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its different.. in a GOOD way
this was something new for me... first time watching a grim reaper type drama and it actually surprised me in a good way.the story is really strong... its not just one plot its made up of different stories different lives different struggles… and each one has its effect..
i really liked is how they didnt just show reality they actually acknowledged it like the pain the trauma the things people go through but no one talks about… this drama brings that forward properly.. and even the side characters.. theyre not treated like extras... every story n person feels important making the emotional impact even stronger
the acting was really good across the board. You can feel the emotions without it being overdone.
there arentt heavy plot twists but small turns..like more about emotional depth than shocking moments.. OST and music also fits nicely
ill be honest at one point it felt a bit repetitive like similar types of cases again n again… and I even paused it for a while.. but once I got back into it.. realized it was actually worth continuing... the ending felt slightly rushed yeah… but the final scenes still managed to leave a strong impression
its morelike a mix of trauma healing teamwork a bit of comedy… and a lot of emotion
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This review may contain spoilers
The resolution and aftermath resolution part have biggest impact for the whole series.
The idea and premise are interesting, but the execution was off. Especially the resolution and aftermath resolution part. Also, there are some points that missed.They put too much obvious clues in the First Door that have potential to make the tension decrease. The first three episode are really crucial, weather the viewers decide to drop or keep watching.
There's some plot holes. For example in Second Door. I think it's noticeable. I rewatched that scene to understand, probably I missed something. But I haven't found it (Please, tell me the reason that makes sense). In episode of Museum too. But, some episodes are well executed. My top three are The School, Sanatorium, and Box Games.
I think, the resolution and aftermath resolution part have biggest impact for the whole series. They put some clues about the people behind the games, which is good and it's not too much. Until they took another alternative and ruin the whole series. The plot twist seems to be forced.
The acting of the cast was not bad, but the main lead's acting (Ling) didn't really stand out and sometime the expression wasn't on point. I think the expressions are important to build a believable character.
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Clássico e clichês nem sempre são ruins.
Estamos no episódio 8 e Perfect Crown continua fazendo o clássico com muita competência. É um grande filme de princesa com 12 episódios.O maior mérito desse drama é que ele consegue entragar um roteiro consistente sem perder a qualidade em nenhum momento. Sempre começa o episódio no alto, no gancho do episódios anterior e segue na crescente para entregar um novo gancho mais alto.
As composições de cena estão belíssimas, só aqui já vale a pena o play.
IU e Byeon Wooseok estão impecáveis, o casal tem química, interpretam bem momentos e sentimentos complexos.
Com 70% do drama concluído, roubou completamente o coração dessa menina que cresceu vendo Cinderela, e conseguiu atualizar bem a história pros dias atuais.
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A well done 2016 classic romance with ice-melting chemistry
SOMETHING ABOUT THE 1% (2016)Completed: April 2026
Rated:9/10
I have to admit this drama had been sitting in my “continue watching” list on Viki for so long it basically became furniture. I don’t even remember why I left it there, but somehow I finally clicked on it… and that turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in these drama streets this year.
I’ve been avoiding writing reviews lately. Not because I wasn’t watching anything, but because nothing really moved me. Nothing hit that soft romantic spot or made me feel anything deep enough to sit down and write. And then this drama happened. When I finished it, there was this quiet emptiness… like something had been taken away. Dramatic? Maybe. But it genuinely felt like a breakup. I had to pause for a bit before jumping into another show.
Going in, I had completely misunderstood the title, and the synopsis didn’t help much either, so I expected something entirely different. On paper, it looks like your usual contract relationship setup. Rich, cold CEO meets poor, kind female lead. We’ve all been there. But somehow, the way this story unfolds feels fresh. The entry into the trope is different, and before you realize it, you’re invested in something that feels oddly real.
It all begins with a grandfather and a plan. Not a modest one either. He essentially sets out to repair his grandchildren’s lives and ties the challenge to his vast fortune. The ML, as the eldest, shoulders most of that weight. Then fate intervenes, a little chaotic as usual, and throws him into the female lead’s path in a way that’s far from graceful. When unfortunate circumstances lead her to cross paths with this seemingly homeless old man, she does what truly kind people do, leaving him standing there like… wait, people like this still exist? And so we’re drawn into the origin of a grandfather, a plan, and its unfolding execution.
