Reviews

Doctor x japanese best one or not

After watching the Japanese series Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon, I feel like something is missing in the Korean version that was present in the Japanese version.
I really liked Michiko’s attitude, especially how she was outside of work. Her lifestyle, going to dance clubs, enjoying food, and all those little things felt so natural and realistic in the Japanese version.
I don’t get the same feeling from the Korean version so far. Maybe it’s because I’ve only watched two episodes, so I’ll have to watch a few more before making a final judgment.
I feel that what made the Japanese version special wasn’t just the medical cases, but also Michiko’s personality and her life outside the hospital. Her independent, carefree attitude gave the series a unique charm.
I’ll keep watching the Korean version for now and see how it develops.

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This drama caught my attention because it promised a workplace story with ambition, competition, complicated relationships and two leads who are much more interesting when they challenge each other than when they simply agree on everything. And honestly, it delivered the kind of dynamic I love watching.
Here, we have professional ambitions, power struggles, personal wounds, revenge, office politics and the constant pressure to prove yourself in an environment where being talented is not always enough. The romance is there, and I absolutely enjoyed it, but it exists within a much larger story about what it takes to succeed and what people are willing to sacrifice to get there

Xu Chi enters the consulting industry with a very clear principle: she never wants to become someone who can easily be replaced. That belief is rooted in painful experiences from her past, and it influences the way she approaches both her career and her relationships. For her success is about security, independence and making sure that nobody can take away the position she has fought so hard to obtain. I find that motivation particularly interesting because it makes her ambition feel personal. She isn't waiting for someone to recognize her potential and magically make everything easier. She wants to prove herself, earn her place and become someone whose abilities cannot be ignored.
Of course, Xu Chi isn't a perfect heroine. She can be calculating, stubborn and occasionally ruthless. She doesn't always approach situations in the most conventional or likable way, and I think that is precisely what makes her interesting. Xu Chi has ambition, and she isn't particularly interested in pretending otherwise. She understands that the workplace is competitive, that people have their own agendas and that being nice to everyone will not necessarily get her anywhere. She can be strategic when she needs to be, and she isn't afraid to fight for herself. And watching her gradually establish herself professionally is one of the most rewarding aspects of the story.

Then we have Ye Xinzhi.
Ye Xinzhi is an experienced industry professional who has his own history of betrayal and his own reasons for wanting to settle scores. He sees potential in Xu Chi and brings her into his professional world, becoming a mentor of sorts as she begins navigating the challenges of the consulting industry. But what I particularly like about their dynamic is that Ye Xinzhi doesn't simply exist to teach Xu Chi how to do her job.
He challenges her.
He observes her.
He tests her abilities.
And, most importantly, he seems to understand that she has the potential to become much more than someone who simply follows his instructions.
Xu Chi can question Ye Xinzhi. She can challenge his assumptions. She can surprise him, and sometimes she can make him reconsider his own approach.

I especially like the mentor-and-mentee element because it adds another layer to their connection. Their relationship begins with a professional purpose, and the attraction develops in a context where respect, competence and personal ambition already matter.
That means their feelings have to coexist with real questions about their careers and their future.
Can they support each other without becoming dependent on each other?
Can they recognize each other's strengths without turning everything into a competition?
Can they be honest with each other when their professional interests don't necessarily align?

But what I appreciate most is that the drama doesn't ask me to forget everything else about these characters just because there is a romance developing.
They have goals to pursue, mistakes to make, lessons to learn and lives to build.
And that makes their relationship more interesting, not less.
I came for the workplace drama, stayed for Xu Chi's ambition, and found myself increasingly invested in the complicated partnership between her and Ye Xinzhi.
Because being irreplaceable isn't just about proving that nobody can do your job. Sometimes, it's about discovering who you are when you stop living your life to prove your worth to everyone else.

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I Wasn't Going to Let That Wedding Slap Slide… But That's Not the Whole Story.

I have a habit of questioning things while watching dramas. If something doesn't make sense, I can't just let it go. I need to figure out WHY. And this drama gave me plenty to investigate—from a wedding slap that felt out of character to a man who somehow ended up looking like a snowman within the palace grounds. Seriously, writers?

