intelligence and making her feel small in the beginning as a "enemy",
4. a FL who is very out-spoken, strong-willed and calls out the ML - a lot,
5. main leads who stay in character until the very end

I get why people don't like the ML, but what I personally appreciate the writers didn't do in this drama is getting him to hate the FL by being sexists. Through it all, while he did object to her transfering to his department, he did it professionally and rationally. And the drama showed that side of the FL which made it very reasonable for the ML to object to the transfer in the beginning. The first part of the drama was quite well thought out.

What kind of lost me was towards the end. I felt like they were forcing all the second leads together very forcefully and quickly like they ran out of space/time. A lot of scenes related to FL's friends were so unnecessary and I would have wanted more screen time with the ML and FL instead. I honestly couldn't care less about Song Song's love interest, and forcing Yuheng on another guy while cute - is honestly kind of like... I mean, I'm glad she found someone but I really don't care? The little side arc with the ML at the very end was also very unnecessary, and it almost felt as if they took/stole an iconic moment from a forefather Aviation drama from Hong Kong - Triumph in the Skies. Sam Tong (in Triumph) had a similar incident happen which forced him to temporarily be grounded the same way Nanting was. Which isn't a big deal that they took the idea, but I felt like they 100% could have prolonged the arc. It was way too rushed. As a fan of Triumph in the Skies almost 20 years ago now, I do see a lot of semblance in this drama... in a positive way, it's almost like a tribute to the TVB drama with the theme of highlighting female pilots. In a negative way, a lot of the "flight problems" almost sort of mimic Triumph in the Skies. I guess there's only so many "flight problems" you can have and perhaps as a fan of both works, I'm reading too much into this. But here's to say that if you loved Triumph in the Skies 20 years ago, you will find something here in Flight To You.

What I also thought was a missed opportunity was wrapping the show up by referring to tidbits of the show in the beginning. There were a lot of things when the ML and FL finally got together where I was like "aww in this cute scene why didn't they refer to the XYZ moment in the beginning?? :(". It's not the actors fault of course!

And of course, the lead actors were amazing. Wang Kai (as Nanting) and TSY (as Cheng Xiao) have amazing chemistry. Their characters work well together.

I totally thought this show has potential to be better if they only focused on the the main leads. It's a shame.

But still a guilty pleasure. So much of the scenes with the main leads are extremely rewatchable.

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Light and fun

This show isn't a masterpiece, but my rating is based on the way it made me feel. It's been a minute since I have enjoyed anything so much. Binged in one day (thank you, Netflix, for dropping all episodes at once).

Kim Young Kwang as Ho Rang and Chae Soo Bin as Bo Bae were perfectly cast. Actually, I've seen them in similar roles, but I'm not complaining. They are both so charming. Their feelings for one another seemed to develop organically and they were just so cute together. Bonus for the height difference. They made me smile. A lot.

Bo Bae's family and best friend were a treat as well. They loved her unconditionally and it was sweet to see how they adapted to her special "ability".

Cha Woo Min as Eun Ho. He's played a part like this before, as well. But he is a terrific 2ML. He brought so much heart to his character. I love the way he was written.

10 episodes was perfect, EXCEPT their time actually together at the end felt rushed. And come on, guys, a wedding as part of her script isn't good enough. Why couldn't we see a wedding for the main characters?!?

I love Kim Mi Kyung in everything. I have to say, here, as Ho Rang's grandmother, was the first time I haven't liked her (but that's the point!). She did a great job, and I was fascinated by her hair.

Me, nit-picking:
-I would have liked to have seen more consequences for all the evil characters.
-The use of profanity. Absolutely not necessary here, but it IS Netflix.

I'm so glad I had a free day to binge this. Now I'll watch it again to savor my favorite parts.

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