Reviews

"You were like a bright ember in the dark, I only wanted to chase after you"

Wow this drama was phenomenal. I waited for this drama for about a month once the airing date dropped, and also watched every episode when it aired because I was so hooked (every single episode a major cliffhanger). First, the acting is so good, literally my dream pairing, IU and Byeon Woo Seok so I knew it would already be a banger, and after finishing they did so much better than I expected. I came here mainly for the plot because 21st century prince with girl boss like it was already bound to be a masterpiece, but stayed for EVERYTHING. I love this couple so much I don't think people understand like their literally my parents. Also, after watching so many sad endings recently, it feels so good to finally have an ending thats satisfying and beautiful. This drama is perfect in all aspects, even though im mainly a cdrama girly I definitely will be watching more kdramas after this!

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A Royal Disappointment

I must admit, I was REALLY excited for this show. The storyline sounded really unique, and IU has never disappointed me thus far. In the beginning, I was hooked, but the story wasn't as good throughout.

Story: 6/10
A big part of the reason I was excited for the show was a unique storyline. A commoner woman and a prince is overdone, but a contract marriage between them, politics, and business seemed interesting. Although this show was good, I had two big issues with the storyline: character depth and pacing.

The characters in this show are honestly rather shallow. In particular, the 2nd male lead is very flat, and his scenes throughout honestly just portray him as a sort-of servant to the crown, never truly showing him in his own power (nor his own greed) as a Prime Minister. He wants the FL from the beginning (despite her never having any interest) and never changes his mind despite knowing the odds are against him. The Queen Mother is also relatively shallow, something that disappointed me as she is meant to be one of the main villains. Her character was set up to be evil but she's really just someone that argues with the leads and doesn't make very many decisions. She's not as ruthless as you would expect her character to be. Even the leads' backgrounds are poorly written. For the FL, we know her mother was a mistress. But WHO was her mother? Why did her father hate the royals so much --- was her mother possibly a noblewoman/someone with ties to the royal family? For the ML, it's implied both of his parents were killed. But by who specifically --- nobility, or fights within the royal family itself?

The show seems to hint at many things in the first half, making you think there will be a big twist and the pieces will all fall into place. But then, the show seems to forget about all of the things I discussed above, and then sort of...moves on like those points weren't important. Then why tell us?

The pacing is another key issue. About 75% of the show is almost too leisurely, and the last quarter feels very rushed. There are many scenes that feel repetitive (conflict between people where they just imply things rather than actually do anything). In my opinion, the royal wedding should've happened by ep 6 and then they should've build the tension of unwinding secrets from then. Either that, or the show should've been extended to 16 episodes.

Acting: 10/10
I LOVE IU and all of her dramas, and this one is no exception. She's sassy, she's cute, she's comedic. But she's also angry, heartbroken, and betrayed. Her acting is lighthearted to match the genre, but still fun to watch. I do agree with others that her and the ML's chemistry was a little lacking in some scenes, but it didn't bother me as I still felt they looked good together in their roles. For the ML, I haven't watched any of his dramas before, but I enjoyed his acting as well, particularly in his blushing, cutesy scenes with the FL. The other couples are also very cute in this show and I enjoyed their acting as well. In particular, though, I LOVED the acting of the Queen Mother. It was subtle but really catches your attention, and her elegance really brings the character to life. I'll definitely be watching more of her works as well.

Music: 8/10
As I always say, I'm not a big OST person but it was okay.

Rewatch Value: 6/10
I don't usually rewatch dramas, but I'd rate this as a 6/10 rewatch value because it's lighthearted and cute, as long as you ignore all the glaring plot points. But if I'd be rewatching it in the future, chances are I probably wouldn't care about those points the second time around.

As always, no hate to any of the actors or the writer. It was a great drama otherwise :)

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WORSE REPRESENTATION OF AUTISM EVER.

This is an almost copy/paste of a rant I posted on the drama's page... Before that, I'd say, I would have given this probably a 6.5/7 if wasn't for the misrepresentation of autism.

