Reviews

Mature Storyline, Enough Chemistry, Finding Love Together

First off, I just want to say I'm a huge fan of both ML and FL , so I knew they wouldn't disappoint and they didn't.
The storyline follows Xiguang who has a crush on her collegemate and actively pursues him only to be met with cold and nonchalant reception. Embarrassed by consecutive line of events, she decides to let go and starts working in another city. This is where she meets the future "sun in my life" 🥹 who also has his own issues(don't worry, won't spoil this) and goes down on a road of healing, love and redemption.
The storyline kept me seated, I love the rich x rich trope , felt so balanced. Both were so mature in talking about their feelings, they were scenes where it would have been good to potray miscommunication but they trusted each other to hear what the other had to say. The ML was a simp but not the kind of simp that doesn't have boundaries. He was able to let her know when he needed space and she understood. I enjoyed it so much, it felt like a beautiful romance with just enough drama to keep you glued but not frustrated. 10/10, no Notes

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A Hidden Gem, Worth the Watch

I really loved this one. I think it’s a nice little gem for an early Luo Yunxi watch. I’m not very familiar with the KO series, but this is a spin-off, and I had so much fun with it. Though not every scene was a win—I skipped through a bit of the beginning dialogue—I was engaged with pretty much the rest of the series.

I found myself laughing through the first half, which relied heavily on comedic and offbeat delivery. I also loved the supporting cast, who did a great job elevating the humor. I thought the overall dynamics between the characters worked so well that I ended up loving many of their roles. Near the halfway mark, some of the groundwork woven into the humorous moments began to take over, and the narrative segued into a more serious turn. This shift carried through the second half of the drama and

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A must-watch

The First couple was arc and arm (player by Force and Book > I really like themmm). For me the chemistry was sooo good, you could literally see it. It really felt like they are married or smth. I also like them for the funny parts especially with their friends. It was Overall really cute and funny. I also wanted to say that i really like arc for his pacience like he waited one yearr. There was just one thing I didnt understand or didnt like at all. It was the Jacket thing... Why was arm so dramatic about this? I mean its arcs jacket but still, he literally had a Breakdown. Back to the good Things about them. In the following eps they were sooo cute togetherrr. In the whole series they had lots of scenes what I personally really enjoyed watching.

Next in the series are pond and Sand (played by marc and ohm). I dont have much to say... I did not like them. It seemed too rushed and there was no chemistry. It was for me overwhelming and I didnt like pond bcuz he was too emotionless. The only good thing was that they didnt fight...Ig...

The third couple is yotha and gun (player by perth and santa > also like them). They had great chemistry right from the beginning and it was really heart-warming.They acted really well and I literally felt with them. Almost in every scene I was blushing cuz they are soooo cute togetherrr. I loved the scenes with the pajamassss I also want thiss!! I loved it that yotha chose him and really likes gun and shows it (literally in every scene or when he gets a oppurtunity) even tho they had their problems. But one thing i didnt like was the kiss misunderstanding with wa (yothas ex). I mean its good that you want to proof that you dont have Feelings anymore but kissinggggg???!!! I thing that was a bit too much. But okay. Overall it was veryyy good and something else.

Now klao and wa (played by aou and boom). First I was a bit unsure about them because I thought wa wasnt serious about the relationship but now I like themmm. They could have more scenes tho.

And lastly faifa and wine (played by junior and mark). I really enjoyed watching this because I was really cute. I also really liked the story of faifa (i can kinda relate). It was very understanding and very thoughtfull. The chemistry was also good and the actingggg. Loved it!! It was really nice and funny to watch bcuz of them (really enjoyed watching faifa > really funny). But even tho he has his funny side he also shows the other one to wine. But sometimes it felt like wine had an interesting dialoge. Sometimes a bit cringe but still alright.

Overall the series was very good and funny. Personally I would like to see more of po (jj) cuz I really liked his acting. He was hilarious and brought in a light athmosphere. Even tho there are some Things i would Chance it was verryy good and funny. A good story and i liked those switches in the First eps between past and präsent.

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Just what I was looking for to cheer me up after a very wet January and start to February in the UK

This is the very first Vertical series with over 80 episodes I’ve watched. It’s a great binge watch. The title belies its content but is alluded too Re romance novels. Enjoyed watching the lead characters’ relationship develop. The age difference wasn’t a problem. Same difference as Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy! I am surprised it is not ranked higher. . I thought it was well directed. The characters played their parts well. I think pushy mothers are a thing the world over. Love it that the MLs family didn’t have any scheming parents, siblings or others trying to thwart their path. Cinematography very good considering the limitations.
Recommend to those who want to see an uncomplicated love story.

