Reviews

Well Made Film But Not For Everyone

Parasite is a well made movie with strong acting smart camera work, and good direction. The story starts slow and feels awkward at times but later becomes chaotic and dark. It shows two families one rich and one poor and how their lives clash in dangerous ways. The movie uses many metaphors about class, money and survival. Some scenes feel uncomfortable or unnecessary but the tension slowly builds. The ending is violent and sad, not exciting. Overall it is not very entertaining but it is technically impressive and thoughtfully made. A solid movie but not for everyone.

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"When I chose you, I gave you my back... I'm only afraid that you won't trust me"

I have to say this drama's plot is really good, from the VR experience which was really cool to real life. The first few episodes had me absolutely hooked because i LOVE these types of plots where they know each other but haven't met in real life. Qin Xiaoyi was also enchanting. I was scared to start this drama because I thought it was just gonna be another historical and fantasy drama but was thankfully proven wrong. I ended up starting it for LYX and this one edit I saw. Okay, my ONLY huge plot hole that made me so annoyed that I wanted to quit the whole series was the whole Wang Guangming fiasco. That man wasn't even trying to cheat, the girl pulled him in and gave HIM a kiss, you can tell he was surprised. So if they just talked it out I feel like she would realize he wasn't trying to do anything. Also, remember that he had a startup and he needed Chixin because he needed the partnership, so he wouldn't immediately push her away and never contact her again which was understandable. Especially with 2 years of marriage and all those years of love she moved on quite fast and didn't even listen to him in the first place. I'm sorry this almost made me quit the whole series because I was so annoyed, it would have been fine if they made the man straight up cheat but HE DIDNT EVEN WANT TO, HE WASNT TRYING TO...

Anyways, the music was alright, everything else was good. LYX never fails to amaze me with her performances, the main couple was good. SML was pretty good as well. Everything else was really good! Personally recommending this drama!!!

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I Should've Watched This Sooner

Were it not for those last 2 episodes, I think I'd have rated this higher.

I think if someone went into this hoping for a lot of romance, they'd be disappointed. Most of this story is spent navigating the issues the characters face to find their way to the love (and lives) they want/deserve, rather than on their romance.

Watching them navigate those issues is what made me binge the first 9 episodes. Only to be disappointed by the 3rd-act breakup scene. I say this about both romance books and romantic movies & TV shows, we don't always need the 3rd-act breakup. More often than not, like in this case, it disrupts the fantastic momentum of a story that the reader/viewer is invested in.

The Characters
👩🏻‍🏫Manami - I saw her jump into the sea in the 1st like 2 minutes of the show and got immediately invested. I thoroughly enjoyed her growth throughout the series. She starts very timid, passive, and clumsy — I'm still confused by why she was constantly stumbling on air — and slowly grows into a more confident version of herself. Able to make her own decisions and mistakes and own them. In the latter episodes, she rarely stumbles, so perhaps that was to signify a growth in her confidence? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into things🤔

Her personality is largely shaped by her upbringing. On one hand, her mother is passive and suffers in silence. On the other hand, her dad is a very sexist, misogynistic, and controlling father, who constantly speaks down to her mother both in private and in front of others. I hated that man.

Manami is the good girl. Never stepping a toe out of line (you know, aside from the whole stalking her ex and yeeting herself into the sea thing). She does everything right and is soft spoken, kinda like her mother. But she's clearly bursting at the seams, and the chance meeting with Kaoru slowly helps her break out of her shell.

Had Kaoru not come into her life, I think she'd have become another version of her mother — angrily chewing basil leaves at the sink whenever her overbearing husband did or said anything hurtful.

🕺🏻Kaoru - I knew he was the main lead, but I did not like him for perhaps 6 or 7 episodes. During this time, he remains very much a 'host' and doesn't show any prospects as a love interest. At least not one that Manami deserved. However, his backstory shows you how life has shaped him into the smooth-talking asshole that he is.

His dyslexia has crippled his life outside the club, and his mother is — as Kaoru calls her— a tick who's constantly sucking him dry to feed her 2nd deadbeat baby daddy. His insecurity over the fact that he can neither read nor write, coupled with the need to make money to feed the never ending blackhole that is his mother, pushes him to ignore what he and Manami could be.

