Reviews

Cashero is not your typical hero drama

Unlike most stories where heroes gain unlimited powers to fight villains, Cashero shows a hero whose strength is restricted by money, a rare and realistic twist. It highlights not only the battles against villains who fight like crazy to get what they want, but also the struggles of sacrifice, kindness, and the heavy cost of helping others. The drama shows that sometimes good deeds don’t always lead to better outcomes or rewards. They can even make us suffer mentally and physically. Despite these struggles, the hero always chooses kindness through helping others. It may not always lead to a great result, but it leaves a long-lasting imprint on the heart of the person he has helped.

This drama also shows how money can strengthen people, making them proud and feel superior to others.

It may have loopholes and unanswered questions in the plot, but it is still a great drama. This is the first time I have encountered this kind of restriction for a hero. For justice to prevail, someone’s health, money, and time have to be sacrificed. It may look like a “useless power” to other people, but it’s realistic enough to show that true heroism is not about invincibility—it’s about sacrifice, compassion, and the courage to keep helping even when the cost is heavy.

MY RATING | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Acting & Cast: 10
Storyline & Writing: 8
Directing & Pacing: 9
Cinematography & Visuals: 10
Music/OST & Sound Design: 10
Overall: 9.4

PS: It was supposed to be 9.0 but I love this drama so, I made it 9.5✨

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This was so beautiful!! Probably one of my favourite slice of life dramas that is BL friendly and focus on the minority's problem of feeling accepted.

The best thing about it, is that it didn't only show gay people's problem, but also tackles other issues like families, dreams and accepting your own self.

At the end of it I wanted them all to live together in one place with each of them being in his own flat but all come together during evening and have meals together, maybe talk together about their days and what happens in their lives.
And I mean anyone, except maybe for the father, he is terrible and I hated his character.

I wanted the show to keep going, I didn't want it to end which is a first, probably the only show this year that I watched without skipping a scene and wanting to see even more of it.

The cast carried their characters well, heavily focused on gay issues so if it's not your cup of tea don't watch it, this isn't really a BL, it's about gay people yes, but you won't find any romance or lovey dovey moments, however I had a good laugh in some scenes, not because they were funny but because they were very awkward or odd.

The characters are unique and very very weird, all of them are like that, you won't find one normal character here and that is what makes the show more interesting ~

Highly recommended if you like slice of life dramas about belonging and family and friends bonds~~

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An interesting superhero story that sold itself short

Cashero tells the story of Sang Ung, an ordinary citizen who inherits a peculiar superpower from his father: he is able to access superhuman strength but in order for his power to get activated, he must carry physical cash. Sang Ung finds himself entangled in a complicated situation. On the one hand, he just wants to save money in order to settle with his girlfriend and build his own life. On the other hand, he cannot turn away from people who need help, even at the cost of losing money. And thus, a great question arises: how much does it cost to do good?

First and foremost, I want to clarify that I haven't read the webtoon. This review is solely based on what I watched on the adaptation, therefore I'm not aware of any further clarifications or changes that might have happened in the original source.

I dived into Cashero pretty much blindly. Prior watching the series, I wasn't really familiar with the plot and I only knew that it would involve some superheroes. Truth be said, the biggest reason I decided to give the series a try was Lee Jun Ho, whom caught my interest in Typhoon Family. Therefore, I didn't know what to expect, besides an action series with some comedy.

The premise of the story was very interesting and it provided a unique take regarding superheroes. Superheroes stories have been integrated into society from the beginning of times. Be it mythology, history, comics etc, people have always felt the need to create individuals who can play the role of their saviors and role models. Superheroes embody many virtues and they remind us that no matter what, there are people out there who look out for us.

And this is where Cashero differs from the typical superhero stories. The first episodes showed that Sang Ung was reluctant to take up his role a hero, simply because that was never his ambition to begin with. He was a regular citizen who wanted to live comfortably with his girlfriend and in order to do so, he needed to save up money. Inheriting a superpower that was fed from cash was not a blessing. And by receiving this power, he finds himself stuck in a moral dilemma: ignore those who are in need for help and save as much money as he can or start using his power to assist others?

I found Sang Ung's character to be very realistic at the beginning. I couldn't really blame him for thinking the way he did. We live in a capitalistic society where it requires money in order to live a modest life. When it's hard to afford to live, how easy would it be to lose money while helping others? Many times I have thought about this matter. When I bypass fundraisers or beggars, I might consider whether I can afford to donate a small portion or not. How much money should I give? How much money do I need? If I give it, will it be okay later or is there a chance I'll need it? For some people, this might not even be an issue or something to think hard on. But for others who might not be well off, this type of decisions can require more time.

