Reviews

What a decent advertisement!

I watched this because the duration is about 15 minutes and quite interest with Huang Jinzhou/ Xiao Tai acts. For Yang Peng Cheng, i always have 50:50 since his acting is kind of hit and miss for me.

The timing was too perfect for short focused minded and the first scene is obvious advertisement for sheet mask. Picking two names actor are quite nice idea for fans and they have kind of BL spark even it was not too obvious. They can make another season since the pair was quite interesting with refreshing plot like this.

I wont tell the plot that much and it was nice to seeing Xiaotai in his woman costume!

Recommended if you have short time to wait.

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one of the cutest series

One of the best and cutest school series ever. Sybau people with absolutely trash taste. "The protagonist is infantilized, blah blah blah blah" nobody cares. He’s such a cutie and he can be like that ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

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I am you, and you are me

When I saw first saw this, I wasn’t sure if u really wanted to watch it since body-swapping isn’t really my thing. But I’m so glad I gave it a try because it turned out to be a solid drama that I enjoyed the whole way through.

Number 1 reason I loved this drama. The casting. Ayase Haruka and Takahashi Issei played both Mochizuki Ayako and Hidaka Haruto, and both of them did a very good job in playing both characters. The voice tone changes and the little details like formalities and body language and habits; it helped to immerse myself into the world of the drama and actually believe that they were swapped. The supporting cast were amazing too but these two main cast really did shine in this show.

Most importantly, is that these two have actual chemistry. Normally when I watch a drama with a ML and FL, I usually feel nothing because of how common it is. But for this drama, I could feel the chemistry between the two actors, that’s why I’m glad the cast was these because if either of them were changed, that chemistry might be gone. I know Hidaka is probably gay, but I’d honestly ship ML and FL of this series together (platonic or romantic), which is something I almost never do btw.

I wouldn’t say it’s the best jdrama ive watched since I’ve seen so many, but this is one of the top few up there that I enjoyed enough to write a review about, so that must mean something （＾∇＾）

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Stunning show that was let down by pacing and writing

The show looks gorgeous, the production value overall was amazing, the acting was good for the most part. But still, I considered dnf-ing after episode 4. The mostly strong performances kept me watching.

The first episode really hooked me. The setup is great and I loved that we had an ambiguous main character. In the beginning, I found Kim Han Saem a bit too grumpy and distrustful, but he really grew on me and was my favourite character by the end. Son Suk Ku gave such a strong performance and played the character with a lot of nuance. Kim Da Mi is a solid actor as well, she was believable as this quirky but traumatised young woman. However, she went overboard on the quirky mannerisms and expressions a few times. She also really cannot pull off smiling / laughing in a moment of confrontation or tension, it just looks like someone's trying to act and doesn't succeed at making it look natural or fitting in the scene. She unfortunately ventured into annoying territory too often to still make her a good lead that you feel for (which is not Kim Da Mi's fault, it's writing and directing, I think). The rest of the cast was really amazing, no notes.

Now comes the biggest issue: the pacing and writing. The show is just too long for the story they had. 2 or 3 episodes less would have made it much tighter. Unfortunately a lot of the conclusion is quite predictable. If you look at the reddit discussion, most people clocked the therapist as at least very suspicious very early on. Her storyline is ridiculously badly written. You mean to tell me a 7 year old can't give enough information to find her mother at an amusement park? Her mother doesn't go back to look for her there? No one in the orphanage could put 2 and 2 together for a child that was on the missing list and this child? And she stopped killing for 10 years because no one recognised the puzzle pieces? Come on. She could've send the puzzle pieces to anyone in the police force or to the press, as she later does. And when she puts her hand in her pocket at the end, the cop doesn't shoot her hand? They just let her burn herself and watch her die in agony, Jesus Christ.
The characters were mostly consistently written, but Jung-Ho really irked me. He just let her continue her killing spree and wanted to take the fall. As soon as he realised it was her and that she wouldn't stop (which she told him flat out when he went to give back her handkerchief) he should've arrested her. I understand his guilt, but I don't understand his motivation for letting her keep going. Also, I-Na was always so perceptive (almost ventures into the knowing by magic trope) and then she goes to Dr. Hwang's house and it is very clear from the pictures that he's gay, but she still thinks he has a crush on Lee Seong Ju. Doesn't make sense. I also don't like the messaging about mental health and mental health professionals. There are already too many shows and movies out there that demonise mental illnesses or make therapists manipulative evil people you cannot trust.

