Reviews

The East Palace is a drama I watched on Netflix, and I'll start right away with a consideration that's close to my heart. As a sageuk enthusiast, when I found myself in front of the Italian translation of the subtitles, I felt a mix of annoyance and disappointment. The subtitles were clearly handled by professionals, that must be said, but there's one detail that really didn't sit well with me: the use of the term "archiatra" (archiater).
The archiater is, yes, the chief physician or protomedicus, a court term historically linked to the figure of the personal physician of a sovereign or a pontiff. It derives from the Greek ἀρχίατρος, composed of ἀρχι- (chief) and ἰατρός (physician). However, in a Joseon context, using "archiater" sounds like a foreign body. It's a term that belongs to the classical and pontifical tradition, not to the Korean one.
For a sageuk, the most correct and historically applicable choice would have been Eo-ui (어의), the Korean term for the sovereign's personal physician. He was the senior-ranking physician (dang-sang-gwan) belonging to the Uiwon (내의원, the court medical office), tasked with the exclusive care of the king and the royal family. Alongside him operated the Uigwan (의관), the actual physician-officials, who had passed the medical qualification examination (uigwa) and served as state technicians, handling the health of the court and, in some cases, of the public as well.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the term archiater is an archaic term, very rarely used in Italian, and I presume few people know its meaning. You understand it by logic, based on the scene, but the term contextualizes nothing: it says nothing about the era or Korean culture. Sageuk experts would have used other terms, clearer and more suitable: "royal physician," "protomedicus," "court physician."
The premise is strong: an imaginary Joseon dynasty, a curse that has been killing heirs to the throne for thirty years, a vengeful spirit living in the pond of the Eastern Palace. The King, played by a Cho Seung-woo who dominates every scene with his grave and tormented presence, is forced to summon Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a cynical and reluctant spirit hunter who can cross the boundary between the living and the Realm of the Gwi. He is joined by Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady who hears the voices of the dead and who hides a secret: she is the illegitimate and estranged daughter of the King himself.
The chemistry between the two protagonists works, but don't expect a classic romance. Their relationship is more fraternal than romantic, made up of bickering, misunderstandings, and a trust that is built slowly, mission after mission. Nam Joo-hyuk is convincing in the role of the tired and disillusioned man who finds himself, against his will, fighting for something more than his own survival, and Roh Yoon-seo confirms she is one of the most interesting young actresses on the Korean scene. Their dynamic is the emotional heart of the series, and when the two begin to trust each other, the viewer roots for them.
The action scenes are brutal and well choreographed. Director Choi Jung-kyu infuses an almost animated energy into the fights, with intelligent use of practical effects and CG. The Realm of the Gwi is an eerie and visually successful place, and the creatures that inhabit it are carefully designed. However, the series is not without flaws: halfway through the season, the plot begins to rely excessively on twists, some of which seem more gratuitous than logically constructed. The supernatural mythology becomes confusing at times, with rules that are introduced or bent according to narrative necessity, and this breaks the rhythm.
The supporting cast is solid. Jang Young-nam is impeccable as the Queen Mother, an ambiguous and unsettling figure, and Kwak Dong-yeon, in the role of the Crown Prince, manages to be intimidating and tragic at the same time. Special mention for Ggeomeoksali, Gu-cheon's little spirit companion, who brings a breath of lightness to an otherwise dark drama.
In conclusion: The East Palace is a good supernatural costume drama, visually sumptuous and supported by a cast in form. It's not the most original — the debt to Stranger Things and Kingdom is evident — and the screenplay loses some clarity in the second half. But if you're looking for eight episodes of palace intrigue, ghosts, and well-choreographed duels, with a finale that leaves the door open to a possible sequel, then it's a more than decent watch. A shame, though, about that translation choice that, for someone like me who cares about details, jars quite a bit.
If you watch it, let me know what you think—especially if you also noticed that "archiater" and wondered why.

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Judging solely by the title and synopsis I would never have said this, but this drama is by far one of the best I've seen to date: the story is really well written with surprising reverse tropes, the themes are interesting and treated with care, the relationships are very mature and overall it's super cute! Also the ost is great and adds a lot of emotions to some scenes.
The lead couple, a part from being extremely good looking, has so much chemistry it doesn't even feel like acting and I found myself blushing and smiling ear to ear many times.
I will rewatch it for sure! <3

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An actual BL Love Story

I really loved this. Watch it to give yourself a treat and a mood uplift.

There was the usual BL Mafia type rich family nonsense and a range of other characters of varying degrees of irritating-ness.

But the two leads had real chemistry.
Jin Yun who played the deaf character gave an amazingly nuanced performance. That wasn't just good acting in a BL, it was good acting period. Raiden managed his transition from spoiled rich waster to caring lover convincingly too.

It wasn't just a BL story; it was a real Love Story. Forgive it its flaws and enjoy.

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An ad that's worth watching?

