Reviews

so bat shit crazy that it’s actually amazing

LISTEN GUYS THIS DRAMA HAS EVERYTHING OK!
-sci-fi
-vampire-esque plot
-hot male lead
-dragons
-a fish
-depression
-really hot kisses
-guns
-a guy teaching a girl how to shoot with unnecessary physical touch
-a girl shooting a gun
-begging by maneskin
-shooting in a car chase and out a window
-drugs
-a contract marriage
-a duel for marriage
-a murder plot
-a kidnapping plot
-yaoi (I might be lying about this one
-cake
-unnecessary physical touch
-kissing as drugs
-sex also as drugs
-a loser bf
-a literal dog of a bf
-explosions
-a mafia plot
just trust me guys!

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chat what the fuck?

I have never been more confused while watching a show in my entire life. The first episode started and I had to be like “wait what was the plot again?” And read the overview on viki once more and it didn’t help. Things just kept happening and I was like what? And also the characters would be like “this is the most horrible thing ever” then go make out so like what am I supposed to think??? That ending was crazy and was like the only twist in the show I was actually surprised by. Not because of predictability, but because I genuinely did not have a good or bad opinion of most of the characters because they were never given enough time for me to form an opinion about. So when x character said “actually I killed your mom” or “actually YOU ARE a legitimate child” or “I did commit medical malpractice actually” I was just like WOAH then moved on cause it didn’t have any weight. I genuinely do not know what I was watching most of the time during this. Why was the doctor freaky as hell like man wanted Ye Lang so bad actually and I SWEAR ON MY LIFE not just in a dissection way (can’t believe I’m even typing that). Also why was a major theme in this show medical malpractice and literal crimes. Why was there an ORGAN BLACK MARKET??? that was a fucking crazy plot point. Why did xiao di LITERALLY GET HIS HEART STOLEN??? there was too many tranquilizers used in the hospital as well like what? anyways plot was fucking crazy and kept getting worse, everyone in Ye Lang’s family is fucking crazy, why were parts of both Ye Lang and Nian Nian lives the entire driving force to the plot yet I felt no connection to their characters through that at all??, the outro pissed me off like why are dropping a crazy bomb (not actual bomb like in the first episode) like “oh yeah and your mom’s gallery is an organ trafficking site” (also did they just run out of money or something cause where’s the organ trafficking in the gallery?) and then the music just goes la lalala like get out of my face. I guess the romance was good? They were both hot and hot kissers and shit but like when did this actually become a love story especially for both of them? Also the whole start of this is like the ML going “I fucking hate my wife’s guts I will never get with her I plot revenge on her” and then he sees her and ditches that plan immediately. and there’s no struggle either. He’s not resisting in anyway. So like did you actually vow revenge or was that just a fleeting “hmm what if?” Like I wanted a tug of war between you and your feelings and you gave me NOTHING. The fashion was good I guess. There was just too much going on idk and I’m like so glad I’m done with it.

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Nothing that truly stood out to me

I have my fair share of BL dramas with plain plot, one dimension character and not much substance and Tharntype definitely falls into one of those categories.

The plot was simple. Could have been an excellent one of a homophobic character with a tragic back story that left him traumatized slowly accepting his sexuality and getting over the trauma through the help of a gay man. Yet they needed to mess it up by making both he characters always taking stupid decisions and being toxic, messy and outright assaulter. The main problem of the characterization and writing is, it showed incidents that shouldn't have been normalized and made it a part of the plot that directly affects it. This was a product of a bad writing. I wished they explored each of the characters and their background story even more. However the romance aspect of the series was much more better and enjoyable. Every romantic scene was well written and directed.

The direction and pacing of the drama was too slow. They kept extending the minutes by showing clips that could have been edited. For a 2019 drama the quality was not bad. The frames and the sets looked good.

Gulf was a newbie in TharnType so I will exempt his acting skill from judging. However gradually as the show progressed it became much better. Mew was good with his characters. Overall the acting was average. But MewGulf truly served great on screen chemistry. The romantic scenes looked really cozy, realistic and domestic. The last 2 episodes were best in terms of acting. The kissing scenes were not awkward so was the NC scenes. This was kinda ground breaking in terms of on screen physical affection because most dramas airing before or around the same time didn't have as much well executed romantic scenes as this one.

It wasn't a bad show but a bad characterization of the characters and a linear plot. If you don't want to miss out on the classics then this is a must watch/ There were definitely pros and cons.

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Watch this when you're on a threshold in life.

Forget the fig tree dilemma for just a second and watch this drama. I just started uni today and the week before I had OT day which had me soooo stressed out bc I was totally alone; my uni is far away from my hometown in comparison to the one my other friends attend. I wanted something new in life, and although change is scary, I felt it was right to leave my comfort zone. Why does that matter?
Well.
This drama captures exactly that feeling: change and growth alongside the important people in your life, the emotional ups and downs that come with growing into adulthood etc. etc.