I wouldn't really recommend this show, nor would I watch a second season. It is really strong in some parts, but lacks depth and a true vision or story that needed to be told. Maybe that's the point, though, since they constantly reference movies and detective novels that shaped the genre. Unfortunately, this show went with the cookie cutter formula that was new and fresh in the referenced works, but feels old and boring now.

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Disappointed by the Plot

This is my first time writing a review for a K-Drama, and I might not be the usual viewer. I've watched many K-Dramas before, but the story of this one annoyed me so much that I had to share my thoughts.

The series started off okay, but after about the halfway point, it started to get worse. The story is one of the worst I've seen in a K-Drama.

Even though the plot wasn't good, the actors did a fine job and the soundtrack was pleasing. These parts helped to cover up some of the worst parts of the plot, including parts that just didn't make sense.

The biggest letdown was definitely the last episode. If the producers had made fewer episodes and put more effort into a good, solid story with an ending worth watching, I think this series could have been much better. It's a shame that the talents of the actors weren't used properly in this series.

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The ML's Controlled Hunger Is the Plot

<< Male Lead >>

Let’s start with the ML, because wow... he absolutely blew my expectations through the roof.

He was a complete nobody in my eyes before this. Not a heartthrob at first glance. Not the second. Not even after several glances. But the moment he starts moving in this role, everything shifts to a whole new level. My gosh, he’s genuinely thirsty. You can feel his hunger. And yet, what makes it so compelling is how tightly he controls it.

I couldn’t help comparing him to the ML in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love. That character was supposed to be calm, restrained and self-disciplined, yet he felt perpetually “in heat” whenever the FL appeared. Honestly, that ML should come take lessons in what real self-restraint looks like from this one.

Here, the thirst is everywhere... in his eyes, his presence, his body language, but there’s always restraint. He carries himself with a casual chill, yet you can sense a quiet self-control in the air he breathes. He’s absolutely perfect for this role.

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<< Female Lead >>

As for the FL… I’ll be honest that I’ve never been especially fond of her. Ever since Youth With You Season 2, I’ve struggled to tolerate her deliberately cutesy voice. I was genuinely surprised by how popular she became after the show, landing FL roles one after another.

She still comes across as a bit pretentious to me, but I have to admit I was impressed by her in A Romance of the Little Forest and in this show as well. (In A Romance of the Little Forest, the chemistry was there, but the story wasn't. It isn't wort watching unless you skip straight to the leads' scenes.)

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<< Acting >>

I honestly can’t say who acts better. While I don’t find the FL’s character particularly convincing as someone a man would fall head over heels for, the ML completely sells it. He makes me believe, without question, that he is utterly gone for her.

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<< Story >>

Now, outside of the leads’ chemistry (the credit goes to ML:FL at about 65:35) and the steamy love scenes, there really isn’t much story to talk about.

I skipped a lot. Mostly fast-forwarded straight to the scenes with the two leads together. And I didn’t miss anything essential to understanding the plot.

This is very much a drama worth rewatching for that light-headed, dizzy feeling the love scenes give you, not for the story itself.

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<< Setting >>

The setting is Thailand, and the rivers, local communities and cultural scenery are visually appealing. But the overall vibe feels nostalgic. Some people might love that atmosphere. I didn’t. It feels old, not in a classic way, but in a low-maintenance, slightly dated kind of way.

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In short: come for the ML’s controlled hunger and electric chemistry. Stay for the rewatchable moments. Don’t expect a story that sticks.

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Plot driven characters

This drama is not very good. And not because of the supposed cheating. It’s failure is inconsistent characters that do things only to drive the plot forward in the desired direction. By the later half of the drama almost all key characters were acting in very weird ways that made no sense and were far form realistic. I saw little to no growth. Just change, probably for the worse.

