Reviews

Brilliant first half, disappointing last half

Loved the first half until the wedding of the main leads. Went downhill after that. First half thought it was going to surpass Story of Minglan and Pursuit of Jade. Second half literally emasculated the ML. He was begging and scraping for affection right up to his death. Absolutely hated Lan Xiang’s treatment of her husband. No character growth, remained a cold fish & self righteous. When the poor guy said he wants to be married to her in next life, she didn’t have to say “one lifetime is enough” Her motto or the motto of the drama; “to live well”, I don’t think she lived well. Her heart never opened to love. I think her husband was worth of her love. She had the facts that it was not his fault to break the engagement, he made up for the mistakes of his family by burying her family and he treated her well. The writers totally spoiled a good story from the wedding on. Granted she could have been upset /angry a few episodes but not 20yrs after marriage. 4-6 years to consummate their marriage. This was totally childish writing. I really can’t stop raging. In Story of Minglan she was more or less forced into marriage too, but the writers allowed to grow and did not emasculate her husband Argh 😡
Just finished the drama and I’m like Meh!!
A woman doesn’t the man to be strong by you insulting the man. Dah he even buried your friend Scholar Han, no thank you.
I think an opportunity was lost in using her parents to help her in settling in the marriage, pointing out the good in her husband.
Sorry I keep going back to Story of Minglan; whose grandmother helped the FL to settle in her marriage and therefore “ LIVE WELL”

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False advertising IMO

Why I did not like this: Contrary to the title and the marketing as a BL, there isn't much of any romance or any sex either. It's not about taming any bad boy: The main character is on screen together with his love interest, alone, for only just over 10 minutes out of a runtime of over 1 full hour (I went back and counted, out of confusion over what nonsense I had just watched). In those ~10 minutes, they failed to convince me that they even really want each other, or even to provide any sort of understandable reason why they might like each other. They do kiss (not deeply) a few times, but it never feels like they're really into it.

I actually thought the premise of the story was promising; The school bully is picking on the main character, whom he secretly likes. The main character clues in that the bully is actually into him, turns the tables and makes the bully submit to him instead. The bully is only too happy to do so. But it's never sexy; they even have this dog collar that they use, but there is nothing kinky ever going on, just implied. As for romance, there's barely any warmth between these two characters, just a little at the end, but we never see it develop.

Does the bad boy get tamed? There is a moderate amount of influence that the main character has on our bully, but it doesn't look significant. We don't see him ever doing anything that bad in the first place. The real bully is obviously the homophobic character, which is strange when it's the love interest that is supposed to be the bad boy. Why did Flying Penguin do that? I have the impression that they were a lot more interested in exploring LGBTQ social issues than in making a romance, and thus all the character development that could have been happening fell completely flat.

Instead of getting to see the bad boy taming, which might actually be interesting, we get a lot of mostly obnoxious side characters, ranging from silly to preachy to pointless. We do learn some details about the families of the two lead characters, but none of the family relationships are developed or lead anywhere plot wise, making me wonder why they included those characters in the first place. The friend group of silly gay students and the over the top homophobe (with his glorious crash out), I swear get more screentime than the main character and the love interest do. And we also get a weird sex ed teacher giving a long lecture about AIDS and being nice to gay people. With all of that taking up most of the runtime, it is social issues that dominate the series, not any kind of story about love or sex. Maybe it could have value outside of the BL criteria, but that's for others to decide.

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Against the Current represents a Remarkable Series

This series has been outstanding from start to finish. I am glad I chose to watch this c-drama series, as it has offered profound insights into both sorrow and joy, along with valuable lessons about the importance of authenticity. Episode 47 particularly resonated with me because of its powerful portrayal of the protagonist's emotions following her husband's death. I was also deeply moved by the representation of the supportive individuals who accompanied her throughout this journey in this series, all of whom are no longer present by the end of the story. Episode 47 served as a beautiful resolution, and the performances of everyone involved in this series showcased an impressive level of talent that deserves recognition and praise. Rewatch!

