Reviews

Drop Your Prejudice At The Door

I say to drop your prejudice at the door because of the negative comments and reviews that some have expressed as being disappointing because it didn’t meat their expectations in the way the lead couples story ended.

The story was good - not always written well, and not always focused on the title, but it was decent.

I was hoping for a drama that was focused more on the men’s perception of love, but a lot of time was spent on the females themselves. Hu Yitisn’s character had a beautiful introduction and background details to the story and each little clip was very eloquent and touching. His character was that of the Editir in Chief for a paper magazine, and he portrayed this role of a quirky, detail oriented creative perfectly. He was wise, comforting yet straightforward, and balanced that out with the playfulness of being as he said early on, an adult man with the attitude of a teenager (osraphrased).

The FL was bubbly, innocent, very quick tempered and incredibly stubborn to the point of hurting the ML. She worried and ruminated on assumptions she made in regards to the ML rather than speaking to him directly. She gave everyone opportunities to explain and listened to them and judged wisely - yet when it came to the ML she jumped to conclusions and judgements faster than a kangaroo fleeing predators in the wild. I will give her credit, that once she got the stupid out of her thoughts she was able to see the truth.

Her character was frustrating and very selfabsorbed. Yet she was also capable of great compassion and warmth. I think most of her issues stemmed from overthinking and a low self esteem. So low that she kept everyone at arms length and tried to shoulder everything herself.

The 2FL/ML were initially odd. Tgey were the typical get physical first then get to know each other couple with a poor FL background and a rich 2nd gen ML whose mother that could not speak quietly or politely. She was a bully with a bank account and social status that tried to drive them apart. The ML had incredible control of being able to put his emotions of the role not only on his face, but his eyes as well.

The 2nd FL was annoying to me at first, even when her background came out she held people with money in a box assuming the 2ML was incapable of bringing her happiness or loving her long term.

The 3rd couple (husband and wife) were a mix of toxic soup. The husband was a notorious flirt, and the wife was a dominating distrustful person that only cared about her goals while holding her husband as an emotional hostage to her demands. She was constantly pushing her expectations, beating him with her suspicious theories and manipulating his friends into reporting things to her. Unfortunately, she figured out her mistakes after their divorce and even though she initially changed her behavior, little peeks of her attitude was returning.

The fourth couple ended up getting a LOT of screen time - almost to the point of leaving the Fml/fl very little time to resolve their breakup into a happy ending.

The ‘noble’ detachment of the 4ml from the 4fl was understandable - he battled feeling like he was betraying his late wife, his own feelings, and being manipulated by the 2ML and the girls mother (who is also the 2ML’s mother.

The 4fl was an annoying creature. Self-centered, headstrong, manipulative, crafty and downright aggressive in her pursuit of the 4mL at times. Her character was w remedy immature and very very spoiled. She could be very mature and handle work tasks professionally and quickly, but then turn into a whiney princess having a temper tantrum in a bar with a bottle of spirits the next. Her whiney voice when she was in princess mode was beyond annoying.

The 4ml was the stoic, self absorbed grieving husband of a woman who had passed way years ago. He was a lawyer and very capable of being tough and decisive within a case he had, but had no backbone to stand up on his own behalf. He was afraid of another relationship that might end in separation, afraid of his friend, the 2ml) ending their friendship, and refused to move on in a healthy way from his wife’s passing. So instead of facing things head on, he ‘nobly’ chose to push the 4fl away. I really hate that trope… its over used and not noble at all. In fact, it is exceedingly selfish and inconsiderate.

Tge appearance of the 1ML ex-girlfriend and her attempt to separate the leads was annoying but necessary. The ML couldn’t proceed into a relationship with the 1fl without removing tge emotional trauma left in his ex. I found it good that once they saw her at her exhibit, she was never heard from / seen again, and was a good shadow of how much influence she had in the ML’s heart after that.

Now…HYT was excellent in this role. He was able to show the depth of emotion he needed with facial expressions that mirrored the pain and happiness in his eyes. He seems to have matured a great deal and his already commanding screen presence
multiplued exponentially. He did an excellent job in this role. It was refreshing to see him being playful with his friends and the FL, serious at work, a stoic businessman and a loyal friend. He was quite handsome in his suits and yet a simple man who could dress casually and enjoy football game at home, or go to a cyber cafe to play video games with his friends. I am looking to seeing more from him soon.

Tge good news is, that even after all the trials and testing of each couple they ended up well.

And who can be unhappy with an OST sung by Liu Yuning?? icing on the cake!

