Reviews

Losing the plot?

I enjoy having something to watch everyday.. it gives me a sense of routine😀

However the premise of this Drama is quite interesting and has a lot of small twists and turns .

I'm just a bit frustrated with our FL that is out to get the truth behind her moms death and then midway into the drama she looses the plot , seems that she forgot what her goal was and is now consumed with her interest in her first love ... like when he stepped in all common sense left the building.. i think also the fact that she clings to the ML that really only has red flags, i actually hate it when a woman drags on after a man... if he's acting like the ML ... send him on his way .

I find her families parts in this drama to be so unnecessary. Honestly the grandmother losing her birth book? Nobody Communicated any information with regards to their suspicions with her. Even when her mom confronted the Lady that swapped them as babies? Just whhhhyyy wouldn't you just go straight to the actual mother of the child ??

There also seem to be so many charactes involved in this drama ...
Agh but no matter how annoying some of these characters and their brain functioning is , it's atleast something to watch when i do my cardio so 🙃

I hope our FL gets a win somewhere before we reach the end... seems there are so many characters being thrown into this drama , so many plots ... definitely not my typical style

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Love, Food, and Finding the Courage to Dream

This was such a sweet, cozy, and unexpectedly heartwarming slice-of-life drama. I didn't realize the age gap between Ichika and Amane was so big until I started watching, with her being 34 and him only 19, but honestly, it didn't bother me at all. I found myself enjoying their gentle journey from an arranged marriage to something much more meaningful. Their relationship develops gradually, and I loved how naturally they grow closer through everyday moments and mutual support.

What I appreciated most was that the drama wasn't focused on romance alone. Set in postwar Japan, it explores the struggles women faced in a society that constantly questioned their abilities and limited their ambitions simply because of their gender. Ichika is a talented chef, yet even she has internalized some of those limitations. With Amane's encouragement and support, she gradually begins to believe in herself and her place in the culinary world. I especially liked how her growing confidence also inspired the women around her.

Ichika felt like a believable woman of her time rather than a modern heroine simply placed in a historical setting. She is strong and capable, but also gentle, vulnerable, and sometimes uncertain. Amane was equally lovely in his own way. Despite his age, he wasn't written as an irritatingly immature boy, and I enjoyed watching him grow into his responsibilities while supporting Ichika and her dreams. Their relationship is a gentle slow burn built on understanding, trust, and the little ways they show up for each other.

And of course, the food! The cooking scenes were beautifully done, and one thing I particularly loved was how effortless and natural the cooking process felt. It wasn't overly dramatized or made unnecessarily complicated just to look impressive. The characters simply cooked, prepared ingredients, and worked with food in a way that felt genuine and satisfying to watch. It made the culinary side of the drama even more enjoyable, and honestly, some of those dishes made me wish I could try them myself.

Another little detail I loved was the ending credits. The soft music accompanied by extra scenes of the characters cooking felt like a warm continuation of each episode. Sometimes it's Ichika preparing food, and other times it's the people around her. It's such a simple touch, but it makes the world feel alive and lets that cozy atmosphere linger a little longer after the episode ends.

Overall, this is a gentle, wholesome drama about love, family, women's independence, and finding the courage to pursue your dreams even when society tells you otherwise. It may not be a romance-heavy drama, but the romance it offers is tender and satisfying. Sometimes, a drama doesn't need huge twists or intense conflicts to leave you happy. This one was simply a comforting, heartwarming journey that I genuinely enjoyed.

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Casted excellently, executed terribly.

This is from a perspective of someone who read the series and loved it-

That was a difficult watch. It was like they scaled the story down to its bones and then tried to rearrange a plotline that made sense within that structure. All it did was make everything more confusing and sacrificing depth. One character was rewritten entirely to cut down on casting and all it did was ruin chemistry before the actors even got a chance at it. I don't usually review but I feel like this story was done such a great disservice.
I need to go reread this manhwa now to cleanse my brain. Its a shame too because almost all of the actors were perfect for the roles and near perfectly portrayed. Man that script they created was really not great.