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Flawed, nonetheless beautiful story

This series seem to have left a lot of different opinions for different people. Some who want BL are not satisfied and some hate seeing queer undertones. Personally, I think the main problem is that the 12 episodes are a bit too short to flesh out and to tie loose ends. Regarding the queer bait or bl discourse, i think it is not necessary to define it a a boundary. As someone who does not just watch the plot for the sake of plot but likes to see cinematography, read underline expressions , tones etc, i think this story conveys a beautiful expression of love. It is undeniable that the two male leads love each other in a way whether platonic or romantic or some other way. I dont think it is necessary to label it. And there are other types of love too, however twisted it is, pio mom loves him and jae in also loves him in a way . And the series conveys those different types of love so vividly , the actors acting are on point. Especially the mother, actress yoon se ah is so good at expressing the emotions. I just got interested in because it is about music and piano , maybe some sense of artistic beauty . Even though it doesn’t really go into that part, the music and ost are so good. I was hoping for literature artistic typa series but this was more like k drama. But in a way , it shows like “this is life” , the characters are complex and messy, the circumstances are messy, and the fate is messy, so messy that it feels like “this is life” in a sense. I guess it would be boring if everything is like going linearly. There are a few things i wish they could explore more, like tie up some loose ends, how jy survived, or explore more on jaein and some other characters. I kinda question what is the point of some characters but in our life some people just show up without any purpose or impact in way it makes sense. Overall, i love the complexity and flaws of characters( it needs effort to understand them) , i love the shots and cinematography , I dont like how the plot left a lot of things unresolved and a bit rushed.

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Fear, piano, fear inferiority more piano

Somewhere between an 8 and an 8,5 this drama is one that truley shows the lines between love hate and a whole lot of fear. A drama that you should do all you can to avoid spoilers before watching (which I kind of did) and had m guessing (soem times correctly other times not so currently)

The bromance is decent, the romance genre is more towards a bromance than a romance and there is a decent show of the obsession as well as insanity.

The drama also had me wanting to shake some seance in to the adult world (once again) as well ad reminded me that I am not really a huge fan of neither piano or classical music. It is not like I hate the piano but I am not a huge fan of it nor do I really understand it so I am sure being a classical music lover would help enjoying this drama and would probably have upped the score. The extreme amount of piano in this made it feel more like film from the silent era a so called silent film than a K-drama.

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The story started out so well.. had me hooked watching ep to ep due to the conflicts and tribulations every character was going thru.. then I dont know why the writers decided to take the path they chose with the ML.. they ended up making him weak and completely under the spell of the FL.. i think i wouldve been ok with it if the FL showed more affection towards the ML.. From beginning to end i felt zero genuine love from the FL towards the ML.. even them consummating their marriage felt so forced like it was her duty.. I get the story is female centered but you've been married to this guy for so long and been through so much.. not even telling him you have feelings for him? ML keeps telling her he genuinely loves and her only response is poker face.. literally all 47 eps.. The reason i gave this show an 8 is because of all the characters and their stories.. as for the ML and FL storyline ughh it was subpar.. Would I recommend this show? I guess i would so you could see what i mean. Would i rewatch it? Probably not. Once was enough to show my support for the actors i love on the show 💜

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A really good suspense movie.

As women, we can all relate to how scary it can be to come home alone from work at night, live by yourself, and stay away from creepy men. I could totally relate to Gyung-min. At first, she is portrayed as a timid and vulnerable girl, but as the story progresses, she becomes stronger and more courageous. She fights back until her very last breath.

The performances by all the actors were really good. The story was also well-written, and it was genuinely difficult to guess who the actual murderer was. Without relying on ghosts or supernatural elements, this movie still managed to scare me quite a lot.

Overall, it was a really good watch and definitely worth watching.

