Reviews

DANGGGGGGGG

That survival show was honestly so good, like helloooo 😭🔥. Brody, Kevin, Sani, and Kihoon—you guys will always be my top tiers, no doubt about it. The level of talent and dedication everyone showed was absolutely insane. But my favorite performance was definitely the attitude one. The energy was just on another level. I also loved how the performance included traditional music instruments alongside the modern band setup. It made the whole stage feel unique and powerful. Every single performer brought something special: the drummers were incredible, the singers had such strong vocals, the bassists kept the groove perfectly, and the guitarists and Kays were just insanely skilled. You could really feel the passion and effort from everyone on stage.

Moments like that are why I love watching survival shows so much. Seeing artists push themselves, support each other, and create such unforgettable performances is just amazing. That stage will honestly stay one of my favorites for a long time.

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Beautifully melancholic

Loved this movie! Three lonely people struggling with their own difficult pasts find each other, become friends / lovers. It was so heart-breakingly beautiful! Loved the quotes especially from the two male leads. Loved their acting too. Already knew Yo-han’s actor from Mr. Sunshine but the other main leads were new and they were amazing! I wanna see more of them! Their kiss scene in the snow was one of the most relatable kiss scenes I have seen in movie/dramas.
Highly recommend!

Also heard that there is a book which the drama is based on so that’s definitely going on my tbr!

I won’t say much about the ending. Just watch it!

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AnotherK-drama " When the Phone Call" from shein

I mainly watch this to see Liu Xiaoxu's acting and this is another when the phone calls from Shein. I don't like Cheng Zi portrayal of FL since she was not believable when she pretends to be mute. In some scenes, she clearly couldn't keep up with her co-star and there is no chemistry between them.

Indeed, many details of this version's plot are more logically reasonable, and the causes and consequences are finally clear. The characters' motivations are very consistent with the settings, the transitions are smooth, and the bugs in the original Korean drama can be completely ignored.

The plot is more dramatic and complex, with very strong dramatic conflicts. At the same time, the melodrama factor has also skyrocketed. The "one-night stand token (fake) mistake trope": in fact, ML knew from the beginning that FL was an imposter. The "pretending to be mute" part FL witnessed ML's father murdering the mothers of the two women when she was a child, so she chose not to speak.

For Hardcore fans only.

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Decent Slow burn romance

I watched another Wang Kaimu's masterpiece again. He still had some few identity but for now he is FL landlord and doctor. FL wants to stop her house rent since her boyfriend emotionally cheats her with his single mother mistress. The voice from leads were original voice for leads. The chemistry between Jinzi and Wang Kaimu still natural even the kisses scene were quite not daring as other Wang Kaimu's drama.

Some of people would found FL and her ex boyfriend situation were unrealistic for a couple to have dated for five years and only ever held hands. But In my real life there is many few couple did this kind of those couple and FL's ex boyfriend only used her love to begin with.

I quite like their progress of the relationship FL treats ML as her neighbor and i found ML subconsiously wants to near FL with his friends dogs. (Another bullshit ML did was actually becoume ML's friends dogkeeper but he gives the dog to FL and saying ti is his dog while ML tried to make reason to keep the dog to get near into FL.

FL's ex and his mistress were quite hindrance and some of their scene are unnecessary. But the only let down when ML got another trop it feels it lose their slice of life charm and end up becoming generic romantic short drama.

Recommended if you like slow burn romance.

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SPOILER: THIS IS NOT A BL

Let me say this first so we can get it out of the way - this is not a BL, Its not even an LGBTQ story.

The show is based on a very short manga which is also not a BL - i wondered if we really need 10 episodes to flush out the story it wants to tell. Its a slice of life of a directionless Toru and how he was inspired by his private tutor Kishi to do better at school.

I would have been perfectly ok with the show if they DIDNT LABEL it as a BL. This is the reason why this one is so hard to rate - on one side its an effective funny comedy show but on the other hand it clickbaited and exploited BL fans because of the history of the 2 leads - put the sides together and we have an enjoyable show that simply doesnt quench the thirst of BL fans.

All their teasers, promotions and episode cliffhangers always point out to an episode when the 2 leads will finally be together or do something couples do only to find the next episode that its all in one of the character's imagination.