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A Promising Short Drama That Rushed Its Finish

For such a short drama, Second Plate managed to accomplish quite a lot in its first five episodes. There was an actual story, interesting emotional tension, a complicated shared history, and chemistry that made me want to keep watching. I was pleasantly surprised by how much they packed into episodes that were barely ten minutes long.

Unfortunately, the final episode felt rushed. After spending five episodes building up the emotional conflict between the leads, the resolution came far too quickly. The romantic payoff should have been satisfying, but instead it left me feeling rather flat.

Overall, I enjoyed Second Plate and think it did remarkably well for what it is with its limited runtime. I just wish the writers had given the ending the same care they gave the buildup.

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I'll rewatch this!

Comfort. Joy. And Learning.

Probably the, if not one of the, best dramas of this year. Maybe ever, especially if you enjoy human dramas, or office dramas in general. Now if you enjoy both? This is your feast.

"Moments that make you reinpret the past.

No matter how hard things get, once you pull through, the past becomes a memory.

If you don't, it becomes a memory you'd rather forget.

The past doesn't make the present.

The present makes the past."



"It felt like I saved the world, but nobody knew about it. I guess life is like that. What's important to me isn't necessarily important to others."


"I don't think you they have to cut people off permanently in this world. I think the right distance changes with time and people."


I learnt a lot from the business negotiations. I related a lot watching the office politics, and found a lot of comfort as well, as a fellow corporate girlie. Found myself thrilled by the understated wins of Team 5. Their hardwork and teamwork. I enjoyed how every character felt real, lived in, and given narratives via epilogues (As confirmed by the director these were not originally in the script, but added with a vision to breathe more life into these characters.)

Thank you.

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Came for Tan Song Yun. Stayed for Liu Xue Yi

Supporting my girl Song Yun, and ended up finding a gem of a drama!! I am so blown away by the pacing, cinematography and the story. It is so good! I saw its doing very well in China, and read that a lot of men were also chasing this drama. Lol. Count me in as well. I can't believe I would become so addicted to a female centric drama. I also love the fighting scenes and the history lessons that was thrown in here. But what I love most besides Tan Son Yun, is the ML Liu Xue Yi. He is such a great actor. Finally, a Chinese actor that looks so masculine as the ML. His portrayal of Lin Jinqi was phenomenal ! I could go on and on how maazing his acting is, and from what I've seen, all the drama fans in China totally agreed! think he's the best costar I've seen paired with Song Yun, besides Allen Ren.

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An Unexpected Hidden Gem

I got really lucky with my recent set of watches. I was watching multiple dramas at the same time, and I honestly didn’t expect this one to be this captivating. For such a short runtime, it had so many layers, and I thought the 20-minute episodes fit the story perfectly. It never felt stretched out. I especially loved the balance between the modern and ancient timelines and the nonlinear storytelling. Moving back and forth through time kept me engaged, continually refocused my attention, and allowed the drama to give us breadcrumbs about their relationship rather than revealing everything at once. It created this lingering sense of mystery while also making their 3,000-year history feel more meaningful. Their love and resentment weren’t the result of something that happened last week but had accumulated and evolved over centuries. At the same time, seeing that they had been living together for 3,000 years gave their relationship a strong foundation and made their story feel much more layered.

I also really enjoyed how different the romance felt from the more conventional love stories we often see in modern Chinese dramas. Instead of the familiar CEO or office romance, this one plays with immortality, spirits, and reincarnation, which gives the relationship a completely different context. It isn’t simply about two people falling in love, overcoming obstacles, and living happily ever after. It explores what love actually means, what happens to it over time, and how people can take each other for granted, build resentment, and misunderstand one another. You watch their understanding of love, life, and immortality change as they grow, and I found that surprisingly poignant for such a short drama.

I also thought the technical and supporting elements came together beautifully. The cinematography, framing, and soundtrack complemented the story without overpowering it, and I loved the balance between humor and more emotional moments. The drama knew when to be silly and when to pull back into the main story, so the humor never became distracting. Even the supporting characters had meaningful sub-arcs that connected to the larger themes rather than feeling like filler. Overall, these elements worked together incredibly well. I genuinely didn’t expect to become this obsessed with it, but I already know I’ll be rewatching it. It’s one of those unexpected hidden gems that just works.

