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Strong Girl Nam Soon
4 people found this review helpful
by SunOh
Mar 5, 2026
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Great spin-off!

Best cartoon drama - loved it, the couple, particularly Ong Seong Wu (love his jackets!), and just about everything such as the scenes in Mongolia, secretive/rich environment (along with Penthouse-like OSTs) and play on capitalism, female empowerment with the mother, the grandma (who had their own backstories) and Nam Soon of course, great comedy like with the lazy brother (he was so funny kind of like the sloth in Zootopia), making fun of misogyny without being offensive like the Barbie Movie (we know some losers complained about it), little moments like Nam Soon looking at Hee Sik dancing from afar thanks to her super vision (iconic scene) or the rain falling above him with the rainbow and when he disguised himself as a woman, Nam Soon keping a picture of Eunwoo in her journal in Mongolia saying she wants to date a good-hearted Korean guy and then fate happens in a really fun way, open-minded take on old couples, contemporary issues, vulnerable people, family relationships (some more complicated than others), adoptive parents/finding your biological family back, teamwork, side characters (the homeless couple, Mr. Bread and his OST, the semi-villain Hwa Ja who impersonated the real daughter, the detective Yeong Tak), etc. I liked how it was a big fight revolving around drugs and Russian mafia, and Nam Soon had bigger superpowers (and the "link" they had in their family). The production quality was high, the ending was great (satisfying conclusion and then surprise), and Season 2 is apparently coming out! (https://kisskh.at/798770-strong-woman-jang-chung-dong)

I didn't think it was poorly written, and there wasn't too much content either. It was all tied together and there was 16 episodes of 1 hour each, which is more than enough.

People hated it because "the villain was hot" (he has a terrible backstory, so yeah). I'll never forgive them for insulting the leads, saying the male lead is ugly and hating on them, the whole cast and story (even saying, "who cares about an old couple, I skip their scenes, only watching for the villain"), saying the prequel was much better and this is the worst drama that nobody with taste should enjoy, even shipping Nam Soon with that massive murderer (I always feared their interactions because she was pretending and past some point I was even disgusted when he showed her affection, I started to really hate him when he did one specific thing, I'll write it in spoilers in the comments). The villain had small appearances at first but although I thought he was really good and a fitting casting choice, it's absolutely untrue that he carried the drama. Everyone did - it's an ensemble cast. (Unlike the prequel.)

"there are too many characters/storylines so we can't get attached to them except for the villain" this makes no sense. Even the music and acting would be rated a 1 because "everything was annoying and cringe except Ryu Si Oh". About the music, it had kpop songs because it was exactly what the drama needed.

The prequel: focus on romcom/CEO romance (Hee Sik and Nam Soon had great chemistry too, it was just different), typical love triangle, popular male lead who acted all cutesy... And while the girl was childlike there too oh let's complain about Nam Soon even though you see how she grew up and her personality and also complain about Hee Sik because he's "boring"??? Well yes, the romance here was more mature if anything. I loved his acting all the time, he always improves and showed his range the best here, I was glad he got a role in a big drama like this, it was popular in Korea too (JTBC is a paid channel and it got high ratings) and I've seen the reels of him in the military with his mates holding fan items, which was lovely (he watched the drama with them). At the time a dance contest of Seong Wu actually got viral in Korea, and if you don't know about him he was part of Wanna One. Anyway just to give an example of his acting here, the fear in his eyes when he was about to lose another loved one was very impressive. Seong Wu is a goated person with a big heart and this cruel world doesn't deserve him.

A last thing, the romance isn't bad simply because Hee Sik got attached to her quickly. He was just a kindhearted policeman and I loved how they got entangled. Their relationship was so cute, how she found her dream thanks to him.

I also appreciated the contrast between both dramas. By the way, you can watch it without having seen the prequel but Bong Soon and Min Hyuk do have a cameo, Nam Soon is Bong Soon's distant cousin.

P.S. There was a Parasite and Nevertheless reference too, that was awesome.