Luckily, as the story progresses, Manami's steadfast belief in him and her assurance that he is not stupid help him try to see himself as more than. More than just a host with nothing else to give to the world. More than the dumb kid that everyone, including his mother, insulted and were frustared by. More than a pretty face. His character growth was beautiful to watch, especially once we started spending less time at the host club. He is truly a pure soul who wants someone to see him, value him, and be more.

Unfortunately, this is tainted by the 3rd act break-up. I know he was frustrated by the exam, but him bodily throwing Manami and her bag out of his house left a bad taste in my mouth. It reminded me too much of how Manami's father treated her mother, and that's just.... Ew.

The two also get back together at the very end of the show, without a proper conversation or anything. I'd have loved to have spent more time with them as a couple rather than those scenes of them away from each other.


🌸🌸PS. Something that made me uncomfortable(?) with Manami and Kaoru's relationship is how she reacted when teaching him. She used this baby voice and reacted like one would when teaching a baby. Like I expect that behaviour when teaching someone like Yuki, Kaoru's brother. He's a literal child, unlike Kaoru.
I understand that there's a 12-year age difference between the two, and that Kaoru was rather insecure about his inability to read. Kaouru is also a golden retriever personality who thrives under praise. However, he's an adult. The baby voice and overthe top rections when he got something right were not needed IMO. It made things weird.


🧑🏻‍🏫Sakura - I wish the story gave us more about his life and experience with love in Japanese society. He mentions to Manami that he's gay and that's why he has a lens into society's view of 'forbidden/taboo relationships'. This story focuses on the 'taboo' of Manami and Kaoru's relationship, which has to overcome their age-gap, social standing and financial differences, as well as the fact that Kaoru works as a host. However, I wish we had gotten a mini side story or something about him.

👴🏻Manami's father - He got a sort of redemption arc. I didn't think he deserved one. That's all I have to say about that

🪴Manami's mother - When she smacked her husband with a ladle on the back of his head, I stood and clapped. I'm happy that she eventually got a life outside the house (coz of the new job). I'm sad that she never went through with the divorce.

💼Kawahara - The story tells us that he eventually fell for her, and that's why he let her go. I, unfortunately, did not see this love they tried telling us about. When exactly did this love bloom? In the middle of all the stalking and the telling on her to her father? Let's not forget that he only wanted her because of who her dad was and what the union could do for his career. Plus, the cheating in the beginning. The man was literally planning to keep his side chick after the two were married! I just....🤦🏾‍♀️

🏫The School - I was flabbergasted by how this school was run. Maybe it's a difference between Japan and my country, but...
1. How is it a teacher's responsibility to go fetch a girl from the red light district? Isn't that the parents' job? Or at least people in the parents' direct employ? Like a domestic worker or a driver, perhaps?

2. When that one girl made Manami fall and hurt her head, and then everyone laughed, I was just...*mouth to the floor*. They would have murdered us if we ever did that. Maybe not the school, but a combination of the school and parents. We don't act like that where I'm from

3. Why does a school dictate a teacher's love life? I think, unless the situation directly affects the running of classes or the school in general, I've never heard of principals or parents telling a teacher who they can or cannot date or interact with. And I say this as someone who went to an all-girls Catholic high school where we had mass EVERY Thursday.

4. I also fail to understand the need to call Manami back to the school—after they forced her to resign—, only to have the girls insult her

All in all, I think it was a rather well-paced story that unfortunately faltered in the end. I am a fan of noona dramas, so this was a delight to watch. Despite the few issues pointed out, I enjoyed the progression of the story, the characters, and the relationship between Manami and Kaoru. It was a nice slow burn that tackles societal issues that many age-gap romances face

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Yu Peishan needs to get more non scumbag role.

I watched this since my friends said this is Yu Peishan non-scumbag role and you need to watch this. Xu Bodi/ Wang Xi acting was quite fine and she is not artificial cute.

I thought it was usual plot of a scumbag regretting his actions, but i was wrong; FL amnesia is just her awakening for the truth.

