Reviews

Disappointment is an UNDERSTATEMENT

So here comes my rants…ahem…review.

I thought about whether I should write a review on this show because it left nothing but disappointment for me (and many other, I believe). But I decide to do it after giving my time to finish it and thought I should be able to express my feelings. Let’s start with what the story was supposed to be, a Thriller! Yes, it got my attention right off the bat when I read the synopsis, being a sucker for thriller. It being a bl, I was even more excited since I wanted to see something new in the world of bl for once, from GMM (because if you read the comparison between them and other company under bl series, it’s not hard to guess many are feed up with how badly produced their series are).

I decided to give GMM and this pair, JOONG AND DUNK, a chance. Though I have watched some of GMM series, in the earliest making of bl series, JoongDunk was a first, I thought they looked good, which was a plus of course in entertainment industry, especially in bl world (for all the fangirl/boy, the requirement to make money). I wanted only two things, decent story and decent acting but guess what, both GMM and JoongDunk (especially Dunk) disappointed me.

The series did not turn out to be what was promised, it was so bland, tasteless and unrealistic beyond comprehension. It look like GMM wanted to balance the gore to be lightened by the fluffy (cringey) romance of the leads but ended up messing it up so bad that they ended up with nothing on both part, no part was developed in its potential, like the dog that wanted the bone in the reflection and ended with nada. They killed a very potential series by trying to focus on something else, the romance of the two that should be chasing bad guys and solving the crime to prevent another dead! It’s like they think a bl have to have romance, no, two men flirting, kissing and NC scene is a must! They should learn from Chinese bromance series. They should realize by now that exposing everything is less attractive than exposing this and that, minimum, leaving viewers some imagination. Not everything has to had it all spelled out. I believe if they had toned down the romance and focused on solving the crime, it could have been one of those rare gem produced by them. Romance wasn’t needed in this kind of genre, not to mention how they choose cringey romance instead of matured kind of it. The mystery wasn’t that mysterious either with how predictable it was, even Jay’s “crime” was I able to guess (maybe growing up watching Thai drama helps).

The most thrilled I was was when the first murder took place, so much for being a thriller, after that the series pretty much went down, nothing was thrilling and the disconnection the inspector and captain have to the case took the charm of a possible thrilling series away. Like, how could they be so busy with their own romance that they practically look like they only exist to catch the killers in the last episode and didn’t need to do anything to investigate? Like they weren’t the ones who were supposed to be solving this murder spree. They were so misplaced. Most of the time, it felt like the murderers were plucking flower petals after each crime—they are on their way, they are not—and ended up going home bored to death, wondering if they made it too hard for the duo. If I were in trouble, I sure as h*ll did not want these two on my rescue team.

Moving onto the cast/acting, I think the only ones who acted decently were Chimon and Sing. The other avengers team did good job too with the screen time they were given, Joong was okay but I think he can do better. On the other hand, Dunk, this actor was so stiff it made it uncomfortable to watch him. I am not lying when I said I already saw his wooden acting from his first appearance, the car scene. At first I thought it was me who wasn’t used to him but the more I watched, the more I feel that he lack. And reading the comments, it doesn’t look like this was his first project. And many claims that this was his “improved version” which made me wonder how the h*ll did he act in his previous projects. How did he even secure this project to lead? And the next. Frankly, he really needs to take on acting classes. As a leading man, for his fans and his co-star, he owe that much. I don’t think it was he being in character, sure, Kamin was supposed to be reserved and strict but those two personality did not equal to being wooden stiff. It was his acting that lacked, too stiff. Many says that he and Joong are very comfortable with one another but maybe because of his stiff acting, for me, he always looked guarded, especially in those intimate scenes, that I couldn’t feel the chemistry between them. It looked too awkward. Too uncomfortable to watch. Many blames the director for how it turned out but they could only direct and guide, the acting was done with the actor’s ability, his perception of the character, maybe this was how much the director could bring out from Dunk which says a lot about him. I hope he saw how he act from the reaction videos they made and have enough self-awareness to try and improve himself. He is not ready to be Kamin. Give it 3 stars for cast/acting as a whole cast.

What I like about this series would be the idea, the story and development we didn’t get, and I like the ending credit ost in earlier episodes.

Rewatch? H*ll no, one round was more than enough. I am not putting myself in that torture again. (Geez, why is it a must to rate rewatch value when there is none?!)

Yup, it’s decided, I am leaving GMM and JoongDunk behind, as I had wisely done until now.

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A lighthearted comedy for sunny days, without major dramas or mysteries.

The series is well-produced and very funny. It's a comedy that isn't afraid to be funny at all times, however, you can see that there will be dramatic developments, as there are people who want to harm the protagonist because he will be the next king.