Lee Jae In, played by Ha Seok Jin, is easily one of the most convincing CEO characters I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot of drama CEOs. This man actually works. His phone rings so often I started feeling stressed on his behalf. I joked with a friend that it sounded too real to be acting. But beyond that, he brings honesty to the role. Whether he’s making tough decisions, being frustratingly cold, or completely soft in moments of love, it all feels lived-in. Nothing about him feels forced.
And when it comes to romance… he delivers. Fully. The chemistry between the leads is the kind that makes you pause, rewind, and smile like a good third wheeler. Their "skinship" feels natural, their kisses don’t look choreographed, especially the ML, yes he might have been the Ji Chang Wook of the 2010s...There’s an ease between them that’s hard to fake. Honestly, if there were awards just for chemistry alone, they’d have this one secured. Also, yes, the drama is rated 16+, and let’s just say… you’ll understand why.
Jeon So Min as the female lead was such a refreshing surprise. Strong, firm, and very clear about her boundaries. Her “no” actually means no, and her “yes” doesn’t come easily. She’s not there to be pushed around or to exist just for the male lead’s growth. Watching a female character stand her ground without losing her warmth? That was satisfying.
At this point, I can confidently say I’m a fan of director Kang Cheol Woo. After watching a few of his works, including Perfect Romance and So I Married an Anti-Fan, this one really seals it for me. There’s something about his storytelling that feels effortless.
Someone on the platform, commented that this drama feels like the director just set up cameras and told the leads to go live their lives. That’s exactly what it feels like. Nothing is overdone, nothing feels artificial. It just flows.
This is the kind of drama that stays with you. The kind you go back to when you need a reminder that two people can actually change and heal each other without loosing themselves. Like one of my drama chingus said, they rewatch it to remind themselves that the human race is still worth saving. And honestly… that line couldn’t be more accurate.
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Perfect in all sense.
I loved him from When the Phone Rings, but loved him more and more in this show, just awesome and can't wait to see him in his next projectttttt.............................................................Ah just when I become a ghost, bring me to Shin I-Rang, and I will be passed on easily (hoping i am not dead wrongfully ahhhh)
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The Feelings!
This was an intense ride my friends! So where to start...The story is not that big and very well writing BUT the acting, the acting! Dilbara is fantastic, very good acting and Arthur and the rest of the rest did well too. It's more about the love of 2 people than really a big plot but it's very beautiful.Very nice CGI, very nice OST, Chemistry between FL and ML is on the top, it's a great drama if you want something not deep in term of story and something more focus on the feeling.
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A Classic Midway Shift
I’m sorry, folks, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea. I really wanted to love it — especially since I’m a big fan of Li Geyang and Huang Haoyue. I thought their performances were fantastic and well-executed, and the beginning of the drama really pulled me into the story. However, about a third to halfway through, the narrative started to change for me. Developments felt predictable, and the drama didn’t seem to explore them in compelling ways. I also found some of the character shifts unconvincing. It felt like a once-strong character suddenly made decisions that felt totally out of line with how they were introduced at the beginning. This was somewhat jolting, and didn’t engage or entertain me.I understand what the narrative was aiming for, but for me, it just didn't work.
Overall, the direction didn’t quite land. So, I was disappointed to see that kind of inconsistency given how promising the story was at the start.
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Something was missing...but damn Zhou Yi Ran was superb
This was one of those dramas where I kept wanting to love it more than I actually did. Zhou Yi Ran is an actor that I'm very excited about because he feels like a true performer, and this is my first impression of Sabrina but she looked so nice from the promos that I really wanted to give this drama a fair shot.However… Like I didn’t hate it. I actually think it’s decent. But by the end I was left sitting there feeling like something important was missing and I still can’t fully pinpoint what it was. The vibes were there, the actors were definitely trying, the emotional beats occasionally HIT… but the overall show felt strangely hollow. I think a huge part of that comes down to the fact that the drama never really figured out what it wanted to be.
The high school portion was genuinely my favorite part by far. The friendship dynamics, the found family aspect, the quieter emotional moments all felt warm and grounded in a way that made me really attached to the characters. There was this comforting slice of life energy to it that worked SO well. Then the university timeline starts and suddenly it feels like I accidentally clicked on a different drama.