FL loses her memory (not fake amnesia), she's is very kind ML constantly trying to make amends. Because her family ignored her for two years due to amnesia, only ML stayed by her side and cared for her every day. FL cuts her toxic family and therefore, she's quite dependent on him. ML is deeply in love with her; even before her amnesia, even she treated him badly, he never left. After her amnesia, he's very good to her, and he becomes anxious and insecure, afraid that she'll regain her memory and leave him. The kisses was good. Yu Peishan quite good kisser and the relationship growth between FL and ML pace was right. The romance between FL and ML are very sweet, and even in the last few episodes when the FL regains her memory, there's no heartbreak; she openly tells the male lead she loves him. No angst included.

Every time I see a Chinese short drama like this, I wonder why SML always confident the FL won't leave him? This one is the same; he realizes he loves the FL halfway through, but it's too late.

There is flaw about ML was trying Mango Yogurt from FL while he was allergic to it. But overall it didn't affect the quality of this drama

Recommended to Watch.

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Root for Yijun but Fall in Love with the Series

As the taq says, I watch this because I want to support Wang Yijun after he bravely go to YG but they dissapointed him by closer their YG Stage dept and they didnt do a good job to secure a nice project, only his own team do the work.

Have 0 expectation with the series and just treat it as a brain cleanser after watching dozen brain wrecking drama.

The reason why this is good in my opinion
• At first ep they splurged it with resident evil, gotham, vampire like esque with F&F influence on car scene; btw I like the rough breathing scene when Xie being arrested (I know how perverted I am), that hooked me up. After ep 3, I do really said it out loud the Japanese meme when shocked; eh?! Eh??!! EH?!!!! EH~~~~. The vibe change into ABO, bl vibes (baidu even name rank place our 1, 2 and 3 ML in credit rolled after that our FLs), 50 shades of Grey and 365, plus My Demon scene too. Please do watch it when the door close this is a borderline NSFW which so rare in Chinese drama.

I dont agree when people mocking Youku because in my mind they are great streaming app. Just like Shao Nian Ge Xing, Legend of Zang Hai, Falling Into Your Smile which being judge as failure but they insist to air even put them ahead of schedule. Of course still hate when they stop airing Silent Reading because of BP member photo scandal (hope they just edit the scene and continue it).

• No need to think just cruising and chilax. Good for date course and serve as chicken blood; romantic inuedo. A lot of scene potray a smexy inuedo here, like octopus, dragon etc.

• Fake car scene that I approve since we know the plot is a nonsense.

• Maybe their overall acting not so good but, darling~~ I told you, they care about detail in acting. Eyes, face, and body movement of them can seduce you. Cui laoshi played as ML his eyes, so damn killing. He look like Lee Joon when he played a suspected serial killer in Gap Dong. Our ML is brown because sometimes he is green like forest but also red like forest fire. His body is buff too which rare in the industry, DANG!!!!!. Meanwhile my fav Wang Yijun he really has a survivor mental after the reason I write above. The tall and lanky stature potray his charcter the best, Mr. Wu is twisted but good. When you watching with teenager/kids please do advice them not to copy the scene and teach them survival instinct and act. FL can fight ML when he pint her but she just Oh LORD~~~ in real life situation she is the 1st to die.

•Makeup, hairdo and costume buffing their character setting like our ML Xie his everyday wear 20's something old man wear and sometimes so beasty, meanwhile Wang Yijun played our Mr. Wu his clotch are so rigid and pristine knowing not only he is an older brother but a leader in his work.

• The OSTs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I love it hyping the scene especially a romance one.

If I resume, the drama is rare as jade in drama land. Lack of logic plot and nonsense didnt bother me at all which I always roasting until crispy like chips. Just need to endure another 10 eps to conclude my review

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The most useless reborn plot.

I watch this when i want to explore more Gong Fang Ni works and Yin Yibo is finally not playing a scumbag anymore. Both actors have talent and good looks. The chemistry was decent and...Boom! The drama make me disappointed since there is too many non-sense in this drama.

The cons in this drama FL was too dumb why you tell the enemies that you have the evidence? FL wants to take revenge alone but in the end ML is always the one shielding her from attacks. FL enemies are everywhere, and even near the end, FL is still out alone. It feels like the reborn was useless for FL since she always trapped into same hole.

Maybe only hardcore fans could watch this.