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THE SHORT REVIEW

The good stuff:

1. Very interesting premise
2. Unlike most GMMTV shows, literally no product placement
3. Good Acting overall
4. The Resolution was great... until it wasn't


The bad stuff


1. Story relies too much on Gun's acting ability to generate pathos... it's an important part of the drama... except that it's based on a complete misrepresentation of what autism is in the first place ( see RANT below)

2. Need to put one's brain on off-mode on several plot points: Dream's family literally absent, Night is a medical student... Exactly WHEN does this guy study? He's the most relaxed medical student I've ever seen in my life, also he's got err one single teacher, WTF? Day supposed to work to support his cousin financially, yet we only see him working at the beginning of the story, after that, dude's got as much free time as Night. I guess he started living off the money of his very wealthy and loaded friend. Sometimes some actions are just... there to fill the minutes but don't make sense plotwise. There's too many scenes like that to count and I guess after a while I just didn't bother thinking too much.

3. Too much nonsensical behavior from Ozone especially at the end for dramatic effect. Just fudging annoying for no reason.

4. Extra scenes or scenes dragged on purpose for the minute or episode count. BORING and ANNOYING

5. Emotional impact of the end completely ruined by a forced happy ending because these writers had NO BALLS to commit to the end. And so plotwise, were does that leave us? Isn't it back to the same problem we spent 12 episodes on?


Conclusion

One of the best GMMTV show I've seen... Except that since I've stayed away from GMMTV for a while ( we're talking at least 1 year and a half), the mediocrity, plot holes, and overall laziness of the writing is just jarring. Funny what staying away from mid-shows does to your brain... My tolerance level for nonsense which was running thin after years of GMMTV mediocrity wasn't recharged by staying away... It actually got even thinner.

Does it deserve the 8.6 overall ratings it got? Well NO, BUT in comparison to most GMMTV shows, this is among the top quality ones featuring popular actors ( there's lots of straight shows on GMM that get completely ignored so I don't know how it fairs next to those)... Given how generous people are rating BLs on MDL especially on GMMTV... I'd say, even though this is not a BL, it deserves its rating IN COMPARISON to other GMMTV shows.

But in comparison to other dramas? NAH. CERTAINLY NOT. Go watch a couple of One 31's shows. They're overly long but at least they're not lazy in the writing department even if sometimes it's a bit too much.

Suggested Rating: 4

Personal Rating: 3 (See RANT below)

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THE LONG RANT


AUTISTIC PEOPLE AREN'T OVERGROWN BABIES!

No they don't spend their time doodling with colored pencil, NO they don't need somebody to help them get changed, NO they're not gonna clap their hands for some stupid stickers.

ADULT AUTISTIC PEOPLE ARE ADULTS. THEY'RE MOSTLY INDEPENDANT, in fact given the proper environment, they earn their keep just fine which given Ozone's case should have been the case in this drama.

This is the WORSE representation of autism that I've ever seen. Nothing against the actor, that's how he was directed to act but NOPE, this isn't autism.

There are different degrees in autism and supposedly Ozone is on the severe side.

WELL then dear writers, there's an old movie made in 1988 which features two brothers, one with one of the most severe case of autism. It's called "RAIN MAN" featuring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman...

It's almost fudging 40 YEARS OLD and it did WAY BETTER than you at a time when autism wasn't as spread as it is now ( because yes sadly, this condition is on the rise) and people didn't know better.

GO WATCH IT NEXT TIME instead of perpetuating wrong ideas about it. F*** LAZY. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Could have been enjoyable I guess if I wasn't familiar with autism on a personal level in the first place . All the emotional BS, Ozone hugging and all of that. Ha! What a joke. Doesn't happen in real life. You know... with people who are REALLY autistic.

Forced myself to finish this mess. The final "twist" is supposed to be all emotional but since all I could focus on was the fact that Ozone was behaving like an adult mentally challenged - which is again NOT the case with autism, they think different but they don't behave like children - it just pissed me off the whole time.

Do you realize that even autistic people who are Asperger for instance, so one of the mildest form - very difficult to detect, often only diagnosed when reaching adulthood - aren't comfortable with physical touch? Yet Ozone is clinging to literally everyone including people he barely knows.

Interesting story, but the whole autism thing is an eyesore. I'm not giving this a passing grade.

Next time, do better.

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Epic & Hilarious with a Great Plot. KDrama Gold!!