When Oranges Fall is more than just your average High School BL, it's a warm hug that reminds you that change is normal and we all have our growing pains. The cute friend group and queer coming of age aspect are obviously what lured everyone in, and is honestly so worth it too, but this drama had so much more to offer: it's a happy pill with 90s seaside town vibes and some pretty good snippets of life advice for young people :) Also, the comedic relief and the cast were brilliant, obviously!!

Lovely as an easy watch, or when you need something that encourages you to step onto your chosen path in life

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Dark, Chaotic, and Surprisingly Poignant

Folks, I loved this one. It easily sits on my top shelf of favorites for moderns.

I loved the wit and the sometimes deadpan, dry, offbeat humor. I’d describe it as a dark comedy because there were definitely moments when I felt guilty for laughing, but I couldn’t help it. The humor was built around serious and taboo topics, and somehow it worked.

But what really made it work for me was the balance. As random and chaotic as some parts of the script could be, they were woven together with poignant and genuinely beautiful moments. It kept the drama from feeling too outlandish or farcical. The pacing and execution made the whole thing feel incredibly dynamic. I also really enjoyed the social commentary on netizen culture, particularly given how increasingly problematic that culture has become.

My only critique is around the representation of neurodivergence. I appreciated seeing it represented, but I've noticed that film and television often focus on a particular neurotype or portrayal. In reality, neurodivergence is incredibly diverse, and repeatedly centering one presentation can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or create a narrow idea of what neurodivergence looks like. That's something I'd note for others in the neurodivergent community who may have different experiences.

But overall, I just loved the ride. It gave me humor, weight, chaos, and a whole range of emotions—and somehow managed to weave all of those things together beautifully.

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✈️ WHEN THE COLD PILOT FINALLY LEARNS TO LOVE

OVERALL IMPRESSION🌟
This emotional melodrama combines an amnesia mystery, a seriously ill child and a reluctant couple forced back into each other’s lives. Although the medical premise is highly dramatised and several disturbing actions were not addressed properly, the unusual storyline kept me glued to the screen. Zhao Zhen Dong’s transformation from an emotionally distant pilot into a fiercely protective partner provided the central romantic appeal.

WHAT I LIKED💖
• The FL was the true strength of this drama. Even after being deceived and placed under tremendous pressure, she refused to surrender or allow others to take her children from her.
• Whenever someone sabotaged her, she remained calm and found another solution. Her perseverance made her far more admirable than a heroine who simply waits to be rescued.
• I loved that she was talented and creative without constantly boasting or being portrayed as unrealistically perfect. In the end, it was the FL who saved the day!
• The ML’s persistence was compelling. Once he decided that the FL belonged in his life, he had no intention of ever letting her go.
• I enjoyed watching his demeanour gradually change. He began as cold, possessive and almost animalistic, but eventually became a man who clearly wanted the FL’s love more than anything else.
• Zhao Zhen Dong and Li Yue Xuan both performed well, and their relationship development kept me emotionally invested despite the familiar clichés.

WHAT I DISLIKED⚠️
• The ML sexually forced himself on the young FL—what happened was rape. I was extremely disappointed that he never apologised when they reunited and initially continued treating her like a possession rather than a person.
• The FL’s amnesia was never explained properly. I could understand trauma affecting her memories of how she became pregnant, but how did she forget carrying a child for months and giving birth? Viewers were left to make their own assumptions.
• The psychotic SFL was vile and dangerously obsessed with a man who did not love her. Her repeated schemes placed both the FL and her unborn children at risk.
• I also hated seeing the SML strike the FL while she was pregnant. The amount of violence directed towards her became difficult to watch.
• Several relatives interfered constantly, while misunderstandings created by the SFL and the ML’s conniving aunt delayed honest communication between the leads.

PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCES🎭
• The medical storyline required plenty of disbelief, and some important information—particularly the cause and extent of the FL’s memory loss—needed much clearer development.
• Despite these weaknesses, the pacing remained engaging, the emotional stakes were high and both leads carried the melodrama effectively.
• Zhao Zhen Dong handled the ML’s emotional transformation particularly well, making his later devotion believable even though the character’s earlier behaviour remained unacceptable.

FINAL THOUGHTS💭
This was an engaging but deeply flawed melodrama. I could not overlook the assault or the absence of a proper apology, yet I remained invested in the FL’s strength and the ML’s eventual transformation. The resilient heroine, unusual premise and strong performances made it enjoyable despite its clichés, exaggerated medicine and unanswered questions.

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One of the best dramas of 2026 so far!