This is a very common cliché, especially in Chinese dramas, where the protagonist unintentionally ends up involved in something that has nothing to do with her, something she didn't want, because she was mistaken for someone else. I personally am really enjoying watching it, mainly because I had never watched a Thai period drama before. However, if you like a serious story with dramatic development and full of political twists, this series is not for you. If you want to watch something light, funny, and full of culture, this is the series for you.

PS: Enjoy shines on screen whenever she appears.

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Wish they casted a more suitable FL

The series had a strong storyline and good pacing overall. The male lead delivered a very powerful performance, but unfortunately, the female lead weakened the impact. I’m not sure whether it was the way her character was written or how it was portrayed, but I found it difficult to connect with her. A general who constantly needs rescuing by the male lead until she eventually falls for him felt unconvincing and poorly executed.

The styling and makeup also highlighted her age in a way that didn’t help the character. She appeared noticeably older than the male lead—at times even older than the empress—which made their pairing less believable. The two leads lacked chemistry; their dynamic felt more like platonic comrades than romantic partners. I kept hoping their romantic scenes would change my impression, but instead, it reinforced it. The female lead’s performance felt too restrained to evoke any real sense of romantic excitement or “butterflies.”

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I was holding my breath the whole time!

I was recommended The Terror Live and told it was a great thriller, and I’m so glad I listened.
It took me straight back to those early 2000s thrillers I used to watch as a kid, the kind where you don’t move, don’t even dare run to the bathroom during ad breaks because you’re terrified of missing one second. That’s exactly how this felt.

From the moment it started, I was locked in. Completely. It’s the kind of movie that traps you in one space. The tension just keeps tightening and tightening until you realise you haven’t blinked in minutes.
It gave me that specific adrenaline rush only a truly good thriller can deliver, where you’re not even breathing properly. You’re just holding air in your lungs, waiting. And then when it ends, you finally exhale and sit there thinking: “That was insane.”

The pacing is relentless. The story is engaging. The acting carries everything with such intensity that you feel like you’re inside the chaos rather than just watching it. It’s the kind of performance that makes you forget you’re watching a film at all.

I genuinely don’t want to say anything about the plot because this is one of those movies you absolutely need to go into blind. Don’t read summaries. Don’t watch trailers. Don’t spoil it for yourself.
Just press play. Trust me.
When it ends, you’ll feel that same urge I did, to immediately tell everyone how good it is.

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Don’t take the rating seriously, I’m only here to comment ?

The female lead is absolutely not loyal and does not deserve to be called a heroine👎🏻
She had zero justification for hiding her identity from her former fiancé when she recognized him at the beginning. Let’s be honest
she was clearly want the king 😏
She kept quiet and left the poor man confused and lost, even though she knew exactly who he was from the start. She chose silence because she wanted the king. She even admitted it herself in one of the episodes during her inner monologue.
How is that heroic? 😂
If the writer had simply resolved their misunderstanding early on, we wouldn’t have needed this frustrating and unnecessary love triangle.
And let’s be real if the roles were reversed and (Lee Shin Won) had forgotten her, everyone would have called him disloyal and heartless.
I couldn’t sympathize with her at all. She doesn’t understand the value of love.
To avoid criticism, the writer suddenly rushed a last-minute romance just so viewers wouldn’t feel too bad for the male lead. That’s weak writing🫢

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Not Delivering what it is supposed to

The cinematography ,the acting are the worst i have ever seen, there is some forced romance in the whole series, the chemistry in the characters is missing alot.
There seems to be a great plot and storyline if we remove the romance and love talk from the whole series such direction doesn't belong on Netflix it's supposed to be on YouTube or something.
No hate to the actors, their previous works have been great just this one is what has lost me overall.
They need to learn something from the directors of Jack and joker where the romance and action along with the plot was delivered amazingly.
This has been a little disappointment for the audience where a lot of potential was there but was wasted by poor direction, and acting

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Every emotion possible, brilliantly acted

I came here for Nat Natasit as I struggled with his character in Cutie Pie and wasn’t sure whether it was his acting or the director that spoiled his performance in that for me. Turns out it was the direction he was made to take because in this he was absolutely amazing. His chemistry (as Kram) with Max Kornthas (who played Tai) was off the charts even though they don’t meet for quite some time in this drama.

The story revolves around Kram a sweet, open, honest and loving young lad that meets and falls in love with Phupha (played by Gun Thapanawat) who is the son of a wealthy and successful businessman who wears his heart firmly on his sleeve. Unfortunately Phupha is killed by Tai’s gang boss father and this sends Kram into a tailspin of heartbreak and despair. He then finds out about a mythical blue lake that, legend says, will allow him to jump to a parallel world. One where he can be potentially be with the love of his life again and maybe even save him from the same fate in his own world.