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Just wonderful - Don't miss it

Things I adored

1 The ML. What fabulous actor and what a great role. I fell in love with him from the first scene and was first with his character. How can you not fall in love with someone who's unique and talented and hard working and never lets life and stupid people get in his way. I wish there were more dramas with him I could watch. And to think I don't even find him handsome in a classic way, yet he was so perfect in his role I found him more than handsome in the end. I'm already on his profile looking for other shows with him.

2 The FL. Such a great actress and a positive character. I loved her as well from the very first moment and she never disappointed me. She is a great actress although I have to say that since this is my first drama with her I don't know how she'll do with another script and I hope she does better in the romance scenes because here there was something lacking. I'm going to search for other shows with her for sure.

3 Pei XI. Another wonderful character and his story was one of the most compelling. I loved every minute he was in and I was so happy for his story arc. The way it started it continued and ended. It was perfect all the way.

4 Lin Yi Xuan. What an adorable character and the actor did a great job to make me care about him. A loyal friend, a fierce competitor and the dash of humor we needed in this drama. He was perfect all the way.

5 Summer. Not a big character but he made me laugh the more with Lin Yi Xuan and he was also a great friend with a big heart. What else can you ask? His smile made me smile and his actions made my heart fond.

6 The friendship. The relationship between these characters was the highlight of the show along with the competition. I've never seen so many friendships that stood time so well and proved to be solid and real. I cried a lot of times and laughed as many and my heart grew fond of all of them. Such a great bunch of friends and competitors.

7 The script. The screenwriter did a great job creating so many real, compelling characters. I wouldn't even be able to choose my favorite from the cast. I adore the ML, but the rest of the cast is as good.

8 The competition part. It was thrilling and it's the first time after maybe a 100 shoes that I stayed awake for two nights to watch the series. Never happened to me to watch a whole series in two days and nights. I watched a lot of series I adored but I could stop for a few days and go back while here I couldn't stop. I just wanted to see what happened and how. Honestly, if not for the lacking in the romance department this would be on my top 3 shows.

Things I loved

1 The game universe. I didn't think I would, and some things went over my head, but it didn't take away from my pleasure. Competition was thrilling and I was at the edge of my seat until the last minutes.

2 The 2FL. I loved her, she was a great friend and a good journalist, but didn't adore her. Only one reason to this. She acted too childish sometimes, to the point that it was frustrating. I wish her relationship with Lin Yi Xuan was better developed as well. It still was adorable, though.

3 Gu Fang. We didn't have the chance to get to know him better but the little we saw made me love him and his behavior after the first championship was exemplary of a great athlete. I also loved his relationship with the ML.

4 Xia Ling. Another adorable character who contributed to make the series compelling, Not only the story with his sister was interesting but also his personal growth. I would have done without the drama but it wasn't that bad.

5 Sun Ze Yi. I repeat myself but he as also a great character and I'm so happy with his story arc. I think his was one of the most compelling. The actor played well and I'm happy with his personal story as well. I wish we could have seen more of his romantic arc.

6 Shu Wen. I loved her and how she stood up for what she believed. I loved her relationship with the ML, her ex and her team. A positive smart character whom I'd love to watch more as well.

Things I liked

1 Luo Tian. I wasn't fond of the actor to be honest, but his character won some points after he behaved so well with the FL. Not a negative point, though. He did his part and contributed to the whole series.

Things I disliked

1 I don't think make Luo Tian have feelings for the FL even though it never went far was necessary. I'm not even sure it contributed anything except for a few scenes that could have been done another way to express what the writer wanted.

2 The way the treated the romance part. Although I get that this was primarily a competition focused drama the romance was a big part of it and it should have been done better. They did dirty on the ML with the way they wrote some scenes and they never took the time to have the main leads have an explanation and that's a complete miss for me. I invested so many hours I think I deserved to see them happy and have a good explanation instead of a rush ending. Another thing the messed u was that they created a warm, great relationship between the ML and his ex and showed us how in love they were but failed to do so with the FL. That's something that frustrated me a lot.

3 The lack of chemistry between the leads when it comes to romance. let me explain because this is tricky. They had great chemistry when they bickered, it was a treat. Same for when they became friends. They were adorable. But it never translated to the scenes where they were together as a couple. I'm not sure why. They didn't even have a proper kiss. The two kisses, although it may have been only one, were fish kisses and left me frustrated and irritated. If you are able to make me lose sleep for two nights to watch this, you have to be able to write and film a great kiss. That's the only reason I take half a point of my rating. Because I think it's a great miss to mess the romance part so much. They didn't even have any sweet moments after they got together. it was more sweet and adorable before.