This series was so good! Yes, it had its flaws, but overall, it was a really solid watch. The acting was great, and honestly, I feel like the casting was perfectly done. I can’t imagine anyone else playing these characters the way they did.

And yes, I don’t think Luo Nian is as toxic as people make him out to be. That doesn’t excuse his bad behavior, but most of the time, I feel like he was simply misunderstood.

I also really loved the OST, especially the opening song/scene. It set the mood so well!

Honestly, I think it’s unfair that some people are trying to give this drama such a low rating. It definitely has its flaws, but overall, it’s a very solid drama and absolutely worth watching. ❤️

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ML is toxic. No matter how hard you try to whitewash him, even the actor himself said so in an interview. Everyone hates him, including the FL’s ex, because of how he treated her

This isn’t the ’90s. A phone call would’ve been nice. Maybe even a letter. But nooooooo, let’s go completely no-contact for 15 years and then bug the hell out of the FL

The FL’s problems just happened to be there so the ML could swoop in and play the hero. A very dumb hero

If I have to blame anyone, I’m blaming the director for cutting the episodes like trash and the nood writer

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Borderline painful

From other reviews I've learned that the characters in the web novel this is based off were in their 20s while the characters in the drama are in there 30s and that definitely accounts for some of the problems I had with this.
For instance, there's a female work friend who dies things like gyrating around on a bed they're about to shoot a commercial for and going off on tangent about having sex in cars in the middle of a meeting about a car ad they're planning - the boss just lets her go off on this tangent without saying anything and then decides to end the meeting...? What in the world even was that?!

I felt no chemistry between these too at all. I kept thinking to myself this scene should be hot, but I've felt more heat in a single glance before than I was feeling during a make out session between these 2.
I don't know if that was because of the actors or if that's on the production team, but it was a serious disappointment.

Anyway.
Here are some notes I took while I was watching if you want to better understand why I gave this such a low rating.

Spoilers below.

Ep1- Borderline painful. The FL is rude & disrespectful to her Dr but timid as a mouse in front of an ill behaving superior. She does the trip & fall 3 times in this episode.
- The ML is a grouchy, exacting, perfectionist who physically pulls away instead of helping when she trips (this makes 0 sense & is not how he acts at any other time with her).

Ep2 - Wasn't obnoxious. Instead, it was kind of boring & I skipped through half of it.
- During an event he saves her from a piece of collapsing set & ends up with enough stitches in his back to leave a sizable scar.

Ep3 - The MLR I kind of feel bad for. Essentially, he's her ex because she had visions where she wasn't in his future, so she started treating him horribly.
He doesn't know about the visions or understand why she broke up with him.
Flashbacks have her acting like you'd expect from a psycho villain character. Confronting him at work, slapping his phone out of his hand & yelling at him for not answering her calls when she knows he's working.
There's also the scene where she breaks up with him, where they are in a room that is completely Trashed, including what look like broken/smashed cameras (he's a director & photographer).
- He comes across as pathetic showing back up 3yrs after she broke up with him, with a ring wanting to marry her. - According to flashbacks the ring was because she had told him to propose when he won a certain award.

- Her sobbing sounds So fake its borderline annoying.
- The ML isn't as grouchy; he goes out of his way to look out for & help her repeatedly.
He looks a little better with his haircut, but I still don't find him attractive.

- While drunk she tells the ML she can see the future when she kisses someone. She also tells him she's seen them sleep together - She asks to double-check the vision, so he kisses her, just your basic, frozen lip lock, after she is plastered.

Ep4 - He watches out for her the whole time she's getting drunk. Carrys her up to a hotel room. Buys her clothes & matching heels so she can change before work - She finds out at work the outfit is like a one of kind he got from the designer - and she doesn't thank him for Any of it.
- The MLR wants her to agree to go on 3 dates with him.
- ML now believes her visions, he says, "Okay, let's do it" "Tonight is good", but he has a condition...

Ep5 - Enter FLR being a nosy, interfering irritation yet again & he has to escort from the building, so instead of telling the FL his condition he says never mind we can talk tomorrow.

- FL tells him the only reason she wants to sleep with him is the vision, working with him since the vision is making her feel suffocated & she thinks she'll "feel more at ease" after she sleeps with him. He tells her to come over tonight.
- They're at his place (different clothes from the vision) discussing the details of the vision. This feels like a business deal - (snort) she even prepared a contract with a confidentiality clause. She thinks in the vision they sleep together because they're drunk, he says he only sleeps with women he's dating. If she wants to sleep with him, she'll have to date him, that's his condition.
- "Of all people, you & me, I can't imagine it" (she tells him despite constantly replaying the vision kissing in her head).
She is constantly low-key insulting the ML.
After telling him she can't see them dating she's on her phone looking him right in eye as she tells her ex she agrees to the 3 dates.