Yes, i probably wouldnt have watched it if it wasnt labeled as a BL.

Im specially sad for the show because it featured very good performances from Tanaka Koki as Toru and from Sawamura Rei as Kishi - both characters are so far from the characters they played in their previous series, and the comedic execution is very reminiscent of a funny anime. Both leads looked really good in the series and both showed they have some range and depth and i will not be surprised (and would love) to see them in more shows in the future.

Will i recommend? NO. Will i rewatch. NO. Forgetable series with forgetable plot BUT because of the very good actors im giving it a 7.

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Sa Gang Yun is former assassin turned butler. Enjoyed the action scenes!

I got to know about this drama from reddit CShortDramas. I was pleasantly surprised to watch the trailer. I decided to watch this drama and wow, it exceeded my expectations.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - Coolest butler well he was a former assassin. Multiskilled, sexy and handsome too.
2. Plot - Refreshing. Great start with well-paced storytelling.
3. Action - Scenes were cool and I loved the fight sequences. Sa Gang Yun was damn fit!
4. Flashbacks - Great to see glimpse of ML's personal life in flashback sequence.
5. Styling - Impeccable styling for ML. I was amused when the maids never noticed his handsomeness / attractiveness until after their employer was saved.
6. Duration - Short drama under 2 hours.
7. Supporting characters - I liked his nephew. The rival killer was also a nice surprise.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Forcing FL to accept his "love" was unacceptable - that guy was a rotten rich kid. His father was an enabler - just as horrible.

Favourite scene
When ML fought the goons who came to capture FL.

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watchable tho

First of all, I like lead actor and actress but I don’t like the characters they acted especially FL.
ML’s acting is a little rigid but it’s okay as it’s his first time to act in that kind of genre costume drama, so it was forgiven.
I don’t understand is FL’s character. She acts like she is above all like doubting ML at the first sight they met. (How she knows to doubt to ML is a huge plot hole for me.) Always doubting ML and never trust him but never doubt her members of righteous way while they appears as the villains in every time the problem is solved, insulting his sincerity till the end, instead of asking why or what are you doing, she just assumes the ML’s actions by herself without listening his explanations, she hates ML using her while she ignores the fact that she is using ML too even while ML points it out, she is taken for granted ML’s love. That character isn’t developed till the end of the story. I was frustrated to watch it.
And also ML’s love for FL is absurd. Love at first sight should have some meaning while I couldn’t find it because FL didn’t do any special for him to truly touch his heart since they met. (Don’t tell me she protects him from bullies. She doesn’t truly protect him and he also knows it.)
Actings are good. Fight scenes are disappointing for wuxia drama. Cinematography is some are good, some are bad.
Story line is disappointing and dialogues are bad.
Feel bad for lead actors.
It’s watchable tho.

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Great start but then....sigh

This started off so great, the chemistry between the leads, trying to figure out who was behind what, only for it to go downhill.

Major spoilers below:

The main problem this show has is that the story it's trying to tell is so greatly intertwined with a character that's already dead and not the main lead that it almost makes it unenjoyable. Every single second, everyone is talking about or in with or in hate with Pingshu. I get she was great, but my god, why is it every episode? Then we have Qi Yun Ke's insane obsession. He said he did everything to get revenge for Pingshu, but that's actually not the full truth. Is part of it to avenge her? Sure, but not fully. He's just upset she's dead and upset that not once in her life did she love him. Everything he's ever done was for himself and his own greed. And then his other sect brother had the audacity to lecture Pingshu's brother about getting revenge for her, as if he and Qi Yun Ke knew her better than he did. Honestly, I feel like the plot of this show is the type of plot that only works well in a novel setting.

I hope to see Bao Shang En and Zhou Yi Ran partnered up again because the chemistry was really good. Also, Li Yun Rui and Wan Peng.

So after reading all that, you are probably wondering if you should watch it or not, right? Honestly, I don't know.

There were a lot of really good parts and a lot of angst between the leads that I really enjoyed. Loved the scene where the female lead fights everyone to save the male lead. However, the issues I mentioned before...bugged me a lot. So honestly, it's up to you. I think I'd still choose to watch this if I could go back in time, but more so as a filler background show once we get past ep 30.