Despite this being little more than a CCP ad, it really scratched some kind of itch for drama I've had for a while. I was impressed by the first quarter of the story, but the strong start did not carry over to the rest of the drama. Instead, I was surprised by how willing I was to see the series through to the end. I am glad they committed to the drama until the end, but the FL and ML both lacked emotional depth past the first ~12 episodes. I strangely enjoyed the shift from toxic romance to straight up tragicomedy, but I can't say it was objectively "good". Still, I did sit through 40 episodes without complaints. Watch at your own risk?

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Yearning final boss

I have to admit, I’ve rarely seen a series this beautifully directed. The cinematography, the colors, the dialogue, the silences, the looks, the music... Everything was perfect. Simply breathtaking.

First of all, I’m so grateful to finally see a BL that takes such a deep interest in the journey of discovering and building your own identity through your sexuality. It’s crazy, but I Told Sunset About You gets right under your skin because I think it’s simply a drama that manages to portray the inner struggle of learning to accept yourself so beautifully. Trying to put words to what you feel while caught between denial, desire, and guilt. And it’s so rare to see a drama capture that experience so well.

The story itself is simple, and there aren't that many episodes, yet somehow I'm still struggling to recover from it. Episodes 3 and 4 are particularly moving. Watching them long for each other the way they do, slowly crossing the boundaries they'd set for themselves... The looks, the silences, the touches, the beach, the wind making their eyes water.

I could tell there was so much symbolism behind everything, and that this BL had been incredibly carefully thought out. But I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, so it was only after reading a few comments and realizing how much meaning had been packed into practically every little detail that I found myself loving it even more.

That being said, I'm only human, and I was not a fan of the friends. And I know Chinese is a difficult language to learn (I've been through it myself, and I barely know 1,200 characters), but is all that studying really necessary? Also, I hope one day I'll have as much confidence as these two to post so casually on Instagram while a hundred people are silently watching their love story unfold.
Okay, those are pretty much the only things that annoyed me. Especially the Chinese lessons, which kept coming back again and again. Come on, bro, talk about your future together. In Chinese if you want, but PLEASE, let's put an end to this intensive language course.
Although, to be fair, I do like Chinese... 🧍

I can't write this review without mentioning the bra scene. It's absolutely beautiful. Oh Aew is showing so much vulnerability. He's almost swallowed by the darkness, wearing that red bra (his color), while Teh had dared to explore his body before, to place his hands on his chest. To me, in that scene, he lets out one final, almost breathless confession of everything he can't be for Teh, while still clinging to the hope that one day he might become it.
He can't be his girlfriend, but he wants to be with him. He can't really touch him, but he cautiously dares to reach out. He can't tell him he loves him, but he finds ways to show it. And vice versa.
Love is such a beautiful thing.

I want to remember I Told Sunset About You as one of the first BLs I've watched that was this beautifully crafted. There's so much work behind the camera. The actors are breathtaking in their vulnerability, the music always hits exactly where it hurts, and the framing and colors are gorgeous.
But above all, I want to remember it as a BL that finally explores identity, self-doubt, and the journey of discovering yourself through your sexuality, caught between expectations and uncontrollable desire.

It's so much more than a series. It's our hearts beating in time with something so many people have already lived through.

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Absolute cinema 10/10

I love when every characters in a story have their own storyline, even the villains. It makes the story even more alive, and that's what Pursuit of Jade has excelled in.

The communication, the love, everything between the two leads are so wholesome and amazing. There were some frustrating part, but it pays off great in the end.

I love the side couple too, I suppose it's bc I'm kinda into toxic love trope sometimes lol, it's not everyone's cup of tea I know.

This is the drama that makes me want to watch other chinese dramas again, so YOU MUST definitely watch this. You won't regret it at all.

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Powered through the drama because I love the leads. The interaction between them are so sweet, funny, entertaining, and natural. I especially like Ji Bozhai's expressions, the actor did really great.

All the actors and actresses in this drama actually did really great. I love all the main casts.

But the story is... another thing. The pacing between episodes and conflict is so choppy and not smooth at times, sometimes even feels rushed. In each episode, we're not given any room to breathe, it's conflict after conflict after conflict. Then again, if you like this type of storytelling, you'll like this drama. I just love my story with a little bit of filler or breather in between conflicts.

Sad part is most of the villains are two dimensional in an "I'm evil bc I'm evil and wants power" type of thing, not any other compelling reason. The only good one is the villain in later episode, but God I really hate him and his antics. (which is good as a villain I suppose?)

But overall, it's still a good drama I suppose. Would I recommend it? If you have time, sure, go for it.

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Pure strategy and sexy brains: Why you shouldn't miss this show

If you're into strategy and brain games like The Devil’s Plan, you will absolutely fall in love with this show. Throughout the competition, contestants unlock new abilities day by day or get introduced to brand-new game features. The whole thing feels just like playing a game that progresses level by level, and it's super addictive to watch.

Players with Sexy Brain
The main reason I started watching the show was actually because I wanted to see y.utuber Sesung (Luna) again after My Sibling’s Romance. Since that was a dating show, her intelligence wasn't really at the forefront, but we already knew how smart she was. I really wanted to see her in a puzzle and brain game environment, and I wasn't disappointed. Honestly, I was just in awe of every single player's smarts; I finally understood what Koreans mean by "sexy brain."

