Reviews

was really great in the first half then became so slow to the point i basically dropped it

The premise sounds interesting: Six people involved in the same car accident + 1 mystery person end up trapped in the infamous haunted Building 19 of the university I don't remember the name of. There are monsters and puzzles, similar to an escape room. The CGI is fantastic. And the story does live up to what the synopsis promises, in the beginning at least. For the first 10 or 15 episodes, I was pretty engrossed in the whole story and the puzzles and the relationship between the two leads (they're cute). However, the plot slowed down so much after that (I think during the circus level), everything began seeming repetitive, and whatever was supposed to be a plot twist just never really hit at all. And the lack of realism in parts of the plot was pretty annoying. Also, I just didn't really fw the team at this point and the power of friendship stuff and whatever. I got so bored at the end that I ended up skipping over the last 5 episodes because I just could not force myself to sit through that snail's pace of a plot.

Read More

Beautiful Story of Life, Love, and Friendship

I'm only writing a review because the top reviews feel like they were written by children who lack the attention span to absorb a series like this. The focus of A Hundred Memories is on two women, both struggling in life, who become each others support system. The characters are beautifully drawn, their personalities wonderfully complimentary.

The romance is a secondary focus and used mostly to shed light on the relationship between the two women. If you're looking for a romantic kdrama, this might not be the best choice. This is about the bonds of friendship and the many ways in which life will test those bonds.

Both women have wonderful arcs. Both actresses delivered fantastic performances. And the period setting was lush and immersive. If you enjoy stories about women, sisterhood, and found families - this one is for you.

Read More

so romantic: the "Player" and his girl

If you like dramas where the chemistry hits early, the longing is intense, and the romance doesn’t waste your time, you will absolutely love this.
This drama honestly caught me off guard in the best way possible. By episode five, I was already screaming, swooning, and borderline obsessed. The pace is fast, the payoff comes early, and the emotional connection between the leads is explosive in a way that feels rare, even now.

❤️ LIKES
-The chemistry is unreal. When they look at each other, it genuinely feels like I’m interrupting something intimate. Their yearning, eye contact, and physical closeness are electric.
-The romance starts early. Kisses by episode five?? YES. And not just one. So many kissing scenes — honestly enough to rival Something About 1%.
-I love how quickly things resolve. Conflicts don’t drag forever, which keeps the emotional momentum strong.
-The way the drama handles a character entering a new world is so well thought out. Nothing just magically happens — everything is explained:
>His clothes don’t just appear; he steals them.
>He learns belts, buttons, and customs naturally.
>No plot holes, no lazy writing.
-The back-and-forth between the two worlds makes sense and actually builds tension instead of confusion.
-I love how loyal and devoted the Joseon-era characters are. That unwavering loyalty hurts in the best way.
-The storytelling style is so cool — sometimes it shows you something and later expands on it from a new angle, making moments hit even harder.
-This is 100% rewatchable for me.
I love that by episode 12–13, it teases the idea of them possibly getting time to just exist together in happiness — even briefly.

💔 DISLIKES
I hated that she hid him from people in her life instead of fully claiming him.
The amnesia arc dragged for about two episodes — I understand why it was done, but emotionally it was painful because I just wanted them back together.
Her manager friend was selfish and frustrating.
Even though the back-and-forth makes sense story-wise, it’s still emotionally rough.
Watching all of his people die in Joseon was heartbreaking 😢

⭐ Final Thoughts
This drama does what so many romances fail to do: it respects the viewer’s emotions. It doesn’t tease endlessly, it doesn’t withhold chemistry, and it doesn’t treat romance like an afterthought.
By episode five, I was already all in — swooning, screaming, and emotionally invested. The longing, devotion, and payoff are handled beautifully, and when they’re together, they’re together.

Rating: 10/10
One of those rare dramas that feels fast, full, emotionally satisfying, and deeply romantic.

Read More

Good Protagonist Vs. Lackluster Antagonist

Pyramid Game is a drama that I think embodies the idea that simple storytelling can work well. This drama wasn't groundbreaking nor did I really expect it to be, but I still think it held its own fairly well. There's always an innate appeal of an underdog story and combine that with the promise of a thriller that is female led? It was impossible for me not to check it out.

