Reviews

Mayhem

January 2026.
I do love the cast, and my goodness did they have to put themselves out there.
It's a while since I watched S1, but it's a favourite... what happened, Disney+?
OTT I can handle. A little slapstick, dry humour, silliness to cut through the suspense & more visceral scenes ~ all that I can happily handle; but this totally lost its foundations compared to S1.
The weak and childish plot had everything thrown into it... cheap laughs, awful toilet humour, the cast made to act like clowns, drag (though KMG looked weirdly pretty 😆), novelty 'musical' scenes (not uncommon in some American shows), plus pops at S.Korea's seemingly woeful legal system, with a liberal dose of strong violence for good measure.
The constant, and weird, American dialogue from character Park Gyeong Sun (Lee Ha-nee), really irritated me, too.
The look of it was more polished than S1, but that's the only thing that's an improvement ~ the rest didn't come close.
The violence was still pretty strong ~ a drug Lord (the straightest acting in the series, from Sung Joon playing Kim Hong Sik), who didn't mess about with his philosophy of a life for a mistake.
Then there was the torturing of a female intelligence agent, featuring a mallet and lots of screaming... the outcome of which was funnier than a lot of the so-called humour.
That was this drama's biggest problem ~ it swung from violent and trying to be an action plot, to all out slapstick comedy. It did not work. If it's an action drama, any comedy needs to enhance the story and be a little more subtle, or clever, but this was far from either.
I did get the feeling the cast probably had a great time making this (Lord I hope so), but for me it was pretty awful. Sadly.
Can't believe it's the same script writer, and the Director was Asst Director, for S1. A let down.

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Great premise but dull execution

The idea is very intriguing, this is the first time I've seen someone wanting romance without intimacy or being in serious relationship, most dramas focus of the physical connection and disregard feelings.

Be that as it may, I think it was too sugarcoated and molded into a simple healing drama.
I genuinely wanted to see romance with no string attached, this's just two people with bad experience that made them scared to enter a new relationship or open up to others, romance has nothing to do with it.

I don't think Seri's past should affect her love life the way it did, because it's completely unrelated, not to mention they fell in love pretty quickly and I still don't know what exactly made them fall in love, because if a simple romantic gesture was enough for seri to fall in love and want a relationship then why was she against the idea in the first place... If she gave anyone a chance ( her colleague for example) she would have easily started a relationship with romance and everything, because it's obvious she wanted a that not just the romance, but the full package.

Same with Mahiro, I see nothing seri did that would make him fall for her except maybe being kind?

The way they went with the story has nothing to do with the idea they start with, that's why I was slightly disappointed, however the show was entertaining and fun, I loved the Mangaka character he was funny, crazy and adorable.

I wouldn't recommend it tbh, it was ok, if you have nothing else to watch give it a go ~~

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For Plot wise it was the best of Tainai Series.

Finally i have mood to writing review about Tainai series and personal take it was their best in terms of plot.

Li Keyi in this drama was really useful and not like spectator like Tainai 3. She was the one who helps Wu Tianhao character in this drama while almost of the brothers didn't believe him. Wang Daotie part are just comedic relief but his backstory wasn't well-written. And Zeng Hui character wasn't necessary in here.

I liked the Wu Tianhao plot it was too deep even the plot is feel so generic about real son was being thrown while fake son are using the family money with help of his real parents(the maid and butler).

Love how Li Keyi is back to institute to help spaceship project that real grandma was worked for. It feels patriotic and meaningful. Even the usual verbal sparring wasn't necessary.

For me it was the best part of Tainai series. Highly recommended.

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Hope in the season 4 they wont use Wang Peiyan character as a joke anymore.

Finally i have mood to writing review about Tainai and the greatest things in this drama are supporting casts especially the brothers (the grandpa's also included in this) so it was expected to getting popular.

Personally Li Keyi as Rong Yun was average because if the supporting cast was from unknown actors the result is absolutely different.

