Reviews

Predictable, but the romance made it worth it

Every time a new JimmySea show starts airing, I remember how enjoyable it is to watch them work together. Their chemistry just feels so natural, and their ability to portray the characters in My Magic Prophecy was incredible. Was this the most innovative, creative show? No. BUT the relationship was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the twists in the story, even though they were fairly predictable.

In (Sea) is a tarot reader, but he's more than just another fortune teller - he is truly clairvoyant, and often gets visions of bad things happening to people close to him. However, the stronger the vision, the larger the toll it takes on him, and he often ends up hurt because of it. When he sees his friend's older brother Dr. Thap (Jimmy) getting killed, he ends up stopping it from happening, but it seems this wasn't a one-off encounter. Thap's life is quickly put in danger after he treats a critical patient, and it's unclear who wants this patient dead so badly as to kill the doctor. To protect himself and his family, Thap stays with In in In's late parents house in a small village, and while the two do not see eye to eye at first, a relationship slowly forms between them.

I thought this show was super well done. Jimmy and Sea have amazing chemistry as Thap and In, and I loved the way the relationship progressed. I also really enjoyed the parallel investigation storyline, with the doctors and cops trying to figure out how a patient ended up in the hospital, the foul play involved, and the threats to Thap's life. While most of the twists in the case were predictable, it was still super fun to watch it play out. I do think the highlight of the show is the relationship though. It is truly such a sweet and caring relationship between these characters, and the way they help each other through the struggles is fantastic. Definitely worth watching for that!!

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The Way to a Man's Heart and everybody else

From the trailers, my curiosity peaked and as I waited for every episode each week, this drama did not disappoint me.
Each episode is titled according to a particular dish, and each dish has a meaning to someone who ate them.

What do I love about this drama?
The Story - yes, it is another time travelling experience and it involves food like that of Mr. Queen. Conveying childhood stories through food resonates to every race on planet earth. It captures not just the taste, but the memories of loved ones of the characters.
I believe 12 episodes are just enough to put us in different waves of emotions - of wonder, of fear, of joy, of anger, and of love. I am not a scholar on period dramas, but the production looks immense, well researched and prepared. Even as Cook Jeon thinks through each recipe, especially during the competition, there are recollections of what is existing and what is not during that era.
I had fun watching the special effects whenever the king eats Cook Yeon's food. The drama gave us a balance of comedy, drama and action.
I just find one episode that the acting is too much, much like theatrical.

The Actors
Yoona - superb acting. I love her in King the Land, and though how grim the situations sometimes, you can still see a ray of hope and joy in her face. From the time I watched Jewel in the Palace, I had always taken note how Kdramas showed emotions just by their facial expressions. There may be moments that I question - "What the heck?!" when a character seemed acting foolishly in such an extremely violent situation.
Chae Min - though young, he really is a good actor, conveying different emotions. His stature is befitting of a king; his eyes speak even if there are no dialogues. It is quite difficult to see him in modern clothes, when you have seen him how majestic he is in period drama.
The jester and the king's bodyguard - it is funny how people swoon over these two men when they don't have any romantic scenes. What I love about these characters are their unwavering support to the king, their masterful use of the sword and how they escape death.
The villains - they are just great how they put so much flavor into the drama. And somehow their deaths had given us viewers the hope of good winning over evil. Prince Jesan and 4th Consort's facial expressions truly pictured evil plotting.
The other cooks - I love these bunch of Cook Yeon's team, and good to see them again in the modern era.
The inventor - he is so cute, Cook Yeon and him jived and comes in when you need him the most. Can we have him in the modern era too?

What do I dislike about the drama?
Actually, I am not a fan of killing scenes. I usually turn away from it. But what can we do, it is part of the story that can't be ignored.

Overall, I love this drama. Thank you for all the cast and crew who poured out their time and efforts. Their dedication to producing and even preparation for the roles is applauding.

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Finally, a Kdrama that made my heart race again.