Aside from the money problem, it was very natural for Sang Ung to not rush to play some type of hero. He didn't want to gain fame. He didn't have any ambitions related to power. He just wanted an easy life. Nothing more, nothing else. How could he turn into some type of hero all of a sudden? His approach was very refreshing to see because deep down, I believe that many people would relate with him.

Sang Ung's dynamic with his girlfriend, Min Suk, was rather charming. Compared to Sang Ung's, Min Suk was a more efficient and responsible person when it came to money. I understand that some people found her annoying but in my opinion, she was anything but that. Her reaction to Sang Ung's powers was actually very realistic. I mean, if you wanted to save up money in order to build your future, only to learn that your partner had gained a superpower that needed cash in order to be activated, how would you react? Her initial suggestion to Sang Ung stop using his strength too much was practical and logical. But once she realised that Sang Ung's powers could be used for good, she supported him and didn't push him to not use them.

I was so glad to see that the writers didn't paint Min Suk as the stereotypical girlfriend of a superhero, who doesn't stick with him once she discovers his powers or who wants him to stop helping others and focus on his relationship. Min Suk worried about Sang Ung but she acknowledged that his powers could be used for good. She always expressed her unconditional support, even if sometimes she would have every reason to feel angry at him. When she discovered Sang Ung's debt, her reaction was calmer than I expected and she never tried to blame him for his power, even though it was insufficient. She was one of the people who knew his character and instead of persuading him to stop assisting others, she acknowledged his good nature and supported him in her own way.

The rest of the characters were also fun to watch. Ho In and Eun Mi's superpowers were very creative and the bond they formed with Sang Ung was wholesome, especially between Eun Mi and Sang Ung. The villains were decent and the actors really elevated them. Both Kang Han Na and Lee Chae Min nailed the playful yet dangerous vibes of Anna and Jonathan respectively, their expressions and tone of their voice perfectly encapsulated the characters' thirst for power and ruthless nature.

Another positive aspect was the usage of VFX and CGI. Granted, I understand that it wasn't flawless but the production was good in this aspect. The special effects didn't come across as off-putting compared to other kdramas (Twelve, I'm looking at you) and most of the time, the action scenes looked good and visually entertaining.

While Cashero offers a unique perspective of superhero stories, I'm afraid that the final result was lackluster. What could have been an interesting story that combined action and social issues, ended up being an average drama which didn't have any extraordinary qualities.

From the very first episodes, I could sense that the writers themselves weren't so sure about the direction they would follow. They wanted to mingle action, comedy and social commentary but the execution was very poor. Some scenes didn't need humor and the sudden shift of the tone during some episodes didn't allow me to fully digest the emotional impact. In fact, there was barely any impact at all. In one episode, Sang Ung watched Jonathan manipulate people to their death and after such a horrific scene, the story goes on rather smoothly, without addressing this any further, while adding the usual light-hearted scenes. When the drama itself brushed off moments like this, it's inevitable that viewers wouldn't be able to fully connect with the story.

I understand the intentions of the writers and their attempt to address the issue of trying to live comfortably in a world that demands money but there were many more compelling ways to do it. Having your main character point out here and there, through internal monologues, that life is very hard unless you have money is not impactful, nor thought provoking. It's rather lazy and effortless. Prioritizing the action and comedy while brushing off the darker aspects of your story is not symbolic not exceptional. You cannot eat your cake and have it too, which is why it would have been better if the writers had committed to a stable tone from the get-go.

Because of its short length (8 episodes only), Cashero wasn't as fleshed out as it could be. The pacing was very bizarre, while some scenes moved very fast, some other would drag. The drama wasn't cohesive enough and in addition with the tonal shift, my interest started decreasing. I was bored during some scenes, waiting for something gripping to happen but alas, the drama didn't deliver as much as I anticipated.

The writers could have invested more in the exploration of the power system in this universe. I get it, we're talking about a superhero story, therefore there's no need for a complex world-building a la Tolkien style. Still, it would have been nice if we had learned more about the power system and how come some people came to inherit them.

Another aspect that was handled poorly was the characterisation. While the characters were fun on paper, I never felt any particular connection to them. Which of course cannot be a bad thing. Just because you don't connect with the characters that doesn't mean they're badly written. But in Cashero, the characters weren't written in depth in order for me to care more about them. They were fun to watch, they were inoffensively charming but that was it. There were some attempts in some bits to add more depth in their motives but they simply weren't enough.

