Reviews

Comfort drama

This drama had everything that a comfort drama need I can legit rewatch this anytime I want I was legit screaming throwing arms in air because damn it was so cuteeeeeee~ like it had everything to be a goddamn good plot like just PERFECT DRAMA EVERRRRRRR!!!!!! Revenged Love is truly my comfort drama! It had everything I could ever want in a BL emotions, twists, chemistry, and a storyline that kept me hooked from start to finish. I was literally screaming and throwing my arms in the air while watching. Every scene pulled me in, and it honestly deserves to be called one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. Absolutely unforgettable!

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NO MATTER HOW DARK THE NIGHT IS WE WOULD SEE EACH OTHER.

İ cried until my heart ached when the series ended. the characters and everything that happened to them devastated me.

trin and tanwa's story had a beginning and an end, but no development. those feelings of love vanished in the last episode. it was terrible that trin left without saying a word. tanwa put more effort into that relationship than trin, and in the end, he was the one who was abandoned. but it was still promising that he didn't give up. their relationship was a bit dull, and i think that was trin's fault.

kailert and naran's story had development, but no conclusion. okay, they didn't end up together, but at what cost? i would have loved to finally see naran. i personally would have loved to find out what happened to him after time passed. everything that happened to kailert was horrific. i don't know if it was necessary. but it's true that i started sobbing when i saw that evil woman was pregnant. i'm sure the part where kailert told trin, "live for me." killed us all.

victor was one of the saddest characters, but i knew someone was going to die anyway, and he was the one.

the series was very good, but i watched it for the supporting couple. their story was more interesting, and i knew it would end badly. naran opening up to his girlfriend was something i expected. i expected the same from kailert, and he did. he was both right and did it out of love. but he gave up his own life to protect naran. old time gays are extra heartbreaking. i haven't cried this much in a long time.

the music was perfect. absolutely perfect. the production, the way it was shot, and the colors were beautiful. it was a very well-crafted series. but the rushed storytelling at the end made it less than perfect. the last episode was quite lacking. but everyone's acting was excellent.

and i want to say one last thing; "don't worry. we will live for you and keep your story alive. "

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Mobius: A time-toop drama that lived up to my expectations

Mobius is a good time-loop thriller with a backstory about genetic experiments and the ethical questions they raise. The MoMa case, which is the focus of the episodes, felt really well-developed. Each loop revealed a new clue and a different angle of that day until all five loops were completed.

Big thanks to Bai Jingting for Ding Qi. A guy who suddenly discovers he can perceive time loops and, over the years, decides to use that ability for something bigger. His performance as a detective is believable and gives us a smart and slightly comedic lead who knows how to work with his team to catch the final villain.

I have mixed feelings about the ending: it tied things up, but that last scene wasn’t really my favorite

I’m not a fan of open endings, but that said, I’d still recommend it

I really enjoyed all 16 episodes.

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note to self: try and avoid this writer's work in the future

they also wrote immortal samsara and ashes of love which featured some of the most insufferable fls in cdrama land. but i had to at least check this one out bc once again its my girl yang zi and just deep sigh.

i've watched 5 eps and tbh it is hard to empathize with mudan's plight. if she wasn't firmly established as such a sharp character then yes i could feel bad for her situation but girl even an idiot could see those people were animals and finna kill her at any point. she should have been long gone immediately her maid died (smart as she was she could have come up with an excuse) but she never saw them as a threat (the same people that blackmailed her into marriage, killed her mother without blinking, then robbed her and her family blind) or treated her situation as the grave emergency it was, and for someone so smart that is just unbelievable and makes her story unconvincing.

i think i'm just not a fan of this writer in general, its like they always have this idea that the fl should be complicated but don't quite know how to execute it while maintaining their story's integrity ( a la zhao paner in a dream of splendour) so one ends up giving way, in this case so far its the story's integrity bc what was she still doing in that house after the third episode?? why was she leisurely and casually packing up her stuff like her in-laws weren't unrepentant greedy murderers?

a few positives:
miles wei's chararacter - that boy got his head shoved all the way up his own ass it is hilarious! but the actor plays him with such a gravity that does not make him immediately despicable.
the lighting - warm, natural and gorgeous!
yang zi - she looked so beautiful i could not take my eyes off her!
the ml - he brings a certain liveliness that the drama needs

idk if i'm gonna continue this, just those first five eps took me days to complete. and the slow pacing isn't the issue here either, the story is just really boring and dissatisfying, and its best to call it early now bc i have yet to see one yang zi costume drama or any drama by this writer that had the appropriate amount of emotional payoff at the end.

