Reviews

Catch Me if You Can

It all started with NT Life Insurance Service’s employer Na Jaehee who was trying to collect some merit by proving a high-paying claimant case as suicide to forfeit its payment. She hired her senior in the force, ex police who was wasting her life playing videogames, Koo Kyungyi to investigate. KKY was enticed by the computer set offered by NJH, thus agreed to set out from her home and look into it. The trip that was supposed to turn a missing person case into suicide proved to harbour a more complicated story, which led them to a series of suspicious deaths that KKY believed to be perpertrated by a serial killer. As she and her team chased after this killer before they commit the next murder, they were plunged into a deeper plot that was related to KKY’s past.

Lee Young Ae looks undeniably marvelous as a woman in her 50s, they could barely hide her beauty even by making her act as a slob. Lee Young Ae definitely nailed it as the eccentric ex police inspector turned into a waste Koo Kyungyi, always dressed in colourful bright sweatpants, baggy T-shirt with loose collar due to overstretching, and oversized dark overcoat, coupled with messy, smelly hair which makes up to her unkempt appearance. She really looked like a total waste, spending all day and night drinking and playing videogames when she was not out investigating. It’s a real different look cuz i have always seen Lee Young Ae act as an elegant beauty. Despite her appearance, KKY is a very sharp investigator who literally thinks a dozen steps ahead of the criminal, even when she met her almost-match Song Yikyung, a young adult with super twisted mind whose sole purpose is to kill those who deserved it. This character is way from perfect, she can’t really fight even when her life depends on it, she is frequently physically overpowered by Song Yikyung whenever they crossed paths, and she doesnt come out unscratched from any fights. All those ‘ouching’ and ‘owwing’ whenever she strained herself physically seem so relatable to reality. She is not formidable in all aspects like most heroes in a story, but she pulls through everytime relying on pure survival instincts, clumsy as it may be.

The one who played Song Yikyung successfully embodied the total emotional wreck serial killer, who literally has no friends but those who owed to her when she killed for them. On the surface, Song Yikyung looked like a happy go lucky young woman, although lost her parents at a very young age, she was raised with all the love she could be given by her maternal Aunt. A natural loner, her aunt had always worried that she would tumble down the rabbit hole. Intelligent as she is, she proved to be KKY’s match as they keep ouwitting each other.

Somehow it is hard to see actors with poor performance in kdrama. From all that i saw (though cant say i watch many kdrama), their acting performance is always exceptional and top notch, with the only downside being the plot and the written character itself if i ever had to rate lower. The same goes to Inspector Koo. Everyone performed exceptionally well even the smallest part on screen. The songs are very catchy and kinda got stuck in my head (yeah im gonna add it to my running playlist).

One of the other thing that impressed me about kdrama is they do not have any qualm about hiring actors in late 40s or 50s as their lead cast. It’s great to see these great actors still donning the leading hat and not find them only in supporting or guest roles, especially Lee Young Ae who remained in my heart for so long after Jewel in the Palace.

Read More

Queen Mantis (사마귀: 살인자의 외출) is an intense and dark psychological crime thriller, a remake of the French hit La Mante. The story follows Jung Yi-shin (masterfully portrayed by Go Hyun-jung), a notorious killer known as “The Mantis,” who was convicted for brutally murdering five men. Decades later, a series of crimes with Yi-shin’s same modus operandi forces the police to seek her help in catching the “copycat killer.”

Yi-shin’s condition for cooperation is simple yet devastating: she will only speak to Detective Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon), who happens to be her son, a man who has spent his entire life hating and rejecting his mother. The plot unfolds into a tense psychological game between mother and son as they hunt down a new killer while unearthing old traumas.

Veteran actress Go Hyun-jung delivers one of the year’s most memorable and chilling performances. Her Jung Yi-shin is calm, controlling, and enigmatic. The scenes where she describes her crimes with cold, sadistic pleasure are the centerpiece of the series, constantly heightening the tension.

At the heart of the drama lies the twisted relationship between mother and son. The series explores Cha Soo-yeol’s deep inner conflict as he is forced to work with the very person who ruined his life, all while battling the fear of inheriting her darkness. This love-hate dynamic is intense and profoundly captivating.

Queen Mantis is not for everyone. It is a raw thriller with a grim atmosphere. The series sustains a high level of suspense, filled with unexpected twists and a strong focus on the psychological aspects of crime. It also addresses very dark themes such as murder, abuse, and childhood trauma.