One reason I enjoyed Lanxiang so much is that she doesn't simply wait for someone to rescue her. She observes, assesses, and finds ways to handle difficult situations. I like characters who think their way through problems, so I kept wondering what solution she'd come up with next.

But that's also where the drama lost me at times. The wedding slap was one example. I understood Lanxiang's anger, but publicly slapping Jinqi felt inconsistent with the strategic, calculating person I'd come to know. I expected her to handle the situation in a way that reflected her usual ability to think things through. Her feelings made sense; her actions didn't. To me, the scene sacrificed character consistency for dramatic impact.

Han Liang's death was another moment that left me questioning the writing. He remained kneeling in the snow until two servants found him the next morning and wondered who had built a snowman. Within the palace grounds, of all places! I barely see him weaken or struggle against the cold, and nobody seems to have tried persuading him to leave. I understood the tragedy, but the lack of buildup made its execution difficult to believe.

Still, these flaws didn't define my entire experience of the drama. What the writing occasionally stumbled over, the performances and emotional moments often made up for. Lu Xuanyi's portrayal of Jinqi's grief was particularly moving. His crying didn't feel like the usual polished, restrained performance of a powerful general. Sometimes he cried like a boy who had lost someone precious, without trying to hide his pain. Those unguarded moments felt painfully real to me—as if I was seeing the person beneath the general's "armor".

And then there's the red thread. After spending so much time analyzing characters and questioning their choices, I wasn't prepared for how much that final image would affect me. I won't explain the scene because new viewers deserve to experience it for themselves, but it left me reluctant to say goodbye.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA?
Yes. Where else can you admire a heroine for thinking three steps ahead, question a writing choice that makes her abandon that very strength, be moved by a general whose grief strips away his usual composure, and then you get ambushed by a red thread because you didn't expect it that way to happen? Lol.. That scene left me with such mixed feelings.

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Uncomfortable but realistic- still, 10/10 recommend

I wasn’t initially going to write a review, but there’s too many negative ones for me to ignore it. This show gives a fairly realistic view of long-term relationships: butterflies fade, interactions become stagnant, and it’s easy to fall into the pattern of simply going through the motions. It shows the messy, raw, and uncomfortable side of being with a partner. It takes a conscious effort and open communication to keep the spark alive. Unfortunately, these characters have failed to be open and honest with one another. They have fallen into the typical relationship rut- it’s easy to look outside for what is missing. I appreciate the shows willingness to explore the difficult and messy nuances. It’s hard to know which couple to root for, which honestly reflects real life. The most recent episode (#7) also shows how far we are willing to go to to save someone we love when we can’t meet their needs. I hope the writers continue on this trajectory!

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Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia — Dropped After Episode 2

The series tackles an extraordinarily complex subject: the relationship between medicine, money, and power.

To explore it, we're introduced to a brilliant, arrogant, insubordinate surgeon who despises hospital hierarchies and whose surgical techniques are apparently always more advanced and superior to everyone else's.

Think Dr. House, but with all the charisma of a wet sock.

And then comes the glorious scene: our heroine snatches a wheelchair away from an elderly cancer patient without even knowing whether the man can walk.

His crime? Being a multimillionaire.

An incredibly complex debate about medical ethics is reduced, in a single scene, to a simplistic battle between good and evil, with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop.

And we're actually supposed to applaud the doctor!

When characters sacrifice narrative credibility just to make absolutely sure the audience knows who the bad guy is, the entire story loses its dramatic and argumentative weight.

And here's what's particularly ridiculous about Doctor X: in its desperate attempt to portray the protagonist as morally superior, the script has her commit a morally questionable act.

Talk about a contradiction!

A surgeon so extraordinarily gifted that she can determine who needs a wheelchair simply by looking at their bank account.

Garbage.

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A Fast-Paced Workplace Drama with an Irreplaceable Love ❤️

I honestly loved this drama so much! 😭❤️ Irreplaceable is one of those dramas that makes you look forward to watching an episode every night, and before you know it, you're desperately waiting for the next one because EVERY episode ends on a cliffhanger. The 20 episodes went by so quickly, and I genuinely wish we had more because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters!