The earlier episodes had some flaws; for example, the woman was pregnant, and a DNA test could have been done directly, but they dragged it out for several episodes. The later plot was good even they added so many F4 reference, Yuyin scene in Good Girl, etc but maybe the jokes didn't make me laugh or i was too tensed when i watch this.

Chen Tianxiang in here was so refreshing and his role was an significant role quite like his tandem with Wu Tianhao. Personally Meng Na character was unnecessary in this story and her acting is her comfort zone. One of the cons of this drama is they are over the line with Wang Pei Yan slapstick joke and his character was like the idiom frog in a coconut shell by scriptwriter.

Still decent watch and personally Tinghuadao are milking this series and making Tainai 4 with Cai Xinyang as Li Keyi's love interest.

Recommended to watch for stellar supporting casts.

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Lost in translation

Let me preface this by saying I am a HUGE Kim Seon Ho fan. I have loved him in all of his works and have always supported him. So I went into this series primarily because of KSH. And, I also have been loving Go Younjung lately. Totally loved her in Alchemy of Souls and Moving, so I had no doubt that this series would be good because of the two of them.

And it would have been if they focused on the romance in this romcom. It was giving! They had such great chemistry - KSH and GYJ looked great together! Both fresh-faced, wholesome and not, beautiful, and those winning smiles! But no they had to ruin the plot with some mental health issues drama. I totally understand that they may be trying to make a point or something but they totally missed it. The story still could have been great without all that depressing drama which was not even properly addressed. I mean, if you are giving us something to go to therapy about might as well get us into therapy and healing by the end of the series?

Suffice it to say, I was frustrated with this series. Yes, I loved all the sweet and cute moments but damn, they really had to ruin it. KSH and GYJ were amazing. And so were the rest of the cast, the scenes were so beautiful - I can't believe they had such a big budget for it to just be a total letdown. I was not impressed. But it was still a good watch. However the short 12 episodes felt more like a chore and pledge of allegiance to Kim Seon Ho - which in a way, it really was. I only finished it because of him.

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the first half is good then its not anymore

the first half (about 30 mins-35 mins) was okay, this movie is so explicit i was surprised but i find it hot, there was an interesting story at first, the acting is alright too.. id say its better to stop when the fl's father decide to visit them because later on it went downhill.
as the synposis is , the ml is gay and he only married the fl for mutual interest, he has a lover and she knows, which he later told him to live with them.

*why i didnt like the last part and how it ruined it for me: *spoilers*
-Otoya trusted his lover and thats why he asked him to move in with them then Junpei betrayed that trust by cheating on him with the wife
-he said its not the first time he cheated and he or Otoya punched the girl then? => violence agaisnt woman, put your frustration on your partner instead as he is the one who is supposed to be faithful to you
-after cheating she ended up pregnant, and surprisingly its good for them as both his and her family want to see granddaughter/son, he got mad a bit ,went to sleep with another guy then forgave him

* what i wanted to happen:
-divorce her as she didnt commit to the terms that they talked about , break up with his bf and be with someone loyal (how many times he cheated on as he claims its not the first time, why keep staying with someone who is unfailthful to you)
- or even better, for this bs to not even happen, the couple could have talked about it then he get his consent to sleep around and have a baby

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I'm probably the least qualified person to discuss how Fatal Frame fails as an adaptation of its source material, given my exposure to this franchise is limited to Maiden of Black Water, and even then, that's because it features my girl Ayane, from Dead or Alive. But as its own entity, the film is a wonderfully moody and atmospheric production that at least understands the horror of the games, less so its spirit or mechanics. The visuals are definitely the film's strongest element. Director Mari Asato leans heavily on long, lingering silences with plenty of dim lighting, spooky buildings and soft, ghostly imagery, which attempts to echo the unsettling aesthetic of the games. It's undoubtedly creepy, but scary is up for debate. The narrative takes a more psychological and emotionally horror-tinged angle rather than relying on unnerving dread and tension, with the Camera Obscura conspicuously absent from the proceedings. Annoyingly, there are some compelling ideas about memory, loss and the lingering presence of the dead here, but the story is fragmented and underdeveloped that it all feels like a waste as characters drift in and out without any depth. The performances of the cast are fine, but the material afforded to them doesn't do them justice. Restrained and melancholic but lacking any form of strong emotional hook, anyone looking for an actual adaptation of Fatal Frame is going to be sorely disappointed here, relying more on its namesake than telling a compelling ghost story.