4 The ex. Fu Mi Ya. I know most people hated her, but I didn't. I think her reaction was natural in a way. She was in love she sacrificed everything for her career and she felt alone. It was natural to turn to her ex and they did a great job to show us how close they were and why she would still be attached to the memory of them. Did she go a little too far? Definitely, but she redeemed herself and that was a true redemption. I think they should have given us a scene where she realized Tony, her manager is the person she should be with. The actress did a good job by the way to make us not hate her character.

Things I hated

1 The way the FL reacted to their romance. There was a line I hated with all my heart because it made me question the whole relationship between the leads. She said when she was asked id she was sad that she wasn't as sad as she expected. That she was grateful to have met him bla bla. That ruined the romance for me. How the heck aren't you sad mere hours after you think your love story has ended? If you were truly in love there's no way you felt happy for all the stupid reasons you uttered. You need time to process all this and react in such a cold way. I'm sorry that was an awful line.

2 Zhao Yang. I wish he paid a heavy price for what he did and not only lose his job. His character was despicable and we never were given a reason other than jealousy. Good riddance.

3 Qi Yue. No shortage of characters to hate and I don't care about his redemption. I don't believe he would ever be able to do that and I think he should never get another chance to play. After all he tried to destroy the ML without any remorse. Good riddance as well. Not happy with the redemption idea.

4 Qiao Xin. The queen of malice. Do I believe she changed? I don't care. I don't want to see her again so why would I care? She was an immature and quite uninteresting character to be honest. Her acts didn't make any sense to me. How jealous and insecure can you be to try to smear someone who did nothing to harm you? Such a selfish nasty person.

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warning of abuse.

I need to start by expressing my concerns about the ML in this story; he exhibits some significant red flags throughout the show. While the plot itself was captivating and kept my interest through the entirety, the problematic behaviour of the ML made me uncomfortable and sympathetic towards the FL for the majority of the show. SO, I don't recommend watching it if the uncomfortable feelings that I got from it would be too much for others.
I will continue to say that, what I found particularly troubling was how the story somewhat romanticises the abuses that the ML inflicts on the FL during their marriage. This aspect overshadowed the intriguing amnesia plot twist that added a unique layer to their relationship and the whole dynamic that they have, which is why I continued to watch. Despite my mixed feelings, I’m relieved I didn’t follow through with my initial feelings of wanting to drop the show. It certainly isn’t something I would consider rewatching, but I appreciate the experience for its complex storytelling, since I enjoy amnesia stories.

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Sneaks up on you in the best way possible

So at first this is your typical transmigration trope into a story. It starts off super cheesy and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But as the story progressed, especially past the halfway mark it slowly snuck up on me how much I loved it. Both fl and ml acting is really great (you can never go wrong with Chen Xingxu. Also, they are good friends in real life so I think this really helped their chemistry here.

By the end I was feeling allll the emotions. When it can stir up laughter, joy, sadness and crying in you I think it's a great drama. It's also a testament to their acting skills.

While this is nothing new in this trope, the leads themselves along with their acting is what makes this superb.

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One of the best book adaptions!

Season 2 started off sad and dramatically with the beginning of WW2 and Isak’s death. Isak is one of my favorite characters in this drama and Steve Noh really played it amazingly well!!! He was the perfect Isak!!! I wished more lovey dovey scenes of him and Sunja but sadly he was in prison and then died so we didn’t get to see him that much 😢🥺🥺

The war scenes were just incredibly terrifying… Watching this drama made me even more grateful for the privileges I enjoyed in my life. It also made me realize how much Korea has been through so far. How much and long they suffered but how fast they managed to rise up and beyond their former perpetrators (Japan)…

The highlight of this season for me was little Mozasu 😂😂😂 He was SO CUTEEEE!!! That little child actor was something else!! 😂 He for sure has a bright future ahead of him 🫶🏻

Tbh this season had a few more boring scenes than the season before. I personally thought Yoseb’s days at the factory before the bomb hit were a bit unnecessary. They did nothing to the plot really. They should have kept it short…

Also Solomon’s path is really worrying… I don’t remember it being so sketchy. I thought he was involved with gambling in the book 🤔🤔🤔

All in all, season 2 seemed to be a bit more accurate to the book.
I wonder if a season 3 will be out soon since this story is not finished 🥺

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Manman, Prisoner of Wei Shao's wits.

Rewatching this almost a year later, my notes and reactions still line up with how I felt the first time. If anything, the rewatch made me appreciate the character writing and relationship progression more because I could see the setup and payoff more clearly.