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It was the best

Encounter is one of those dramas that doesn’t rush to impress you; instead, it asks you to slow down and sit with it. From the very first episode, the series establishes a quiet, almost meditative atmosphere where emotions are expressed more through pauses, eye contact, and unspoken thoughts than through loud dialogue. The romance between Cha Soo-hyun and Kim Jin-hyuk feels delicate and restrained, shaped by circumstance rather than impulsive passion. Their connection begins in a fleeting moment of freedom, yet follows them back into a reality filled with social pressure, hierarchy, and expectations.

What makes the drama especially compelling is how it contrasts two very different lives—Soo-hyun’s emotionally confined world of status and responsibility versus Jin-hyuk’s simple, sincere approach to life. Instead of turning this contrast into melodrama, Encounter treats it with empathy. Jin-hyuk’s warmth never feels unrealistic, and Soo-hyun’s hesitation never feels frustrating; both are understandable reactions to the lives they’ve lived. The drama allows its characters to grow quietly, choosing subtle development over dramatic turning points.

Visually, Encounter is stunning. The cinematography often feels like a painting—soft lighting, carefully framed shots, and a lingering sense of nostalgia. Even ordinary moments feel meaningful, as if the show wants you to remember them the way you remember fragments of your own past. The soundtrack complements this perfectly, carrying a gentle melancholy that lingers long after each episode ends.

Ultimately, Encounter isn’t about grand romance or shocking twists. It’s about timing, emotional freedom, and the courage it takes to choose happiness when the world expects you not to. Watching it feels less like following a plot and more like experiencing a quiet emotional journey—one that stays with you, not because it overwhelms you, but because it understands restraint.

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Classic drama.

This drama is the third drama i ever done when i first watching short drama in 2024.

The plot is about FL and ML met on unexpected encounter, decide to have a whirlwind marriage. However, ML maintains a mysterious identity and past. FL begins to suspect ML true identity. She discovers that ML was once a gang leader but changed his identity after a certain incident. Through a series of interactions, FL decides to face MLs past together and help him solve his problems. They experience a series of dangers and trials without any money.

The thing that i liked for this drama is Sun Yue remark. He may not the most handsome but his acting was quite smart and he can hinder his other leads weakness especially Xu Yizhen. Such a rare gem on short drama not many actors cannot do that. Even the romance and kisses were not sensual but you can feel the dynamic duo between them. Xu Yizhen embraced resilient FL who wants to know ML hidden secret.

If you want to watch classic decent drama, watch this.

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Rider Jump! Rider Kick!

Giving birth to one of the most endearing pieces of tokusatsu media on the planet, the influence of the original Kamen Rider is impossible to overstate. Its themes of identity, sacrifice and resistance against oppressive power still resonate even today, giving rise to the idea of the tragic, masked hero in one of its most enduring forms. Despite initially starting as a more mature option for tokusatsu fans, the show truly finds its stride when it stops taking itself too seriously and starts having fun with its pulpy premise, treating it with a surprising earnestness. Granted, some pretty notable factors have unfortunately dated the show in its accessibility, being an excruatingly 98-episodes long, it's very easy to get burnt out with how repetitive it can be, with some episodes showing their age more than others. While the show's adamant refusal to explain itself and sudden shift in tone due to Hiroshi Fujioka's injuries is jarring, the overall look and stylings of the show are so endearingly charming, visually rich and all around exciting. Rarely does it feel like the budgetary limitations get in the way of telling a good story. The fights are dynamic, the motorcycle action is aplenty, and the sound of the opening theme is more than enough to get the blood pumping as the Riders face off against a swarm of Shocker grunts or in a showdown against the monster. While certainly rough around the edges, everything about Kamen Rider is done with such infectious enthusiasm; throughout its ups and downs, its message never falters. Human life is more important than even peace and justice, and your humanity is not defined by your body alone.

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A realistic take on age gap dating

Aoshima-kun Is a Bully is another manga-to-live adaptation of Aoshima-kun wa Ijiwaru, and honestly, it’s one of those dramas you don’t expect much from… and then it turns out to be really cute. It’s light, comforting, and surprisingly realistic when it comes to age-gap relationship challenges.

