Reviews

ABO Desire stands out for being one of the few live-action adaptations that fully delves into the Omegaverse (ABO) genre, a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy where humans have a second gender hierarchy: Alphas, Betas, and Omegas (and, in this case, Enigmas).

The series ambitiously builds the complex ABO system on screen, including the biology, the social hierarchy, and the use of suppressants. For those of us who are fans of the genre, it is a delight to see tropes like pheromone attraction brought to live action.

The tension between Hua Yong and Sheng Shao You is palpable. Their interactions are charged with power and desire.

If you like BL dramas with a high production value, themes of toxicity, psychological manipulation, and are interested in seeing one of the few live-action Omegaverse adaptations, give it a chance.

If you prefer healthier love stories, with consent and a fast pace, ABO Desire might be a frustrating experience.

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Empty calories - how an easy watch became hard to swallow

After almost dropping after episode 2, my conclusion is this: I don't regret not dropping it. But I wouldn't have missed out if I had. Many of the good aspects I found during the first couple episodes vanished until the last ten, making it harder and harder to finish.

Plot: Highly predictable and barely there. Despite every episode being packed with drama, the overall pacing is slow. Bad thing after bad things happens that the characters just try to make do with. Good things don't feel as if they're the result of the characters' own actions or skills, but pure luck.
If you enjoy various plotlines to happen at the same time, side characters to have great relevance for the plot and constant drama, this plot might suit your taste. I got frustrated at the lack of progress after around episode 15.

Characters: Both MLs were likeable, FL was okay, the rest felt like filling material. The antagonist to create all the drama was a bit over the top. What made me more mad than said character was the other characters' reactions to it, especially since it was never explained why they put up with that the way they did.
Every conflict felt shallow and could have been resolved in under a minute, which is why nothing ever hit deep or felt relatable. Instead, characters are empty vessels carrying the plot with no development at all. There was a lot "all tell no show" - 'we are all family' - but you never treated each other as such, 'I trust you' - how did that trust develop, why aren't you showing that, 'you changed my life' - you're literally right where you left off, what exactly changed?
As the plot progressed, more and more side characters got swept under the carpet, hence not bringing all opened plotlines to a closure.

Relationships: The bromance is barely there as 2ML is barely present (but when it's there, it's wholesome). The whole restaurant team never felt like family or friends with all the trust issues, betrayals and secrets going on. If you're hoping for a nice story about people meeting at their lowest and helping each other out, forming great bonds along the way, you couldn't choose a worse drama to watch.
The romance part was cute, despite a lack of chemistry, their relationship surprisingly open and healthy (apart from some bigger secrets that were brushed over way too quickly).

The cooking: For a drama called Wok of Love there's a big lack of actual cooking. It does get better during later episodes, but by then, I wanted them to solve their damn issues instead of holding monologues about how to butcher those poor lobsters.

Admittedly, they probably never wanted to be anything other than an easily digestible drama, and I went into it expecting just that. I wanted just one nice element that I'd enjoy to give it a higher rating.
The only hope I had was an easy watch about people growing as a team after their circumstances forced them to work together in a kitchen with tasty food as the side character.
In the end, the dishes looked tasty, but what they served lacked spice.

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Not as bad as people say it is

yall im only saying that cause i love intense fighting scenes and psycho villians. the atory itself is not that bad and the actors did a good job bt its seriously not as bad as people say it is. the fighting scenes are intense and very interesting to watch, the ending was EPIC. we didnt get on why the villian did all that but i liked the fact that he didnt give up. The officer also did an amazing job catching the villian. overall it was pretty fun to watch with intense fighting scenes. i get that some people say its predictable cause it is but it hink that just made it more fun.

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Fast Forward Romance

This is one of those dramas that would have perhaps benefitted from a longer run of 16 episodes.. Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking as someone who enjoys Jung So-min and Choi Woo-shik. As it stands, the drama feels too rushed for its own good. It jumps from one story beat to the next so abruptly that even with my “tolerant glasses” on for JSM and CWS, I found myself frowning at the screen more often than not.

