Reviews

Not Lie to Me, But Still Worth Watching

If you liked Lie to Me, the American crime drama, you'll probably enjoy Every Move You Make. It's TVB’s take on psychological crime storytelling, which is a bit different from what they usually do, I found it refreshing.

The cases themselves were interesting, though I felt the American version executed them more effectively. I appreciated that the character of Yiu Hok Sum was not simply a copy of Cal Lightman; he had his own personality and methods, making the series feel more original. Yiu Hok Sum was also not as wacky as Cal Lightman, which gave him a more grounded presence.

Bowie Lam was amazing as Yiu Hok Sum. It's so nice to see him back in a TVB drama. He handled all the emotions and subtle moments perfectly. Seriously, he just owned the role and carried the show.

On the other hand, Kristal Tin as Yip Chin Ting was forgettable. Her performance did not leave a strong impression, and I felt that almost any actress could have delivered a similar portrayal. I personally wondered if Flora Chan returning might have elevated the chemistry with Bowie Lam, given their previous dynamic, which was lacking in Kristal and Bowie’s pairing.

Even Bosco Wong didn't really impress me here, which surprised me because he's usually solid actor. In this drama, Bowie just completely outshined everyone.

Overall, Every Move You Make is a solid psychological crime drama for TVB. It's got its flaws, but Bowie Lam’s performance alone makes it worth watching.

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Good Concept, Weak Chemistry, Missed Potential

I really tried with this one. I’m already at ep 24/28—so yes, my time was graciously given.

The VR concept was interesting but also strangely awkward. Unfortunately, the real-life storyline is very underwhelming, with a plot that never truly stands out. Despite the intense level of togetherness—playing a VR game together, cohabiting, and working side by side—I expected at least some spark. But the chemistry simply never shows up. The relationship jumps from ambiguous to push-and-pull to officially together, without any real tension, giddiness, or emotional build-up. That moment when a romance is supposed to click? It never does.

Lu Yu Xiao’s rambling, awkward line delivery didn’t work for me here. While this style suited Blossoms in Adversity and she was genuinely good in My Journey to You, it felt misplaced in this role. Chen Xing Xu also felt unusually restrained, which is disappointing considering how strong his chemistry was in My Boss and Love on the Turquoise Land. His performances tend to shine more when paired with a stronger or lighter, funnier female lead.

Instead, both characters feel emotionally flat, failing to balance each other out and only amplifying the dullness. Even the comedy falls flat. Overall, not terrible—but definitely underwhelming given the cast and premise.

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relaxing & enjoyable

This is a real slow moving story, but it really does evolve into a very entertaining drama with an excellent cast. I didn't realize it when it began, but besides the main story centered around Yeo Reum, there turns out to be several side stories that blend together as you get deeper into the series. It does take a little bit of time before you get pulled into the drama, but give it time, it will happen.
Seung Yeon does a great job pulling you along the way as she tries to get footing on her career, trying to get back to the top. Jae Yeong appears to be the perfect person to help her along. I think the one thing I found a negative ... their relationship never matures into what I thought it would be. For that, it definitely lost points with me, because I was really expecting so much more between the two. There was chemistry there, but it just doesn't happen.
It now appears to be a season two in 2026, so maybe that's why their relationship didn't expand further.
Looking forward to a new season & hoping for a bit more.

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I haven't been watching any dramas for the last 2 years, but this one might bring me back for good.

I won't be discussing what made this drama good/bad nor will I try to convince you to watch it and ignore the low ratings from other users. I'll be discussing how this drama led me back to loving the genre as a whole.

Just to give a little disclaimer, my ratings encapsulate how dramas in MDL were originally rated; dramas were never review bombed and it felt like every drama except for maybe controversial ones were always rated fairly. I'd like to think that I'm fairly harsh on my ratings and I wouldn't give such a high rating to a drama that didn't deserve it. That being said, does 'Can This Love Be Translated' really sit atop with the heaviest punchers in the drama world -- which is 9.5 in my case. I would say no, but in my books it deserves to be higher than 9.0. I originally debated giving it a 9.0 or a 9.5, but after some thought I decided to give it a 9.5. I usually have certain criteria for rating dramas; to name a few, I put a lot of emphasis on the enjoyability of the drama, how easy/hard was it to watch and finish, and how the drama was able to keep me intrigued throughout the show. In those three, this drama definitely scored higher than a 9.0, and this was confirmed after letting it sit after a few days of completing the drama. The feelings that I felt have lingered throughout my mind, and I found myself being interested in the show's promotions and the cast.

