Reviews

Psychological Masterpiece - Hugely Misunderstood

The first season of Under the Skin was the literal first ever Chinese drama I ever watched. This was the beginning of my full departure from terrible, stale, morally bankrupt western entertainment, so Under the Skin was more than a mere breath of fresh air, it was water in the desert, a fireplace in winter, and so on. I know a lot of people watched Season 1 mainly for the bromance between Shen Yi and Du Cheng, and that was definitely a very good and wholesome friendship that served as the story axis of the whole season, but it wasn’t the reason I was watching. In a way season one was like Shen Yi’s origin story. It was also Du Cheng overcoming his own trauma and sense of failure and becoming a genuinely excellent leader for his little team.

Shen Yi is an excellent example of how a character can be deeply complex without being morally ambiguous. In Season 2, Shen Yi, having established himself as a committed, talented resource in the police’s fight against crime, had to undergo his next trial. He always struck me as innocent, even naive, but innately brilliant. His brilliance didn’t come from experience, it was his sharp, attentive mind. He could dissect a person’s character, but because he didn’t have much experience dealing with actual people, these astute observations and accurate, seemingly magical deductions, came from a well of knowledge he himself didn’t fully grasp. This is especially shown in the fact that he is very frequently the guy on the other side of the glass listening and watching, not actually talking to the criminal. Sometimes he does, but usually not. In this season this fact is underscored repeatedly when Shen Yi seems to almost fantastically arrive at crucial facts via his artistic process. The knowledge he put on the canvas came from somewhere but he didn’t understand where. So it seemed like magic to the viewer. A clever, disorienting detail.

Throughout season one, up to the beginning of season two, his efforts had been met with success after success. He himself doesn’t even question his success. As far as he’s concerned, the model works. However, when he encounters his first failure, his first catastrophic oversight and a little girl is murdered, that innate brilliance is suddenly shrouded in darkness. Not darkness in the sense of evil, but in the sense of uncertainty. Like all brilliant minds, he begins to question the futility of the fight against evil. In the briefly excellent British drama Ripper Street the main character, a Victorian investigator who had been demoted after he had failed to catch Jack the Ripper, experiences a similar crisis throughout one of the seasons. In one memorable scene he recalls a conversation he had with a philosopher about entropy. This conversation had troubled him ever since. If, despite all our efforts to maintain order and peace, everything is naturally decaying into chaos, what is the point of fighting it? The detective’s friend urgently reminded him that they keep fighting it because if they don’t, chaos wins. But, the detective argued, on a long enough timeline, chaos always wins.

Later, the detective was sharing this same line of worry with a woman he had met, an orphan-keeper in a poor corner of his district whose work seemed equally futile. Her response was immediate and unqualified: “He who saves one person, saves the world entire.”

Du Cheng’s attitude was identical to the orphan-keeper’s. Their job as police was not to save the whole world and erase crime entirely. Their job was to save the person who needs saving right now, stop the criminal who needs to be stopped right now. And then the next person. And then the next person. That’s the job. And it’s important, but it’s also thankless and exhausting and fills you with despair. When one little girl slips through your fingers, every life you’ve ever saved suddenly seems meaningless. Du Cheng, as a character, didn’t really need to develop in this season. His role, narratively speaking, was to serve as the anchor or lighthouse for Shen Yi who was enduring the stormiest seas he had ever known. Tan Jian Ci’s acting as Shen Yi was incredible, here. Always I got the heartbreaking sense from him that he was barely hanging on, that he was clinging to hope by his fingernails, but that he had entirely lost the sense that what he was doing was making any difference. Even when victories renewed his resolve, still you got the sense that he had no light or map in his fight against entropy and that without it, this job would break him and he would become a hollowed out shell running through the motions with a pessimistic sense of hopelessness. “If,” he would often say at the end of a case, “we could have prevented…” And then Du Cheng would silence him, “That is NOT our job.” Pause, then a forced smile and: “I know.”

The writing in this season was difficult and sophisticated. One of the things I admired about the first season was the soft, delicate touch with which they handled very complex moral issues. And, more importantly, that the writers’ sense of right and wrong and morality in general was very sound and was conveyed very well but without seeming preachy, as Chinese cop dramas can sometimes be.

But if the first season went under the skin, this season got into the viscera and the marrow. Every case dug deeper and deeper into the psychological origins of that something that drives a seemingly ordinary person to actually kill another person. And as each case dug deeper, Shen Yi struggled more and more and Du Cheng watched, keeping his distance. Because he knew that this was a fight Shen Yi had to either win or lose alone.

