Reviews

Surprised at the amount of tears I shed for Ah Zhi - more than just NC scenes.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I’ve been a fan of a couple Taiwanese productions (“Let’s Talk about Chu” and “Us Without Sex”) that are not afraid to be bold and talk about sex, lust, and other taboo topics. “The Nipple Talk” is no exception when exploring the sexy lives of three professionals - Pony, Ah Zhi and Xuan. Their individual stories vary in uniqueness and enjoyability, but their friendship remains consistently the highlight of the show.

The three of them, along with AS Bistro owner, Mama, are just so fun to watch. Despite not agreeing with each other’s choices and decisions 100% of the time, and they are not afraid in speaking up their minds and criticizing. The bond remains strong and genuine. We all want friends like them, who will knock some sense into you, get drunk with you, laugh at and with you.

Pony’s story might be the most common and unoriginal of the three. A girl who got burnt by a past relationship and just wants to have fun and not catch feelings. We followed a few of her sex-capades and her wild life. Her ending is somewhat predictable but what is up with that ending???

Ah Zhi’s story is my favorite of the three. I think I cry the most for him. As a gay guy, it was shown that he’s actually quite conservative and prejudiced. This is probably because of his family upbringing. There are a few times I also want to smack some sense in him, but Mama did it for me. He also has the best character development of the three. We first met him as a loving boyfriend who just wants to get married and has a family. But that dream was crushed and it took him a while to truly be himself. I do admire him for knowing what he wants, persists and does not give in.

Xuan’s story may be the most boring for me. A lesbian who likes to be at the top and in control. She was unapologetic in her way of life until towards the end when she fell in love. The last couple episodes of her story are interesting in a way that I don’t see that explored in many other dramas (well, I also don’t watch GLs).

We didn’t really get to see much of Mama’s story. But we got to know her wild side through many of her finger-sucking flashbacks. In a way, I want to know more about her. But on the other hand, these flashbacks are just the perfect dose. Mama, though seems like a caricature of a character, is actually the voice of reason. She’s also not afraid to smack some sense into them, esp. Ah Zhi’s prejudice and hurtful comments. I also always look forward to her outrageous costumes/attire.

“The Nipple Talk” might not be super unique, but it was an enjoyable watch that explores a variety of topics in a fun and emotional way. The podcast format is actually not really used in a traditional sense like in “Let’s Talk about Chu” or the K-drama “Hit the Spot”. Instead, it’s used as the voice over from Pony when sharing her thoughts and describing what happened. I would have rated this higher if I was moved by Pony and Xuan’s stories. But when writing this review, I realized what I love most about this drama is the friendship and Ah Zhi’s story.


Completed: 5/24/2025 - Review #582

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Women-hating drama

I really wanted to love this show. I really did. Quite a few people suggested it as a feminist show where women are the central figures who are respected. I thought this show would be original with its premise of a city that is ruled by women. I couldn't have been more wrong.


SPOILERS AHEAD:

What I got instead is caricatures of jealous/scheming/just awful women who behave the same way as misogynist men.

I dropped the show half way through as I couldn't put myself through the repetitive plots, tired old tropes, and boring execution anymore. I read the recap of the rest of the episodes, so my opinion below is not uninformed.

I’m so sick of the trope of the bubbly FL who melts the cold ML’s heart. Abusive behavior and being mistreated should never be tolerated. Why do C and K-Drama FLs have to put up with this crap from the MLs? Couldn’t the ML be nice to begin with?

What was really disgusting was the multiple attempted sexual assault of the FL. Each time, it is excused in stupid ways. One of the times, the ML downright tries to rape her until he sees her crying. Is that supposed to make us think, “Wow, he’s such a nice guy for not raping the FL since she started crying?” WTH!

I’m so sick of these kinds of shows. If I had the time, I’d add tags for Stockholm Syndrome, attempted rape, and other messed-up themes.

Unless you want to feel disgusted, stay clear of this drama.

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Silly plot and illegal romance

I gave this 5.5 out of 10, because I love the main cast. Also, most of the supporting characters are quite good and enjoyable people, except for the Geisha lady and the cheating husband. I specially like the grandmother and the male housekeeper, and the female employee who is close to the female lead.

I’m okay with the 10 year age gap but please at least make the male lead 1 or 2 years older. He’s underage and immature. The romance in this series is illegal lol. If anyone disliked them and reported them to the police, the female lead would be arrested. Also, the plot is dumb and annoying too.

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A great drama for introverts

As an introvert living in this extrovert world, I relate so much to the characters in the series. It’s a realistic slow-paced and heartwarming slice of life series. I see myself in Mi Jeong, Chang-hee, Mr. Gu, and sometimes Gi Jeong, and other characters.

The only thing I don’t really like, even though it is realistic and suitable to the vibe of the series, is that Mr. Gu seems to rely on Mi Jeong in his alcohol addiction behaviors and emotional healing journey with a lot of serious traumas. I feel like their message in the last episode is that romantic love can heal everything, and that Mi Jeong only finds herself lovely when she’s with Mr. Gu. I don’t aggree with this idea.