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A Sweet Little Coming-of-Age Romance

Coming-of-age romances are definitely my thing, so Too Young to Love was an easy and enjoyable watch for me. It’s a light youth drama with all the right ingredients: friendship, first love, school life, family, dreams, a little bromance, and enough romance to keep things sweet without becoming overly cute or overly serious.

What I particularly liked was how age-appropriate the main characters felt. Neither lead was written as the usual overly serious genius or bubbly extrovert. They genuinely behaved like teenagers, and their friendship felt natural. The school setting also had a surprisingly realistic feel, especially the uniforms and everyday student life. My only real struggle was getting used to a 30-year-old actor playing a high school/college student.

The high school portion was probably my favourite. The friendship group was well balanced, and I liked that everyone had their own personality, flaws, relationships, and problems rather than having one obvious villain driving the entire story. The characters could be stubborn, selfish, immature, or difficult without necessarily being bad people, which made their conflicts feel more believable.

The main leads were also excellent communicators. They had known and trusted each other since childhood, and their relationship grew naturally from that friendship. That is why the eventual breakup frustrated me so much. I simply didn't buy the sudden decision to separate because of distance and "going their own way," especially after spending so much time establishing how well they understood and trusted each other. The execution also didn't give the moment enough emotional weight. The story moved so quickly between scenes that what should have been an important, heartbreaking moment barely had time to land.

Honestly, the breakup was the one thing I felt was completely unnecessary. Everything else worked reasonably well for the kind of drama this was. The college portion was still cute, although the transition from high school to college felt rushed and the scene editing wasn't always smooth. The story sometimes moved too quickly, making certain developments feel more like information we were being given than moments we were actually experiencing.

I also really enjoyed Chen Fan and his bromance with Xiaole. Chen Fan was one of my favourite characters, and their friendship had a really warm, natural quality. I liked the overall friend group for the same reason. Everyone seemed to have their own little relationship or problem while still caring about and helping each other.

I wasn't particularly fond of Luo Ningzi, though. Her self-centred and arrogant behaviour made it difficult for me to understand what Chen Fan saw in her, and I honestly spent a good portion of the drama hoping they would break up so he could end up with Qian Meng instead.

The romance between Shan and Professor Li was another storyline I enjoyed. I could understand why the FL's father reacted so strongly to their relationship, even when his behaviour was frustrating. Being Asian myself, his concerns felt understandable from a cultural and parental perspective, even if I didn't agree with everything he did. I also liked the relationship between the FL and her brother.

There were a few technical issues that took me out of the story, particularly the awkward CGI used for the foreign travel scenes and some noticeable music copyright problems. The transitions could have been much smoother too.

Overall, Too Young to Love isn't groundbreaking, and it doesn't try to be. It's simply a light, sweet youth drama about friendship, first love, growing up, and figuring out what you want from life. If you want something relaxing and easy to watch, this is a pretty good filler drama. Just don't expect anything too deep or polished, and you'll probably have a good time.

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DO NOT WATCH IT FOR THE ROMANCE

Let me start this review with saying that the score is an absolute joke. I'm genuinely upset by how unfair people are about this drama and it's actually very simple, for once: if you don't like it - it's not for you. Yeah, it sounds mean but it's true and that's okay. The reason why people give low rating is that a) they got bored because they couldn't follow the plot and b) the lack of romance. These are *THE ONLY* reasons why the score is so low. If you don't believe me, I encourage you to find me a low (below 7) review for this drama. It doesn't exist because there is nothing wrong with it, it's all matter of personal taste and preferences. If you think this is another Overdo, Lament of Autumn, etc. -> it's not. You have to follow the plot otherwise get lost. Romance is hinted here and there, but they are not dramatically in love and pining. That's just not happening.