Every case was fascinating, unexpected, and deeply uncomfortable. In that sense I found this season darker than the first, but in a welcome way. Sometimes I found it hard to reach the end because of that inherently tragic reality that most killers did not start evil. But that a series of bad choices led to that final, horrible one. And that at every turn they could have gone back, they could have stopped. But they didn’t. At the end of the day, after all, the ultimate impetus in criminality is the will of the criminal. And Shen Yi could draw and paint and sculpt until his hands fell off, but he would never be able to control human will. Whether of not he could make his peace with that was the ultimate driving question of the entire season.

I don’t care about music. I don’t care about costumes or set design. I care about story and acting. And both were incredible. I loved the addition of Fang Kai Yi. He served as an ideal way to develop the complexity of Shen Yi’s internal struggle. He was a false lighthouse in Shen Yi’s struggle against entropy and that worried Du Cheng who believed Shen Yi was in danger of shipwreck.

There was never a struggle in Shen Yi between good and evil. The struggle was deeper and more fundamental. The writing came at it obliquely and then, from time to time, forced us to hold prolonged eye contact with it. An absolutely, masterfully well-done character development.

Quite liked the possibilities presented with that ending, too.

My only complaint would be that I didn’t get to see more of Shen Yi’s cat. Loved that little dude.

Read More

I thought it was my type of drama, but sadly it was not it...

So, Jae wook in historicals is soo my type, so there's no reason I would miss this drama. And he never disappoints, he had given more than 100% for his character. Jo Bo ah and all others were soo good in their role. Osts was sooo GOOD!!!. Making, direction was also good.
So my problem is with the story and writing, the plot was interesting, but watching the whole story it was not for me, I personally didn't really liked how the story was going. So, I didn't really liked the whole story...
Now, the Snow man, I liked that one. It was quite interesting for me.
!!‼️may be a little spoiler here!!!!
And last My favorite character is the REAL HONGRANG!!! appreciation to the child actor ❤️

Read More

the search for a lost brother

finished 9/10 🌟

What a trip filled with beautiful landscapes and an impeccable story you gave me, dear Hongrang 👏
It's been a while since a Korean historical film excited me so much.
Lee Jaewook is impeccable and proves once again that this type of role suits him perfectly ✨
Boah performed excellently, especially in his melancholic scenes. I could feel his pain and anguish through his character 👏
Kim Jaewook as a villain, which was spectacular, although I felt that I needed more of him. I wanted to see more representation of his character and I was left wanting more 😭
A heartbreaking but healing ending that teaches us that someone always comes into our lives who gives us a purpose for living.
It may not be a kdrama for everyone, but for those of us who love the historical genre, I must say that this kdrama is incredible 👏

Read More

It's okay....

my final thought when finishing this was "... well that was okay..." like not great but not bad. I agree with others that this is a "filler drama" lol. The chemistry between leads was good but the story got so repetitive and boring at times that I think I only finished it because I watched it as it came out.
The really smooth filter they have on all their faces drives me nuts lol. I felt like it lost its comedic edge that it had in the beginning- that was disappointing.
But all in all, it's your basic kdrama. If you want eye candy, it has plenty of it. If you want drama, it has some of that.

One redeeming quality is the one girl I thought was going to be a jealous backstabber ended up not being one. I hate those plots lol.

The acting boosted the score a lot and I found a lot of the side characters very charming

Read More

Wonderful must watch (BR/almost BL)

If you are into BL or BR, you will like this. It is engaging, fun to watch, and has an interesting plot. It's a mini-series. I watched some of it on TT, but I found a link somewhere else. I hope it will be on QIYI or another more accessible platform. I was able to watch some on YouTube as well. The actors were skilled, had great comedic timing, and the chemistry was also A+. The supporting characters were also an added highlight in addition to the plot and the setting, not to mention the flow was on point. I did not feel bored. It was also something I could understand. Sometimes, the mini-series is cut in a way that it can be confusing and not for this series. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but it is a must-watch for any BR or BL fans.

Read More

Beautiful Roadtrip

Besides the fact that i don't liked the overdosed screaming from Hong-Chul (that made me mute my TV after Episode 5 everytime he starts screaming again 😉)
i loved this show very much !
It made me happy in any way possible through the amazing landscapes, the amazing meals, the beautiful bikes, the Laughter, the Music, the "Guest-stars" and their private bonds & talks, and the hunger and charisma of Rain whom i didn't knew before and fell a little ;) ....what a Man 👍🏻
And all this funny Hommages towards Netflix hits my Humor totally and made it kinda sweet. Wished very much they would have done another Season. But thank you for this little treasure!! Hopefully i am able to see myself the Beauty of Korea one-day before i die🙏🏻🍀

Read More

Very cool.