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Top-tier must-see drama!

The acting, the story, the freaking cinematography! Everyting is just amazing! No boring episode, you're just begging for more once one is over. The chemistry between the leads is off the roof, the other characters around them, especially around the female lead are so attaching. All that gets you into the drama even more. The plot is well set, the pace is just perfect, neither too fast nor too slow. We get to see how they fall for each other and create their strong bound, it's not just "a love at first sight so I ride or die for you". We see how down bad they are for the other, how they care and respect one another. All that well-balanced with the political & war issues they have to face.
This drama was long awaited and it's living up to its expectation. Definitely a must watch.

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The 100th version of rich CEO and poor girl

Business marriage is a common theme and is often overused. If this is your first time watching a Japanese drama that features a relationship between a wealthy CEO and a lower-class employee, you might enjoy it. However, after watching many similar stories and some impressive adaptations, I found this version lacking. The storyline is acceptable but not particularly remarkable. While there are some charming scenes, they aren't strong enough to make this drama memorable. Nonetheless, if you're having a slow week and want something light to watch, this could be a good option.

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Boring conversations and sex

Ok, this wasn't much of a story and it was almost more like soft porn.
The little conversations there were to give it a bit of a story were so slow and boring. The bad subtitles weren't much help either. I almost fell asleep in my chair, that's how boring it was.
The visuals were ok and the background music was ok, but the piano music was a bit anoying at some moments.

And then the acting, well there wasn't much acting to do, but the bit acting they did was not very bad, but a bit "flat".

In my opinion, watching this is a waste of time...

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Came for Gao and Shen? This Drama Will Disappoint You

I’m honestly really disappointed with this drama.

I first found it through a YouTube clip of Gao and Shen, and their scene looked so interesting that I immediately searched for the drama and started watching it. Later I realized they were only the second couple, not the main leads. That was a bit disappointing, but I still decided to watch because I thought both couples would get good screen time.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case at all.

I couldn’t really get interested in the main couple and story line too, but I kept watching because of Gao and S. They were the only reason I continued the drama. But the biggest problem is that they barely gave them any screen time. Their story felt rushed and underdeveloped, which was really frustrating.

What made it even worse was the ending. I at least expected a happy ending for them after everything. Instead, the story completely ruined their characters and their relationship. It felt unfair and honestly pointless after making viewers care about them.

Because of that, this drama ended up being a huge disappointment for me. I watched it mainly for Gao and Shen, but they deserved so much better than what the writers gave them.

I especially wouldn’t recommend this drama to people who started it after watching YouTube clips of Gao and Shen, because those clips make it seem like they have a bigger and better story than they actually do.

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Predatory behaviour wrapped as romance

There are many aspects of this drama that deserve discussion. First and foremost, it is a remarkable piece of storytelling; however, the subject matter is quite controversial. It's essential to approach it with an understanding that, although the themes are complex, the narrative is compelling.

As I understand it, this drama is based on a manga, which can explain some of its elements, but the significant age gap between the characters is quite challenging to digest on screen. It would have been less troubling if Akira were at least 18 years old. That said, the actors delivered outstanding performances that kept me fully engaged, making it a truly memorable drama overall.


Plot***
The plot centres on Hijiri, a 25-year-old woman who begins her journey to become a homeroom teacher. She leaves behind her life in Tokyo, including her supportive boyfriend, to move to a small city in the countryside. In her middle school class, she encounters Akira, a 15-year-old boy grappling with the challenges of adolescence. Initially, Akira displays hostility towards Hijiri, mocking and trying to hurt her, but the dynamics shift dramatically when he confesses his feelings for her. This escalation turns what might have been a simple crush into a forbidden relationship.


Spoilers ahead***

The age difference is indeed significant and deserves full acknowledgement. It's crucial to recognise the implications of Hijiri's behaviour, which can be viewed as predatory. Throughout the drama, Akira is depicted as the one pursuing Hijiri, crossing boundaries that should not be crossed. Maybe it is a strategic move to bring the viewers to accept and clear her of any guilt, but it’s vital to pay attention to the fact that she is a 25-year-old adult who is aware of the moral implications of her actions and far from innocent.

