Reviews

A drama that shows hope and people' trust in you can help you survive all types of difficulties

I do think the charater development of ML is well written. I have seen how Kang tae poong character growth from spoiled rich kid into mature CEO and FL who as given up on dream because of crisis to strong person who have achieved her dreams

Even though the plot cliche's are repetitive but it shows diff problems seen in tading company at diff phases. Life is one repetitive circle and businesses are no exemption. But the businesses have playbooks to solve every problem. But here with ML adventurous personality and can do anything attitude has lead them into major hardtimes which are unusual but always ending up with satisfying success

I also like how they showed experienced people who have flaunted their knowledge and superiority can mess up big time and has to learn the lessons hardway

I also like how IMF crisis has been potrayed. It not about people losing everything but how this person actually turns out especially when they are in crisis situation

So far the pace was good from EP 1 -14. But the plot has been inconsistent at the end but i do like the second half of ep 16

I would definitely recommend this to watch this show at winter break at your leisure time who is ready to watch a show based on characters and their individual stories

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The elephant in the room got too big to ignore

This movie had the potential to be really great. Visually stunning with great camerawork that really emphasizes the good acting, it uses music and visuals to create a calm atmosphere with shifting nuances of release or tension. The criminal case it presented was very predictable, but interesting enough in its details.

However, I always have to deduct points en masse when movies don't excel at the one thing they are based on. In this case, that's the depiction of autism*. Let this be your warning that this attempted to be a heartwarming movie about a struggling lawer and a girl with a mental disability rather than a crime thriller.

If I was being mean, I'd suggest the writers were autistic themselves, since they apparently liked ticking off boxes on lists so meticously. We have all the stereotypes you could imagine, added a couple of typical crime plots and topped it off with throwing realism out the window whenever inconvenient.

(Disclaimer: I am autistic myself)
The elephant in the room - Autism:
The main character has Asperger's, obviously, because there's no other forms of autism. She has trouble understanding her surroundings so much that she is barely able to interact with other people unless they make a grand effort to get through to her. That is realistic, as everyone knows autistic people live in their own world, can't use emphasis when speaking and struggle reading facial expressions. They don't understand irony or sarcasm and can't lie. BUT they make up for all their "deficits" by having superpower-like abilities in mathematics, language or hypersensitivity that end up saving the day. *irony off*
Let's add some ableist language like talking away issues, using generalising phrases or pretending to know better, advocating for people who didn't ask to be advocated for.
I already knew it was utopic to wish to feel represented by a movie this heavily focused on autistic struggles, but this movie really ticked all the boxes on how to NOT approach the topic. It's not especially bad compared to other media, but it's also not better than them in the slightest. It's not like nobody with autism acts like the FL does, hence you could say it was realistic - down to the ableist approaches everyone took at her. Still, the disability is a mere plot device and handled with the same care as all other plot devices employed. As someone sensitized to the topic, I couldn't help but feel annoyed whenever I was able to cross off another stereotype or trope on my mental checklist. I'm tired of getting served the same old three streotypes in a "heartwarming bonding" trenchcoat.

What everyone else looks at - Plot:
Now, if you don't mind breezing through a couple of standards in good quality and don't specifically care about considerate portrayal of disabilities, this is still a good movie. But... is it?
Plot-wise, they attempted too little in too few time. We have the crime to solve, obviously, that then also has to be negotiated in court. On top of that, our main lead lawyer has to deal with a bunch of issues at home whilst facing a crisis at his job, leading him to also lose his closest friend (whose problems are hinted at as well), all while trying to befriend a girl with autism which he knows nothing about. Said girl obviously has her own struggles, too, which we also get insight into. While all these aspects are connected with each other quite skillfully, the balance between them didn't sit right to me. Neither the crime plot nor the development of the relationship between the two mains got the emphasis they deserved.
If this movie had focused just a little less on portraying something they obviously didn't know how to handle properly, it could have been a great plot with complexity and thoroughly characterised characters.

