Reviews

waste of time.

I have nothing against cliche drama unless they are made poorly.

these stories are not groundbreaking but the audience still enjoy them because of their cuteness, romance and good feelings. this drama is void of everything.

the plot line is about a" Cinderella" taking part in a tv show in order to win a date with their favourite drama actor.

that's fine.. but there is nothing here to enjoy.
the script is ridiculous, the characters are so flat, it feels like a very uninspired movie.

there isn't really much to say.. it is a typical Cyrano the Bergerac story without much depth.

the only aspect I liked is the multicultural aspect. you hear Tagalog, English and Korean and as a language lover that's the only thing I really enjoyed.

if you are over 12 skip it

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Women in Men's Fields: Toxic CEO edition

The best Toxic CEO FL romance I've ever watched. If you want some good and thorough role reversal with a possessive and unyielding FL and a reluctant ML being taken advantage of, then this drama is perfect for you!

TL;DR: A fantastic role-reversed CEO drama with sizzling intimacy and chemistry that sadly loses its solid plot in the second half and ends rushed.

The Good:
• Dynamic - As I said, this is a very role-reversed CEO romance that commits to the trope in ways others wouldn't dare. In every way, FL is a toxic, possessive CEO who chases the object of her affection relentlessly, even if that means manipulating him to get her way. If you want to watch role-reversed forceful kisses, this is the drama. WOW! (Special mention to the car scene and the pool playing scene. I'll be rewatching those often).
• Leads - FL is such a badass red flag in the best way! Very forward, bold, and shameless, oftentimes treading into noncon territory with her affections, but extremely protective. I also liked that her character did more than just pursue ML; she ran her company and fought her POS family, too! As for ML, perfectly bratty and cute at the same time. He takes a while to come around, but it makes sense for his character and the story. He's loyal, caring, and gentle, a good contrast to FL's fiery persona without letting her always get her way. Both characters were surprisingly complex for a vertical minidrama.
• Chemistry - So good! The leads had good banter and were comfortable with each other, making their steamy scenes extra hot. There were lots of kisses and intimate scenes that were straight up 🔥🔥🔥
• Acting - Pretty dang good across the board! The FL dominated more than just ML; every scene she was in was elevated. She effortlessly and very believably portrayed the badass CEO. ML also stood his own despite his more subdued character. Both really convinced me of their roles!
• Supporting cast - Surprisingly competent acting from most supporting roles. Even very secondary characters had screen presence and seemed like they acted before.
• No bait-and-switch - In the sea of dramas that start off a certain way and then pull a 180, this one does not! The drama commits to role reversed CEO romance and delivers on it until the very end. FL doesn't lose her strength or power later in the drama, and ML doesn't suddenly become dominant and powerful for no reason.

The Okay:
• Plot - Started out pretty good for the kinda drama that it is. Melodramatic and silly, but still grounded enough to actually sell you on the story being told. Things were set up and then brought up again, so it felt fluid. Sadly, as the plot progressed, certain arcs faded into the abyss and were kinda forgotten. The main plot suffered from this too, dragging a particular misunderstanding surprisingly long to the point that once it was resolved, it felt rushed and unnatural.
• Amnesia plot - Won't go into details because it's a bit spoiler-y, but as far as amnesia plots go, this one was quite tasteful in its execution. Maybe it's because it gave me a lot of angsty romance moments between the leads that I liked it more, but I thought the way ML was struggling with his feelings vs his memories was interesting. I just wish they had done more with it.
• Love triangle - Fun and refreshing at first, with it being F/M/F in a not cringe way, but it dragged on unnecessarily long for seemingly no reason. Made the romance feel strained, especially at the midpoint.
• Overall quality - Of the better-looking vertical dramas. Camera work was pretty, lighting was good, sets and props were good. All of it was serviceable.

The Bad:
• SFL - Underutilized and ambiguous character. She is just kinda there for most of the drama, only an obstacle by proxy but with no agency of her own. Everything about her is so vague that I just felt irritated seeing her on screen.
• Ending - VERY rushed. They kinda resolved everything in the last couple of minutes with hella plot conveniences and flashbacks, and then called it.
• Sudden switch - Due to the previously mentioned love triangle and dragged misunderstanding, ML makes a sudden switch halfway through the drama that feels very unnatural. He completely changes his perspective and opinion with very little set-up for it.

