Reviews

Could've been a 9....

This is a great serie... except it isn't.
The first 4 episodes suck you right in. They are great, amazing even and while watching them I was already thinking this serie was going to be a 9 or, dare I say, a 10.

Then eps 4 happened.

First, let me say that I did not read the manga. I do understand that this is an adaptation and they had to keep a number of elements intact.
However, how is it possible in 2025 to have a caracter kiss another while he is sleeping?? That is not okay.
Even if Akin opened his eyes after Jin left, Jin still kissed him while he thought he was sleeping. You have no idea how my blood started boiling when I saw that. It is just not acceptable in 2025.

That was just the beginning of the serie going downhill.

Let me be clear : there is a rape/fake rape/sexual assault scene, however you want to call it. Per usual, the reaction of the characters was underwhelming and there was next to none consequences.
At the risk of repeating myself, how is that still okay in 2025? Even if they had to stay close to the manga, I believe they should've still made some changes regarding this part.

I won't go into much details because I don't want to give spoilers, but at least now you were warned of the lack of awareness of the director.

Other than the non-consensual kiss and the rape sequence, the serie was incredible! Which is why these two elements are so maddening : if better executed, this serie could've been a 9.

At first, I didn't want to give over a 6 to the serie because of that, but the undeniable chemistry between the main actors convinced me to mark it a 7.5.
They truly saved the serie.

I was also a bit disappointed we couldn't learn more about Jin other than his quick backstory, as the serie seemed to focus more about Akin.

The NC scenes were great, but there are no sex scenes that could compensate the two major sexual aggressions that happened in this serie.

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Brutal, Beautiful, and Surprisingly Emotional – Mercy for None Hits Hard

When I first read the synopsis for Mercy for None, I thought, “Oh great, another ex-gangster revenge drama.” But let me tell you — I was so wrong. This isn’t just a crime thriller. It’s a dark, emotional, slow-burning gut-punch that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.

So Ji Sub as Nam Gi Jun? Absolutely magnetic. The man barely speaks, but somehow you feel every ounce of his grief, guilt, and quiet rage. His performance is a masterclass in subtlety — every limp, every stare, every sigh is loaded with pain. And his fight scenes? Not flashy, not choreographed to look pretty — just raw, efficient, and real. You’ll wince with every punch.

👍 What I Loved:
So Ji Sub’s performance. Completely immersed in the role. Quiet but powerful.

Brutal action that actually feels like it hurts. Think fists, knives, real damage — no superhero nonsense.

The bleak, atmospheric cinematography. It sets the tone perfectly — cold, harsh, unforgiving.

Villains that are complex and terrifying. Gong Myung’s Koo Jun Mo is unhinged in the best possible way.

A plot that surprises. Just when you think you know where it’s going — bam. Twist.

👎 What Fell Short:
Some of the supporting characters could’ve used deeper development.

Middle episodes slowed down a bit too much — could’ve trimmed 10 minutes here and there.

I wish we got more insight into Gi Jun’s inner turmoil and past.

💭 Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for romance, keep scrolling. But if you’re in the mood for a gritty, emotionally-loaded revenge story with real stakes, this one delivers. Mercy for None doesn’t pretend to be glamorous — it’s messy, painful, and shockingly human.

It’s kind of like John Wick if he fought with his fists and regrets instead of guns.

Definitely not for everyone the violence is intense and the tone is relentlessly dark — but for me? That made it unforgettable.


If you loved My Name, A Model Family, or the heavier moments of Vincenzo, you’re gonna eat this up. And if So Ji Sub doesn’t get at least a dozen awards for this… I riot.

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Love, Family, Loyalty, Scheme, and Li Yun Rui

Li Yun Rui made me watch this drama because of his white-grey hair. And this kind of hairstyle is never gone wrong.

Story,
I love how the director potrayed every predicted conflcts so perfectly. Even I questioning my prediction even when I was right. The story is written perfectly beautiful.
Every aspect of the story came out so well described, I can say that this is one of drama that became my favorite eventhough I don't really like the genre. In this intense drama, I can still fell light-hearted and laugh in their comedy.

