Reviews

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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One of the Best Scripted Revenge Saga in a long time!!

Even time, he loses someone close to him, he goes crazy. And whenever he goes crazy, he comes out stronger!

There are very few shows that leave you feeling indulgent, every moment is a worthwhile experience. When I first started watching this thriller, I thought it was a regular revenge saga. Xie Huai An seems like a regular guy, utterly normal and harmless & yet underneath that veneer, he hides an intellect and intelligence that bought down an empire. This show has caustic elements that are unbelievably shocking; it’s like peeling off layers of onion and revealing new details. Just when you believe that Xie Huai An has achieved his end goal, he begins a new journey of retribution. The guy hasn’t known a single moment of peace since his clan fell. He has planning since decades, waiting and seeking revenge. And yet, he can’t rest because the nation suddenly falls prey to outside predators. From weaving a single game of retrieval to protecting his country, Xie Huai An does the unimaginable. He is always two steps ahead and the acumen leaves you stunned. Cheng Yi mesmerizes with a commendable performance that leaves you stunned. He doesn’t fight with swords; his words are powerful enough to make or break the game!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2026/01/06/the-vendetta-of-an-series-review/#more-2227

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Amazing & Emotional K-Drama ?✨

Weak Hero Class is one of the most powerful Korean dramas I have ever watched. I have seen both Season 1 and Season 2, and this drama truly left a deep impact on me. It is not just about school violence; it shows inner pain, silent struggles, and the true meaning of friendship in a very realistic way 💔✨
Park Ji-hoon’s performance as Yeon Si-eun is outstanding. His calm expressions, emotional depth, and quiet intensity feel incredibly real. Choi Hyun-wook as Ahn Su-ho completely stole my heart. His strength, loyalty, and emotional presence make Su-ho an unforgettable character 👍🏻❤️
After watching these two seasons, I am extremely excited and hopeful for Season 3. The story feels unfinished, and these characters deserve to continue their journey. I truly hope the creators bring Season 3 as soon as possible.

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“Not bad, not amazing just quietly pleasant”

Love Untangle actually pretty nice but it’s also not something I’d call amazing. I enjoyed watching it mostly because of the cozy atmosphere and the nostalgic 90s setting. It has that soft, warm vibe that makes it easy to sit through and the leads have sweet, natural chemistry that feels genuine. The friend group and school life moments are also cute and comforting.

That said the movie plays it very safe. The storyline is predictable and you can guess where things are going pretty early on. While it tries to touch on themes like self confidence and fitting in it doesn’t really dig deep. The beauty related message especially the focus on changing appearance feels a bit outdated and could’ve been handled better which makes the message less impactful.

I wouldn’t say the movie is bad at all it’s just simple. It’s the kind of film you enjoy in the moment but don’t really think about afterward. If you’re in the mood for a calm, light romance with a nostalgic feel it works. If you’re looking for something emotionally deep or memorable it might feel underwhelming.

Overall, Love Untangle sits comfortably in the middle: sweet, watchable, flawed, and quietly forgettable.

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IN DARKNESS, THERE'S ALWAYS A LIGHT TO GUIDE YOU OUT.

'SPEED AND LOVE' is a rare C- drama that feels more like a movie than a series. The chemistry between Esther Yu and He Yu is absolutely fire; they perfectly capture that 'long-lost soulmate' tension, and their 'stare-downs' and quiet moments feel very high-stakes. Esther Yu shows so much growth here in a more mature role, and He Yu is definitely a new favorite as his portrayal of Jin Zhao is raw and protective. The soundtrack and cinematography are top-tier, making even the quiet moments feel intense.

The Thailand episodes are stunning. It has a gritty, cinematic film look rather than a typical bright TV soap vibe. The main leads transition from impulsive teenagers to stable adults, making their final reunion feel earned. Also, the FL is the one chasing and saving the ML, which is a refreshing change in pace. The racing and underground boxing scenes are well-choreographed and add great intensity.

However, at first, I didn't want to watch it because of the forbidden romance tag or the 'pseudo-sibling' set-up, but eventually I forced myself to watch it, which was really worth it. Also, there are moments where the characters break up 'for others' own good'(Noble Idiocy), which was frustrating for me, who prefers direct communication.