This is a male centered revenge story set in Republican era. Think of mix of Now You See Me, Peaky Blinders, Unveil: Jadewind and Cases Between Us. Basically, con the conman who is playing a con on you with another side secret con, but they know about the con, and you know that they know that you know.... As you can see, this is plot driven drama with layers and plot twists, and it is very well made blend of thriller, horror and comedy. And the comedy was unexpected for me, because judging by the trailers, I expected much darker story, but looking back the levity was needed because *it is* very dark, but sometimes the man who likes to mutilate children is also a complete idiot.

I don't want to say anything more, it's really difficult to write a review on something where everything works. There is no psychotic editing, we've seen in dramas lately, the script is very good, costumes are wonderful, the acting is amazing - Li Xian and Li Yitong are fantastic and Liu Guanlin, who plays Chengming's sidekick, I have to give massive applause because with a role that seemed unimportant, he managed to make third main character, that's how good he was. The score is wonderful, both opening credits songs are fire, it's hard to decide which one is better, I fell in love with both. (Btw, I've seen people saying that the credits are AI, that is possible but unconfirmed, so take it with a grain of salt.)

While the ending left opening for season 2, I'm not sure if it's necessary but I'd happily take it. If it's gonna happen is a bigger question. Not taking the MDL rating seriously, but the numbers weren't amazing, they weren't bad, but not great.

I 100% recommend this drama if you want something slightly spooky for the autumn, you care about the plot and characters journey and simply want something different than is the current standard idol drama. If you don't, that's okay, but please be a grown up and don't give it 1* because there are no kissy kisses. Thank you :)

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Probably one of the best GMMTV26 series. Not kidding.

I didn't know what to expect and it's just one of the best series produced by GMMTV this year. I'm not even kidding.

Many times, we criticize GMMTV because of the lack of touch and tenderness between couples. And this isn't a problem here! They actually look in love. And they're SO cute!!!

The kisses are adorable! All the hugs, sniff kisses, the "I want to see your abs" jokes and everything, are so damn funny and adorable.

Also Ping wasn't my favorite actor in the past, but maybe it was a lack of chemistry, or bad directing, bcs he was sooo on point there! And Teshow is such a perfect discovery bcs he's a very good actor, and he's totally a rookie.

I love everything about it, it's so fun, great acting, lovely. It's one of those series that are utterly romantic. I finished watching and was like: so, first, I want to do tennis now. Second, I NEED A GIRLFRIEND BADLY NOW.

ALSO SINGCHIMON. How are they SO fresh? OMG! They were such a cute side couple, adorable, with their own narrative without being boring or disrupting the main narrative, everything was made with so much love and care and both couples had insane chemistry. I LOVE IT.

Ah really it's incredible. You HAVE to watch.

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“絶対に大丈夫です.”

Very first dorama, so I really had no expectations of what I was about to watch when I first searched for a “J-drama about healthcare” and stumbled upon 119: Emergency Call.

But for my first proper exposure to a Japanese drama, it was great! The overall premise was grounded and very easy to follow. You were given the lives and certain nuances of numerous 119 responders operating in the Yokohama City Fire Department, and I really enjoyed how the series gradually allowed you to understand each of them beyond their roles as emergency responders.

Of course, what initially drew me in was the healthcare aspect, but what kept me watching was the human side of the job. It was very different from its Western "counterparts" that kind of revolve around the same theme, but in a much less exaggerated manner.

At the same time, the responders themselves aren't portrayed as invincible -- which was a great start. Kasuhara, the female lead, struggled with wanting to desperately save every caller, but eventually she had to accept that dispatchers must rely on caller cooperation, follow the chain of command, and trust the field responders (firefighters and paramedics) to do the physical rescue as she was taught and guided by her co-workers and seniors, such as Kaneshita, Dojima, and Takachiho.

Instead of making everything revolve around one character, the show gives you different perspectives. It made the workplace feel more real, and I found myself becoming invested in the dynamics between the characters just as much as the emergency cases themselves. Every episode also highlighted most of the main call responders, their doubts, frustrations, personal struggles, and moments where they have to learn from one another.