The story invites viewers to think critically about the complexities of these characters' choices. Although Akira persistently pursues Hijiri, even going so far as to run away from home, the portrayal risks belittling Hijiri's role as an adult. While she initially resists his advances, her emotional response to his declarations complicates that resistance, revealing how easily one can become swayed by intense feelings.

A particularly telling moment occurs when Hijiri leaves town with her boyfriend and finds Akira chasing after her on his bicycle. This scene powerfully illustrates her internal conflict, as she is visibly affected by the situation. By choosing to remain silent instead of taking decisive action, she presents an appearance of innocence while grappling with the implications of her choices.

While some viewers may interpret the absence of a physical relationship between them as romantic, it's important to recognise that Hijiri is an adult who knows better and has the capacity to stop the situation at any time. Her silence contributes to a troubling dynamic, raising broader questions about accountability. Additionally, it's surprising that Akira's family and those around him did not intervene legally or seek help from the authorities, highlighting systemic failures in support systems.

Instead of viewing this drama solely as a romantic tale, it's more constructive to approach it as a deeply disturbing narrative that explores how adults failed to protect a young boy. The characters, despite their flaws, reflect the impact of their decisions, challenging viewers to think critically about love(?!) and its consequences.

Overall, the drama is beautifully crafted, and the acting is exceptional. Arimura Kasumi shines in her role, showcasing her ability to portray layered and intricate characters. Having followed her work, I appreciate the thoughtful choices she makes in the projects she undertakes, bringing depth and realism to her performances, particularly as Hijiri.

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Petition to change the title to "Our Sunbae"

*Minor Spoilers Alert*

What exactly went wrong with this drama?

Did the writer mix up the ML and SML scripts?

Did the director forget that the SML is not the ML and therefore shouldn’t be having half the romantic & swoonworthy moments with the FL?

Or did the production house get confused and promote the wrong man as the ML?

OHH OH OH WAIT, maybe they just wanted to make a clownery out of the viewers? Because that’s honestly what it looks like to me. But let me tell you some (or maybe more) things for sure so you can save your time.

This show actually follows its script for… what, maybe three episodes max? Yes. Three. After that, it completely forgets what it was supposed to be and turns into AGLTTNOCAFAYIBTEP (a goddamn love triangle that no one gives a fk about, yet somehow it becomes the entire plot). UGH.

Let me tell you the synopsis of THIS drama.

"After a tragic accident leaves their nephew Woo Joo orphaned, Hyun Jin and Tae Hyung are forced to raise him together despite their rocky first impression of each other. Thrown into the unfamiliar role of co-parents, they struggle to navigate childcare and their new responsibilities. Tae Hyeong, a photographer who prefers control and solitude, gradually begins to develop unexpected feelings for Hyun Jin. Meanwhile, Hyun Jin, still grieving her sister, focuses on raising U Ju as a way to honor her. As they spend more time together, their relationship slowly begins to change, though she hesitates to follow her heart"

Now like a teacher point by point I'm gonna correct the errors in this synopsis:

First of all, this show is supposed to be about the baby, right? The child whose parents tragically died in an accident?Because from what I watched, the plot barely revolves 10% around the baby and 90% around the SML and FL.

The term co-parent literally means: “to share the duties of bringing up a child.” Someone please explain where that sharing is happening here, because ONLY Tae Hyung is taking care of the baby.

“Hyun Jin focuses on raising Woo Joo” excuse me, where? Because from what the show actually portrays, she focuses more on the SML. Meanwhile, she signed up to take responsibility for a 1.5 year old child, yet 95% of the time the uncle is the one handling the baby.

I’m not saying she has to sacrifice her career for the kid. But if you’re incapable of handling a literal human being, maybe don’t step up to become his legal guardian in the first place. Handling a child is not a casual side quest.

Now this is like 10-15% of the drama. Do you wanna know what is the other 85-90%? A STUPID AND UNNECESSARY LOVE TRAINGLE.

I was hooked by the baby. I swear, how could anyone not be? He would be the apple of anyone’s eye. His crying scene made me terribly sad; I actually sobbed:( But as the show progressed, his screen time became almost negligible. I know we can’t expect a 1.5-year old to “act,” but at least the plot could have focused on his parenting and the struggles of balancing a career while raising him. Instead, that part is brushed off with minimal story, while most of the focus shifts to the FL’s love life. LAME.