Queen Mantis is a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers and dark psychological dramas. If you’re looking for a story that dares to explore the blurry line between maternal love and criminal madness—while keeping you on the edge of your seat with an unforgettable lead—this is definitely the drama to watch.

Read More

Neko is the only reason I don't regret watching this series.

Most GL series either have good, satisfactory, or poor production values. But in my opinion, Roller Coaster excels in the production aspects. It’s not just about the cinematography, but also good visual storytelling and seamless editing. Kantana Post really lives up to its reputation. I also like the well-balanced ambient sound and good audio mixing, which most series usually don't pay close attention to. The only technical thing I’m not a fan of is the driving scenes VFX. I wish they could do the actual car tracking shot to give more emotional depth to the scenes as most of the scenes look floating and distracted.

In the acting department, Pundao and Shelly, being newcomers, did okay, and there’s still room for improvement in the future. Pundao still needs a lot of practice, as her dialogue delivery sounds pretty rigid. But I personally think Neko deserved a standing ovation for her performance as Air. She ate and left no crumbs. She nailed every action and emotion so effectively, especially with her expressive eyes, whether it's happy or heavy scenes. She really brings nuance to this series with her performance alone—no fan service, no hype. NEKO NAERUNCHARA LERTPRASERT... SHE'S PURE TALENT. #TeamAir. Without her, this series would certainly feels bland. I think Neko is the one doing most of the heavy lifting but getting less recognition. And Roller Coaster is one of very few GL series with a good male character we can root for.

Now the storylines/plots. I've read the book and there were some chapters and parts that I don't quite like, especially with the 'harmless flirting' that’s pretty much predictable that it will lead somewhere. Whether it's morally right or wrong, let's leave the argument for another space and time. But in the series, while I still dislike those parts and there’s something about the changes that put me off a bit, the plots flow at a nice pace until the end. Pacharawan Chaipuwarat's script manages to bring the book to life, but with some changes that did not quite impress me. And I’m never one to care about NC scenes and the hype, and I believe those scenes or the execution don't define the quality of a series, so it won’t even affect my rating one bit.

Honestly, this series really surprised me by how well it's been made, plus a good main OST, but still not up to 'the best' or 'outstanding' just yet for me to rate it higher. It feels good soaking in the great visuals and production quality; I would give a 9 for production quality alone, but that’s not the case here. Overall, while it’s a well-produced GL series, it's still lacking in some areas.

Read More

Girl pretends to be boy, shoots lots of guns

This is the first Republican drama I watched, and I found it so interesting to see the portrayal of China in the 1910s. I know the image of the West (or at least America) during this era, and it was fascinating to see those influences in China of the time.

To be honest, I didn’t think this costume/hair/makeup styling was the most flattering for anyone, either male or female. But still interesting. And for me, seeing the costumes, sets, and culture of 1910s China was actually the highlight of this drama. I thought everything else about it was just ok.

As others have mentioned, a big portion of the story is fluff. It’s largely about Xie Xiang, the FL, navigating life in the academy as she pretends to be a boy.

Xie Xiang is sensible and likable enough, and it’s easy to root for her. It’s fun to watch a strong female lead overcome odds with hard work and tenacity. I also like that she doesn’t have some grand patriotic goal; instead, her motivation for doing this difficult thing seems to be more just being lost, confused, and sad, which is a lot more relatable.

That said, it’s completely unrealistic that she would be able to pull it off, and they get around this by just glossing over all the details. We never find out how she passes the entrance medical exam; her wardrobe/wig transitions happen lightning fast, often with no place to change; she somehow survives training by overtraining; etc. The whole thing is less impressive because it’s too fake.

As for the male leads... well, I could not stand Gu Yanzhen. He reminded me of every single annoying guy in my life, it was almost triggering. I don’t think he’s a poorly written character- he has a distinct personality rather than generic hero. He just hit too close to home for me. His self-centered, irresponsible, and/or love-brain behavior made me so angry, and the worst was when the FL actually seemed to like it. No joke, I took a year-long break near the end of this show because I found him so frustrating.

I was on Team Shen Junshan all the way, but unfortunately, I already knew from reviews who is ML and who is SML. Well, at least this character is fairly mature and not frustrating to watch, and he stays in the game for a long time.

