Reviews

Not what I expected, but still pretty darn enjoyable

I definitely expected more mystery than politics, but I do love a political edge to a story.

Acting:

I mean, come on. This cast is great all around. First and Khaotung can do no wrong. They were fantastic in their roles here. The supporting cast was great, too. I LIVE for a good actor who can cry well, and there sure were a lot of good tears here. Bravo on the casting and performances.

Writing:

Honestly, not as bad as I saw some people saying. I went into this series without seeing any promotional stuff, though. I enjoyed the politics in the school and the concept of essentially being brainwashed to not question the system. The whole power-dynamics situation was fun to analyze and whatnot. I think they definitely could have done better with the protester storyline. The focus on school uniforms was a bit wild. And there just weren’t enough students overall in that school, which was very odd. I love a good internal struggle, though they did get a little too preachy at the end there with the way they wrote the “coming out is hard” lines. I think they could have done that a bit more naturally. It certainly wasn’t like a slam dunk all the way through. I didn’t love that they were able to just change the school lickity split at the end. That didn’t really make sense. I think they could have told this story better, for sure. That being said, I did enjoy it.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

These dudes got that chemistry in spades, my guy. I love them. The dynamics between the characters were so fun and First and Khaotung did a great job with portraying them. This was an alright romance, obviously not the focus of this show, but the romance part of the plot was well done. The kissing, bro. Shit was tender as hell. Good work out there, boys.

Music/SFX:

Music was fine, didn’t really notice it enough to say if it was good or bad. Same for the SFX.

It was an interesting watch. I enjoyed it, overall, while recognizing they could have done things a bit better with the writing and production.

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- Okay we got oppression and suppression, we got a curse, there’s a solar eclipse, and that’s all in the first 2 minutes
- Intro is a vibe
- The thigh grab eeeeee the “catch me if you can” eeeeeeeeee
- Did you do that because you want to, or were you told to? “I’m willing to, nobody made me.” ahh yes, the lack of awareness of your place within a system and the oppression/suppression/exploitation you face within it. A sheep, separated from their species-being, trapped within the false consciousness it was molded to have. Or whatever…
- “You punch me once, I kiss you once,” love it
- *Smiles and cold stares, the temperature goes there. Indigenous disposition, feel like we belong here. I know the walls, they can listen, I wish they could talk back. The hurt becomes repetition, the love almost lost that*
- Of COURSE bro is reading 1984, typical
- “Historical ideals cannot be summed into a single concept.” TELL EM and ESPECIALLY so when applying them to a modern context
- Shortstop and Big Foot 10/10
- Asking about Locke when you’re trying to argue in favor of Hobbes is CRAZY work, girl
- It would indeed be nice to disappear
- Everyone throwing around that f-slur pretty liberally, huh
- This fucking loser out here committing crimes for the oppressive school regime
- Bros in a cult
- Bro became a part of a group and held on to that to the point of the destruction of his individuality as a human
- Be gay do crime but like, not like that
- *Tell me what you know about them night terrors every night. Five AM cold sweats, waking up to the sky. Tell me what you know about dreams, dreams. Tell me what you know about night terrors, nothin'. You don't really care about the trials of tomorrow. Rather lay awake in the bed full of sorrow*
- *Now, hold me tight. Tell me I'm the only one. And then I might never be the lonely one. So hold (Hold), me tight (Me tight) tonight (Tonight), tonight (Tonight). It's you, you, you, you*
- “You’re enlightened now, don’t forget. Do what you need to do” ooooooh
- End Khaotung’s tears and suffering - Difficulty: impossible
- That stolen morning kiss has my HEART
- I am BLUSHING
- AYE the boy you areeeee<3
- Evil teach has a tragic gay backstory, I see
- Why would he hug that witch of a woman????
- And we’re all of a sudden able to change the system? Okay okay, let me accept that
- Happy boys being happy yay

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The pain can't stop you if you've got passion and perseverance!

My Troublesome Star was worth every single second to me. It was something that I didn't anticipate or expect anything from it, but I fell in love with the characters completely by the end of it!

✦ Storyline: This was a fresh concept. Unlike other murder mystery-type romcoms, it delved deeper into the thrill part smoothly by balancing the romance and comedy simultaneously.