Acting,
I love how Meng Zi Yi executed her role as Dou Zhou yet it is different than her usual role. But she nailed it as independent and talented women trapped by circumtances form by tradition.
And Li Yun Rui, OMG I know he is skilled actoe but I don't expected he will played Song Mo so perfect even I can't compelare him to another actor. As this Song Mo was only written for him to play. White-grey haired Li Yun Rui are entered my top list male character.
All of the actor do really a good job. I cannot complaint.

Music,
All of the soundtrack sounds beautiful and compliment the drama so much.

Rewatch Value and Overal Rate,
I thank you all of the crew who have a finger in the pie. This drama will not ended as beautiful as this if there are not for your hardwork. I really love this drama that I planned fo rewatch again sometime later.

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A Beautiful Mind version of Short Drama

Reborn plot is usually contain revenge but this drama shows the vulnerability of Male lead since his previous life trauma didn't get parental love (His Dad neglect him and his mother and become insane) and obsessed with Second Female lead love. The female lead comes to his second life without any background just like NPC and slowly involved in his life (only male lead didn't know his past life). I love how the drama emphasize about people deserve to being love even with mental illness they are still human. Second Female lead is only focused on getting Male lead in her second life until she forget her original purpose. The chemistry between Zuo Ming and Song Yujia is not sweet. I feel the calmness when watch Song Yujia on this drama (love her styling and make up here, she is look like goddess). Zuo Ming did good job insecure person who craved of love. The proposal scene is too sweet and the ending was beautiful. Recommend to watch.

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Overrated

This show has clearly received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with this sentiment. Of course this is my subjective opinion, as all reviews are.

So, here is my attempt to express precisely what my problems with this show are:
1) The timeline - The show has a habit of constantly skipping around the timeline. While telling the story in a chronological order isn't strictly necessary, this show just takes it too far. As a casual viewer I was often left disoriented and confused by this. This is exacerbated by the use of the same actors to represent characters for very long intervals of time.

2) The characters - The events of the show span the period of over 50 years, basically covering 3 generations of a family, which naturally comes with a very large cast of characters. This is very ambitious, to put it nicely. It makes keeping track of all the characters very difficult. Even worse, this results in the characters lacking ...well... character. Trying to cram in 3 generations and 50 years worth of story into a 16 episode show results in a distinct lack of character establishing and building moments. When it comes to the main characters, while some of them seem like they could be OK if given more time to develop (like Yang Gwan Sik and Yang Eun Myeong), what little bits we were shown of the main main characters (O Ae Sun and Yang Geum Myeong) did not make them seem likeable at all, and did not make me, as a viewer, root for their success.

3) The story - Due to the problems mentioned in points 1 and 2, the viewing experience of the story was somehow both confusing and boring at the same time. Additionally, it lacked direction. Where is it going, what are the writers trying to tell us with this? I could rationalize it (if I was inclined due to actually liking the characters) as being an artistic choice to invoke a “realistic” feeling (as in, the show is structured as if someone in their old age were just recalling events from their life, as one would whilst going through a photo album), but it doesn’t make for an actually good story. Good stories are told with a purpose and have both a natural flow and solid structure to them. This felt more like just recounting of events without any emotional weight, which is better saved for history books.

In conclusion, I did not enjoy this show. The people who made this were like Icarus - arrogantly trying too hard to make something too sophisticated for them to actually successfully pull off with their skill level. In the end they just burned and crashed instead.

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“Drawing Closer” is a heart-warming romance drama that touches the heart with its sincerity and the delicacy with which it addresses such a heavy subject as terminal illness. It is a film that, despite its tragic premise, manages to inspire and make the viewer reflect on the value of life and the depth of human bonds. For fans of Japanese romantic dramas and stories that explore the complexities of love and loss with sensitivity, “Drawing Closer” is a worthy addition. Prepare for a film that will make you shed a few tears, but will also leave you with a feeling of warmth and appreciation for the ephemeral beauty of life.

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Beautiful Story, Beautiful Production, Beautiful Lead Couple

Another reviewer claimed that they would be different from the folks who hate everything or love everything. Sorry, I can't be that discriminating because all the things I look for in a drama were there: lovely couple with chemistry, beautiful costumes and scenery, believable storyline and dialogue, strong heart-wrenching love story, absence of complicated political intrigue. (Having never read the book, I have no criticism regarding how it did or didn't align with the book.) This show was STELLAR in a number of ways: its beauty, the sweet and wrenching love story/stories, and the multiple characters that the leads played.

