Reviews

The show that tried to do to much

This show started off strong and I was really rooting for it. The six main characters were all likeable and the actors, for the most part, did well with the material they were given. The concept of a porn star leaving the industry and returning to college was compelling and original.

Unfortunately, this show suffered from trying to do to much. In a 13 episode series they tried to cover:

- Sex work
- Sexual assault
- Abusive, controlling, and neglectful parents
- Redemption arcs for 2 of the 3 terrible parents
- Blackmail
- Class differences
- Consent
- Coming out
- 3 romance arcs
- Jealousy and miscommunication tropes
- A show within a show that includes death and over-the-top 90s era homophobia
- An overly complicated plot to overthrow a cartoonishly evil professor
- Bullies learning the error of their ways and becoming supporters of their former victim
- A protagonist who also has a burgeoning music career in the middle of all this
- Having a character who has experienced pretty horrific sexual assault SEEK OUT an ex-boyfriend who attempted to SA him and invite him to join his music label?!!!

And they tried to do all of this while keeping the tone pretty light. There was just no way to do justice to all of these issues and plotlines. And I hate to say this because I really like Tae as an actor, but he's not great at on-screen kissing, which makes his love scenes with Ja kind of a rough watch.

Kind of a smaller complaint, but having a bra ad in the middle of an NC scene was a really strange choice.

Domon and Atom (Mud and Book) were my favorite part of this show- I hope it's a launching pad for them to get better projects.

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Superpowers, Money, and Unexpected Twists

Imagine having a superpower… but every time you help someone, you have to spend your own hard-earned money. If you don’t, your body starts to react with itchiness or a weird skin disease. That’s Cashero for you! The power is inherited in Kang Sang‑woong’s family you can’t escape it.

Poor Kang Sang‑woong is already struggling financially, and now he has to pay to save people. You can’t borrow money, you can’t accept handouts—every act of heroism costs him sweat and cash. It’s stressful, intense, and completely unique.

One of my favorite parts of the series is seeing Sang‑woong realize who to trust. Forget the loud, obvious threats—those quiet, observing people are the ones to watch. His partner, Kim Min‑sook, is supportive and practical, staying right by his side, and I loved their teamwork.
Honestly, this series is fresh, creative, and surprisingly funny. I thought from the cover that helping people would magically make him richer but nope! Instead, it’s challenging, intense, and totally different from any superhero show I’ve seen before. Cashero isn’t just about powers—it’s about choices, responsibility, and surviving in a world that’s watching you closely.

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Face blindness once again, but at university this time!

PLOT: FL, a student with face blindness, is quite isolated. Her best friend convinces her to join the Photography Club, where she makes friends, and even finds love. ML, a handsome student returning from abroad, becomes attached to FL and does everything he can to make her life easier. Various rivalries, a love triangle, etc.

+++ The only convincing actor in this series is ML, played by Chen Bo Hao.
The others need to improve their acting skills (a lot) :(

### The story is based on face blindness (a real and extremely rare condition, but one that seems so common in dramas :(
The problem is that the script seems to have been written by a high school student. The coincidences are huge, the plot twists obvious, the characters naive/stupid, etc.
### Very little studdies / research and preparation for a university series.
### As if by chance, the main character is disfigured in an accident :(

=> This series aims to be light and cute, but it's mostly just simplistic.

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La face blindness, mais à l'université cette fois !

PLOT: La FL, étudiante avec face blindness, est assez isolée. Sa BF la convainc d'adhérer au Club Photo, où elle va se faire des amis, et mm un amour. Le ML, handsome étudiant qui revient de l'étranger, va s'attacher à la FL et tt faire pr lui rendre la vie + facile. Rivalités diverses, love triangle, etc.

+++ Le seul acteur convaincant dans cette série, c'est le ML, Chen Bo Hao. Les autres doivent améliorer (bcp) leurs acting skills :(

### La story est basée sur la face blindness (maladie réelle et extrêmement rare, mais qui semble si courante dans les dramas :( Le pb c'est que le scénario semble avoir été écrit par un collégien. Les coincidences sont énormes, les twists évidents, les personnages naïfs / stupides, etc.
### Bien peu d'études et d'examens pr une série universitaire.
### Comme par hasard, le ML est défiguré par un accident :(

=> Cette série se veut légère et cute, mais elle est surtout simplette.

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Welcome to Samdalri is such a comforting drama

Honestly, Welcome to Samdalri is such a comforting drama. The story is really good and calming, not in a boring way, but in a “it slowly heals you” kind of way. It shows how the characters deal with their life problems, their failures, their pain, and how they don’t magically fix everything overnight.