The villains were a huge wasted potential. The trope of siblings who antagonize each other for their father's approval could have been so cool if the writers had chosen to flesh out Jonathan and Anna. Yes, not every villain needs a sob story and I'm not saying that Jonathan and Anna should have been treated as misunderstood characters but that doesn't excuse their lackluster writing. I would have enjoyed to see their relationship been explored more in order to properly grasp the depths of their history.

Some scenes between Anna and her father hinted at her being insecure but we never got anything beyond that. Some flashbacks would have provided us with more insight into their motives and relationship and if we had gotten more interactions between Anna and Jonathan, their rivalry would have been more engaging too.

I would have liked to see more of Ho In and Eun Mi's backstories. Their struggles with their powers should have been addressed more. At one point, it was shown that Ho In had developed some health issues because of his drinking habit in order to fuel his power. But the writers never brought this up again. Eun Mi didn't seem to struggle and we only knew that she was connected with another superhero that had been captured by Cho Anna.

Aside from that, both characters felt underutilized in terms of how the series handled their powers. Both of them had very interesting abilities and yet their potential wasn't as explored as it could have been. In fact, in some fight scenes I got the impression that the writers deliberately didn't allow these characters to fully unleash their potential in order to highlight Sang Ung more. Of course they remained useful, which I'm grateful for but I'd like it if they hadn't been sidelined during some scenes. They could have pushed the narrative even further but instead of being treated as part of the main trio, they were reduced to the comic relief characters.

As a result from poor writing, the acting didn't come across as strong as it could have been. While the actors did their part, their performances lacked the required emotional depth and their performances failed to sell the characters at times. But I can excuse this due to the poor writing.

The writing could have been much tighter in general. Superhero series or not, I cannot overlook some bizarre plot holes or writing decisions. The scene with Sang Ung and Min Suk at the church is a great example of a cheesy scene that serves the purpose to add more drama in what could have been resolved logically. Why would they remain inside a collapsing building which was in flames, too? Just so the villain could come, wipe Sang Ung off and leave our couple to be saved by Ho In and Eun Mi? Of course this might not be an issue for viewers who don't care for this type of writing but for me, decisions like this made me question the writing.

It's a pity that a superhero drama with such an interesting premise didn't pick up. While Cashero was overall fun, it certainly had me scratch my head in bewilderment and I wasn't able to engage with the story as much as I wanted to. If one is looking for something fun and action packed, it's a good choice but don't expect a lot.

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fun watch but doesn't really hit

I actually watched this a while ago, but I guess I forgot to update MDL with it. The premise sounded cool, and it was a pretty fun watch. I don't think I felt so bored at any point that I skipped anything, so I guess the pacing was fine. However, there were some parts that annoyed me, and while the ending wasn't bad, it wasn't great either. All in all, the there was absolutely nothing memorable about this series. I never wrote a review for Reset, so I'll add a note here, but I think even that was slightly better than whatever this was, even though I didn't think it was all that either.

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Finally Season 2!!!!

S2 as good S1 but as we all know original season can't be beaten.

The pace of the story was good. Start from continuation of S1 but suddenly become slow for the storyline of Dol Dear which I believed not necessary to drag for too long. It only interesting and fast pace for 3 last episodes.

They were some plots or storyline such as childhood of Ekkachai and Aun Ae which should be added so we can know background of the characters. One more there was no explanation what actually happen to Win's father.

The acting and music really on point and superb.

The ending seems not like end and maybe got S3.

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What happened to the second part?

Disclaimer: did not read the webtoon. So I'm Kinda dissatisfied with the plot. What in the world happened to the plot? First, this ain't no human Vs alien war I signed up for during part 1. Alright, if the writers want to set up some human conflict plot they can but it's not right to abandon the core of the plot, the aliens. What is their origin? How did they overcome them? What happened during the 1 month after Lieutenant Lee died? No explanation, no development. Second, they spent so much time dragging the plot to nowhere I was low-key bored. The prison fight was badass but realistically stupid and makes no sense. What tf was aesol thinking???

Third, stupid plot holes everywhere. I don't even wanna spend time talking bout it since everyone probably knows what I'm talking about. Fourth, the ending. Didn't even watch the whole thing to know it was ass. It's gruesome, it's traumatic, but it leaves no emotion. Because they die so quick and go so quick you won't even have time to process what happens and to grieve every single one of them. Just trauma. With yeon soo's character they could have done so much more with him instead of becoming just a psychopath killing machine.