Lots of deus ex machina moments, too, where characters succeed or fail only because the plot demands so. And lots of very long stares into the distance to melancholic music. Cut all those and 16 episodes would have sufficed. The music is pretty good, though, albeit has a certain feel of the 90s or even 80s.

The business dealings were also weird with dramatic announcements and declarations to spice things up, I suppose. Looked more like comedy, though.

My least favourite character is Hong Joo. Right from the start she was whining and her decision to off herself for insurance money was what sealed the deal for me. Because how can you help your loved one in a difficult situation? Of course by adding another blow to injury, to paraphrase the saying. And yes, she started the chain of events and was the main contributor to making the situation worse. I cringed every time someone described her as a nice person. Not sure if it’s the writing, the acting, or both, but she looked a hypocrite through and through: submissive to those she did not like, her rich mother-in-law in particular, and defiant to those she supposedly loved or cared about. Her supposedly noble acts close to the end of the drama were so out of character that were laughable. Though, I assume, the screenwriters intended this as a sign of her growth.

Se Young isn’t very likable either. And a noble idiot, to boot. I sort of understood her motivations and was at least neutral towards her but her decision to hire Hong Joo as her caretaker relegated her to shady characters immediately. And I’m not sure if Choi Ji Woo was asked to act this way or it was her choice, but her constant soft sort of smirk with a squint got irritating pretty soon. Look at an enemy: a soft smirk with a squint. Look at a loved one: a soft smirk with a squint in an I’m-a-sophisticated-woman-that-cares-about-nothing way.

Seok Hoon is probably the most human of all characters. The best thing he could have done for himself would have been to run away from both toxic females. To stay in Brazil perhaps. And take Hong Joo’s brother and Se Young’s sister with him. And Han Soo, too.

So overall, I don’t think the story is very well writen. Interesting premise, mediocre execution.

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A rom-history series with an excellent cast, but a VERY frustrating storyline!!

PLOT: The FL, an amnesiac salt seller (and pseudo runaway slave), is the spitting image of the Crown Princess who died 5 years ago. She meets the ML (CP) and the ML2 (cousin - Crown Prince of the late king). Despite warnings from her adoptive family, the FL leaves for the capital, becomes an "eunuch," and then a consort. The CP and the FL try to investigate in order to bring down the Left Minister (Great Villain, who holds all the power in the kingdom). But they must also protect themselves and try to understand how the body swap works between them.

+++ The CL (with Kang Tae Oh & Kim Se Jeong) is funny, cute, talented, and excellent (especially evident during the body swap).

+++ Excellent OSTs

### The production is fast-paced BUT the viewer constantly has the feeling that the director's priorities are not in the right place. Example: long very cute Lovey-Dovey scene, in the middle of a life-threatening situation...
### Inconsistent behavior of the FL (serious in her character, but becomes really childish (even stupid ?) when she is in the CP's body).
### Storyline which becomes totally incoherent in some narrative arcs: power is left to the Left Minister by people (king, CP, Prince Li Yun, etc.) who think in a completely twisted/irrational way (or have no brain??). Anyone intelligent could have taken him down... The royal family doesn't have an army? No spies? Of course not (‡▼益▼)
The only one who thinks and analyzes situations correctly is the Great Villain (‡▼益▼) I spent half the drama tearing my hair out!
### Confusing timeline several times: the same night, FL interrogation, interrupted by the CP, Left Minister arrested and imprisoned, FL2 escapes, abandoning a tied-up maid in an alley, Left Minister being helped out of prison, informed upon arrival of his daughter's escape, pursuit of FL2 and her lover, etc. Are nights 72 hours long in Korea? (‡▼益▼)

=> From the body swap onward, the screenwriter lost track. I kept watching for the sake of CL (which I really like), but I had to restrain myself from throwing a rock at my screen!

=> How can you cast renowned and talented actors, find a budget, a crew to film it... without a stronger, better-written story?

=> A big disappointment!

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Série Rom-Hist avec excellent cast mais storyline TRES TRES frustrante !!

