Reviews

They Wanted to Have It All — and in the End, They Gave Us Nothing

I was initially enthralled by this series, from the pen of Jeong Seo-kyeong (she gave us Decision to Leave and Lady Vengeance, people!). Gang Dong-won is manly, steadfast, caring, sexy—an all-encompassing amazing guy fighting for the woman he loves (?). Jun Ji-hyun is calm, gorgeous, steely, and engaging. We even have John Cho in the cast and a special appearance by Uhm Tae-goo—what could go wrong?
Well, quite a lot. For me, it started going south around episode 6. It got convoluted and hard to believe; I think the writer bit off more than she could chew and then had to spit it all out in what turned out to be a very predictable mess. My biggest issue is the way they ended it. I hate it when I have to Google “ending explained” to see if anyone else understood what the heck happened. Did that character survive or not? There were clues that they maybe did, but might as well have not survived—it’s all up to interpretation.
In my opinion, they’re trying to have their cake and eat it too, because it could be a not-so-good ending, but if the ratings are good, there’s a slightly open door for a second series. In the end, they leave the viewer with a generalized meh sensation... what a letdown, honestly.
The action scenes were very fast—sometimes a bit much and hard to follow for some viewers—but overall well performed and enjoyable. The ML was a total badass, and there’s one particular scene in an elevator that got me thinking about Gang Dong-won’s long legs. What can I say? The man exudes charisma and sex appeal even when sitting down.
There was very good chemistry between the leads, but I think they’re both the type of people who could have excellent chemistry even with a wall. In the end, the series left me wanting more. I’m not asking to tie it up with a neat little bow, but don’t make me go all Sherlock Holmes on the Internet trying to see what really happened. Personally, I do not like open-ended finales—just pick a lane and stick to it. Do you have to off one of the characters? Do so and be brave about it! Don’t leave us in a cloud of ambiguity.

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Did Netflix's Most Anticipated KDrama of 2025 Live Up to the Hype? I think YES!

Since the announcement of Kim Eun Sook's new Netflix kdrama last year, there has been extreme anticipation that only grew with the addition of our leads Suzy and Kim Woo Bin, who were to reunite after their tearful kdrama many many years ago.
Before I get into some brief specifics, I just want to say that this drama was GREAT, and there will always be conflicting reviews over nitpicky details, so just watch it and make an opinion yourself 🙂
I tried to watch this slowly, since they blessed us by releasing all episodes at once, but I finished it all on day 3🥲.

First of all, the cinematography was breathtakingly beautiful. Netflix dramas usually are, and this one did not disappoint, the setting and use of vibrant colors✨ along with their CGI, really setting the bar high for high quality content. Without spoiling, the last episode has an incredibly simple yet beautiful scene with just our two leads🌸🌸 But overall, they filmed in real locations which adds on to the realistic vibe of the drama.

The chemistry of the two was also, amazing. Despite having worked together before in a very heartwarming yet saddening kdrama with an ending that left viewers disappointed, the fact that Suzy plays an apathetic psychopath in this drama really had me curious about how she would pair with Kim Woo Bin. If she had no emotions, how would she pair well with her male lead? BUT NO. Her acting was superb, and despite being a psychopath, she was raised by her grandma who integrated strict rules that helped her keep her morals in check and her apathy only added to the humor of her bickering-to-lovers relationship with our genie. Kim Woo Bin, our said genie🧞‍♂️, is also amazing in this. His character is "Satan" so technically he has no remorse or care for humans, but the gradual affection he forms for Suzy is witty yet admirable-- especially later on, when he really shows his versatility as an actor with his heartbreaking acting. Bravo!

The humor of our writer was also a key factor that had me entertained throughout. Kim Eun Sook is one of Korea's most famous drama screenwriters, and the drama references her past works like. Goblin, Secret Garden, Heirs and The Glory in such an amusing way you really don't realize what's happening until something pops up and makes you laugh out loud👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. She includes references to "brands" like "Disney, Marvel, Netflix" and hints at others like "Micky Mouse, Hyun Bin from Secret Garden" in subtle ways that are really fun to identify if you know. Definitely helped ease the tension from some of the harder topics the drama focuses on.