After long time, I finally found a Kdrama that truly touched my heart. I was counting down the days just to watch each new episode.
Tonight it ended and honestly, I feel like I’ll have a little bit of post drama depression for a while. I got too attached to it…🥲
For Lee Chae Min, I have nothing but applause 👏 His acting was absolutely incredible, and I’m so proud of him for being this outstanding. He carved out an even bigger place in my heart than before. I first knew him from Crash Course in Romance, but I never imagined he could pull off this role so perfectly. 너무 멋졌어요, 최민 씨 ✨
I also have to mention that YoonA’s acting really showed a lot of improvement she was amazing too.
Overall, this drama had such a warm and uplifting vibe. It made me feel so good while watching and allowed me to escape from reality for an hour and twenty minutes each episode.
If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try you’ll definitely enjoy its beauty.🥹✨️🦋

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A Human Heart in a Magical World: A Drama Review (8.5/10)

I just finished this new Thai BL drama with the magic prophecy drama and wow, it's really sticking with me. I'd easily give it a 8.5/10. If you're a fan of shows that mix supernatural mystery with a really deep, emotional romance between the main leads, you absolutely have to check this one out.

Let's start with the obvious highlight: the main couple, In and Thap. Their chemistry is off the charts, but it's the way their characters are written that truly shines. In, with his magical burden, carries this profound sense of loneliness that you can feel through the screen. Thap is the perfect counterbalance—his journey from perhaps a skeptic to In's unwavering pillar is so satisfying to watch. The way the show delivers their feelings is top-tier. You don't just get told they're falling for each other; you see it in every lingering look, every protective gesture, and every moment of silent understanding. Their emotional arc is the heart of the whole show.

And can we please talk about the OST? The music is just beautiful. There's this one piano melody that plays during their key scenes that absolutely wrecks me in the best way. It perfectly captures the show's mix of mystery, magic, and deep yearning.

The plot is another strong point. The mystery and the crimes tied to the prophecy aren't just a flimsy excuse to get the leads together; they feel genuinely intriguing and add a great layer of suspense that had me clicking "next episode" every time.

My one critique, and it's the thing that holds me back from a full 10/10, is with the supporting characters. There's a second couple and a group of friends who are genuinely likable and have the seeds of really interesting stories. You can see the potential for a great side romance or a compelling personal struggle, but just as you start to get invested, the show pulls back to focus on In and Thap. I found myself genuinely wanting more—more of their backstories, more scenes to flesh out their relationships, and just more time to let their emotional moments breathe. Their stories felt a bit short-changed, and the delivery of their feelings wasn't as strong as it was for our main leads.

But don't let that deter you. The core story of In and Thap is so powerful, so well-acted, and so beautifully scored that it's an absolute must-watch. It’s a haunting, romantic, and thrilling drama that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Just be prepared to wish you could live in its world a little longer with all its characters.

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I usually steer clear of writing negative reviews because I know how much heart and hard work go into making a series. This one had real potential, but sadly, it didn’t quite deliver.

After two episodes, I had to put it on hold because the subtitles were a total mess. But since I never leave a show unfinished, I eventually came back to wrap it up. Honestly, if the series had kept its six episodes but trimmed them down to 20–25 minutes each, it might’ve worked better. It had all the ingredients to be super cute.

1. Production
The script was weak and dragged through each 45-minute episode. On top of that, editing and sound issues really hurt the overall experience.

2. Acting
It’s tough to judge the performances fairly because the writing didn’t give the actors much to work with. There were flashes of personality here and there, but the script didn’t allow for any real depth. It seems like this was the debut for several of the cast members, and they honestly deserved better material. Still, they gave it their best, and the acting had its ups and downs.

Meen & Tul: A sweet couple who got more interesting once they started dating. Looks like this was the first series for Sky and Kong. The chemistry is definitely there. They had moments where they were just going through the motions, and others where they truly brought their characters to life. They’re raw talent, rough around the edges, but promising. I’ll definitely check out more of their work, hopefully with a stronger script.