PLOT: La FL, vendeuse de sel amnésique (et ex- esclave en fuite) ressemble trait pour trait à la Princesse Héritière morte il y a 5 ans. Elle rencontre le ML (CP) et le ML2 (cousin - Prince Héritier du roi précédent). Malgré les avertissements de sa "famille", la FL part pr la capitale, devient "eunuque", puis consort. Le CP et la FL essaient d'investiguer pr faire tomber le Ministre de Gauche (Great Villain, ayant ts les pouvoirs ds le royaume). Mais ils doivent aussi se protéger. Le CL essaie aussi de comprendre comment fonctionne le bodyswap entre eux.

+++ Le CL (avec Kang Tae Oh & Kim Se Jeong) est drôle, cute, talentueux, excellent (vraiment évident notamment lors du bodyswap).
+++ Excellentes OSTs

### La product° est rythmée MAIS le spectateur a constamment le feeling que les priorités du réalisateur ne sont pas placées au bon endroit. Exemple : longue scene lovey-dovey très cute (pr allèger le ton, mais le spectateur se sent totalement décalé), en pleine situation de danger de mort ...
### Comportement de la FL incohérent (sérieux ds son personnage, mais devient puérile qd elle est ds le corps du CP).
### Storyline qui devient totalement incohérente dans certains arcs narratifs : le pouvoir est laissé au Ministre de gauche par des personnes (roi, CP, Prince Li Yun, etc.) qui réfléchissent de façon complètement tordue / irrationnelle (ou n'ont pas de cerveau ??). N'importe quel personnage intelligent aurait pu le faire tomber ... La famille royale n'a pas d'armée ? pas d'espions ? Mais non (‡▼益▼)
Le seul qui réfléchit et analyse les situations correctement, c'est le Great Villain (‡▼益▼) J'ai passé la moitié du drama à m'arracher les cheveux !
### Timeline confuse à plusieurs reprises : la mm nuit,interrogatoire de la FL, interrupt° par le CP, Left Minister arrêté et emprisonné, fuite de la FL2 en abandonnant 1 servante ligotée ds 1 ruelle, Left minister qu'on aide à sortir de prison, informé dès son arrivée de la fuite de sa fille, poursuite de la FL2 et de son lover, etc.
Les nuits durent 72h en Corée ? (‡▼益▼)

=> A partir du bodyswap, le screenwriter a perdu le fil. J'ai continué à regarder pr le CL (que j'aime bcp) mais j'ai dû me restreindre pr ne pas jeter une pierre ds mon écran !

=> Comment peut-on caster des acteurs renommés et talentueux, trouver un budget, une Team pr faire le tournage, ... sans disposer d'une histoire plus solide et mieux écrite ?

=> A big disappointment !

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Justice takes a detour down a blind alley.

Dead End is a solid iQiyi Light On crime drama. It explores themes similar to Tencent’s critically acclaimed The Long Season (2023) but fails to achieve the same narrative impact. In 2012, records officer Gan E comes across a case that uncannily reminds him of the "Alley Killer"—a cold serial case from 1994 that has haunted him for eighteen years. He reconnects with his mentor, Ran Xi, who has long since aged into a role training police dogs. Together, they try to get the case reopened, hoping that immense technological advances will finally help crack a mystery that is personal to them both.

The narrative alternates between past and present, but the mystery plot takes a long time to reveal itself. The focus is instead on how the changing times of the 1990s affected life in Beijing’s hutongs, where everyone seemed to know everything and yet nothing about each other. Leaking roof and all, Ran Xi loved the hutong way of life and his connection with its residents, resisting his wife’s efforts to relocate to more impersonal modern lodgings. The drama incisively explores the social issues of the day: burgeoning sexual openness, increasing opportunities for women, the stigma of mental illness, suffocating familial pressure from authoritarian parents, and the gradual breakdown of the traditional family unit.

Although this exploration of social themes digresses from the main plot, the character vignettes are portrayed with such a terrific sense of poignant humor and irony that I didn’t mind. I really love how Liao Fan conveys dark comedy, and I came—and stayed—for that. Liu Lin surprised me; she always plays the tough nut so well that I didn’t expect her to be this funny. This was my first time seeing Yin Fang, and I enjoyed his chemistry with Liao Fan. The drama boasts an impressive cast that elevates the storytelling.

