Reviews

Enjoyable But Could Have Been Better

I quite enjoyed the series overall though I wouldn't call it a favourite in the transmigration genre. But there is a lot to love about it.

Firstly, the leads are incredible! The FL is stunning and she is a strong, graceful, charming woman with a good head on her shoulders. She is the brains behind the collaboration of the leads. ML is the executioner. He is strong yet gentle, brave and understanding and trusts the FL which is what makes their dynamic work so well. He trusts her even before she trusts him. More than their romance, I enjoyed their chemistry and banter.

Secondly, the other characters. I loved the SFL and Mr Bai the most. The scholars were nice too. It's always great when secondary and supporting characters bring life to the drama. I also liked the physician but sadly his role was small.

Third, the plot. No drama can succeed on acting alone. If the plot is weak, it all falls apart. The story of How Dare You has a good flow and never gets boring. There is also mystery about certain characters which helped kept me interested in the story. Fortunately we don't really have a misunderstanding and breakup trope or at least not really. Whatever happens is resolved almost immediately.

Fourth, I got emotional in certain parts and I feel the ML conveyed them really well.

I enjoyed the drama OST too. It suited the scenes a lot.

Where it failed to hit the mark:
I expected this to be more comedic than it is. The title also makes you think it will be more funny than serious. It starts off funny but gets a bit more dramatic and serious 7 - 10 episodes in. There is light comedy here and there to make you smile but no laughs from my end.

The action sequences. Usually the leads are involved in the fighting and action scenes as much as the side characters but that's not the case in this drama. Though I didn't mind the leads not fighting at alll, I felt the action scenes itself were kind of average or overly dramatic. And I'm a sucker for a good action sequence so this mattered to me.

The SML was okay. I don't feel much for him which isn't a good thing.

The ending. It was quite abrupt and tbh I didn't understand what happened at all until I read some explanations. I don't really like when directors expect you to fall back on the source to fill in your gaps. But I also understand why they did it that way. Since it involves censorship, I can't call it bad storytelling. Still... they could have compensated in other ways so it was disappoiinting.

Introducing a character late and then the twist. I'm not sure the twist was needed.

Romance. Though the leads' chemistry is great, the romance is okay. You won't find much of it since there is a lot of planning and scheming going on. Since everything was good, I didn't care too much so I'm mentioning this last. As romance can be huge for some viewers, I thought I would point this out.

To sum up, How Dare You is quite enjoyable but it also leaves you wanting a bit more.

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Title: Matori to Kyoken EP.4

A gritty late-night crime drama set in Hiroshima, based on the manga serialized in Young Champion.

The story follows a former child actor turned small-time drug dealer who is forced into becoming an informant — not just for one side, but for both a narcotics agent and a police officer.

What begins as survival quickly turns into a dangerous double-spy triangle.

The contrast between the two “mad dogs” is one of the most interesting elements:
Kurosaki, the relentless narcotics officer, and Katsuragi from the Metropolitan Police, who brings an entirely different intensity.

Casting is unexpectedly strong — Daigo Nishihata as the conflicted protagonist, Yoshihiko Hosoda as the ruthless narcotics officer, and Osamu Mukai adding weight and presence.

It’s not flawless, and the tone sometimes wavers, but the premise is bold and intriguing enough to keep watching.

If you enjoy morally gray characters and tense power dynamics, this one might be worth checking out.

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Just Great

It’s been some time since I have seen such a good movie. The atmosphere was great, music was amazing and the actors were incredible. Skipped nothing, and will watch it again. As the movie was ending I felt like you kinda new something was gonna happen, as there always is with those kind of movies and I just cried for the last 20 minutes, Still amazing. Wouldn’t have hated a happy ending, but it still kinda fitted. I really liked the vibe of this movie. I went in with completely different expectations, but it’s very heartwarming. It reminded me of 20th century girl, but in cinematic. Definitely keep this one in mind. would recommend.

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This Couple Gave Me Diabetes (In the Best Way)

I finished this drama in just a couple of hours and I was smiling from start to finish. It is my first jdrama of 2026 and honestly it was such a good way to start the year. This one gave me butterflies the whole time.

