This review may contain spoilers
Strong comedy that fizzled out halfway through
There was a lot to like about this show:-Over-the-top comedy. Kim Young Dae, especially, has such good comedic timing, as well as expressive eyes.
-Wonderful cast. I felt like everyone was well-cast and everyone played well off of each other. The comedic chemistry was on point with everyone. The 2ML (Kim Woo Seok) was wonderful at displaying longing for the FL, and I LOVED the friendship between the king and his trusted guard.
-The storyline. A Joseon story with a modern twist. When they re-enacted scenes from another drama, I about choked on my own saliva! The FL was a liar, liar, pants on fire, but you couldn't help but like her. It was really fun to see her get stuck in situations and how she worked her way out of them.
-Music. Beautiful and well-placed. It wasn't overpowering. I especially loved Kim Min Seok from MeloMance.
-Rewatch. No, for a couple of reasons. 1) I have too many other things to watch, and 2) I usually watch the swoon-worthy scenes if I re-watch anything, and the leads romantic chemistry was lacking for me.
-Costuming was lovely.
-I always like to see actors that I have seen in other things, and there was a lot of that here.
What I didn't care for that much, and these are all just personal preferences:
-I didn't care for all the sexual innuendo.
-The kisses were seriously lacking spark and the FL's lips were never aligned or involved.
-With each episode being over an hour long, the show was just too long. I felt there was a lot of stuff that could have been left on the cutting room floor.
-I fast forwarded through most of the storyline with the author and his cronies writing/selling the erotic books. It just seemed so out of place.
-Multitudes of bad guys (excellently played, but still). All I kept thinking about was it appears that royalty in the Joseon era was either stupid or they had absolutely no power. To have that many bad guys in the inner circle of your cabinet and not have a clue for over seven years?
-It switched from flat out comedy to full on melodrama and then never seemed to find its footing again. That may have been just me, disappointed that I finally found a good comedy and then they switched genres on me.
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A good show, but overhyped nonetheless
When it comes to the BL as a genre, there are very few if none, actually good supernatural BL's. So it is undeniable that so far the best supernatural BL drama is Khemjira.But that doesnt mean this show is without flaws and issues.
The most important part: ENDING IS SATISFYING. So if not for anything else, I will recommend it just so you can also get a satisfactory ending.
The good of the show is: the whole supernatural aspect and entity haunting bit. The main antagonist is a genuinely bittersweet character, you might hate her, you might love her. But no one can say she was out of place - her revenge is meaningful and has little to do with the romance. She was one of my fav characters for the show even if really scary af. The thai practices are represented well, and I think people should always respect local practices if it doesn't infringe on you. Otherwise its better not to go to a place that has strong preferences for their practice, because while you may not believe it, their believes originate from something and you can't just deny that for them.
The bad of the show is the character Khemjira himself. And I won't blame the actor for it entirely. Its the character itself which is written so poorly. Khemjira is the cursed one, but he can't get his priorities in order (and suddenly switches goals to chasing love). Instead of getting stronger for himself, all he does is cook, stitch, cry, get targeted, mope, pout and such things. It shocks me that the character is originally written this way. A person who has lived their entire life seeing ghosts and a majority of it living alone, with impending death at 21, cannot be so careless and stupid even. But he is. I don't get how, but thats how he is. So its easy to note that the character is a very difficult one to play, not because its complicated but because its actually lacks substance. I won't say the actor was particularly bad at playing this character, but the actor definitely didn't bring any additional value to this character. From what I know, this character was even less developed in the novel in terms of standing up for himself or taking action, so the fact that despite being buffed (in terms of personality) for the show, he is still such a weak main character is just sad.
This bad is balanced by other characters, specially Paran. I won't say the shaman is the most fleshed out character either, but at least his behaviour is understandable. He makes sense as a person. Whether its moments where you disagree with his behaviour or moments where you are attracted to his hot bod, he is a character that has an identify of his own. He doesn't go around offering platitudes without offering any actual results.
Which brings me to the next bad: which is the romance being forced in. Originally Khemjira's feelings for Paran do overlap due to their past relation, but at no point do you see the character question it. Although he tells others these are feelings from past life, in the end there is no genuine introspection to be seen on his end. He is already asking Paran to help him meddle with his karma and now he also wants his feelings to be reciprocated. The way its shown situation after situation, makes it seem like the show wants you to blame Paran for not returning his feelings, which is just messed up because no one owes anyone else this kind of reciprocation. Again this can all be blamed on Khemjira's own character being a hollow one.
This review is seemingly full of issues with the show, but the thing is you can already read 20 reviews with praises, so I wanna write something which focuses on the not-so-praiseworthy aspects. This show is so worth watching for the plot, you feel invested, you want to know what happened and why. But the romance aspect of it is....not as good as the plot itself. That doesn't mean you won't be getting faceful of romance and even NC scenes, there is a lot of that too. But that part feels more disjointed and glued on.
All I wanna say is: Whatever Paran couldn't do, he can do now.