It's rare to find a decent story that is written about women for women and for it to actually portray female characters in a decent way. That might sound absurd, but from my experience it is quite rare to find one that isn't romance led. The premise was quite good: a teenage girl that moves around a lot is forced into a prestigious class that plays a sick hierarchy game that is lead by a sociopath. I really liked seeing how Suji maneuvered her way through an unfair system that she had no choice but to participate in. In fact, I'd argue it's hard not to like Suji as a protagonist; she's smart, perceptive, strong-willed, confident, and stands up for herself. It's not everyday that I find a female protagonist as compelling as she is, but Pyramid Game managed to sell me the simple story through her perspective. Though of course, you can't win 'em all; while I believe Suji was a good protagonist and an entertaining character, I can't deny that the rest of the cast doesn't really hold a candle to her.

Her friends aren't all that interesting except for maybe Ye Rim and Ja Eun to a degree. The others were just background dressing needed to advance the plot to bring down the Pyramid Game through sheer numbers. Jae Hyung's whole character is being bubbly and horny, Ji Ae is the loser that is a perpetual leech, and Eun Jung was Ye Rim's knight in shining armor. There really wasn't that much going for them outside of that. Ja Eun was Suji's opposite in the sense that she was the kindness opposed to Suji's firmness. But if I'm honest, I feel like all that she did was perpetually blame herself and try to save almost everyone even if they didn't deserve it. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a lead that's motivations are linked to their guilt, but the issue is that guilt wasn't really deserved. Then that gets us to my main issue with the characters: Baek Ha Rin. I think she is a very weak villain for a story with a protagonist like Suji. First off, her actress isn't very distinguishable in the role; she isn't a bad actress, but she doesn't sell the character as this chilling mastermind that the writers want you to think she is. In reality, she just looks and sounds like an average girl that would be better suited as a minor antagonist rather than a main one. Da Yeon and Seo Ah were more interesting and encapsulated their antagonistical characters in comparison to Ha Rin's. She didn't have the smile of a sociopath, not the aesthetic of one, and most certainly not the charisma/aura of one. To make matters worse, her motivation was quite weak as well: she started a downright criminal hierarchical game that tears people down and leaves them as husks of themselves simply because she wanted to get back a previous friend from 2nd grade that accidentally initiated her getting bullied. Her bullying wasn't even severe from what was shown through flashbacks, so why was she so brutal in everything that she did? I didn't buy it. I know that she was called out for being pathetic by Suji because of her motivations, but that still doesn't change the fact that I believe the central antagonist in a story shouldn't have such shallow motives to commit atrocious sins that torment the cast throughout the entirety of the plot. I just found her extremely pathetic and actually pitied how her adoption was dissolved so late in life. I think what they really should have done was shown how she got from Point A to Point B; show how she went from a victim of name calling into a girl that manipulates people and thrives on extreme violence, such as burning a little orphan girl's palm. Ja Eun shouldn't have felt that extreme guilt anymore after everything Ha Rin put her and her classmates through. She even pushed Woo Ri into attempted suicide, yet Ja Eun's extreme guilt didn't budge. The punishments just do not fit the crime in her case.

Though, this series did do well in trying punish abusers decently well. Though it's unrealistic, it's still nice to see bullies be exposed for their crimes and the bystanders be called out for indirectly enabling said behavior. You don't see a story be so clear with punishing everyone quite as much as this one! Even Suji's father is forced to realize the pain of a parent that was oblivious to their child's suffering, and how closeminded he was in his beliefs. I think it's great that this show wasn't afraid to showcase how negligence from adults is what leads to a lot of children becoming bad people themselves. Especially considering the fact that the story takes place in a country that prioritizes age in regard to showing respect.

Something else that I appreciated was that the story was only 10 episodes long. I'm honestly tired of seeing Kdramas that think they need to reach 16 episodes in order to tell a full story. You don't need that many episodes!!! Pyramid Game used 10 50 minute episodes to tell a decent story and that was great on its part. Did the story drag at times? Yes. But was it still entertaining for the most part? Also yes. It didn't feel like the writers were just throwing in random plot points for the fuck of it. Everything had something to do with the overarching plot, so it never felt meaningless. It used its strengths of having a unique protagonist and a good premise and ran with it. I appreciated that it never tried to be some greater-than-thou story that I've seen one too many times; it started with a girl wanting to break down a corrupted hierarchy in her classroom, and it ended with her doing just that. She didn't go and fix world hunger or anything, she simply solved her own issue and didn't let herself become a doormat like everyone else did. I seriously don't know why writers think it's impossible to make a protagonist that can have their own self-interests as motivations. They don't all have to be white knights. Her bond with the convenience store guy was also quite cute. Something that I wish we were shown instead of told was how Ye Rim helped Woo Ri. We're told that Ye Rim originally tried to go against the Pyramid Game, but we're never shown that. It also made it harder to accept her coughing up her idol dreams when she seemed the least deserving of such an outcome. I also would've liked to see her and Eun Jung's relationship confirmed, rather than ambiguous. I loved that they included the LGBTQ without showing an agenda in the audience's faces, but I think it would've been even more impactful had it been confirmed rather than left open ended. I choose to believe they ended up together.