I watch this not knowing anything about the source material or anything. I of course, now know that there’s some controversy about this show in China, but I’ve gotta tell the people in charge in China, never once did either of these characters come off as anything but straight teenagers. They literally just look like really good friends. That was enough to drive this story for this season and another one! The chemistry between these two guys was over the top amazing. There’s literally nothing not to like, except for the annoying acting of the little girl, and The fact that one of the actors seem to be voice dubbed. Being that I was watching it with subtitles it wasn’t that big of a deal, but when I watched interviews later, it was very obvious that WuBi doesn’t have the same voice in real life that he does in the show.

Read More

Glass Case of Emotions.

I had to double check the kisskh ratings for this one after watching the first two episodes because there was NO WAY it got rated an 8.0+

Here are my jumbled thoughts:

• For starters, there are very few braincells to be found and the only ones present belong to the Jiangs, Shao Peng's bestfriend Shu He, and Jonathan/Cheng Feng Jie. And Jiang Shao Peng's story is the strongest aspect of this drama in every way. It's also the reason why it had a solid rating.
Yes, we do begin with Yang Zi Xian, a spoilt, but repressed brat who had been sent back to Taiwan to oversee an important project for his Dad. His PA quits, unable to bear his shenanigans and Zi Xian handpicks Shao Peng due to his deafness and muteness.
His scheming hurts Shao Peng, who had diligently taken his duty and he quits in a fit of rage when he realizes that Zi Xian's plan was to get someone who wouldn't be able to discover his attempts to evade duty.
Realizing that he had insulted and looked down upon Shao Peng, who, in spite of his disability, worked hard and sincerely to make it to his goal, Zi Xian decides to apologize for his attitude and re-hires Shao Peng. Slowly, they develop a rapport and Zi Xian begins to open up about himself.

• The major highlight (or rather a depiction of the harsh reality for people such as Shao Peng) was how he had to learn to overcome situations and smile during difficult times. Initially, we begin to feel that he had grown used to his deafness as he had lost it as a child; but Zi Xian sees right through him. EP9 has an deeply impactful and intense confrontation between the two -- Zi Xian was brash, but he was also intelligent and empathetic, once we slowly begin to see him change for the better and spend more time with Shao Peng, going so far as to learn sign language to make him comfortable.
Their romance was slow, yet sweet. It had it's roadblocks, which is impossible to avoid, considering both of their backgrounds. Yet, the drama portrays that being 'disabled' is never a disgrace as it not a choice; rather, it becomes a part of your individuality -- your normal. Their feelings felt 'real'. Not to mention, Shao Peng's relationship with Shu He and his parents.

• By the way, Zi Xiang is actively pursued by a gang of goons for money -- there is no who-did-it, because we are shown who had done it. Xin Jia, an amateur and rising assassin, takes up the job by himself to prove his worth. He spectacularly fails and gets successfully captured by Chen Feng Jie in incognito mode. None of these parts of the plot matter, but they provide a sense of respite because in spite of the absolutely hilarious side couple and laughable attempt at being a 'thriller', the creators used all their efforts for Shao Peng and Zi Xian and I'm not unhappy.

• I had no complaints in terms of acting as everyone depicted their roles well, even during silly situations - yep, Feng Jie and Xin Jia. Kudos to Jin Yun, who seamlessly manoeuvred sign language, and later, Raiden Lin, though he and the rest of the cast had the advantage of being able to talk to each other.

• Not a huge fan of the songs. The backgroud instrumentals were good, though.

• Honestly? I titled my review as 'Glass Case of Emotion' because one moment I'll be scoffing at their shoddy 'thriller' vibes and then the next moment, it'll be bittersweet or funny. There was no stable emotions as all four main characters had different vibes. (Serious Vs. Funny.) And all of them had almost equal screentime, too.

A solid 8/10, considering that they did manage to hold up one storyline thoroughly and convincingly in the middle of the river.

Read More

Not for the logic but for the dopamine...oohh and the OST

Every now and then, we all need a break from the heavy plots,those emotionally charged, well written dramas like Weak Hero Class 2 or The Prison of Love. Sometimes, it’s okay to set aside logic, suspend common sense and dive headfirst into the chaos of a show like My Lethal Man.

