Reviews

10/10 minus nothing!!!

Love’s Ambition finally dropped and I’m actually screaming 😭😭 Lusi is out here serving something completely new , this role is a whole different dimension from her usual and she’s absolutely killing it. Every emotion, every line delivery just hits so hard.
And then the styling??? The fact that she styled HERSELF for this drama is insane 🤸 every single look is fire and fits her character so perfectly. She’s literally acting and serving fashion icon at the same time y'all.. I really have to develop a lot of patience waiting for the remaining episodes.... Just 4 episodes and I'm completely hooked!!!!

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started with 0 expectations and I was right!

let me start by saying Alice in Borderland is one of my favorite series if not THE one. I started this season with my expectations below 0 and sadly I didn't get rewarded much.

the way they return to Borderland is just weird. And what happened to Usagi? She's happily married to Arisu, I thought she was over her dad but now suddenly she wants to see him? How is she going to see him, he's been dead for years, it's not like he was in a coma or in a limbo but whatever, it's just weird.

Arisu going back to save Usagi of course makes sense and is in character, but the fact that Banda wanted him just because he was bored of other players in the game?? Just find an hobby, bro, try knitting. He didn't even meet Arisu in the games and was obsessed by his thinking skills, if that was true he could've asked for Chishiya back too since he actually faced him.

And Ryuji the professor is just weird, he has this weird obsession for Usagi (god knows why when there's tons of other survivors with near-death experiences) but whatI REALLY don't get why Usagi is so keen on saving him, the man literally drugged you for his obsessive schemes?? Overall Usagi felt really weak this season, my girl was such a badass and did not self-commiserate and look at her now,,,

The new characters were... fine. Some were more interesting than others but we had too little time to get to know them well so I didn't really get super attached to anyone, but they were okay. I loved Nobu, Tetsu was also interesting, I really liked Kazuya and the Nee-san-Natsu pair but alas...

the games were also meh. Obviously they had to be different because they didn't have a specific suit/type/card anymore but /shrugs/ the first with the fortune and the flaming arrows was cool, the zombie card game was boring, the last game with the doors was soooo long and random. the whole storyline of Usagi being pregnant and the baby being another participant in the game was kinda cringe, just a weird excuse for them to have more points to get through the rooms.
the scariest "game" was actually how they had to walk 20km every time to reach a new game arena...

Season 2 had such a perfect ending with the storylines all wrapped up and the characters returning home and somehow living happily ever after, there was literally no need for another season if not for Netflix's greed. let's hope they don't really make an American version because I will NOT be watching it.

It was nice to see all the characters back for a final cameo though! That really warmed my heart <3

In conclusion: worth a watch? Yes, but then forget about it and rewatch just the first 2 seasons.

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What a Wonderful Experience of a Drama

I knew I would like this, but I’m still shocked at just how much I enjoyed it. This wasn’t just a drama, it was an experience.

It’s a forbidden romance on the surface, yet it’s so much more than that. I felt so many things while watching — anger, sadness, empathy, joy, it was insane. What stood out the most was how human every character was. Even the so-called “villains” weren’t one-dimensional; they’re the kind of people you might actually encounter in real life. And while that doesn’t excuse their actions, it made them painfully real.

The story follows Takamori Taiga (also known as Kaori), a 23 year old illiterate host, and Ogawa Manami, a 35 year old teacher. Their paths cross when one of her students gets mixed up with the hosts, and from there begins what I’d call an “almost perfect romance.” She promises to teach him how to read and write, something he missed out on as a child, in exchange of learning how to love, and through that, the two slowly grow closer. But of course, a host and a teacher being together is socially unacceptable, and their relationship is full of tension and judgment from those around them.

Both leads are deeply flawed, and while I can’t personally relate to all of their struggles, I felt incredibly attached to them. Watching them teach and learn from one another was so moving — lessons that most people “normally” would have learned already, yet for them it became a way of truly connecting.

As for the side characters:

Her father — I hated him. I get where he was coming from, but everything he stood for made me furious. Honestly, seeing him triggered so much rage I had to skip a few scenes for my own peace of mind. Maybe because I’ve had those kinds of men in my own life, it hit too close to home.