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premise great, plot intriguing, many questions left unanswered

I've encountered enough fantasy stories to understand that a captivating premise alone won't carry a narrative. I got this show recommended to me by a friend initially. Maybe around episode 3 or so. Watched as it aired. It sounded real interesting so I decided to give it a try. And for like the first 8 episodes i was locked in watching as it aired. Suddenly 2 episodes dropped on the same day weird okay? but sure. I guess they had a reason BTS i guess.
But yeah, Initially, Nour felt like it had the potential to offer something refreshingly unique. Something that gave me strong vampire vibes but not vampire in a way. Its immortals yes but they arent really vampires they are different in a way they diverge from traditional vampires. As someone who is a sucker for a good supernatural story this was an interesting plotline already there. You had the idea of a character yearning for death falling in love with someone who fiercely wants them to live. Sounds promising right? Well, for me at least it really set the dark ambiance and the enigma surrounding the Nours, it kinda started a good stage for an intriguing beginning, that could if done right lead to something amazing. And for the first 8 episodes or so it really was looking like it could land in my top shows for a bit. Well, yeah that shattered around the twist.

SO as i mentioned I didnt quite land in the way that i think the writers of the show intended it to. BEcause i felt like there were many time during the show where it became increasingly clear that it didn’t fully grasp its own mythology. Like they mentioned one thing in one episode and then in another the opposite happens. It kinda threw me off a bit actually.
The world-building is riddled with inconsistencies and questions. Their, the Nours, superhuman powers seems to fluctuate based on what the plot demands at that moment, rather than adhering to a consistent set of rules. I like rules when it comes to shows and the mythology. It seems like they didnt really have that.

The ending left me with mixed emotions. I have many questions i will most likely never get answered and it feels empty in a way. I will say the resolution for the secondary couple felt satisfying but yeah, while James and Ken's outcome was more troubling. I feel like their part of the story has a bunch of things that i never really got told. I feel like im missing a bunch of info and how they would live the rest of their life. So, this made me feel that it was not the greatest of the bunch when I am looking at it from this POV.

Well, my overall thoughts? I think I would say that Nour isn't a bad series. Its premise is intriguing, the atmosphere is engaging, and the ambition behind it is evident. Very clear what they had thought that they would do. And the NCs of the show are also great. THat can help a story a bit just not to the point where I would have a show rely entirely on it. There are glimpses of the impact this story could have had with more room to explore some of the questions. So, Unfortunately, it never quite realised that potential.
in a sentence i think i would say that this is an intriguing idea that deserved a more assured execution with more time to cook on that ending.

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Typical GMMTV production...

One of the shows I had to force me to watch. While the concept is interesting, the side couple was all around red flag in the beginning which did not bring me any joy in watching this. It got better in the end but besides the fluffy couple there was nothing what interested me. At least I can say it started bad and got better over time.

The script is not the worst, but of course the characters are not developed fully either. There are the typical BL clichés. It would not be a thai "comedy" without a lot of silly sound effects. Production quality was good, as expected from a GMMTV production but it felt boring overall. Also the acting did not feel stellar either, it was good for the main couple and "ok" for the rest of the ensemble. The highlight of this show as so often are the songs, which is one of the strong points of many GMMTV productions.

You could waste your time with worse shows, this is just "average", or you can watch something more interesting. Your choice.

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lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off

REWATCHED:
09/23/2026-10/08/2026

i don’t think i appreciated this drama as much as i could’ve when i first watched it in 2023. i only had true beauty under my belt at the time, which is hilariously sad, but after watching a lot more and getting familiar with what’s common in this genre, i appreciate my lovely liar wayyy more now. i especially liked how the relationship between 도하 and 솔희 is part of their healing rather than something that happens AFTER they’ve already healed. they genuinely helped each other grow, and i think all of the coincidences that brought them together made their relationship feel almost fated. i also appreciate the character arc with 솔희 in terms of her black and white worldview on lying. the drama just kept showing her that knowing someone is lying doesn’t mean that you understand why they’re lying or what the lie actually means. i feel horrible for 강민 now too ㅠㅠㅠ i fear if this was real life, 솔희 should’ve just gotten back together with him. however his storyline works well in terms of reinforcing the idea that lies can have good intentions. i think one of my only issues is the murder plot sometimes? i think it sometimes feels like it’s holding the story back, especially when the romance and the themes of truth and lies are much more interesting to me. overall, i wouldn’t say this is a drama that completely changed my life, but i think i can appreciate what it was trying to do more now than i did the first time around