Pokpong & Sun: This couple won me over from the start. I wish they’d had more screen time. Park and Tiger felt more natural together, and their chemistry came through effortlessly. They genuinely seemed comfortable in their roles.

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The any % speedrun

Essentially, speedrunning Ryuki's original fifty-episode narrative over the course of a 50-minute runtime, 13 Riders had a lot of potential in crafting an engaging what-if companion piece to the TV show, even allowing kids to vote on the ending. Unfortunately, it all ends up as a wasted opportunity and definitely feels like it should be way longer than it is; most likely, it's a case of this being a primetime special that had to be welcoming to unfamiliar viewers. Little time is spent on fleshing out the narrative outside of the most basic of setups before we're flung headfirst into the special's plentiful action. Granted, all the action is incredibly well shot, thanks mainly to the direction of long-time tokusatsu director Ryuta Tasaki; however, the narrative is exceptionally hollow, with little justification given for the events surrounding said action. It just feels like an excuse to parade the last 3 Riders who didn't appear in the show for some reason in front of the camera. All three of whom do very little to leave a lasting impression, not from a lack of trying, but more from a lack of screen time, at least the cast are all still on form. Most egregious of all for me, at least, is that they got frigging Keiichi Wada to play Ryuki's original ill-fated host, before altogether dropping him less than a minute in. This would have been so much cooler had he been the main focal point of this special, seriously, Toshiki Inoue, I know you are better than this. Regardless of the ending you choose for 13 Riders, it still feels like an extension of the show rather than something entirely separate, a bit darker and more mysterious, but with just as much flair and humour, regardless of all the in-universe rule-breaking taking place.

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I came for the vibe and stayed for the food (and actors)

Writing this seconds after watching all episodes. I wasn't planning on watching this before all episodes came out but here we are. I got curious with this one because of all the popularity and I didn't have high expectations when I started watching.

It's a really fun watch if you want something (I don't want to use the word easy because it's not) in between watching all of those much more serious dramas. I really got hooked because of all the food and I like learning about new cultures and the food is a great way to learn something new about another culture.

Male main actor really shines in this (especially that last episode) and female lead had a nice fun personality. The vibe with all the cooking staff was really nice to see and how food can bring different people together.

I'm not spoiling anything but the ending...I feel like that would have fit the series starting with Mr. soo good as well.
I swear I've read a fanfiction version of that somewhere lol. I kept changing my opinion of the series was going to end because of the female main character. It was clear from the start that she was set to go home but how was the question.
One of my predictions came through so it wasn't that hard to guess but the ending was nice and left me feeling fulfilled.
(If it's something I don't always like, it's the ending of a series. I've sometimes a bit of a different opinion.)

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Naah this ain't it for me

I was excited because this was in the same universe as Kill Bok Soon, but sadly, it disappointed me.

Well, already in the beginning, i had a bad feeling about when the first fight was about to happen, and suddenly the main character cracked a joke, like wut?!?!?! It was all serious and shit, but you had to crack one up, and that took me off.

The first fight happened, and it felt off already, because it was so obvious that they were using ropes to do some impossible movements; they weren't even trying to hide it. I came into this movie expecting fights here and there, but for the most part of the movie, it was mostly goo goo gaa gaa toxic romance. I mean, that's fine and all, but it was really messy.

This movie was a let down, sadly. It could've been better, as this is tied to Kill Bok Soon.

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Life imitating art

This wuxia and transmigration drama may look great on paper - solid cast, great choreography for the fights, and a transmigration storyline - but its execution is much more mixed. The use of transmigrating a character from modern day to ancient China is not a new story device, and here, it indeed feels stale and underused. I found that it did not add much to the overall storyline. If it were completely removed from the story - everything would have flowed just fine.

As far as wuxia goes, the story does attempt to bring out some classic elements - the brotherhood, the chivalry, and the search for a more just world, but not everything melds together well. For a whopping 40 episodes, it seems like not a whole lot is explored more deeply whether it is character arcs or thematic developments. For a cast featuring Cheng Yi at the helm and a slew of many other experienced actors, it is a bit of a wasted opportunity.