There's a great balance of happy, sad, love, heartbreak, etc. throughout. Obviously the last few episodes will have its devastating realization (I don't remember the last time I cried so hard in a kdrama, Suzy's acting is phenomenal) only to build up to the real ending. If you want to know whether it's a happy or sad ending... give it a watch! I'm so glad I did🥰

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Heartwarming comedy

Previously, I dropped this series halfway through because of one moment that I found cringe in the end of the episode 4.
But I'm quite happy with my choice to come back because in the end it was worth it.

I loved the acting and the chemistry between characters.
I also really liked two girl side characters who were shipping our main couple from the start, even though they barely had any screen time I still loved them.

I want to say that I haven't read this manga before, so I don't have much to go off here when judging this series.
First thing that I found a bit weird is that how they made Kaneda some kind of creep with shrine for his “god” and other strange moment's. It felt kinda odd, and that was one of the things that made drop it in the first place before.
I also think the characters could've had better communicating skills because sadly they acted like two teenagers who got their first ever crush and don't know how to behave.
Another thing is that we got almost no actual romance, especially since the series ends right after them confessing to each other. So we didn't really get to enjoy any moments of them as a couple.

Overall, it's a quite cute and funny office romance. It was not bad, maybe even good, but they definitely had so much chances to make it much better.

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Ms. Incognito: Survival in Disguise

🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes, especially for the suspenseful cliffhangers.
✨ What would you risk if your only chance at survival meant living a lie?

📕 Overview
🔹 16 episodes: romance, thriller, suspense
🔹 At review time, 3 episodes have aired
🔹 Jeon Yeo Been stars as Kim Yeong Ran, a bodyguard from a poor background who enters a contract marriage and faces great danger.
🔹 Jinyoung as Jeon Dong Min: a strawberry farmer and single father who can’t quite trust Bu Se Mi, adding tension to their every encounter.
🔹 Moon Sung Keun as Ga Sung Ho: the terminally ill chaebol chairman whose revenge plan sets everything in motion
🔹 Jang Yoon Ju as Ga Sun Young: the determined daughter of a ruthless stepmother, intent on eliminating Yeong Ran.
🔹 Yeong Ran is thrust into a survival game with three conditions: stay hidden for three months, keep her Bu Se Mi identity secret, and cast a crucial vote in a power struggle.
🔹 Perfect if you like dramas that layer suspense, romance, and emotional high stakes

🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 The initial episodes resemble a chase, with every silent moment concealing a hidden threat.
🔹The overall feeling conveyed is one of tension, emotion, and addiction.
🔹 Betrayal, survival, second chances, and love under pressure are evident in every scene.
🔹 It reminded me of The Trunk (2024) for its secrets of contract marriage, and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023–2024) for how identity itself can unravel.

✨ Cast & Acting
🔹 Jeon Yeo Been provides Kim Yeong Ran with strength and a survival instinct, along with moments of genuine fear.
🔹 Jinyoung brings a sense of suspicion mixed with warmth to his role as a father.
🔹 Moon Sung Keun and Jang Yoon Ju create intense tension as formidable rivals.
🔹 Seo Hyun Woo portrays lawyer Lee Don, who contributes to every escape.
🔹 The supporting characters ensure that both the village and chaebol storylines remain engaging by adding elements of humor and suspense.

🎵 OST
🔹 “Born Again” by Hajin (하진)
🔹 “Born Again (Instrumental)” by Hajin (하진)

🎞️ Production Style
I liked how the director and team’s choices gave each setting its own personality:
🔹 Wardrobe is a visual shorthand: darker, worn clothing for Yeong Ran as opposed to Bu Se Mi’s soft pastels
🔹 Sleek chaebol interiors use marble and shadows, while the village is bright and open
🔹 Lighting moves from shadows in the mansion to airy kindergartens and strawberry fields
🔹 Cool, muted color grading in corporate scenes; warmer, earthy tones outdoors
🔹 Cinematography alternates tight, suspenseful framing with wide, peaceful shots
🔹 Editing is brisk, with clean transitions, keeping suspense sharp
🔹 Pacing is fast and driven by cliffhangers, made for binge watching

☕ Tea Notes
🔹 What worked: the pacing, strong chemistry among the cast, and clever twists in the survival game concept
🔹 What didn’t: some quick emotional swings feel rushed
🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes
☕ SpillTheDramaTea’s Rating: 10/10
🌿 Tea-Scale: Bold brew, suspenseful aftertaste
✏️ I liked how each scene left the viewer wondering: is survival built on trust, or on secrets?
✨ If you had to hide your true self for three months, how far would you go to keep the mask in place?

