Reviews

Dark Moody Crime Thriller

The characters are what shine brightest in this show and the leads absolutely rock their roles. Jang Hyuk is at his surly best as Oh Hyun-jae, a former profiler who’s bent on revenge. His character is the perfect foil to Choi Soo-young’s Cha Soo-young, a rookie with a photographic memory.

Cha Soo-young is still one of my favourite female characters of all time. Soft yet strong. Her character anchors the show and contrasts brilliantly against the storm and fury of Oh Hyun-jae.

The end theme is also one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs. This is a show that I wish had multiple seasons the way North American shows do.

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This Show Is Terrible In Every Shape & Form

So, who wrote this show? Cause your writing and scripts are trash, and you need to never write a BL again. Nothing about this show's plot and lore makes sense, you can't even turn your brain off to watch this, cause nothing here is good enough to warrant that. Any questions I had about this show have either gone unanswered, or were vaguely answered: Where does the Golden Blood come from? Why isn't it golden? What are the vampires' abilities? Do all vampires have special gifts like Thara, Mark, and Nakan? What exactly does the Golden Blood do? Does it enhance a vampire's abilities, or does it slowly turn them human?

Also, the way that this show simply did not want to acknowledge its plot and instead made its unbelievable romance arc the main focus, but JossGawin's unbelievable chemistry did not help sell or even make the romantic scenes watchable or enjoyable.

This was one of the worst BLs I could have watched this year.

The acting? Bad from everyone across the board
- Gawin can't give more than grumpy, confused, and stupid in any scene he's in. I haven't seen any of his older stuff, so idk if he can do better than this, but god, none of his more emotional & serious scenes held any weight to them.
- Joss simply gave angry, stupid, and looked like he was high in every scene, and idk if that was because of his eyebrows or simply because Joss is that bad of an actor, but fix it and do better or go be an underwear model cause they tried to distract us from his bad acting with him being shirtless or flexing in every other scene.
- Mond didn't even try to give a good performance, but idek if he could give one before this, cause he was pretty meh in Only Friends too.
- The lady who plays Thara is one of the most emotionless actresses I have ever come across; it was like she was simply reading her lines each and every time. Because of her bad acting, the "big twist" of her being the actual main antagonist was both predictable and boring.
- Neo did not need to be in this show, even though he was not in it for that long; you could take him out, and nothing would change. His death? Meaningless, considering it is only acknowledged two times after it happens, and Gawin couldn't even deliver a good performance to make you believe that he was grieving his death. His entire character was nothing, and the only thing that intrigued me was a potential dark romance between him and Nakan... which they didn't do.

This show felt like a poor attempt at promoting Gawin's music career with the bland OST and that forced scene where it came on in that car scene.

Sooo all in all, go ahead and wrap up JossGawin and this show because they and this show sucked in every aspect. I have no faith in whatever they are going to bring in, Only Friends 2.

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tastefully yours brings disappointment to the plate

firstly, this drama starts off strong with some really cool animations. i bet this is one of those dramas where you don't feel like skipping the intro.

there are fast cuts between cosy kitchens, fresh ingredients being chopped, and beautiful dishes being plated. it looks great, and more than that, it fits the entire "vibe" of the show. the drama is all about contrasts: fancy food vs real passion and skill vs business pressure.

kang haneul ♡ plays a very different role than usual here. he is kind... of annoying but also fun to watch. he’s full of himself, but there are also moments where he seems really lost or honest, which makes him interesting. go minsi’s ♡ character is also a nice change. she’s smart, calm, and knows what she wants. there’s no over the top innocence or weird quirks, just someone who really cares about cooking in a thoughtful way. their chemistry works WELL even though it’s based on the classic "opposites attract" thing.

there are ofc some typical k-drama clichés like food competitions, love triangles, enemies who have to work together, big festivals... but it doesn’t feel boring or forced. it kind of makes fun of these tropes while still using them in a fun way. the side characters are also pretty funny and add some warmth without taking up too much space.

also, i just want to appreciate bae na-ra. he plays the antagonist in this one (like in weak hero), but he somehow feels like a completely DIFFERENT character with a whole other kind of aura?? is it weird if i say he seems even more evil this time... idk, but i'm definitely a fan!

overall, tastefully yours is a mix of comfort and drama. the visuals are amazing, the acting is strong, and the story slowly grows on you. it’s not perfect, but it’s definitely something worth watching.