Qu Manting is listed as a lead too, but I don’t think she's as central. This show has lots of characters like her who have their own stories, which I think is nice, because then if you don’t like one there’s always the others. Plus, real life is more like that- everyone is the star of their own story. As for Manting herself, I found her sometimes admirable but mostly annoying.

While momentous world events are happening, our leads and their friends are preoccupied by a ridiculous number of love triangles. Love triangles are not my favorite, but I found it entertaining enough. It’s at least not that stressful. The students do have some military exercises, but they are low stress due to heavy plot armor. It feels kind of like a video game, the way they mow down NPCs but nobody with a name ever gets shot.

The last 10 or so episodes are when things start to get serious. There are lots of gunshots and explosions. After being coddled by fluff for so long, I didn’t quite enjoy this. I also liked Xie Xiang a lot less near the end, partly because she’s dating a loser, but maybe also partly because she becomes less important- she just doesn’t do as much to help herself or those around her.

That said, while I was not too enamored by the plot as a whole, I did enjoy the side character friends. The other students at the academy, for instance, don’t always play huge roles, but it’s fun to watch their banter and camaraderie. My favorite, though, is probably Tan Xiaojun, Xie Xiang’s best friend. Xiaojun is not particularly special or heroic, but she’s a good friend, and that’s all most of us can strive for in our own lives.

Acting-wise, everyone is praising Xu Kai... well, I guess he did a good job, but I was too busy being annoyed by his character to notice. I thought everyone did fine.

I very much liked the background music to this show, which is heavy on piano and solo violin. It’s quite lovely and fits in with the mood and period. The actual songs aren’t used very much, which on the one hand is good because it means fewer cheesy filler scenes, but on the other hand seems like a shame- I really liked that second closing.

As a final note, I was afraid there would be lots of propaganda, since we’re seeing China on a modern-ish world stage. And there was indeed a lot of patriotic talk and nationalistic pride, especially towards the end. But mostly this is still a show that’s meant to entertain. It’s historical fiction, telling the story of a group of people as the world moves and shakes around them.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





There are three hard-hitting deaths as we approach the end. Probably carefully chosen for emotional impact. Everyone else gets to keep their plot armor, including several heavily injured people who somehow escape from an exploding building.

The wrap-up only lasts maybe 5 minutes, so it’s no wonder that not everyone is covered satisfactorily. Most disappointing, our lead couple literally goes walking off into the sunset, no indication to where. Well, I didn’t like them that much anyways, I guess. At least Shen Junshan seems to turn out ok.

Read More

Ice Cream - f(x)

This is probably the best gl series ever, I can't even make ts up. The story is so good; I read the book and kind of wish there were some parts from the book into the series, which they did in a way, but just certain parts. The acting is genuinely the greatest thing ever, no kizz. The way Namtan is able to perform twins just shows how good her acting. The way I can tell who's Oom and who's Ai is just crazy because irl i can't even tell my friends apart sometimes. Same goes towards Film, I truly believed she was blind and she is such a cutie as well. The series itself is perfect, the music, acting, story, it is all so perfect. I just rewatched it again and it's just good. I think this was the first gl series (not just thai gl) where I was locked in and didn't get cringed out plus no weird scenes or anyone getting taken advantaged of. It's ranked high for a reason, truly so beautiful and can not wait for more projects. I love you NamtanFilm. Also I lowks cried a lot because their acting was just too good, especially Film's in that one scene.

Read More

The best thai gl I've watched till date.

I will confess I love to start watching thai gl's but can never bring myself to finish them because most times I find them to be overly dramatic or unrealistic. To this date the only thai gl I had watched completely was The secret of Us until Rollercoaster came.

It totally took the bar for thai gl's to a whole new dimension. I really loved everything from the story,cinematography, the music and finally the absolutely amazing cast. All the things in the story were managed with so much care and attention to detail. I never felt a moment of discomfort watching it.

The series was highly emotional and deeply satisfyingly aptly named Rollercoaster. I would love to see more stories from this team (the production and cast). I'm so glad I could be a part of this wonderful ride from start to finish. This is my first time commenting on a series ever and I am doing this because I really hope more people can find this drama and give it a chance.

Please give Rollercoaster a chance you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Read More

Men who say they will protect...