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Happy to have started and to have finished, some of these reviews are way too harsh...

this drama was amazing at the start, and while i really enjoyed watching it till the end - there were some things that knocked it down a ton for me in the end. i went into this pre-episode 10 thinking i'd rate this drama a ten, but ended up being thoroughly disappointed with the direction of the writing in episode ten. while i'm satisfied / happy with how they tied up each and every character i find myself dissatisfied with a huge piece of the ending. there were times my wife and i find ourselves too confused for words, blubbering from tears, or just simply smiling due to the good feelings. this drama encapsulates a lot of complex and wide array of emotions, but ultimately fell over itself with confusing writing nearing the end. happy to have seen this drama through to the end, but can happily say i won't ever watch it again. nakjoon's actor gained a fan in me, and i'll happily look forward to his future works. hyeja and jimin have always been top tier actresses for me, so i was really satisfied with them in this..! simply amazing. great beginner or intermediate drama for a firs time watcher for sure.

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"Fish get depressed if you put them in square tanks"

Miao Miao is a 2008 Taiwanese coming of age film about two school girls who experienced both the rush of joy and the pain of first love. Not nearly as deep or devastating as it could have been Miao Miao splashed along the surface of life and relationships.

Ai ignores her father and the breakfast he cooked for her like she does every morning. Once again late for school, she brings a cake she made to share with her friends. Her love for baking hasn’t transformed her very limited skills and her friends don’t exactly dig into her creation. A new foreign exchange student catches Ai’s eye. Miao Miao is studying in Taiwan for the year before returning to Japan. The two hit it off, their bond deepened by Miao Miao’s advanced baking techniques. The two girls visit the site of the bakery where Miao Miao’s grandmother met her first love, only now it’s a used CD store owned by a moody musician. Chen Fei religiously wears headphones and ignores people as much as he can. Miao Miao falls head over heels for the reclusive musician who scarcely acknowledges her existence. He is nursing his grief and broken heart over the loss of his love. Ai is discovering her own burgeoning feelings for Miao Miao. The three young people attempt to navigate the precarious path to and from love.

This film had potential as the girls’ friendship developed and then had the obstacle of Miao Miao’s crush. Not all people know how to maintain and nurture a friendship when one person’s attention becomes focused on a love interest. The stress on the friendship was increased as Ai wasn’t just jealous of the time Miao Miao spent attempting to catch Chen Fei’s attention but jealous that her friend was romantically interested in the brooding store owner. Sandrine Penna and Ko Chia Yen gave their best given the limitations of the script. The source of Chen Fei’s angst was shown in flashback with a strong performance by Chris Wu Kang Ren as the lover. Fan Chih Wei’s performance was not nearly as inspired.

The course of first love is rarely smooth or a straight line. Sometimes even admitting to feelings that might be rejected not only by another but also society can make the journey downright rocky. Though dealing with heartache and unrequited love, Miao Miao didn’t stumble by becoming melodramatic. It would have been nice if it had taken a more scenic route off of the well-trod path it insisted on keeping to. Neither groundbreaking nor overly deep, Miao Miao showed that the best remedy for a broken heart was friendship, even when that relationship caused the pain in the first place.

24 May 2025

Trigger warning: If real life scumbags are a deterrent for you, I discovered after watching this film that Fan Chih Wei has not been good to women, including assault.

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Haters need to touch grass

I think some viewers hating on this show shouldn’t be watching this type of show. Maybe grow up a bit first, so that you don’t feel the need to send hate to real people.

I think this season was wayyyy more fun than season 1. Of course I was frustrated at some players and found some situations unfortunate for the players I liked the most, but that’s why it was so fun to watch. And no, Hyungyu is not a psychopath for wanting to win. What did he do that’s so terrible? He never forced other players to do anything they didn’t want to do. And he apologized at the end for his behavior, and in my opinion he didn’t have to apologize for being intelligent and playing the game according to its rules lmao, he’s just way ahead of everyone else. He apologized because he knew the other contestants were a bit baffled and not rooting for him as much as they were rooting for Sohui. They’re all super smart and accomplished people, so don’t worry, they’ll be okay, it’s just a game lol some people need to touch grass because what if these contestants saw the comments? What about the production team who clearly tried to fix the problems with season 1’s dynamics. The cast was way better, more well-rounded and focused in the competition. If some people used their brains for critical thinking, they wouldn’t be hating on contestants of a GAME. Even players like Kyuhyun and sohui, who honestly frustrated me a bit for being emotional players, have their own reasoning and have the right to play the way they think matches their principles. Grow up, this is literally why we can’t have nice things. Let’s just hope the production team keeps innovating each season and is able to bring us more quality games and dynamics!

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Heavenly ever after.

I decided to watch this drama after seeing its trailer, which immediately intrigued me. The storyline felt fresh and unique, and I was excited to dive in. From the very first two episodes, I was hooked—the drama beautifully captured the struggles and pain of life on earth, yet also carried a profound message: if you live an honest and good life, you will find even greater joy after death. That’s what I believe the title "Heavenly Ever After" truly means.