❁✿❀❁✿❀

⁂ My type of enemies to lovers

What I appreciated most is that this is an actual slow enemies-to-lovers story, not the kind where they argue once and then spend the rest of the show bickering like it's what being enemies are all about. Manman and Wei Shao actually start with actual hostility rooted in family history, bloodshed, and political betrayal. There is distrust baked into every early interaction.

Wei Shao does not warm up quickly and the show does not rush him. He is competent, disciplined, and principled, but emotionally blocked by grief and revenge. The drama does not pretend he is gentle from the start, because he still has to unlearn things. He is suspicious of Manman’s motives, reads almost every move as possible manipulation from the Qiao clan, and reacts badly when his trauma gets triggered. There are episodes where he is honestly very hard to like. He jumps to conclusions, lets anger drive his actions, and hurts Manman emotionally and nearly physically more than once. Still, even when he is harsh and guarded, he does not reduce her status or treat her cheaply. He keeps her position as Lady of Wei intact, which says a lot about his baseline principles even when his emotions are driven by revenge.

The drama also feels like Wei Shao’s personal emotional journey. He eventually softens, but it does not happen magically. What makes the shift a nice watch is that it happens in layers. First comes reluctant acknowledgment of Manman's wits and intelligence. Then respect for her political instincts and strategies. Then trust in specific situations. Then emotional dependence. He goes from seeing her as a threat, to a useful ally, to someone whose judgment he relies on, to someone he loves, actively wanting to protect and listen to. The change shows in how he speaks to her, how he believes her over time, and how often he checks himself after reacting badly. When he realizes he is wrong, he adjusts. He may not be good at apologies, but he changes how he handles similar situations later.

Also, it is ironically funny how often this undefeated battlefield warlord loses every verbal match with Manman and retreats with a pout and a side eye instead. His jealousy streak shows up a lot too, but the timing is usually comedic. Manman getting jealous and pouty over misunderstandings herself was also a cute balance.

Speaking of Manman, on the other hand, she never forgets that she walked into enemy territory through the marriage alliance, and she carries her clan's guilt with her. Even if Manman herself had no part in it, she never pretends the debt does not exist. A lot of her restraint and caution comes from knowing she walked into Wei territory carrying that history. Many of her decisions are made with the goal of not deepening resentment and not adding more burden to what her clan already owes.

She carries a huge part of why this drama works. She is not written as a damsel or a passive genius who only reacts. She is proactive, strategic, emotionally aware, and politically sharp. She adapts her approach depending on Wei Shao's mood, his triggers, and the political climate. She reads rooms well, understands power, and knows when to act gentle and when to be firm.

What I also really liked is how she treats Wei Shao not just as a political counterpart but as a partner, even with her own goals and even before their relationship becomes emotionally secure. She adjusts her behavior to protect his authority in public, redirects credit toward him when needed, and makes choices that strengthen his position with the people even when it might cost her own reputation. This is because even early on, when trust between them is still thin, Manman already recognizes that beneath his anger and prejudice of the Qiaos, he genuinely cares about civilians, which aligns with her own values. That becomes her anchor for how she deals with him. Instead of trying to melt him emotionally which she knew won't work, she works alongside his values. She treats him like someone capable of being better, not someone she needs to fix or submit to.

Even when she is cornered or treated unfairly, she thinks before reacting. Manman let people witness why while she is and will always be a Qiao, she is also the Lady of Wei. She uses timing, framing, and evidence to turn situations around. Most of her wins come from observation and planning, not luck or rescue. She saves situations again and again through her wits and negotiation skills.

When their relationship improves, I love that they do not become stupid for love. Neither of them gets watered down. When they soften, it is not because one becomes submissive, but it is because Wei Shao becomes more willing to meet Manman halfway, and vice versa. They stay sharp, stubborn (in good and bad ways), and capable. I also liked how their shared values become clearer over time. While they have their own priorities clear, both pushes for solutions that protect civilians, long term peace, and stability.

❁✿❀❁✿❀

⁂ Why it’s a 9.5 and not a 10 for me

Not everything worked for me, but it's not something I consider a flaw. Just a nitpick lol.

E Huang absolutely overstayed her narrative welcome. She kept circling back into the story long after her role was already clear. The leads already felt something was off about her, but eventually couldn't do anything because evidence could not be pinned on her. This allowed her to have too much screen time for my liking, eventually letting her in Liu Yan's plans. Too many schemes, and not enough payoff shown on screen for her. Sure, I guess her realizing Bogong actually loved her even after seeing through her lies was already enough for her to stop everything, including her life. But man, we should've seen that part lol. I wanted to see more regret from E Huang and Liu Yan.

