Reviews

Highbrow not entertainment

This is a first draft - the more I digest what I watched the more this will get adapted.

This isn't entertainment. I can't decide whether this is a highbrow success or a highbrow mess.

Either way that is on the director. Given what Ji Chang Wook said of the process it is hard to rate the performances because, if all the main cast experienced that direction, they each gave multiple differing performances of their role and then the director picked which he wanted. In that context I can't criticise the delivery of Lady Cho Yun in the way I'd like without feeling I'm being unfair to the actress.

Ji Chang Wook is great but also portraying - from the script - a character who becomes more elusive the more we see of him.

I wish there were meta-versions of this edited with different picks from the actors scene approaches so we could compare versions as it might have been.

The cinematography is fantastic and I'd love to resivit the rich world the sets and extras and more provided in a less ambitious drama.

Familiarity with the book Liasons Dangereuse and with adaptations is a huge disadvantage watching this because all of those I've seen were aimed more at entertaining and the characters were easier to interpret. I kept waiting for plot points that didn't happen. This is loosely inspired by the book and not an adaptation as I understand it.

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A Huge Missed Opportunity for Omegaverse BL

As someone who was counting down the days until the premiere, my excitement for KNOT was through the roof. Having a live-action adaptation of the Omegaverse genre felt like a dream come true, especially with BoatOat taking the lead roles. Given their talent and my fondness for them, the show had all the ingredients to be an instant masterpiece. Sadly, even though the main duo clearly poured their hearts into their performances, the final product fell terribly short.

The core issue lies in the execution.
While the series takes the time to lay out the basic ground rules of this fantasy universe, it completely forgets to build a compelling narrative around them.

Wasted Lore: The script completely ignores the primal elements that define the genre. We missed out on the intensity of Alpha instincts, territorial dominance, and the raw, protective drive over an Omega. Those complex psychological and biological clashes would have added so much depth.

A Fleeting Milestone: The concept of a male Omega carrying a child is practically uncharted territory in this medium. Watching those domestic moments unfold, the protective shifts, the pregnancy journey, and seeing BoatOat holding their baby, could have been the highlight of the series. Instead, it was rushed through in a matter of minutes.

Beyond the missed thematic opportunities, the narrative structure itself is a mess. The editing and pacing make the show feel half-cooked, leaving massive plot threads hanging. A prime example is the third couple's storyline: one character makes a drastic, binding choice with a villain, yet the narrative entirely abandons the aftermath, giving them a single, random appearance in the finale and calling it a day.

Ultimately, clumsy direction and a weak script sink the project. My completion of the series is entirely thanks to my loyalty to BoatOat, rather than the quality of the show itself.

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One of my favorite rewatch series

An individual's "story" doesn't sit in a vacuum, neither do the stories of a retired 70 year old postal carrier nor a wanna-be late-starting ballet dancer. Dreams loom large in Navillera's quiet drama with richly drawn supporting cast populating the ecosystem with discoveries about how to approach life's challenges and the value of connection and support. Aging, bullying, abuse, financial collapse, and other important subjects are addressed with a light, yet personal touch as the responding and becoming themes reveal themselves with greater consequence. Park In Hwan delivers an outstanding performances while Song Kang and the supporting cast deliver shining moments in this simple yet richly drawn tale of ballet and life.

In short: Navillera is a gentle generational tale of two dreamers who connect through the medium of dance and support each other as they interact with the rich ecosystem of characters who in turn have aspirations and challenges to overcome.

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Another remake, another downfall....

This was boring... it was too condensed and most important of all, it had no chemistry. Fukuda Ayuta was good in School Trip as a support actor but here he was not believable. He also lacks the cuteness of the original. That's not to say he is ugly, just he does not have the "cute" vibe of Keng or Fujimoto Kodai from School Trip. Also his counterpart feels shallow.

It also felt, they did not have any workshops, so the chemistry was totally lacking. Yes, they kiss (because DMD would have demanded that) and the final not so nc-scene was the only scene where both of them acted believable. The other problem are the side couples which had not enough screen time to even establish a good story. It felt rushed. To go from twelve 45-57 minutes episodes down to nine 23minutes episodes was not the right choice. I expect there will be a special but it was too short to tell a good story. The "Sky" bar was also lifeless. There were never any guests which is quite odd. Why have a bar at all, when they never show it "full"? Of course they changed the story a bit and this time it was the mom in hospital because there is no grandpa. But the father also turned 180°C in matters of 3 minutes which also felt so unreal.

Overall, a complete waste of time. While the original was not good and had lengths they beat this remake in cuteness & chemistry. Of course the original had a much higher production budget, so this production looks flat, the acting is partly stiff, there are not many extras so even the university feels empty and most of the time you will get bored anyways because the story is not very dynamic at all. As expected this was a complete and utter fail.