Lastly, I recommend it if you love stories about healing, second chances, and forbidden tropes done with actual depth.(✿◡‿◡)

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Dynamite kiss

My biggest 2025's kdrama dissapointed. Sad thing it started really well and I thought it would be 8/10.
First two episodes where really good, the rest was boring, storyline in many aspects was just ridiculous - loan sharks, setting fire, amnesia - they had perfect opportnity to make some drama but more meaningful like for example the fact that MFL could not get pregnant? I was expecting it, not freaking car accident.........Why they literally forget about MFL's sister?!
To be honest at some point I was watching it because of 3 reasons: second couple, team member&secretary and I hate to not finish what I started..........
I can not say even anything big about main cast - Jang Ki Yong (still love him in The atypical family and My roommate is a gumiho) and Ahn Eun Jin (love her in Genie, make a wish) - but here their characters at some point got annoying and boring. And I did not see any chemistry......but they won award for Best chemistry so I guess it is just me.
But I really liked second couple - unpopular but I did not hate Kim Mu Jun's characters, I love Woo Da Vi - she stole the show, her character was the best. Love their potential relationship, their kiss was the best, how she cared about his son - I only wished they never did a love triangle and explore them more, but still like their storyline.
I also love Park Jung Yeon and Shin Joo Hyup - and their love story, wished they showed more.
I think few things - not talking about plot - also did not worked in favour for this drama - amount of episodes, too many or too long and the fact that it was ongoing.
To sum up - many people will love it, sadly not me and I rank it 5/10 only because of the few aspects I liked.

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Short, sweet, and simply cute

For me, this special was just really cute, and honestly, that’s enough. Yes, it was very short and the pacing could have been better, but what mattered to me was getting to see more soft, sweet moments between them. Watching their relationship feel more natural, more comfortable, and more affectionate was exactly what I wanted from a special.

The jealous moments, the shy reactions, and even the unexpected kisses all added to that feeling of intimacy between them. It didn’t try to be overly dramatic or groundbreaking, it simply gave us more of them, and I was happy with that. Not perfect, but warm, light, and full of cute scenes, and for me, that’s what made it worth watching.

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Its not for the mature audience.

I believe those who are excited about this drama are of a young age group cause i am at episode 17 and i don't know what we are working towards.I am just pushing through the drama to see where the story line takes me.I am a girls girl but the female lead in this one is just a let down for me, apart from being with the guy does she not have aspirations for her own life,her character is abit too much for me...For starters,she left China for the guy... refused to go to Canada to further her studies for the guy, staying in Thailand for the guy.Then she goes further and asks the guy what she should study after she has finished her language course.In all honestly why does her life have to revolve around a guy who has a plan/s surrounding his life despite some of them being dangerous.The guy is book smart were it not for extenuating circumstances he would have gone to college,now we get to see him being street smart....he has his own garage while helping out at the restaurant and on a mission to bring down a smuggling syndicate.We clearly see he has a life and has been managing well without her in his life.Enters female lead with her nonsensical worries...hope he is not selling drugs!! Who is that person he is meeting? Why is he doing underground fighting? Why is he street racing? Sees a suspicious person the 'brother' met starts following him.What is wrong with this lady...Let us not forget she had the brains to say she can take care of him is he agrees to go back with her in China to their old house.She hasn't finished her studies,does not have a career neither have we seen her interest in any money making activity.Her only redeeming aspects is that she is a really good driver and i like her outfits,other than that her cute...naive persona does not add value to the male main character,she is too meddlesome for his own good....ooh yeah,even his friends have become her friends🤦🏽‍♀️

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A slow burn age-gap love story told with warmth and care

Started this drama with no strong hopes and ended up completely hooked. It is an age gap slow romance, but the story handles it with care and maturity, never making it feel uncomfortable. The relationship grows slowly and naturally, focusing more on emotions and connection rather than shock value. The pacing is calm and steady, which makes it perfect for relaxed watching after a long day.

