Reviews

This is such weird one

Wandering is one of those movies that doesn’t sit right. You watch it, and afterwards you feel this strong urge to talk about it, to explain what it made you feel, but the words just don’t fully come. It’s unsettling.
Plot**
The story follows 9-year-old Sarasa, who loses her father to cancer and is sent to live with her aunt, her aunt’s husband, and her 14-year-old cousin. Her aunt sees her as a burden and as someone who will only cause trouble. The worst part is also that her cousin does bad things to her every night. Sarasa already feels unwanted and out of place.
One day at a park, she meets 19-year-old Fumi. When Sarasa tells him she doesn’t want to go home, he tells her she can go with him. Weeks pass, and the entire country becomes consumed by the news of a kidnapped 9-year-old girl. Years later, when Sarasa is an adult, she meets Fumi again.


The story feels strange, and I’m still not sure if my understanding is completely correct.
When you watch the movie, you mostly see things from Sarasa’s perspective. In her memories, she is living in a house with a 19-year-old who feeds her and provides for her. It sometimes feels calm. Almost normal.
But then there is the world’s perspective: a 9-year-old girl has been taken by a 19-year-old man ( if you know what I mean). That is kidnapping. That carries obvious and disturbing implications.
As Sarasa grows up, her flashbacks sometimes make their relationship seem almost platonic. Yet there are small moments that hint something isn’t right, subtle signs that make you uncomfortable and question Fumi’s intentions. The film never clearly defines him as purely evil, but it also never lets you feel safe about him.

That’s what makes it so hard to interpret.
It becomes even more conflicting because Sarasa’s life before meeting Fumi was already painful and unstable. Compared to the emotional neglect she experienced at home, her time with him might feel different in her memory. And that creates this uncomfortable grey area that the film refuses to resolve.
So I wonder, is she remembering it as safer than it was? Is trauma reshaping her perception? Is the movie intentionally blurring the lines between personal memory and social reality?
I found it difficult to fully grasp what the film wanted me to conclude. It doesn’t guide you toward a clear moral statement. Instead, it leaves you in that tension, between sympathy and discomfort, between perspective and reality.
Wandering isn’t an easy watch. It’s not a film that wraps things up neatly. It leaves you questioning what you saw and how you feel about it, and maybe that lingering confusion is exactly what it’s meant to do.

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The show should've been called "Our Ragebait"

wtf is the severe decline in the plot development from a fluffy co-parenting storyline in the first few episodes into an absolutely exhuasting love triangle, annoying second male lead, and dumb female lead. like i get being confused over your first love aka your past vs your new life and her feelings might mostly be nostalgia, but at some point, this love triangle has NO business taking up most of the episode and having absolutely nothing to give to the actual plot development. writer-nim, here is a better plot written in 30 seconds:

ep 6: love triangle peaks but FL realises she gravitates towards ML
ep 7-8: more fluffy moments for the family, SML realises he has no place in FL's new life and their timing was never right. FL and SML has a closure moment where they realise they just weren't meant to be, and FL and ML gets tgt
ep 9-10: fluff moments+angst from the dad+ mystery reveal regarding ML's abandonment by his brother
ep 11-12: climax and conclusion of the dad and their psychological issue plot and they become a proper family

bro

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Complex Time Travel drama

I watched this last year because i really miss Zhen Ziqi works (he actually work from behind more than acting) and this drama was quite unconventional take from usual short drama story. Never watch Yang Qiru but her acting in this drama was quite good so this drama is not come to be wasted.

The plot is FL almost died on her wedding day. A stranger appeared with hatred, wanting to wipe out her entire family in one fell swoop. Time suddenly stopped. A little girl appears and claiming to be FL future daughter with her enemy ML at that time. FL collects different information at different points in time and pieces it together. FL repeatedly tugs at the hands of ML from different timelines until she matches him in his ideal state (this raises the question of whether he is still the same person). It involves time travel and time theory, mixed with some memory fragmentation.

Both the ML and FL parents are researchers working on time travel. Unfortunately, they are all killed by others. ML is adopted by his uncle, and the FL is adopted by an uncle in his family, but they are not told she is not their biological child.