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decent indie production

Overall: I gave this an indie rating boost. Episodes were about 7 minutes each. Aired on Nooto YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWoHTrG6-3us&si=65Bsfuq7xQzWvNOQ

Content Warnings: beaten up off screen, kidnapping

What I Liked
- focuses on two characters
- different personalities

Room For Improvement
- the one guy was abnormally chill about the whole thing
- too many flashbacks
- so everything was fine at the end, they don't have to worry about the mafia???
- I'm not sure I understood things correctly/well due to auto generated subtitles

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Extremly dissapointing (Uncut)

It started not that bad, the first episode, while not really my cup of tea, was okay. But the more episodes came out, the more downhill this series went. From some things that are just annoying, like a voiceover and some inconsistencies, to actual disgusting moments like constant abuse, manhandling, and kidnapping.

You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9176/not-yours-2026

Things I liked:
1. Side couple. So far I do like them a bit more than the main couple.
2. Acting. It is pretty good, but the voiceover kills a lot of it for me.

Things I disliked:
1. I'm not the biggest fan of those tropes with the toxic CEO and sunshine main leads.
2. Voiceover. I just can't get over it, especially with Shogun.
3. Cringy sound effects.
4. Kidnapping, manhandling, and so much more.
5. Inconsistencies that could've been fixed so easy. As far as I know and understand, Pao Bei is fully Chinese, but for some reason when he texts his friend, he uses English, and his name in the app is written in Thai. I feel like it is really not that hard to fix such small things, and because they didn't, it just makes the series look sloppy.
6. Pao Bei, from being at least more or less tolerable and sort of smart in the first episode, turning into the most brainless damsel in distress in the next episodes. He really goes from 0 to 100 just like that, and I can't even feel bad for him anymore.
7. They keep repeating scenes, showing the same stuff again and again. Each episode the first half of the episode is always a repeat of the previous episode, yes, in more detail, but there is always a better way to do it. For example, just show full scenes in each episode to start with.

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So you love The Untamed and Word of Honor? Watch this next

Okay, so the story is pretty good, simple and easy to follow even for those who aren't used to those dramas, I think. But at the same time is not boring or plain, is interesting, although I'd like to see more of the so called sorcery of Nayin.

The characters are all well written. Heroes and villains. The heroes are charismatic, specially our trio(DiFei being my favorite), and the villains can make us angry at them and laugh at when they lose. I think the only mainly character I disliked a bit was a-Mian. By the end she was cool, but in the beginning I found boring how every time she appeared she was crying or sad or talking about LXY. Meanwhile the other girls are all better written as their story and plot and action aren't all about a man. Even Li Jiao, obsessed with Fei wanted power too. And was a great villain.

There's no romance, but there's heavy bromance, if you're used to danmei, you will identify thousands of plot devices and moments that are usually used on it to approach the couple, specially on the censored adaptations(the beginning reminded me of Thousand Autumns, this is basically the base of their relationship - frenemy.) Honesty I had to look in if this was adapted from a danmei lol so if you're here for that, you won't be disappointed at all. If you like TU and WOH you will definitely like this one.

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Futuristic Sweet

Another of Luo Zheng's series which again shows the incredible versatility and polished skill set of this actor. Both he and his adorable, talented co-star were a good combination, with wonderful comedic timing and nailing their fascinating characters. The chemistry was powerful, and the emotional range they both showed individually as outstanding actors and together left me engaged. The storyline which combined the elements of advancement in technology, the cinematography that was absolutely stunning with shots of the city's unique architecture surrounding by magical environment of beautiful lighting, the landscape, and other key camera work took my breath away, and with the business politics, family dynamics and other side stories that surround this sweet love story, I was hooked.
I will definitely watch this again.

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19 Years a Friend, One Summer to Fall: Summertime Review

​Summertime (하절기, 2026) is a 10-episode Korean BL mini-series directed by Bae Yun-seo, written by Jo Yong, and based on the popular web novel by I Ro-mil. It stars Kim Do-min as Yeo Eun-ho and Seong In-ho as Cha Do-hyun.
​Bae Yun-seo's Summertime is a compact, visually stunning youth drama rich in romantic tension. It's a great watch if you enjoy stories driven by secret crushes, subtle jealousy, and childhood friends taking their relationship to the next level.
​A Nostalgic Take on Childhood Friends to Lovers: The dynamic between the leads naturally conveys nearly two decades of intimacy and shared history.
​Psychological Tension and Chemistry: Bae Yun-seo’s direction shines in highlighting the contrast between Do-hyun’s calm, devoted exterior and the quiet possessiveness beneath. The romantic tension and chemistry between Kim Do-min and Seong In-ho are remarkably intense.
​Clean Cinematography and Warm Atmosphere: Produced by Oak Company, the visual presentation features a warm summer color palette with beautifully composed, polished shots.

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First Impression: Not Yours

Overall: not sold on the jerk ML. Based on a book which I haven't ready and I'm reviewing the series based on its own merits. 2 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9176/not-yours-2026 and Viu.