I knew I wanted to see it and would probably like it, but I turned it on and couldnt look away until my whole day was spent bingeing the entire series. It is hilarious!! I loved everything about this drama, no notes! I had so much fun with the plot twists, each character grew on me, so much so that I am genuinely going to miss them each. We saw huge leaps in Cha Eun-woo's acting in this drama and as always I absolutely adored Park Eun-bin's acting. She NEVER dissapoints! The redemption arc actually redeemed who needed it. I also heard this whole storyline took place in a span of 2wks - that put things way more in perspective for me! I loved it so much. It is going to become one of my favorite comfort kdramas to rewatch again and again.

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"You have my full support. Do as you please."

The Man Standing Next told the story of the KCIA director who assassinated RoK President Park in 1979. Forty days of intrigue, murder, and betrayals led to the fateful event. This particular snapshot in time is always hard for me because there were no good guys, just men willing to do what was necessary to maintain or gain power.

President Park is furious that the ex-director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Park Yong Gak, has been called before the American Congress to testify regarding bribes and gifts given to lawmakers to win their support for his government. To make matters worse, PYG has written a memoir titled Traitor of the Revolution. Current KCIA director Kim Kyu Pyung is tasked with convincing his old friend to turn the manuscript over. PYG tells Kim to watch himself as the president has been siphoning money off into Swiss bank accounts and unknown to the KCIA developed his own secret spy agency. The president’s bodyguard, Kwak Sang Cheon, has been currying favor with the president angling to become his successor. Between PYG airing Park’s dirty laundry and riots breaking out in Busan, Kim finds himself in a precarious position.

The film attempted to show Kim in a sympathetic manner. This angle didn’t work for me. For 18 years Kim had unwaveringly supported the dictator and done his dirty work. The KCIA was hardly a Boy Scout troop and known for torturing people. He seemed to have no qualms about ordering a hit on a friend. Suddenly he’s willing to sacrifice all for democracy? What was his rationale? Did he want to be president? If his plan had been a coup, he did a terrible job of securing support and planning. Was it to save his own life? Or did Kwak telling the president that murdering 2-3 million people was justifiable in order to maintain power the final straw? How did he come to make his decision and how did he convince his few agents to go along with him? Kim Kyu Pyung’s motivation and loyalty bounced all over the place. Park Yong Gak admitted to being a bad guy so I was not vested in his outcome. President Park was a heartless dictator and Kwak was utterly ruthless. Kim’s actions allowed another villain to take over who was waiting in the wings for his shot (the man standing next). A usurper who was much better at consolidating support. Power loves a vacuum and it’s usually the most vicious who rise to the top.

Lee Byung Hun and Lee Sung Min gave strong performances. Lee’s Kim Kyu Pyung required a great deal of nuance as the KCIA director dealt with humiliations, betrayals, and loss. Kim slowly unraveled before our eyes. The rest of the large cast gave adequate performances, some better than others. Kwak was an integral character yet very thinly drawn to the point of being a caricature. Aside from the issues I had with Kim, the film spent too much time on Park Yong Gak. His story could have been expedited. Kim Young Sam’s expulsion was the stimulus for political unrest and violent riots and the characters mentioned him often but the film never gave him so much as a cameo. It also felt like they looked at the cast and realized they didn’t have even one female in the story and added Kim So Jin as the broker for PYG. She did what she could with it, but there wasn’t much to work with. Hers was another role that could have been far more compelling with better writing.

If you enjoy historical films, especially during this tumultuous time in Korea, The Man Standing Next had some positive things going for it. The film was beautifully shot. The two mains gave engaging performances and the history lesson was interesting. However, it wasn’t always absorbing. I found myself checking my watch numerous times because the film failed to reel me in emotionally. Despite limiting the time frame to 40 days, there was no sense of urgency, no tension. I don’t need someone to root for in a political “thriller,” but it really helps if I understand why the main character makes a dramatic life altering decision instead of it coming across as, “This guy is really pissing me off.” It works in kung fu flicks, but with the fate of a nation hanging in the balance, it came across as impulsive which didn’t seem to be what the writers were going for.