What I particularly enjoyed was how fast-paced the drama was. There was always something happening, whether it was workplace politics, corporate rivalries, unexpected betrayals or the characters trying to solve complicated problems. I went into this drama not really knowing what consultants actually do, and after 19 episodes, I finally figured out that they're basically fancy professional problem-solvers. 😂

Jokes aside, it was genuinely interesting watching Xu Chi approach different challenges and figure out solutions. The consulting world looks absolutely exhausting, though. The long hours, constant pressure, KPIs and the possibility of being fired despite working so hard have convinced me that consulting is probably not for me!

Xu Chi — Zhao Jinmai deserves more recognition 🥹

I've seen some comments questioning whether Zhao Jinmai was suitable for this drama, and I honestly couldn't disagree more. I think her portrayal of Xu Chi is genuinely one of the highlights of Irreplaceable.

What impressed me most was how nuanced her performance was. The way she conveys emotions through her eyes, subtle facial expressions and even the smallest changes in her voice makes Xu Chi feel like a real person. Whether she's holding back tears, trying to remain composed when she's hurting or quietly processing a difficult situation, Zhao Jinmai makes you feel what Xu Chi is feeling without overdoing it.

Her emotional scenes were particularly impressive. The scene where Xu Chi breaks down over the apartment was heartbreaking, and I genuinely felt so bad for her. Zhao Jinmai's acting almost brought me to tears!

I also loved watching Xu Chi grow professionally. She's ambitious, intelligent, adaptable and incredibly quick-thinking. She doesn't simply wait for someone to rescue her whenever something goes wrong. She tries to figure things out herself, and it's satisfying watching her prove that she's capable of succeeding on her own.

The situation with Ling Long was a perfect example. Xu Chi was more than capable of handling things herself, and she showed that she didn't need someone else to do the work for her. She's also not someone who will let people walk all over her, which I appreciated.

And can we talk about her outfits?! Mai Mai looks absolutely gorgeous throughout this drama. I particularly loved her slightly wavy hairstyle when she became a consultant. She looked so pretty! The styling also gave her a more mature appearance, which suited Xu Chi's character development.

I do agree that taking on more serious roles could help Zhao Jinmai showcase her acting abilities, but I wouldn't want her to abandon romance dramas either. One of her greatest strengths is her versatility, and I hope she continues playing a variety of characters across romance, workplace dramas and films. She deserves so much more recognition for her talent. ❤️

Ye Xin Zhi and Xu Chi — The slow burn was worth it! 💕

These two were such a rollercoaster. 😭

From the beginning, there was something about the way Ye Xin Zhi treated Xu Chi that made me wonder whether there was more to their relationship. He was such a good mentor to her, supporting her when she needed help while still allowing her to learn and grow independently.

And can we talk about how he always seemed to appear whenever Xu Chi needed someone? Superman, honestly. 😂

The way he looked at her during the dance scene had me swooning. Sir, you can pretend you're simply admiring your colleague all you want, but nobody looks at someone like THAT without having feelings for them. The puppy eyes? The way he looked completely mesmerised by her? He was so down bad while trying to convince himself otherwise.

I did find the slow burn frustrating at times, though. HOW MANY ALMOST-KISSES DO WE NEED?! 😭 Even by episode 15, these two were still overthinking the simplest things. And don't even get me started on Old Du interrupting them just when they were about to kiss. I love his humour, but his timing was absolutely criminal when there were only a few episodes left!

I also found it funny that Xu Chi and Ye Xin Zhi are both so corny when it comes to romance. Ye Xin Zhi with his "The moon is beautiful tonight" and Xu Chi with "I'm handing you my whole heart." Meanwhile, Zhao Heng is out here being bold and saying whatever comes to mind. 😂 These two really are perfect for each other.

Despite my complaints about the pacing of their romance, I actually enjoyed the slow burn because their connection was established so early. Their relationship wasn't built solely on physical attraction. They shared similar values, understood each other's ambitions and respected one another's professional abilities.

I also think Xu Chi and Ye Xin Zhi were much more compatible than Xu Chi and Yang Rui. Xu Chi is ambitious, adaptable and willing to challenge herself, whereas Yang Rui often seemed more concerned with following the rules and protecting his own pride. Watching Xu Chi and Yang Rui's relationship helped highlight why she was better suited to Ye Xin Zhi.