Tl;Dr - Conclusion:
This was still a good movie, and until approximately the last 20 minutes, I was able to focus fully on what was happening on screen. The way it was filmed and edited really helped to protray atmosphere and emotionality, hence gripping and holding my interest. Whether you will feel the main characters actually form a bond or stay somewhat distant will be up to you. What it's not is a good crime movie or a good representation of disabilities. If you leave your inner detective at home where you also store away your courtroom knowledge, chances are you'll highly enjoy watching.

*PS: I don't hold any firm view on the disability-first vs. person-first debate, hence I used both versions as I saw fit.

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A melt in your mouth romance… served with a side of questionable therapy!

Japan just gets food dramas in a way no one else does. Romantic Anonymous is one of them, revolving around Artisanal chocolates. It is a story of Sosuke, a germaphobe, who takes over Le Sauveur (a chocolate shop) and meets Lee He Na, who battles her own fear of social anxiety. If I look at it with a rose coloured lens, it does scratch that itch, but the psychological part of phobia/ trauma and how it was dealt with was highly unrealistic, especially the character of the therapist Irene.

Starting with the positives, I enjoyed the journey of leads- both individually and romantically. Even though their phobias are different- one is a germaphobe and the other can't make eye contact. Yet somehow they became a safe space for each other, growing softly as they each broke out of their shells.The main strength of their bond lies in the fact that they understand each other's silence better than most couples understand words. I loved how tender and careful their relationship felt.
I did feel the pacing dipped in between, but it did pick up in the later episodes. Also, having only eight episodes really helped cut out the fillers and kept the story from feeling stretched.

Another thing that worked in favour of the drama was the beautiful cinematography and the atmospheric setting. It was very scenic, especially all the wide outdoor shots of nature, plus the chocolate making process was filmed and portrayed beautifully. The overall aesthetics felt very warm.

What didn't work for me or should I say who didn't work for me, was Miss psychologist Irene. She was definitely the weakest link out of all 4 main characters. She is a professional yet rarely she behaves like one. I was astonished at her lack of boundaries and how somehow she had this tendency to insert herself into situations where she should be standing 500 m apart, observing from a safe distance from a professional standpoint. I am not saying she is malicious, just poorly written.

And her love line with Hiro was controversial as well. There wasn't enough organic tension between them. It felt forced or like an afterthought. Maybe it was because I couldn't get the conflict of roles out of my head, because Hiro was connected to both the leads and she was their therapist, muddying boundaries.
This could have worked better with her being a just a friend or anything other than a therapist.

Acting wise, this was my first time seeing Oguri Shun and he definitely has left a good impression on me. Han Hyo Joo also did a decent job. This was a Japanese-Korean collaboration and somehow I didn't feel she was out of place or anything. Akanishi Jin came with an insane face card, and though I didn't enjoy his character as much as I thought I would, his acting was nice too. I share the same thought for Nakamura Yuri as Irene.

Overall, this was a good one-time sweet treat from a romance perspective. I would recommend it if you enjoy gentle and slow-burn romance with some fine-dining chocolate aesthetics. It's not perfect but far better than romcoms I have watched recently.

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More than a boring business drama!!

I was initially hesitant to watch this show thinking it would be another boring business-focused kdrama with longwinded plots and business jargon. But.. my god.. i was so suprised when this turned out to be one of my favourites of this year!!
Under the façade of a business drama set in the economic drought of the imf crisis, this drama became such a heartwarming slice of life drama revolving around Taepoong and his colleagues navigating the troughs and peaks of life by relying on nothing but eachother.
Definietly worth a watch if you enjoy a good slice of life drama!!

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Babe yearning, pleading & desperately in love - what more would you want ?