✦ Acting: I loved Uhm Jung Hwa as the lead. Felt like I'm Sera character, it was made just for her. She shined brighter throughout. The ML, Song Seung Heon, was lovely. He's a hot, charming, goofy and brilliant actor. His fighting scenes were spotless, showed how much dedication he has got for acting. The side character, Lee El, was fabulous! Her mean, wicked character will enrage you to slap her face. Loved the veteran actor Hyun Bong Sik as Ko Namju. His comic timing and facial expressions were very funny and entertaining.

✦ Music: Personally, I love all of their soundtracks, but the main ost Shine Again, by Uhm Jung Hwa, is my favorite. It's got the 90s rhythm and chill vibe to it.

✪ Honestly, romcoms are my favorite. When selecting romcoms, I like the ones which are goofy, not heavy on the head and entertaining overall, and this drama got that. The ageism towards the older actors are very prominent in this industry. Older actors are only casted as moms and dads in a very serious role, but casting those so-called Ajumma and Ajhusshi as the leads for a romcom worked like a charm. Proved that age is just a number. They acted like veterans should, experienced, brilliant and poised. Even though it was a romcom, it blended the thrill with romance and comedy so effortlessly that it kept me on the edge after every episode. Also, loved how they didn't dilute the passion of the FL by highlighting the romance as the main plot. Wholly it was super balanced.

Overall, if you are looking for a romcom that isn't overly sweet and got kick to it, this is for you.

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the whole time i was watching this, i kept internally screaming "TALK ABOUT UNCONDIOTIONAL LOVE!!" tang yi xun's love for ye haitang is probably the best example of one. this story actually portrayed a whole different meaning of love. it makes you wonder what actual love is. there wasn't a single scene of them kissing, oh let alone that, they didn't even utter the word "love". but we all FELT their love for each other through the damn screen. not to mention, i was crying to almost every episode (i don't usually cry THAT much lol). i cried the most in that specific scene, where xun was writing to tang's future son, he asked "what's your father's name?" (he was obviously jealous and disappointed that tang's future son has a different surname than his 😭), then when he turned away from tang to write something privately, i thought he was gonna ask about himself specifically, but he asks "is he good to your mom?" tears immediately, IMMEDIATELY started flowing from my eyes cause, all xun really wants is tang to be happy, even if he's not in her life anyhow. i mean that's what we've been seeing already at that time of the drama but this scene specifically stood out to me. this ain't no cdrama, it's a c-trauma (in a good way). plus i also loved the miao miao and zhang guan (the security guard) characters so much. the way zhang guan did so much even if he actually doesn't even know yu nian or shen cheng personally 😭 i also loved that they emphasized the other characters' storylines too (i actually cried to cha and xin's last meeting too lol). another thing, i actually have only watched c-dramas starring zhou yiran, he's my fav c-actor (you can guess lol). he's been really delivering us some REAL GOOD dramas lately, not only his acting but the story lines!!?? i wasn't even over Reborn and this hit like a truck now 😭 his script selections are pure golddddd. now, finally, if anyone's reading this far of my review and haven't watched this show yet, PLEASE watch it. PLEASE. you'll have no regrets, not a single second of watching this masterpiece wasted. thank you.

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An underdog type of BL that holds its own amongst champions

I went into this BL when it was halfway through airing and was expecting to be not overly impressed by it. And then in a complete twist of events, I fell in love with it.

There's so much beauty in this very sad story of two lovers who have to face unimaginable pain and separation. When the costs of duty overthrow any sense of 'choice'. And even when choices are made, they only take you further away from the one you love the most. This story felt like poetry to me, surrounded by beauty and all the sharp edges that emotion can bring.

This series stands on its own brilliantly, holding its own even when surrounded by bigger budgeted projects. I hope that this series lays the groundwork for more in this lane, as it is so needed AND wanted.

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Heavenly Ever Disaster

Heavenly Ever After starts with an intriguing concept—exploring love, regret, and choices in an afterlife where people can relive moments and interact across time. Unfortunately, the execution falls far short of its potential. The story is cluttered with confusing and inconsistent rules about the afterlife, making it difficult to understand what’s at stake or how the characters’ decisions truly matter.

The pacing is uneven: the drama drags in some episodes with endless side plots, while rushing through moments that should carry emotional weight. Subplots that could have been compelling, like the storylines of supporting characters, feel underdeveloped or abandoned entirely, leaving the viewer frustrated rather than invested. The narrative also leans heavily on predictable twists and clichés, which further diminishes any sense of surprise or tension.