And Ye Xin Zhi? GREEN FLAG. 💚

One of my favourite things about him was how he treated Xu Chi as an equal. The idea of standing "not behind but beside" someone perfectly captures their relationship. He wasn't trying to make her dependent on him or asking her to give up her ambitions for him. He wanted to support her while allowing her to become the person she wanted to be.

His willingness to put aside his personal grievances for her future was another highlight. "My hatred for Wen Rousan is in the past while Xu Chi is my future." I loved this sentiment because it showed that he was finally choosing to move forward rather than allowing revenge to control his life. It's lovely to see a character recognise that the person he loves and the future they could build together matter more than settling old scores.

I also appreciated how he respected Xu Chi's decision when she wasn't ready to accept his proposal. He didn't pressure her or become insecure about her needing time. Instead, he was willing to wait.

Honestly, this man was raising the bar. 😭❤️

My only real complaint about their relationship is that I wish the drama had given us more time with them as an established couple. After all that anticipation, I wanted more sweet moments together!

And while I liked the ending, I completely understand why some viewers felt it was abrupt. I really wanted a proper conversation between Xu Chi and Ye Xin Zhi, particularly about his insecurities. Considering everything they had been through, I think that conversation would have added more emotional depth to their relationship and made the ending feel more complete.

Still, I loved watching their relationship develop, and I'm glad the drama showed a romance in which both people could pursue their ambitions while choosing to stand beside each other.

Tiana and Zhao Heng — My other favourite couple! 🥹

I initially found Tiana and Zhao Heng more immediately entertaining than Xu Chi and Ye Xin Zhi because their chemistry was so playful. Zhao Heng is hilarious, bold and completely unafraid to say what he's thinking. Some of his comments genuinely caught me off guard. 😂

Their kiss even came before the main couple's, which I found amusing considering how long we had been waiting for Xu Chi and Ye Xin Zhi to get together!

I also loved how supportive Zhao Heng was of Xu Chi. He was a good friend who could offer honest advice without sugar-coating things.

Tiana herself was another character I enjoyed. She's talented and hardworking, but watching her deal with her family's expectations was frustrating, especially when her father seemed to favour her younger brother simply because he was a boy. She deserved to be supported rather than controlled.

What I particularly appreciated was her friendship with Xu Chi. They could be rivals at work without becoming enemies. They competed with each other, but they also supported one another when it mattered.

I loved that Tiana didn't turn against Xu Chi when Zhao Heng confessed his feelings to her. Instead of blaming another woman, she recognised the situation for what it was. She's a real girl's girl, and I was so happy when the two friends reconciled.

It's refreshing to see women supporting one another in a workplace drama. I watch plenty of historical dramas where women are constantly scheming against each other, so seeing Xu Chi and Tiana maintain their friendship despite their professional rivalry was a welcome change.

That said, Tiana and Zhao Heng definitely had communication issues. I couldn't believe Tiana resigned from Maximise without telling her own boyfriend! She had spoken to Xu Chi about it, so why couldn't she tell Zhao Heng as well? And announcing him as her boyfriend without discussing it with him beforehand wasn't exactly ideal either. 😂

I enjoyed them as a couple, but I did wish they communicated more maturely.

The supporting characters and workplace drama

Another reason I kept watching was the corporate rivalry. The workplace conflicts made the story unpredictable, and I enjoyed seeing Xu Chi navigate situations where talent alone wasn't always enough to guarantee success.

Some characters genuinely tested my patience, particularly Yang Rui and Ma Ke. Yang Rui became increasingly frustrating as his insecurity and willingness to protect his own interests started affecting other people. I couldn't believe he would deliberately get Xu Chi involved in a scandal and then have the audacity to ask her for help.

And Ma Ke's behaviour made me nervous for Xu Chi. Watching her work so hard only for someone to undermine her was infuriating. The scene where Xu Chi suffered a nosebleed after everything she had put into her work was particularly upsetting.

Ling Long was another complicated character. I could understand her insecurity and the pressure she was under, but that didn't excuse the way she treated the interns. Being a woman in a difficult workplace should have made her more sympathetic towards Xu Chi, not less.

I also enjoyed the drama's more emotional storylines, particularly Xu Chi's apartment situation and the connection to her mother's dying wish. I felt so bad for her when she realised the building was unsafe, but I was glad she didn't rush into a purchase simply because of the emotional significance attached to it.