On edit: Two things I've learned, there is a spin-off manhwa "Strong Girl Geum Ju" (Nam Soon's mother) and the drama actually surpassed Strong Girl Bong Soon in the ratings!
https://myanimelist.net/manga/167932/Strong_Girl_Geum-ju

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Completed
The Bride of Habaek
4 people found this review helpful
by SunOh
Mar 5, 2026
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

If something gets bathed in the moonlight, it becomes a myth. I guess our story will become a myth.

~ Why do you think you're the water god?
~ What sort of question is that? Then you, why do you think you are human?

The Bride of Habaek has a lot of meaningful subtext that many viewers seem to overlook. Beneath the surface, it’s actually a beautiful fantasy — a bit unconventional, quietly layered, and laced with gentle humor that gives it its own charm. Not everything has to be about high-budget showcases of flashy superpowers.

The icing on the cake: Saekyeong has a fear of water and Joohyuk is afraid of heights, so they really had to push themselves and supported each other.

The Bride of Habaek starts with a little girl talking to an old man, introducing its universe as a balance between both realms, the Gods serving to maintain the nature, a symbolic scene of So Ah's story, an unfinished painting of Habaek. The Gods simply appeared many years ago, with no such thing as growing up. Ironically, they aren't much different from us. With their own complicated stories, sometimes immature, sometimes selfish, sometimes clueless. The story is the journey of a psychiatrist who sees Habaek as another of her patients, and they grow to be more human together. Why Habaek lost his powers? Why did he get them back only to save her? Remember his conversation with the old man when he asked why he had to go the human world to deserve his future title.

A fun detail: Habaek is actually part of Korean mythology, and there is a sequence where So Ah tells him what she read on the Internet, which was false.

P.S. I haven't read the manhwa, and I'm not interested in the historical genre. But if you like sageuks and a more serious, darker story then read the manhwa. The drama adaptation was advertised as a modern spin-off named "The Bride of Habaek 2017" where their relationship is one of a servant and her God. If you liked The Bride of Habaek, I highly recommend The Heavenly Idol, which is about a depressed fan who used to work in the industry but retired due to a tragic event, and her favorite idol whom she first met by chance and brought light to her world, but who she thinks turned crazy because of the pressure.

About the ending: (in the comments)

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Completed
Follow Your Heart
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0

Flawed plot but the depth is clear

Mystery/investigation dramas are my Achilles' heel.

BoJian was solid, however I think for Follow your Heart, this theme wasn't as strong as I hoped it to be. To make peace, this is viewed as a romance drama first and foremost - a tale of fate, comedy, healing the wounds we carry, and everyday/slice of life in the historical era of China.

If you can have this perspective, discarding the expectation of strong plot points and definitely throwing loopholes out of the window, I strongly believe this drama still retains its charms and can be thoroughly enjoyed.

First and foremost is there's absolutely no need for 40 episodes. I think 30 would've suffice, but we must remember the average episode count used to be 50-70 :') The goal seems to be that longer episode dramas have a higher chance of boosting viewership. emotional investment in characters, and high ratings. Hence even after the law has passed, the max of 40 seems to be what the industry clings to now.

For Luo Yunxi fans, this one is not to be missed. I had put this off in 2024 when it aired because it didn't seem like my cup of tea plot wise (as opposed to crime drama). I was on a plane to Beijing last year when the passenger across me happened to be watching this and he looked so much like a noble prince I gawked for a while and knew it was high time I flocked to watch it too LOL.

The performance is wonderful from all the cast. It has been a very long time since I was fuming at certain characters like I did for Suoluo (if you know, you know), physician Bai most especially that DEAN UGH. Just their appearances in the screen is enough to make blood boil. The villains are villany - and it's worth the watch.

I'm no stranger to my own insecurities, painful wounds or certain features that births the unwelcomed shame burning in the heart. Song Yi's performance of a girl who shapeshifts unwillingly is truly profound.

She truly believes she's a weirdo who can't have friends and destined to be lonely and unloved aside from her mom - such visceral portrayal of shame, pain, the desire to hide and immense fear is in her every expression and movements. She is afraid of people getting too close, knowing her secret and leave out of disgust.

