Reviews

The best detective story - navigates you through clues and makes you part of the detective team

Romance junkies go watch Coroner's Diary, you are rating this one for the wrong category.
Others, welcome to one of the best historical detective stories. It is a great ride of finding clues, and decyphering and reading people, intentions. I love the whole Bei Ming's crew :) they are so cute :) Amazing character developments.

I think some viewers don't know how to rate a drama according to a category. But I like different plots, arcs, atmospheres and emotions of the drama, so it works for me. I like this one, I event consider it one of the best detective stories in historical setting. Top 3 for sure.

Everything is a closed lopp, and nothing is unnecessary. Once you notice this you will be hooked, it will almost train you to think as the part of the detective team. Don't blink and don't fast forward, you will miss out :D

I will not write more because this is a detective story. And as such is full of clues. It is very important not to read comment section. What is enough is to have proper expectation. This is not a romance drama. It has some romance. But romance is not main plot.

But I will mention my 2 favorites:
1. WXY performance - he has this perfect blend of investigator, humor, bickering, positively and friendly competitive, very wise, charming aura. Also has a vulnerable side, which makes you as a viewer to empathise with him. His eyes, so expressive so captivating.
2. Zhuge Kong Yun - maybe unexpected, but his character development was so layered and well paced.

Enjos. Don't read comments anywhere and don't watch tiktok. Enjoy this one as it goes.

Read More

My Sweetheart Jom the Series is more than just a love story — it’s an experience that makes your heart race and your soul melt. The breathtaking landscapes and rich traditions of Thailand set the perfect stage, but it’s the performances of the cast that truly shine. Every actor brings depth and authenticity to their role, making the story feel alive and unforgettable.
The heart of this series, though, is the chemistry between Jom and Yo. Their connection is magnetic — tender and heartfelt, yet charged with a romantic intensity that you can feel through the screen. Every glance, every touch, every moment they share carries sparks of passion that linger long after the episode ends. It’s rare to see such natural chemistry, where love feels not only believable but also irresistibly captivating.
✨ My Sweetheart Jom the Series is touching, romantic, and undeniably sexy — a story of love that is as passionate as it is beautiful. A must-watch for anyone who wants to feel the magic of true chemistry.

Read More

heartbreak and hope

I gave 1 star for rematch value because I can not put myself thru it again. The emotions this made me feel, hurt pain agony despair. Literally wanted to throw myself off of a cliff. So so hauntingly beautiful. Every drama zhou yiran is in is a masterpiece. ive watched 3 of his dramas and this one is by far my favourite. The story was oh so interesting and unique, atleast for me. It had me hooked till the end. I do feel for seng cheng, may he be happy in whatever lifetime he is. Yu nian, my shayla. she has to live with all the memories. Haitang, so freaking happy for her and Xun. Elder tang and xun, you're even a greater heartbreak than heetok and baggy jeans. you pierced my heart beyond saving. a beautiful drama. classic.

Read More

Mission: Possible – Silly? Just on the surface

It’s always satisfying to finish a movie that genuinely makes you laugh! Mission: Possible takes us on a journey full of misunderstandings and an unlikely duo who somehow manage to turn the impossible into possible — all thanks to their clumsy methods.
Yoo Da-Hui (played by Lee Sun-Bin) is a Chinese agent sent on a mission as a scapegoat. Due to a mix-up, she ends up teaming up with private detective Woo Su-Han (played by Kim Young-Kwang), an actor who’s mastered the art of playing goofy characters — though in the end, the only thing silly about him is his face.
This film strikes the perfect balance between action and comedy, with humor that flows naturally. There’s no romance in the storyline, and honestly, I didn’t miss it at all — watching them constantly annoy each other was more than enough entertainment!
Definitely a movie I’ll be rewatching!

Read More

xianxia of the year!

i usually don’t write lengthy reviews but this show is too good for me to not i fear. i am so happy i gave wdbtd a chance. this is the first ongoing drama i’ve watched that didn’t bore me by the end. i started it with not many expectations, but its easily made it to my top favorite dramas of all time (it was that good idgaf). the cgi was definitely a little silly at times, but once you get past it this show is so enjoyable. i also think they did a great job depicting heavier topics while not straying from the comedic tone of the show.
wang yinglu as tingyan has moved me. tingyan is definitely the heart of the show and yinglu was so perfect for this role. she was great in comedic scenes and even more poignant in sad scenes. i wish her voice wasnt dubbed over because i think it would’ve been a great match but oh well.
chen feiyu was the perfect sima jiao. i loved seeing jiao gradually open up and be just as silly as tingyan. it was honestly so refreshing to see how tingyan’s love changed him.
the main thing i loved about wdbtd was the communication between the leads. they never had any severe misunderstandings and the one real conflict they had was resolved within an ep. the chemistry between yinglu and feiyu is absolutely insane. they did an outstanding job portraying jiaoyan’s relationship and intimate scenes. every scene between the two felt so natural and healing, truly just two people head over heels for one another.
this is a drama i know i will be rewatching often. im so happy i stumbled onto it. #my xianxia of the year idgaf