While the premise is ambitious and occasionally hints at something profound about love, loss, and human choices, these ideas are buried under convoluted storytelling. Instead of feeling poignant or moving, many key moments feel hollow, leaving the drama forgettable despite its imaginative setup.

Overall, A Heavenly Ever After is a disappointing watch—a concept with promise weighed down by poor execution, predictable plotlines, and nonsense subplots. It’s a drama that could have been emotionally resonant but ends up muddled and underwhelming.

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A Generic Drama Where Even the Second Leads Deserve Better

My Youth is the definition of recycled storytelling. It clings to every overused youth-drama cliché, first love misunderstandings, endless bickering, drawn-out angst, but brings nothing new or memorable to the table. The pacing is sluggish, the plot is predictable from start to finish, and the emotional “high points” feel hollow because we’ve seen them all before, done better elsewhere.

The acting doesn’t elevate the material either. The leads lack spark and their chemistry is paper-thin, making their romance feel more like a chore than a love story. Ironically, the second leads outshine them completely, more natural, more engaging, and with storylines that actually hold some weight. Unfortunately, they’re sidelined in favor of watching the main pair stumble through one recycled scenario after another.

In short, My Youth feels like a drama built on autopilot: flat performances, predictable writing, and nothing that makes it worth remembering. If you’ve seen any youth drama, you’ve basically seen this one, only with more charm than this show ever manages.

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Sweet, low stress romance

This show is quite simple and lacking in drama despite the premise: Haruka is a tall, awkward tomboy who has a crush on her coworker and begs Hikaru, a cross dressing makeup artist who looks fierce and fabulous, for advice on how to make herself more feminine and appealing. They become friends and Hikaru develops a crush on Haruka but struggles to reveal his feelings because he doesn't think she'll see him as a man and romantic partner.

The show treats the cross dressing premise very gently and there isn't a lot of hate or drama aimed at Hikaru. Most people are surprised when they find out he's not a woman and then shrug and move on. There's one person who reacts badly but it's resolved quickly in the story. The show focuses more on the self esteem of both leads as they think others won't accept them for who they are. The side characters are nice, especially the man who is interested in Hikaru and the girlfriend of Haruka's crush.

I really enjoyed the story but couldn't rate it higher than 7.5 because there really isn't much of a plot, just some sweet interactions and misunderstandings between the leads that resolve fairly quickly.

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A BL So Slow the Ghosts Have More Chemistry

Let's start with the positives - the horror genre is definitely present and well-developed. At times, the atmosphere is tense and the mystical elements are visually well-executed. However, there's "too much" horror. It completely dominates the screen time, leaving little room for the development of other storylines. Some rituals are just plain weird, often feel out of place, and at times are outright cringe. It's hard to understand their purpose or why these unnecessary scenes take up so much time.

Now, about the BL aspect (yes, that's boys love, in case anyone didn't know). The relationship between the main characters progresses painfully slowly. Meanwhile, straight drama is somehow front and center - which really shouldn't be the case in a BL series. By the end of episode 7, we "do" see some progress between the leads, but even the "one" kiss that was clearly supposed to happen gets cut off. They leave the audience hanging at the most crucial moment - and it's not exciting, it's just "frustrating".

The contrast is especially clear when it comes to the secondary characters - their relationships develop "too" quickly, with barely any buildup, as if the writers were in a rush to check boxes. In the end, it all feels chaotic - some things move at a snail's pace, others race ahead without any balance. The story doesn't unfold in a natural or harmonious way.

Honestly? After episode 7, I'm not sure it's even worth continuing. If things keep going like this, there's really not much point in watching further.

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Not light and airy as imagery and some synopsis indicate

6/10 Is my rating.

I found this drama to be misleadingly heavy and filled with tired tropes although it did have some heart.