The conflict in this part aren't even well processed. Instead of making us feeling conflicted like the characters, it only made them laughable. Conflict came and went.

Best part of this is probably the carnival bonding, but heck-- the carnival scene doesn't even makes sense anyway. Won't the aliens come and attack them?

Overall, just watch the first part. You can make up Ur own second part later that's probably gonna be 10x times better than this.

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So much wasted potential.

I am new to this forum and my positive reviews will soon outnumber my negative ones—
I promise. ꒰ღ˘‿˘ற꒱❤⃛
My gateway into kdrama romcom was King the Land.
Permission kiss?
Oh. My. Goodness.
Well worth waiting until episode nine.
Because This is My First Life—
Be honest, who doesn’t need a kissing tutorial after spending the day making kimchi?
Dynamite Kiss was a major disappointment after such a fun start.
The ‘let’s try it again moment’? Stellar.
I counted it as unfinished because I fast forwarded through the last few episodes and this is where the spoiler part comes in— What a waste of time ending.
Honestly, I am a sucker for the tropes.
Girl, trip in those high heels right into his arms.
Face blindness? Go for it.
But the last minute amnesia arc in DK seemed like the writers were just too bored to even try.
What happened to the sister?!? Nevermind. Enough.
Moving on.
My palate cleanse will be rewatching my favorite episodes of Her Private Life.
Maybe I’ll start with the sleepover in the photographer’s cabin. Or possibly the blindfold scene?¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I may just head right on into the workshop 🤗

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The First Frost Turned My Cold Heart Into a Puddle

This drama is truly a 2025 gem, and even the title itself carries a deep meaning within the story you’ll understand it as you watch. I haven’t loved a modern drama this much since Lighter & Princess; I honestly place them on the same level. They’ve become my ult dramas. There’s so much to say… At the moment, I’m still watching and I’m currently on episode 18.

The atmosphere is melancholic, dramatic, and romantic at the same time. It’s a true slice of life, grounded in reality, with no exaggeration or unnecessary drama which is exactly what I love. It’s subtle, never over the top. This drama takes a much more realistic approach, far from the clichés and caricatures of overly formulaic rom-coms. This feels like real life.

As for the story, there isn’t really a traditional plot. We simply follow the daily lives of young adults and the gradual development of their relationships, while touching on many meaningful themes such as family, friendship, love, illness, and grief.

I really appreciated how the past relationship between Wen Yifan and Sang Yan is revealed through short flashbacks at the beginning of each episode. It’s far more effective than having a long “teenage” arc placed in the middle of episodes, which often breaks the pacing. Here, the flashbacks are thoughtfully structured and never disrupt the rhythm of the story.

The characters are genuinely lovable (except for Yifan’s awful family). Sang Yan, in particular, touched me deeply he’s such a human and sincere character.

At first, Wen Yifan appears cold, sad, and emotionally drained, almost lifeless. But as the episodes go by, we slowly understand why. She gradually changes: she smiles more, reacts more, gets shy, and starts breaking down her emotional walls.

Sang Yan is very tsundere he acts like he doesn’t care, yet he’s always there for her. What I love most about him is that he’s professionally reliable and incredibly considerate toward Yifan. He gives her exactly what she needs: a quiet, reassuring presence, never forcing himself or his feelings onto her. He treats her with so much delicacy, pays attention to every small detail, and it’s truly admirable. He loves her deeply, but never excessively.

The second couple is just as compelling and has nothing to be ashamed of. Si Qiao, the female lead’s friend, is such a joy to watch the kind of friend anyone could have in real life: energetic, funny, full of life, and coming from a big family. Hao An, on the other hand, is a socially awkward young man who simply longs for love. It feels like he didn’t even realize the small joys in his life until Si Qiao helped him open his eyes.

All in all, this is a 10/10 for me. And I’m convinced that once you finish it, it will stay with you you’ll remember everything.

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The editing cripples the story

I like the concept of the movie, but the execution fell flat because the editing style is horrendous!! It’s sooo obvious they edited this for short attention spans and that hindered the overall plot and emotional impact. Great for children, but it’s also training their minds for shorter attention.

There’s too many scene cuts and the story itself didn’t have enough time to breathe. It makes no sense why to two main leads were suddenly liking each other after two conversations. It just bad because the whole thing was rushed and poorly planned. Only a few songs were actually good.