18 May 2026

"Sequel" Note: If you haven't watched 12:12 The Day and might be interested in it, this would be a good film to watch beforehand as the other film begins where this film ends. I don't believe they are related otherwise.

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A WONDERful show

I like to keep my reviews pretty short, you know straight to the point of what I liked and disliked. That being said I really enjoyed this show, in-fact I can't recall the last time I had fun watching a tv show...

It felt refreshing, like it healed something I've been craving for months. The WONDERfools really stands out because, despite all the superpowers and chaos, the characters still feel incredibly human. I especially loved Lee Un Jeong (Cha Eun Woo), because he has that classic Superman/Clark Kent personality — a clumsy and awkward co-worker that nobody would ever expect to secretly have powers. Instead of making him feel untouchable, the show keeps him grounded and relatable, which makes his heroic moments even better.

The same applies to Eun Chae Ni (Park Eun Bin), Son Gyeong Un (Choi Dae Hoon) and Kang Ro Bin (Kang Ro Bin). They all genuinely feel like ordinary people who just happened to gain extraordinary abilities. Their reactions to having powers feel realistic too — some characters see them as a blessing or even a cure, while others treat them more like a curse. What makes the show so satisfying is watching each of them slowly learn to understand and appreciate their abilities as they grow as people. Their character development feels natural, rewarding, and ultimately leads to a conclusion that feels complete while still leaving the door open for more. More than anything, though, the cast is what made the show so memorable for me because every character felt distinct, lovable, and easy to become invested in.

The WONDERfools also does an incredible job balancing its plot, humor, and emotional moments without any of them overpowering the others. The comedy feels effortless and genuinely funny, often catching you off guard in the best way possible, while the romance stays subtle and heartfelt instead of becoming overly dramatic or forced. What really makes the story stand out, though, is the decision to center everything around the fear and uncertainty of the world ending when the year 2000 arrives. It is such a perfect setup for the plot because it not only fits the era perfectly, but also gives the entire series this nostalgic atmosphere through its fashion, technology, and overall vibe. That Y2K setting adds so much personality to the show and perfectly matches its mix of chaos, emotion, humor, and hope.

The only downfall the show had for me was it being only 8 episodes. Heres hoping we will get a season 2!

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I WONDER HOW THIS TITLE EVEN GET GOOD REVIEWS

I was going to stop myself from reviewing but then i'm like no i need to give this title a review since I myself started this drama due to the high rating reviews haha those who review clearly don't even know what they are even watching like how did they come up with such high rating for this title~ definitely misleading~

First and foremost the acting of the leads is just awful like seriously. I thought I could manage it as the supporting cast are much better at acting than the leads~ but the leads get too much screen time that even when I fast forward it's like equivalent to a whole episode so might as well just skipped the whole series hahaha

And oh god i dun even know how are they even trying to portray the FL like why so ridiculous for someone who is smart as a character but at the same time seems so bimbotic like how can they even incorporate totally different personas together and the ML forever looking angry without any reason and even when he's not angry his whole expression is just unnatural.

And the storyline i dun even know what i'm watching it's just utterly ridiculous~ anw hope no one gets mislead by the high rating reviews.

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No peace, no quiet ever in L Word-wannabe

Why do I get the feeling that GIRL RULES' mantra is "When I grow up, I wanna be L Word"?

GIRL RULES is proving how difficult it is to pull off a good series with an ensemble cast, with many layers of stories among them: Every episode feels like hit-and-miss chaos.... But, wait! This might be deliberate. Perhaps, THIS is the impression/effect that the writing/directing team wants to leave with viewers? Just saying that this topsy-turvy of a seafood boil turmoil still tries to make sense. Even if GIRL RULES feels like one giant acting workshop for the cast that's preparing for each of their own MilkLove-NamtanFilm-ViewMim future couple projects....

I was just about to finish watching GIRL RULES Ep 10 and write, "Finally! A peaceful GR episode where everything's hunky-dory and everyone's😊happy😁" But no! Yikes, Sasha's witch of a mother appears outta nowhere (hey, isn't that the same Mother So Vile of Ranya in SHADOW OF LOVE?) and Bambi's acting krungkrung again! And Prim and Min are actually fighting. Haha haha haha haha haha

No peace and quiet evvvver on the GIRL RULES front?!?