This drama is dark, tragic, and sophisticated—cinematic in its pacing, slow and deliberate, with a melancholic atmosphere. The story is compelling, though it could have benefited from a tighter episode count. Still, its orderly rhythm suits the tone.
As for the characters, He Ye stands out as a hypocrite. The conflict began because he broke the rules, and then his parents—suddenly consumed by ancestral ambition—led a brutal slaughter of a peaceful neighboring tribe. Their tribe was punished, and rightly so. Yet after his own people are wiped out, He Ye turns his vengeance toward the Muyun family. But didn’t they just annihilate the Suqin clan moments earlier? If that was justified, then so is this. His moral compass feels selectively applied.
Muru Shuo, on the other hand, is a portrait of blind loyalty gone wrong. Yu Xin Ji did what Muru Shuo should have—he actually tried to protect both the Muru clan and the empire, which was a surprising and admirable move. Muru Shuo, despite his reputation, fails to protect his soldiers, his sons, his wife, even the emperor. He clings to honor but takes no real action to uphold it. In my eyes, he’s more ornamental than effective.
Muyun Sheng, Han Jiang, and Su Yu Ning represent something different—a path toward destruction and eventual rebirth. Sheng follows his own priorities, Han Jiang is manipulated because his family offers him no protection, and Su Yu Ning stands at the edge of transformation. These three feel like the seeds of a new world.
But He Ye and Muru Shuo? They’re relics of a broken system—frustrating, self-righteous, and ultimately hollow.

Read More

Refreshingly creative

I loved, loved this show. Refreshingly creative and very funny. Loved the actors and the young, happy vibes, creative, positive energy of this C drama. It had lots of funny scenes, like when the FL begins the snowboarding lessons ( reminded me of myself when I started learning skiing). I was laughing out loud throughout the movie, very funny/hilarious scenes. I also loved the cartoonish characters at the end of each episode, extremely creative. The scenery/photography was superb and the music perfect for the scenes. I also really liked the customs, stylish, latest styles. This is one of the best C dramas I have seen, perfect to cheer you up and put you in a sunny/happy mood. Bravo!!! Thank you for giving us this fantastic entertainment. Definitely a 10 rewatch value.

Read More

loved it

I started this one three times and kept dropping it. then someone on a fb page told me to keep going because it will be really good.
i’m so glad I did! it was amazing. I wasn’t really a fan of the goddess but that was mostly the role she was playing. the actress is better as a evil character than something like this. i just couldn’t go past her powder throwing nonsense. then in another scene everyone fights for their life. everyone is bleeding and almoat dead and she pulls out the recorder and bam she wins. wth was that?! but justifies learning that instrument in elementary school.
the demons….omg! one more handsome than the other. Neo Hou…. he was perfect! he was everything and without him I don’t think the drama would have been this remarkable! Yan An… first time I saw him in a drama and I thought daaaaamn I do have a type and it’s that one right there! he was fabulous! he was seriously hot and evil and you couldn’t decide if you want to murder or smooch him. the music was amazing. especially Liu Yunings part of the ost. but he can’t do anything wrong. the martial art was captivating and the dialogue interesting and entertaining! this is a 10/10 from me and I will definitely rewatch it. i just wish they would make another special episode to see this amazing demon reborn and reunited with everyone! the bromance was almost better then the romance in this one. a real masterpiece

Read More

Darkness in the Light

‒Spoiler Free Review‒

I had heard rave reviews of The Bad Kids as one of the best crime dramas. And by the end of the show, I could see what a meticulously crafted story this was. And after reading additional commentary and analysis, I realized all the intricate layers and themes that made this so talked about. So be sure to watch all the way to the end, and then some‒as that's when the mental marination and perhaps rewatch begins.

‒Slightly Spoily Review‒

In terms of timing, I picked up TBK after having watched several very solid, though less acclaimed mystery/thrillers, and partly wanted to calibrate against the best of the best. While the viewing experience was fast and gripping, it was tempered with a nagging disappointment as many of the characters seemed too naive, and some of the actions didn't quite make sense. But when the story ended, I realized that the show had pulled a fast one, and that the oddities are the deliberate result of an unreliable narrator, which TBK only revealed in the final scene.

After reading several excellent analysis, I came to realize the genius of the show. Just as the scariest villains put on the most deceptive camouflage, the storytelling amplifies it on a meta level by showing how we are easily hoodwinked in the end. While it's evident that our unreliable narrator had taken a dark turn at some point, it's even scarier to ponder at what point did that happen. We are shown clues of the fairy tales about the events and the world. But what about the mental planning of our narrator? Given the inherent unreliability, I'm left wondering whether much of the extended engagement with Zhao Dongsheng was a meticulous plot to use a borrowed knife.