Controlling the camera is quite difficult when filming time-travel dramas so i respect the production team and have lenient judgement. And i have a question when i watch this: If viewed as a single timeline, the plot structure is an infinite flow in terms of time or If viewed as multiple timelines, it's like you're torn into hundreds of parts. Each part retains your memories, and when retrieving those memories, it undergoes a second splitting and tearing (backup) until a perfect state is achieved.

Recommended if you like not so usual time travel drama.

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WORST written fl in a while

2 people closest to the leads the person both of them cared for the most
her sister and his brother Passed away In an unfair accident nonetheless

if this show was written by good writers even just this much would have been enough
to build a good story about grief and loss
with woojo being the only ray of light in their life
but it feels like they are perfectly fine after their death it's business as
usual

instead of focusing on overcoming hardships in life and a new found family, hope and a sense of belonging
they decided to focus on the stupid love triangle

the fl after being confessed to by both ml and sml
does not reject any one of them or set-up any boundaries with either of them instead
receives help and affection from both of them

and choses to ignore as if nothing happend
and the sml asks to go on dates she accepts
without rejecting the ml she's keeping both of them on the hook
it's MAD how undecisive she is

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Tonal Whiplash: The Series

I love JoongDunk. They’re one of my favorite pairings at GMMTV, and I became a huge fan of them after watching The Heart Killers. I’ve especially enjoyed seeing Dunk improve with every project, so the low score I gave Dare You to Death has absolutely nothing to do with them or the cast. I wanted to make that clear first.

But… this series is bad. Not even “so bad it’s good.” Just plain bad.

What makes it frustrating is that I can see a version of this show that actually works. There’s real potential here. I like the concept of a seemingly perfect friend group hiding horrifying secrets. I like that one of them is the brother of Joong’s character, which adds emotional complexity even if the show barely explores it. I genuinely loved the first half of the final episode, especially Pufai and the doctor’s dynamic while forcing Champ and Chereen into that brutal fight. Those were the moments where the series finally leaned into its darker ideas. I even like the officer's romance and dynamic, even though it kept changing the tone of the series.

Pufai, in particular, was compelling. We didn't see much of her in the present, but I liked how her trauma shaped her and how she ultimately became the mastermind behind everything. That psychological element had a lot of promise.

My biggest issue is the tone. This should not have been a romantic comedy.

This story would have worked far better as a full horror-thriller, with the JoongDunk romance as a side plot rather than the central focus. I know that’s controversial since this was meant to be their series, and I understand they were likely following the novel (though I haven’t read it, so I can’t compare). But it felt like the writers didn’t know what kind of show they wanted to make, and instead of choosing, they tried to do everything at once.

The tonal whiplash was exhausting. One moment, we’re in dark psychological manipulation, with characters being brutally murdered; the next, we’re back in rom-com territory. I truly believe these elements could have been blended successfully, but that requires careful writing and tonal control. Either the writers didn’t know how to balance it, or they didn’t put in the effort to make it cohesive. And that’s what makes it such a shame.

I didn’t hate the series. But it should have been so much better. If you loved this show, that’s great. I’m genuinely glad it worked for you. It just didn’t work for me. I’ll still support JoongDunk, and I hope their next series has stronger, more focused writing. I’ve heard the novel is quite good, so I have hope for what’s next.

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Cliché drama

I watched this just for random pick and i have problem with Yang Luo Qian, she can act but her scripts were to questionable and the only decent one was with Zhao Zhendong. Dong Yi acting was quite okay, so i was trying to watch their collaboration. It was not good nor bad either, it was too cliché and the chemistry between leads were too average.

ML and FL had a mutual crush in high school, but FL, due to family reasons, didn't believe in love. When she was misdiagnosed with a terminal illness due to a stomach ulcer, she only wanted to sleep with the ML. After the FLreturns, ML quickly recognizes her. He's a jerk, faking illness to get her to treat him.

The most questionable part is FL is a psychologist, has a relationship with the ML while treating patients. She lacks of professional ethics. Actually the beginning of the drama was quite interesting, with the ML, Cha Cha, having a dog. However, it fell into a cliché: childhood sweetheart, mother belongings. ML help FL to take revenge and happy ending.

Overall it was still enjoyable if you don't have any question about the logic and hardcore fans of both actors.