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Insightful Take on Korean Law and Society Overshadowed by Public's Need for Romance

Beyond the Bar is one of those lighter legal dramas complete with comedic breaks, an interesting second lead romantic subplot, and supporting cast. While it's nothing original or out of the box, it is a solid drama that stands on its own amidst dime-a-dozen romantic comedies. It's a shame that people paid more attention to the romantic plot than the actual message of the drama.

Each episode is a new case, with the exception of filler episodes, and pushes the overall relationship of the cast. Topics discussed include IVF, child abuse/neglect, plagarism, assisted suicide, rape (of a child), medical ethics, animal abuse, etc. Through each case, the screenwriter seemingly highlights how incomplete and lacking Korean law can be when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations. As such, the resolutions of each case aren't always as satisfying as it would be in an ideal world. In fact, through the MC himself, we are told that he, as a lawyer, uses both the law and other methods to achieve what he perceives to be 'justice'. Though we as the audience understand that this only works because it's a drama and the MC is the MC, it acknowledges all the ways in which the law is not complete. My favorite backhanded comment from our MC is when he mentions how more broadreaching Anglo-American law is because we sue for everything.

The romance between the second leads was quite interesting and had a lot of potential. It was not the atypical romance as it was between a 40 year old divorcee (with a grown child) and her colleague who is 10 years younger. To me, this was the main romantic plot and could have served as such if the ending wasn't messed up/rushed. It was a mature relationship that acknowledges each obstacle between them and works through them. While I was a hardcore fan of this relationship, I didn't feel the same way about the subplot between the MC and FMC. While both age gaps were about 10 years, I think it didn't carry the same weight as the second leads were friends and colleagues before they were a couple. Furthermore, FMC is someone who just recently graduated law school while MC has been an lawyer for a lot longer. Aside from the age gap, there is definitely an issue of power as he is her boss and she is basically at the bottom of the heirarchy.

I don't think the decision to rewrite the romantic subplot between the MC and FMC was wrong. In every way, there was just a huge gap in age (both as characters and in real life), in experience (MC legit is her mentor), and in the workplace. Instead of a lukewarm confession and rejection, I do think that the time could have been spent fleshing out the relationship between the second leads which got axed and sped up. Regardless, it was still a solid, underrated drama that has a lot of social commentary on Korean law and society.

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guys hurting each other

Overall: the writers needed to narrow the scope and make the protagonists more likable. Based on the book series "Takumi-kun Series" by Gotoh Shinobu (1992-2014) which I haven't read and the review is of this series only. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5814/takumi-kun-series-drama-2025 (not available in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan or Korea).

Content Warning: dub/non con touching/kiss, sexual assault turned consensual, trauma, hit/punch/violence, blood, slaps, past: incest, molestation/sexual assault, rape?, death)

What I Liked
- visuals
- a straightforward rejection in episode 5
- good production value

Room For Improvement
- there were way too many characters introduced (and I've seen the older movies), I couldn't tell who the characters were, their relationships to each other, who loved who until several episodes in, multiple exposition dumps
- did not like any of the couples, the main couple had a guy say this to his sleeping boyfriend: "How can I move forward? Don't wake up. You say no with you mouth, I see, I'm done waiting" and sexually assaulted his boyfriend in order to cure him (by the way freeze and acquiesce are also sexual assault responses that the brain might make on its own) , another guy slapped his love interest who innocently asked about a past crush and the 3rd couple had one guy as a cold jerk
- recent flashbacks and farther back flashbacks added to the confusion (seemed as if they both expected people to know what was going on and also didn't think people would know what was going on)
- telling another person that they need to be responsible for his feelings, everyone is responsible for their own feelings
- poor communication trope

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Cat's got 5 lives and so does the mouse!