The story is simple and familiar. Contract marriage, dating app meeting, girl trying to move on from a five year relationship, guy genuinely looking for a wife. Nothing groundbreaking. But it is done so well that you do not even care that you have seen this trope before. It starts fluffy and it ends fluffy. No villains, no heavy negativity, just pure heartwarming vibes.

What truly makes this drama special is the male lead. He is gentle, respectful, and completely swoon worthy. He respects boundaries and consent, communicates clearly, and never forces anything. Watching a couple actually talk about their feelings instead of dragging misunderstandings for episodes was so refreshing. Ami also grows a lot. She starts off a bit hesitant to open up, but her character development feels natural and satisfying.

The chemistry between the leads is honestly off the charts. Their expressions, their smiles, their small moments together all feel natural and adorable. I was giggling, kicking my feet, and questioning my single life in multiple languages. The side characters were also surprisingly mature. The ex was not toxic, and even the unrequited feelings were handled gracefully without pettiness.

It is short, sweet, and dangerously cute. Only seven episodes, but it delivers maximum warmth. If you want something light, comforting, and full of healthy romance, this is perfect. Just be prepared for a serious sugar overload.

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"If men are human, then women are, too!"

The last place I was expecting to find such a delightfully feminist film was a 1949 Mizoguchi film titled Flame of My Love. Set during the late 1800s as the Liberal Party sought to expand human rights, our heroine Hirayama Eiko fought for women to be included in those equal rights. The patriarchy doesn’t fold that easy, even with “progressive” males supposedly working for those rights.

Hirayama Eiko is sad to see her boyfriend, Hayase Ryuzo, leave for Tokyo to more fully immerse himself in the Liberal Party. Eiko desperately wants to join him but he dissuades her. The maid she grew up with, Chiyo, is also leaving for Tokyo, having sold herself to help her family financially. After fighting with her father and her school being closed down, Eiko packs her bags and lands on Hayase’s doorstep, something he is not too happy about. Fortunately, his boss, Omoi Kentaro, finds her a place to live and a job at their newspaper. Betrayal, good times, hard times, and more betrayals await Eiko as she fights the good fight for women’s rights.

(I won’t be going into the historical setting much because all I know of this time period and the people involved are what I gleaned from a cursory glance at Wikipedia. Several characters represented real people from the Meiji government and Liberal Party though their names were changed.)

Tanaka Kinuyo seemed a little long in the tooth at 40 to be playing Eiko, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s to either mentally age or de-age actresses. Eiko was a female character to be proud of. She worked tirelessly and fearlessly for the party’s cause and for women. Along the way she learned that subjugation and exploitation ran deeper than she’d thought. She also discovered that women were brainwashed from birth to accept their secondary role and to believe that they absolutely needed a man in their life. Attempting to change the status quo would be daunting. She, however, had the heroic Omoi on her side and by her side. Together they would set the world aright. ***(spoilery comment below)

Eiko was one of the strongest, most committed female characters from this time period that I’ve seen. She didn’t let men completely limit her, despite society’s cage around women. And for sure she didn’t let anyone tell her that she or other women were less than, regardless of economic class. No one could convince her that her self worth was tied to being a wife and mother. She refused to capitulate no matter the dire circumstances. I seriously loved this character. She may not have been able to conquer the world, but she worked to improve the lives and minds of women around her. While women have made great strides in the last nearly 80 years, there are always those people who want to revert to the “good old days” and strip women of the rights and progress we’ve made. While I can never forgive Mizoguchi for betraying Tanaka in real life, I can grudgingly respect this film he created.

“It will be a hard journey and we may not reach our goal. But if no one makes the first step, women will never know freedom!”


23 February 2026
Trigger Warnings: Rape and attempted rape-several times. The film didn’t shy away from women’s vulnerability at work, in prison, in private situations with men they should have been able to trust, or being “filial” by selling themselves into prostitution. Infidelity: “Whether I have one woman or two doesn’t change anything.” That’s what you think buddy. Does it work both ways?