Let’s be honest: the plot was a rollercoaster with more holes than a fishing net, and the writing often went wildly off track. But here’s the thing,We Personally I stayed for him. Fan Zhi Xin.He delivered yet another magnetic performance, reminding us why he's a fan favorite. His on-screen presence? Unmatched. The chemistry with the FL which thank goodness she reciprocated once she grew a pair.This man is Electric,even at a young age of 26 And let’s not forget that killer combo of EQ, IQ, and effortless charisma of his character that the writer soberly put together.

And then there's the secret ingredient that made this drama unmissable—the Viki comment section. It's a treasure of sharp wit, shared laughter, and a communal love for the absurd. Sometimes, that collective experience is what truly elevates a helps to get through some painful cringe fest.

My Lethal Man may not make it to the top of anyone’s “Best Script” list, but it earns a spot in your watch history—for all the right and wrong reasons.

Read More

Thai romcom with some heaviness

Overall: I support Saint and all the actors but the the comedy didn't mesh well with some heavy plot points. Based on the book "Wanjai Phuyai Jom" by Naoto which I haven't read. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired on Idol Factory's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4D0KlUVq4IyHCM1l3v94GC0SJ3EUG8fl&si=EmHX_4KfrB2NSdKr

Content Warnings: fight, non con kissing, intimate partner abuse, pretended to commit suicide, attempted murder, beaten up, violence, blood, manipulation, bullying, coercion, sexual harassment, past child abuse, cyber bullying, kidnapping, beaten up, dub/non con kiss, manhandling

What I Liked
- chuckled a couple times
- happy to see Saint on screen again
- good they called out that teacher/student relationship and the teacher had consequences though I wish he had had other consequences
- the grandma
- his brother, though he should respect boundaries
- the end of the finale

Room For Improvement
- jumps from serious moments to ridiculous moments (like that inflatable mall thing in episode 3)
- they brushed the intimate partner abuse under the rug, in the real world she'd likely be dead in a couple of years
- nonsense writing: why couldn't he have gone to another school or studied at home?, the parents weren't concerned about what almost happened to him?, if it's that dangerous then they should have had him go out of the country
- though I didn't have an issue with the age gap per se (Yo was 19 and Jom was 28-31), it was not appealing to see Yo in high school wearing the high school uniform and Jom acted like a parent with a rebellious kid many times
- the villains were cartoonish and practically twirled their mustaches
- zero interest in the high school bullying stuff and redemption arc
- love rival and his redemption arc
- noble idiot trope/refused to communicate cliche
- most humor didn't work for me

Read More

A Tragic Romance of Memory, Forbidden Love, and the Search for Identity

“Dear Hongrang" is a historical K-drama that blends mystery, forbidden romance, and family drama with rare finesse. The story begins with the disappearance of Hongrang, the son of a powerful merchant family. Twelve years later, a man returns, claiming to be him but with no memory. His reappearance disrupts the balance of power, reopens buried wounds, and rekindles long-suppressed emotions.

*The characters are the beating heart of this drama.*
Hongrang (Lee Jae-wook) is a living enigma. He shifts between coldness, pain, and tenderness. There’s a sense of a broken past and a fragmented identity that creates a constant tension around him. By his side, Jo Bo-ah plays Jae-yi, his half-sister a strong yet wounded woman torn between family loyalty and a forbidden love she tries desperately to suppress. Their relationship, full of lingering glances, restrained gestures, and unspoken words, is both heartbreaking and magnetic.

The character of Mu-jin (Jung Ga-ram) also deserves attention. As the adopted son of the family, he hides his own wounds consumed by jealousy, unrequited love, and a longing to be acknowledged. His arc is one of the most tragic and human in the series.

*The OST is exquisite.
The music perfectly accompanies each scene, enhancing silences, amplifying tension, or wrapping emotional moments in a delicate soundscape. Some melodies gentle, haunting stay with you long after the episode ends. Moments of confrontation and intimacy are elevated by the soundtrack, which adds incredible emotional depth to the story.

This is a drama of contrasts: there are genuine moments of joy, when reconciliation or a future seems possible… but they are often quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities of the era, political games, or secrets too heavy to stay buried. I laughed at times, but I mostly cried. Not because of grand tragedies, but because of those small, fleeting moments—when everything could have changed, yet the characters remain prisoners of duty, name, or past.

- In conclusion, *Dear Hongrang* is a visually stunning and emotionally intense drama, carried by actors at the peak of their craft. It’s not fast-paced or action heavy, but it grips your heart and doesn’t let go. It speaks of memory, forgiveness, impossible love and above all, identity. A must-watch for those who appreciate deep, melancholic storytelling.

Read More