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Indisputable excellent fight scenes but with a Thin plot

When the Director is famed martial artist Yuen Woo Ping + Producer, martial artist and Male Lead Wu Jing + the one and only Jet Li as a guest star, there is NO doubt that “Blades of the Guardians” will have excellent fight choreography and amazingly performed action scenes by everyone.

If you enjoy the traditional old-school wuxia fights, you are in for a treat. This movie is action-packed from start to finish. Every single actor looks like a warrior out there, no matter if you are a man or woman. The hard-hitting close combat fights, and the swinging blades and fists are sure to delight many wuxia fans. I was totally impressed with everyone putting in their hardest effort. Reading a little about this movie, I found out that the original Princess role was played by Mongolian actress, Narnaash, but she was blacklisted due to fake education records. But do not fear because Chen Ji Jun (with a martial arts background herself) took that role and RAN with it. Playing against veterans such as Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and the handsome Yu Shi and Ci Sha, my eyes were glued to her! She was amazing in every way! If we are speaking of acting performances, everyone was great - from the veterans and guest stars down to the young boy, Little 7.

But if you are looking for a more balanced movie, unfortunately, “Blades of the Guardians” is unable to provide you with that. The plot may not be difficult to understand but most background information was provided by a few quick flashbacks. As amazing as the action scenes are, I wish the drama had sacrificed a few of them, and given me more screentime on the relationship and backgrounds of the characters. I want to know more about the Guardians, so that I can care about them more. There’s not enough breathing room in between the scenes for me to think and feel.

Since “Blades of the Guardians” is an adaptation of a manhua, the story hasn’t quite ended yet. But the movie does close its first arc, focusing on the bounty hunters, fugitives and the desert. The story should continue on in Chang’an, if there’s a second movie.

Is it recommended? Yes, if you enjoy excellent action and fight scenes. These fights are hard-hitting and brutal (not for the faint-hearted). But if you are looking for excellent storytelling, "Blades of the Guardians" is not quite there. But two hours in the movie theater did pass by rather quickly and I didn’t check for time at all. I was entertained and focused.



Completed: 2/26/2026 Review #670

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Why are there so many bad reviews?

Writing this because I've seen so many bad reviews, and I'm honestly quite appalled. This is by no means a masterpiece of a drama, but I think it's a nice romcom. After a long day, just shut down your brain and turn this drama on to feel good - and let out a laugh?? maybe??

Story
Simple story, easy to follow and makes sense. Certain characters are not very communicative, but you need this so the drama can span 12 episodes. xD This is a light-hearted, exaggerated drama. Think "Business Proposal"-level of ridiculous.

Cast
Great cast. Watched for the 2 main leads. The side cast is also superb; if you watch enough K-dramas, you should recognise quite a few of them.

Music
Love the music. Favourites are the ones by Miyeon, Fifty Fifty and Sung Han Bin

Rewatch Value
Not high because the plot isn't unpredictable... not sure if I can be invested in the plot more than once. But I'm sure there will be scenes/episode I want to rewatch :P

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The Momen You Give Up, It's Game Over

This show is not my cup of tea, but it ends up in my top 5 kdramas of all time! WHAT THE HELL! This show is, despite has a heavy theme, packed in a very lighweight way. It's really fun and easy to enjoy, like living our highschool life again. A very well pictured students life, full of joy, tears, hardships and pain. The message about living your life and keep fighting to overcome your difficulties hit so hard. Thanks to Ha I Chan comedy is very very hilarious here. They were able to keep the comedy for like 11 episodes, and it was getting heartwarming after that. They didn't even need to add any cliche, just use a simple premise of highschool life (and a little absurd situation of triangle love, watch it yourself and you'll understand). In conclusion, they've successfully shift my laugh into tears and vice versa, in a quick time. It also brings awareness towards people with hearing imparment and their hardships. The soundtracks are excellent too. It very rare to find a complete package like this.

Shout out to all the main leads, what an outstanding performance! I won't believe if Choi Hyun Wook says he was acting, he was basically reliving his old school days. Shin Eun Soo didn't even need to speak, her expression were enough to talk for her and made us understand how she feels. Character developments were really really good here. The chemistry between them is another level, even with the other Watermelon Sugar member! Another good additions to the package!