What I really like is how human it feels. People mess up, people run away, people get tired. And the drama lets them sit with those feelings. No rushing, no forcing happiness. Just healing step by step.

The biggest thing this drama made me feel is how important it is to have a place to come back to. Having a home, people who still accept you even when you’re broken… that kind of relief is insane. Like finally being able to breathe again.

This drama feels warm, slow, and very grounding. It’s not loud, but it stays with you. Definitely one of those dramas that makes you feel less alone.

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Short but Sweet

A very nice brotherhood story.

I felt no romantic chemistry between the two and not even a kiss scene. All I saw was two bro's who had a misunderstanding, apologized and helped each other grow then held hands at the beach, like all good brothers bros do. Very nice brotherhood story. Baksu ??

Don't know why it's listed under bl but oh well , mistakes happen.


The plot is not that complicated or fleshed out but that only natural considering the average runtime of the drama was 15minutes and it only had 8 episodes to work with so I don't really fault the director or the script writer they did what the could with what they had.

It did kinda feel rushed at the end as they tried to reveal the overall plot and rush towards the conclusion all in one episode but like I said, this drama was only 8 episodes each an average of 15 minutes long, what do you expect?

It might sound like I'm complaining but the fact that I binged and completed this series in one sitting at normal speed without utilizing the 2x speed option means that I at least didn't hate it.

I loved the actors. Visuals were on point, acting was above average and the most, despite the horrible google translate lyrics, was a fun listen. All in all I score this best friend drama a 5.5 out of ten. A great watch for anyone looking to pass the time and enjoy visuals and cute acting .

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Dark, Twisted, and Addictively Good

From episode one, To My Shore already screams dark romance. Even the cover gave full yandere vibes, I knew I was in for something intense. Fan Xiao is pure black-flag energy: calculating, manipulative, and a master of emotional games. You Shu Lang… bless him, he keeps coming back no matter what! He falls for Fan Xiao way too fast, yet somehow it feels believable.

The dynamic between them is a thrilling mix of obsession, strategy, and chaos, like watching a chess game where one player is playing 10 steps ahead and the other is falling for every trap. The novel mirrors the show almost perfectly, with extra depth in the characters’ thoughts and the tension that makes you gasp. Four-faced Buddha? Definitely You Shu Lang, not Fan Xiao.

It’s messy, it’s toxic, it’s dark, and I love every second of it. If you enjoy psychological romance with high stakes and unpredictable twists, this one’s a must-watch… just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the chaos!

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Satisfying Revenge

When you die abused, but wake up reborn with hacking skills and a vengeance list

🏆 THE AWARDS CEREMONY 🏆
MVP: The ML for having zero chill about being the world's richest man. No secret identity, no humble billionaire act, just "Yes, I own everything you can see and several things you can't, what about it?" Energy? Unmatched. Subtlety? Never heard of her.

Crimes Against Logic: An ORIGINAL MONET. On PAPER. ROLLED UP. In dead grandma's GARAGE SALE PILE. I'm calling the Louvre. I'm calling Interpol. I'm calling someone because that painting should be in a climate-controlled vault, not stuffed in a box labeled "old junk." The disrespect to impressionism! To canvas! To MY BRAIN!

Most Rewatchable Moment: Every single time he looked down at her. The height difference was doing heavy lifting in this show. That man had to tilt his head at a 45-degree angle just to make eye contact, and I rewatched every second. Neck pain? Worth it. Chiropractor bills? WORTH IT.

Needs Therapy: That goddamn bracelet. Gifted with love, survived a car accident, got stolen, became forensic evidence, got dropped, thrown, insulted for being cheap, and somehow still expected to symbolize their eternal bond. Baby, if you've been through half the trauma this bracelet endured, you'd be in pieces. Someone get this accessory a support group.

Surprise Winner: Adopted sister's "angry" faces! Girl was committed to being evil, but her facial expressions said, "I'm flexing every muscle in my face." The eyebrow work! The pursed lips! The complete lack of actual rage! It was giving community theater villain and I lived for every second. 🤣

Robbery: Denying ME the opportunity to own those sleek AI glasses. They were GORGEOUS. They were ADVANCED. They probably cost more than my car. And I can't have them? This show really looked me in the eye and said "You can watch him wear them but you'll never know that technological joy yourself." CRIMINAL.