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Type of romance I don't understand

I'm not a big fan of teacher-student relationship movies; they are wrong. However, in this one, I appreciated that the teacher managed to keep his distance, even though it was still disturbing that he pursued the student. It’s a type of romance I don’t understand. I could accept it if the characters were university students, but in a high school context, it feels really strange.

Additionally, the way the story unfolded felt childish. If I were 14 or 15 years old, I might have understood it better, but watching it as an adult made it seem quite irrational. Overall, I'd rate it no higher than 6/10. Some of the cinematography was really nice, but the story itself was lacking. That said, I have seen worse stories featuring similar relationships, so I would say this one is somewhat decent.

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Ending Ruins Whole Show

I was very interested in this drama because it was heavily hyped and distributed by Prime. The last dialogue of the first episode — “See you at the funeral. Either you die or me” — really got me. At that moment, I thought the drama would either turn into a complete ktrauma or have a truly satisfying happy ending.

But I must say, I’m somewhere disappointed with how it ended in such a basic, and mediocre way.

1. The ending is the most talked about, so I’m starting with that. There is a simple thing: if after so many events across the whole 12 episodes (around 12 hours), you still need someone’s death as a catalyst to bring the leads together, then I’m sorry — your writing is clearly lacking somewhere. Death should be the last resource to bring people together and here it was surely avoidable. All those hit-and-miss scenes ended up having no meaning at all. If she really wanted him to be with her, she should have acted sooner instead of waiting and roaming around. I understand hesitation, but after so many things happened, it doesn’t make sense anymore and just becomes frustrating.

The question is: how much time did you actually let viewers enjoy them together without any other tension, like company issues? I may be demanding too much, but at least a wedding could have been shown. Some good family time could have been shown since the whole series is centered on only the 2 characters. Instead, you chose a typical airport ending. I know it has context with their previous encounters, but seriously, the conclusion felt too ordinary and abrupt. She comes, stops him, and suddenly it’s “let’s live together.” Where were these emotions till now? The ending could have been shown in a much more wholesome way.

2. The next issue is that the story focuses too much on the leads — almost excessively. There are no other characters development shown. The friends are shown, but their individual stories or backgrounds are never explored. The office colleagues exist only to fill space and help.
One thing I do appreciate is how realistically the friendships are portrayed — the roasting, abusive words, and casual behavior actually feel real.

2. But when it comes to family, except the sister and the antagonist, nobody is fully shown. Well-known actors were hired but given extremely limited screen time. Their roles could have been prolonged with more depth, and perspectives from family, friends, and colleagues could have been shown toward the end.

3. The story relies too heavily on flashbacks. When I already know they are bound to break up, how am I supposed to enjoy those moments freely? This aspect covers most of the show. Instead of focusing on the progressive present — where at least the outcome is uncertain — the drama keeps dragging us back to painful memories. There are too many flashbacks with obvious outcomes, like the military part, the play, and several other moments. Since we already know how they end, it ruins the mood somewhere rather than enhancing it.

4. Now let’s talk about the characters. Starting with the female character — I honestly have very little justification for her actions. The whole story revolves around her, yet she just keeps running away.