The romance is soft, warm, and well written. It begins with care and protection and slowly turns into something deeper, which feels very natural. The chemistry between the leads is strong and comes through in their eye contact and quiet moments. The female lead is calm, mature, and emotionally grounded, while still showing vulnerability. The male lead starts off shy and reserved, but his growth over time feels earned and satisfying. His character development is one of the most rewarding parts of the drama, and it is refreshing to see a young male lead (in age gap romances) who is gentle and different from the usual stereotypes.

The supporting characters are also well done and add warmth to the story without stealing focus. The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it fits the mood perfectly and adds emotional depth to many scenes. While a few character arcs could have been explored more deeply, the overall experience remains strong and heartfelt. This drama is comforting, emotional, and quietly beautiful. It deserves more attention. I would rate it 8.5 out of 10.

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A gentle slow-burn with heartfelt chemistry

Shine On Me is such a warm, character-driven drama that I ended up liking a lot, even if I wasn’t as obsessed as I expected before starting it.
The biggest highlight for me was the male lead’s personality: calm, sincere, emotionally mature, and refreshingly free of hidden motives. His way of pursuing the female lead feels gentle and genuine, never pushy or transactional.
The chemistry between the leads is natural and comforting, and their love story feels well-paced and emotionally grounded.
I appreciated how the drama avoids common clichés and instead focuses on growth, communication, and quiet moments.
The slow-burn pacing won’t work for everyone, but it suits the story’s tone.

Overall, it may not be unforgettable for me, but it’s a solid, heartfelt watch with a romance that truly works.

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Was this all for nothing?

I really wish they would have gone with a slow burn romance instead of the incest plot. Both Kissing scenes in the beginning were hard to watch. One the FMC is drugged (not by the MMC) and Two the FMC thought the MMC was her brother and still kissed him. I can see where that would make people stop watching then and there. The snow man (I forge his name cuz it doesn’t even matter) was confusing to me because I thought he was the same as the painter. I didn’t get till the end kind that they were two separate ppl. I don’t understand the point of the snow man?? was he just there to kidnap the children??? I’m assuming the children were just used as canvases and when it didn’t turn out right he just idk killed them? The twist and turns were fun so I enjoyed that. I didn’t like that the MMC never got a true name or a life that was fully his own. He died nameless and that’s so sad to me. All the other characters pissed me off so much. the step mom was annoying and I do feel bad for at the end she just wanted her son but why be so mean to the FMC she wouldn’t have owned anything and she didn’t seem to want to take over the family business anyways so why everyone acted like she was this huge threat and to kill her was baffling. the father was a sh*tty person. he cared about no one. not even his daughter who for whatever reason I was convinced was tha daughter of the lover for some reason. so there was a third sad dead love interest I guess. The adopted brother just got too obsessed with her. I really wanted him to team up with the MMC so bad and redeem himself but nope had to go and get himself killed. the grand prince was a despicable Person! I love the actor who played him but hate that he’s mainly doing villain roles…I love him as a MMC….overall the acting and the filming were soo good! the plot and writing lost me a bit and I don’t like sad ending. so I give it a 7/10

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"Art of Barely Making It" manual by Wu Xie

Time Raiders is the drama to start your The Lost Tomb journey with. Putting aside the fact chronologically it makes sense to start here, I also think the storytelling and directing is the most digestible of what exactly is going on and how this, at times chaotic, fictional world works.

Yes, the whole lore is extremely complex and detailed. The story feels greater than life. The adventures are thrilling, exciting, sometimes scary. The plot is interesting, but for me I always watch these shows for the characters. They are what draws me in and makes me want to pick up different titles from “The Lost Tomb” series. And the versions of the characters presented in Time Raiders are some of the best and most loveable ones I have seen so far.

Starting with Wuxie. What’s to love? He was amazingly animated, hilarious, but also resourceful and less of a damsel in distress than in other versions. It’s one thing to have all the skills, it’s another thing to have a survival instinct. While he might have lacked in some areas, he for sure had a strong will to live. You don't have to go full martial arts in dire situations. Sometimes a simple “stab stab” with a knife is enough. He did what he could instead of standing there scared hoping everything will miraculously solve itself out.