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Loved It, Mostly

This show has a crazy premise .A rich girl paraglides, a tornado throws her into North Korea, and a soldier hides her?? But by episode two I had stopped doing anything else and my tea went cold. I don't think it's a perfect drama, but I loved it way more than I thought I would.

The thing about it is you laugh and then two minutes later you're crying and you don't even know how it happened. Se-ri was so annoying at the start, honestly, loud and spoiled and thinking money fixes everything. But she gets softer, and he gets braver, and it didn't feel rushed. Hyun Bin barely talks in some scenes and still I understood everything he felt. Son Ye-jin is just so good at being funny and sad at the same time. When they look at each other it feels real, not like two actors doing a job.

But the village ladies!! I could watch a whole show about them. And his four soldiers too, they made me smile in every episode. Even little things were so fun, like Se-ri finding out her own company's makeup is wanted in the North Korean market, or Captain Ri cluelessly shopping for her skincare. I read that people from North Korea praised how the everyday life looked, even the accents and words, and I thought that was nice to know. It's still a fantasy, of course. Nobody is as perfect as Captain Ri, lol.

Now Seung-jun. I'm still not over him. I didn't like him at first, then I started to feel sorry for him, then he was shot saving Seo Dan and I just sat there, not ok. Why did they have to do that? He deserved better and so did she. And the villain was a bit too much like a cartoon for me, always sneering, but fine.

I will say the middle got slow. Same thing again and again, she almost gets caught, she escapes, then it starts over. I got a bit bored and I looked at my phone more than I want to admit. Also how did nobody find her for so long? Anyway, I didn't mind that much, because then something sweet would happen and I'd forget.

I loved how pretty everything was. Switzerland looks like a postcard, and the piano scene by the lake is the one I keep thinking about. The songs are lovely too, I played "Give You My Heart" a lot after I finished.

The ending wasn't the one I wanted. I wanted the big happy wedding, but they can only see each other two weeks every year in Switzerland, and it's sad. But it felt true to the story, and I think a perfect ending would have felt fake.

So yes, I'd watch it again, maybe skipping some middle bits. I'd tell anyone to watch it, especially if you want to laugh and cry and be a bit sad when it ends.

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The Subversion of the Rom-Com: Action, Agency, and Anti-Toxic Chemistry

[Italian Version Below / Versione Italiana in Basso]

ENG

Scoring a flawless 10/10, Love to Hate You stands as a masterclass in modern romantic comedy — a lightning-fast, 10-episode adrenaline rush that strips the genre of its most exhausting, outdated clichés and replaces them with genuine female agency, physical comedy, and deep emotional healing.

~ Yeo Mi-ran: An Unapologetic Action Heroine ~

If you can judge a show by its opening scene, Mi-ran kicking the absolute daylights out of a mugger in the very first episode sets the tone perfectly. She is a force of nature: a badass lawyer, martial artist, and fiercely independent woman who takes zero nonsense from men. Her physical dynamic with the male lead is nothing short of iconic — from tripping him in public to mistaking his niece for a young mistress and wanting to beat him up during martial arts training. Watching her transition into his stuntwoman and physically put her body on the line to protect him totally upends the tired "damselfly in distress" trope.

~ Decostructing the CEO: From Alleged Misogynist to Green Flag ~

What makes the central romance work so brilliantly is that Nam Kang-ho is not the typical toxic, narcissistic alpha male. His distrust of women is a trauma response built on past betrayal and emotional wounds, manifesting as severe physical nausea and panic attacks whenever he has to shoot romantic scenes. The beauty of their bond lies in the "miraculous cure": his anxiety completely vanishes only when he is around Mi-ran, because her brutal honesty is the one thing he can trust.