It resonated deeply (which I hadn't expected going into this drama) and will make a lot of people feel very seen. It's difficult to overlook that Luo Yunxi somehow always picks dramas with depth, profound messages and values to impose on the viewer, and this one didn't dissapoint.

His expressions speak the wound so clearly "how can I bond with someone, when I can't even recognise them?" , you can't help but care about his character for being able to distinguish people by their intentions rather than purely looks. Once you see that Luo Yunxi has a aptitude for holding his tears for the shot, just raw, unrestrained emotions, you can't unsee it.

Despite possessing the wound of unable to even recognise his loved ones, it is this very trait that made the romance cut deep in viewers' hearts. True love is beyond appearances, and recognising one's soul through senses that borders on the spiritual side.

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Completed
The Flowers of Evil
4 people found this review helpful
by SunOh Flower Award1
Mar 5, 2026
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

"and if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

It’s definitely not a film for everyone, but it expressed something I deeply relate to and that was cathartic for me. Anyone who dismisses it as merely weird or perverted is missing how profound it truly is. It touches on everything — from the struggles of adolescence and mental health to a subtle critique of Japanese society with the lack of mental health support, stigma, detached overworking parents, etc. It’s raw, powerful, and honest. The opening line even states it’s meant for those who have suffered through puberty, which sets the tone perfectly. Of course, Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal is part of the film.

The symbolism is brilliant — I especially loved the “other side” theme. It’s probably this impactful because it condenses a massive, masterful manga into just two hours, making the experience intense and overwhelming in the best way. Honestly, this movie found me rather than the other way around.

My personal highlight was Takao's actor — his performance resonated with me like no one else’s could. And the cinematography? Absolutely stunning — every frame was thoughtful, beautiful, and full of meaning.

P.S. You can also read my comment under the review if you've finished watching.

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Completed
Bon Appetit, Your Majesty
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 1.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 3.0
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 2.0

food

i can change him
only she can calm me down ahh plot but im okay with it nearly every kdrama has this plot it was ai that made me gave 1 star also im kinda tired of this yn x angry ceo who has daddy or mommy issues type of dramas But ai is just nuhhh u guys are korean you dont need ai tf i thought it was gonna smth like mr. queen but hell nuh im a cooker so i like tv shows like the bear someone who makes art in any way CAN'T USE AI its just a shame you mf already made those dishes why you not using the damn pictures of the real food wrf
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Completed
The Day of Becoming You
3 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

An Idol and a Reporter: From Strangers to Lovers Through a Chaotic Body Swap

Sometimes you start a drama expecting a light rom-com and end up having way more fun than you imagined. The Day of Becoming You was exactly that for me. The body-swap trope isn’t new, but the way this drama handles it feels fresh, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. From the first episode it pulls you in with chaotic situations, awkward moments, and a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes.

The story follows idol Jiang Yi and entertainment reporter Yu Sheng Sheng who suddenly swap bodies. What makes the drama work so well is how naturally the story unfolds after that. Instead of turning it into over-the-top comedy, the drama shows how the two slowly adjust to each other's lives and begin to understand each other better. The humor stays consistent almost the entire time, and the romance grows gradually rather than feeling forced or rushed.

The acting is easily the biggest highlight. Zhang Xincheng and Liang Jie absolutely nail their roles. Body-swap stories only work when actors can convincingly portray each other’s personalities, and both of them do it incredibly well. From facial expressions to body language and even small gestures, the switch feels believable. Zhang Xincheng especially stands out because his performance becomes much more expressive after the swap, while Liang Jie does a great job portraying Jiang Yi’s more reserved personality.

Their chemistry is another reason the drama works so well. Their relationship develops naturally from bickering to trust and comfort. It never feels dramatic or exaggerated. Instead, it feels warm and genuine, which makes their romance very enjoyable to watch. One thing I really appreciated was how healthy their relationship is. They communicate openly and resolve misunderstandings quickly instead of dragging them out for episodes.