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A JOURNEY FROM COLDNESS TO WORMTH
Oh Mai! what a story it was ☺️ before watching I didn't even expected the story will be this much better,truly i felt like I was one of them watching them laugh,cry,get angry both story and actors deserve 10/10. At first I thought it's also a tipicial rom com story were FL ML where childhood friends who studied togather but got separated due to some reasons oneday FL shows up with her best friend in bar blabla.. actually it starts like this but eventually revails the whole different story.ok at the end I will recommend you to watch this series
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cute
this was hilarious honestly. good acting and production for a ridiculous story and I loved how much the FL stood up to her bullies constantly lol. still, about exactly what you'd expect for one of these tropey reelshort series lol.apparently reviews need to be 500 characters in length which i disagree with. let me letterbox this ish ugh. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
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The main guy was weird to me and I didn’t like his teaching methods!
The show has to be watch for the medical aspect the romance to me is weak even though it started very strong!
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How much suffering can you self inflict
This drama was for sure uneven for me but still had a lot of charm. It started good, then it was slight boring and slow, then it was good again. I suffered with that young woman that couldn’t really move on and give up and I didn’t understand the male lead. But I am also conscious the story is her point of view. Even with the bias in mind I was definitely in favor of the other guy. He was perfect and assertive. The secondary couple was interesting, the woman had such compelling and hard background. The walks in Seoul were very nice. To me the actors did well, the issues are more related to the storyline and the pacing. I didn’t like the end because I wasn’t sure the male learnt the lesson. Did he?Shorter (like 12 episodes) more condensed it would have been a better drama. This deserves surely to be watch for the cast!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
From Hitchcock-Level Tension to a Fearful, Safe Ending
“As You Stood By” could’ve reached Hitchcock territory.It begins with razor-sharp tension, a minimalist score that keeps you on edge, and a cathartic, brutal confrontation reminiscent of Memories of Murder, Bluebeard, and The Invisible Man.
But the real test of a thriller is what happens after the catharsis — and here is where the series collapses.
The impostor’s sudden transformation into a gangster feels artificial, created only to prolong the plot.
Worst of all, the most compelling character — the sister, a sharp and methodical detective — is minimized, sabotaged, and ultimately punished while everyone else gets a convenient, almost cheerful ending.
A story that began with genuine courage ends as a safe moral fable
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"Embrace Before Dawn" draws you into a Gripping Love-Story.
I watched this drama a while back as well but was unable to find it later on because i did not know the title. This drama started off my journey with the Male Actor Yang PengCheng who i found absolutely captivating in his performance! He is a Tsundere Male Hero, cold, selfish and arrogant and deeply haggard over the Heart Curse, and needs to sleep with a certain female who has a blossom mark on her.She is his Antidote. (this seems to be a running theme in C-Dramaland,lol)He is surprised when he knows its the daughter of his enemy who killed both his parents and who planted the Heart Curse inside of him. Despite him initially pursuing her for evil intensions, he does come to fall in love with her when he sees what a good human being she actually is. But when all is late he really gets a taste of the Karma that befell him even in the past.
Its a really emotional journey because as a viewer you really hurt for both mainleads, and you can`t help but really rooted for them. They were both lost, broken souls in their own way. Their bond in what they went through together really touching.
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What Got Me Addicted to Chinese Dramas
Enemies to lovers and arranged marriage, two tropes that never fails to catch my attention. Although the plot is cliché, the delivery was perfect. The story was well written and perfectly paced, leaving no plot holes or unanswered questions. The actors brought their respective characters to life.Liu Yuning flawlessly portrayed Wei Shao as the sharp and kind leader of the Wei family who grew up bearing a grudge and heavy responsibilities after being betrayed by the Qiao family. While Song Zuer was made for the role of Qiao Xiao as the beautiful, kind, and strategically smart daughter of the Qiao family who was never afraid to stand up for her family.
I particularly like how wise Wei Shao was. Despite his grudge towards the Qiao family, he always puts the people first. Although Qiao Xiao’s beauty caught his attention at first glance, as the leader, he was not blinded by it. He remains steadfast in his resolve to care for the people. I also like how despite her beauty, Qiao Xiao was also a smart, strong, and independent woman, who like her grandpa said, could lead the family if only she was a man. Even as she falls for Wei Shao, she was not lovestruck and she still has her family in the back of her mind.
The OSTs, set, color grading, all gave the right ambience to this drama. One thing worth mentioning is the ending. I would say that it’s not so often a Chinese drama would have that perfect ending, but this one definitely does. The ending gave the closure I need after watching the whole story.
Lastly, I would like to thank Wei Shao’s advisor because without him, the drama could’ve ended by episode 1.