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This drama has made be feel all the emotions_ Truly a masterpiece

I watched The Untamed for the first time in September 2025 with no knowledge of what it was about (I know, I’m very late to the game), and I can confidently say , this drama made me feel every possible emotion. It’s truly a masterpiece.

Like all the other reviews says, the plot and pretty much everything else is epic. This show makes you question what is good and what is bed. It makes you question how far will you go to defend your what you believe in_ Overall, a masterpiece.

While the story mainly revolves around Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian and many consider their relationship to be the most tragic because they never got the chance to openly be together — for me, the most heartbreaking relationship in the show was between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian.
My review is mostly about Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian.

It physically pained my heart (I’m not even exaggerating) to see how their bond fell apart, how they never had the chance to communicate properly, and how years of love, loyalty, and misunderstanding turned into distance and resentment. The worst part is that I can’t even blame anyone. Jiang Cheng had every right to be angry.

What frustrates me deeply is how his pain and trauma are often overlooked because of his temper. But in my eyes, Jiang Cheng is the one who suffered the most. He lost his parents on the same day in the most brutal way imaginable, then lost his home, his sister, and finally his brother — the same brother who had once promised they would always stay together. In vain.

I could go on and on about how unfairly Jiang Cheng was treated, but you get the picture. The Untamed is an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, loss, and redemption. It’s a show that leaves an ache in your chest long after it ends — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Não vejo nenhum motivo para tantas notas baixas

Só consigo imaginar que as notas baixas tem algum motivo pessoal muito além da história! Uma comédia romântica engraçada, divertida, uma história original e um casal lindo cheio de química.

Apesar de ser descrita como psicopata, a personagem da Suzy é mais para alguém com bloqueio emocional, você vê os sentimentos nela, mas ela não consegue expor e nem mesmo entender na maioria das vezes, a não ser a raiva que ela carrega. Mas é isso que torna a trama engraçada!

Já o Woo Bin está mais charmoso do que nunca, um demônio que por amor se rende a Deus. uma história sobre família, amizade e sobre os nossos desejos e suas consequências.

Na verdade, tem tanta coisa que poderia ser dito sobre esse assunto, sobre egoísmo, sobre ética, sobre responsabilidade, sobre inveja que daria para escrever um livro.

Vejam!

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More Kim So Hyun Please

The story follows Kim So Hyun as Princess Pyeong Gang. First, Kim So Hyun was phenomenal in her role. I can't say enough good things about her performance. This also goes for her character which was so incredibly interesting. Princess Pyeong Gang is everything that I could want out of a character. She is very capable as a fighter, and she has emotional depth. She also is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family and country, even at the cost of herself. This leads her to come across as very authentic.

This brings me to one of the best parts of the story and where this series is somewhat unique. Pyeong Gang has agency. In so many of these stories with a strong FL, the story undermines her by having her saved and/or protected by the ML. Here, the FL gets herself out of trouble when needed, and that is so refreshing to have character consistency.

The ML is also a good character. He does undergo a somewhat unbelievable powerup, but he never fully outshines the FL. He also doesn't have her cunning and ruthlessness. He's more of a traditional hero, which provided a nice balance to their characters.

Several other characters play a major role, and all of them are interesting. The antagonists all have believable motivations that raise the stakes and makes the protagonist's journey all the more intriguing.

The ending was one area that I think was too easy. I won't spoil anything, but I think that it was a missed opportunity.

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Love it and Hate it

The Long Ballad is a story about a talented princess and her growth over the course of 49 episodes. Her journey starts out as one seeking revenge, and then it develops into something more. She is both the central figure of the story, and the highlight of it.