Her mother — A victim herself, and sadly unable to protect her daughter from becoming another victim. I didn’t hate her, though she definitely could have done better.

The fiancé — Trash. Yes, his actions made me dislike him. But he had growth and I appreciate that. At best, he and FL needed to be together just long enough to realize they weren’t meant for each other.

ML’s mother — Not a terrible person, but an absent one, which in its own way made her a terrible mother. Her neglect left him unloved and vulnerable.

FL’s friend — She crossed lines, yes, but I understood her.

The hosts — I actually liked them. They were rivals in a sense, but also friends — bonded in a world where backgrounds didn’t matter.

Sakura Eita — I liked him a lot honestly, he was like a guide for FL.

Overall, I’d give this an 8.7/10 (rounded to 8.5). It could have been a solid 9.5 if not for the underwhelming last episode. The ending just didn’t live up to the weight of everything that came before.

Still, this drama made me feel so much, challenged me to think about society and its prejudices, and gave me characters I’ll remember for a long time. Flawed, messy, human, and that’s what made it beautiful.

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This is the most heartbreaking Chinese Drama Show I have ever watch

I have started watching this Chinese drama show on August 26, 2025, to September 26, 2025. I have watched the episodes on YouTube. I have finished watching all 30 episodes. Dongfang Zui/Na Jinci's character personality is cold-hearted, arrogant, caring, jealous, and sincere. Xie Wanyin's character personality is kindness, prudence, humility, and expressive. I like 25 episodes, except for the other episodes. I like in episode 6, when Xie Wanyin wakes up and sees Na Jinci. The funniest episode was episode 14, where Xiao Zhi shows his arm to ask Xie Wanyin if she remembers it, but it's the one she lost all of her memories of Na Jinci. I was happy that they both had a happy ending, where Xie Wayin shot an arrow with a bow. The words in the ending are Red Spiderwort is hard to find, but perhaps it fits the saying, "the evil lives on for a thousand years." In the depths of the desert, we finally found a glimmer of hope for survival. The world is vast. We'll carry the regret of Mingyue. roam freely across the world and live life to the fullest. I dislike how the emperor treats Yue when she enters the palace, how the emperor Xie Tinghan is in front of Yue, how they both have feelings for each other, Yue's death, and the separation between Xie Wanyin & Na Jinci. It's very hard to predict why to their separation occurred because it was after Na Jinci learned that Xie Wanyin's grandfather killed his family in episode 20. It's not until they reconcile that they both focus on overcoming past hurts and misunderstandings. In episode 21, Na Jinci avoids Xie Wanyin & wants her not to find him because he was going through emotional detachment and disconnection with her. Na Jinci's emotions are incomplete. Na Jinci says that Xie Wanyin made many enemies for him, and where he couldn't spend a few days with her in episode 27. I feel bad for Xie Wanyin that he hurt her. I like how Na Jinci apologizes to Xie Wanyin in episode 27. I feel Xie Wanyin was the first person to fall in love with Na Jinci due to her seeing his cut arm, where she knew that he was the one detoxifying her poison in episode 9. I would say in episode 26, where Xie Wanyin stab Na Jinci three times, was for a lover's betrayal, lover's sacrifice, and revenge for the carriage episode. In episode 23, Xie Wanyin can't see, and she is blind due to a severe flashback. In episode 23, Xie Wanyin fainted. I don't think she is poison in the episode, but I could be wrong. I feel she faint because she didn't eat, was dehydrated, was in a life-threatening condition, and was poisoned again. The thing is that Na Jinci would cut his wrist and give his poison blood to her, only she is poison. The only question that I had about this thought is, Does he give his blood for other reasons besides poison?? My guess is that I feel Na Jinci never gives her any unless she's in danger.

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Hidden Gem!

I have had this on my “plan to watch“ list for a while now. I saw a clip on YouTube of this drama that intrigued me. So I started watching it and could not stop! I rarely had to fast-forward through episodes like I do with other dramas. The story was exciting and riveting, and the romance, even though it’s slow burn, was fire! I loved everything about this drama. I especially love the ML and he had me laughing throughout. He is definitely eye candy! I loved this drama, and I highly recommend it! It is on my list of dramas to rewatch.