The found family aspect gets pushed aside, the tone shifts, and Shen Juan’s storyline takes such a sharp turn into sports that the show almost starts feeling sports focused instead of coming of age. Which would’ve been fine… if it felt cohesive. When you think about it Shen Juan is a physics major, a silver goods craftsman and a genius sharpshooter all by the age of 18? Like my dude was out here collecting skill sets like Pokemon cards. And yes, there was technically some setup for the sharpshooting thing earlier on, but not enough for how heavily it later shaped his character arc. There were just too many ideas competing for attention.
That being said, Zhou Yi Ran absolutely carried a huge chunk of this show emotionally. He’s genuinely such a compelling actor to watch, especially in quieter emotional scenes. I think his performance made me connect to Shen Juan far more than I normally would have on paper.
Same goes for Sabrina Zhuang. I thought both leads did a really good job individually. Which is why it’s even more frustrating that the romance itself felt so underdeveloped.
Because here’s the thing, I did feel the chemistry early on. The tension was there in the way they looked at each other, the pauses, the emotional undercurrents… but there was almost zero payoff. They genuinely felt more like best friends or an old married couple who occasionally hold hands than two people who had just fallen in love. Their romantic scenes, if you could even call it that, had the flavour of a cardboard box.
And I cannot stress this enough: the lack of romance really hurt the show.
I’m not someone who needs constant fluff or forced romantic scenes every five minutes. In fact, I usually prefer when romance is woven naturally into the story instead of being used to distract from weak writing. But this drama desperately needed something. A little more intimacy, more vulnerability, more moments that actually established them as a romantic couple rather than occasionally holding hands and calling each other boyfriend-girlfriend. Like, if you removed exactly two kisses from this show, almost nothing about their relationship dynamic would change. That’s a problem.
I also found myself less invested in the side character storylines as the episodes went on. None of them were terrible, but they lacked impact, and the pacing started dragging because of it.
What did work for me was the family dynamics. The show actually did a pretty good job making the world feel grounded and emotionally believable. There’s a realism to the writing that I appreciated, especially in the quieter domestic moments. But overall, I really think the writers didn’t fully know what kind of drama they wanted to make. Was it a coming-of-age story? A romance? A sports drama? A healing youth drama? It keeps touching all of these things without ever fully committing to one. They actually could have written a story that dove into all of these but this show wasn't it, which is frustrating because there’s clearly a good drama somewhere in here.
I don't know, it was just very meh.
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There better be a second season (and third?)
What just happened? Not one issue resolution in the entire finale!? This is killing me! I hope we get season 2, because otherwise I'm going to pine for closure for the rest of my days.This show has me hooked. The leads are adorable. They have amazing chemistry and comedic timing. Liuyi's facial expressions are everything. The character is great. The actor, He Yan Zhao, is fire. He should change his headshot to the caramel-colored deliciousness that we see in this series. He looks divine. I don't know if the asian entertainment industry generally has figured this out yet, but many of us prefer a little melanin.
He Chusan is great too. Sweet on the outside and a fierce protector on the inside. And since were talking about beauty, actor He Chang Xi is also truly handsome.
I dont know how to feel about the second couple. But we can sort that out during season 2.
I love the supporting actors. The dad is great. The main lackey is great. The number 2 is great. I want more of them all.
So go ahead. Start production on season 2. I'll wait. And don't feel like you have to resolve everything there. I'll watch season 3, too. I'm just saying...
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This review may contain spoilers
good one
start - fml gives ml trauma twice first in school 2md by filterthere's misunderstanding for both which clears in last 10 ? eps
in starting I felt bad for FML later I did for ml because FML was deceiving him alot ,she faked death of the filter people twice
misunderstanding - ml says she's looks bad he meant makeup she thought he meant ugly so she starts to dislike him he does too because of school memories so in start he doesn't care about real her but fake her the filter, the first 15+ eps are took over by fakes story more the side characters than the FML and ml interaction, he interact with fake version for 15+ eps than with real one ,fake version are 4 people, then the filter characters is coming to end they suddenly add colour blindness? that time I felt like I'm watching a complete new drama because after 15+ eps ml and FML finally started to interact for real, I thought he would be angry and won't forgive but it gets solved easily, I wished the side characters parts was less and more ml FML interaction,
2nd couple - not interesting I skipped, I wasn't interested in their romance and why the 2nd couple is always pregnant in every drama ?