Story & Execution
The premise is simple: The FL’s long-term boyfriend (and legal husband) cheats on her and dumps her. On top of that, she ends up financially strapped. She then wins a conditional prize that requires her to be married, and through a series of coincidences, she ropes the ML into pretending to be her newly-wedded husband. Conveniently, he shares the same name as her awful ex. He agrees due to his own motives. Eventually we learn that she happens to be his childhood first love. From there, the plot hits every standard rom-com checkpoint: fake marriage setup, sentimental flashbacks, family power struggles, and the inevitable conflict-resolution loop.

Unfortunately, the writing never gives these beats room to breathe. The pacing is so compressed that character development feels superficial. Important moments appear and disappear before we can invest in them.

Tropes & Weaknesses
The childhood-first-love trope is especially tired here. It’s hard to tell if the ML genuinely loves the FL as she is now, or if he’s simply clinging to nostalgia. It’s a trope that’s been used to death in K-dramas, and as it is, here it adds little beyond eye-rolling predictability.

The secondary romance is barely a romance at all. The connection between the second leads feels forced, like a bullet point on writer-nim’s checklist. The cheating ex overstays his welcome by at least six episodes. Although he faces consequences, he doesn’t actually grow. Meanwhile, the “mystery” behind the ML’s parents’ accident is so predictable that it borders on parody. Nothing else in the supporting cast or subplots stands out in a meaningful way.

Performances
The two leads are the saving grace. Even when they’re just average, their average is still better than many others’ best. I finished the drama solely because of them. Without them, I would have dropped it by episode three despite being a completionist. They make their rather bland characters, Me-ri and Woo-ju, at least somewhat charming. Ironically, they shine more individually than as a couple. The lack of chemistry is probably another casualty of the rushed execution.

Overall
It’s a meh drama, somewhere between forgettable and mildly watchable. Despite the two leads’ earnest efforts, the show never finds its footing. It wobbles, stumbles, and ultimately crashlands. Sadly, it’s one for the red side of my entertainment ledger.

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Definitely not a regret watch!!

JBL's have been really giving lately. Firstly I really enjoyed the costume designs and the overall aesthetic which I think was portrayed really nicely. The tension was there as we as the viewer obviously knew who Ai actually was.

The story telling was also portrayed really nicely. There was a clear flow, and the ultimate climax when Chiaki found out that Enaga was Ai. I also liked how they showed Ai/Enaga's conflicted feelings on wether to tell Chiaki or not who he was.

I also really liked the cinematography and the way the series was filmed especially the night scenes. The casting was also top notch, they embodied the characters really well. Especially Enaga and Ai looking like completely different people. The styling was done really well.

Overall, it's a really good watch that I would definitely recommend. The expectations where met, and it's a mix of tension that can leave you at the edge of your seat. I can assure you'll leave the series smiling.

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There is no justice when seeking revenge.

Revenge will never give you a peace of mind, because it will always create victims that will hunt you till their last day. Never ending spiral of survival in the world that does not care.

It’s a drama that requires a lot of patience - 10 episodes in I still felt rather clueless about the past events and their impact on the current timeline. Maybe not completely blind, for sure not seeing the big picture thought. The writer takes their sweet time to explain the murders, their motive, connection between victims and the wanted outcome depending on the side. While the actual explanation is more or less spoon-fed to the audience, it does not feel like they tried to insult my lack of perception, but rather elaborate on the vague idea I already had in my head. It was delivered in a way that seemed appropriate taking into consideration the long and detailed set up.

I am not sure how much of a main character Qu San Geng was. For me I saw him more like a vessel for narration. While the story directly impacted him, somehow he seemed a little bit detached from it. Technically he was the force driving the investigation forward, so why does his presence feel so passive? I’m not mad about it, I think he served his purpose perfectly, but maybe I just expected to connect to his character a little bit more?