Read More

Shin Eun Soo Steals the Show

Love Untangled is one of several recent dramas set in the ’90s, a backdrop that some viewers will find nostalgic while others will be discovering for the first time. The film captures the era well, from school life to fashion trends, immersing the audience in its time period.

The performances are solid overall, though the group of friends feels underdeveloped; their personalities could have been explored more deeply. Instead, the movie is largely carried by Shin Eun Soo, who delivers a bold and touching performance that provides the story’s emotional core. Gong Myung also does what he can with Han Yun Seok, a character defined by his quiet, one-sided love, though the role gives him limited space to stand out.

As a youth romance, the film delivers what you’d expect: playful banter, tender moments, and the bittersweet process of learning how to navigate feelings for someone. However, several storylines feel underused, such as the rivalry with Park Se Ri’s sister, Yun Seok’s strained relationship with his father, and the love triangle, which never develops to its full dramatic potential despite its importance to the plot.

Ultimately, Love Untangled may be somewhat predictable, but it still offers a wholesome and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of the genre.

Read More

You're in it for life!

I must say, a lot of people were in bad moods when reviewing this series. I'm not sure why, because I thought this was a pretty decent drama. It kept your attention and curiosity coming back for more. Was it Wookie's best? definitely not, but overall, the combination of him and the rest of the supporting cast, it proved some good entertainment.
I thinking about halfway through the series, things started to slow a bit too much, and what usually happens, did ... the story got rushed toward the very end. Instead of dragging several story lines too long in the middle of the series, it might have been better to shorten certain parts and stick more with the main characters.
I know the series is called "The Nice Guy", but Wookie's character, Seok Cheol was a bit too nice, a bit too laid-back for a gangster. Nothing against Dong Wook, I think he did a great job at showing us the character he was suppose to be, a guy trying to have a normal life with a normal job and a normal temperament.
The ending also matched the Nice Guy theme .. while it was a happy ending pretty much all around, it kind of lacked a great conclusion to the story. No big surprises, no major revelations to any of the characters. It basically delivered exactly what you thought would happen in the end, a nice finish!!

Read More

Really fun, showing deeper issues through comical lens

The camera work in this drama is amazing. Such great angles. It is visually stunning.

In this drama, the food is one of the lead characters and takes a LOT of screen time, so there is not much time left for the actual story and character development, and there are just plenty events and competitions but not deep inner work.

The show is light and hilarious bc FL is so comical - her 21st century thinking, speech and actions are just HILARIOUS, and ML bounces her humor very well so far....
ML enjoys this role and it is a great role for him, he is perfect for this role bc he is so bouncy, rowdy, innocent yet a serial killer LOL and looks awesome in all that regalia and without it :) and all the horse ridings etc .

The story really is about very deep stuff, how he will reconcile his personal tragedy and not take it on the whole country, .... but the angle to approach it is comical and rowdy so far..... as the FL navigates the scene to figure out where the heck she landed...

ML and FL are an excellent pair and really make this work. Even dead serious scenes of him basically killing and maiming people bc he wants to - are made to seem lighter bc of the underlying comical note.

The overall vibe is bubbly and alive and actually based on love and care between the leads and their friends.

The twists are amazing

So ... watch it as a fun thing and dont expect too much.
There is sexism and tropes etc etc etc but it is overall fun and very warm and actually deep

Just watch and I think something will appear :) And it will :) THis is actually quite deep under the pretense of being comical

If you want something more obviously deep and more obviously meaningful and familiar yet really fun, I recommend My Troublesome Star currently airing///


The filming for Bon Apetit is amazing, the angles etc are so cool .
The story is a twist on the old trope of a cruel cold ML with a traumatic past, who gets softened by the caring FL. But there is a twist here. The cruel ML immediately shows the weak, soft and caring side . Dragging him on that rope and feeding him was hilarious. And the FL is competent. And the sexism is softened by the HUMOR that she brings as the story is told from the comical point of 21st century - ....

but..... the reality is, the dude is a serial killer. Very cute and sexy buff, but a serial killer and also with that female villain as his chick who had him wrapped around her finger. Brrrr... murderers. And the crazy thing - she reminds him of his mom. Some serious crazy.