Good Comedy alot of comedy,
romance is good too it's starts usually at last 10-13 eps, I liked it enjoyed, can't believe the rating is only 8.5 ? not 9 10?
got hooked which is rare for me
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A Bold Idea That Didn’t Work for Me
Definitely Not Today is a drama that deserves credit for being bold and daring in its concept. However, for me, it was simply too dark.I feel like it could have worked much better if there had been a balance — more grounded, intimate moments between the two leads. Their relationship wasn’t explored enough, and instead, it felt like an endless chase with bad guys, without giving the audience a real emotional connection to them.
Even though I managed to finish it, I can’t say I truly enjoyed the experience. Unlike other dramas where I feel engaged and excited to watch the next episode, here I was mostly just waiting for it to end.
I really wish there had been more emotional depth and closeness between the main characters.
Conclusion: An interesting and bold idea, but too dark and lacking emotional balance for my taste. Not for me.
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Excellent Psychological Thriller
This is an excellent psychological thriller. Everything about this series is so intriguing. If you can get past the violence of the first 4 episodes, the intrigue is amazing that I just continued watching. All the characters play such a great role and trying to figure out the true story behind the scenes is what makes this series interesting.Was this review helpful to you?
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evenly matched MLs
Overall: I really enjoyed the mutual attraction and evenly matched MLs (it wasn't one was constantly abused and the other the abuser or one was super innocent and the other wasn't). Seems to be patterned off the Chinese BL vertical "Caged Bird". 55 short episodes (vertical). Aired on iQIYI app or Shortime app (can eventually watch for free by watching ads, my invite link which gives a bonus is https://playground.shortime.app/en/invite/NKNIWI - the code is NKNIWI (those are all capital letters, that's the capital letter i). You can view the first few episodes for free on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0vtefTLhn0Content Warnings: past murders, attempted murder, attempted rape, torture, violence (including choking, slaps, hits), manipulation, drugging, kidnapping/held against will, non con recording
What I Liked
- the characterization of the 2 MLs, I didn't feel that one was a horrid bully and the other a victim
- intimacy, pretty spicy for a vertical (and included mutual want)
- cliche evil woman who wanted to be his wife (but I did not see how that would end so bonus for doing something different)
- the reason for the past split made sense and their actions based on the information they had in the present
Room For Improvement
- nonsense plot stuff, but that's kind of baked in to this style of vertical so I didn't really take off points for it
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Stop The War
The story is about several kingdom that want to revenge and fight against each other. It's all started because of get betrayed and the new generation want to change all of that to get peace but it's not easy...It's become interesting when it's reach almost last episode where all it's much more intense and several key people died...
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Two Hot Guys Dancing
This movie is definitely not for everyone, if you're looking for your average BL this is not it!Plot:
I would say the plot is the dance and the emotions. The emotions between the leads is the main drive of this movie, and we'll have to thank the actors for not disappointing us with their immaculate chemistry!!
Really though, at least 80% of this movie are dance scenes, so if you try to skip them, you'll be sure to end up with nothing! The dances are what move the plot through, you have to watch them dance and understand the story they're telling you, only this way will you be able to enjoy this movie fully.
Although I'll have to admit, my little heart wanted to see them together at least once, but it's a personal problem of mine. Since it's an open ending, I'll have to imagine the rest myself!
Acting:
Just fabulous! Amazing! I feel like the human vocabulary is not enough for me to describe their acting, even though I'm sure it must've been hard, the actors did a fantastic job conveying the characters' feelings while dancing!
The kisses were so passionate as well, I got worked up just by watching them!
Cinematography:
Very pleasing to the eyes, the lightning and the shots were to my liking, they complimented the atmosphere very well!
Music:
Could've been better for such a high-quality movie. It didn't make me feel what I should've felt, you know?
Favourite moment:
I loved when they danced together at that event instead of going with their partners; "Dance in neither about technique or stamina, Love makes it whole." As far as I've realised, Suguki Shinya must've understood that to unlock his full potential, to dance with "love", he must do it with Suzuki Shinya instead of his formal dance partner. The scene where he asks "May I have the honor?" made me go crazy, I absolutely adored it!
Overall:
If you want something clear-cut and simple, or you just want to watch a spicy BL, this isn't for you. It wasn't perfect, I think I should've made my rating lower, but personally that's the rating I want to give. Pick the time where you have a right state of mind and watch it!
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