The story begins by portraying her as very talented both in martial arts and strategy. It would be easy to describe her as even being a little too perfect. It quickly humanizes her though, displaying her naivety and ignorance of the world. She is talented and smart, but she is not invincible or all knowing. Her journey forces her to face many hardships and grow as an individual as she faces the realities of common people.

Overall Princess Changge is an intriguing character, and Dilraba Dilmurat does a fine job in the role.

The negatives with this show are entirely related to the completely perfect male lead. In fact, calling him perfect is too modest. He's the best at martial arts, archery, strategy, cunning, courage, care for others, etc...He's so perfect that it is barely an inconvenience for him to go out of his way to save to FL no matter the circumstances. He has a lot going for him, but essentially he is a 1-dimensional character. That 1 dimension is perfection.

Consequently, the Long Ballad is the story of Changge and her journey. The story tells us that we should expect a lot out of her, but then it FREQUENTLY presents opportunities to put her in danger that only the ML can save her from.

The romance also fell flat. Part of this is related to how perfect the ML was, but there also just was not a lot of chemistry between the two characters. I started to dread any scene that featured both leads together.

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Loved it !! Worth the watch. Definitely go for it

This drama was so good. The leads did an excellent job. One of my favourite Jdramas.
This is a love story about 2 lonely souls. It's not about passion or sexual attraction here, only love and deep connection between 2 fated persons who recognised themselves as soulmates among the human crowd. Despite that there were many sweet and heart fluttering moments.
Every character had a personal growth, the story is unfold carefully, you can feel their love and affection grow and everything make sense. This drama teaches you that you must love and respect yourself before being loved. That you must fight against the odds and the obstacles and free yourself from the others judgement to be happy.
Learning how to write and learning how to free yourself to learn to love...

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Confusing, Aviation comercial meets Aladdin meets Korea

I honestly do not really know how to rate this or how to review it... I find the religious/cultural/Psycopath parts confusing, very confusing and not in a good way but more of a is this okay, should I be watching this with a clear conscious, should this have been made at all? Then again I loved Aladdin as a kid.

I do like the leads and their characters. I like several of the side characters.

Kim Woo Bins smile and charm is worth at least 2 extra stars, and so is the look of death on Bae Suzys face. And yes I may bit a bit bias to the two.

As far as plot and drama its not really bad or anything it does have its good moments of sweet and adorable. It does have some low humour but also some decent humour here and there but it gets to be a bit draggy and is just not enough to keep me on my toes or very interested as I find the most interesting part of the plot to be how many flights between Korea and Dubai can one fit in the course of 13 episodes? As well as long for the dessert, not so much for finding a Genie but more sun and sand is so pretty. So I guess the Emirates PPL did make its way in to my mind.

If you are a fan of the leads and the makers of this show you may find yourself questioning your choices of fandom both if you choose to watch or not watch it.

As for those who are not really fans of any of the leads Id say nee, you can find better dramas in the stream...

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This Drama started strong but had too many issues to ignore

A drama that started strong with a clear antagonist, storyline and two attractive leads, ends disappointing and kind of sad. With all the good reviews I feel kind of bad for not being able to relate, but regardless, here we are.

Before we begin, I just want to clarify that this is my opinion and I'm not here to start a war (but different opinions are welcome). I can and will be brutally honest but it's all lighthearted! MANY SPOILERS AHEAD so please read AFTER you finish this review or at least if you have no interest in watching it! This will be long so let's get right into it! let's keep this discussing respectful and fun.

The Good
Best travels - fox clan (and the love story) and outlanders
Even though I mention this slightly in "The Bad" the first times they traveled, I really enjoyed watching that. It was interesting to watch them travel around. I really liked when they got sucked into the cave and Bai Shuo was the fox clan girl. And I think we can all agree that Fan Yue with the black tips was his best look--- I still miss it. Even though it eventually got old, it helped with the story and kept me interested for a good minute.