As the story progressed, it only got better. The characters were engaging and never felt dull. Although there were some parts, especially with Som-i, that felt a bit frustrating, I understand that this was the director’s and writer’s intention to highlight certain challenges. Honestly, this drama is a real gem. It will make you cry, but it will also make you smile your brightest smile.

The drama is filled with beautiful life lessons—about living well, about the connections we form, and about how those connections aren’t random. It suggests that every person we meet is part of our fate, and that even if it feels like a new encounter, it might be a bond carried over from a different lifetime.

Overall, it’s a must-watch drama that will leave you feeling moved and inspired.

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A Masterpiece that deserves more attention!

OMG! I was gonna wait until after ep 12 to write the review BUT EPISODE 7 was so freaking intense that I was holding my breath every other second hoping it doesn't end badly for everyone! And I had to come here and write about it! Lol
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! All four of them are doing a fantastic job with this series! I hope it goes on to win more awards because IT'S THAT GOOD!
The plot is so unique, with so many twists and turns that it will confuse your mind...in a good way!
Its been awhile since I watched horror/thriller dramas and this one is IT!
After Gifted s1 and s2, I think this series is gonna be one those rewatch 10/10 for me!
Gun is amazing as always 😍 such perfectionist! And Pond has blown my mind! His acting has improved by leaps and bounds! His relationship with Gun is portrayed so beautifully! Pond's expressions are so so good! The boy is going places after this one!

Please please watch this series! It's amazing!

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from the author of Momfluencer

I knew what to expect because Momfluencer (on webtoon.com) went off rails from the expected route pretty early on. It is somewhat the same story. Mask Girl is also originally a comics. if the tv show has strange plot compared to genre for dorama, they tend to have comics/webtoons as origin.

Acting of main leads is phenomenal, they should get some award, there's not enough raw female villains ilke that. had no idea the "grandma" looks so good irl.

opening is awesome, both visually and the audio score.

Oveall, dynamic and not dragged as doramas love to go. Even though the Momfluencer is a bit too similar plot wise, i hope it also gets adapted. The similaries are basically mothers ruining their kids' lives and unraveling/learning some remorse. Didn't read Mask Girl, but in Momfluencer most of the characters are comepletely nuts, except kids. Here they have some room for compassion lol

in terms of grandma, she felt guilt as we see in the taxi dream, her whole act is denial about her own part in who she raised. she isn't a doting mother, it's a scapegoat crusade under religious excuse.

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A Lack of Identity

I actually did love half of this show... the first half.

This is really two shows splices together to make one. The first half really does a fantastic job of making me feel for and root for so many characters. I really loved our FL and her relationship with her niece/daughter and her brother. I also really liked the nuanced ML - his story was actually quite heartbreaking. I liked how they met and how they progress. ML friendship with Jae-woo had me cheesing every time they were on screen together.

The second half of this show felt like a rushed fever dream. There is a completely hairbrained murder plot thrown in. It's poorly introduced and even more poorly executed. The methods our villain uses are quite comical despite the very real consequences of their actions and the whole thing just felt like it makes little sense. I don't think they motives were all that valid or thought out properly and it had me scratching my head. It's just very sloppy.

Now, I admit, I did not realize the crime plot was advertised to be a big part of this show. It was recommended to me by a friend who told me it was a cute love story and I researched little beyond the title. I blame poor titled and a lack of balance for my personal feelings and the score I gave.

This show is not bad by any means.

My favorite parts of this involved the kids. The competitiveness of education was so compelling, the lengths parents are willing to go to help them succeed, the very real mental health issues kids face when put under such pressure, it was all a very raw and nuanced story to tell. I genuinely liked the storyline and character growth here. The lawyer mom and her two sons were by far the group I found the most interesting and I was more invested in their arc than any other.

Overall, this show was worth watching but I would not watch it again.

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FL's lack of trust in her relationship with ML infuriated me

I really liked Zhao Fei's performance in Bai Ri Bu Shu so I checked out her list of dramas and found this. This drama frustrated me and after 1 hour 20 minutes of watching (mostly fast forwarded), I decided to stop wasting my time & drop this drama.

What I liked:
1. Sub-plot - FL was investigating her father's case - he was framed for something he didn't do. I found the deep fake issue fascinating.
2. ML characterisation - I liked that he always stood by FL's side and kept reassuring her. This is probably my first drama of Zhang Li Ren. I was captivated by his performance here. He has a soothing voice
3. Supporting characters - I liked ML's assistant & FL's relatives.
4. Styling - I liked most of the outfits worn by FL & ML. The red & blue qipao was pretty.

What I disliked:
1. FL characterisation - Gosh, she seemed clueless and easily intimidated. I was infuriated with her for going along with an offer after being blackmailed. I think Zhao Fei was miscast in this drama. With her sharp, matured features, her visuals and acting didn't match the character's damsel in distress persona.
2. Romance - At 1 hour mark, FL was threatened with fake sex video. Instead of turning to ML who was already acknowledged as boyfriend, she decided to go along with perpetrator's demands. It was clear that she had no confidence in her relationship and I just couldn't accept this crap anymore. I also didn't sense any chemistry between Zhao Fei and Zhang Li Ren.

Favourite scene
When ML visited FL's house & met her aunt

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