The fights are truly exhilarating - and it is still worth checking this out for this and for some great moments of drama scattered through the duration of the story. The soundtrack boasts a few great tracks from various singers, but the instrumental music is a hit or miss for me.

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look elsewhere for a fluffy/steamy merman romance

Overall: I did not enjoy the aggressive pursuit/reluctant pursuee trope that happened nor the love triangles. Based on a web novel which I haven't read and I am reviewing the series on its own merits. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5806/lover-merman-2025-e01 (not in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Oceania, India, Japan and South Korea); uncut on Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1263454v and cut on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6_2JamS9iNQ_fRO37dRCtHX-QWgsQjE (available in some African countries, Southeast Asia, Japan & South Korea).

Content Warnings: sexual harassment, held against will, beaten up, past (murders/blood, child abuse), manipulation, murder, suicide/sacrifice, prejudice

What I Liked
- visuals
- merman premise

Room for Improvement
- started with an exposition/world building dump
- flashback to a recent scene
- long pauses between talking
- love rivals/love triangles
- a ton of characters for 8 episodes and then 3 new characters introduced in episode 4 who left shortly thereafter (also a step brother romance tossed in)
- our supposed hero gave serial killer vibes while the other lead was wishy-washy and stupid
- terrible mom redemption arc, I can't believe the character apologized to her
- nonsense stuff, a character had no security, another character believed someone who had every reason to lie

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that's what a good kdrama looks like

This series really embodies the respect for the fans who watched the show all the way to the end.
I started watching the kdrama with high hopes and excitement, and it never let me down. Every week was filled with fun, laughter, happiness, and expectations for the next week's episode to come soon. When I saw the similarities in the storyline with Moon Lovers, I started to lose all hope that there was any chance of a happy ending, BUT the writers did not let me down! All the waiting was worth it, and every week's episode was perfect. The ending did not let me down for once! I really respect the fact that we got a happy ending, and I recommend everyone who loves historical dramas with a touch of the present day to give it a try, trust the process, and watch it till the end. Have fun watching!

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A sweet journey about self-confidence and empowerment!

Awn I really enjoyed this one! I like these types of romances with genderless characters or characters who break stereotypes and here we have that with both main leads. Hikaru likes crossdressing, makeup and have more like a “feminine” trait, while Haruka knows basically nothing about makeup and has more like a tomboyish look. Most characters here are so cute too, even when you think one of them might annoy you, they end up being nice too.

I loved how confident Hikaru was and how he helped Haruka to be more confident about herself too. But a thing I also enjoyed is that although Hikaru is confident, sometimes, like any other person, he has his doubts and he is also still learning about himself and finding more things about himself. After all, we are always learning something about ourselves every day and this is the path.

Hikaru and Haruka romantic scenes were also cute, and the ending was satisfying! My only complaint is that we see Hikaru crossdressing for much part of the drama, but when he confesses to Haruka and they start dating, he kind stop crossdressing. We do have that scene where he introduce himself to Haruka’s mom and Haruka herself says she likes Hikaru in all his styles, but that's it. It was kind odd to see the character who crossdressed 98% of the drama stopping doing that in the moment he was dating but yeah. Still really enjoyed this one!

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A Feast Across Time: How "Mangunrok" Turned Cooking Into the Most Heartbreaking Love Story

I cried through the entire last episode from start to finish ! no joke!

Where should I even begin? This show has been my comfort for the past month and a half. Every week was exhausting: from university to work, then coming home to study again. I was at my happiest when I was watching it.

I’m a food and cooking lover. Every day, I try new recipes and ingredients, and each episode took me at least two hours to finish because of how often I paused and rewound, taking notes on recipes, cooking techniques, and screenshotting the dishes.