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Great cast & characters but weak plot

The drama is about the love story between the Floral Deity (male lead) and the camellia pixie (female lead). Although slow paced, the drama started off really well and I quickly fell in love with the characters and romance. But my excitement died down too quickly and the drama ended up disappointing me with its weak plot.

It’s worth mentioning that the first thing that pleasantly surprised me was the amazing AI face-swap. I literally couldn’t tell the new actress had re-shot all her scenes on a green screen. To me, she did an amazing job, knowing how tough it is to replace the previous actress. Having said that, I feel like the whole allure of this drama was that it was meant to be the reunion of Liu Xue Yi and Yuan Bing Yan. The initial vibe I got was totally that this is an alternative timeline of Love and Redemption where the second male lead actually gets the girl. As I mentioned, Hu Yi Xuan was amazing but at the same time, I always felt off, maybe because I knew she wasn’t there for all the scenes, or maybe because I watched the original trailer and I loved YBY’s scenes so much more. But when you think about it, the shooting, the clothes, hair, makeup were all designed for YBY so of course HYX was at a huge disadvantage. Anyway that’s just my observation, I don't want to get into any sort of fan wars about it.

PLOT BREAKDOWN:

Ep 1-11 / Immortal realm: 1st life
Very slow paced but the blossoming romance between the leads was cute.

Ep 12-22 / Mortal realm: 2nd life
Cultivation academy setting. Male lead is the master and the female lead is his disciple, pretending to be a man. Except for the female lead and second male lead, everyone else remembers the 1st life.

Ep 23-29 / Mortal realm: 3rd life
Palace setting + demon hunting. Male lead is a general and the female lead is a demon hunter. Only the female lead and second female lead remember the previous lives.

Ep 30-40 / Immortal realm
At this point I had lost interest in the drama and skipped lots just to finish it.

POSITIVE:
- Bromance. Liu Xue Yi and Ao Rui Peng’s characters and their relationship was the highlights for me. LXY’s character started off as grumpy and unapproachable but gradually softened up. He was strict and duty bound but still stood up for what he believed in and wanted. ARP’s character started off as an air-head and total clown (in a good way) but became mature and endearing at the end. I love that despite their opposite personalities, they always supported and loved each other.
- Sweet romance (for the most part). The main couple was the emotional type while the second couple leaned on the comedy.
- Masculine and authority male lead. Let’s face it, most of us watched the drama for him. I truly loved him in this role.
- Nice CGI and visual settings. Even though the style is very “old school" (since it was filmed in 2021), visually it still looked good and I can tell a lot of effort was put into the production.
- Second couple surprised me with their fun banter and good relationship development throughout the drama. The second female lead appeared to want the male lead at first but really, she just wanted to be an Empress. She definitely wasn’t the most likable character but knowing the second male lead liked her, I wanted them to work out for his sake.

NEGATIVE:
- Weak plot. My main issue with this drama is the boring plot. 40 episodes and almost NOTHING happens. Yes, the characters do things but it has very little impact on the story. The drama focuses on the love story between the leads which consists of constant back-and-forth. After ep 11 there was almost zero development of their romance. In fact I’m pretty sure if you skip to ep 30, you won’t miss a thing. Their 2 mortal lives (ep 12-29) felt like fillers, for the most part. A few significant things would happen to drive the plot forward but the rest was just blah blah blah. These lives could have literally been condensed to 3-4 episodes and would have had the same effect. Things like the male lead’s origin or female lead’’s cultivation were brushed over which is a shame as I think these would have at least added SOMETHING. The plot just felt bare-bones.
- Obsessively “in love” villain that was whiny the whole time. He was so pathetic and one dimensional that I HAD to skip his scenes.

OVERALL:
The romance started off great but after ep 11, had almost zero development. The plot was a bunch of nothingness, most of the time things were happening but nothing significant really happened. The leads had good chemistry but something felt off, maybe it was the bad plot or the fact that I knew the female lead was face-swapped/re-shot. In conclusion, I’d say this drama is boring, filled with the typical xianxia tropes and not really worth the watch.

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SHALLOW & MEANINGLESS

This dating-reality-show drama is an example of what happens when there's sensuality without romance, because the kissing is great but there's NO romantic chemistry, butterflies 🦋 or story-depth. It all just felt shallow and meaningless.