I had mixed feelings on the first season, but this had me totally hooked.
The big selling point to me is Pavel's acting, PoohPavel's chemistry and this story, honestly, giving me one of my favorite things in the world : a beautiful man absolutely wrecked by his yearning and desperation for his partner.
This is another season that puts Babe through hell emotionally, but it's just so enchanting to watch.
Pavel conveys hurt, and desperately needing to be loved so, so well. His facial expressions are truly a treat.
He absolutely carried.
I loved this season and will be rewatching.

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Oh my god, this drama was heartbreaking and deeply satisfying in the best possible way. After 19 years of abuse, the FL finally finds someone who treats her with the softness, protection, and genuine love she always deserved—and watching that healing journey was so emotional. The ML is the perfect mix of gentle and fiercely devoted, and their chemistry? Absolutely beautiful.

Both leads delivered phenomenal performances, and even the supporting cast added weight to every moment. But the true standout here is the tight, well-written plot and thoughtfully executed script—no lazy shortcuts, no wasted scenes, just emotional depth from start to finish. This is definitely one worth keeping!

And honestly… everyone in this drama is at least a little bit crazy, and by the time I finished it, I felt like I’d joined them too. 😂😂

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A Surprisingly Exceptional Vertical Drama

I honestly didn’t expect a vertical drama to hit this hard. Most of them are messy, rushed, or full of plot holes — but Pride and Preference is the complete opposite. The story is tight, smooth, emotional, and unbelievably well-executed for its short format. Not a single episode felt choppy or confusing. Everything connects, everything matters, and the pacing is perfect.

What truly elevates this drama is the chemistry between the leads. Their dynamic is natural, warm, and emotionally charged. The acting is impressive across the board, especially from the FL’s parents, who poured their emotions into every scene. The emotional weight in this tiny drama hits harder than many full-length shows.

Both leads have deep backstories that unfold beautifully. Jijun’s duality — switching between a vulnerable, soft-hearted boy and a strong, controlled heir — was especially well portrayed. And Meng Na? Her styling was flawless, and her emotional delivery gave the drama its soul.

I was terrified this would end in tragedy, especially with how intense some episodes were, but thankfully, the drama stuck the landing without betraying the emotional journey. It even made me cry — a first for a vertical drama.

A rare, well-written, emotionally satisfying short series that proves vertical dramas can be exceptional when done right.
A must-watch for viewers who want heartfelt storytelling without unnecessary drama or fillers.

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Bloody REVENGE with a mere HINT of Romance

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Revenge with a capital 'R' and romance with a lowercase 'r' is the theme of this minidrama. The main protagonist is the FL and the the 'boogeyman' ML is mostly a shadow following her around to provide 'slight' assistance. This is especially true in the first portion of the drama which focuses on her personal revenge as opposed to uncovering the masterminds behind the scenes.

Negatives:
🚫 Short length requires break-neck speed and waving hand over details of the past
🚫 Some revenge is shown in detail and some, the end is left hanging in the end offscreen
🚫 There is no ACTUAL kiss between the leads (personally not a negative but for many I know this IS so listing here)
🚫 Typical last second ending

Positives:
✅️ Nietzsche
✅️ A take no prisoners style FL who isn't afraid of mass manipulation
✅️ Multiple layers of character stories told through lines of dialog and brief flashbacks
✅️ Unhinged OTT acting at it's finest (beyond more than just the leads)

IMPORTANT considerations:
🌸 This FL gets her hands dirty and her schemes may have you wonder if the is the same or possibly becoming worse than her object of revenge.
🌸 You must be able to overlook such things as full facial change and later a character having a 'full skin suit'..
🌸 Background information is given out scarcely and sprinkled unevenly. There is a LOT left unsaid which leaves the viewer either frustrated that 'nothing makes sense' if they can't make logic jumps with 2 lines of dialog episodes apart; OR wishing the story were longer so that the show could be more fully fleshed out and characterized.
🌸 This is pure entertainment value with MANY actual flaws, some seemingly in place because of the sheer nature of the scope of work limiting how the novel could be adapted.
🌸 The show provides PLENTY of scenes presented for 'shock value' but does not actually utilize on-screen rape and/or miscarriage - there are scenes of force and violence against woman as well as men.
🌸 If anything could possibly cause someone who is clapping their hands along with the mayhem to sigh it might be the switch-over from 'act 1' to 'act 2' as my personal reaction was: '....And suddenly there's comedy? The stare wide-eyed mouth open for flies, head cocked to the side, can't believe it sort...' Then... 'Omg I can't... This girl isn't acting unhinged but just plain off her rocker 🤣🤡'