Spoilery comment below:




***Omoi was all about women’s equal rights and using Eiko’s gifts. That is, until he Stepford Wifed her in a moment of utter betrayal. To her credit, Eiko refused to be cowed or gaslighted. Good woman. If everyone isn’t free and equal, no one is. You preach, girl!

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It was weirdly entertaining

This is Perfect if you are looking for a series that’s cute, easy to watch, and not overly dramatic.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Although a little cringy, this was a very cute and entertaining series. The script may not be a masterpiece, but it’s not horrible. Nevertheless, there were some aspects that were either annoying and/or ridiculous to me. On the positive side, I liked how the predictable plot twists did not have predictable outcomes. The entire cast did an incredible job with portraying their characters and really saved this series. This is another good example why casting is very important. Just a heads up, there is a language barrier component to this series. However, the portrayal of the language differences between Junji and the other characters is more realistic compared to some other BL series. It also helped that Mukai Koji did a great job interacting with the rest of the cast. Although it had very cool graphics, the production team did not do the greatest job using their screentime. This had a lot of filler scenes and unnecessary flashbacks.

Random Note:

My favorite line was when Junji said “I’m not an idol.” to Hill in episode 10 considering the actor (Mukai Koji) is one (he’s a singer and member of the group Snow Man).

(Updated on 4/5/2026): The location used for Phat’s home was also used in the series “To the Moon and Back” (Trai’s parents’ home) and “Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist” (Jay’s childhood home).

The location used for Junji’s Thailand apartment was also used in the series “My Magic Prophecy” (Pong’s condo), “Happiness” (Sophida and Yoshi’s apartment), “Peaceful Property” (Home’s condo in America), “Wandee Goodday” (Ter’s condo), “Only Boo” (Shone’s condo), “My School President”, and “Good Old Days” (Phu’s condo).


******Potential Spoiler Alert******

The weak aspects. This series basically has a hinted “I’m not gay, but I like him” vibe that did irritate me. I don’t understand why it was such a big deal that Yuku was modeled after Junji. I was not a fan of the weird office spying scenes and skipped them.

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dmd finally making good shows

i am an absolute sucker for basic, simple, just fun and cute university dramas—so clearly this is right up my alley. BUT if you want a complex and interesting story this obviously isn’t the bl for you.

things i like:
- the classic grumpy x sunshine trope
- how unique duang’s personality is without being over the top + he doesn’t act like an actual child despite being silly
- the supporting cast are all very natural and they seem like actual, comfortable friends
- ost is so catchy i’ve been singing it for a whole month
- plot is easy to follow without being boring
- the acting is very good considering this is most of the cast’s first or one of their first projects
- the fun sound effects
- honestly everything TT

things i dislike:
- there is some cringe moments where i seriously had to pause and take a breather…

anyways this is just the fluffiest and sweetest drama and teeteepor are just so cute and attractive together!!!!!

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Fucking underrated

Damn what a series. Fucking good series. Great story, great acting, great OST. Just series doesn't have some cheesy cringe moment then bl fans ignore those series. This series should be fucking popular but idk why people are not promoting story like this? Idk why this series is so underrated? If u see other bl series then this way much better than. Personally me and thee is worst series i ever watched and unnecessarily popular with basic cringe acting, basic story. I was traumatized after watching me and thee. Dropped after ep 5. So Goddess Bless from death deserve more love from BL fans. Good series always get less fans idk. And bad series get more love and praise. If story is good then i wish then some NC scene but this first series i am okay without any NC scene. Top tier series. 10000000/10

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The most unexpected comedy

I watched this because of Zhao Huinan and never familiar with Gao Yang works. Both of the actor are delivers their role and i never expected both can do comedy,

It's hilarious and worth the time to watch. The storyline is different from other shows. It's very funny and i noticed ML eye bag was growing BIG as the story goes because FL was stressing him out. I love that for he. The combination between FL's fierce and domineering FL combined with the ML's arrogant and aloof demeanor is a perfect match for fire energy person.

The ending was quite unclear and i haven't found the season 2. Worth to watch.

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I keep coming back to this...