Jumping into the water, on one of the rare occasions that it turns blue, does in fact bounce him into this other world where he meets both Phupha and Tai who are the same but different in many ways. Although his mission is to save Phupha, somehow he ends up falling deeply in love with Tai instead.

This drama is only 10 episodes and as the plot seemed to be resolved by the middle of the 8th I wondered what on earth could be used to fill up the remaining ones. Quite a lot as it turns out.

I sobbed, cheered and rooted for a happy ending for Kram even though I really couldn’t see it happening. The pre-penultimate scene had me reaching for the tissues as once back in his own world Tai sacrifices everything for him (but in hindsight he was too damaged to live). Did Kram get his happy ending? What do you think?!

There’s so much to like about this drama. The actors are so beautiful and the director made sure we got to see their incredible features in close ups, yearning looks and love filled actions. The NC were few and far between but this added to rather than detracted from the plot and they were meaningful and almost precious as a result. The plot was believable, the sets stunning and the side plots enhanced rather than just added extra minutes to the whole story.

Would I watch this again? You betcha I would.

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Watched it because of the great reviews, but I just couldn't get into it :(

PLOT: Kawi, who has a crush on Praemai (a girl), has a huge inferiority complex that prevents him from confessing his feelings. He watches as Praemai falls into Pisaeng's arms and ends up marrying him 10 years later.
However, he possesses a lamp that can return him to the past. He uses this lamp (going back and forth) to correct his past mistakes... but eventually realizes that 1) Pisaeng has always been in love with him, 2) In fact, he doesn't love Praemai, but Pisaeng, etc.

+++ The plot is interesting, and I like the message of this series: live for yourself, for today, so you have no regrets in the future ♡o｡.(✿ฺ｡ ✿ฺ)
+++ The actors are good, and I hope to see again Gawin Caskey in MC roles.
+++ I also really like Praemai's father character (very wise), as well as Pisaeng's (Green Flag) and Knot's.

BUT
### Sorry, but I couldn't get into this story, mainly because I don't like the MC (neither the actor nor his character). He has a very nice voice; I prefer him as a singer <(_ _)>

**********************************************
Regardé pour les reviews élogieuses, mais j'ai pas accroché :(

PLOT: Kawi, qui a un crush sur Praemai (fille), a 1 gros complexe d'infériorité qui l'empêche de se déclarer. Il va donc regarder Praemai tomber dans les bras de Pisaeng et finir par l'épouser 10 ans + tard.
Cpdt, il possède une lampe capable de l'emmener dans le passé. Il va donc utiliser cette lampe (allers et retours) pour corriger ses erreurs du passé ... mais finit par prendre conscience que 1/ Pisaeng a tjs été amoureux de lui 2/ En fait il n'aime pas Praemai mais Pisaeng, etc.

+++ Le plot est intéressant et j'aime le message de cette série : vivez pour vous, pour aujourd'hui, de manière à ne rien regretter dans l'avenir ♡o｡.(✿ฺ｡ ✿ฺ)
+++ Les acteurs sont bons et j'espère revoir Gawin Caskey dans des rôles de MC.
+++ J'aime aussi bcp le personnage du père de Praemai, très sage, celui de Pisaeng (Green Flag) et de Knot.

MAIS
### Sorry, mais je n'ai pas réussi à accrocher à cette histoire, en grande partie parce que j'aime pas le MC (ni l'acteur, ni son personnage). Il a une très belle voix, je le préfère en chanteur <(_ _)>

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Loved the cinematography

It had been a while since I’d seen Hwang Jung-min in a lead action role, so watching Deliver Us From Evil felt like reconnecting with an old favourite, and he did not disappoint.

The Plot**
The story follows Kim In Nam, a professional hitman who has spent years eliminating targets for an organisation but now works on his own. As one last job before he disappears for good, he is given an assignment in Japan involving the yakuza boss. Nam plans to retire quietly in Panama. But just as he thinks he’s finally stepping away from bloodshed, his past comes chasing him back. He learns that he has a daughter from a former girlfriend, a child he never knew existed, and now she has been kidnapped in Thailand.As In Nam races to save his daughter, he is hunted by the ruthless half-brother of the yakuza boss he killed for revenge.


The story is intense and tightly paced. There’s no unnecessary dragging. It moves with purpose. The cinematography shift between Korea and Thailand was one of my favourite aspects. When the film moves to Thailand, the colour palette transforms to intense yellows, humid streets, and neon-lit chaos. It gave me strong late 90s / early 2000s action-thriller vibes. That gritty, sweaty, street-level energy that feels raw and dangerous.
The action sequences were genuinely impressive. Not just generic fight scenes but a combination of: brutal hand-to-hand combat, high-speed chases, gunfights and knife combat.