🔥Final Rating: 9/10🔥
This is HEAVILY weighted for enjoyment factor and scenes I feel will leave a lingering impact on my mind.
I greatly enjoyed the style of acting the actors were asked to portray, though the ML with his single tear drop was, in my opinion, a 'choice'.
The music was 🤷‍♀️ - it was background music and it fit the scenes
I doubt I will ever rewatch this show in its entirety again, but if clips came up on my screen or if someone were already watching, I'd sit down and rewatch parts.

I paid for the Express Pass and do not regret it.

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Amazing overall

I wanted to watch this for a while and finally I had some time to watch, especially since the drama is not that lengthy. The first two episodes are slow paced but from episode 3, it gets so good! I don't know from where to start, the plot, the acting, the cinematography! Even the opening is mysterious!

Acting is amazing, from Ju Ji Hoon who portrays so well the righteous Crown Prince and the other characters which are complex and bring so much to the drama as well!

Great OST.

Definitely to be rewatched.

The way it finished, can't wait to get to season 2!

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Super entertaining with an amazing soundtrack

The story in itself was entertaining and well-paced. It is kinda reusing very known beats of storylines about knowing and trusting oneself, friendship and overcoming fears. But it does it with a touch of Korean culture, demon hunting magic and with a lot of energic girl power. Truly enjoyable even if I wish some of the relationships would have been explored further, it was enough to convey the overall message of the movie.

The OST is the strongest point of this movie with Golden by Huntrix and Soda Pop by Saja Boys being my faves songs from the movie, but honestly all of them are a vibes and are also kind of echoing very famous KPOP groups. The voice actors and actresses all did a solid job, I particularly appreciated Ahn Hyo Seop voicing Jinu in a super smooth way.

The animations style is not necessarily my favorite but I appreciate how different the characters design of the three members of Huntrix are. I wish the demons and the demon king design were more refined, as well as the fights scenes more varied. At some points the fights seems to all merge into a big battle again the same kind of puppets demons. I loved how colorful everything was and the care brought to the stage costume design for the heroines and the Saja Boys. Very reminiscent of what would actual KPOP stars wear.

I would recommend this to people looking for a very entertaining action anime movie. If you are fan of KPOP or are/have been part of a fandom, it will be for sure an enjoyable watch as there are myriad of references, moments, atmosphere that will resonate in the heart of fans.

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My new favorite kdrama!

This is a late review, but I wanted to post because I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! It was such a feel-good watch.

First of all, the setting of this drama was so healing. The rural seaside town was beautiful, and there were so many shots of the lighthouse and the ocean. It was almost always beautiful and sunny and when it did rain, it was also beautiful. The sound of seagulls was so calming.

While there are two main lead couples (both of which were so cute!) the show also puts emphasis on other relationships outside of romance. There were so many characters in this series that I was also invested in, and excited to see how all of their lives progressed as the show went on. While the drama focuses on people in the small town, it shows people in all walks and stages of life.

I loved seeing all the supportive relationships, especially between the ML and the FL's ex, and how they helped each other process their emotions and provided support for each other.

A couple of things I didn't like:
At some points, when trying to hide their relationship in the early stages, the FL is quite violent with the ML (jokingly, but still) and it was kind of disturbing to see that portrayed in what was otherwise modeled to be a healthy relationship.
I loved that one of the characters was in the LGBTQ+ community, but I wish that they had given her a bigger part of the story and a little more screen time.

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