Didn't even make it to the end of ep5, I dropped here.

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Lighted-hearted slice-of-life kinda romcom

The story is really ordinary and kinda reflects reality to a certain extent. With the job switching, the struggles, having something that keeps you going, and eventually becoming your own light. Overall, I think the drama did its job.

FL and ML's characters were pretty easy to like. I love how real it also was, and it wasn't exaggerated, making them easy to relate to as well. For example, FL's habit of always saying she's fine. It felt naturally for her to become someone like that due to the environment she grew up in and what she experienced in school. Same goes for the ML. Not everyone's good at sharing their feelings or expressing their emotions. But by the end of the show, both of them had quite some character development which felt natural and happened at the right pace. Also love how healthy their relationship was, from them officially knowing each other to them dating. They didn't have really strong chemistry or tension, but I think they looked really cute together, and their cute innocent vibe really suited this drama.

If you're looking for a super hot or super sweet couple with lots of steamy (or experienced) kisses, this show probably isn't for you. I feel that the leads are actually also quite mature in their thinking. Sure, they act shy or awkward at times (which I find normal since both characters aren't that experienced in dating), but when it comes to communicating, they do don't childish arguments. They are both emotionally stable and always talk things out. I love that they never yell at each other.

2ML's character never felt like a real threat to the leads' relationship progress, but I appreciate how he wasn't toxic. Sure, he had his flaws, but he wasn't a jerk. I like that even though he's supposed to be an idol and actor, he doesn't carry that kind of high-status aura with him and instead feels very humble and down-to-earth. Most of the time, main idol characters appear a bit arrogant or aloof in dramas at some point, but 2ML here just felt like another normal human being instead of an idol. And I mean this in a good way, because I feel that it's a refreshing take on idol characters. He struggled to learn how to give love and accept love, but he was never an a$$ about it.

Even ML's ex who came back, she wasn't as annoying as the exes in most dramas. She's even so much better than 2ML's toxic and suffocating ex who appeared in the first half, tbh. I still think 2ML's ex was really unbearable and really cheapened herself just for a guy she deems a jerk. She was the typical toxic ex. Though, when ML's ex showed up for the first time, I didn't like her very much because of how self-centered she came across at first (clearly having hurt both ML and 2ML), but I appreciate how she wasn't the petty type who'd resort to really dirty tricks to steal a man. At the end of the day, she valued herself and her career more than a taken man who doesn't like her anymore. If writer must include the return of an ex in dramas to stir things up, please make them more like this.

Story-wise, I think it's pretty straightforward. We've seen this plot countless times. We know what's coming next. But it's the execution that makes a difference, and I think this show did it well. I was looking for something lighthearted and easy to watch. I wasn't in the mood for anything too depressing. I wanted a chill drama that'd make me smile. My Bias, My Boss checked all the boxes. I wish they'd drawn a clearer line between being a rational respectful fangirl and being an obsessive sasaeng though, because sometimes it's just a fine line, but that's the only thing I can really nitpick with this drama.

I feel that this drama was meant to be taken lightly. It doesn't have any big plot twist or major life lesson or the sweetest romance in k-dramaland. In fact, I don't think those were even the intention. It's more like a slice-of-life drama of a fangirl who grows as a person and comes to love herself and find her own worth. The biggest takeaway for me from this drama, and what I loved most, was how her idol was her dream and she eventually found her own dream while supporting her idol's dream. Wish we had more cute scenes between FL and ML, but I think the pacing was done right. If they got together earlier, it'd feel rushed and wouldn't make sense.

Watched this after watching Shop for Killers 2, and was excited to see how different Kim Hye Jun would be in a lighthearted romcom. She did not disappoint. Hope she'll appear in another romcom in the future! Also, I think this is Kang Hoon's first main lead romcom? As in playing the main romantic interest. I think he played the subtle tsundere pretty well. His little reactions and expressions are always hilarious! Didn't know Kang Hoon would be so good at comedy. 😆 He's got nice arms too. 🙈

If I'm looking for something fun and light to watch, I would consider watching this again (but skipping the exes' scenes, sorry). I really like the whole peaceful vibe of this drama. It's chill but not boring or mindless. It still carries simple warm messages. Even something as simple as ML telling FL to stop saying she's fine all the time when she clearly isn't, and also reminding her to put herself first.

I think if you're looking for an insightful, mature, dramatic romcom, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you're looking for a cute, lighthearted, slice-of-life romcom with a toxic-free main couple (or even side characters, minus 2ML's ex), you might enjoy this. The office also appears to have a fairly healthy working environment, which was refreshing. I think this drama was honestly a nice and easy watch to unwind from other heavy dramas. I really enjoyed it.

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