5. In their 20s, everything was going well. When he found out she was the heiress of a big company, he still accepted it and didn’t get mad, even though it’s obvious that adjusting to that life wouldn’t be easy for him. Money doesn’t flow for him the way it does for her. Then the fight happened, and suddenly she ran away. The first major conflict you face, and you disappear and with out any word just vanish . I initially let this first one slide because of her immaturity in her 20s. But the second time is far worse. When his father was fighting for his life, obviously he couldn’t look after her the way he used to. Then she uncovers her past and leaves again — without a proper conversation. He comes home one day and she’s just gone, believing she’s gone forever this is the worst thing you can do. That alone would devastate anyone.
The wedding news afterward is just too much to bear, for him yet the show barely gives it proper weight. These things are brushed off lightly instead of being addressed with the seriousness they deserve.
From the male character’s perspective, he probably should have moved on after her divorce specially after she left him in the second time. Waiting endlessly isn’t healthy. But his character is written that way, so you can’t fully blame him. He keeps saying sorry everywhere, whether it’s his fault or not. That’s just who he is — someone who forgives everything. And because his character is like this, all her actions are conveniently absorbed, which makes viewers even more frustrated.

6. Another frustrating aspect is the constant time jumps. First from 20 to 28, then another unclear gap, then the time before her divorce — and even after all of this, they still add another one-year gap. After everything, you expect the story to settle, but it keeps jumping forward.

5. On the positive side, the way the show deals with alcoholism is genuinely commendable. Most K-dramas treat alcohol very casually, but here they actually show its harmful side. The screenplay and music are minimal yet soothing. The acting is flawless, which makes the characters feel alive and keeps the show engaging. The chemistry between the leads is unbelievably good and adds strong rewatch value.

In the end, when you dedicate an entire show solely to two characters, you need to handle the chemistry between them better. from the beginning I have known that separating them permanently would have been nonsensical unless one of them died. The only one perspective present and you do not explored that fully. Instead, the show chose the most mediocre ending possible, which reduced the overall value and left viewers frustrated.

That final two-minute clip is the savior. You killed that character for what? (The bench scene, by the way, is absolutely heartbreaking.) The ending needed to be written and shown in a more structured and emotionally satisfying way.

PS: These are my personal opinions — feel free to share yours.

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Simple Plot for CP driven fans.

The plot is simple; the highlight is the sweet romance between Lu Huanyu and Zhang Jinyi. Their chemistry are overflowing with sweetness and plenty of kissing scenes

FL is also well-developed; she's incredibly strong-willed, a master of witty banter, and never backs down. Liked how ML teaches FL business, helping her to obtain the group's inheritance rights.

The villain in this drama is the typical villain of a short drama stubborn with narcistic attitude. Old style acting method.

Decent to watch if you are not into plot-driven drama and want the sweetness of CP.

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A funny rom com

I understand why this series is so popular. It’s true that I don’t get all the inside jokes that Thai viewers might understand, but I still had a really good time watching it.

That said, it’s not a series with a complex storyline don’t expect something like KinnPorsche. It’s more about enjoying the moment.

My only negative point and I know this might sound immature is the kissing scenes between Thee and Peach, which I found quite underwhelming. I wasn’t asking for intense make-out scenes, but we’re watching a love story… at least kiss properly.

After episode 7, something feels really off. Pond gives it his all, while Phuwin sorry only seems to give about 30%.

The characters also deserved more development; everything stays very surface-level.

Tawan and Aran are basically useless to the story, and we keep seeing the same trope with Perth and Santa, which is becoming ridiculous.

Despite all that, the series is very comforting and funny, and I really enjoy watching it

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FORBIDDEN UNREQUITED LOVE SAGA of Jin Han! :(

Not the usual BL movie where u can feel "movie" vibes, this is like watching a fragment of reality, a slice of life onscreen. So it looks all realistic & natural like art.

***
Story, Direction, Cinematography and Story Narration are GOOD.
The locations are beautiful.

The story depicts the lives of Main Leads (Jin Han n Birdy) starting from their rebellious phase of 18 yrs age, their chaotic college life, their fun times together as besties, how they turned "more than besties", their unrequited love, acceptance, rejections, separations and finally their adult life.

It's mostly said from the POV of Jin Han.
We get to see very little of Birdy's POV.

Acting by the main leads is VERY GOOD.
They conveyed every emotion very well -- confusion, fear, pain etc.
They have good chemistry.

***
Initially, watching the scenes of their 18 yr old selves' mindless chaos, I have no emotional connection with the characters and the story as well.
(TBH, I'm lil bored since I'm not a fan of teen stories.
I watched this bcz many suggested me n bcz of the Hype, this movie has got).