Yoona’s acting as a chef was incredibly convincing — from the way she held the knife to how she delivered lines about what it’s like to be a chef. I was mesmerized. It felt like I was looking at the version of myself that could have been, had I chosen to become a chef. The thought of making people happy with my food ; especially my loved ones ; felt so fulfilling. Despite the struggles, Cook Yeon clearly enjoyed her craft, and that joy radiated through the screen. I’m determined to recreate all of the royal cuisine shown in the series. Being from France, I also loved how she incorporated French culinary elements.

I felt sad reading some of the comments complaining about the cooking competition when, to me, it was the best part of the show. Everything else was about treason plots and palace schemes, which often made us viewers feel gloomy. I’ve watched almost every time-travel Joseon-era K-drama, so I’d already prepared myself for a tragic ending. That’s why I truly cherished the cooking-competition segments; they were the bright spots, and I made sure to savor them as much as I could.

Another highlight for me, aside from the cooking, was Lee Chae-min. Many comments have already praised his acting, but I want to add something about his character. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character as tragic as Yeonhuigun. I’ve seen two other K-dramas portraying this historical Joseon king, and while I always pitied him, it was usually in a detached way ; feeling sorry for his fate but never really understanding his pain. This drama was different. For the first time, I could empathize with him as a child who had unjustly lost his mother. This depth came from Lee Chae-min’s incredible acting and the show’s nuanced portrayal of a “tyrant” king.

Some viewers complained about the lack of romance, but for me, the cooking itself was the romance. Imagine making the tyrant king of Joseon fall for you through food. Every time she cooked a new dish, thinking of his needs, well-being, mood, and what would be best for him, was there anything more romantic than that? I don’t think many people understood the symbolism behind those dishes.

And then there’s the Mangunrok. The time-loop element was handled much better than I expected because it wove the romance into the story too. The king recorded all of her recipes in that diary, as if casting a spell to bring her back. No matter how many timelines she altered, the king’s love never changed. Through his yearning and his call for her, she always returned, and he always found his way back to her, in every single timeline. They were destined to be together across every version of the story.

The moment he realized he had truly been a tyrant all along shattered me. What broke me further was his realization that the “tyrant” Cook Yeon had described at the start was actually him. Instead of lamenting his downfall as a dethroned king, he said, “You recognized me from the beginning,” emphasizing his love for her — accepting everything, even his own flaws. Every time she was hurt or in danger, the way his eyes and heart reached out to her made me teary-eyed.

When he finally understood the true meaning of the Mangunrok, I wept uncontrollably. It revealed that he was both the cause of her time-travel—since he wrote the journal—and the reason she could go to the future, at all! It’s tragic and beautiful at the same time.

Here’s how he traveled to the future: when he realized the Mangunrok she sought was actually his journal, he desperately tried to close the book as Cook Yeon was being pulled into it, even tearing out the last page to stop her from leaving. Earlier, when Cook Yeon was watching the king fight and holding the book while crying, she discovered that the previously “missing” last page — the one she noticed on the plane — was now intact. This showed her that she was holding a version of the book from before she returned to the past. That page read: “Dish that makes you remember home.” It was also the first dish she had ever cooked for the king.
In that moment, she understood everything; that she was destined to return. When she was about to die, she confessed that she never truly wanted to go back, not just because of her wounds, but because of what she realized flipping through the pages. The last page’s words, “home,” ultimately sent her back. When the king later died, that same last page that didn't disappear with her landed on him, fulfilling his final wish.

The time-travel magic of the Mangunrok was rooted entirely in the king’s love. The first page of the book expressed his wish to see her again, bringing her to the Joseon era. The last page expressed the same wish, this time taking him to her in the future. The book’s first and last pages were like spells powered by his love across time.

I found it brilliant that the last page’s dish was bibimbap — a meal tied to the feeling of home. In the end, he cooked it for her in THEIR home in the future. The last page of the diary reunited them.

This is why I believe the time-travel element, the Mangunrok, and all the symbolism behind it were perfectly executed. This drama became my second favorite of the year for that reason alone. The series has its flaws here and there, but overall, I’d give it a solid 9/10.

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