You could say that I've fallen out of love from watching dramas, but watching this one truly made me feel the butterflies I've once felt. Is this drama perfect -- no. Is the story extremely deep and compelling -- no. Is this drama a good watch that deserves the hype and a rewatch in the future -- definitely.

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Romance Takes Flight

Triumph in the Skies explores the professional and personal lives of airline pilots and crew members, skillfully blending romance, ambition, and interpersonal conflict. The series stands out for its depiction of the aviation industry, combining melodrama with a relatively realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by those in the high-pressure world of commercial aviation.

The production employs realistic aviation sequences, including aerial shots and airport settings, creating a believable backdrop for the story. Despite technology limitations, the series effectively conveys both the glamour and the inherent dangers of the airline industry. Close-up shots during emotional moments are particularly effective in emphasizing character psychology.

However, the portrayal of Isabelle, played by Flora Chan, fell short in conveying the character’s internal struggles. Her attempts to depict Isabelle’s mental and emotional conflicts felt forced and lacked the depth needed to make her arc fully convincing.

Despite this, Triumph in the Skies resonated strongly with audiences because it combined aspirational careers, romance, and personal drama. Additionally, the series subtly challenged traditional gender roles by featuring women in professional aviation positions, a representation that was less common in early 2000s Hong Kong television. This is a classic and I highly recommend to watch it, I tried to watch the sequel, but I couldn't.

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A gripping zombie thriller with tight writing and relatable characters!

I had low expectations but I actually enjoyed this quite a lot.

What I liked the most was that the film focused on what matters, and didn't stray into unnecessary and unrealistic sideplots. Too many Zombie movies and series put focus on the military, or a cure, or different groups and villains that the zombie outbreak has caused. #Alive just focused on two well acted (Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-Hye) characters who try to work together to survive from the apartment complex they are trapped in. The duo was interesting to follow and I liked how their friendship develops throughout the film!


The movie has a few short action sequences but mostly the film is slow-paced and has a very thrilling and intense atmosphere as food and water are running out and the zombies (which act and look scary in the movie, points for that!) are getting closer and closer.



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#Alive is an entertaining and thrilling zombie film that truly focuses on the main characters, two normal people and their survival in a relatable and realistic situation. The film doesn't have anything special or particularly memorable story-wise but it is a worthwhile watch for all zombie fans!


Sidenote: 2020 was a shockingly great time to release the film. Focusing on just two characters stuck in their apartments perfectly portrays the terror and uncertainty of the early Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

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Pure Enjoyment From Start To Finish

I'm a bit surprised at some of the negative reviews. I really found this series to be great in every way. It gives you all angles from the two main protagonists. I think the two actors in this are perfectly cast. Not only do they fit the parts so well, you can feel the chemistry building between the two as you get deeper and deeper into the drama. When Se Na has her first encounter with Laik, anyone who has idolized someone from a far, you know exactly what she's feeling. Soo Young delivers it so well.
Jae Yeong is also fantastic as "The Idol". He makes you feel so much empathy for his character. Someone who had it all and in the blink of an eye, everything disappears overnight. He keeps you rooting for him throughout each episode.
I think what's a rare thing in this series, some of the antagonists in this story, that you really find hatred for early on, do a turn around and show some decency in their character, especially as you get toward the final episodes.
The one thing I always a negative in most series, is when time skips forward as you get toward a conclusion. Where you see that caption "one year later" ... right away I thought, oh boy, they just ruined it. But somehow the writing does a great job at keeping things in perspective. It doesn't turn out to be a negative after all and the final episode it truly an enjoyable sixty minutes right till the end. They keep a blend of drama with a touch of light comedy mixed in.
There's a line used at one point of the series that definitely explains a major story line of this drama ... "Sometimes people's hearts are hard to see, even when they're right beside you"
Excellently written and brilliantly performed drama!