There was little angst, which I love. The ending was happy which I loved! And even though there was a scheming female and her mother, it wasn’t as bad as other dramas, and was resolved within episode 16 or 17.

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Season 2 already did what Season 3 tried to do, better

This is one of my favorite series ever, following this closely ever since its release in 2020. I rated the first 2 seasons high, with Season 2 scoring a perfect 10/10 from me.

Season 3 though....WTF. The theme is still there, but S2 already delivered the message way better than S3 ever could.

My problem lies not in the new characters, because frankly, I loved this new cast and appreciate how much we got to know about them despite only 6 episodes. I wasn't super attached, but still liked them---I liked Rei, Nobu, Ryuji, pretty much everyone. My problem is the redundancy. The more you learn about the borderlands, the less it is about the games and more about humanity. I liked the idea they had going in the last 2 episodes, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking that I thought it NEEDED 2 whole episodes.

They ran out of ideas to make it emotional and so deeply psychological. What is the meaning of life, why are they fighting for their lives again sure, but S2 still moves me as the best ending. As much as I liked certain aspects of S3, it should've ended at the Queen of Hearts.

Arisu still got it in him, I liked the games and his ability to think under pressure is my favorite thing about him, ever. I also love that the focus was on Usagi a lot this time, but I critically question whatever was going on between her and Ryuji. They didn't need to write her to be so empathetic and protective towards him, when he brought her back to the borderlands against her own will. As a standalone character though, I enjoyed Ryuji's addition to the storyline.

I will pretend I didn't see the teaser ending. I'm gonna miss AIB though, thanks for the memories :'(

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A drama that fails it own name.

I haven’t read the original novel, so I can only judge the drama on its own, but honestly, Legend of Female General turned out to be quite disappointing. For a drama with such a grand title, I expected a powerful, layered story with strong characters and a sense of epic scale. Instead, what I got was shallow characterization and weak writing that failed to make me care about either the leads or their supposed romance.
One of the biggest problems for me is the lack of realism and consistency in how the female lead is portrayed. From the very beginning, we’re asked to believe that everyone in the military camp sees her as a man, yet she is presented as completely feminine, her appearance, her demeanor, even her voice leaves no doubt that she’s a woman. The suspension of disbelief might work if the story and her performance compensated for it, but unfortunately, that never happens.

What makes it even more frustrating is how her personality is written. This is supposed to be a woman who was nearly killed by her own family, who returns to the military camp driven by vengeance and determination to reclaim what she lost. With such a backstory, I expected to see a character full of intensity, inner strength, and resilience. Instead, she often comes across as playful and even flirty with the male lead. Her behavior simply doesn’t match the weight of her past, and as a result, she feels more like a romantic heroine in a light comedy than the legendary general the title promises.The male lead doesn’t help the situation either.
His character is flat and underdeveloped showing the same facial expression through most of the show.
He never conveys the kind of depth or charisma that could balance out the female lead’s shortcomings.
Together, their romance falls completely flat, shallow and unconvincing. There’s no chemistry, no emotional buildup, nothing that makes me want to root for them. Instead of creating tension, passion, or a meaningful connection, their interactions feel repetitive and uninspired.

The story lacks the epic tone I was hoping for. A drama with this title should have been bold and inspiring with the female lead written as someone truly legendary, strategic, commanding, emotionally complex, and able to carry the weight of the narrative. Sadly, none of that comes across. There is nothing in her characterization that feels legendary enough to justify the story’s premise or make me believe in her journey.
In the end, Legend of Female General fails to live up to its name. It’s not that the idea lacked potential, on the contrary, the premise could have been amazing. But the weak script, shallow characters, and lackluster romance left me feeling underwhelmed. Instead of being an epic, memorable drama, it’s just another forgettable series that wasted its potential.

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Not as bad as Squid Game but still... unnecessary

It was good, the cast, the acting, the games. But did we need this 3rd season? Absolutely not.