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I almost dropped it but I'm so glad I didn't!

The concept was new and interesting but to be honest I found it really hard to watch especially the first few episodes. I just can't grasp the idea of the filter that changes the appearance of Su Cheng Cheng that lead to deception. I just got very curious as to how the story will progress eventually that's why I kept on watching it whenever I don't have anything to watch. It's kinda weird as well that Tang Qi's character always ends up falling in love with Su Cheng Cheng's other appearances, and not her true self. But then if you think of it, Tang Qi already had a misconception with Su Cheng Cheng from the start since he thought she tried to bully him during their school days. This led to him not really opening up his heart and mind to Su Cheng Cheng directly.

To be fair, this drama is really fun to watch. My most favorite one is the alpaca episode, it's been a while since I laughed this hard on a drama. Yet again, I almost dropped it at episode 20 when Quan Sheng Tang was killed (like Su Miao) as I felt real pity on Tang Qi (bro, if it was me I already went crazy) but then everything unfolds and he decoded what was really happening. After this, everything went well especially the romance arc of Tang Qi and Su Cheng Cheng (binge-watched this until the end lol)

One of Tang Qi's lines summed up the message this drama is trying to convey: "The filter only changes your appearance, but not your inner self. What I like is the imperfect you." It's very fitting to today's beauty standards as everything is judged based on appearances and most of us are really not confident with our looks leading to insecurities.

Overall, I loved this drama although it gave me a hard time grasping the concept but I think that's one of the beauty of it. You just need perseverance to unlock the hidden gem this drama has. It's my first time watching Tan Jianci and Li Landi and they really are one of the best actors in China. They perfectly delivered both comedy and chemistry! Hoping they could have another rom-com in the future!

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Somewhat lacking in chemistry

This was overall an 'ok' series, just... very mid... nothing spectacular but won't leave a bad taste in your mouth.

I liked the storyline, that at the end of the day, you have the power to change and mold the future you want. I liked the acting, decent, subtly emotional delivery from the 2 MLs. I liked the musicality, especially the opening sequence. I liked the cinematography, the template sequence. I even liked the character design and development.

However there was just something lacking in the chemistry between the 2 actors. It felt somewhat unnatural and while there were moments, little flickers of chemistry, it just wasn't delivered fully. In fact, the scene which probably had the most chemistry might just be the opening sequence.

If you're looking for a somewhat refreshing plot with likeable MLs played by actors that can act you could try this out, but I would manage my expectations, it just didn't tug at the heart strings as much.

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Outlived Its Humor

While this franchise started out on an innovative note, it ended on a bromidic tone. It got stale, redundant and formulaic. However, its worst sin is its travesty became unfunny because none of it was visionary anymore. The format, style, and execution had been done ad nauseum previously, so the expectations were the same. It also became rather evident from a physical standpoint that the actors were getting too ‘old’ to play young college students or high school students. Some of them are now in their 30’s. They looked too spurious and heavily made-up. To be sure, this story is a lot more of the same. A few more BL tropey ‘flags’ that trigger Bl developments were introduced. Just like he did in all the other seasons. This time, honestly, I did not find any of it even funny or humorous. It felt old and came across as the usual modus operandi. Even his parents seemed relegated to a more tertiary role. And his brother was, well, just his brother. It was all more-of-the-same. Everyone looked – tired and ready to move on.

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Just go for it

If you don't wanna read you can jump into the drama..just go for it.
I don't usually write reviews but i definitely do read them before watching a drama and it really helps. That's why I'm writing one here..
For this drama you don't even need to read a review just go for it ..it was a whole rollercoaster journey for me as i watched it after all ep were dropped as i didn't knew about its airing schedule and just read the first review i saw and decided to start it.

I really loved the acting storyline and the leads were superb for their roles. Other than the leads the roles that really fascinated me and i really loved were ..Sanlai and Lin Sui i really liked their roles and others did an amazing job as well.

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Lots of staring

10/10 humor, but everything else lacking.
(Maybe 10 is too high, but it's the only redeeming part of the show.)

Thriller parts lacked mystery after first few eps, and romance lacked substance.

Romance also dragged rest of the show, bc every scene was just staring.
I could have fast-forwarded through all the staring and still gotten the whole plot.
There was no romamce or drama in this show, just staring.

It's been a while since I watched it, so I forgot if OST is integrated into the show well, but about half the songs are nice and very memorable.

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