Social Dynamics, Strategy, and a Mini World
There are riddles to solve in the show, but since most of the questions are specific to Korean culture, I stopped trying to solve them along with the contestants after a while. But that wasn't what kept me hooked anyway! Once resource problems, group negotiations, deals, and betrayals came into play, things got really interesting. Just like the contestants said, the environment felt like a mini-world simulation: groups holding different resources, wars between them, people staying neutral, or others fueling the fire... If you love strategy games, you should definitely give it a shot just for these amazing social dynamics!

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Great drama definitely watch it

I really enjoyed this drama. The characters had depth and the storyline progressed really well. It was so sweet!

I was a bit confused at the end but I think I figured it out what happened to each couple… I really didn’t like the ex-girlfriend who was she to act like that and there was no repercussions where was the revenge?! I also would’ve liked that lady doctor 2nd command to become the new governor but maybe that’s just me…

I thought this drama handled the medical side and the emotional side really well of the storyline. It didn’t overstep it made everything realistic but also challenging. You didn’t feel like anything was being sugar coated. It was real and raw but at the same time professional and honest.

I enjoy these actors and actresses in this drama. I will definitely if they’re in other things think about watching them. I thought they played the characters really well and really immersed themselves in the storyline!

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Exceeded my expectations

I really like it! I mostly watch cdramas now, but this was really enjoyable and it honestly exceeded my expectations.

Nam Ji Hyun's acting as always was superb. Her acting is always top notch! I honestly don't think that there are many other actors that could've pulled off some of her scenes as Kong Yeon Su without coming off as cringe. She honestly looked adorable in those tricky scenes! Overall she acted magnificently and looked really pretty!
Kim Jae Yeong looked STUNNING as Dokgo Dal,honestly he portrayed his character amazingly. I was swooning together with Kong Yeon Su. I have to admit though, I believe Dokgo Dal's player lifestyle would've put off many people in real life, inculding me, because if we are beig realistic a leopard can't change its spots. But I also understand that Kong Yeon Su didn't just choose him because she liked him, but because he could help her change her lifestyle. He represented the life she couldn't have and she wanted to take back her right to make her own choices, in her life.
Kang Tae Ju as Yun Ji O did really well, I felt a bit bad for him to be honest. I have to admit though that the character felt a bit too constructed to look perfect but that he wasn't exacty whom he showed to be. it felt like Yun Ji O wasn't expressing his real honest self when speaking with the fl's elders and even with the fl sometimes, but as if he was just answering the correct answers in an exam bc he knew which ansers were the correct ones and he wanted a good grade.
All of the cast did a fantastic job and I especially loved the fl's aunt!! She was the MVP!
The fl's family were WAY too strict and paternalistic, which was awful but i get that this was the premise of the story. I find it suffocating how they're imposing their strict way of life towards the younger generation, dictating their jobs and even spouses, when to marry etc. I also strongly believe that the aunt's life was not as fulfilling as it could've been because of how strict her parent were with her back then (when and whom to marry etc).At least I liked how the aunt was always someone whom the fl could count on and lean on for support no matter what.
All in all, this was a great drama as a casual watch, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

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Interesting.

I enjoyed this drama for the chemistry of the leads. Their intimacy scenes were beautifully filmed and the kisses were great. I really loved the scenes at the end when they were cuddled on the couch. I could feel his love for her. I was also impressed with her bringing his dad around. I also liked it for the things that were missing - no evil woman trying to steal ML, I don't remember her tripping and falling at all, and did he ever grab her arm? Maybe I just glossed over them because they are in every other show.

There were a couple of laugh-out-loud moments for me.

Loved the 2ML, and let's be honest, FL and 2ML were more suited for one another.

Strangely, her family dynamics really interested me. There was something a little charming about the old-fashioned, domineering grandfather.

Here's where my problems came in (and I'll admit I'm very old-fashioned:
1) Was this supposed to be longer? Everything seemed like it was just scratching the surface.
2) She had a boyfriend for a year and a half and had no interest in having sex with him.
3) She has always believed that sex comes after marriage, but the first kiss from the ML threw that whole thing out the window. She ALSO thought he was gay and involved with his business partner, so she kisses him and doesn't even consider that this would be cheating for him.
4) I felt that she was giving up her morals that she'd lived with her entire life. She said she likes him, but he has no interest in having a relationship, just sex. And her saying she liked him felt more like hormones talking. That made me feel that she had no pride in herself. Then her saying FWB. Just no.
5) I never believed that she could be best friends with someone so involved in just having recreational sex.
6) I'm not sure how the ML fell in love with her.
7) They get together and will wait until it feels right before they get married. To me, that is playing house.
8) The sex toy aspect was pretty skimmed over, especially considering how innocent she was. She starts working at the company and is coming up with these brilliant marketing plans but doesn't know what anything is.

I'll admit I'm coming from a place of having different values than this show. Most people liked it a lot more than me, and that's fine.

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