Time loop stories are risky business. They can be addictive brain teasers when done right or endless deja vu when done wrong. Mobius starts with a bang, where Ding Qi ( Bai Jingting) gets 5 chances to redo and live the same day, and whatever sticks around Day 5 is the final outcome.
However, when a story is built on the idea of re-tries, the repetition of sequences somehow dilutes the tension and I think that is where Mobius didn't entirely work for me.

On paper, the idea is airtight. The rules seemed crisp and logical.
The early episodes (Ep 1-5) were sharp and I was completely intrigued. It felt like a tight, high-stakes setup. Every failed attempt felt like a nail-biter. It was fun to see Ding Qi outsmarting the criminals and fate.

I honestly thought this drama was going to give us different cases spread across the 16 episodes, but after the first introductory case, we get stuck in one giant MOMA investigation.
That shift wouldn’t have been a problem if the loops had actually kept the tension alive. But after a point, repetition took over. Instead of ramping up tension with each attempt, they kind of drained it. The loops started dragging, especially the third loop. It doesn’t feel like suspense anymore, just reruns. We did get new revelations and characters, but the way they were delivered failed to keep my 100% attention.
Instead of feeling like fresh layers being added, it often felt like the same scenes stretched thinner with slight tweaks. By the time the big pieces actually connected, the earlier loops started to feel more like filler and a just mere dry run for the 5th loop.

I feel this was 3 or 4 episodes extra. 12 or 14 episodes would have told the same story in a tighter, more impactful way.

And also, Qi’s whole “I will just reset, no biggie” mindset got to me a few times. I understand he was focusing on important details but sometimes that line just kept reminding me that this (that particular loop) doesn't matter. It took away that tension because I knew the 5th loop was what they were focusing on. Somehow, the whole 5-time loop idea ended up being both the twist and the trap!

Another thing that I thought was out of place was the romance. Even though it was minimal, unfortunately, I couldn't feel any chemistry between the leads. They work better as colleagues or friends navigating tense situations rather than romantic partners. It wasn't distracting to the point of ruining the show but we would have gotten the same story more or less without it.

Still, it’s not a total loss. The concept remains clever and I found the camaraderie between Ding Qi and his team. Even though the drama relies heavily on personal choices, he doesn't act in a vacuum. His team around him supports him, especially his boss Duan Zheng. The level of trust was amazing. The team isn’t always front and center, but Qi never forgets that he’s not alone. He knows he has people who have his back.
Also, all the sprinkles of comedic moments kept it from feeling too grim. It was portrayed as very unintentional but was genuinely funny.

Another positive aspect was the production. It gave me those slick, almost American thriller vibes. It is a Netflix-licensed drama, so I wasn't expecting anything less than that. Cinematography was very sharp too. Somehow, I was never confused between the loop and which timelines we were in. The cities were filmed beautifully.

Acting-wise, BJT was very charismatic as Ding Qi and kept me invested even when the writing was slipping. Janice Man was An Lan, who didn't get much material to shine, but she played her role well, except for her chemistry with BJT. Other actors also did a solid job overall. I have no complaints in this department.

And lastly, about antagonists of the drama. Credit where it is due, for almost 60% of the drama, I couldn't guess who the real squid (culprit) was. I want to keep this review spoiler-free, so I will speak about the antagonist in the comment section with a spoiler tag.

Overall, Mobius does have the bones of something great with its unique premise, talented cast, and a very polished production, but somewhere along the way, the pacing and tension don’t quite land. Instead of building that urgent, ticking-clock energy, it leans more into style than momentum, circling back without always pushing forward.

I would recommend giving it a watch, just don’t plan to binge it all at once. Had they actually followed the airing schedule without releasing the express package, I might have rated it better. It's a decent watch.

Quick TL/DR if you don't want to read the whole review.
✨ What worked for me :
- I liked the premise. I found it clever.
- Overall acting performances
- Team dynamics
- Production and cinematography
- Antagonist's reveal

✨ What didn't :
- While the premise was unique, the execution could have been better and tighter
- Romance because not every story needs it.
- The plot dragged a bit in the middle, though it picks up in the last 2 loops.