This is hands down one of my most favorite dramas of all time. I love how simple it is. Yes, it's a celebrity drama so how "real" can it really be but Reba's character was written in such a lovely way that she seems like a normal person. Yang Yang also killed it in this drama! I know a lot of people criticize his acting but I think he did a great job. My most favorite thing about YY and DD as a couple? The hugs. They have THE BEST hugging scenes in any drama that I just replay every scene with hugging in it.

I highly recommend you watch this if you're looking for a comfort watch!!!

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Explosively Blows Up a lot of Kdrama Canon (not in a good way)

My rating: 6.5/10

Dynamite Kiss starts off with a bang—literally, thanks to that explosive first kiss between Go Da-rim and Gong Ji-hyeok on Jeju Island. The opening episodes are full of charm, sharp chemistry between the leads who bring real spark, funny banter, and that classic rom-com energy that hooks you right away. The setup feels fresh and fun, with the fake-relationship trope flipped into something workplace-adjacent after Da-rim's desperate job lie lands her in Ji-hyeok's team at the baby products company. I would've easily given the first two episodes a 9/10—they had me convinced this was going to be a standout lighthearted K-romance.

But unfortunately, the show loses steam after that strong start. It shifts away from the breezy, feel-good momentum and piles on contrived misunderstandings, rushed developments, and choices that feel out of step with typical K-drama portrayals of relationships and social norms. The pacing drags in the middle, and while there are still sweet and funny moments (the leads' chemistry carries a lot), the later episodes feel increasingly unbelievable and frustrating. It's watchable and has highlights, but it falls apart enough that I wouldn't rewatch it personally. If recommending it to someone, I'd do so with major caveats—mainly that the early episodes shine, but expect some eye-rolling logic gaps and tonal shifts later on. (And yes, spoilers would be needed to explain why it doesn't fully deliver.)

One point that stands out even more on reflection is how the fake-marriage element was handled. The job was specifically for the "Mother TF Team" at the baby products company (Natural BeBe), targeting working mothers. Another team member was a genuine single mom who got hired around the same time, so yes—Da-rim could have plausibly applied as a single mother without needing to invent a husband. Pretending to be a single mom would've kept the lie smaller and more believable (single parenthood is tough but not unheard of), and it would've avoided layering on the extra moral weight of faking an entire marriage.

By making her pretend to be married, the show amps up the stakes unnecessarily—Ji-hyeok's internal conflict becomes about pursuing a "married woman," which feels heavier and more taboo in K-drama terms. A single-mom pretense would've let his attraction develop with less guilt (he's not breaking up a marriage, just navigating her having a child), potentially making the romance feel less fraught and more organic. Instead, it piles on extra angst and misunderstanding that drags things down later. This choice contributes to why the show shifts from charming rom-com to frustrating for many viewers, including me.

Spoilers

As a long-time viewer of Asian dramas (over 400 under my belt), I have a solid sense of the moral frameworks and social norms that K-dramas usually uphold—even if they're dramatized and not always 100% reflective of real Korean culture. This show really deviates from those in ways that made it hard to stay invested.

The core issue starts with Go Da-rim's initial lie: she pretends to be a married mother (with her childhood friend Seon-u, the single dad photographer, posing as her husband) to get the job reserved for moms. I get the desperation—financial pressures from her mom's health and other issues—but it's tough to fully root for her when she's portrayed as someone who's struggled with jobs due to skill or consistency issues, not just bad luck. Then suddenly, she's excelling at marketing, advertising, and sales in the workplace? It doesn't quite add up why such talent went unnoticed before.

The Jeju Island fling is another sticking point. That "dynamite kiss" is intentional and passionate, and they nearly sleep together—without extreme intoxication or buildup that usually excuses bolder moves in K-dramas. Da-rim is surprisingly casual about it, which feels off for the typical morality portrayed (first kisses are often accidental or tentative in these stories). Then she bolts the next morning without explanation after her mom's emergency, leaving Ji-hyeok confused and hurt. Later, she's baffled when he's distant? In K-drama logic, that level of intimacy (especially the almost-sex) would basically mean they're dating now—she owed him at least some communication about why she vanished. An apology even. I mean that level of intimacy is considered a big deal.