I especially loved this because I saw the ML in TV interviews say that the FL was "different from other actresses" and describe some of her habits and behaviors in very endearing terms. I also saw him interact with her in the follow-on cast game-show. That phrase "different from...." and how he acted on the cast gameshow conveyed to me that he had a crush on her. How she felt about him, I don't know. They have been on many variety shows together. And I say this even though I am absolutely sure that almost all of the "shipping" that is done by fans is total rubbish. (One other real "shipping" was Bai Lu and Zhang Ling He. I think he was head over heels for her.) So believing that the ML had a crush on the FL made Love You Seven Times even sweeter for me.

And let me just say this, seeing how nerdy/innocent the ML actor is in real life (from the gameshow and interviews), I have a much greater appreciation for his acting talents. For example, in real life, when he ran up to the stairs at the big awards show to help Esther Yu gracefully come down the stairs, he was just being his kind, thoughtful, schoolboy self with no pretense of being sophisticated and false. What a (geeky) sweetheart. Every time he gets in front of the camera, he is changing himself into a totally different person through excellent acting.

While the FL received some criticism for her acting, I thought that she was just fine (not to mention stunningly beautiful). She matched the characters she played very well, and as another reviewer mentioned, as the story went on, she was able to show more of her talent and feel a bit more relaxed in her acting. She is totally FINE to be a lead actress. She did well. I am sure that in future, once there is some distance between the viewers and the smear campaign undertaken by who knows who for who knows what purpose, many more people will see the joy in this show.

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"Bangkok Breaking: ฝ่านรกเมืองเทวดา" is a film that delivers plenty of action and adrenaline, with a dense atmosphere and solid performances from its main cast. It is a work that is not afraid to show the uglier side of Bangkok, with its corruption and violence, while trying to weave a story of survival and unexpected heroism.
For fans of action thrillers, Thai cinema and stories that expose the dark layers of a big city, this film is a good choice. Prepare yourself for an intense and relentless journey through an urban hell where danger is always lurking.

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“Hiểm Nguy Bên Ngoài” (Outside) is a competent crime drama that benefits from Mark Wahlberg’s committed performance and Phillip Noyce’s focused direction. While the premise of a former criminal trying to reform himself is not new, the film approaches it with seriousness and a humanistic perspective. It’s not a film that seeks out big twists or nonstop action spectacles, but rather a character study about the struggle to free oneself from a past that refuses to die.
For fans of darker, more thoughtful crime dramas that explore the complexities of morality and the harsh realities of life on the margins of society, “Outside” is a solid choice. It’s a reminder that even for those who seek a second chance, the road to redemption can be brutal and fraught with obstacles.

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"中国机长" (The Captain) is more than just a disaster film; it is a powerful tribute to human bravery and professionalism. It celebrates not only the heroism of Captain Liu, but also the dedication of the entire flight and ground crew who worked together to ensure the safety of 119 passengers and 9 crew members.
While it may have some dramatic elements that lean toward melodrama (common in productions based on real events), the execution is so engaging and the performances so sincere that these moments are easily overshadowed by the raw emotion of the story. It is a film that captivates the audience from start to finish, leaving the viewer with a sense of admiration for human resilience and capacity in times of extreme adversity. Recommended for fans of disaster films, dramas based on true events, and anyone who enjoys stories of heroism.

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“Ballerina” delivers on its promise: more high-octane action in the John Wick universe. It’s a visual treat for fans of the franchise’s choreographed violence and neo-noir aesthetic. While it may not reach the same heights as the best John Wick films in terms of narrative depth or character development, Ana de Armas’ charismatic and physically demanding performance is more than enough to carry the film.

If you’re looking for two hours of impressive fight scenes, an expansion of the John Wick lore, and a lethal new protagonist, “Ballerina” is a first-class ticket to an adrenaline-pumping ride. It’s a worthy addition to the universe, one that reinvigorates the franchise with new blood and promises a bright future for Eve Macarro.

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