The comedy deserves special mention too. The sound effects and background music add so much personality to the funny scenes. Some moments that look like they are about to turn romantic suddenly become hilarious because of the way the scene is edited or scored. The drama also keeps a good balance between humor and emotional moments without becoming overly heavy.

Visually, the production quality is also very good. The cinematography is clean and the color palette is easy on the eyes. Even the product placements appear in almost every episode but are integrated so smoothly that they never feel annoying.

Another interesting aspect of the drama is the subtle message it sends about idol culture and fandom. Through Jiang Yi’s character, the drama reminds viewers that idols are human beings first. Fans play a huge role in supporting them, but idols still deserve privacy and the freedom to live their personal lives. Loving an idol should mean respecting their choices, whether it’s about relationships or personal happiness. The drama gently highlights that real support comes from understanding and respect, not possessiveness.

The only part that didn’t fully work for me was the ending. The “story within a story” twist where everything becomes part of a novel feels a little underwhelming after such an enjoyable journey. It doesn’t completely ruin the experience, but it does feel slightly unnecessary. Personally, I prefer to imagine that the story actually happened in their universe.

Overall, this drama was incredibly entertaining. The humor, romance, acting, and pacing all work together so well that not a single episode felt like filler. The comedy stays strong, the romance stays sweet, and the story keeps your attention almost the entire time. If I rated it purely based on how much fun I had watching it and this the first drama I slowed down to actually 1x speed (I usually watch them in 1.25-2x speed), it honestly feels like a 100/10 kind of drama .

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Completed
Out of Divorce, Again into Romance
1 people found this review helpful
by Bijou
Mar 5, 2026
82 of 82 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

The best ending for the adaptation

I watched this last year. First of all, I must say that the three main actors are all very good-looking. Their characters, acting skills, and appearances are all very suitable. Wang Yanxin portrayal of ML was quite calm compared to Zhang Chi and Chen Si.
Qian Zhe as SML was not too hateful as Zeng Xitang or Gao Ming version, and Meng Na as FL was composed like Han Yu Tong version. I quite liked Meng Na and Wang yan Xin chemistry despite their age gap.

FL isn't weak. She's wary of her mother-in-law's schemes and always has a backup plan. She doesn't have any lingering feelings for SML; she cuts ties cleanly and decisively, and she'll even confront him herself. But the villains are just too wicked; FL is either kidnapped or on her way to being kidnapped.

The ending in this version was quite best since they don't used open ending like other version.

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Completed
How Dare You!?
0 people found this review helpful
by Kaptan
Mar 5, 2026
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

How are you? I'm fine, and you?

I was bored when I started watching the series and didn't watch it for a while. Then I started again and watched it with interest and curiosity. It was an interesting series. A different subject was chosen, and the events developed around it. I didn't like some parts. But I liked the idea. Its uniqueness intrigued me.

The cinematography was good, the direction was good, the actors were good, the costumes were good, and the makeup was good.

However, when it deviates from reality, the interest in the subject decreases. The fact that the same young actor played the king's son in his childhood created confusion. I had to struggle to understand whether these scenes were from the present or the past. It was confusing. I didn't like it.

Besides, these flashbacks, jumps to clarify certain issues, and long conversations became tiresome. Because there were too many, it reduced the effectiveness of the series. When the possibility of the king and queen dying at the same time came up, the queen said she would trade her life. How is that possible? There are such nonsensical and unrealistic things. Like becoming king with a face mask. Like a face transplant. Impossible things were made to happen. I didn't like it. The scenes of the mute little boy poisoning the queen felt contrived. It didn't work.

The queen finally disbands the harem. That is, she frees the king's concubines, setting them free to remarry and do whatever they want. Has there ever been a monogamous empire in Chinese imperial history that disbanded its harem like this? Or has there ever been one that disbanded its existing harem? I understand some people saying they should reduce the number of wives, or have only one or two wives. But this is the first time I've heard of one disbanding an existing one. It has no basis in reality.