Plot*
The story follows Yukino, a woman about to turn 35, who has just been dumped by the boyfriend she was planning to marry. After that disappointment, she kind of gives up on marriage, on expectations, on doing what she’s “supposed” to do. She decides to enjoy being single, and her small daily pleasure becomes grabbing a drink after work at her favourite izakaya.
One night, she runs into Aoshima, a 26-year-old coworker. Even though they work at the same company, they’ve never really spoken because they’re complete opposites. Yukino is the dependable, mom-type employee who puts 100% into her job. Aoshima is the popular heartthrob everyone at work gushes over.
Their short interaction gets awkwardly interrupted when Yukino’s friend reminds her about an upcoming wedding and how excited everyone is to meet her boyfriend. Since Yukino was just dumped, she panics and impulsively asks Aoshima to pretend to be her boyfriend—for just one day.
That one lie quickly turns into a deal.
Aoshima wants to escape constant female attention, and Yukino wants to prove to others and maybe to herself that she can still be like anyother woman. Of course, what starts as a fake relationship slowly turns real as they begin catching feelings for each other.


Spoilers ahead*

The drama is genuinely cute, and the cast did a really good job. But what I enjoyed the most was how the age gap was handled. They don’t just mention it, they show it in everyday life.
Yukino has been single for most of her life, and by 35 she has built a solid routine. When she starts dating Aoshima for real, his constant visits to her home slowly exhaust her. She can’t sleep comfortably. She feels the need to dress up all the time. She loses that quiet space she used to recharge.
And honestly? That felt extremely real.
In your 20s, you’re flexible. You’re exploring, experimenting, and relationships flow without much thought. But in your 30s, you already have a life. You have a way you start your mornings and end your days. You’ve learned to enjoy being alone. There are parts of yourself you don’t want to show to anyone.
I really appreciated that the drama highlighted these aspects. They’re small, often overlooked details, but they matter. They show that an age gap isn’t just about numbers, it’s about rhythm, lifestyle, and emotional space.
Overall, Aoshima-kun Is a Bully is a soft, easy watch that still manages to feel relatable and honest. It doesn’t try to be deep, but it understands its characters, and sometimes that’s enough.

…Also, did anyone else notice the cameo from Usokon main lead ? That was such a fun little moment, considering Shota Watanabe( Aoshima-kun) also plays in that series.

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A fun watch if you like psychotic characters

To start this off, the acting 😩The acting was so good I don’t care what anybody says, almost every single character did their job perfectly from beginning to end.
I think my favorite part of this drama is that it’s not actually revenge, it’s just a story about a psychopath that wants to destroy almost everything. If anything I found this a really fun watch.
I do understand the people who said the ending was meh, but honestly I found the ending okay, not amazing, but acceptable. In the end she got exposed, and the best part about it, is that her biggest confidant did it, not even because he hated her, but because till the end he loved her.
Either ways, overall I actually enjoyed this, it was a short nice watch.

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Love, Lies, and Luxury: A Perfectly Addictive Start

Ohm returns as Yu, a charming scammer, and the role suits him well. Pairing him with newcomer Poon as North turns out to be a strong move, with chemistry that feels natural and engaging.

The premise pulls you in right away. Cousins North and Pai, heirs to a billionaire empire, both becoming victims of romance scams sounds dramatic, but the show treats it with just the right balance of tension and fun. I really loved that the story is set in modern day Thailand where same sex marriage is legal and completely normalized. It adds warmth and realism instead of making it a big dramatic point.

Seeing Junior as Tim and Mark as Pat again made me so happy. Perfect 10 Liners fans, we are being fed. Junior plays Tim as a flawless scammer, smooth and calculated, and he owns every scene he is in. The pacing of episode one is wild in the best way. Tim and Pai date, move in together, talk about kids, and get engaged within the first twenty minutes. Faster than my dinner and I was laughing and shocked at the same time. I know it is a scam but I am absolutely locked in.

Visually, the show is beautiful. The office spaces look sleek, the rich house set screams money, and the forest scenery is stunning. I loved the parallel of both couples falling into the water during their first meeting. It felt playful and symbolic without being cheesy. The music fits perfectly, the acting is strong across the board, and the chemistry between all the leads is convincing.

First few episodes was pure fun, fast paced, dramatic, and addictive. If this is just the beginning, my Sundays for the next two and a half months are going to be a blast. I cannot wait to see how love built on lies starts to crack.

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