This is peak catfishing!
The marketing? Misleading.
The drama? Pure Ragebait.

If the story had only focused on the Main Leads, I honestly wouldn’t have minded. But the SML feels completely unnecessary to the plot. He’s the one flirting and getting all those romantic scenes with the FL which, by the way, are the scenes the ML should be having with her. He barely has any relevance to the actual plot, yet somehow the entire story keeps revolving around him. I didn’t sign up to watch “Our Sunbae.”

Let’s go through the characters, even though the story mainly revolves around SML;

Tae Hyung, ML (namesake): He honestly has such a green-flag personality. Even though he never wanted to be involved with the baby at first, he slowly grew attached to him more than even the aunt did. What started as responsibility turned into a genuine connection.

I also love how he never forced his feelings onto the FL, yet he was always concerned about her wellbeing.

Hyun Jin, FL: Her being confused between the two isn’t really the issue. The problem is that she could easily turn one down while actively saying yes to go on dates with the other and yes, that’s very problematic. She also stepped up to become Woo Joo’s legal guardian, yet she’s barely taking care of him. It’s understandable that things are difficult, but if you’re not even financially stable or ready to handle a child, why take that responsibility in the first place?

Honestly, at one point I barely even saw any spark between her and the ML anymore. They should probably just co-parent the child, that’s it because he definitely deserves better.

And the actress’s facial expressions are so bland that I feel absolutely nothing watching her whether she’s supposed to be conflicted, upset, or concerned. I just kept wondering that she didn’t understand her character either, because she just looks confused the whole time… which honestly would explain a lot.

SML: Annoying, unnecessary, insufferable. I don’t exactly hate him, but he has zero relevance what the actual plot should have been and still ends up with the majority of the screen time.

Honestly, if you removed him from the show’s 12 hours, you’d probably be left with only about 5 hours of actual story.

After suffering from endless amnesia about what the drama was even about, the writer and director suddenly remembered it was supposed to be about the kid 🤣 so they crammed the entire story into the last two episodes. Rushed doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Don’t watch this for the romance, the love triangle drags on till almost the end and honestly there’s no point.

Because for enterity of this drama FL: sunbae sunbae SUN FKING BAE

out of nowhere: Hey I like you Tae Hyung

(AFTER GOING ON MULTIPLE DATES WITH SML)

But I would totally recommend watching the Woo Joo and Tae Hyeong scenes through reels, they’re adorable and genuinely funny.

The only reason I even started this show was because of the scene where Woo Joo cries after his parents’ death, which was an exceptional moment by the way. But apart from that the plot does absolutely nothing, like FOR REAL.

If you are still in the earlier episodes, just do yourself a favour.

I wouldn't say this was dud it had potential to greater than what was presented to the audience but yk some scripts should be kept hidden forever for the greater good of the audience and this is THE ONE.

Giving 3 stars only for Woo Joo and his Samacheon.

With Regards,
Biggest fan of Woo Joo & criticizer of this show

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the story wasn’t truly about the mean lead

This started out heavy.

But the premise was good so I held on to it.

But as it progressed it got dumb.

15 years of being stuck in an island with noone who tried looking for her aside from the male lead who masked his search in a different tactic.

15 years of a family pretending to be a family they’re not to escape an abusive father and husband. When they could’ve easily reported him especially during the present time. When he was more active in harrassing them again.

Then there’s the issue with the past super star, her company shares, her lack of singing capability, her ex prodigee and more… To be honest, the series seemed to focus more on her story than the journey of the main character… So there’s that.

The drama was tackling too many things at once that the story of the actual main lead was not really present. It was just her being caught in the middle of two different group of people and their issues.

Nowhere in the drama did we give her any closure on the abuse she suffered during childhood and the isolation she experienced for 15 years. I mean these issues alone should have been addressed. Especially here getting back to civilization wherein she could have easily been scammed.

Honestly, I think they could have made this into an 8 or 10 episode drama. 10 is even extending it. But yeah, this was a clear miss for me.

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