Best love: Xing Yue/ Jing Yuan (could've been Tian Huo/Mu Jiu) "She's not here so I no longer have a reason to still be here." - He Died so he could go and find her! :(((

Jing Yuan supremacy for life. I loved Xing Yue and Jing Yuan's love story. I especially loved how in love he was with her. I loved when he came back in Fan Yue's body and talked about how much he wanted Bai Shuo and Xing Yue to be the same person. I loved it! The whole storyline of them up until their death was beautiful.

Mu Jiu's death was the most painful
I loved Mu Jiu! I was so heartbroken to see him die. I really enjoyed his character and I was looking forward to some relationship building scenes with Tian Huo. His death scene was the saddest death scene and I just loved when he ran back towards her to hug her once more only to disappear. Even though I had some notes on their relationship and how the scene could've hit better (down below), it was such a beautifully heartbreaking scene to see her turn around right as he disappeared. Just beautiful.

The Bad
Too much death - everybody died
I think one of the biggest shocks in the drama was how every single side character (and the male lead for a bit) died. I get that they died for a reason but it was kind of a letdown that in the final episodes, everyone just starts dropping like flies. It's like one by one, they sacrifice themselves for the Bai Shuo's mission. I kind of figured this wasn't gonna end on the happiest note but I wasn't expecting her to be the last one standing. I think because they all died (and around the same time), I felt more confusion than I did sadness. I wish at least Fu Ling and Chong Zhao lived so they could be together. And I don't think it would've hurt to keep Tian Huo alive. Even the male lead got killed off-- which actually made sense but still. Nobody was safe and while it was a bold move, I'm still not sure if it was the right one.

Overdone "Wolf in sheep's clothing"
I feel like the "bad guy who's actually just misunderstood" persona has gotten kind of old. Everyone feared him and thought he was a monster when he was the most caring guy around. Been there. He's so kind and caring yet cold for whatever reason. Done that. Since this has been done since the beginning of "bad boy" romances and stories, it's boring now. It also doesn't even make sense. All he does is create a safe place for orphans and wonderers and yet nobody in any other kingdom knows about that? We barely saw any flashbacks of him looking evil so where did the prejudice come from? How did nobody he helped tell anyone else about his kindness? He's so dangerous but has never done anything that bad and it was all to help puppies and kittens. Cute but we get it. I wish for once the bad guy was just bad. He's got his reputation for a reason. He's cold simply because he's a cold guy. I don't understand how someone so kind and caring would be so stand-offish to everyone else.

A little long
Anyone else find the drama unnecessarily long? I don't mind watching a long drama but only if it's necessary. I thought the whole point of the drama was for Fan Yue to be healed from the star curse he had on his chest. So once that plot ended (he died I think, I watched this a while ago so I don't exactly remember), the show should've reached it's close. But then we have Jing Yuan and adding extra bits that weren't really necessary. So much death and whatnot could've been avoided if they stuck with the original plot. Don't get me wrong, they did successfully add this part in and it didn't feel all that random, but I can't help but wonder if this drama would've turned out better had they left it out.

Love wasn't developed enough - Fan Yue/ Bai Shuo and Tian Huo/ Mu Jiu
If you've read any of my other reviews, you would know that I love properly developed love tropes with the leads. Here, we didn't really get that. At All. Episode 1 they meet and by episode 3 or 4 he's already questioning whether or not he cares about her for his purpose or because he genuinely has feelings for her. What? How did we get here? I thought they were gonna have like nightly chats on that phone-thing when she went to work with the turtle, but that was only for the one day. The beginning of their relationship felt a bit disconnected especially with how much Fan Yue looked down on humans at the beginning. It didn't make sense how someone who looked down on humans so harshly would then fall in love with one in the next two - three episodes. I wish we saw then fall in love, whether through nightly calls, or whatever. While I did like the way they loved each other and how deeply they loved each other, I didn't like how it started.