So yeah we can say the drama is fun and it is, it is tragicomical from one perspective, but it is chilling actually. Scenes where she has to kiss his royal as@ to avoid torture and death are not funny at all.

It really reminds me of Boys Over Flowers, a psychotic violent wealthy ML who uses the FL as a personal psychiatric nurse and babysitter. That drama was really for a psych ward.
This drama is the SAME concept, but it takes it much lighter and makes it fun, partially bc the ML was shown in vulnerable situations too and as someone who cares, and bc the FL is shown as an independent adult, confident and capable.

But the fact is... he owns her as the king... and so he takes liberties that are ... hm... sketchy. For example, he basically raped her (grabbed her arm, yanked her down and started the handiworks as she brought him dinner).... tried to kill her so many times... etc etc etc

I think th most fun is her bossing him around and he has to eat it in spite of all his entitlements .... and of course, his caring for her after all. But it is like ... a shark likes you... and will not eat it now but later..LOL . Hopefully he transforms fast...


----
Technicalities:
The ML is perfect for this role bc of his facial features that make him look scary if filmed from above and bc of his strong physique and vitality, and his wickedly great sense of humor and having fun. He is really having fun with this role. And I think he is a lot better choice than the original actor, who is more mellow and would be too mellow for this very physical. chaotic rowdy fun rom com.


This drama has dramatic overstated acting and imo is in essence makkang drama. CHAOS acting :) And bc it is historical drama, thre are many moments where he acts stuff and wooden, and he speaks not in normal language but in this formal speech that sounds almost like yelling

In other words, less text to remember, less emotions to act, less subtleties to act, and less time on screen
Bc the food and cooking takes a considerable time on the screen, it is a "lead actor" that gets more screen time than ML and FL, so the human actors have less to act...

In this drama, he is a pretentious jerk / control freak and so his entries are very dramatic and he has to look " impressive" - then he dips into being a softie - so he swings in a huge range of expressions, but nothing is deep and held for too long.... he might like acting that better. After all the actor has to have fun.

This drama caught my attention with filming - the scenes and camera angles are amazing and make it so fun. I noticed that the actors do not get too much of camera time, so you see face for a second or so.

In a more psychological drama, e.g. Crushology 101, the actors get a LOT of closeup time on the screen in one shot, the camera stays on them - for example, 2 people talking for a while... so the actor has to be able to hold their role for several minutes and shine in it. That;s a lot harder than a minute in this drama where he throws dishes out and tries to kill someone LOL

THe Bon Apetit drama is more based on jazzy scenes and very dramatic short entries.
HOWEVER, then it is 100000% crucial to do those short scenes with extreme intensity and precision, and not be too subtle but show the "gig" precisely and clearly, to almost overdo it, for example, rolling your eyes, or whatever - it is exaggarated.
This drama also requires fantastic COMEDIAN skillZ, in very visible ways.
This drama also requires a great swing from being a cruel serial killer to being someone crying for his mother or caring for FL.
The contrasts are soooo huge. And he has to act every extreme extremely :) it is so dramatic.
So this is a role in theater, maybe, where you are so far from audience so you exaggerate your acting

Also in this drama he has costuming to his advantage, he is half naked in his bedroom quite often, so he can show off more. Then what he is wearing is also more flashy and makes you look at him, and he is good looking.
Also, this drama is more dramatic, in ep 4 he essentially raped FL, she had to come there and stay there and not get up and run, like it or not...

Disclaimer: I have NEVER studied film but this is what I see as a lay person.

Read More

Sassy FL, Stoic ML, and the Sweetest Side Stories — 10/10!

That was cuter than expected! The FL is bright and sassy, determined to change the fate of her character. Her wildly active imagination is hilarious against the backdrop of her straight-and-narrow husband’s stoic personality. The ML is loyal and true, willing to forgive and trust—and the actor nailed playing both the strict soldier and the wife’s imaginary beast 😂.

I also loved how the director added layers of humor and heart through dream sequences, imagination, and soft lighting to romanticize their mending relationship. The young actor playing their son is an absolute gem—sometimes a helper, sometimes an instigator, and always the funniest little third wheel.

The FL and ML together made such a solid couple. I also have to mention that scene where the ML teared up after the FL told him he should be kinder to himself. That hit me hard. For anyone who’s used to being their own worst critic, hearing those words for the first time is so moving, and the actor delivered it perfectly.