I liked the actors. I especially liked Ryang Chang. She beautifully blended good and evil, sympathy and cruelty, imbuing them with meaning and portraying them successfully. She's a very comedic actress. She should be given more opportunities. Wang Chu Ran was very well-suited as the queen. She played the role well. I don't think Tang Xiao Tian was a suitable actress for this role. But she played it well, gave a different image, I'm not saying anything about her acting, but I didn't like her in this role. I didn't find her suitable for the role. I sensed tension in her scenes with Wang Chu Ran. I might be wrong, but they weren't compatible. They put on a performance with a "let's just get this over with" attitude. Hu Yi Xuan was very good. She was very successful in her role. I liked her. Cui Yi was very successful. I liked her. Louis Fan was also very successful. He was especially good in the action scenes. I also liked the other supporting roles, even the younger actors. They were all very good. I recommend it to anyone who wants to watch it.

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Dropped 9/12
Our Universe
2 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
9 of 12 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

A Universe of Missed Opportunities

Truth is, I really wanted to like Our Universe. I gave it a fair chance and tried to push through, but after episode 9 I had to drop it.
What makes this especially frustrating is the fact that the male lead is genuinely talented. His acting throughout the show has been solid, and his performance in episode 9 was almost heartbreaking. In a better written story, his emotional range could have carried some truly powerful moments.
Even though the direction the drama was heading in felt predictable early on, I kept watching in the hope that it would redeem itself. Honestly, two things kept me going: the male lead and the baby. I expected the baby to play a meaningful role in the story and become the emotional core of the narrative. Unfortunately, I kept hoping and that never really happened. Instead, the baby feels like little more than a plot device—something introduced to tug at the audience’s heartstrings rather than being an integral part of the story. That was one of the biggest missed opportunities in the drama. The bigger issue, though, is the female lead’s character. She’s so poorly written that it becomes difficult to stay invested in her storyline. At some point I even caught myself thinking if I would be relieved to see her end up with the second male lead and live happily ever after and the show would come to a quick end. The episodes increasingly featured the SML more(with actually the FL and SML getting more screentime than the baby, the FL and the ML together though theirs is supposed to be the central arc).
In the end, Our Universe had the ingredients for a truly memorable show but the execution didn’t live up to its potential.

A real missed opportunity.

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Completed
Love Story in the 1970s
9 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
29 of 29 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
At first, I watched this show just for fun, but i gradually started to really get into it.The strongest feeling from beginning to end was a warm, positive, and uplifting attitude towards life.

I believe the essence of this time the drama showed is the courage to choose to live passionately amidst the torrents of time.Both the Fang and Fei families have continuously adapted to the changing times.Some people grit their teeth and persevere for their ideals, some people lower themselves for their loved ones, some people hold on to their principles in adversity, and some people learn to be self-consistent with gains and losses.Different pairings have different appeals, & Different characters create different chemistry when they collide.

some of my favorite shots:

The first one is the rapeseed flower field that got me hooked. It was quite good in terms of artistic conception and symbolism.From the photography and setting to the composition and meaning, everything is just right. There is no deliberate use of filters; only the most natural rural atmosphere and youthful thoughts.In my view, the rapeseed flower field represents the future, the construction of our shared home begins here, and the struggle and hope for the future also begin to extend from the rapeseed flower field. This may also be the reason why the voices of the innocent era began to emerge , the voices of hope breaking through the soil, the voices of hearts sprouting.

The second scene is the one at the guesthouse where the two of them sketched their new home with their fingers. The director's cinematography is truly excellent. The entire scene uses only two hands and hand-drawing, yet it perfectly captures the young couple's longing for their new home and their dreams for the future. The easel, the desk, the two single beds—and the way they express their love with their hands is incredibly sweet. There are no explicit confessions, no passionate embraces, only the touch of fingertips conveying affection. It's restrained yet perfectly sweet, a subtle romance characteristic of that era, more moving than any romantic words.

The third was repainting the mural of the rapeseed field together in our new home; it was very warm and comforting. I remember a description here: " The golden rapeseed field is like a postmark imprinted by the sunlight; wildflowers bloom and green grass carpets the ground; the whole spring blossoms for me."