As someone who pretty thoroughly researches drums before I watch them, I found I wasI totally misled by *Bubblegum*’s vibe. The title, the bubbly opening with Park Ri-hwan (Lee Dong-wook) and Kim Haeng-ah (Jung Ryeo-won) smiling and jumping in bubbles, and most synopses out there paint this as a warm, fuzzy romance. Nope! This drama is a heavy somber slog that leans hard into Alzheimer’s disease and family drama, overshadowing the love story. The acting is top-notch—Lee Dong-wook and Jung Ryeo-won pour their hearts into their roles, and the writing is solid—but for me it was, on balance, too dramatic, dry, and sad. The Alzheimer’s theme, especially from the midpoint to the end, is a major part of the story, not some quick side plot, so if you or a loved one are dealing with dementia, be warned: it’s intense and might hit too close to home. If you love emotional, heavy dramas, you might vibe with this more than I did, but if you’re expecting the light romance promised by the marketing, you’ll be disappointed.

SPOILERS

The cutesy opening and synopses barely hint at the heavy Alzheimer’s focus, which takes over from the time Sun-young is diagnosed (about halfway through) to the end, making the show feel more like a family tragedy than a romance. I was misled in the beginning thinking, it would be a heart warming friends to lovers romance with a little bit of parental disapproval to overcome. I was not all prepared for it to become a medical drama centered around the mother as a patient.

The breakup between Ri-hwan and Haeng-ah was infuriatingly stupid and dragged on for *episodes*. They try to sell it as Ri-hwan being noble, worried he might inherit Alzheimer’s and not wanting to “burden” Haeng-ah. But this guy was a happy-go-lucky optimist before, and suddenly, after his mom’s diagnosis, he turns cold and ditches Haeng-ah? It’s so out of character! Haeng-ah has almost no family and sees Ri-hwan as her anchor, yet he abandons her when she’s desperate to support him and his aunt (who raised her). It’s selfish and cruel, especially since she wants to be there for his mom’s care. The breakup felt like forced drama, and it made several episodes boring. The show could’ve ended by episode 12 or 14 instead of dragging to 16, diving too deep into Alzheimer’s and slowing everything down.

Park Sun-young (Bae Jong-ok) was my least favorite character. Bae Jong-ok’s acting is heartbreaking, but Sun-young is so selfish. Raising Ri-hwan as a single mom in Korea was tough, sure, but she tried to end her life *twice*—once while pregnant with him and again when he was a kid, traumatizing both Ri-hwan and Haeng-ah for life. Then, she insists Ri-hwan marry into a rich family, pushing Kang Se-young (Park Hee-von) on him and rejecting Haeng-ah, the woman he loves, despite Sun-young herself escaping a wealthy family. The irony is ridiculous! Then, after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it’s like she flips overnight from mild symptoms to severe memory loss, suddenly forgetting her obsession with the rich-girl marriage. It felt rushed and unrealistic. Having a family member with Alzheimer’s, I found the portrayal off—Sun-young becomes kinder as her disease worsens, but in my experience, difficult traits often amplify. The show also downplays how Alzheimer’s patients often don’t recognize loved ones because they remember them from years ago, not their current age, making Sun-young briefly forgetting Ri-hwan, episodic and not a part if the disease.

The secondary love interests were awful and leaned into tired K-drama tropes. Ji-hoon (Lee Jong-hyuk), Haeng-ah’s ex, is a selfish jerk who emotionally neglected her, yet *she* apologizes to *him* in the end, which was nonsense. His “I’ve changed” act wasn’t believable—people don’t transform that fast, and he was cruel to Ri-hwan for no reason, despite the girl he professes to love seeing Ri-wan as family. If you really wanted the girl you would be nice to the people important to her. And Kang Se-young (Park Hee-von), the rich girl chasing Ri-hwan, is a spoiled brat who decides she wants him because he’s handsome and nice, ignoring his obvious history with Haeng-ah. She’s rude to Haeng-ah and just unlikable. The show pushes the tired “she likes you, so you should like her” trope with her, but I never felt sorry for her. Yeah her mom was snobby and said cruel things but so did she. Even when she ends up with a nice guy, Han Tae-hee (Ahn Woo-yeon), I wasn’t happy for her because she still seemed mean to him. Also, Ji-hoon was hyped as “super handsome,” but I didn’t see it—he reminded me of Leonard Nimoy in *Star Trek* with those eyebrows and hair, and his awful personality made him even less appealing.