The production was decent, but not extraordinary. Though, I never expected it to be, so I wasn't heartbroken over it or anything. The music was fine but was too reliant on the opening song for any semi-climactic scene in every single episode. I think they must've only had one song at their disposal. Settings were never really exemplary except for maybe the first shots of the prestigious class building and absurdly high budgeted bathroom.

Overall, I liked this show more than I disliked it. It wasn't extraordinary, but it was a good timewaster. It gives me hope for future Webtoon adaptations. The ending featuring the Miryo twins and indicating Suji's second round of outmanipulating mean girls made me actually wish there was a season 2. I would've loved to see the same type of story except with more compelling antagonists next time. It's just a shame that it's heavily unlikely to ever get a second season since the Webtoon of it is marked as completed.

Read More

Favorite Vertical CDrama to date

Have watched about 20 past year and gave up... fell in to this one by accident and disclovered ML. Fell in love with both characters and will also check out FL's other work. Best written by far, and acted, after watching 4 more of his vert's (given unique looks and acting ability. This is the only one of his I'm rating so far as stands out: stories not that unique for C/K dramas but the story details are and for vert., such as how one event changed ML's life course, and there are more supporting characters that usual and they are filled out not bland or charactures. Liked the mutual respect aspect and humor too and that FL had her own life, career, after arranged marriage, and was not years younger waif (exact never shared). Story would be rated higher if had a few flashbacks of one hour pre-wedding meeting and/or initial moving in period.

Read More

It's better than the drama not sure why it is rated so low

I liked this one more than the drama. Given that this was made a decade ago, the questionable scenes make sense. If i watched this 1st I'd probably hate the drama version of it.

Here gii was a total green flag. He didn't touch takumi or force or gaslight him into sex. Instead he treasured and respected him the whole time. Also they didn't make takumi's brother into an angel and showed that takumi hated his brother but kept quite cz he never expected someone soo close to do that to him. He didn't forgive his brother but just learnt to move on from the past.

If u watch this I'd suggest u dont watch the series.

Read More

Quite Intense

It’s really funny how the ending scene of The Romance of Tiger and Rose was at a hospital. Now Ding Yu Xi’s character is in a hospital, too. It’s like seeing Han Shuo again. Yay! It’s also funny because in Tiger and Rose, he was an actor. In this drama, his FL is an actress. Anyway, the FL is too annoying at the beginning. Like when she was hospitalized and wanted to get Zhou Shuyin’s attention, she runs around chasing him all dressed up. Even bringing him a cart full of food inside his office with some lights around it. Like, ma’am, you know you’re under observation, right? I thought that was ridiculous. Glad Doctor Zhou sent her home. Then when he invited her to his ancestors worship, she gives him a hard time by not giving him an answer right away. Then when it was too late, she gets mad because he left her. But good thing he waited for her outside her apartment after she went out to do some shopping spree. When they stepped inside his car, she demanded him to put the buckle for her. I don’t get this part. You can buckle your own self, geez. I know she’s just trying to be cute for him saying he needs to guarantee her safety. I admit, I’m a sucker for arranged marriages. Especially when the ML looks uninterested in the FL, but deep down he really likes her. When they went back to his grandmother’s house and we meet the little sister. OMG. She really got under my skin. How old was her character supposed to be? So childish. I hate how they always say that “yingying is still young. Don’t take it to heart.” Well, they’re enabling the little brat. And every time they wanted to kiss, they would always get interrupted. Especially by Yingying. Ugh. So annoying. In the end when she wanted to get the part of a leading actress, Shiyun talks to his producer friend, but before he could even ask for a favor, he thought about it and changed his mind. At the wrong time, someone saw them hugging. She found out the night she came home after she got selected. That really hurt her. News spread online that she got the role because of Shiyun. I don’t understand why Shiyun didn’t explain. He remained silent throughout the whole time. At least tell her that you almost did. Of course they needed that for the drama. Wu Di mentioned it to her that that Shiyun didn’t brought her name up to the producer. Jinbei is still hurt for what he did. I hate the translation for this drama. Drives me to the wall. Some things don’t make sense sometimes. She went back to her hometown and he followed. She refused to see him but her conscience tells her that he’s a good man. She runs out to find him and he proposes. They kissed. They kissed again when they were talking inside the bedroom. I’m just glad that the misunderstanding part didn’t drag on for episodes. It’s only natural for a couple to have their down moments. When they went home to visit the grandmother, she was a little nauseous. She said she might be pregnant. They were sleeping separately all the time so how did she get pregnant? I already knew she wasn’t pregnant. It’s funny because Shiyun is a doctor and the first thing he could’vetold her is to check just to make sure. All those symptoms could be anything. It happened to me before. Wu Di was the one who told her to check. She found out she wasn’t pregnant. I love how the drama ended. No big Wedding scene, no pregnancy, no babies. Just the two of them spending their sweet time together as newlyweds with their cute little cat, Wutong. I’m glad she mended her relationship with Zitong, and Jiawei respected Jinbei because she was engaged. He also found his love, Yingying, and Yingying found her love, Jiawei. I love the music, and I love their kisses! We have a lot of steamy kisses in the drama. And I’m glad they’re not dead fish kisses which I hate.