So even though many people complained about the lack of chemistry between the couples, I found it realistic. A relationship that has gone through ups and downs, difficulty and hardship is very different than that of one soaking in fluffy clouds and candy hearts floating around. People have to learn to let go of their self obsession and learn to work together as a couple, and while this drama didn’t end up as many expected, they all came out with a bond forged together by those trials and into a healthy partnership where mutual support and respect inds them together.

Drop the expectations, and enjoy the story. 😎

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alur cerita mungkin sudah bagus , cuma yg bikin drama ini jelek tuh dari sifat pemeran utama laki laki nya , kaya gak punya harga diri , mencintai memang buta , cuma disini bukan lagi cinta melainkan bodoh , karna pemeran utama laki laki nya seperti gak ada harga diri nya , yg harusnya film di kemas begitu bagus , cuma perkara melihat karakter pemeran utama laki laki nya. jadi buat rusak semua nya , mending buat novel kalo mau alur cerita nya bgini mah , jangan buat film , bukan malah terlihat bagus , malah terlihat buruk , next tolong kalo buat film , lebih di pikirin lagi tentang mengenai harga diri , apalagi disini yg bersangkutan di film nya dia seorang bos besar , tampan , kaya raya ,

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The “Diamond” Michiko is back!

Daimon Michiko, the greatest surgeon of all time is back and working at Totei University Hospital- it sounds all fancy with bloated titles and rankings, but there is so much corruption and dirt under the surface. Leading the corrupted organization at this time is none other than Director Hiruma who remember had surgery done by Michiko in the last season and she saved his life, but his memory is short and his corrupted heart is stronger than his gratitude towards her so he continues to treat her like a pest that needs to be exterminated or exiled rather than the top surgeon that saves their entire reputation and does all the actual work. Everyone else is practically useless except for her. It’s like she’s the main character and all the others are NPCs with no real skills of their own, just self centered scripts to blow up their reputation.

This time the season starts with Michiko in NYC as she waltzes into a random hospital and starts doing surgery on some patient that falls down in the middle of a restaurant- I don’t get how there are all these stage 4 cancer patients just writhing in pain randomly like that, but hey it makes for good drama when they collapse and “need to have emergency surgery right now or they will die!” So Michiko saves this lady and catches the attention of this lady who stole her Gyoza dumplings- like seriously who steals food from Michiko when she’s hungry? Good food is one of the only real rewards she gets for all her genius work! Anyway this lady is the head of that hospital or something and she ends up going to Japan to Totei Hospital and bringing along with her this “Americanized” Japanese doctor Kitano who speaks both English and Japanese with a weird show off kind of accent, and hiring Michiko into her team. Turns out she’s the sister of the previous director of the hospital who has now conceded the position to Hiruma. So Akira San calls Michiko and tells her to come back home or “she’ll be fired,” so she starts/resumes her position at this hospital under Hiruma.

Michiko deals with new scandals and patients- famous patients, celebrities that are so famous that the whole country is dying to know about his surgery, etc. and of course most of them collapse in pain of course and need emergency surgery or else they will die lol. The most touching story was of the anesthesiologist Jonouchi who has life threatening cancer like everyone else and Michiko for the first time seems like she might fail and she even thinks that she has failed in the first round of surgery. But turns out it was a necessary failure to shrink the tumor and turn it back a stage to be able to be removed completely with another surgery. The scenes where her surgery was finished and her daughter Mai and Akira San go to the church to pray for her life was very touching and beautiful. It made me cry.

So another great season, and I’m here for Michiko. When I saw her tearing up at her bond and determination to save her friend and anesthesiologist colleague Jonouchi, it was very sweet. She has come a lot way since the first season - back then she didn’t give a crap about anyone and only handled the patient. But now it’s like her heart is softening and her colleagues Kaji, Haru, and even Kitano are there to help, all on Christmas Day. It’s very touching to see the collaboration and energy she brings around her. Even though at first she might seem hard to get along with, any genuine person knows that Daimon Michiko is full of compassion and love for those around her that she has dedicated her life to serving people all the time.

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Queen Mantis: The Sins That Bind

🔹 When I pressed play on Queen Mantis, I expected a classic mystery, but the mother-son dynamic struck a deeper chord.

🔹 Would I rewatch? No, but I leaned in for every clue.

✨If your mother were a serial killer, could you forgive her after twenty years, or would those memories haunt you?