Ye Xin Zhi made an important point when he asked whether buying the apartment was genuinely what Xu Chi wanted for herself. It was a reminder that sometimes we become so focused on fulfilling expectations or achieving a particular goal that we forget to consider our own happiness.

That message resonated with another theme throughout the drama: we shouldn't become so consumed by our ambitions, regrets or past experiences that we forget to live in the present. Working hard matters, but so do our health, happiness and relationships.

Final thoughts ❤️

Overall, I thought Irreplaceable was an amazing watch. It wasn't perfect, and there were moments when I wanted to scream at the screen, particularly during the slow burn and the endless cliffhangers. I also wasn't particularly invested in the third couple, and I felt their scenes took up too much time when I would rather have seen more of the main couples.

However, these complaints didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the drama.

I appreciated the fast-paced storytelling, the workplace conflicts, the character development and the way Xu Chi gradually learned to navigate a demanding professional environment. I also enjoyed seeing relationships develop alongside the characters' careers rather than having romance completely overshadow the workplace storyline.

The production clearly put effort into creating a concise, engaging story, and I think that made the drama entertaining to follow. There was always another problem to solve, another conflict to uncover or another cliffhanger to leave me desperate for the next episode.

And finally, I'm glad Irreplaceable received the attention it deserved. I hope Zhao Jinmai continues to receive opportunities that allow her to showcase her versatility, because her performance as Xu Chi was genuinely one of my favourite parts of this drama.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! If you enjoy fast-paced workplace dramas, ambitious female leads, corporate rivalry, character development and a slow-burn romance between two people who respect each other's ambitions, give this one a try.

Just be prepared for the cliffhangers. You'll understand why I was desperate to watch the next episode every night. 😂❤️

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Cute Fluff chemistry, Memorable leads forgettable plot

It is a cute drama. The kind of drama i would prefer when i wanna go backto the old kdrama Ro-com fluffy feel era.
It was refreshing to see CSB and my favourite KYK together, I was waiting for this for a long long time. The plot is simple as simple as it can be in dramas where some super power is shown, the chemistry is good, the actors did a great job. For me it will stay memorable and yet forgettable . I did come out of the drama slump so 10/10 for that however the direction could've been better but I like the pacing of the show, neither too draggy not to fast paced. Story telling is also good, made me look forward to each episode , anticipating what new things will unfold in the main leads life.
Go on, it's a cute drama(so I'll be bias in the rating) that feeds one's guilty pleasure of cheesy tropes and common plotlines. However, if you are coming here to look for some out of the box thing then this will not surprise you much.

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Refreshing, beautiful, and a wonderful adaptation

Taken from interviews, director Kore-eda said he came across the Fujimoto Tatsuki's Look Back manga in a bookstore and that was the start of how this live action adaptation became to be.
The movie's setup is fairly straightforward. Young Fujino is the fun student in class who draws imaginative, short, and funny manga for the school paper. Her classroom teacher asks her if classmate, Kyomoto, who is a recluse, can split the newspaper section with Fujino to get her involved. What initially is a rivalry between the two girls as Kyomoto is very talented at drawing, turns into a friendship and bond that is shown so beautifully throughout the film.

Technical details: The movie was filmed over several months in Akita to capture the seasons. From the Autumn, to the deep Winter snow, the very hot Summer, and cherry blossom filled Spring we see a beautiful visual representation of the seasons both indoor and outdoor. Cinematography was filled with effective still shots of the backs of our main characters, lots of close ups of actual drawing with amazing techniques that I was personally unaware of. Outside the confines of the room there are far/wide shots that frame and capture both the characters and the seasons beautifully as well -it's a visual treat. While these points alone are top notch, there is one scene that along with the main soundtrack from Bandoh Yuta that is absolutely brilliant and will stick with me for a long time. To be honest, I can probably re-watch just that scene over and over if possible! There is even a portion near the end that is so different and simply a treat for the eyes that I did not see coming.
I also wanted to give a shoutout to the audio capture. Japanese movies tend to have great audio, but this movie and the way the pencils and other tools are captured and presented to us are really well done.
The acting I think was decent. The younger versions of the main characters played by Okada Rokka and Nanase Furi were cute and captured the young emotions well. Our older counterparts played by Makita Aju, and Deguchi Natsuki take the more mature portions and also do a great job, especially Deguchi Natsuki, who I think has one of her best performances to date. I felt that both Furi and Natsuki really became Fujino.