~ High-Octane Pacing and a Sizzling Second Lead ~

Trimming the runtime to a crisp 10 episodes was a stroke of genius. Instead of dragging out useless misunderstandings in episodes 12 to 16, the narrative hits us with a barrage of high-stakes drama — public bullying, trash TV witch-hunts, and a painful separation — only for Mi-ran to snap out of it, reclaim her narrative, and fight for her happiness. Add to that a top-tier secondary couple (where Mi-ran’s cynical influence almost costs her best friend a genuinely good man), and you get a flawless, high-energy masterpiece.

~ The Final Verdict ~

Sassy, action-packed, and deeply satisfying. A 10/10 Rom-Com that proves a female lead can beat up the bad guys, save the hero, and heal his heart without ever losing her dignity.

Recommended for: Viewers tired of passive female leads, fans of fast-paced 10-episode series, and anyone looking for a refreshing, non-toxic romantic comedy.

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ITA

La Sovversione della Rom-Com: Azione, Autonomia e Chimica Anti-Tossica

Aggiudicandosi un 10/10 pieno e strameritato, Love to Hate You si attesta come una lezione magistrale di commedia romantica moderna — una scarica di adrenalina in soli 10 episodi che spoglia il genere dai suoi cliché più esausti e li sostituisce con un'autentica forza femminile, commedia fisica e una profonda guarigione emotiva.

~ Yeo Mi-ran: Un'Eroina d'Azione Senza Filtri ~

Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino, Mi-ran che sfascia di botte un rapinatore nel primo episodio mette subito in chiaro le regole del gioco. È una forza della natura: avvocatessa d'assalto, esperta di arti marziali e donna fieramente indipendente che non manda a dire nulla a nessuno. La sua dinamica fisica con il protagonista è semplicemente iconica — dallo sgambetto in pubblico, al fraintendimento sulla nipote scambiata per una giovane amante, fino alla voglia matta di menarlo durante gli allenamenti. Vederla trasformarsi nella sua stuntwoman e mettere a rischio il proprio corpo per proteggerlo ribalta completamente il trito cliché della "damigella in pericolo".

~ Decostruire il Male Lead: Da Presunto Misogino a Bandiera Verde ~

Ciò che rende la storia d'amore così brillante è che Nam Kang-ho non è il solito maschio alfa tossico e narcisista. La sua diffidenza verso il genere femminile è una risposta al trauma nata da passati tradimenti e ferite emotive, che si manifesta con attacchi di panico e nausea fisica ogni volta che deve girare scene intime. La bellezza del loro legame sta proprio nella "guarigione miracolosa": la sua ansia svanisce magicamente soltanto quando tocca o bacia Mi-ran, perché la brutale onestà di lei è l'unica cosa di cui può fidarsi ciecamente.

~ Ritmo Adrenalinico e una Second Couple Esplosiva ~

Tagliare la serie a soli 10 episodi è stato un colpo di genio. Invece di allungare il brodo con incomprensioni inutili nei classici episodi 12-16, la narrazione ci travolge con eventi ad alto tasso di adrenalina — bullismo mediatico, sputtanamento da TV trash e una dolorosa separazione — salvo poi vedere Mi-ran riprendersi la scena, ripensarci e lottare per la propria felicità. Aggiungeteci una coppia secondaria fantastica (dove il cinismo di Mi-ran rischiava quasi di far perdere all'amica un ragazzo d'oro) e avrete un capolavoro perfetto e travolgente.

~ Il Giudizio Finale ~

Sfrontato, pieno d'azione e immensamente soddisfacente. Un 10/10 che dimostra come un'eroina possa picchiare i cattivi, salvare il protagonista e guarirgli il cuore senza mai svendere la propria dignità.

Consigliato a: Chi è stanco delle protagoniste passive, agli amanti dei drama brevi e ritmati da 10 episodi, e a chiunque cerchi una commedia romantica fresca, intelligente e priva di tossicità.

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The Dignity of Fragility: A Masterclass in Emotional Empathy

[Italian Version Below / Versione Italiana in Basso]

ENG

In a television landscape often guilty of using disability as a cheap tear-jerker or an instrument of emotional blackmail, Our Blues — and specifically the story arc centered on Lee Young-ok (played by a magnificent Han Ji-min) — delivers a masterclass in human dignity, respect, and mature storytelling.