Let's move on to the biggest disappointing relationship in the show: Tian Huo and Mu Jiu. This was another relationship where the love felt disconnected. He fell for her because she saved him and then stuck around for like a month after before he died. My biggest issue is that final scene when he's hugging her before he disappears. Usually when you ask someone what they'll do without you in certain situations, it's because you've helped them before in those situations. For example, he goes on to ask her what she'd do without him when she's mad, sad, scared, etc. but he was never there for her before. So she'd just do the same things she did before. Do you get what I'm trying to say? In other words, she wouldn't necessarily acknowledge his absence in those moments because he's never been there for her in those moments. I wish they formed a bond where he actually WAS there for her in those moments so we understand his questions. Maybe when she's sad, he's the only one who she allows to comfort her or make her laugh. Maybe when she's angry, he's the only one who can calm her down and stop her from raging out. And so on and so forth. His death was sad because I actually liked him but I wasn't really sad for her and their relationship. She also barely showed any interest in him (which makes sense granted they just met and she never thought much of him in the first place) so it also weakens the sadness in his final scene. They should've had more time together so their love could feel real and we could've felt more heartbroken. Instead we're left feeling a bit awkward watching a scene that's supposed to break our hearts.

So much jumping - kind of lost the plot
this was kind of mentioned above but it still needs its own part. Don't get me wrong, when they were traveling to different places, it was entertaining at first. But after a while, it became a lot. It became, kind of, too much. After episode 25, I forgot what the whole point of the show even was. Since each place had a different issue, it was hard to keep track of what's really going on. It kind of felt like watching a really long anime where they travel to different parts of the world and do whatever. This isn't a major point and not that big of a deal but I just remember being at episode 32 and just wanting the drama to be over already.

The aging was weird
This is another small point but anybody else thought he was like hundreds to thousands of years old? I certainly did. So when I realised he was probably around the same age as Bai Shuo (a human), I was a little disappointed. When they went to that dessert place that Tian Huo was from, it didn't hit the same when they said that they hadn't held their "games" (i don't remember exactly what it's called) in 7 years. 7 years. that's it. That's not even a long time in human years (not really). I was kind of expecting everyone to be hundreds of years old but they were all in their 20s and 30s. That made the fantasy part dim a bit. It's not a big deal, like I said, but it would've been better if they aged them up. Everything he went through happened in all our lifetimes (minus a few years for the younger ones) and must've happened quite fast. I thought that he got his curse after centuries of trying, not a couple years at best.

Zhen Yu's death was disappointing
The biggest letdown in this entire drama was the antagonists death. He caused nothing but chaos and was just about unstoppable... only to sacrifice himself. His big demise was him willingly getting his life sucked out for the other dude. It was so incredibly disappointing to see him cause such issues and not be defeated by Fan Yue and Bai Shuo. We missed out on such a good fight scene because of that. He was so incredibly unstoppable that him willingly stopping actually kind of hurt.

And Yeah. that's kind of it. Keep in mind I watched this months ago so this review isn't as specific (I've been procrastinating). But what did you think? all the comments seem to love this so it'd be interesting to see if anyone agrees with anything I mentioned.

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Pretty top RULES

First mpreg by an alpha and an omega respectively. GOAT. I have watched a lot of shows, read a lot of with masculine top and hyper feminine bottoms. Seeing Hua Yong being manipulative, pretty face, and dominant, not to mention, an enigma, is chef kiss to me. The stereotype of big, tall, masculine men is the top needs a break!!! We need more pretty tops because the way you dress, the way you act, how you look doesn’t define your role in bed lol. I’m talking a lot about a bedroom dynamic here because some people on Facebook or Tiktok still reinforce the same stereotypical on the leads which is just tone deaf and dumb. Overall, I love the series.

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Consistently Inconsistent

Many reviews will mention the growth that the titular character goes through, and they are right. Fu Yao starts as essentially a weak slave girl who grows into something more.

Unfortunately there is an inconsistency with that growth. She is shown to have great potential and goes through a powerup of sorts. After this powerup she is shown to be incredible impressive and easily defeats several prominent characters. Not long after this, she is forced to face off against some of these same characters that she easily subdued previously, and suddenly she needs one of the ML's to come save her. This is a prominent theme throughout the show as the story tells us how much potential she has while constantly showing us something else. She frequently needs rescuing by others, leaving a constant question "if she is so strong, why does someone always save her?". It's not all bad, as she does occasionally show signs of having her own agency, but there is a lot of forced vulnerability onto her character that doesn't fit the narrative.

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