7.75/10

Thank you for reading my review! <3

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Park Eun-Bin and cast fabulous. Do you like Brahms not so much.

This series is about a young lady of 30 choosing to study music as a violinist. What follows is all the struggles that came with that decision. There are 6 main characters, all of which are connect to each other thru music and intertwined love triangles.
I believe the best way to review this series is by pros and cons.

Pros

The series stars Park Eun=Bin as the main female lead. And as would be expected, her performance was flawless. Other stand out performances were given by Park Ji Hyun as the stoned faced, cold hearted silver spoon violinist Lee Jun Kyung. And Seo Jung Yeon as the down to earth, consoling voice of reason, performance planner Cha Young In. Other actors not listed were also very good.

There were a few very touching and thought provoking moments in this 16 part series that were really clever. But far too few to support the show. If the show had been written to the standard of those touching and thought provoking moments, it could have gotten a much higher rating.

Cons

As you can tell by the short Pros list, there are a lot of Cons to this series. The writers seemed to have crammed in every single cultural hardship they could think of to add misery to this story. I would judge 90% of the entire series were characters in pain and suffering. Most of which the characters tried to cope with within themselves. Misunderstands and setbacks were abound. Everything connected to social class status ranging from income status, musical talent, what school you attended, ticket sales, who your tutors were and years of experience you had been playing your instrument, and social and family connections just a few problems facing the characters. Add in the relationship/love struggles and the pressures the parents put on their children to be the best at their chosen craft AT ALL COSTS and you end up with a very depressing viewing experience.

Watching this program was a marathon of how much sadness you could bare in hopes of a happy ending. They did seem to wrap up the program in a satisfying way. But the payoff was just not worth the effort it took of watching all the continuous agony and depression.

Rating

Because of the performance given by Park Eun-Bin and most of the other cast, I will give 5 points. There was no music that I wished to add to my music list. And too few standout "wow" moments to helped support the show. The lack of a really good story will take away half a point. It really pains me to say this. But unless you are a fan of Park Eun-Bin and can watch her character endlessly suffer for many episodes (not to mention all the other characters also suffering), I would not recommend this series.

My rating is 4.5 out of 10.

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Just watching it will kill your braincells.

Tonhon Chonlatee - Breaking up at Episode 3, dead because of Fremdschämen

"Fremdschämen (German): to feel embarrassed on behalf of someone else when they do something awkward or cringeworthy."

Powers help me. I so wanted to see Pod in a role not being sidechar. So googling I heard of Tonhon Chonlatee. Already Episode 1 with the cartoon "sissy gay" being beaten was... borderline bearable.

Then Ton (Pod), the supposed hetero living with THREE most obvious gay guys is oblivious and dumb like toast. Each step gets worse. He leads (forces almost) them all into a brothel to "have happy time with women". What is that, the soft version of "conversion therapy"?

In the middle of Episode 3, I could take it no more. What rubbish is this? I mean, seriously? In the not yet so long list of my watched BL series this was the worst, most embarrassing, cringe and outright offensive series I so far had the dubious privilege to watch.

What in the Twelvegods names were they THINKING? SO like a boxing judge I can only yell: OUT OUT OUT, with a relentless

0/10
Just watching it will kill your braincells.

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A Beautifully Heartbreaking Ride

This drama is a deeply emotional journey, woven with a gripping storyline and a well-crafted script. It's been a while since I've seen something this sorrowful yet captivating. The narrative is rich with love and action, keeping you emotionally invested throughout.

One of its standout elements is the OST — so powerful and moving that I found myself watching episodes just to hear it again. The cast delivers strong performances, bringing authenticity and depth to every scene. It's a drama that tugs at your heartstrings and stays with you long after the credits roll.

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Maybe revenge isn't supposed to be satisfactory, but come on, this is a K-drama

This drama had the potential- the actors, the premise, the plot. But somehow it miserably failed to reach the expectations. It could have been done if it did not try to satisfy tropes and cliches. The second half dragged on, and although it was sometimes boring, I finished it hoping that it would get better and to see what would happen. Episode 13 onwards, it got better.