Now into the things that are off. I don't like the fashion job on this show. Between 1995 and 2023, there should be a big difference in fashion. In this show, everything looks the same, especially the girls. Looks like they were all having the latest hairstyle. The first two episodes are very slow and heavy, I can understand why a lot of audience dropped this early. The final episode is very underwhelming. I wish we could see more about the present reunion, and let them talk about the "missing" story. Also how come almost everyone forgot about Ha Eun Gyeol being in the part of their 1995, when that could be the best part of their life?

Should you watch it? Yes. Should you rewatch it? I rarely recommend a rewatch BUT THIS IS A MASSIVE YES! I solely think the reason why Eun Gyeol and Eun Yu returned to the past was to "relive their missing highschool moments", so you should too!

VIVA LA VIDA, LONG LIVE LIFE!

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Best psychological thriller that I have watched in a while

I am so happy I gave this drama a chance because I would have been poor losing this BIG gem otherwise. And thank GOD I decided to watch it in December last year and not when this streamed back in 2023 because I would have been so stressed by the long hiatus and the unknown as to if this will ever be picked up again. Hate to have things unfinished.

The concept of the story was really appealing and I think it delivered its promised genre very masterfully—there were no dull moments. As a sucker for the thriller/crime-solving genre, I was engaged all 30 episodes. It was so fun to watch and guess. And although I could already guess who the last boss was by halfway through, the reason was still unknown and keep me wondering why he was sacrificing so many innocent lives.

The acting of the casts—from the leads to the supporting roles—were decent and believable. They portrayed their characters so well that it felt like they gave life to the characters from the novel. This was my first drama of everyone and I think I have become a fan of Zhang Xincheng. He portrayed the zero apath Pei Su so well, like how he expressed his inner thoughts just by the shift of his eyes, those minor changes that screamed so loudly. I am already looking through his list of dramas and already anticipating his new drama “Southern Anecdote”. Fu Xinbo quickly grew on me too, liked his portrayal of Luo Wei Zhao. Wish to see more of him in leading roles.

The osts were great, I liked every song. They also brought depth to the story that the characters couldn’t say out loud.

Rewatch value? Well, 10 of course! Although they have cut so many scenes, some bugs me and make me think “if only they didn’t cut it out, it could make me squeal even more”, I still find this drama a decent work that I could watch it again and again.

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A Promising Crime Drama That Prioritizes Romance Over Plot

This drama had a lot of potential, especially with its combination of crime and romance. The main couple has great chemistry, and their romantic storyline is engaging and emotional. I genuinely enjoyed their moments together, and their relationship is one of the strongest aspects of the drama. The emotional connection between them feels natural, and it’s clear that romance is something the actors portray very well.

However, the biggest weakness of this drama is its imbalance between romance and the crime storyline. Since the drama is built around serious crime events, including multiple deaths and dangerous situations, I expected stronger tension, emotional weight, and more realistic reactions from the characters. Unfortunately, the crime aspect feels underdeveloped and sometimes overshadowed by the romance.

One major issue is the characterization of the police officers. Their roles feel too light and lack the seriousness expected from professionals dealing with life-and-death situations. They do not carry the emotional or psychological weight that should come with their responsibilities. This makes it difficult to fully believe in the world of the drama.

Another problem is the emotional realism of the characters. Many characters experience tragic losses, including the deaths of close friends and family members, yet their reactions feel minimal or almost nonexistent. These moments should have been powerful and impactful, but instead, they pass too quickly without proper emotional exploration. This weakens the overall storytelling and reduces the intensity of the crime narrative.

There are a few characters, like chereen and Bell, who show more realistic fear and emotional response, which makes them feel more believable. Unfortunately, most of the other characters do not show the same depth, which makes the overall character development feel incomplete.

The drama is not confusing in terms of plot, but emotionally it feels disconnected. Important events happen, but the characters do not always react in ways that reflect the seriousness of those events. This creates a gap between the story and the audience’s emotional experience. And last episode is sucks that is why i had to reduced stars.

Overall, this drama succeeds as a romance but falls short as a crime drama. The romantic storyline is strong and enjoyable, but the crime elements and character development lack depth and emotional weight. With stronger character writing and a better balance between romance and crime, this drama could have been much more powerful and memorable.

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