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Check your expectations at the door

I feel like I need to check my expectations at the door with the Kerberos films, because Stray Dog has now made it two for two in terms of what the saga promises being vastly different to what it delivers. A voyage of self-discovery and an almost complete inverse of the claustrophobic and highly contained surrealist tone of The Red Spectacles, this film is instead slow, meticulous, delicate and at times insanely beautiful, almost as if Mamoru Oshii is attempting to channel the works of Takeshi Kitano. Scenes breathe, conversations feel incidental, and the camera observes rather than dramatises. It offers brief glimpses and hints to the wider armour-clad world of this tantalising dystopian universe, never fully delivering like its earlier companion piece. Instead, we get a slice of life holiday road trip, cosy and melancholic, usually encompassing a silent exploration of local scenery and Kenji Kawai's wonderfully relaxing musical score, in an attempt to find meaning in downtime. Oshii's direction is remarkably relaxed, the cinematography filled with bustling moments in dense urban environments, a dedicated segment in the portrait of a life. However, the tone frequently shifts between slapstick comedy and over-the-top gags, which ultimately makes the serious moments harder to realise, especially the incredible final act shootout, which felt so rewarding to see, bookending a long stretch of near-idleness. I need more of that in the next films because I don't think I could take being blue balled like this for a third time. While there are definitely elements to Stray Dog I liked, being so quiet, strange and disarmingly casual, it all feels in service of a saga that squanders its awesome setting. Here's hoping Jin-Roh delivers...

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Brain-rot writing that makes the "strong female lead" trope feel like a total scam

With 36 episodes of approximately 45 minutes each and with an iQ IYI rating of 9.7 I was expecting a spectacular epic but it failed pretty miserably.

Firstly, I liked a few things about this drama including the acting (especially the FL), the ML was alright, nothing special but okay. It’s a good story with good music and they clearly spent a bit of money on everything to give it that high-end production feel which it probably is.

There are many things that I don’t like about this drama, but I’m sure you will see that in other reviews. I’m only going to focus on the FL‘s family dynamics, particularly the grandmother.

I don’t know what other people think, but in my opinion the "filial piety" trap is used as a lazy excuse to reset the plot whenever the writers run out of ideas.
The Grandmother literally casts out the FL, humiliated her and tried to strip her of her livelihood. In any logical world, the FL would use her "Tea King" skills to start a rival business and succeed independently. Instead, the show forces her back into "Dutiful Granddaughter" mode the second the Grandmother shows any hint of vulnerability or mentions "family honour“.
The Grandmother is actively destroying the only thing she claims to care about—the family’s wealth—just to prove she still has the FL under her thumb. It’s illogical behavior. None of the other elders or business partners speak up about the massive financial loss because the script requires them to be oblivious so the Grandma can remain the final antagonist.
It makes the FL look spineless and inconsistent. You cannot market a character as a "strategic genius" who outsmarts imperial officials, only to have her become subservient to a woman who treated her poorly. It’s not "virtue"—it’s a total lack of self-respect that hinders the character's growth.
The fact Grandma face zero consequences while the FL just takes it, is what makes the show difficult to watch. It creates a frustration loop where the antagonists are never punished and the heroes never learn.
The showrunners basically prioritize melodrama over character consistency. They want the heartbreaking scenes of her sacrificing her happiness, but they forgot they spent the last 20 episodes making her a capable character who shouldn't tolerate this treatment.
I have quite a few examples of this behaviour throughout the drama but I would be here all day.

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I have dilemma about FL mother character development

I watched this last year and i quite like this.

Aike embodies FL with a cool and sassy style, and her action scenes are very cool. Moreover, there's no ML no romance, just a pure female lead's personal showcase. FL relies on herself to make money, directly retaliating against anyone who tries to bully her.

My cons is FL's real mother character development seems forced and unnatural. I know this might be for plot advancement, but they should developed FL's real mother in the first half, showing her protecting the FL in crucial moments, making her forgiveness in the end more logical. If FL's real mother hadn't known the adopted daughter was born after her husband's infidelity, she would protect FL for first time she met her FL.

How much saintly compassion does the FL need to forgive her mother? FL real mother never protected FL during conflicts with her adopted daughter, and even chose the adopted daughter when faced with a choice between two options, yet she forgave her in the end.

Another worse character goes to FL real brothers, they are straight creepy people and should go to prison.

If you like strong female lead dramas, go watch it!

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Rewriting Characters, Ruining the Story

This is a drama that never deserved to be written if the original cast wasn't going to return in full. Sammul can't even carry this drama. If anything, Kenneth Ma stood out, as he's a much more versatile actor.