📕 Overview
🔹 The series consists of 12 episodes and falls under the genres of crime and psychological thriller.
🔹Remake of French series La Mante
🔹 Go Hyun Jung as Jung I Sin gave me chills with her restrained and icy demeanor, even in silence.
🔹Jang Dong Yoon as Cha Su Yeol: the pain is visible before he even opens his mouth, and every scene with him is somber
🔹The drama begins when a copycat killing forces Su Yeol to confront the mother he has been avoiding his entire life.
🔹 6 episodes have aired at the time of this review

🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 Secrets from twenty years ago resurface with each new killing, trapping you in a suspenseful tension.
🔹 I found myself holding my breath during certain tense moments.
🔹Themes of family, guilt, justice, and forgiveness are present in every scene.
🔹 If you’ve seen mother-son dramas with a twist, this feels familiar, but the emotional turmoil is raw and real.

✨ Cast & Performances
🔹 Go Hyun Jung as Jung I Sin: I couldn’t look away. She’s terrifying yet layered with a maternal edge that makes her presence unforgettable
🔹 Jang Dong Yoon as Cha Su Yeol: his eyes carry the pain even before he speaks. He isn’t the hero type, just a weary son weighed down by history
🔹 The supporting cast added tension but felt underutilized; I wanted more insight into their motives and backstories.

🎶 OST
🔹 "Shadow" by Younha
🔹 "The Past Haunts" by Crush

🎞️ Production Style
🔹 It's all cold and cutting, designed to unsettle you.
🔹Dimly lit sets and shadows enhance even the most subtle details, making them more impactful.
🔹The uniforms and police rooms looked so realistic that I wouldn’t want to be in them.

☕ Tea Notes (Refined)
🔹 What worked: Go Hyun Jung's performance left a strong impression, and the mother-son tension added depth to the drama. The silences and dark visuals effectively maintained the suspense.
🔹 What didn’t work: The pacing felt slow at times, and I wished the supporting cast were more developed.
🔹 Would I rewatch? No
☕ SpillTheDramaTea’s Rating: 8/10 — a nice brew, I enjoyed it

✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, Queen Mantis felt gloomy but addictive.

✨ Which scene sent shivers down your spine, and did the family secrets ever feel too unbearable to handle?

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An absurd journey though past and future with three endearing silly boys

I went to see this film with no expectation whatsoever, and i ended up enjoying it very very much !

The story, set on another planet, is completely absurd but that's what makes it so enticing. It's funny, moving, endearing and yet somehow there is also a sadness to it.
What happens when your 17yo soul wakes up in your 37yo body? What happens when you know who you'll become? Can you change a future that's already happened? Can you live your teenage years as freely as before?
Those are some of the questions this film asks, amongst its action-packed scenes straight out of a 90s videogame and its over-the-top characters. The journey on which the three boys/men embark is filled with laughter, nostalgia, silliness , a hint of darkness and heavy-punches !

I truly enjoyed watching it and would definitely watch it again !

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Flawed but interesting suspense story

Helpless was a bittersweet watch as it starred the late Lee Sun Kyun as a desperate man searching for his missing fiancée. Director Byun Young Joo directed this film adapted from the Japanese novel, “Kasha.”

On the way to deliver their wedding invitation to his parents, Jang Moon Ho’s fiancée disappears from his car while he is purchasing coffee and snacks at a rest stop. The police ignore his requests for help assuming she’s a runaway bride. When his every step leads to more questions, he calls upon his old friend and ex-police officer Kim “Everyone Was Taking Bribes” Jong Geun. The trail to Kang Sun Young and her past becomes increasingly dark and twisted.

The acting in this film was quite strong. Each of the three main actors pulled off complex and believable performances. The first and last acts were tense and well crafted, though the ending tiptoed into overwrought territory. The middle became weighted with too many characters and not enough attention paid to the most interesting one…Kang Sun Young.

I don’t want to write anything that would fall into spoiler territory, for this film is best enjoyed going into it knowing little about it. The pace could be painstakingly slow at times carried only by the actors and their commitment to their characters and the story. Helpless was more suspense than thriller, but worth a watch if you enjoy this genre.

12 September 2025

Triggers: Strong allusions to sexual assault and trafficking, suicide. Butterfly murder.
Seeing Lee Sun Kyun-whatever his problems, he didn't deserve the death penalty he sentenced himself to. RIP.