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A welcome change in plot and great direction

To my shore is a welcome change in many aspects… story, direction and acting!
When the story is of a love that is borderline or beyond redemption it needs great story telling to be convincing. The direction is commendable considering that. Both the director and the main leads convinced me that there is all shades to love when the star crossed lovers are as extreme as, yu shulang and fan xiao. One, kind and sunshine like and the other devious and dark. Their journey of self realization, acceptance and redemption was towards not just to each other but most of all to themselves.
The story had a raw edge of grey that was life like…
Both the leads had great chemistry and you don’t need a lot of skinship or NC scenes to translate their passion convincingly. I really enjoyed the episodes when they were falling for each other.
Ofcourse there are gaps and areas that can be improved upon, I chose to stay with the positives of this drama for it was an overall great attempt by the cast and crew! Kudos!!!

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16 Episodes and I surrender

The actor playing Wei Wuxian is the ray of sunshine of this show. His emotions are written all over his face and in his eyes, and he is definitely the best part of the series. The second lead is also good, but Wei Wuxian is my favourite.
What I didn’t enjoy from the very beginning were the ridiculous special effects. I’m sorry, but the cave monster and other beasts look terrible. This is also my first Chinese series, so I’m not familiar with their usual level of expertise, but it all looks very amateur.
Another thing that really disturbed me were the male cast’s wigs. To be honest, I sometimes couldn’t even focus on the dialogues because of those ridiculous wigs. I mean, where does human hair start according to Chinese character designers? Surely not halfway down the cheek.
Unfortunately, I’m dropping the series after 16 episodes, as I couldn’t get involved enough with the storyline. Maybe I’ll try the books one day.

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✨ A Gentle Love Story That Glows Brighter with Every Episode ?

I fell in love with Shine on Me for its emotionally mature romance 💕, natural chemistry 🔥, and beautifully crafted slow‑burn storytelling 🌙. The heartfelt pacing and Lin Yu Sen’s sincerity made every moment feel real and meaningful.
The chemistry between Song Wei Long and Zhao Jin Mai was incredible — deep, steady, and impossible to ignore ✨. The ML’s patience and quiet longing paired perfectly with the FL’s gradual emotional awakening, and their relationship with his mothers added so much warmth 💐.
While the slow pacing may not suit everyone, I found the drama warm, comforting, and deeply romantic. The cinematography is gorgeous 🎥, the OST is dreamy 🎶, and the emotions linger long after the final episode.

Overall, Shine on Me is a satisfying, heartwarming watch that reminds us why pure, positive romance will always have a special place in our hearts ❤️.

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A Twisted Story That Kept Me Believing

The Wicked Game was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The story was so tricky and unpredictable, with constant twists and turnouts that kept me hooked the whole time. Every episode made me question what was really going on, and just when I thought I understood the plot, it surprised me again. One of the most overwhelming moments for me was when Peem was shot. That scene hit really hard emotionally, and I was honestly in shock. It felt heartbreaking and unfair, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterward. But deep in my heart, I kept believing that he was still alive. Something about the way the story was written made me refuse to give up hope—and I’m so glad I trusted that feeling. And he is alive. What makes this series special is how it plays with your emotions while keeping the suspense strong. The characters feel real, the tension never drops, and the storytelling is bold and smart. The Wicked Game isn’t just entertaining—it pulls you in and makes you feel everything. Definitely a series worth watching and remembering.

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my top 10! i love IT

If you're wondering whether to watch it, definitely yes! I was skeptical myself when I saw how “low” its rating was. I took the plunge and I'm glad I did. An original plot with excellent acting and an interesting ending. I admire the actors for taking on the challenge of performing underwater in artificial mermaid tails, they really deserve a big round of applause.

I really don't know what's wrong with people who complain. ofc You can complain but if you don't like this kind of thing, why watch it and then complain and give it a low rating? If I don't like a certain genre of film, I avoid it, I don't force myself to watch it and then complain that it's hopeless.

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When the GL subplot is better than the BL itself...

"Ja" had something different in mind, when he left GMMTV. I do not care much for Mr. Ja, but I was happy to see "Tae" again, after his role in "Between Us" in 2022. But sadly the script was more crap than I could have imagined. First, if you know that someone was raped and abused, you would not cast him in a role which has an similar plot in the student short-film project. But even if you don't know all the details, the actor himself would not take that role when his trauma still lingers and has not healed. The more problematic part is, that Mr. Ja has no clue how to act in dramatic or sad scenes. He looks statuesque with no facial expression at all. There is no energy, anger or something else. It's like it does not matter to him. It seems the workshop did not really work. Besides looking handsome there goes nothing for him.