Sammul Chan as Vincent remained the least interesting character to me. While the first installment added some depth to him, in this sequel his acting stayed the same, and if anything his character appeared less confident. If that was intentional, okay, props to him.

I have a major bone to pick with the writers. First, what were they thinking with Jessica and Vincent’s relationship? Jessica’s portrayal in this installment was completely unrecognizable, even in a cameo. I don't mean her physical appearance; I mean her personality. It felt like the writers simply threw in a familiar character from the first installment just to tie up loose ends.

Vincent decides to go to another firm due to his ego, which is understandable. We know he was struggling to find a new firm, but this self-imposed pressure was unnecessary. Back at H K Firm, they had welcomed him with open arms despite his license suspension. Letting his ego once again dictate his decisions completely undermines the character development he achieved in the first installment. In the original series, Vincent learned to let go of his ego and accept help.

Vincent has always been extremely career driven, and this was established clearly in the first installment. Given his suspension, we knew he'd work even harder to prove himself. This scene in Survivor’s Law 2 therefore felt completely out of character for me.

Here’s the phone conversation between Jessica and Vincent:

Vincent: Jessica,
Jessica: Hello, Vincent? If I told you the person I often mentioned, Professor Jackson, proposed to me, would you fly out to London immediately? Even though I'm asking, you still wouldn't come?
Vincent: To be honest, my license was suspended, and it took half a year to find this new firm. I don't think I could step away.
Jessica: If that's the case, let's break up.

This is one of the most confusing and frustrating moments I’ve ever seen in a TVB drama. If you remember Jessica from the first installment, she was extremely naive but loyal, wore her heart on her sleeve, and would stand by the people she loved. Yes, people can change, but who is this Jessica now? I can't imagine her being so inconsiderate. She stood by Vincent while he was on trial. She knew from the very beginning that Vincent valued his career, and that was part of why she fell in love with him. For her to suddenly feel insecure and force a choice between him and his career completely contradicts her established personality.

After the second episode I was done, the people who carried the first installment was really Raymond Lam and Myolie Wu.

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Subtle (not boring) Story of an Idol & Fangirl's Journey through Fame, Prejudice, Murder & Love!

The true beauty of this drama lies in its subtlety. Every aspect - romance, music, suspense, villainy, and even comedy-was delivered with restraint and finesse. Rather than relying on spectacle or exaggerated emotions, the series chose a quieter path, proving that understated storytelling can be just as powerful. I understand that this can be seen as mediocre/boring - and it does run that risk, I won't deny. But for me, as a viewer, the drama tied all the strings it had, it may have not been the most logical (hence it is not a 10/10) - still it did not feel rushed but had a quiet maturity in its delivery and characters, that left me satisfied, if not awe-struck.

I liked the heart of the story as it explores the life of idols and public figures, showing how audiences can be fickle - adoring them one moment, turning against them the next. It also highlights how fame often strips away privacy, with some treating celebrities’ lives as public property. These themes were handled thoughtfully, giving the narrative depth beyond romance or fan service. The plot weaves together multiple threads: the murder of a bandmate and the search for truth, the prejudices faced by the leads, the romance that grows quietly but steadily, and the prosecutor’s moral dilemma between duty and conscience. Villains and allies alike enrich the journey, from father-like mentors to loyal colleagues and quiet supporters such as the manager and chairman. Each subplot adds texture without feeling unnecessary.

Finally, the grounded portrayal sets this drama apart. The acting, chemistry, suspense, and direction were all understated and for me it worked. While I love over-the-top stories, but then I realised that they make me anxious as well. Like they hype me and others so much, that one flaw and everything breaks. This was not the case here - it kept up a quiet, medium rhythm, while unfolding every facet of the story and characters. A close example would be Lovely Runner. While that one was more glitz/glamour, this one radiates quiet warmth. Songs of Eclipse still are on my playlist, whereas Gold Boys tracks were good as they played during the drama, but not memorable.

Overall Recommend it as a one time watch: cause it's short, sweet and subtle - we need stories like these to pace out the much hyped/rushed dramas/movies.

Special Note:
I have already fangirled for the prosecutor in my comment while the show was airing: https://kisskh.at/787814-idol-kid#comment-24969562 and yes, I will write a spin-off cause he deserves one. I hope to share it with my MDL friends here soon!