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tens all across the board
This film focuses on school bullying, social pressure, and the intense expectations placed on students. It combines coming-of-age, romance, and crime drama elements in a way that’s emotional and heavy. Better Days is a sharply observed, emotionally honest film that uses intimate cinematography and restrained storytelling to pull you straight into its characters’ world. The visuals are raw without being showy, capturing small moments of fear, pressure, and connection with a realism that sticks. It is an incredible film that everyone should watch at least once and it’s so good that I’ll never be able to watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
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TOO CLICHE
Too cliche… that’s my two cents. The plot and storyline is just being reused again and again. Two strangers meet; have an agreement to pretend to be a couple to help each other, HE falls for her by having a “dynamite kiss” ( which tbh the on screen kiss was not that sizzling at all). They are about to go at it then she asks him to take a shower lol, and she gets a call her mother is in hospital. Runs away leaving him hanging, he’s heart broken worried, looking desperately for her; then she suddenly turns up looking for a job in his father’s company! She had to lie about being married and a mother to get the job. And the story goes on how he’s discriminative and believing she’s married , but the team of mothers work hard and face all their challenges head on etc…The ending last episode was terrible! So typical- loses his memory and she tries to recreate their moments together. THEN- but of course. They meet at the same place where they had their dynamite kiss and AGAIN, slip and fall to have another dynamite kiss ughhh I could not watch. And tadaaa- the end. He regains his memory and they live happily ever after.
I’m hoping kdrama writers can create Better original more interesting scripts. Yes this is similar to business proposal, but I like BP much more. And sorry, I like Jang Kiyong but his acting here is too false :(
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This review may contain spoilers
Don’t watch it
Don’t watch this show. They abuse and starve young girls. They isolated the girls from their family and contact was almost not there. There was no privacy and the set up was also odd and off.I felt uncomfortable watching it.
I felt so sorry for these girls. I am wondering what was going on behind the cameras when they were off.
I hope they are all doing well. And I also hope they got all the help they needed.
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That was better than what I was expecting
From the very first episode, Poisonous Love distinguished itself with a unique narrative twist that immediately drew me in. This isn’t your typical romance—it’s a carefully crafted story that knows exactly what it wants to be.Ginny and Jay deliver performances that go beyond acting; they embody their characters with such authenticity that every emotion feels lived-in and real. Their on-screen chemistry is nothing short of electric—they don’t just share scenes, they create a genuine partnership that makes you believe in what you’re watching. You can feel the dedication and effort they poured into bringing these complex characters to life.
I have to commend the directors for their tasteful approach to the intimate scenes. They struck that rare, perfect balance—creating moments that make your heart skip a beat while maintaining a sense of respect and artistry. The pacing was impeccable; nothing felt gratuitous or uncomfortable. Instead, these scenes served the story and the emotional journey of the characters, which shows real skill and care for both the narrative and the actresses.
The writing deserves special recognition. The dialogue feels fresh and purposeful—conversations that actually matter, with characters saying things worth listening to. It’s such a relief to watch a series where the script doesn’t rely on repetitive exchanges or tired tropes.
Now, Nam’s character—I’ll be honest, I couldn’t stand her from the beginning. But that’s the point, isn’t it? The actress played that manipulative, narcissistic role with such chilling conviction that I was genuinely unsettled. That takes real talent.
What struck me most was Ginny’s portrayal of Prem’s internal struggle. The suffocating pressure of parental expectations, the painful indecisiveness, the heartbreaking betrayal of herself just to keep the peace—she captured all of it with nuanced, gut-wrenching authenticity. It’s frustrating to watch a character trapped by family dynamics like these, but that’s because families like this exist. Children with no voice, no agency, slowly drowning while maintaining a perfect smile. Ginny gave voice to that silent suffering in a way that felt deeply real.
To the entire cast and crew: thank you for creating something special. Your hard work, dedication, and artistry shine through every frame. Poisonous Love is proof that Thai GL drama can be bold, beautiful, and deeply moving when handled with this level of care and talent.
You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve created.
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The relationship between Mizuki Segasaki, a charismatic TV weatherman, and Yoh Tanada, a struggling mangaka barely holding things together, is anything but balanced. Yoh lives with Segasaki rent-free, but in exchange he must follow his rules… even the most intimate ones.
And somewhere between obedience, longing, and lowered eyes, an intense dynamic takes shape, one that doesn’t fit any typical definition of “couple.”
What truly stands out in the series is the overwhelming chemistry between the leads: physical, emotional, and sometimes even disconcerting. The intimate scenes aren’t there just for shock value; they function as an emotional language, one the characters rely on because neither knows how to express themselves with words.
The drama also plays beautifully with the theme of masks:
Segasaki, flawless on camera, becomes someone possessive and closed-off at home.
Yoh, always trembling between doubt and affection, finds in his art the only safe place to express what he can’t bring himself to say.
In short, this BL is perfect for viewers who want:
Strong sexual tension and well-executed sensual scenes
Conflicts rooted in silence, emotional dependency, and power imbalance
Characters torn between what they show, what they feel, and what they fear
An intense, gripping, and emotionally chaotic story that may feel fascinating or uncomfortable depending on the viewer’s sensitivity.
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Don’t watch this. Boycot it!
How can anyone be ok with this?!Forcing young men to dance non stop.
I was mindblown to see Lee Seung Gi (my very first person I became a fan of) as a main host. Especially after he fought for better rights for Korean actors and singers. How could he be oke with doing this job? I hope this was the first and last time it ever aired. I also hope the hosts reflect themselves. Never do any kind of job just for money.
It was also a shock he became a host while he is a father himself now, doing this to young adults.
“ we are human beings, not machines”
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