With such a poor acting performance his counterpart can't balance the performance. He tries his best, but it does not work. That's why this series is soooooo bad. The only highlight are the two girls, but if you watch because it's a BL, you won't care about the GL stuff. This may sound harsh, but it's the reality. I'm not a fan of mixing but normally it does not matter that much too me but it's even more sad, that this subplot made the most sense and was acted well.

I don't have to tell you there is forced drama in it, with the cliché "bad" father and house-maid which turns then 180° in a matter of minutes which does not make sense at all. Production quality is good, even the music is good, but the script/acting can't deliver. So sorry, I don't like this show at all and overall it's a waste of time.

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The Love that Never Rose

This is no slow burn, this was a no burn.
It went on and on without actually going anywhere or towards anything.

The plot picks up with Ice returning to university after being dismissed a year ago, and Saint has been tasked with taking care of him, making his student life easier. They've actually known each other for a while though, not talked for several years because of something that happened in the past, but now that they're back together, Ice hates Saint, and Saint wants to win Ice back.

Their entire relationship has been riddled with problems since the beginning - everyone is opposed to them being together for some reason or the other, and the entire story is basically how they get over their past to heal as individuals and a couple, and face all the other obstacles to be with each other.

It's a well established, character driven plot, which always has the potential to be great! But my goodness the pace moved slower than a turtle. Whether it was the conflict resolution or the movement of their romance, it felt like I was the one moving heavy furniture across a room, each episode was a push and a pull, and so much of a struggle.

It's not the worst blunder, especially if you can write brilliant characters. Except..
They weren't really written to be the best.
No argument that both Ice and Saint were quite complex and flawed characters who had good development, but what use is it when the writers seem to have a trauma complex that neither of them can get past?
Saint is always perturbed by his father's presence in his life, which is suffocating, annoying and straight up infuriating. His father's actions made him lose the love of his life, and when he meets him again, the aforementioned love wants nothing to do with him. He has to gain back Ice's trust and defy his father's orders to ensure he doesn't get trapped again. And he was written well.

But Ice.. oh Ice.
He wasn't even the lead in his own story.
He meets someone he loves in a life where he has no one to love him, and gets told that this guy doesn't want him either. He is assaulted, thrown out of space that should've kept him safe, faces the consequences of someone else's actions and comes back to university as a broken man, only to continue breaking everyday because he's dating a POS, and the people who ruined his life the first time around are back in it.
The writers took a hold of this and went 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?
The man could not catch a break, shots from every direction at all times, like the writers actually hated him. Everytime I saw a glimpse of growth, they just dumped more trauma on him to wreck him more and more until I could take it no more.
Honestly, I reduced my rating just based off of the fact that they absolutely butchered a character who should've carried the story.

If it wasn't for Ja's absolute knockout of a performance as Saint - adorable, charming and enigmatic - I would once again be rating this much lower, but thank you Ja. The rest of the actors were not bad performers by any means, but they barely had the chance to actually showcase their skills or flesh out their characters.
Especially Tae as Ice.. who was the actual main character and deserved much better writing than he got (as covered above) but he did a decent job.

The frustration you feel towards all the characters never really goes away though, because of the bad plot. The affinity towards some of them may come from the fact that they are leads, but the amount of conflict itself is off-putting. Did we really need the dirtbag ex? Or the movie shoot that spans for episodes in a bid to bring the leads closer, only to push them further apart? Or the father who has no boundaries and is an insensitive manipulative jerk just because he cares about his son? Noo
(On that note - let's also stop writing terrible parents a redemption arc? I pray all things in holy BL, let's stop giving horrid human beings redemption just because they shed a few crocodile tears)

The most frustrating thing is not the conflict, but how each one was handled. If you're going to have soooo many things they need to overcome, why not start with actually having the leads talk to each other? If your story is going to be riddled with problems that you can easily face together, why not do it? Or if it's your burden to bear, why avoid the confrontation? It's right in front of you!! Again, the character writing taking a serious blow, we get one step forward and ten steps back for 12 episodes.

The finale was the miserable now that tied it all together - a happy ending for all for the sake of giving one, or forgiveness I guess? This show was filled with horrid, horrid people who should have rotted in prison or in their own misery but yay to extreme pardoning complexes I guess.

This love should've set seven épisodes ago, but oh well. Don't waste your time on this and if you absolutely must? 2x speed is your friend.

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