--Update--
Upon watching some more analysis, especially on the even darker book version of the story, it seems our narrator was indeed puppeteering much of decisions throughout the story. The book is so disturbing and harrowing--think Dexter--that there was no way it passes review in China. So kudos to the team for this adaptation that tells a very coherent story, while still hinting at the darker secrets. I would have probably enjoyed the book version much more, as the reveal would hit much harder. Though I suspect it would be too psychologically perturbing for most people and this version would be the preferred version for most people.

This is also the reason why I've rated TBK highly but not even higher. My biggest issue with the show is that 95% of the story is the sanitized, naivified version told through our unreliable narrator. While the show introduces plenty of psychologically eerie elements throughout, I still spent much of the show mildly frustrated that the kids seem innocently nonchalant about dealing with a merciless serial killer and even trusting/sympathizing with him at various junctures. On the other hand, the book version sounds like a terrifying escape through a haunted house, before being snatched into the infinite abyss of mind-breaking hell.

--Reflection--

The thematic element that was the most notable for me was the fairy tale, which has two layers. One layer is the darkness of the human heart that allows us to lie to ourselves and pretend we have a clean conscience even as we pursue wicked deeds. This is evident in the show.

The other layer is the the willingness of people to believe in the fairy tales. While this was mostly shown as benign innocence, I wonder if this is actually the most pernicious fairy tale of them all. Evil occurs because of evildoers. But evildoers triumph and proliferate because the gentle, kind, complacent masses like to believe in their own version of the fairy tale‒that by indulging in spotless conscience of good intentions, one is not complicit in allowing evil to roam free. Admittedly, this is not directly emphasized in the story, but is my extrapolation. But as scandals flood the news, foundations of societies crack and crumble, and preventable tragedies flood the world, I'm forced to confront this fairy tale as the most damning of them all.

If anything, the first half of 2020s has shown that the media and conventional narratives are also an extremely unreliable narrator. Yet even as gaping fissures emerge and people's prior assumptions and lives are turned upside down, so many still cling to delusions for comfort‒especially in the West, sorry just the messenger. While I have full sympathy for people seeking comfort to get through the day, and avoid unpleasantries beyond their control‒after all we are watching TV here‒I cannot easily forgive those who have abundant energy for outrage or hedonism, but little for examining fairy tales. Just as those evil will run rampant if justice look the other way, societies will crumble if the public blinds itself. If you see many societal narratives crumble and being replaced at an accelerating pace, perhaps it's also time to wake up and scrutinize the narrators of society.

A few links to in-depth analysis on the internet:
https://cyn-lynn.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-bad-kids-review.html?m=0
https://kisskh.at/discussions/cats-cradle/125701-ending-spoiler-analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX5YGxajYQ&pp=ygUVYXZlbnVleCB0aGUgYmFkIGtpaWRz

--Category Ratings--

- Overall - 8.6 -> 9
- Plot - 9
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8.5
- Acting - 9
- Visuals - 9
- Audio / Music - 9
- Rewatch - 8.5
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7.5
- Subtitle quality - 8

Read More

better than the reviews

first of I want to express my deepest and heartfelt thank you to whoever had the idea of casting this man to be the ML and have lots of close ups and single shots of him! you are my hero and may you always have tp when you need it and your children be blessed with common sense, healthy teeth and good hair!!!
i agree with most reviews that the mother was annoying and selfish. but in the end she redeemed herself…kind off. the ml was……well he was hot. also a good actor and all but seriously hot! i do have to say that the pool scene was too short in my opinion!
the fl lead…. cute and talented.
after reading all the reviews I was a bit biased against her. i agree she was a bit slow bug she had good reason. being bullied all of her life because of her mothers choices. her hesitation to open up was understandable. she really dragged the poor ml through the drenches. as understandable as it was, her leaving him again for the second time while he was sleeping was just plain unforgivable. he had already told her about his trauma and hownhis mom disappeared while he slept and there she goes. obviously hasn’t listened to a word he said or just didn’t care. i also agree with the reviews that the last episodes were a drag and the flashbacks are most unneccessary. boring and annoying even. I loved the ending. it is a happy ending for everyone around. if i rewatch it than mainly for the chemistry between the cast. the beginning was really funny and then it turned into sadness. but all was good in the end.

