Reviews

A 10/10 Experience in Emotional Storytelling

Wow. That’s all I can say. This was a heavy and impactful watch with so many layers. I don’t think I’d rewatch it—which is usually a criterion for my top-shelf favorites—but I still have to give this piece a 10/10 because it was so powerfully performed and had an equally strong narrative.

What this drama did so well was deliver what was essentially a detective story through the experiences of each character. We were brought to the heart of their psychology, watching them grapple with the guilt of living after someone they loved had passed, many of them feeling responsible. This burden shaped their relationships with one another and the community, leaving several characters haunted by lingering shadows across two decades. This is an exceptional drama, and the performers portrayed their characters in such a deeply human way that you couldn’t help but connect and feel for them—even for those who participated in the crimes.

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Great Cast, Uneven Script & Missed Narrative Potential

This had a lot going for it. The cast was stellar, and their acting was on point. There were many intense and gripping sequences, the fight scenes were dynamite, the second leads were exciting, and the overall narrative was interesting and engaging. However, the script didn’t land for me, and I think this might simply be better suited for a different audience.

With the script we got, I struggled with several elements. The character shifts felt a bit abrupt to me—characters introduced as strong and intelligent seemed to devolve too quickly. Strength became weakness, clarity turned into erratic behavior, and loyal personalities veered into exaggerated deceit—all without enough development or transition for me to think those changes were justified. I also had trouble connecting with the motivations behind many character choices. They didn't make sense to me, which made it hard to stay immersed or believe that those decisions aligned with who the characters were. Some conflicts had great build-up, but I felt the climaxes were often followed by weak resolutions or surprisingly easy defeats. Given how much intelligence and planning the villains demonstrated, I expected more complex or difficult take-downs—each one felt too easy to me. There were also a number of filler scenes that dragged the pacing for me, and I found much of the romantic dialogue for the female lead predictable and formulaic—almost like scripted speeches.

This really could have been my cup of tea with a different script, but unfortunately, this is the one I got.

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Green forest stay Green even under brainrot rumours bashing

First I will start from ML. I have watch several non idol work of ML before. He did very well. This time he also shine brightly in modern drama.
Second, the part of story that touch me is where there is brainrot rumours spread on 2 male lead workplace. This brainrot rumours reminded me of past event that really happen few years ago. There is bunch brainrot people spread rumours framing actor as being nepo boyfriend who manipulated a woman to get good role. BUT they never tell you the fact that rumour powerful woman is just only very small role supporting actress means there is no way that woman or her side can become such great benefactors

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One of my absolute favourite series so far

I’ve watched the first 5 episodes that are aired yet on Kisskh, so I always have the uncut version, and I have to say that the chemistry between Bever and Tonliew is really good. You can really feel the emotions through the screen. They made me cry at some point and then giggle in the next moment and I’m really happy I gave them a chance.
I watched the first season before and it wasn’t my favourite tbh but the second season got me soooo invested. I’m always looking forward to Saturdays so I can watch it and it really became one of my comfort series. I’m rewatching the episodes that are already out when I don’t feel well.
I’m really curious about the other two couples but I have the feeling that they will be really good too, because their pilots were really promising.
I also read the novel for Fah and Phoon and I loved it, so I’m really excited to see how it turns out.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll stop here but I highly recommend this series. The weekly waiting is sooo worth it.

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To think this was my most anticipated kdrama

Plot:
- I thought it was gonna be a drama about unrequited love at first, but the plot took a really drastic and weird turn. The very definition of “we lost the plot”.

- The alter ego plotline really killed the romance for me. She even got more time with ML than real Muhee in Italy. Felt like he was babysitting.

- The concept of the show they’re filming reminds me of the old korean show “We got married”. Loved those.

- 2nd couple came out of nowhere. Ick.


Production:
- The music, setting, and cinematography were atmospheric. It was good.


Characters:
- Mu hee is such a fun and quirky character. I like her. But Do Rami is the reason the plot took a dip for me.

- Dont get her initial attraction to the ML. He wasn’t even nice to her and personality is so dry. Glad he got more palatable throughout though.

- 2nd FL had romantic relations with 3 men in the span of 1 drama. Cant take her seriously.


Casting
- I think the actors acted really well. I would cry whenever they would lol.

- So happy Kim Seon Ho is back on my screen. With pretty Go youn jung too. But he probably should’ve picked another script for his comeback drama.

- Hiro’s actor’s visuals really be testing my loyalty to Kim seon ho.

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Good cast doesn’t completely make up for a mediocre script

Despite its talented leads and sweet, slow-burn office romance, “Shine on Me” gets bogged down by a rocky beginning and a business-heavy script.

The story follows Xi Guang (played by Zhao Jin Mai), a recent college graduate from a wealthy, well-connected family. She’s nursing a powerful (and painfully awkward) crush on her university classmate. Why is anyone’s guess — he has the personality of a wet blanket — and on top of that, he’s already rejected her.