It's not just about capturing that sudden wedding invitation and the beginning of their life together, but also about freezing sunshine and longing for the future within their small home. From then on, no matter how turbulent the outside world became, this home always had its own "spring," and the confidence to withstand any storm.

Of course, there are also many other scenes, such as silhouette photos on rooftops, two people riding bicycles through mountains and fields, and Nini running to the epicenter to search for Fang muyang out of concern for his safety... These scenes piece together the most authentic everyday life and give this love a heavy weight.

This drama feels incredibly pure, even using the guise of a love story to wrap up a heavy historical backdrop such as the Cultural Revolution, the Down to the Countryside Movement, and the college entrance examination reform. It doesn't deliberately exaggerate the suffering of the era, nor does it shy away from the hardships of those years. Instead, it blends the changes of the era into the mundane details of daily life and into the companionship and devotion of lovers.

I think "pure" love is different from unrealistic idol dramas; it's the everyday life that grows out of the folds of time .

Two people married first and then fell in love; one initially did it for the house, and the other for math and a job.

But the "marriage of convenience" between Fang Muyang and Nini began with a fake marriage.Through the mundane realities of the era's housing, and being schemed against,Struggles of everyday & even a natural disaster, their "living together as a couple" gradually transformed into "I can't live without you" & Nini's courage in preparing for the college entrance exams ultimately turned into the solid feeling of both of them getting into university together and walking side by side on campus.

The "marriage of convenience that blossomed into love" between Fang Mujing and Dr. Qu Hua is more like a sober game between adults, evolving from a utilitarian marriage to a mutual commitment, the underlying tension and emotional changes between them all developed gradually through mutual turmoil, longing, and companionship.

Not only is it one of the best romantic dramas I've watched this year, but it's also a love letter to everyone who holds fast to sincerity in life. It makes us believe that no matter how times change, no matter how difficult life is, there will always be a pure love that can weather the storms and reach the depths of our hearts; there will always be a way of life that allows us to hold onto our own warmth and light amidst the torrents of life.

Most importantly, I still don't think it had a rushed ending or felt like it was too convoluted. Everyone experienced their due lows and highs in their own storylines, and the outcome of the story felt quite natural to me.

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Completed
Cat for Cash
4 people found this review helpful
by FKt
Mar 5, 2026
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

Best soft series ever !!!

Truly a masterpiece... very heartwarming, good story line, mature characters, no toxicity, just pure love...all episodes are v. carefully designed, especially the last part of each episode hits hard...Only series whose each episode i have watched more than twice...
FirstKhaotung are amazing as always...
especially liked the character ''TIGER"- mature , understanding, supportive- setting benchmark of a good partner...
FIRST KANAPHAN- I'm deeply impressed by First...His face is the epitome of rare emotions , his SMILE is so bright...
like all his characters, be it- Akk, Sand., Kant... "SandRay'' couple in Only Friends was iconic...
truly enjoying this soft series , also eagerly waiting for their upcoming series 'The Invisible Dragon'...

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Completed
When the Phone Rings
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

The Drama That Completely Surprised Me

I have to start by saying this: I was so, so, so shocked that I liked When the Phone Rings. Honestly, I went into it expecting something half-baked. I saw the title, saw that it was only 12 episodes, saw some of the chatter when it was airing, and I was very hesitant. I was almost bracing myself for disappointment.

But oh my word ,this drama really blew my socks off in so many ways.

If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s a mix of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, Flower of Evil, Reborn Rich, and a bit of Perfect Marriage Revenge. If you liked certain elements from any of those dramas, you’ll probably find something entertaining in When the Phone Rings because it really has a little bit of everything.

What impressed me most was how well-balanced the show was. K-dramas often have a tendency to let one storyline completely swallow the others : the romance overtakes the thriller, the mystery disappears, or the melodrama becomes too much. But this drama kept everything in check. The thriller moved along nicely, the mystery stayed engaging, and the romance… wow.