Yet, caught in the labyrinthine network of alleyways where the killer stalked his prey, justice takes a detour down a blind alley. By the time the narrative shifts back to the murder plot, I had long forgotten most of the details. Despite a chilling soliloquy from the killer, who hid in plain sight, the crime and its solution felt like an afterthought.

While I appreciated the social commentary, the resolution left a bad taste in my mouth. So much suffering could have been avoided if one selfish, ungrateful, and cowardly person—incapable of empathy or reciprocating affection—had spoken up and given everyone closure years earlier. I loathed this character so much I wished the killer had shoved them down a well instead.

Even though Ran Xi and Gan E got their closure, the unnecessary collateral damage ruined the story for me. As such, I can only rate this a 7.5/10.

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I like eccentric characters -- but these are too unlikable and pretentious. "Merci exercises" and "twighlighting" but no straight answers from any of them, ugh. These were not simple people going about their simple lives -- "The Zen Diary" did it so much better.

Nothing is ever explained -- why is is so cool to ride on the lady's tricycle that even the student who has just arrived knows about it? Does the school teacher ever teach? Why does the guest house owner not remove the wheel of the tricycle when he checks for punctures in the tire? (That last one hurt to watch.) And what about that other hotel? Nothing is connected, even though it seems to want to be until the last minute. This is not simplicity, this is faked depth.

It did have its surreal moments, with the hotel where guests worked on the vegetable fields or how the woman pulled her heavy suitcase along the sandy beach -- but these moments were far and inbetween.

I don't really have anything else to say, the film deeply annoyed me. *And* it bored me to tears.

If you want to see a cool film set on an Okinawan island, go watch "Nabbie's Love".

Edit to add: This film has won the Manfred Salzberger priye at the 2008 Berlinale and was a nominee for the "World Cinema - Dramatic" categegory of the Sundance festival, so there are certainly people who think the film is excellent. And as you can see from Elisheva's comment below, there are viewers who like the film. Please don't follow other opinions, make up your own.

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Pure period Cdrama goodness

Given a second chance by fate, Dou Zhao decides to take her destiny in her own hands in order to avoid doom and live a decent life. She crosses path with Song Mo, a young general blinded by rage and revenge. Alone they can't overturn their downfall, by maybe together ?

So good and gorgeous. A rare case of a drama carried mostly by its direction. I mean yeah it's made by Zeng Qing Jie, an awesome director who did wonders with short formats, but wow, I'm still impressed. It's doing what every other drama is trying to do lately on love, country loyalty, revenge, second chances, destiny, etc. with limited means but waaay more talent and flair. The writing is solid but not ground-breaking or very deep, it's well-trodden waters, the actors are good but no acting gods either, it's the brilliant direction that completely transcends everything. There's no catch, the show is straight up good from start to finish, and totally deserving of the hype.

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Business proposal, but with chinese minis twists

Actually enjoyed this show a lot, I'd say it's more of a comedy than romance, but of course romance is existing and we got great chemistry between both couples.

The story as mentioned is very similar to Business proposal, but it has its own flavor in it which makes it entertaining.

🌸 Loved the directing and editing, it flows naturally and doesn't feel choppy despite the short length. Especially liked how the title pops each episode creatively.

🌸 Acting from all of the cast was good. And by all I mean even the guest roles.

🌸Every single one of the Background characters were super funny, especially the two bodyguards and the father.

🌸 Short videos at the end of episodes were everything!

🌸 liked the sister and secretary story.

🌸 Chemistry between the leads was good!

🌸 The soundtrack is good at the ears.

❌️ Too many clichés and tropes used, I personally didn't mind many of them but others might.

❌️ Login is no where to be found.

❌️ Lackluster ending.

Overall I would recommend this little series, as it is well-made, fun and entertaining!

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Cute!

I was looking foreward to this drama after seeing some clips a while ago. But when i started it i was afraid, because i saw the main was also the main of "A Man Who Defies the World of BL" and i found him quite anoying in that drama. But i was glad i was proven wrong, and that shows that he is a great actor, because i quite liked him in this drama.

I like the story, there was a lot of pain and healing in this drama.
The little kid was so cute and what a good actor at such a young age!
Visuals en music were beautiful and the acting was great.

A real must watch!

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