Intent: I think director Kore-eda did a wonderful job adapting from the source material. The initial rocky start to Fujino and Kyomoto's friendship is felt, and the progression in their friendship with a few added scenes was a very well done and nice touch. I think those added portions really added more personality to our main characters and helped me relate more to their feelings.
While I cannot relate to the process of making manga, the art form has a deeper respect from me after watching. The passion for it I think is shown well, however, I think the source material posed a question that the movie highlighted and left us to interpret. While I am usually fine with this kind of situation, I think the movie highlighting it makes me wonder how others interpret it and if we all have our own personal answers. With that being said, the emotions presented were terrific, and in the theatre everyone was following along all the highs and lows.

After effects: It has only been a day since I've seen the movie at my local film festival. I remember the feelings I had throughout and I do think the combinations of technical details and plot are something I do want to visit again. I appreciate that the movie is such a unique tale that is so opposite of what I am used to seeing with showing the backs of characters, close ups of hands and paper, and a complicated friendship that you can't help but fall in love with. As mentioned, there were a couple of really wonderful scenes that I personally feel are a culmination of Kore-eda's past works and built up experience.
A note, at the time of writing the OST seems to be geo-locked to Japan, which is a true shame as it is such a standout.
Final note: While I did not laud the anime movie as much as others, I did think it was good. I know that there are and will be comparisons in various forms that will nitpick the two movie mediums ad nauseam. All I can say is that the live action movie resonated more with me for all the reasons I listed above, and I hope everyone who wants to watch this movie is able to.

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Easy Breezy Fun Watch

As a huge fan of the anime, which is one of my favorite Chinese anime of all time, I was nervous about this adaptation. Thankfully, it captured much of the same charm, humor, and heart that made me love the original. The casting was excellent, especially the two leads, and the body-swap comedy had me laughing throughout the series. The male lead's expressions and mannerisms whenever he was portraying Xu Yu were absolutely hilarious.

There were a few changes from the anime that I wasn't completely sold on, but most worked well. What stood out most was the chemistry between Jin Yu and Xu Yu and the incredible character growth across the cast. The drama balanced comedy, palace intrigue, romance, and emotional moments surprisingly well, with some episodes making me laugh and others leaving me in tears.

The ending was satisfying and wrapped things up nicely. I loved seeing Jin Ming finally get a chance to show off during the battle and prove he's more than just a pretty face. I also appreciated the decision regarding the concubines, allowing them greater freedom and happier futures.

Overall, this was a fun, quick binge-watch with a satisfying ending. The anime remains my favorite version, but this live-action adaptation is absolutely worth watching, especially for fans of the original. Great chemistry, memorable characters, and plenty of laughs make this an easy recommendation.

10/10/26

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I don’t care if they’re kissing cousins or not! I’m just confused.

Story: Confused/10**
Some people were hating on the show, while others were calling it peak, so I had to give it a try myself because I’m someone who doesn’t judge. I’m OK with morally gray shows. I think shows should be morally gray. They should dance on the line between bad and good because these shows are not reality.
OK, cousins kissing cousins? Weird. The confusing storyline is a bit too much. Iltjo’s brother accused him of sleeping with him, and the cousin is just accepting with this. Period!
This is not the worst show I’ve ever seen, but I wouldn’t waste my time. It actually made me run to watch “We Best Love No. 1” so I could see some actual plot progression and explanation.

Acting: 6/10:
Very stiff. The NC scenes were good, and I honestly think that’s why people called this “peak.” I don’t care about NC scenes, sooooo. The side characters’ acting was less stiff and more believable.
The rich cousin’s acting made me think he was ready for the next line. Like, the acting was so anticipatory that it didn’t feel genuine. Iltjo’s acting was giving, “And you would do it too for a check.” Like, gay for pay for real!!!

Music: Hilarious/10
Felt like a The Weeknd cover. Every time a random song came on after a scene, it made me bust out laughing. Hilarious. Do it again.

Overall: Would not recommend. Would not watch again, but at least I watched it.

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