Notable scenes:
- When FL pulls ML into the car and tries to get them caught in the act.
- When FL forces ML to play pool with her.

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Masterful — An Exceptional Drama That Reminds You Why K-Dramas Once Ruled

Robber is a masterful, deeply human pre-Netflix era drama — emotionally intense, organically written, and beautifully directed. Every character feels real, layered, and wounded in a way modern dramas rarely allow. A rare gem I’ll truly treasure.

Some dramas entertain you. Others stay in you.

Robber is one of those exceptional K-dramas that feels almost unrepeatable today — a drama that touches on deeply intense subjects with such organic flow that nothing feels forced, performative, or artificially “written for impact.” It simply unfolds like life: emotional, complicated, and profoundly human.

What made it exceptional

This drama has what so many modern shows have lost: narrative courage and emotional trust. It doesn’t flatten itself for broad international appeal, and it doesn’t over-explain. Instead, it lets the emotions rise naturally — quietly devastating at times, unexpectedly tender at others.

It reminded me exactly why I gravitate toward pre-Netflix era K-dramas: screenwriters had more freedom to be culturally specific, narratively daring, and emotionally layered without needing to “translate” the story for global palatability.

Directing & atmosphere

Not just cinematography — the directing itself is outstanding.

It’s the kind of direction that creates a strong emotional pull without manipulation — simply by allowing moments to breathe.

Character depth (including side characters)

One of the biggest strengths: every character has depth.

Even side characters feel like full people — with histories, motivations, and emotional arcs that matter. No one exists purely as decoration, plot filler, or stereotype. That level of character writing is rare.

Wardrobe & era realism

The wardrobe deserves special mention — not because it’s flashy, but because it feels real and era-anchored. It triggered memories from when I was younger — small details I’d forgotten — and that realism made the drama even more immersive.

Jang Hyuk (as always)

Jang Hyuk is simply outstanding — not just talented, but deeply expressive in a way that makes contradictions feel human rather than confusing. He brings a rare emotional intelligence to his performance.

A personal delight

It was also genuinely cute and moving to see Kim Hwan-hee (from When the Weather Is Fine) as a child actress. I could recognize her features immediately — like spotting a familiar presence long before she became the actress we know now.

About the “annoying character” criticism

I’ve seen some viewers describe the male lead as “annoying,”. While everyone experiences stories in their own way I’d like to add that I didn’t experience him that way at all. If anything, I suspect some of that reaction may come from projection — especially from people who have personal pain around being deceived or scammed.

Even having been hurt by people myself, I still found the character human, not irritating — because this drama gives everyone the dignity of a real arc.

Final thoughts

Robber is the kind of drama you almost never see anymore — fearless, intimate, emotionally intense, and beautifully crafted. It’s not just a good watch. It’s a drama you keep.

A rare gem — and one I’ll truly treasure.

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I appreciate that they have Czech in the poster, I was already cheering when all those posters came out, besides, I was excited about the series even before it came out. Someone just said that they were planning to start filming "Can this love be translated", what would it be about and I already knew at that time (last year) that it would be a masterpiece. I honestly didn't expect all 12 episodes to be released (why only twelve, I hate goodbyes, damn it) and I tried to binge-watch it, but because I loved it so much, I simply couldn't finish it in one day. I applaud the actors, who did a really wonderful job, the cast is legendary and their acting is like a joke. The series actually starts with how their adventure across Canada and Italy ends and we remain tense as if in braces, what happened there and what will happen next. As soon as the scene in Japan came on, I started screaming with joy and was thrilled. I knew it would be great and I would be done for, but I didn't expect it to be this much. The whole aesthetic was so beautiful that I had to rewatch it several times (I mean the nature shot in Canada, the streets in Japan or the landscape in Italy).

I admit that I experienced every moment with the characters, I laughed, I cried a lot, and not just because it was sad at times, but mainly because of how beautiful it is. Another plus is the beautiful story and music, which really suited every situation, and especially I have to mention the amazing song by Wendy Daydream, which plays in my head 24/7 and I am totally obsessed with it. This series became my addiction even before it even came out and I am glad that my waiting and enthusiasm paid off, because it is really worth it and it is beautiful. Really beautiful, I love it. It is really very beautiful and I recommend it to all lovers of romance, travel and kinda love triangle. This masterpiece has officially become my favorite series and I hope it will have the response it deserves (the best).