The emergency calls themselves were probably my favorite parts. There was a certain tension in knowing that the responders had limited information and had to make decisions based on whatever they could gather from a caller. They do a good job of showing how every call is different and how the people on the other end of the line are often dealing with situations that are just as emotionally complicated as they are medically urgent. They were likewise believable and it can definitely make you imagine what was going on at the other end of the line -- something that real-life emergency call responders experience in every call.

It wasn't perfect, of course. There were moments where the pacing felt a little uneven. For example, parts where Kasuhara-san was "immersing" herself in the caller's point of view. I felt like it could be differently and quickly. Some character developments also felt like they could have been explored more deeply, as well as some of the emergency situations, though it might just be due to financial constraints in the production (ww).

For something I found almost by accident, I think 119: Emergency Call turned out to be a pretty memorable introduction to J-dramas and probably a solid choice for anyone else trying to get into the genre.

I can definitely say that when facing an emergency, your voice may be the first lifeline someone can reach. Make it a voice they can trust.

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This is not a sweet romance tale. Its about cruelty, deception and consequences of actions.

People should be open minded about this K-drama. It`s an adaptation of a classical french novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" or "Dangerous Liaisons" English version, which was about two members of the old French Aristocracy who were famous for elaborate games of seduction, manipulation and the ruin of others. It portrays the decadence and corruption of morals of society at that moment in time. It is not a sweet romance tale. It`s about cruelty and deception and the overall consequences of the actions taken, which lead to tragic events.
I understand that it is not to everyone`s taste and that some people may feel offended by it. However, I personally liked the drama and thought that the Korean version, screen play and acting were great. It was beautifully scripted and the artistic photography was executed accordingly. Well Done!
Son Ye Jin is excellent as the icy cold, unbending noble lady bent on vengeance out of frustration of having been born a noble woman in Josean times, who due to societal norms was ignored and bound to a life of subordination and seclusion by a male dominated confusion culture. JCW is brilliant as the handsome rake, or cad, alluring and devious, confident that he will win the "Bet" which was of course to be with his first love Lady Cho (Son Ye Jin). As in the original book, the true characters may not be likeable, but the actors did a good job trying to show the human nature and emotions underneath the depravity and the consequences of the actions taken.
It is worth noting that the original novel had significant bearing in that historically it impacted on the whole of European Society by exposing the moral decay, sexual hypocrisy and predatory games of the nobles of french Aristocracy. It illustrated how powerful individuals weaponized seduction and reputation for sport. It fuelled anti-aristocratic sentiment that historically contributed to the psychological backdrop of the French Revolution.
Modern adaptations continue to impact upon today`s society by sparking conversations like we are having today about the manipulation, consent and toxicity of the wealthy elite. There are still moral and ethical lessons to be learnt from both the actual novel and screen dramas that we watch.

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A Magical Romance Where Everyone Has a Secret

For me, Moonlit Reunion was one of those dramas I had been waiting to watch the moment it finished airing. I actually started it during a drama slump and put it on hold after episode 2 because Xu Kai's voice was bothering me so much at the time. Somehow, after finishing Spring of the Blade, I finally came back to it, and honestly, I'm very glad I did.

The story is set in a supernatural version of Chang'an, where humans and demons coexist in a fragile balance. Wu Zhen is a noblewoman who secretly carries the power of the Cat Lord and protects the Demon Underworld, while Mei Zhuyu is a talented demon slayer investigating the mysterious fire that happened eighteen years ago. The interesting part is that they are natural enemies without initially knowing each other's true identities.

And honestly, I never felt that the whole human-versus-demon idea was preachy or overly focused on. The central conflict is there, but it doesn't completely take over the drama. The story is much more interested in the relationships between the characters, especially the main couple, their identities, their loyalties, and the secrets everyone is carrying. It genuinely felt like almost the entire cast had something to hide, which made the mystery much more fun.