Everything just felt so forced. I think Usagi just needed therapy, I don't really get why she thought that going back to the games would let her meet her father, like girl, he's long dead, what were you expecting to see there? My dad is dead too but I wouldn't go back to those games just to see him or whatever, like it doesn't make sense. Girl suddenly trusted this random ahh man that she met once and suddenly they're fighting life and death together like what lmao. I really did not understand her reason for going back to play the games, even ended up risking her own life, her baby's life, and her husband's life. It felt so forced, like please, you need therapy and more communication with your husband. I lost it when she reunited with Arisu and she was like "I wanted to see you!" and I'm like girl you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place if you didn't go back here.

It's also forced that this citizen wants Arisu as a citizen in Borderland too, like bro was literally just a couch potato before he got to Borderland, it's not like he's the only one who survived the games. I don't really get the point of Borderland Jesus either, like ok he explained that this place exists between life and death but it's not like we didn't know that already? It's just so confusing.

The other players were good characters, but I didn't feel as much emotional attachment as the ones in S1 and S2. The acting and CGI was amazing as always, I guess that's the only good thing in this season. I would've been happy if they just inserted a small scene in the last ep. of S2 with their new lives, like literally the last part of S3 with Arisu and Usagi happily married and with Arisu talking to everyone at the end.

Anyway, I don't even wanna talk about that America bit in the last ep., main character syndrome country fr when will Netflix learn that not everything needs an American spinoff.

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Oldie but Goodie. Stresemann steals the show

I watched the anime of Nodame Cantabile back in 2007. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch later seasons.

I figure I'll rewatch the anime and get back to it, but first I'll watch the jdorama, which came out in 2006.


§ Overview

Noda Megumi, aka Nodame, is a talented but airhead pianist. She acts like a child.

She then meets the top student of Momogaoka, Chiaki Shin'ichi, whom she falls in love with.

This is an unlikely romance between two talented people whose personalities are poles apart.


§ Notes

1. The drama started slow. It's not helped that I know the general flow of the story. I couldn't help but feel that the slapstick is dated.

Still, it's not bad once you get used to it. Besides, a character that I forgot existed in the anime stole the show in this jdorama.

Franz Stresemann's character is played by Takenaka Naoto, and he is so hilarious that he steals the spotlight whenever he is around. I checked the anime to compare, and the anime version doesn't seem to be as compelling as the live-action version. The anime version has blond hair, but speaks fairly standard Japanese as far as I could tell. In contrast, the live-action character wears a wig and speaks an exaggerated foreign accent that's so hilarious.


2. I do remember Shin'ichi's trauma, but I couldn't remember if the anime explored Nodame's trauma. I think this jdorama gives them equal weight.

Speaking of trauma, it doesn't go too much into emotion as what Your Lie in April did. The latter takes this issue more seriously. In contrast, Nodame Cantabile is mostly comedick and inserts the issue of trauma to make it more palatable. It's like adding honey so you won't taste the bitterness of a strong bitter pill.


3. Even though I heard that the anime is more faithful to the manga and Season 1's ending is good, this jdorama ends it at a much better spot.


4. If you like classickal musick, I believe this is one of the shows you can't go wrong watching.


§ Conclusion

This is a nice romance. The story still holds, though some of the physical comedy may feel dated. If you've seen the anime, this version still has plenty to offer.

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Didn’t Expect to Love It This Much… But Here I am!

I’m still honestly shocked at how much this series got to me. When I first pressed play, I thought I was setting myself up for disappointment. I had such high expectations at the beginning, but then I lowered them because, well… it’s a Chinese BL. If you’ve watched enough, you know there are limits compared to Taiwanese BLs, and I wasn’t sure the story could really deliver. But wow, they completely proved me wrong.

From the start, I was pulled in. The storyline is messy, dramatic, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time, and that’s exactly what made it work for me. I laughed out loud at the ridiculous banter and chaotic schemes, and then, a few minutes later, I’d be crying like crazy because of how raw and emotional the scenes turned. I lost count of how many times this series messed with my feelings, but I kind of loved every second of it.

The relationship between Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei felt surprisingly real. Watching them together didn’t give me the usual over-the-top BL tropes, it actually felt like watching two straight guys trying to navigate a relationship, with all its awkwardness, sweetness, and tension. The way they handled their conflicts was so unexpectedly gentle, yet still firm in the right moments. Honestly, that’s what drew me in the most. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this kind of vibe in another series before, and it made their chemistry unforgettable.