~ The Ethics of Self-Sacrifice: A Parallel with One Spring Night ~

What makes Young-ok's hesitation so heartbreakingly believable is not a fear of commitment, but a profound sense of protective unworthiness. She puts up emotional walls and tries to push Jeong-jun away not out of indecision, but because she believes she doesn't deserve a peaceful relationship. Accepting his love feels like selfishly dragging a good, innocent man into a lifelong burden he shouldn't have to carry. This selfless self-sabotage mirrors the emotional core of One Spring Night — where the single father hesitates to embrace love out of fear of burdening the other person. It is a nuanced, deeply human portrayal of how guilt and responsibility shape romantic agency.

~ Beyond Pietism: Down Syndrome Rendered with Grace ~

What elevates this specific narrative arc to absolute greatness is its refusal to weaponize pity. The portrayal of Down syndrome is handled with remarkable empathy, warmth, and genuine affection, completely devoid of ridiculing caricatures or patronizing sympathy. Much like Mad for Each Other and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the series approaches psychological burden, trauma, and human vulnerability not as tropes to be exploited, but as deeply human experiences requiring care and understanding.

~ The Final Verdict ~

A deeply therapeutic, soul-soothing watch that treats delicate social themes with the warmth and respect they deserve. Han Ji-min shines in a role of profound complexity, delivering a performance that heals the heart without ever resorting to cheap sentimentality.

Recommended for: Viewers seeking mature, empathetic portrayals of mental health and disability, fans of raw slice-of-life storytelling, and anyone who appreciates character-driven dramas that respect the audience's intelligence.

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ITA

La Dignità della Fragilità: Una Lezione Magistrale di Empatia Emotiva

In un panorama televisivo spesso colpevole di usare la disabilità come becero acchiappa-lacrime o strumento di ricatto morale, Our Blues — e nello specifico l'arco narrativo incentrato su Lee Young-ok (interpretata da una magnifica Han Ji-min) — offre una lezione magistrale di dignità umana, rispetto e scrittura matura.

~ L'Etica dell'Auto-Sacrificio: Il Parallelo con One Spring Night ~

Ciò che rende la ritrosia di Young-ok così dolorosamente credibile non è la paura dei sentimenti, ma un profondo e protettivo senso di inadeguatezza. Mette le mani avanti e tenta di allontanare Jeong-jun non per indecisione, ma perché è convinta di non potersi "permettere" una felicità senza prezzo. Nella sua testa, accettare quell'amore significa egoisticamente accollare a un uomo perbene un peso enorme che lui non merita di portare. Questo autolesionismo altruista richiama da vicino la dinamica emotiva di One Spring Night — dove il protagonista ragazzo padre esita a lasciarsi andare per paura di diventare una zavorra per la donna che ama. È una rappresentazione sottile e immensamente humana di come il senso di colpa modelli le nostre scelte affettive.

~ Oltre il Pietismo: La Sindrome di Down Raccontata con Grazia ~

Ciò che eleva questo specifico segmento della serie a livelli eccelsi è il totale rifiuto della pietà di maniera. La rappresentazione della Sindrome di Down viene gestita con uno straordinario equilibrio tra empatia, calore e affetto genuino, senza mai scivolare nella caricatura o nella commiserazione paternalistica. Sulla scia di capolavori come Mad for Each Other e It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, lo show affronta il peso psicologico, il trauma e la vulnerabilità umana non come cliché da sfruttare, ma come esperienze profonde che richiedono cura e rispetto.

~ Il Giudizio Finale ~

Una visione profondamente terapeutica, un toccasana per il cuore che tratta temi sociali delicatissimi con il calore che meritano. Han Ji-min brilla in un ruolo di rara complessità, regalando una prova che cura l'anima senza mai cedere a un facile e stucchevole sentimentalismo.

Consigliato a: Chi cerca una rappresentazione matura ed empatica della salute mentale e della disabilità, agli amanti dello slice-of-life autentico e a chiunque apprezzi le storie guidate dai personaggi che rispettano l'intelligenza dello spettatore.

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