But once the "feelings" are involved, boom, the acting and the emotions captivated me. It is very interesting.
(Aigoo Me, this is very sad to watch :(
Unrequited or Forbidden loves are always painful to watch!
Taiwanese BLs hit different when they have to show sad loves -- very realistic n painful.
And Yes, The Hype for this movie is Real! :) )

***
My Rating is 9/10.
Don't miss this movie!
BL lovers will definitely like this.

Good to know that the Title is from the lyrics of a Taiwanese song.

***** Just a Fun thought about the actors:
While watching the movie, my funny thoughts:

Halfway through the movie n still I couldn't differentiate the main leads' handsome faces though they are known actors, haha.
Maybe the Teenage Chaos, their silly mindless running n so no clear view of their faces properly, created this confusion to my eyes, hehe.
Their physiques n hair styles -- They looked so similar at one point, Aigoo my eyes! :/

And my mind found a funny way to recognise them -- Once the "feelings", pains n cryings started, they calmed down without silly jumping n so the camera(hehe) n I can tell who is who, very clearly :)


***** SPOILERS -- SKIP this part if you are going to watch the movie ******

My thoughts on the ENDING:

1)
Meeting after 30 years n after saying past confessions aloud, atleast then, they could have given an Exclusive Ending like whether they parted ways forever again or going to be in touch as friends / couple.

To me, It looked like an Open Ending as though they are going to be in touch (maybe as friends n not as lovers though they exclusively love each other only) n So I'm lil less sad, haha.
(I'm super sad when Birdy avoided Jin Han n got married, whereas 30 years of Jia's life is lost in pain).

Birdy's POV is not shown here. This movie is exclusively Jia's POV n still I can say Jia's pain is more than that of Birdy (bcz Birdy chose rejection, he didn't dare like Jia to express his love bcz of his fear or societal restrictions).


2)
(My source might be wrong ):
When reading the comments n director's MDL page, I came to know that character Jia is based on his own life n his failed first love! :O

And so it means that Open Ending is just his imagination ?! -- So, They never met in life again ?! :O -- Now, I'm sad!!

So for a Fictional story, Open Ending is Good.
Usually, I don't like Sad or Open Ending dramas but since it's a personal story of the director, Sad Ending is inevitable n though I'm sad for him, I have to accept what it is :(

***

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goods na dili na very goods

started out by good that i literally binged episodes 1-7 in one go with full energy and was expecting that adrenaline to keep up until i finished the entire drama in one go, but when i got to ep. 8, i was already starting to press the skip button several times per scene. this drama was branded as a cute romcom throughout the whole time everyone was waiting for it to release that when the plot twist hit, it was unexpectedly unpleasant.

first, i understand how muhee’s past and current traumas have affected her and eventually formed into something that completely influenced her mental state. it was actually very interesting to see because i think this happens to a lot of actors; they get really immersed in their role or get really connected with the character that it manifests in real life. second, i personally really liked the plot of hojin being a renowned translator/enterpretator but cannot, for the life of him, decipher muhee’s mind and actions, hence why he needed a ‘translator’ of his own.

however, i completely feel like this could’ve all been done without the ‘horror’ aspect. despite how many times “do rami” was shown—and probably, forshadowed—her actually ‘fronting’ was a bit of a whiplash to me. i think they got overly ambitious with trying to cover many genres at once to make it more interesting and, because of that, couldn’t focus too much on the psychological part of the plot. (speaking of, we never really heard of hojin’s brother ever again LMFAO) i honestly would’ve given this a 10 if it just focused on being a silly romcom.

still, i really liked the overall vibe and especially the cinematography! also really enjoyed the soundtracks they used—i think it really so well with the scenes that i sometimes replay it just to listen to the first beat dropping at a great scene. i’ll definitely rewatch this as a fan of all 3 leads (2015 me would NOT believe it if someone told me THEE sota fukushi would be in a kdrama!!!!!), but i think i’ll still skip on the horror scenes.

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