I especially loved the identity aspect. Usually, in a hidden-identity drama, one character is hiding something while the other slowly discovers the truth. Here, both leads have major secrets, so there is this constant tension underneath their relationship. They can be completely honest with each other emotionally while still hiding one huge part of who they are. Watching them gradually suspect each other and trying to figure out the truth was one of my favourite parts.

The romance worked really well for me. Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu have a great push-and-pull dynamic, and their relationship develops through trust, shared experiences, teasing, misunderstandings, and eventually sacrifice. I liked that their connection wasn't just about dramatic declarations. A lot of their feelings came through their expressions, small gestures, and the way they quietly protected each other.

Xu Kai surprised me here. Mei Zhuyu is composed, intelligent, patient, and quietly devoted rather than being the typical loud, possessive male lead. He often shows his feelings through his actions, and I especially appreciated the restraint in his performance during the more emotional parts of the story. Even though his screen presence sometimes felt uneven, I honestly didn't mind it as much as I expected because I was enjoying the overall cast so much.

Tian Xiwei was another highlight. Wu Zhen gets to be playful, stubborn, mischievous, vulnerable, and courageous, and Tian Xiwei handled all those sides naturally. I particularly liked watching Wu Zhen struggle with being caught between the human and demon worlds and gradually come to terms with who she really is.

And honestly, the supporting cast was one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed this drama so much. There were so many familiar faces from vertical and short C-dramas that I was genuinely happy to see, and the antagonist was played by a male lead from another drama I loved. So even when the main leads weren't on screen as much as I wanted, I was still perfectly happy watching everyone else. It was such a wholesome, beautiful cast.

I also became surprisingly attached to Xuan Hui and Mei Shi's relationship. Their brotherly bond was just as interesting to me as some of the romantic relationships. The side relationships in general were handled with enough personality that they never felt like completely disposable filler. Hu Zhu and Shuang Jiang were adorable, and I absolutely loved the Snake Lord. Someone please get Mei Shi a demon core already.

The gender-swap storyline was another unexpected highlight. The transformation between the characters and the way both actors changed their posture, mannerisms, and body language was genuinely impressive. The actress playing the Snake Lord especially convinced me when she became Mei Shi, even down to the way she walked while wearing the long dress train. Those little physical details made the whole thing much more entertaining.

The mystery also kept me invested. The Cat Lord, the Sinister Infant, the fire from eighteen years ago, and the connections between different characters slowly reveal themselves throughout the story. I definitely didn't figure everything out, and some of the twists genuinely surprised me. The drama manages to balance mystery and suspense with romance, comedy, and fantasy without letting one element completely overwhelm the others.

One supporting-character death also really stayed with me. It worked because by that point, the characters had developed enough that the loss actually carried emotional weight. It wasn't simply there for shock value, and I appreciated how the character relationships built toward that moment.

Visually, this drama was such a treat. The Demon City, costumes, moonlit forests, temples, mountains, and supernatural settings created a beautiful fantasy world. The CGI was also better than I expected, especially during the larger supernatural sequences. There were plenty of scenes where I just wanted to pause and appreciate how pretty everything looked.

I know the ending was divisive, but personally, I didn't have a major problem with it. I thought it made sense within the story and, more importantly, I found the final moments comforting. It wasn't the ending that left me frustrated or wishing the whole journey had been for nothing.

Overall, Moonlit Reunion was a really fun fantasy romance with mystery, comedy, beautiful visuals, strong character relationships, and a cast I genuinely enjoyed watching. It isn't perfect, and there were definitely moments where I wanted more from the main leads, especially Mei Zhuyu, but the overall dynamic worked so well for me that those issues didn't outweigh the enjoyment.

A solid 9/10 for me, I came back to this drama after putting it on hold, and somehow it ended up becoming one of the more enjoyable fantasy romances I've watched this year.

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