Episodes 18 and 19? Oh my gosh. Easily the most heartbreaking stretch of the entire show. I had to stop for a couple of days just to recover. And yes, I’m still blaming Suo Wei’s mother for stirring up so much unnecessary conflict. If not for her meddling, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so dramatic. I was frustrated, upset, and yet weirdly grateful, because those episodes wrecked me in the best way.

Now, I’ll admit, not everything was perfect. The last two episodes, for me, were the weakest part. Honestly, if they had cut those out, I’d probably be rating this series a perfect score. The subplot with Chi Cheng’s family conflict felt way too easy to resolve, almost like the writers rushed through it. It didn’t hit as hard as the rest of the story, and it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Still, even with its flaws, this drama kept me entertained and emotionally hooked from start to finish. The chemistry was real, and the emotional payoff was worth every tear and every laugh. It’s not just a revenge story but about unexpected feelings, messy love, and how relationships can surprise us when we least expect it.

So yeah, I went in doubtful, but came out obsessed. This one left a mark on me, and I think it’s going to stick in my mind for a long time.

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I have read the novel

As someone who has already read the novel, I can confidently say this series is absolutely worth watching. The story itself is beautiful, and the direction it’s going in is really something to look forward to. It’s not just your typical romance or drama — there’s depth, there’s conflict, and there are a lot of little details that make it exciting to compare between the novel and the series.

I noticed some people are quick to judge after only one episode, especially because the rating dropped from 8.1 to 7.8 the last time I checked. But honestly, ratings don’t capture the full experience. What matters most is how the series delivers the emotions, the chemistry, and the storytelling. And so far, I’d say they’re doing a really good job.

Let’s talk about the acting for a moment. Winny as Lava is incredibly convincing. He has this realistic aura, and when you look into his eyes, they’re so cinematic — you can actually feel the emotions he’s trying to portray. Lava in the novel was already a complex character, and seeing Winny bring him to life on screen is such a rewarding experience for those of us who’ve read the book. He gives Lava both the cold, intimidating side and the vulnerable, human side, and he does it so naturally.

On the other hand, Wave is also perfectly cast. The actor really captures the essence of his character — the innocence, the stubbornness, and the gradual emotional shifts that make Wave such a unique role. The interactions between Lava and Wave already have this pull, and you can tell there’s so much more development coming in the next episodes.

What I really want to remind everyone is this: we’re only on the second episode. That’s literally just the beginning. You can’t expect the whole story or the deepest emotions to unfold right away. This is the kind of series that takes its time to build the characters and set up the big emotional payoffs. So for those who are disappointed or feel like “not much is happening” yet — please be patient. The novel itself had a slow build-up, but once things started moving, it became unforgettable. The same thing is happening here.

For me, it’s exciting to see the changes between the novel and the series. Sure, not everything is exactly the same, but that’s the point — it makes it even more interesting. Sometimes the writers make changes to fit the pacing of a series or to give new layers to the characters. It doesn’t mean it’s worse; it just means we get to experience the story in a different way.

So my advice? Don’t judge the show too quickly. The second episode is just a small glimpse of what’s to come. Trust me, the upcoming episodes will surprise you, and the story will only get better from here. Give it a chance, let yourself feel the emotions, and enjoy the journey ❤️‍🩹

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A little boring

By reading the synopsis of the drama Maid, one might expect it to be an interesting story. However, it wasn’t. The drama starts with a girl who is trapped inside a cage. She is confined by her stepsister, the legitimate daughter. The stepsister wants her to sleep with her husband, who is a prince. The stepsister doesn’t love her husband; she loves someone else. The female protagonist, the girl in the cage, complies because she has been threatened that if she doesn’t do as asked, her mother’s life will be at stake.

After giving birth, the stepsister, the prince’s wife, tries to kill both her and her mother. Her mother dies, but she manages to escape and vows to take revenge.

The story began on a promising note, but it quickly became messy. The middle part was boring, there was hardly any intense chemistry between the leads, and the ending was unjustified—even though it was a happy ending and concluded as mentioned in the synopsis.

Despite these flaws, I liked the acting of all the characters, especially the cruel stepsister.

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