P.S. But I'm happy that SashaGorya is now official😁🥳❤️🥰😍😘

All THE BESTS about GIRL RULES:
Best Episode - Finale ep! Finally, everyone looks happy in ep 12 - Even Sasha's shameless money-grabber of a mother😂😆

Best Song - Emi's FOREVER YOURS and that KrisBaipor moment For The Win🥰

Best Friendship - The sickest, most whacko, yet most sincere Gorya-Bambi frenemies dynamic! Insane!!

Best Wish - Bambi's latest entry in her bucket list, with the most willing participant Prim😏😊

Best Final Pose - THAT. FREAKIN'. LAST. SHOT! A great homage to the classic sapphic reference, L Word.

All in all, after 12 episodes, GIRL RULES still ruled! All credit goes to MilkLove, NamtanFilm, and ViewMim - How these six amazing actresses managed to hold together something so frayed at the edges that the show was about to unravel any time; how they figured out how to keep things going so it would still end as a resounding success - WILL FOREVER REMAIN AS ONE OF THAI GL'S ASTOUNDING MYSTERIES🤔🤯

GIRL RULES will go down in history as the show that gave its audience the worst migraines - AND THE BIGGEST SMILES! 😊😁 Congratulations, GIRL RULES, you are loved (and their final episode aired on the first day of 🏳️‍🌈 month🥳).🌈❤️💯🇹🇭🌈

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Growing Up Overnight

This is a very lighthearted movie. Baby and I is about a delinquent, Han Jun Su, who literally becomes a father overnight. Throughout the movie, he learns to become more responsible and slowly softens up as a person while trying to raise his child. Kim Byeol is an extremely smart student, but because she wasn't being challenged in school, she stopped attending until she met Han Jun Su, which motivated her to go back.

The movie balances its comedy and emotional moments really well. A lot of the humor comes from Han Jun Su suddenly having to take care of a baby despite barely being able to take care of himself. Watching him slowly adjust to the responsibility was both funny and surprisingly heartwarming. Even though the story is pretty simple, the characters made it enjoyable to watch. It made me laugh a lot, but it also had some genuinely sweet moments about growing up, responsibility, and finding purpose through other people.

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the imperfect crown

The (Im)Perfect Crown.

Nothing is worse than a great storyline being overshadowed by the perfectly sculpted faces of Byeon Woo-seok and IU. It’s the same issue I had with The Pursuit of Jade. Modern Asian dramas are becoming clichés where appearances matter more than acting, storytelling, or emotional depth. The industry seems obsessed with cookie-cutter beauty rather than compelling characters and meaningful narratives.

Yes, there were plenty of “Kodak moments” filled with sweetness and giddiness, but the lack of depth and proper character development turned this series into something painfully two-dimensional.

The premise itself already asks to stretch reality: a functioning monarchy in modern South Korea, but for the sake of art, fine, let’s go with it. What pulled me out completely, however, was the palace fire tragedy where apparently no fire trucks existed in this universe. And this fire happened twice. Details matter. Instead, the writers relied almost entirely on the fame and beauty of the leads to carry the drama. And commercially, it worked but at what cost?

The series feels like a Disney-esque fantasy monarchy straight out of Cinderella: polished, utopian, and engineered for a happily-ever-after ending. But what about the rest of the world around them? Where were the supporting characters, the emotional consequences, the complexity? The story desperately needed 16 episodes to flesh out its universe and relationships.

In the end, the drama felt like the perfect date leading into an exciting night, only to end in complete disappointment.

If Disney and Netflix continue Americanizing Korean dramas, we already know where this leads. What once made K-dramas special was their innocence, curiosity, emotional sincerity, and sense of wonder. Once that authenticity is lost, it may never truly come back.

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The Quiet Realism

Sa Hye Joon and Ahn Jung Ha grow a friendship through their perseverance and love for their craft, both being in the infancy of their careers. Sa Hye Joon is doing random modeling and acting gigs, something small, nothing really warranting the public's attention. Ahn Jung Ha is just one of many makeup artists at a makeup company. The drama spends a lot of time showing how hard both of them work to chase careers that don't guarantee success. Their struggles feel realistic, especially when they constantly have to deal with rejection, financial pressure, and people looking down on their dreams.