Content Warnings: violence, manhandling/held against will

What I Liked
- visuals
- though there was a set up for 2 couples and another plot thread, it made sense

Room For Improvement
- the abusive jerk ML vs. the nice guy pairing
- I normally don't take points off for dubbing, but I wish they had let Shogun speak Thai and magically everyone else understood him instead of the dubbing

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: So Much Potential, Too Many Shortcuts.

Pursuit of Jade started well and had the potential to be a much better drama, but unfortunately the writing became weaker as the story progressed. There were many things I enjoyed, but also far too many things that simply did not make sense to me.
My biggest problem was the military storyline. I liked Fan Chang Yu as a butcher. She was strong, fearless and capable of fighting, and I had no problem believing that she could kill skilled opponents. But being a good fighter does not suddenly make someone a good military commander. She had no military education, experience or understanding of strategy, yet she rose incredibly quickly and was eventually treated like an exceptional general. This is the military, not simply a question of who can fight best.
After her achievements, she could have been rewarded with a title, land or money and returned to her village. From there, she and her husband could have had a proper discussion and decided to investigate what really happened in the past together. The drama said they were going to investigate, but I never felt that we actually watched a properly executed investigation. Instead of seeing them uncover clues, question people, connect information and gradually discover the truth, important evidence such as the tiger tally and the letter practically dropped into their laps. That was disappointing because the mystery surrounding the events of 17 years ago should have been one of the strongest parts of the story.
Again, my criticism because the problem wasn't simply “she shouldn't have become a general.” There was already another storyline waiting for her — the investigation the drama itself promised and then barely gave us.
At the same time, Xie Zheng was supposed to be an experienced and highly capable Marquis, but I rarely got the opportunity to see his real talent. He spent far too much of the drama injured, poisoned or wounded. Other characters kept telling us how capable he was, but I wanted the drama to show us. I never really got to see enough of the military intelligence and ability that his reputation suggested.
I also disliked the unnecessary misunderstandings between the leads. When Fan Chang Yu discovered that her husband was actually the Marquis, I could understand her being shocked and angry that he had hidden his identity. But I did not agree with repeatedly treating him as a liar. He concealed his identity for reasons; that does not mean everything between them was a lie. She had every right to sit down with him and ask why he had not told her sooner, and he should have been given the opportunity to explain. Instead, the screenwriter chose another prolonged misunderstanding when a proper conversation between husband and wife would have been far more believable.
The supporting cast actually contained some of my favourite performances. Deng Kai as Qi Min/Sui Yuan Huai gets my main vote. He played a horrible person extremely well and made the character memorable. Yan Yi Kuan as Wei Yan was also very good as the mysterious Prime Minister; I enjoyed never being completely certain what he was thinking or where he stood. And little Fan Chang Ning completely won my heart. For such a young actress, Cao Yan Ning handled the role very well.
I also liked Gongsun, Sui Yuan Qing and Tao Yi, but unfortunately they didn't receive enough screen time. Sui Yuan Qing in particular felt wasted. His death left me wondering why his story had to end there when I wanted to see much more of him and what he might become after everything that had happened.
The post-credit scenes were another disappointment. I don't understand why they chose to create alternative versions of events instead of giving us meaningful closure for the characters we had just spent 40 episodes watching. Those alternative scenes might have worked better as opening-credit sequences or simply as separate bonus material.
For the actual post-credit scenes, I would much rather have seen Chang Ning growing up and becoming Empress, the future children of the lead couple, the Princess Royal and scholar's wedding, and perhaps small glimpses of where the surviving characters eventually ended up. That would have felt like a genuine conclusion and a reward for following their stories.
Overall, the drama had a good cast, some strong performances, attractive production and a promising beginning. My problem wasn't that there was nothing to enjoy — there certainly was. My problem was that the writing repeatedly took shortcuts, created unnecessary misunderstandings, underused interesting characters and told us things instead of properly showing them. Too many developments left me asking why?
With a more carefully written military storyline, a genuine investigation of the past, better use of Xie Zheng's abilities and proper closure for the supporting characters, this could have been a much stronger drama.

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Plot : Lee Jun Young

Obviously, I watched this K-drama for Lee jun-young 😂, but overall, it was actually a good drama. As per usual, he played his role really well. I genuinely think he always brings so much to his characters.

That being said, I do think there were a few things missing. First, I really wish there had been a plot twist where she actually didn’t die. I was hoping for something like that right until the end. 😭

And the boy who was injured and ended up in the hospital? I really wish they had given him a little bit of a happy ending too. I felt like his story deserved more.

If you enjoy crime, investigations, and law, I think this is definitely a drama you could enjoy. There’s basically no romance, so don’t go into it expecting a romance-centered story.

Overall, it’s a decent watch, especially if you’re looking for something to watch when you’ve run out of dramas. Just know that it is **slow-paced**, so you definitely need a little patience with it.

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