Read More

Swoony Romance Meets Soap Opera Energy

I really wanted to love Reset, I swear I did 😩. This kind of concept is exactly the kind of thing that usually hooks me right away. When I saw Thailand was dropping another time travel BL, I was honestly super hyped. But the more I watched, the more I kept thinking, wow, this feels way more like a messy “sinetron” than the sharp, emotional time-bending drama I was hoping for. Endless melodrama, exaggerated tropes, and way too many dragged out scenes made it hard for me to stay invested. Instead of diving deeper into the “what if”s of changing fate, we got a lot of unnecessary filler that just stretched out the run time.

One of my biggest gripes? The 25-year time jump that looked like… well, no time jump at all. Like, come on! You can’t tell me people look exactly the same after two decades without even a wrinkle, a hairstyle change, or some aging makeup. It really pulled me out of the story. On top of that, the pacing often felt bogged down by overly long bed scenes that didn’t add much besides fan service. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-romance, in fact the chemistry between Pond and Peterpan is undeniable, and a lot of fans are swooning over it. But when those moments eat up runtime instead of letting the time travel plot breathe, the whole balance of the show feels off. I guess I’ve gotten used to Chinese dramas where the episodes are shorter but tighter, so this slower, more draggy style just didn’t click with me.

I can’t pretend the series is all bad. The leads are honestly what save the whole thing. Pond brings this magnetic presence to Armin, and Peterpan’s Thada is all in with his devotion. I totally believe Thada loved Armin with his entire being. Their chemistry is strong enough that a lot of people are watching just for them, and I get that 👏. There are even some standout side characters (I’m with everyone who loved the bodyguard/assistant for his charm and comic timing). Plus, the cinematography is beautiful in parts and the production clearly wasn’t cheap. It just sucks that the writing didn’t match the same level of care.

Reset had the potential to be something clever and emotional. A story about using hindsight to change your fate and maybe even repair your heart, but it didn’t dig deep enough. Instead, it leans heavily on melodrama and romance, which works if that’s what you came for, but is disappointing if you wanted a more layered story.

Read More

Entertaining but flawed story with missed opportunities for character development

I can understand why this drama was popular — it’s both hilarious and heartwarming, with likable leads and a great ending.

But it’s not perfect. If there’s a weakness in the story, it’s the way the female lead’s character is written.

Kim Hye Yoon has a lot of emotional range to cover as Im Sol, the female lead, and gives a mostly convincing performance. She can switch from a sweet smile to sobbing in an instant. Sol is perky and determined, but acts like a teenager, not like a woman in her 30s (having a crush can do that, I suppose).

Her obsession with protecting Sun Jae and thinking she can “rewind” all the bad situations in life can be grating (not to mention unhealthy). I would have preferred to see her living a full and happy life with her disability. Plus, It can be hard to sympathize with her as a main character because it often seems like she’s just making things more difficult for herself with impulsive or illogical decisions, and it’s frustrating watching her torture herself (and break the heart of the man who loves her) trying to control the future.

Byeon Woo Seok has a lot of charm as Ryu Sun Jae, the male lead, and has great comedic timing. He delivers a convincing performance showing the two sides of his character (sweet, slightly awkward student vs. more confident, polished performer who still has a goofy side). The fact that he did his own singing for the role is impressive.

However, the leads’ relationship never really develops, and seems more based on infatuation and destiny than any kind of meaningful connection. The actors’ good looks and cute dynamic do a lot to gloss over the show’s missed opportunities for more character development.

But the way the show gradually reveals what the leads remember about each other is compelling, while the multiple timelines make for a plot that’s fast-paced and keeps you guessing.

There are also some standout supporting characters — the second male lead is a scene-stealer with his shameless flirting and dimpled smile, and the FL’s grandma is great (the touching scene between her and Sun Jae in the last episode might be my favorite moment in the whole drama).

While the series has its flaws, it’s still an engaging watch. Viewers should be aware that the story touches on some darker topics (depression, suicide, kidnapping), but overall this drama lands firmly in the rom-com genre. It doesn’t always strike the right tonal balance, and the time travel elements can be confusing and leave some unanswered questions, but the cast and the against-all-odds love story manage to hold things together.

Read More