True to K-drama production quality, the filmography and sound is good, especially for a vertical short. However, the script was uninteresting and the pacing was too fast. Everything felt one-dimensional. The characters didn't have scenes with sufficient self-reflection and the acting was so-so. Most of the characters seemed kind of flat, except for the FL's ex-boyfriend. He had *some* expression, but then why at the end did he seem unfazed that the girfirend he'd been pining for the whole drama, ultimately picked another guy? The FL herself didn't even seem like she was interested in ANY of the guys, and the one she decided on at the end was kind of mean.

Well, there's a first for everything. Out of the hundreds of K-dramas I've seen, this is my first GARBAGE K-drama. There was bound to be one.

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A review on my first Chinese BL

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days is a 12-episode Chinese BL series that follows the tender, turbulent, and transformative journey of two young artists navigating love, ambition, and personal healing. Going into this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought it might bore me. But to my surprise—it absolutely did not. In fact, it moved me in ways I didn’t anticipate.

The story revolves around Qi Lu, a gifted painter pressured by an abusive father obsessed with fame, and Qin Xiao, a quiet yet passionate sketch artist with dreams of teaching art to children. Their paths cross at Biyo Arts Academy, where they grow from strangers to friends and, eventually, to something much deeper.

Early on, the pacing was steady and promising. However, around Episodes 9 to 12, the narrative began to feel rushed and slightly disconnected. Personally, I felt Episode 8 wrapped up the main emotional arc so satisfyingly that what came after felt like bonus content—sometimes engaging, sometimes unnecessarily dramatic.

The main relationship is the heart of the series. Qi Lu’s bold charm and emotional honesty perfectly complement Qin Xiao’s quiet intensity and focus. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching their bond evolve was one of the most rewarding aspects of the show. While their journey isn’t without bumps—including moments that felt emotionally heavy or unfair—the way their relationship develops remains sincere and heartfelt.

One aspect that didn’t sit well with me was a particular misunderstanding that painted one character in an unnecessarily negative light. Although it was later addressed, it felt glossed over too quickly. Still, the emotional growth and affection in later episodes helped restore the connection between the leads.

The finale, though, left me with mixed feelings. It introduced one last conflict that felt too sudden and slightly contrived, especially when the story had already hit so many emotional high points. A significant time skip is used as a narrative tool to resolve lingering tension, and while it wasn’t executed perfectly, it gave the story a hopeful, if understated, conclusion.

As for the secondary couple, Liu Ming Yang and Tan Yin, their story provided a gentle contrast to the main romance. While their presence was meaningful to the plot's broader themes of mentorship and acceptance, I personally found their scenes less compelling compared to Qi Lu and Qin Xiao’s journey. That said, viewers who enjoy slow-burn romances and representation of differently-abled characters may appreciate their arc more than I did.

Despite its flaws, Blue Canvas of Youthful Days offered a touching portrayal of young love, self-discovery, and the courage to pursue what you love, no matter the cost. The final moments—simple yet resonant—left a lasting impression.

“In the future, you must do what you love.”

A fitting reminder from a series that, at its core, is about following your passion and protecting your heart.

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IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER WITH MORE EPISODES

I didn’t have high hopes for History of Lossers, but the early episodes (1-4) really impressed me! It’s a story about a group of boys embracing their so-called 'loser' status while navigating relationships and friendships. The dynamics of their friendship were a highlight for me, I loved how they always had each other’s backs.

MinGi was easily the most frustrating character, in my opinion. Plus, it felt like the controversy during filming impacted the conclusion, leaving the story unfinished. My favorite character was Ryeoun. Despite not having enough screen time or storyline development, he stood out as the foundation of their friendship group, quietly holding them together.

That said, the biggest downside was the episode length, it was too short! The rushed ending left so much unresolved, and Ryeoun’s storyline, in particular, deserved more attention. With more time to flesh out the characters and plot, the show could’ve been so much better. Still, it offered a heartfelt glimpse into the lives of boys and how they navigate their bonds and challenges.

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SHORT BUT INTENSE

Found out about this movie after seeing that the drama sequel will be released in May 2025!

The movie is short but intense and I loved it!! The zeal and emotion of the boy was amazing! No one should stay bullied for that long too!!

Because it’s a movie the full story wasn’t told and I’m happy we’re getting a drama version which will have more plot and storyline!!

Hopefully, all cast members will still be there, cause they all did amazingly well!!

I can’t also wait to watch Do-Hyun’s get his own revenge and more of WooLsun fight!!

It was a good drama 🎭

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