I was genuinely shocked at how searingly romantic this drama turned out to be. The main couple might honestly be one of the best OTP pairings we’ve gotten in this new wave of mid 2020s K-dramas. Their chemistry was incredible. The drama really leaned into classic romantic tropes ,you know; love confessions, sweeping music, Namsan Tower moments, theme park dates ,all those elements we associate with classic K-dramas from the 2010 era. But it did it with a wink, almost like the show knew exactly what it was doing. I love when a drama is a little bit meta, and When the Phone Rings handled that beautifully.

The thriller and mystery elements kept things exciting too. Some plot developments were predictable, but that didn’t take away from the fun. There was also one villain reveal that genuinely surprised me. I didn’t see that coming at all.

The production also had moments that felt surprisingly cinematic, which added to the overall experience.

Now, to be fair, this isn’t a perfect drama. The political elements were definitely half-baked. The idea of a spokesperson doing some of the things that happen in the show is… let’s just say not very believable. But the drama never pretends to be politically realistic. This isn’t The West Wing. It’s just delivering the beats of a fun, entertaining K-drama and in that sense, it succeeds.

The male lead was one of the best I’ve seen in a while: virtuous, patient, understanding, and quietly self-sacrificing. The noble idiocy trope is there, but thankfully it never becomes unbearable. The female lead is the calm, grounding presence the story needed she is strong without being overly dramatic.

Even the villains were handled fairly well. They weren’t cartoonishly evil, and their motivations had some understandable layers, which I appreciated.

Ultimately, this drama isn’t trying to be profound or socially groundbreaking. It’s simply very good entertainment and sometimes that’s exactly what a K-drama should be.

For me, it sits somewhere between a 7 and an 8 out of 10 objectively. But because I emotionally connected with the characters, rooted for them, and genuinely looked forward to each episode, I’m giving it an 8.5.I had such a great time watching it.

And if you liked dramas like What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Flower of Evil, Reborn Rich, or Perfect Marriage Revenge, I highly recommend giving When the Phone Rings a chance.

It might surprise you too.

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Ongoing 1/8
Love Like a Bike
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
1 of 8 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

First Impression: Love Like a Bike

Overall: I'm trying my best to set aside ethics with the main pair. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala (not in Japan or Thailand) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6294/love-like-a-bike-2026

Content Warnings: past death, past abuse, trauma, threatened violence, punches

What I Liked
- seeing several actors I haven't seen in awhile
- oceanside setting of Pattaya

Room For Improvement
- there were several nonsense plot things i.e. how two people flew that far in episode 1 for an accidental kiss, how his friends don't know that about him, a stranger who was angry becomes suddenly nice after seeing a news story, going from punches to kisses and doing it on what appeared to be a public beach

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Completed
Our Universe
23 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2026
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 3.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

We're all hate watching, Aren't we?

I started this one because I would watch anything with Bae Inhyuk and at first it seemed promising but at this point the baby is the only reason I keep coming back and it's not even worth it.

I usually don't mind love triangles, but this one is insufferable, unbearable and quite honestly torturous. The female lead is bland, boring, annoying, selfish, clueless, dumb... I could go on for days really, there's zero chemistry between her and both men. Taehyung is way too good for Hyunjin she doesn't deserve to have such a prince fall for her and the other dude sucks baaaad but I can't root that couple either. The plot is draggy, boring and repetitive, the baby is the only redeeming quality of this drama oh and Taehyung good looks are also a plus, but this is an absolute waste of time, do not watch.

I am already 10 out of 12 episodes in, I will finish, probably at 2x speed just to see how it ends, but I am sure 100% that it will be awful.

To my surprise the last 2 episodes weren't as bad as I predicted, with the love triangle was out of the way the plot became what it should've been to begin with how ever it was too little too late and not enough to save this from being the worst drama I've sat through in a long time, Do not watch this.

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Mar 5, 2026
1 of 1 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

very short, featuring two characters from an anthology series

Overall: it was 2.5 minutes in a vlog type style, featuring characters from episodes 1 and 2 of the Close to You anthology series. Aired on GND Studio YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/XTBu6b9qmg8?si=Z4nGppk5nwGwYCWa
Here is the anthology series put together into a movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiCYZGqzfmw
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