Ji-hyeok's side has inconsistencies too. He's supposedly engaged (or headed toward marriage) to another woman, but it barely factors in. His pursuit of Da-rim focuses almost entirely on her being "married," with little internal conflict about his own commitment. In most K-dramas, cheating or pursuing someone attached is a massive moral red flag—yet here he shrugs off his own engagement. No big societal fallout or media scandal for someone of his chaebol status, which doesn't align with how engagements of that caliber are usually handled (public, high-profile, scandal-prone).

Then there's Seon-u, Da-rim's longtime friend with implied unrequited feelings (longing looks, subtle comments). We expect a second-lead angst triangle, but he barely makes romantic moves. Instead, he spills her big secret (that the marriage is fake) to Ji-hyeok's fiancée, whom he's just met—supposedly to clear things up for her attraction to him. Violating a 20-year friendship like that for someone new? It feels wildly out of character and unnecessary.

The fiancée's quick pivot to pursuing Seon-u (a single dad) is another norm-breaker. She becomes interested in him and finds out pretty quickly he's a single dad. She pauses briefly when she thinks he's married, but as soon as she knows he's not, she's right back in romantic pursuit. This doesn't make sense because she should be considering her own engagement—yet that never seems to factor in. In K-drama canon, single parenthood carries heavy stigma—characters usually wrestle with biases before accepting it and the older generations still look down on it a lot. Here, she doesn't even miss a step or hesitate; she doesn't bat an eye once she learns he's not actually married, pursuing him aggressively without any apparent concern for the social implications of dating a single parent. That level of instant acceptance feels too dramatic a shift from traditional portrayals. And, just a few scenes before, she was trying to get Ji-hyeok to kiss her to test the chemistry. Her behavior toward him implied she was, and had been, interested in a romantic relationship with him. Her past behavior would lead one to think she should be thrilled about the engagement. But not so much. She sees Seon-u, and it is suddenly like never mind.

Adding to the things that just didn't add up: Ji-hyeok's sister wants him to fail because she obviously wants the company and doesn't want her brother to get attention. But some of the things she does wouldn't have been about the company's success—she could've made him fail in ways that wouldn't have damaged the company's reputation. For her to sabotage him in ways that did harm the company doesn't make any sense, as it undercuts her own potential future gains.

Everyone in the show comes across as practically shallow, just like the little kid (Seon-u's son). He likes Ji-hyeok's fiancée because she's pretty—not because she's nice or anything else—but simply because she's pretty, and he wants her to be his dad's girlfriend only based on that. Even though he's supposedly had some relationship with Da-rim where he was almost treating her like a mom at one point, he so quickly forgets that because of this pretty new possibility. Him so quickly deciding that the fiancée should be his dad's girlfriend because she was pretty... I mean, it matches a little kid vibe in a way where everybody’s looking for the "pretty mom" or whatever, but he had an emotional connection with the main character. A motherless child is going to be more interested in a motherly figure than a pretty face.

It is just a series of events that break K-drama canon. Characters that are shallow and annoying lies. I dropped it after completing episode six because I read other reviews and knew it wasn't going to come together well, somehow all be excusable and make sense, and end harmoniously.

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Main Problem: No sparks between WHZ and HCY and Sloppy Production

I watched this on last year because of Wang Hao Zhen and the premises was very promising at first but it turns out to be my biggest disappointment from him.

The plot lacks twists and turns, as does the romance, making it overall quite uninteresting. The acting itself isn't the main problem; Wang Hao Zhen and Hou Cheng Yue still delivers the role but their acting weakness was obviously shown as chemistry almost non-existent and there is no sparks between them. The plot execution was the main problem and the production team were lack from the way they editing the drama.

There are too many close-up shots, and the lack of filters and beauty effects exposes the actors' flaws in appearance. Every screenshot is unflattering; to exaggerate, this series is truly a disgrace to the leads reputations. Even the most handsome men and beautiful women can't withstand such close-ups.

The color tone is also poor, the camerawork is terrible, and there are many meaningless long takes that leave viewers confused. The kissing scenes are also full of close-ups, with no background music, resulting in neither aesthetic appeal nor any atmosphere.

I never rate Wang Hao Zhen drama lower than this .Even two of his dropped drama was better than this, ugh.

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