Hwang Jung-min plays In Nam with a quiet exhaustion. He’s not flashy. He’s not overly emotional. But you can see the weight of his life in his eyes. This isn’t a man looking for redemption; it’s a man trying to do one right thing before disappearing,and then there’s the antagonist, played by Lee Jung-jae, he was terrifying. Unhinged. Stylish. Violent. Cold and he enjoyed the hunt.

The side character Yui, a transgender Korean woman trying to earn money for surgery, added unexpected emotional depth. The actor played her with such charm tough on the outside, but clearly soft-hearted underneath. She brought moments of humour and warmth into an otherwise dark narrative. That balance worked beautifully.

If I had to change one thing, I might have extended the final
confrontation slightly just to build the emotional and physical climax a bit further. But even without that, the ending still hits hard.

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A Story That Burns From the Inside

I honestly don’t understand why Buried Hearts isn’t rated higher. This drama wasn’t just good, it was consuming. It was the kind of story that grabs you by the collar in the first episode and refuses to let you breathe until the very last scene.

Plot**
The story follows Seo Dong Ju, the loyal and frighteningly competent executive director of Daesan Group,and the chairman’s most trusted man. He works in silence, in shadows, cleaning up messes no one else can handle. But the more indispensable he becomes, the more dangerous he is to those circling the company like vultures.
What starts as corporate tension turns into psychological warfare. Alliances rot. Loyalty becomes currency. The “good” characters aren’t good at all; they’re just better at hiding it. And the villains? They don’t just cross lines. They erase them.
This wasn’t just a power struggle. It was a slow emotional suffocation.

Spioilers ahead ***


Park Hyung Sik
Park Hyung-sik delivered something unforgettable here.
I’ve seen him in other roles, but this? This was different. I almost didn’t recognize him. The styling, the cold sharpness in his face but more than that, the way he carried Seo Dong Ju’s pain like it was stitched into his skin.
His eyes did most of the acting. They were alive. Burning. Trembling. When he looked at Eun Nam, it wasn’t just longing; it was devastation mixed with disbelief. Anger fighting love. Pride fighting vulnerability. It felt like watching someone try to hold themselves together while breaking apart in silence.
And that twist in the first episode? It hit like a physical blow. The kind that leaves you staring at the screen, stunned. That was the moment Dong Ju changed. Not into a villain but into someone who realised goodness was an illusion that no one around him was truly clean. You could see the shift happen inside him.

Eun Nam
What she did was cruel!!! Marrying another man in front of him. On the day he was going to propose. I felt that humiliation through the screen. It wasn’t just heartbreak; it was public destruction.
And people say she loved him?
Love does not choose stock shares over someone’s soul. Love does not strike exactly where someone is most fragile. That moment shattered something in Dong Ju that never fully healed.
I tried to understand her. I did. But every time she appeared, I felt anger bubbling up again. Because she didn’t just hurt him, she altered his path.
That wasn’t romance. That was betrayal.

Yeom
Huh Joon-ho as Yeom was terrifying in the most controlled way.
The second he appeared on screen, I knew this drama was going to hurt. He doesn’t play loud villains; he plays scary ones. The kind who smile while dismantling you piece by piece.
Yeom wasn’t just greedy. He was hollow. A man who replaced humanity with ambition. Watching him manipulate, calculate, and destroy without blinking made my skin crawl.
The Loneliness of the Ending
I know people were divided about the ending.
Part of me wanted something softer. Something that gave Dong Ju peace. But another part of me knows, peace was never the point.
He ended up alone, and maybe that’s the most honest outcome. Because who around him truly deserved him? The chairman used him. Eun Nam wounded him. The allies doubted him. Even loyalty in this world was conditional.
The ending wasn’t comforting. It was haunting, but it felt real.
Still… the way things were left? The tension unresolved? Are the power dynamics still shifting? I can absolutely see another season. And if there is one, I will be there immediately because I’m not done with this world yet.

The cinematography was cold and deliberate, sharp blues and shadows that matched the emotional frost between characters. Every frame felt heavy. Controlled. Intentional.
The OST? It didn’t just play in the background; it amplified the ache. The longing. The rage. It made certain scenes feel almost unbearable in the best way.
There was one small flaw in an early fight scene; the impact didn’t quite land smoothly. But honestly? That detail faded compared to how powerful the later confrontations were.
I could talk about every character. The bodyguards. The hackers. The family members hide secrets behind polite smiles.
This drama wasn’t shallow. It wasn’t predictable. It wasn’t safe.
It was sharp. It was emotional. It was relentless.The only real flaw?
That it ended.

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