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Recommend if you're interested in a mystery sci-fi drama and don't mind a budget production

Steer clear if: you want romance or good visuals.

Be prepared for:
• allowing it quite a few episodes to ‘warm up’ before the story becomes engrossing.
• waiting until after the credits in the last episode - There's more of the story.

Positives:
• A high opening Douban rating of over 8/10 drew me (and others judging from kisskh) to the production.
• An intriguing premise and plot.
• Grows to become a gripping mystery-thriller with twists and turns.
• Adequate acting.
• Accomplished action scenes.
• Enjoyable to see the lead squad develop trust and loyalty, leading to character development.

Negatives:
• The earlier episodes are not attention-grabbing (the Douban score made me stay).
• Everything looks terribly cheap, especially the costumes and makeup.
• An unusual premise, but with cliché wuxia stereotypes.
• Open ending? Most things are wrapped up, but I hope there'll be a season 2.

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A brilliantly executed parody!

First off: THIS IS A PARODY!!!! It's apparent from some viewer comments that some folks just never understood that about this show. Those folks were always way too serious and upset about either the ML or the FL behavior early on - which was over-the-top on purpose (because: parody). If you realize this is a parody, just relax and enjoy.

Second: It really helps you enjoy the parody if you are a veteran of watching lots and lots of c-dramas (and k-dramas) because that way you will better recognize the zillions of drama tropes and cliches that this series plays with on purpose. Many will be obvious, such as the SML-is-unrequited-love trope and - OMG - The Cliff scene! Many others are subtle and this show doesn't always hold your hand to point them out. You are expected to see and recognize them and when you do they make many of the scenes -- even the serious drama ones - even more fun.

Okay, those two things out of the way: This show really delivers. It is extremely well crafted in all aspects. The cast is absolutely stellar, loaded with talented actors you should recognize and they are all really great in this. Each of the primary cast gets plenty of moments to shine in their character without the series feeling scattered too far from the leads. Both Li Yi Tong and Lu Yu Ning are wonderful, showing wide range in their characters and they have great chemistry. The script is excellent - which is important because it is very specifically criticizing and sending up all the 'bad script' hacks in the script-within-a-script.

Other production aspects are also fantastic. The sets and costumes are all first-rate and the lighting and cinematography are beautifully done. And the music. Oh my god, the music is done SO well! All the scenes are enhanced by very well thought out music.

I really enjoyed this series. If you miss on the first two points I made up above, you might knock it down a bit on the score. But for folks that understand this is a parody and who are experienced watching c-dramas, this show is pretty much perfect. So much fun.

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I LOVE Hill and Easter and HATED Johan and North

I might have a different opinion from the comments here, but I LOOOOVE Hill and Easter's relationship. Maybe I'm just a sucker for exes to lovers, except Hill and Easter are like ex situationship to lovers. I love that Easter claims he "hates" Hill, but it always shows how he's weak and easily swayed by Hill when he just says "please" or makes a sad puppy face, which subtly shows the kind of relationship only 2 people who used to be close, have.

Easter claiming and saying to North that Hill "probably doesn't like him" or "likes his sister" but can't stop himself from giggling and swooning everytime Hill does something sweet and romantic implies that he doesn't want to expect things. It's understandable that he will initially doubt Hill's intention when his relationship with him in the past was really unclear and ended up with Hill suddenly disappearing. (which is obvs not by choice)

I love that Hill doesn't hesitate to assure him though, because being secure in a relationship doesn't happen immediately. It just grows over time.

Hill's actor is so good at making "yearning" eyes, that even I melt from his gaze. Easter's expressions are so hilarious to watch, and his relationship with North made my stomach hurt from laughing too much.

I'm gonna be honest, I really tried to enjoy Johan and North's story but I really can't. There's clearly a money related power dynamics going on between them and it makes me uncomfortable. I can tolerate the debt because that's obviously North's fault, but I feel pissed when Johan was restricting North's means to pay his debt by buying the place where North is working just because he's jealous of North's boss, then making him quit work (this is about the cafe, not the bar obviously).

I didn't like how their story was written and how it was making North dependent on Johan, until North gave in. Atleast North's assertive when he "realized" he likes Johan, which isn't really enough to make their relationship balanced.

I enjoyed North a lot, but I didn't like Johan.

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