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Delightful start of 2026

It's a very fresh, not very very cliché but with some triangle there. A bit of it gets lost in translation because multi language show but the cinematography & direction is so innovative for that very complex character of FL dealing with split personality disorder and traumas.


It's still a light watch, great chemistry like every time you see them together you want them to be together but they keep parting ways. I wasn't expecting much maybe but I loved the whole show & it's presentation.

Reminds me of Hyun Bin's Not very popular but absolutely brilliant Hyde, Jekyll Me character. It's good if not the greatest work of Hong sisters. Definitely a mature theme.

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I didn't hate it

Things I liked

1 The first episodes. I thought there were funny and I was looking forward to the interactions between the main leads. It didn't last.

2 The kisses. This series had a lot of kisses and the ML is a great kisser. There was some chemistry with the FL, I can't deny that.

Things I disliked

1 The ML. I liked him more than in other series, but still not enough. I'm not sure if t's his acting style but most of the times I can't take him seriously. Although I cried when he cried. I also loved the kisses, he's a great kisser.

Things I hated

1 The FL. I'm not sure why she became unlikable, when I loved her when it started. At the end I wanted him to find someone else.

2 The dramatic par. I'm not sure why they do that, but I hate the mix of comedy and heavy drama. Not the fault of the actors, the script wasn't good enough.

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It was OK

I quite like Wang Haozhen and Lu Lulu version so i will give myself trying this drama (this was first version and people in Xiaohongshu always said it was better than Wang Haozhen) but maybe i was slightly subjective but Wang Haozhen and Lu Lulu version was better than this since it looks age appropriate adult romance. Liu Shanglin and Wu Jialu didn't look like convince enough to being doctor and nurse. I feel they are just intern in this drama.

Plot is around 80% same with Wang Haozhen-Lu Lulu version, but the great things in this version the plot is not being dragged in the middle which i understand why people liked this version. The obvious wig on Liu Shanglin head was too ugly and distracting and his acting still subpar compared to Wu Jialu. The chemistry between the lead was not well shown in here. For the chemistry i think this version is still sufficient to watch.

FL was definitely more heartbroken and devastated, but I really preferred the less hysterical handling of the breakup in Lu Lulu version because it feels more mature considering her age character was not young adult nor teenager.

Still watchable though.

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A Romance Wearing Historical Clothes: Kill to Love and Its Missed Potential

I went into Kill to Love with expectations of a historical political drama with heavy plotting, mind games, war, and inevitable separation. What I got was something… quite different.

What worked for me :-

From a BL standpoint, this series genuinely felt refreshing and experimental. The historical BL setup, two enemy kingdoms, lovers to enemies... is rare, especially in "Chinese" dramas under censorship.

The acting was solid, and despite being a low-budget production, it never felt cheap or lacking. The pacing was surprisingly good for a short drama; it didn’t feel that rushed, and the emotional beats were placed well. The chemistry between the leads carried the show and made it emotionally engaging till the end.

As a BL historical experiment, I appreciate that the creators tried something different instead of playing it safe.

Where it fell apart :-

However, if we remove the BL lens, the drama collapses as a “historical” series. The so-called historical backdrop existed only to serve the romance.

There were - no political intrigue, no war strategy, no meaningful plotting or power struggles. Everything revolved around the MLs’ love story, making the historical aspect feel superficial.

The inevitable misunderstanding was poorly written and logically weak. The idea that a character would hate the man who killed his brother to save his life, while ignoring the fact that said brother murdered his father and attempted to kill him, felt forced and unconvincing.

The green-flag to black-flag transformation of one ML came out of nowhere. There was no gradual psychological descent, just a sudden shift without proper buildup.

The wedding scene felt extremely out of place.
If a character truly loves his country, marrying someone who directly or indirectly led to its destruction contradicts both logic and character ideology.

The afterlife “waiting” ending felt like an artificial attempt to create the illusion of a happy ending. Personally, I would have preferred a clean tragic ending. This version felt unrealistic and emotionally dishonest.

Final verdict :-
As a pure historical drama: 5/10
As a romance-driven story: mediocre
As a Chinese historical BL attempting something new: 8.5/10

Overall, Kill to Love works because of its BL core, not because of its historical or political storytelling. It’s an ambitious attempt constrained by its own writing choices, emotionally engaging, but structurally weak.
Still, for a "Chinese" historical BL trying a new genre blend, it deserves credit.

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