Read More

Decent but ML lack of comedic sense ruined it.

I watched this drama while i was searching for Wang Nan and Sun Qian Xun version. Actually this version was not too bad Zhao Caizi still got her comedic side even the ML family still got their banter while Wen Yu was too stiff for comedy drama even his conversation is make me boring felt like AI reading script. The chemistry between Zhao Caizi and Wen Yu are non-existent even as dynamic duo. Supporting cast are helping for making this comedy drama are not too tacky and helps this drama avoid the disaster.

The plot are usual happened on mind reading drama. So I won't explain too much. The ending was being too rushed and i don't thing they should end the drama like that.

Afterall, only deserve to watch only once.

Read More

No emotional expressions whatsoever.

I tried really hard trying to like this drama... I even went about watching it with friends in hopes of finishing it since I've only heard good things. But for some reason, all that I got from it was disappointment. As much as I love BJT, the way he played Sang Yan just didn't justify his acting abilities. And don't even get me started on the FL... no emotional expressions whatsoever and from reading other reviews, it seems like there's just no character development until the very end and overall the drama is just very unrealistic. I skipped around quite a bit but only managed to watch 12 full episodes, but i generally know the plot and it's nothing impressive. One thing I'll say however is that i absolutely love the OST and some of the songs I play on a regular basis. I wasn't number fan of Hidden Love either, but TFF was just a even greater let down. From the start nothing cleared how Sang Yan even fell in love and I was so sick of wasting 12 eps just for there to be NO character development at all from Wen Yifan. Anyways I usually don't write reviews but if you see this and think this is a good drama, then please go check other 2025 releases (like The Best Thing, Speed and Love, and Love in the Clouds) to understand what a truly GOOD cdrama is like.

Read More

Should have go with different title

I was eager to watch Mr Pei 2 but somehow they delete the daughter existence and make another same formula with different theme so it was unrelated to prequel drama for me.

The plot is FL was divorce for scumbag and being single mother for her kids. FL and ML got married while FL didn't know ML was their CEO on her workplace and the Hidden identity plot strikes again

The chemistry between Xu Mengyuan and He Congrui still good as previous one and the conversation is witty. The boy are quite good but his screentime was decreased and this drama focus on tug a war between FL and ML. It lacks of hearwarming charm as the plot is generically with useless conversation between FL Manager and her cronies.

Recommended to watch and better you put down the expectation if you watch prequel

Read More

Classic drama that deserve to watch

Ok I was watching this on my first download on DramaBox and it was one i finished and rewatch every moment i want to see kids drama.

The plot is pioneer generic about FL was got one night stand with stranger, got pregnant and being told her kids was died when she birthed them. Heartbroken She is working everyday until they met twins who runaway for their dad. Mistaken as kidnapper, FL hit ML and she knows ML was the twins dad. Since twins tends to like FL and vise versa-FL decided to married ML. ML thought FL was gold digger so he hid his real identity as rich heir and pretend to be broke man.

The kids is acting naturally as their age. The heartwarming between FL and kids and how they see FL as real mom. The chemistry between Xu Mengyuan and He Congrui was good even they didn't have intense love scene you can see the spark between them. But i don't like ML ex-wife, The character was not well-written and she didn't get enough lashing for everything she do.

I feel the last episode was being too rushed since they didn't show ML past action. The pace on the drama are quite nice.

Recommended to rewatch

Read More