Ripe Town is a story about injustice - be it legal or social. About the power of status and money. About idealistic ideas that are crushed by reality. This is not a fun investigation, one could even say the ending feels unsatisfying. But that unsatisfying ending actually perfectly fits the story. I felt deeply frustrated more than once and even the more lighthearted moments left a bitter taste in my mouth.

That said, it was not all pain and suffering. Thanks to many interesting main and supporting characters, I can with full confidence say it was an enjoyable watch. Song Chen easily being the best of them all - not exactly good, but definitely not bad. Sticking to his convictions and morals. I also really like the “sidekick trio” Leng Gui Er, Gao Shi Cong and Feng Ke Zhui. Their dynamics were the ray of sunshine and fun that gave me a little bit of peace of mind.

One thing the drama did a phenomenal job with was making me switch my opinions about characters back and forth depending on the amount of information I had. It clearly shows the depth of the story and the characters’ actions. Nothing is quite as black and white as it may seem.

Performance wise, Yu Yao as Lu Zhi was probably my favorite along with Ning Li and Bai Yu Fan. Personally these 3 were the true main characters for me, and everyone kind of faded into background compared.

As for the production, I loved the color schemes used - the grays, blues and greens with hints of warm tones from lanterns created a somber and grim picture that accompanied the at times bleak reality of the characters.

Overall, I would for sure recommend it, but it is better as a binge watch. Be patient with how the story unfolds, you will get your conclusions at the right time.

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Wonderful Love Story from Childhood to Married Life

I accidentally saw the teaser of this drama in Facebook and I immediately fell in loved with the young ML who was so handsome yet so arrogant. The young FL was very cute but a very talented and strong willed girl. The way she tamed the playful yet rebellious heart of the young ML was so funny and so touching so that their closeness since then leave no doubt that they are meant for each other and that they are destined for great things.
The grown up versions are almost exactly like their children counterpart. The ML grew up to be so tall and imposing man. He is so handsome and rich. He became a successful CEO on his own accomplishments and most of all he immediately went to search for the girl who changed his life to marry her. The search was so funny and so glad that they finally reunited for a beautiful and happy ending.
The FL has grown up also as a very beautiful woman who is also as successful in her own right. She is not as rich as the ML who is from super rich family from childhood but she has transformed from a poor village girl into one who is highly educated and multi-talented.
The two leads, the ML and the FL are so perfect for each other. There is a rumor that they are real couple in real life. I hope it is true.
Glad to see that the FL is so bright and strong that the villain failed in all cases to make her life difficult. The ML is also very protective and is very loyal. One of the few MLs who is not stupid to fall into the various traps or seductions of the villain woman.
It is so funny to see that the tall, macho and very tough CEO was crying thinking that his beloved will abandon him later on. In reality, they both loved and protected each other in their own special way. The Mother in Law and the Grandpa are so wonderful too. They are so loving and supportive of the FL from childhood until the end.
I really love this drama.

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Is peach trap worth the trap?

I have conflicting feelings about this series. In the beginning it took me an arm and a leg to actually continue going, but I heard good reviews so I pushed through.

Overall the plot was slightly annoying in my opinion. As there was absolutely no use in Harem's character. The only actual love interests where the Ceo and the best friend (sorry I forgot their names). The Ceo and Harem's feelings felt a bit cheap, cause what do you mean you fell in love with the regular you hardly talk too. If the series was longer I'm sure this would have been developed much more.

I think the best friend should have had the weight of his feelings explained earlier on rather then at the end as it would have made the viewer feel more connected with the character and the weight of his feelings. We only find out later on once they're together that he's had these feelings for 10 years.

The last two episodes I feel had more tension and kept me watching. I could sense in the beginning they wanted us to think Doha would end up with the Ceo, but there was no shown reason for the appearance of their feelings until the end, which left me wondering why the Ceo even likes Doha.

Also I think, they could have carried on the green element later on in the series. For example when Doha finally confesses after the best friend got injured, he could have worn Green to confirm he was the chosen love interest. But that's a detail, that wasn't 100% necessary.