The beginning of the drama focuses on their friendship soon turning romantic. Prior to Sa Hye Joon's career taking off, the two had great communication, but once his career starts taking off, their communication slowly falls apart because of his busy schedule. Then the two learn to navigate their relationship while dealing with fame, busy schedules, and growing emotional distance. I actually liked how grounded their relationship felt. Ahn Jung Ha was extremely understanding, and despite the hurt she felt, she remained a positive light in Sa Hye Joon's world.

In the beginning, Ahn Jung Ha lets us know that the things she dislikes most are people who don't keep their promises or make her anxious, and we eventually see her experience exactly that with Sa Hye Joon, qualities he didn't really have until his career took off. It made their relationship feel more realistic because neither of them were necessarily wrong. They were just slowly growing apart because of the changes happening in their lives.

The drama doesn't try to make everything overly dramatic all the time. Instead, it focuses more on how success can slowly change people and the relationships around them, even when both people still care for each other. Despite the two genuinely loving each other, Sa Hye Joon eventually accepted Ahn Jung Ha's decision to break up. It felt mature and realistic for both characters. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful breakups I've seen in dramas. The ending was also quite open ended, and I really liked that. It leaves room for interpretation while still feeling emotionally satisfying.

I found Won Hae Hyo's character rather interesting. In the beginning, he basically had everything, but then we learn he only reached his level of success because of his mother's influence, and he begins questioning himself as an actor and his craft. I thought his insecurity and jealousy were handled pretty well because it never felt completely malicious. Won Hae Hyo finally understood how Sa Hye Joon felt when he was at the height of his career while his best friend watched from the sidelines. In some ways, his storyline ended up being one of the more emotionally interesting parts of the drama because a lot of his growth came from mending the relationship with his mother and learning to separate his own worth from the success she tried to create for him.

Overall, I think the drama shines most when it focuses on youth, ambition, and the pressure of trying to build a life for yourself while everyone around you has different expectations. It has a calm and realistic tone compared to a lot of other dramas, which might not work for everyone, but I appreciated that about it. Even when the pacing slows down, the characters and their personal struggles kept me invested.

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From a legal professional perspective

I loved this show.... from a legal professional perspective. Other legal shows tend to be detective-like, centering on solving mysteries and crimes, as thrillers are more spectacular.

However, Hold a Court Now gives a taste of the bustling life inside a Family Court. Starting with the functioning of the courtroom itself: from the different number of judges on different cases, the necessity or lack thereof of attorneys for the defendants, to the different stages of the process when you can provide evidence. Outside of the courtroom, we can learn that before going to court it is necessary to go through alternative dispute resolution, that the government requires fulfilling a certain number of ADR solved cases, that judges who helped in mediation can be the judges on the trial, and that there is no summary process to demand attorney's fees.

When analysing the legal framework, one starts seeing some contradictions in the plot: alimony is sometimes mandatory and sometimes non-existent, there is a lack of parental responsibilities in some cases (visitation is both a responsibility and a right), and the necessity — or lack thereof — for grounds for divorce, among others. But one can still learn that divorce is not (¿always?) automatic, that the best interests of children or minors are interpreted entirely at the judges' discretion (without a separate institution to represent and guarantee them), and that the rules of recusal do not account for emotional attachment or previous relationships.

I truly believe this show is not a truthful portrayal of the norms and processes of a Family Court in Mainland China, but it is still a very interesting watch.

If I wasn't able to appreciate these legal particularities, the show would still be very warm, delicate and tender, though not without its flaws.
For example, the overly restrained performances of the main leads. When crying, they do it so silently and briefly. When confessing their love, there is no celebration. When heartbroken, they go quiet. They don't even brush elbows! They only touch when an accident or similar situation forces them to — while every other character feels so much more expressive.
What's more, there are some plot inconsistencies: some characters push the "refusing to communicate" trope so far it becomes ludicrous, and Qin is never once introduced to Shen's family or friends, which is weird, considering how the much the mother wanted to meet her, how the got to know eachother before-hand, and the development of the relationship between Shen and his family.

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