Qiao Fan’s father dying at Liu Yan’s hands instead of facing fuller consequences for his own greed and decisions felt like a lazy way to write his doom. He caused massive fallout, contributed to the chain of events that led to tragedy, and then exits without properly facing what he has done. For me, he would have been one of the biggest and far more stressful villains if E Huang and Liu Yan weren't in this drama lol. Because unlike others, he was just driven by greed and power. So, his end felt veryyyy unsatisfying.

And I am still not over Fan and Wei Liang’s death. On rewatch, Wei Liang's death still feels unnecessary. I can understand Fan's decision because it also freed Bi Zhi's undeniable love for her that also became his shackles, but for Wei Liang, I just could not understand at all. It was so sudden for me that the first time I watched it, I really thought plot armor would save him. Apparently not. And I am still blaming the writers for that one.

❁✿❀❁✿❀

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An emotional rollercoaster

As someone who read the book as well, I have cried much more while watching the drama and that’s all thanks to the acting skills!!! I already expected this to be good since I already knew the book but it definitely exceeded my expectations!!!

I do have a few qualms related to the book accuracy tho. For me, one of the scenes or plot spans that was missing was the time when Sunjae started working at Hansu’s restaurant. If I’m not mistaken, this was happening when Mozasu was still a baby and when Isak got arrested and the women had to sell kimchi at the market. I think after Sunja’s arrest, she was no longer allowed to sell at tge market so she got offered a job in a restaurant to prepare the side dishes especially kimchi and ofc it wad all orchestrated by Hansu. But they left out this part of the story and instead added a whole episode on Koh Hansu’s past during the big Kanto earthquake. I must say it was a well-executed episode and since it was not in the book, I also didn’t know what was gonna happen. But I did wish they had included the kimchi-selling-at-restaurant plotline too.
Something else I didn’t like was the deepdive into Solomon’s financial life struggles with the company and all that. It was honestly a bit boring. Also, Solomon is my least favorite character in this drama. However, I liked how they tried to match the changes happening in the past with the changed happening in the present. Like sth dtamatic would happen to Sunjae in the past and they would cut to the present with Solomon and he would be going through some similar turning point … Those parallels between past and present were interesting but sometimes could be a bit too much.

Final thoughts
•Isak Baek is the goat!
•Kim Minha is one of the most talented actresses in Korea!
•Probably the best performance by Lee Minho!
•The intro was ON FIRE!!! Loved it!!!

Review on s2 is coming next…

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Wasn’t My Cup of Tea

This movie just didn’t work for me. The action felt too light and oddly teenage-coded, and the story was so predictable that I always knew exactly where it was going. The comedy had a few decent moments, but overall it landed as pretty mediocre.
It’s not a bad movie by any means, it’s just painfully familiar. The characters aren’t particularly complex, original, or creative, and it feels like a mash-up of things we’ve all seen many times before.
That said, it does have a couple of genuinely funny scenes. If you’re bored, want something easy, and don’t feel like committing emotionally or mentally, this could work as background entertainment.

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Food, Friend and Found family .☘︎ ݁˖

"Alice-san chi no iroribata" is a captivating short drama set in the countryside. It showcases delicious food, explores life in a Japanese town and its culture, and includes a touch of romance. This heartwarming show will bring a smile to your face and help you appreciate the simple pleasures in life. "૮₍ •⤙•˶₊˚ෆ

In this fast-paced and often overwhelming world, where the quiet beauty of rural life seems to be fading, Alice and Harumi taught me a lesson I hold close: it’s okay to embrace my own pace. Even when progress feels small, it's still meaningful. Slowing down isn’t just acceptable—it’s essential. Life can be challenging, but taking things one step at a time is what truly matters.
‧₊˚ ⋅ 𓐐𓎩 ‧₊˚ ⋅ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ 𓎩 .⋆ﾟ

A must listen OP song 『Alice』by LUV K RAFT (らぶくらふと)
https://youtu.be/FKnbu3_AYNI

(๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑) . . .✮ ごちそうさまでした ✮

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How to mess up a great premise

Things I loved

1 The concept. Fresh and perfect for a rom com you can't believe there's a way to mess it up. And yet.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. She wasn't great, but I blame more the writers than her, so she doesn't go to the hated list.

Things I hated

1 The ML. He wasn't the right actor for the role. He never managed to make me laugh or make me care about him.

2 The writing. Disjoined plots and nonsensical characters that turned a great concept to an utter disaster. I gave it 2 for the premise, but the rest is below zero.

3 The wrong labeling. I thought it would be a rom com. It wasn't.

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