Even the supporting characters were given love. I liked that the 2FL, who plotted against the leads, got a chance for redemption and growth. And the side story of the older soldier who was hard of hearing and the sweet mute girl was absolutely adorable. Normally those things get portrayed as flaws or played for pity, but here they were just living their lives, succeeding, and even finding love.

The ending scene tied everything together in the cutest way. Overall, such a wholesome and heart-fluttering drama. 9/10 would recommend! 🎉

Read More

Went off the rails a bit there

It’s like the crispy onion spicy salmon roll I get from Hannafords. Is it the best sushi? No. Do I still eat it? Of course, I love crispy onions and salmon…

Acting:

Cute and silly, but not like great. Probably in part due to the writing, directing, and a touch of Book not being the best crier. I fear I need more pain in his expressions sometimes and the ability to get teary-eyed. Force was pretty solid, but the story didn’t really ask for much from him tbh.

Writing:

I genuinely can’t believe that this is based on a book that someone planned, wrote, and published. It has that thrown-together drama script vibe to it rather than something based on an edited piece of published literature. It started off good but then she went off the rails a bit. I wish they did more with the whole streamer situation instead of whatever the heck they decided to go with here. They threw a lot of different things into this soup and it made it hard to distinguish what it was exactly. They needed to focus in on a central issue instead of having so many because they did not hace the time to get into everything enough to do the plot points justice.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

Force and Book obv have chemistry. They are very sweet very cute. But like, okay. So I don’t know if it’s the writing or directing or the actor’s boundaries or what. But, they lack a like intimacy which is odd because they have this crazy chemistry that alludes to a crazy amount of intimacy. Idk if that makes sense..? Like I don't care whether things get explicit or not, like whatever, that isn’t what I mean. But just, something is missing and I’m not sure how to put it into words. A kiss on the neck or stomach and then a look into each other’s eyes, maybe? Like just a hint of intimacy between two lovers in their twenties. This was an okay romance, pretty standard romance plotline. The kissing was fine, nothing to write home about.

Editing:

I have to point out that there were definitely some issues with the editing of this show. Why are there seconds-long black screens between scenes where it doesn’t fit the vibe/mood of the story. Why are we cutting together sentences at random points where it doesn’t make sense. Did they not get the shot they wanted? Did the script change after they shot the scene? I don’t know, man. It was just a bit too thrown together.

Music/SFX:

Typical corny drama romcom stuff. SFX were fine.

Meh

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- Oh, Book, my favorite actor for a boyfailure-type character
- My boy, Force, looking sharrrppp
- The Book smile, the Force smirk
- The ASMRtist x fanboy trope combined with intern x boss and gamerboy x game developing company CEO tropes a lot going on here
- Sad gay boy gay boy sad
- Sad bi boy bi boy sad
- Ah yes misunderstanding #1 coming in right on cue
- “Things are going great right now” ahhh so things are going to become real bad real soon, thanks for the warning, Boss
- Shy gay boy gay boy shy
- “If your happiness is me, it won’t disappear.” is cuuuuute
- Jack for sure should have talked to Boss Man and not Cher
- Sad bi boy bi boy sad
- Kiss that sad bi boy
- Angry gay boy gay boy angry
- Girl, just go tell him the truth
- D.U.M.B. Shit
- Not the regular coffee order
- Ouch
- Good girly girly good
- Weeeelllll that is certainly a bit of a lore drop there. Kept that one to yourself for a while there, aye, Thoop
- Jeeeeesusus CHRIST, brother
- JEEESUS CHRIST
- I see why I saw someone say it was unexpectedly dark now, not too out of the ordinary. But like, still…
- FUCKING HELL, brother
- Not the “I love you, peace out” act
- Dear Mrs. Boss’s Mom: *… Uh-huh… I don't fuck with you. You little stupid ass-bitch I ain't fucking with you. You little, you little dumb ass-bitch I ain't fucking with you. I got a million trillion things I'd rather fucking do. Than to be fucking with you. You lil stupid ass*
- Lowkey that last message is for you too, Cher
- Dumb
- Not the regular coffee order
- *Thinking 'bout us, what we gon' be. Open my eyes, yeah, it was only just a dreeeeeeeam*
- You just wanted to… graduate…?
- I’d slap bi boy, fr
- No shot that mother is forgiven like that for not intervening or doing literally anything about her daughter being raped and forcibly impregnated by the stepdad. Baby killed herself over that, like wtf are we talking about 0/10
- Is baby wearing a WORCESTER shirt????????????? THAT’s MY BOYYYYYY
- Romantic gay boy gay boy romantic

Read More

A slow but good watch.