Overall, I think the storyline could have been fleshed out a bit more, but for what it was it wasn't bad. Later on I saw this through a small production point of view, which makes some scenes more understandable. Out of the airing korean dramas, it's not my favourite, but it could be a light watch for some, after watching something heavy.

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Beautiful, philosophical and poetic

This is definitely one of the dramas that I looked forward to watching, mainly because of the cast, but also because the story seemed interesting.

For the most part, it didn't disappoint.

Tang Li Ci's journey is very beautiful and profound and by the end of the drama he comes full circle. His journey is complete and so is his character growth. This drama is clearly all about him. The other character don't really get to shine as much or at all in some cases. The biggest problem there is that there are a LOT of characters that this drama focuses on at some point or other, so they never really get enough time to develop properly. In some cases the characters are rather boring or their story is bland. This is not only true for the supporting characters (which would be normal as they don't get as much screen time anyway), but also for some of the characters that are labelled as main.

While I liked the story, I didn't always like how it was told. The pacing is uneven, the story was a bit repetitive and the revelations lacked dramatic tension, most of the time because of the predictability or timing. That being said, the story itself is beautiful, philosophical and poetic.

This drama is impeccably cast. Luo Yun Xi absolutely shined as Tang Li Ci. Ao Zi Yi was the perfect bright, bubbly and loyal sidekick. Xiao Shun Yao was great as the silent, but observant assassin. The three shared amazing chemistry. I loved watching them just walking around in the woods and bickering. Fang Yi Lun was a perfect fit for Liu Yan, a character that you can't outright hate even though the are plenty of times when he makes you angry. Jeremy Tsui was magnetic. Whoever cast this drama did an amazing job.

This drama is also a visual feast. It's very beautiful and colourful and the costumes were gorgeous.

All in all, it managed to keep me entertained and I loved the overall story.

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This is a fun and easy binge most of the time. Offering us a bunch of teens in desperate need of guidance who in the lack of such seem to make rules of their own. they hurt, they get hurt, they are put in a lot of situations that they should not have to face. While there is this grownup vibe about them their adolescence and need of reel support and guidance shines through in every single episode.


Our female lead is mostly adorable and fun to watch, however there is a lot to her that uses helping others as a form of self medication instead of actually getting help to deal with her problems. Strong and extremely vulnerable at the same time.

Our male lead has his charming moments but so many rad flaggs so little fabric is shown in this shown. he is nither a pertculary good brother, friend or lover.

Our secound male lead is so sweet most of the drama, a little scaredy cat. A boy who is timid yet strong Talented, broken, kind.... I loved him the first 15 episodes or so bu thten the writers did him wrong oh so wrong that I am goint to pretend that last episode never happened.

The ending, as well as several plot-lines are rushed. The whole he helping people gets slightly repetitive and I do beliee the second hand embarrassment was a bit to much.

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Intriguing for about 5 eps but became stale very fast.

I really liked the initial premise, the murder mystery starts off very strong but I couldn't help but be disappointed with certain twists and turns that required an absurd amount of nonsensical decision making , especially on the part of the heroine but also the blind to red herrings prosecutor and police investigators. I feel the writers wanted each ep to end on a cliff hanger but the way they made that transpire was recycled , utilising an inordinate amount of kidnappings, jail breaks and misdirecting of who the true villain is. The repetitiveness quickly became boring. Even the final reveal was quite lacklustre and I found the reasoning behind the villains actions comically pantomime. In the end, the show is another iteration of dramas highlighting how the S Korean justice system is too often after "wins" and not the truth, and has a tendency to let rich people - including juveniles, get away with a slap on the wrist. But don't we already know that by now? I just feel far better dramas have been made looking into this very premise, ones that don't drop the ball and remained engaging though out. Overall the acting was great, I usually enjoy both female leads and enjoy most of their projects, so there's that. But the plot, I felt, really took a nose dive around the mid way point.

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