-ah’s friend, Oh Se-young (Kim Ri-won), was another letdown. She calls herself Haeng-ah’s friend but is weirdly mean to Ri-hwan for no real reason, just saying he’s “not good” for Haeng-ah when Haeng-ahs glowing happiness around Ri-hean says otherwise. I mean she says it is because Haeng-ah would be “shredded” by Sun-young’s cruelty toward her as a romantic interest for Ri-hwan then later in dealing with dementia but she obviously does not know her friend. It felt like another cliché “protective friend” trope done poorly, and she had no redeeming moments for me. Even after Haeng-ah and Ri-hwan are back together and the only “shredding” that happened was when they were apart she doesn’t ever admit she was wrong and congratulate her friend.

One redeeming aspect was the heartwarming found-family vibe. The people at Haeng-ah’s radio station, the restaurant crew, Ri-hwan, and even Sun-young formed a tight-knit unit that felt like a real family. Those moments were genuinely touching and gave the show some warmth amidst all the sadness.

The show also leaned into dated tropes, like Ri-hwan’s endless turtlenecks and trenchcoats—such a 2015 K-drama thing! The ending is bittersweet, with Ri-hwan and Haeng-ah reconciling, which is nice for happy-ending fans, but Sun-young’s worsening Alzheimer’s keeps things heavy. The title, opening, and synopses promise a light romance, but *Bubblegum* is a tearjerker bogged down by grief, tropes, and unnecessary drama.


The side romances in were a mess and mostly unbelievable. The older DJ, Lee Seul (Kim Jung-nan), was so silly and self-congratulating, always acting full of herself and fake, that I found her completely annoying. For the young, normal, nice guy, Noh Tae-hee (Go Bo-gyeol), to fall for her felt so weird—they were such different people, and there was nothing compelling about Lee Seul (Kim Jung-nan) to make me believe he’d overlook the age gap or her over-the-top personality. Then, Haeng-ah’s friend, Oh Se-young (Kim Ri-won), had a crush on the manager, Kwon Ji-hoon (Park Won-sang), but it was never clear why—she just liked him out of nowhere, with no meaningful interactions to show why she’d fall for him. Meanwhile, Ri-hwan’s friend, Dong-il (Lee Seung-joon), and Oh Se-young (Kim Ri-won) had a past relationship that ended mainly due to his alcoholism, though she also thought he cheated. Later, when Ji-hoon (Park Won-sang) rejects Oh Se-young (Kim Ri-won) and leaves to work at another station with Ji-hoon (Lee Jong-hyuk), she drinks with Dong-il (Lee Seung-joon), hinting they might reconnect, which made no sense since she’d already called out his drinking as a dealbreaker.

Lee Dong-wook and Jung Ryeo-won acted their roles well, and the found-family moments are sweet, but the misleading title, bubbly opening, and vague synopses hide how heavy and sad this show is. The Alzheimer’s focus, dragged-out breakup, tired tropes, and unlikable side characters made it a slog. If you love emotional dramas and can handle dementia themes, you might rate it higher than my 6/10. But if those topics hit close to home or you want the light romance it promises, brace yourself or pick something else.



SYNOPSIS



This is a 2015 South Korean drama in the romance, comedy and family genres that has 16 episodes that run about 60 minutes each.

In the bustling worlds of a traditional Eastern medicine hospital and a late-night radio station, childhood friends Park Ri-hwan (Lee Dong-wook) and Kim Haeng-ah (Jung Ryeo-won) are navigating adulthood. Ri-hwan is from a wealthy family and Haeng-ah was "adopted" by Ri-hwan's family and raised as another child in the same household. Both have dealt with unspoken feelings, family pressures, lingering exes, and the quiet ache of loneliness. But, Haeng-ah was clearly told that she was not of status to ever romantically pursue Haeng-ah by his mother both when she lived in the house and again as an adult. But what starts as playful bickering and platonic support evolves into a slow-simmering romance that's as comforting and fleeting as blowing bubbles—sweet, light-hearted, and gone in a pop if you don't savor it. The drama blends heartfelt family dynamics with witty banter. If you haven't heard of it don't be surprised as this underrated gem might capture the joy of rediscovering love in everyday chaos but it lacks the over-the-top angst that plagues other k-dramas but also pulls them into the ring of notice. And in true love triangle fashion there is also Hong Yi-seul (Park Hee-von) a rich heiress who had a blind date with and now has feelings for Ri-hwan, and Haeng-ah's ex-boyfriend Kang Suk-joon (Lee Jong-hyuk) who is also her senior/director of the company she works in, and who wants her back.

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