This drama is a weird one. Some cases are quite interesting, while some are a slog to get through. Overall, it’s a good watch but I didn’t find it so engaging. I usually binge investigative dramas like this within a few days but it took me several weeks to finish this drama.

The main lead, Lu Linfeng was smart and very good with martial arts, but he was really arrogant initially. He lost everything at some point and eventually became humble. I liked his character arc. His love interest Pei Xijun was also a spoilt brat who was obsessed with him initially, but she eventually mellowed down, and towards the last third of the drama, she became one of my fav characters. Su Wuming is the typical very smart and funny detective with great people skills, and he remained like that till the end of the drama.

One of the glaring weak point of this drama was the romance. I eventually warmed up to Lu Linfeng and Pei Xijun’s relationship, and even thought they were cute together with time. But I was shocked the drama decided to insert a “romance” between Su Wuming and Yingtao. First of all, he was too old for her, and there was no chemistry whatsoever. Infact Yingtao was believable as his daughter, so when they made her the one taking the initiative in the relationship, it was so uncomfortable to watch, I skipped those scenes. Otherwise, this is a slow but good watch.

Read More

Just female general, no legend.

I had a lot of expectations for this drama—like, a lot. But in the end, only one or two of them were actually met.

This could’ve been a much better story. The potential was definitely there, but sadly, that’s all it stayed—just potential.

To give credit where it’s due: the romance was well-written and well-acted, and the fight scenes were both well-choreographed and beautifully shot. But that’s pretty much where the praise ends. The rest just didn’t hold up. The writing lacked cohesion, the direction was all over the place, and there was barely any real world-building or meaningful character development. The story arcs felt hollow and rushed.

Plot & Motivation Issues:

The characters’ motivations—especially for revenge—fell flat. The villains didn’t feel threatening or smart enough to justify the kind of reactions they were getting. Most of the time, they were just hanging around in Chancellor Xu’s house. That was it. There were no layers, no detailed strategies shown. Just weak, lukewarm threats, and always just constantly having Wutuo initiate a war over and over again almost redundant.

On the Female General Angle:

The whole “female general” narrative ended up feeling more suffocating than inspiring. Every time He Yan launched into a speech about how women can or should be something, I found myself rolling my eyes. As much as I agree with the core message, the way it was delivered felt so forced and patronizing. Personally, I would’ve preferred if she just did the thing without needing to explain or justify it every time. Just be the badass general—no monologue necessary. A “why not?” attitude would’ve gone a long way.

Romance vs. Plot:

The romance was stronger than the main plot—which sounds like a good thing, but it actually made everything else feel worse in comparison. The story was just confusing and flat. And because the plot lacked weight, it dragged everything else down with it—including the good parts.

Character Depth & Missed Arcs:

Xiao Jue (Male Lead):
-His arc was more solid and interesting compared to He Yan’s.

-Initially described as a cold, calculating, and strategic general, Xiao Jue only displayed those traits in fleeting moments.

-As the series progressed, his characterization weakened. He began making uncharacteristic missteps, especially during his confrontations with Chancellor Xu and Mr. Chu (e.g., the ledger incident and the ex-soldier betrayal).

-His long-standing personal revenge plot was eventually sidelined to prioritize He Yan’s vendetta—despite the enemy overlapping in both cases. This shift felt forced and diminished the weight of his own backstory.

-He turned into such a Lovefool for He Yan that it almost felt unfair to his character, making him come across as pretty pitiable.

-His right-hand man was unreliable, and so were his soldiers.

He Yan (Female Lead):

-Despite years of experience disguising herself as a man and even serving as a general, she sometimes felt like someone who had only just put on the disguise. It betrayed her arc.

-Her character was overpraised, with a streak of immaturity and a gullible side.

Mr. Chu (Second Male Lead):

-From the start, his character and motivations were confusing. Once revealed, they didn’t feel justified, making it seem like the writers were forcing him into a role that just didn’t fit or make sense in context.

Supporting Characters:

-They were poorly used, only popping up when convenient.

-The comrades He Yan gained in the Yezhou Garrison ended up as accessories, a wasted chance to make them like Wei Shao’s team in The Prisoner of Beauty.

Overall:
If the story had leaned into a love story between two generals—potentially a rivals-to-lovers arc—it could’ve been more cohesive and carried real depth.

*I still have more to say but it will just end up being a rant.

Read More