Ra El's character was a bit underdeveloped. we know and see what happens to her, but we don't see her do the planning, preparation and execution as much. Something was missing, therefore it was a bit difficult to connect with the character. But perhaps she was written that way intentionally, it might be my fault of perception.
Instead i found myself more interested in Han So Ra, as her character was more fleshed out. We actually knew her story and motives- why she is the way she is, and why she does the things she does- more than the lead. Despite the many chances to redeem itself, the story kept missing the mark.

Anyways, the romance seemed forced, more like a trauma bond. Like many of the people here, I found Seo Eun Pyeong more likeable, and more suitable. I wonder why they even had a second lead in the first place, if she did not have a good ending or bonding with her. He could have been a far better character as brother figure. I wish the dynamic between them was explored more before they thrust the confession at our face. I won't say that I disliked the dynamic with Kang Yoon Kyeom, only that instead of dragging those scenes, the story could have been nicer if we explored Ra El's past and actually saw her planning her revenge. Personally I think this she would have been more enjoyable without Ra El's confusion about the chairman.

I like Han So Ra's wardrobe the most (especially the red leather revenge dress.) I wonder why but Ra El's outfits were a bit haphazard, all over the place (what was that green dress when she went for the reveal, though I loved the mansion feast dress.)

Ra El's parents should have been explored more, as the synopsis made them seem more involved. I should say, this drama does have a lot of plot holes, and character backgrounds are left to the imagination. Things could have been done better than leaving it up to plot armor (how convenient that Da Bi stored her shoes in the vault haha.) I personally like my dramas to have the ending tied up in a neat bow, something I expect after investing 16+ hrs on a show, but this one left me with some questions unanswered. But it was not so big a deal-breaker.

The drama does have the hook factor, it is good if you want to watch something fun. It is enjoyable, just go in with lesser expectations. Though I would suggest that if you want to watch this for the revenge plot, it wont be satisfying. Take this as a messy (in a good way) romance, with mature themes.

Overall, I didn't regret watching this. It wasn't as good as I hoped after learning about the set-up, but it was satisfactory.

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Such a sweet drama with a new star

The title did not attract me and also not the names of the actors. However, from episode 2 onwards, the charme of the story and the actors caught me. I laugh and smile while watching as the FL is sassy (totally normal:-) to the king, so shocking for the old Joseon days:-) Very funny this combination of an independent and strong FL and the king expecting people to kneel and bow in front of him. Funnier as he is actually a very young man:-) I saw in other reviews all the old FL vs young ML discussions. Hello, we are in 2025 and still discuss that someone is 10 years older? As actors? Do you see this age difference in the roles? And if so, who cares? Just enjoy the funny and strong Yoona and Chaemin who plays a non-highschool student the first time. I think he will be one of the leading actors of his generation. Also enjoy the great food presentations! Very interesting how the Korean cuisine has evolved. Just a good K drama with a new twist

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Short and Sweet

I did not have a lot of expectations with this one, but just needed a break from the costume dramas I have been watching of late but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this show was. It was pretty short that you can bingewatch in a day (as most professionals do), but also entertaining. It is quality drama. I enjoyed the legal cases, the office and courtroom drama, the hint of romance, and the overall vibe of the series. This was well-done. It was satisfying to watch from start to finish. The main leads did a great job. If you're looking for a quick watch with a good story and great acting, this is for you!

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You're never late for love! A sweet drama to treat and heal your heart and eyes.

10 things I want to do before I turn 40 is your typical J-BL, enticing you with sweet treats and slow-burn romance. This will surely remind you of "Old-fashioned Cupcake" in every way possible.

As a slow burn enthusiast, I liked this drama. I liked it more because I binged it, otherwise one might feel a bit disconnected waiting for it every week. Suzume-san's personality was very relatable, and Keishi's straightforward aura blended so effortlessly that as an audience I wanted to watch their daily lives together more.

Overall, it was a lovely watch for me. If you don't mind slow, emotional fluff, then you're going to like it.

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