What’s more - even though it was obvious he lacks some skill and expertise, they made it abundantly clear he has so much potential to grow. That’s how the opening of any story should be - starting with a character we can witness the development of. With each adventure he gets better instead of being this unstoppable force since day one.

On the topic of unstoppable forces, we need to chat about our lovely emo boy Xiao Ge, who in this version felt like an actual human being, even if he still had his supernatural emo magic qualities I love. The number of times he actually used his words was amazing. Some of these instalments are determined to turn the character into a silent film edition. Not here though. He still has this mysterious aura about him, speaking only when it’s actually necessary - man of few words, but many actions, but it feels more like a persona than performance.

Short note on bromance - great set up. You can sense there is a connection between them before they even know it.

For the other characters, similar to Wuxie and Xiao Ge, this is also the best Pang Zi - dude was actually funny and not annoying. Some of his lines and reactions were almost the highlights of the episodes. But as funny as he was, they made sure to present him as a skilled and useful addition to the team.

Francis Ng aced his performance as Wu San Xing - what a natural delivery. Even when he was in the background he used 100% of his abilities. Not a second nor a frame was wasted.

On the frustrating side - A Ning will forever be annoying, why not just let her die? She would have zero issue leaving them all for death. Sometimes you just need to stop being a gentleman if being one makes you a dumbass.

Plot wise, I greatly appreciated the actual stakes that made me tear up a little bit. Unexpected to be honest. I don’t exactly watch these dramas to be moved, but to be entertained. I expect magical over the top solutions for serious troubles, so it’s refreshing to see characters lose and there is nothing they can do about it. Seeing them deal emotionally with the consequences of their actions, witnessing how it affects everyone around them, making plans to lessen the impact - great way to add emotional weight.

Time Raiders somehow was able to deliver even pacing - 18 episodes for two stories seemed like the perfect choice. We had enough time to explore the area, lore, witness different interactions between the characters, and enjoy both the fun and the scary parts of the adventures.

The comedy was flawless. The funny lines, little moments, or even longer scenes focused on the hilarious set up were incorporated into the script effortlessly, lightening the mood without taking away from the tension completely.

As for the production - great. The CGI was actually mostly good. There was one scene that went a little bit (a lot) over the top, but it was hilarious to witness. I loved the sets - the caves, dark corridors, awfully tiny spaces that triggered my claustrophobia. I loved the lighting - well balanced when it was realistically dark for the setting, but bright enough for me to see what was happening. Good balance between realism and the accessible presentation for the viewers. And god bless these underwater scenes, because these were some of the best I have seen in any Chinese drama for ages.

The soundtrack perfectly accompanied the drama - got me tense when needed, hyped up for some cool action scenes that were about to happen. And they also knew when to not include any sound at all, which is in fact a valid and sometimes correct choice many directors forget about.

To add last note about the performances: Sometimes in dramas acting and the chemistry between actors is so good you start to question how much of what is happening is actually part of the script and directing, and how much is just the actors vibing and it just working together well. The delivery was so good if you told me they just let the actors act like themselves for realism, I would believe you.

Few extremely random thoughts I had while watching I don’t quite know where to place in the review:

We got a borderline Bollywood action scene and I lived for it.

Can we talk about how good at throwing Cheng Xiang is? Or how well Xu Zhen Xuan runs? What I mean is - I did not have to convince myself what they did could happen, because they committed to present it in a realistic fashion. Things need to be thrown into the ceiling? We are running away from something dangerous, or towards something we really want? We will be using all the muscles in out body. We are sprinting like an athlete, not half jog like it's a PE we don't want to be in. I hate when characters throw shit like a 5 year old kid using as little muscles and movement as possible and we need to pretend it was a great aim and strong throw.

The whole “oxygen issue” in the second story was an intentional comedy when you find out you have from 3 to 7 hours of oxygen left even when you are buried alive in a coffin. Ain’t no logic in that high stake, but I did not care.

I just love how every Tomb drama ends on the note that leaves you in a complete state of confusion, more questions than answers.

Overall, I’d say this is the perfect drama to start your Lost Tomb journey with. The story is presented in the most digestible manner while also making sure you understand there is a bigger picture behind these 18 episodes - you just opened the door, you did not even take a first step into this wacky and fun journey.

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