But she can’t get over him — even after our male lead, Yu Sen (played by Song Wei Long) comes onto the scene — though the two get off to a pretty rough start themselves. In fact, neither of the leads are particularly likeable at first, and the setup of the series withholds certain key pieces of information, leaving the audience in the dark about why characters behave the way they do.

The FL’s pining over her crush seems foolish rather than sweet, and the ML acts so petty, even vindictive, that you wonder how she’s ever going to warm up to him. You want to shake them both by the shoulders and tell them to get a grip.

For the first 6 or 7 episodes, I was doubting whether it’d be a worthwhile watch, but suddenly circumstances arise that allow the leads to have some compassion for each other, and it’s like a switch is flipped that changes their dynamic.

That’s when the slow-burn romance starts. Both Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long play their parts well and do a fine job showing the characters’ development, emotional struggles, and growing connection as colleagues and then as a couple, but I wouldn’t say this is a standout role for either of them. I’ve been hoping to see SWL in another role that rivals the complexity and emotional resonance of his performance in “Go Ahead” (2020), but this isn’t it.

Most likely because the script doesn’t give them a whole lot to work with. The first part makes it hard to feel invested in the main characters because of their unexplained tension, while the rest of the drama spends a lot of time on unlikeable side characters and business dealings that don’t add a whole lot to the story.

What to Watch For:
- The arc where Yu Sen is trying to win over Xi Guang is super cute and cotton-candy sweet. His patient and persistent pursuit is the probably the highlight of the series.
- The soundtrack

What to Potentially Skip:
- The tedious business discussions and solar energy hype
- The time spent on the second male lead, whose indecisiveness and insecurity is frustrating to watch (why do so many women like him?)

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First half was how i imagined but later kind of lacked

Ok so this drama was the one i waited for to air for a quite time. Ep one was really great it showed how human feelings linger, i like how green tea ml was since their first meet and must say he was very intelligent. Maybe its the story context but yea liked his character. Now shifting to our fl. She did a great job with her acting not only did she turned some scenes to her spotlight but also made them seem more lively. Talking about the story its good but not that great to talk about. The travelling part was great specially the scenes shot in Canada . Japan's was short but to the point necessary. I think the drama could have been a little longer rather than 12 ep cause their story did needed more light to show progress before confession. I think the story needed more places to really show they were doing a travelling romance reality show but it is understandable how expensive it can be for the production team but maybe 1 or 2 asian countries and the ones they decided would have helped?. And coming to the do rami part, it was taken very lightly specially when she was shown as a personality
in the later ep rather than an alter ego. which does hold many viewers as a disappointment but must say the fl did a great job delivering the character Dorami. Coming to the sml he does a good job, but the fl and sml 's communication could have been better considering that she did communicate with her phone in a foreign country alone before she meet ml. But ig it also show how he understood though difficulty or liked her with out needing a translation to her language .the miscommunication could have been resorted but again its a kdrama so it makes plot. Overall the starting was good but the other half was a little bit rushed could have helped maybe with 2 more episodes. Overall best cinematography and quite unique plot considering normal ceo x poor girl romance. But could have been a more light hearted.

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This drama is an absolute masterpiece.

This drama was absolutely beautiful. Pure work of art. I loved every single episode, every moment. The acting was beyond incredible. Kim Go-Eun in particular did not disappoint whatsoever. I loved seeing her on screen as this character. This is one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. It was cinematic, beautifully filmed, I felt like I was feeling the characters’ emotions. Everyone did an incredible job. The plot twists were intriguing, unexpected, unpredictable. The mysteries just have you guessing and questioning everything. Editing, SFX, the music, makeup, directing. It was all perfect. I loved this drama from start to finish and would happily rewatch multiple times. 10/10.

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A bit of the story was lost in translation too but...

I thoroughly enjoyed this and binge watched it all in one sitting ! Ill try avoid spoilers but it might be inevitable so we'll see

The acting and cast were absolutely perfectttttt i was soooo excited for both main leads when i found out their were acting together and saw a post recently that they were acc the recast choices! Sooo happy they sccepted the roles as it suited them SO perfectly i cant even explain it

In terms of the story, i enjoyed it ! Coming from someone who is not the biggest fan of rom-coms/romance focused dramas because of the drag that happens because of miscommunication and misunderstandings and much prefers thrillers and law dramas, i think the story was great. HOWEVER I wont deny that there were things that i felt werent as developed or necessary to the plot (mostly in regard to her family).

The cinematography was *chefs kiss* and this honestly might become one of my comfort dramas that i shall rewatch along with Alchemy of souls s2 (i loveeee younjung 🥹) and the tale of lady ok.

I did feel really bad for Hiro though although im happy with the happy ending, he went out of his way to learn korean to communicate with her 🥺💔

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