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10 things I wish the drama did

I wish this drama:
- had less episodes
- wrote better filler or just not have any if you can’t write interesting ones
- follow the manga properly
- didn’t try to erase the BL part of the manga just to make the drama ‘pure’ human drama
- had romantic chemistry between the main characters
- didn’t cut off most of intimacy from the manga bc it was important to the plot and the character development not just for eye candy (I’m talking about just kiss that wasn’t pushed to the end, not the NC scenes)
- didn’t drag unnecessary episodes that wasn’t about the main
- wasn’t made by TV Tokyo which is famously known for making high budget BL but lowkey does not want the gay part on screen
- wasn’t a waste of huge budget
- was good so i could finish it properly since I’m a huge fan of manga

In conclusion, I like Kohei and the manga so i was so excited for this only to be slapped with such disappointment and waste of high budget that not many BL could have.

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Great to bad ...

I started watching this series and was instantly hooked on it. I'm not sure why, but it was just so intriguing, wondering how this relationship of an ordinary man would get involved and attached to a well known singing star idol. If you would have asked me to rate this series after the first six episodes, I would have given 10's across the board. It was just that great ...
But seriously, I have no idea what happened. The last three episodes were just horrible. I hate to use that word, horrible, and I've never used that word before in a review, but that's the only word I can think of.
Nothing against the acting or the actors, in fact, they were fantastic. Se Jong and Suzy did a great job at giving us two great performances, Ha Young, too ... but the story just fell apart in episodes 8 & 9.
By the time the last episode played out, I was just counting the minutes until it was over, hoping for a great finish. I wanted to see some conclusion that would leave me feeling like I did after the first six episodes ... but it didn't happen.
..... And the ending? I didn't get the ending at all. I watched the last 10 minutes twice, thinking I missed something, but I still didn't get it. Complete confusion as the credits rolled, along with total disappointment.

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Messy story, good everything else

I can't believe I slept on this hidden gem lol
I love the cast, TutorYim are cute but acting-wise not the best, Merk is fantastic, still never seen him as a main and I've been a fan of Willi since TTWE.
So I reluctantly started the show, didn't know that it would be one of my favourite guilty pleasures.

I have to say first, I expected messy story and I got exactly that, the whole "let's write a BL" thing and the xianxia novel inside the drama were extremely confusing, I mean, I don't know what happened there but why am I seeing repeated scenes of the xianxia novel 😂 what's going on! Is the editor high, or is it just as random as it appears to be.
But, on the other hands, I giggled a few times, the drama was so smooth, I wasn't bored while watching, the cast is easy on the eye and when it started to be boring they bombed up with NC scenes that got us on the edge of our seats.

Cast was great, I feel a little sorry for Conan, my boy had to sit still and look pretty most of the scenes, and the language barrier didn't help either, I don't know why they had to cast Chinese actors in this , is this because it's originally a Chinese novel?? Well, it doesn't matter, he was still adorable 🥰. The other guy did speak Thai I believe but it wasn't much better ~
Tutor and Tim have improved since middleman, so it wasn't as painful to watch as I expected, maybe just a little bit but it still was more enjoyable than I expected.
The thing that I didn't like but I could tolerate is the slow motion, I mean the cast are moving in X0.25 speed ,I mean putting one hand in pocket or raising a glass of water to your mouth would take 2 minutes, I watched the whole thing in X2 speed and I didn't miss a word, that sums it up ~

I have to dedicate a full section in my review for ep 10, I see everyone talking about ep9 ... But helloooo!! Ep 10!!! Mark?? Anyone?? How the F**K did everyone just ignore the 10th episode!! Holy butt!!! I was.. speechless!!.... F**KING MARK SORNTAST BUANGAM!!!!!! Boy!! why aren't you getting any main roles yet FFS!!!!??? Holy mother of squishy asses!! I mean, it was impressive .... The ep I mean *wink*wink* ...
I admit I had to check Gems's age a few times because I panic when I see young actors playing daring roles, and I thought he was too young for NC scenes, fortunately he's old enough, also what made me more nervous is my baby was all smiles for the whole series and he had to CRY RIVERS when he started to make out with Pie, then the great reveal!!! No Sh*t ! I thought i'd be traumatised!!!!!! Then ep 12 came, and I'm definitely traumatised!!! But not for the same reason 😂😂

Now moving on, (yes, please) I think this deserves more recognition because I found it purely by chance, I mean, I thought I would rate it a 5-ish 6 ... Now it's almost 8 ... I call that The Mark effect😂
All in all, it's a fluffy, completely ridiculous, very random, with asses drama that definitely worth watching, if you're ok with that, give it a go ~

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A Chilling Masterpiece – Exhuma

"Exhuma" is a mesmerizing folklore-driven horror mystery that had me hooked from start to finish 🌌. I’ll be honest—I personally hate horror because it scares the living hell out of me 😱, but this film was so beautifully crafted that I sat through every second, completely drawn in.

Kim Go-eun absolutely shines here ✨—her performance is not only powerful but also hauntingly graceful, she gave me chills while being strangely captivating. The folklore elements woven throughout the film were fascinating, deep, and layered, adding a whole new dimension that felt rooted in history and culture without ever feeling confusing.

The cast as a whole delivers superbly, from Choi Min-sik’s commanding screen presence to Yoo Hae-jin’s grounded performance, and Lee Do-hyun’s intensity that balances out the supernatural tension. Every actor brought their own spark, making the ensemble unforgettable.

The cinematography, the chilling sound design, and that eerie yet enchanting atmosphere elevated the story beyond just “horror”—it became an experience. Honestly, "Exhuma" isn’t just a film, it’s a folklore-infused masterpiece that left me both terrified and in awe. 🌙🔥

⭐ 10/10 — and it’s easily one of the most unique Korean horror films I’ve ever seen.

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A Hauntingly Beautiful Ride – Holy Night: Demon Hunters

I’ll admit it upfront — I usually cannot handle horror 😅👻. It scares the living hell out of me and I tend to avoid it at all costs. But Holy Night: Demon Hunters pulled me in so strongly that I sat through it, and by the end, I absolutely loved every moment 💯🔥. It’s dark, mysterious, and gripping, yet the emotional pull makes it more than just a horror-action film.

The cast is phenomenal 🌟. Ma Dong-seok owns every scene as Ba-woo, with unmatched strength and presence. Seohyun as Sharon is magnetic, elegant, and absolutely unforgettable 🌙✨. Lee David as Kim Gun adds a smart and witty energy that balances the intensity, while Kyung Soo-jin as Jung-won brings an emotional core that feels grounded and real. And of course, Jung Ji-so is hauntingly brilliant as Eun-seo — delicate yet chilling, leaving a lasting impression 💕.

The visuals and atmosphere are equally powerful — eerie, tense, and beautifully shot 🌌. The action scenes are thrilling, the suspense keeps you on edge, and the soundtrack 🎶 ties everything together perfectly. Even as someone who normally avoids horror, I found myself completely immersed and unable to look away.

At its heart, Holy Night: Demon Hunters is not just about battling darkness, but about courage, trust, and human connection ✨. Despite being outside my comfort zone, it ended up being one of the most memorable films I’ve watched — proof that sometimes, the scariest journeys are also the most rewarding 💖.

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This show is "water"... crashing, powerful, adapting but also gentle

One of the best series I've ever watched and definitely my highlight of 2025. It's absolutely brilliant written from start to end. Love all the characters and their chemistry. Finally a strong and smart FL. ML went from red to green flag in a very adorable way. I love Liu Yu Ning's improvement. Didn't know Song Zu Er before, but these two we're so perfect together (even the bts are so cute). Their process from enemy to lovers - slow burn romance burned hard. It has everything - an emotional rollercoaster, it made you smile, laugh hard, made you angry, made you cry, proud, gave you butterflies...
I like the way they handle misunderstandings, no unnecessary drawnouts that made those dramas annoying. They handled it with more sensitivity, vulnerability, honesty and just right communication. And sometimes a smart move how to open a box badass-like - I loved that scene and the reactions of the generals ;)

Aaaand the support cast was awesome. I think Wei Yan was so lovable. The generals and especially Wei Liang - made me laugh and cry!!!

Normally I have trouble finishing cdramas without fast-forwarding scenes because of the maaaany episodes, to drawn out stories, the really mean villains who you just can't stand, stories are often too much... but this one felt more human. Even the villains felt human, their actions and decisions made sense because of their past and circumstances that made them to act that way.

I can really recommend this one.

GREAT JOB!!!

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Mulan would be disappointed!!!

I don't understand what all the fuss is about!

Bad dialogue, boring/bad acting, stupid logic... FL was badass in the first 2 episodes (that's why I watched it) and then get more and more into girly-teenie mode in every episode. She should disguise as a man but looks, talks (doesn't even try to change her voice) and acts extremely feminine. Every normal person would recognize her as a woman. And then she's super strong and way too perfect. How can a soldier just do whatever he wants, comes and goes to your commander, talks like he's on the same level, makes fun of him, walks into his room (even drunk!) and talks about random topics... come on, no discipline, no military decorum, no consequences... nothing???

Don't judge a book by its cover... well this one only has a beautiful cover and a shallow content.
So sorry for the leads. I like Zhou Ye but her role in LOTFG is absurd.

Skipped some scenes and finally dropped at episode 14.

Now I have to rewatch "The Prisoner of Beauty"... I need a good writing after this.

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