Reviews

A countdown to friends to lovers

I overall enjoyed this friends-to-lovers BL. It was not very memorable but it was good. Mainly thanks to the photography focus and the way it was bounded to the storytelling. The blurry aspect of some pictures took by the characters in the series was mirrored by the filmmaking. I found this parallel very well-thought in terms of production choice.

In terms of pacing, it feels both slow and fast-paced : the progress felt slow on screen between the episodes, but thinking about it, the real countdown was pretty quick to friends-to-lovers. Given the characters background, it made sense that it should not be easy. So it all depends of the lens you look at it.

The cast did an alright job but I must admit that if the intimacy and friendship felt very believable, the chemistry and shift to love and passion could have been better...It is not really bothering because the romance remains at a pretty platonic level with very light romantic interaction, which is in line with the peaceful vibe of the series. However, i cannot help to think that having a more sizzling chemistry and more pining would have brought the story to another level.

I would recommend this to people looking for a friends-to-lovers romance with a more subdue vibe. It does not revolution the genre but for those liking this trope, it is a nice watch.

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A Heartwarming Standout in the Series

Out of all the Ugly Duckling series, Don't takes the crown for me story-wise—it's hands-down the best. This short, cute series delivers a genuine character development arc that feels earned and satisfying, watching the leads evolve from awkward insecurities to confident connections. The romance simmers perfectly, blending sweet tension with believable chemistry that keeps you hooked without overdoing the fluff.

What really shines are the school twists and everyday happenings—they ring true to life, capturing that mix of drama, friendships, and teen chaos in a way that's refreshingly real. Sure, it's full of classic clichés like the makeover trope and love triangles, but they land with such charm that you can't help but smile. Clocking in at just a few episodes, it's a quick, feel-good binge that's perfect for when you want light romance without the drag.

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Wow this was sooooo bad

A drama that had all the ingredients to be something special — but squandered every single one of them.

The female lead's performance is the drama's most glaring flaw. In a story that demands your sympathy, her acting consistently gets in the way of it. Her crying scenes, in particular, feel less like genuine distress and more like a soundtrack you want to mute. The male lead fares no better in terms of how the script handles him. If he already planned on leaving, why allow himself — and worse, encourage her — to develop feelings? It's a fundamental character logic problem that the writers never address.

At its core, the show's biggest crime is a badly written foundation. You can feel the gap between what the show was trying to be and what it actually became.

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I should probably eat right now.

At the moment I am hungry. Not only for food, but for more episodes of this drama. I'm a big fan of Park Jihoon so I decided to tune in when the cast was announced.

This drama is a comedy, not too intense of a watch compared to Jihoon's other projects. And that's ok with me! I like watching actors do all sorts of different roles and projects, and Legend of the Kitchen Soldier is no different. It's fun to watch, but one thing I'll comment about Jihoon's characters is that 9/10 times the guy is going to play someone depressed. Even with that being the case here, it's not a dark drama, his character is likeable enough.

I'm not getting anything too stellar here. Everything pretty much delivers as it should.. it's neither too amazing.. definetely not bad at all though. It's pretty hard when I compare this to Jihoon's other dramas, Weak Hero is one of my favorite dramas ever. If you come for that, don't- come for a drama that's entertaining, fun, and makes you hungry. I was surprised with how they push the comedy, and only worry about tonal issues later on in the series if they bring up a deep plot point. I wish this would be more episodic like Trauma Code, but it's ok that it's not. Here this drama is standard, not doing anything new, but not offensive. So I'll say it's average and move on with it.

It's good enough I'm keeping up as it airs though! I'm just happy to be getting more projects from Jihoon.

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Simple but typical wuxia romance well done

The show was fully entertaining. Despite nothing new in terms of arcs and tropes employed in the story, there's some kudos to give to the storytelling itself, because it didn't feel pointless. I think it's because they knew they weren't creating something brand new so they didn't increase unnecessary build ups and present it like "twists", since we would all have seen it coming from a mile away. They just let it come at you at a normal pace, giving enough time for the characters to be fully understood even if they are going down well-known paths.

This worked for me, especially in the romance department. I mean, ya, there's the usual, "I am secretly dying and I won't cause you any trouble about it" but, aside from that, their love felt soft, gradual, consistently growing and I liked it. Somehow the annoying secrets didn't annoy me as much, I was satisfied by the show in all other departments, per expectation. Also I felt like the story did well in terms of cutting out any unnecessary stuff, honestly, if any other characters or side stories got even a little more screen time, it could have dragged easily. Liked the cast too.
So I consider it well done.

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Not a Bl but Queer Story

I’ve seen a lot of mixed (and even negative) reviews about Soulmate, But honestly, I feel like that kind of thinking misses the whole point of the story.

Not every relationship needs a label like “boyfriends” to be meaningful. And intimacy doesn’t always have to be physical to be real. What Soulmate shows is something quieter but deeper—a connection built on understanding, respect, and simply being there for each other.

The title “Soulmate” fits perfectly. Their relationship feels like more than friendship, but not something that needs to be defined as lovers either. It exists somewhere in between, in a space that feels very real but is rarely shown on screen.

Another thing I really appreciated is how the drama portrays family. It reminds us that you don’t have to be blood-related to be a family. And you don’t have to fit into traditional stereotypes either. A family doesn’t always have to look like “one mother and one father.”

In the story, two men step up to take care of their best friend’s child after her husband passes away. The three of them build a life together, taking turns, supporting each other, and raising the baby with love. It’s such a simple but powerful way of showing that family is about care, responsibility, and connection—not labels.

What I loved most is how they live together, find happiness in small everyday moments, and respect each other’s boundaries. It’s not dramatic or intense in a typical way—it’s soft, calm, and emotionally intimate.

Honestly, this is the kind of relationship I would want in real life. Just living peacefully with someone who understands you without needing to explain everything.

I feel like this drama introduces a kind of “new genre” for many viewers—one that focuses less on labels or physical romance, and more on genuine human connection.

And maybe that’s why it feels so different… and so special.

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An Emotionally Nuanced Drama That Needed More Time

Contrast is an enjoyable series with a strong emotional foundation, though its biggest weakness lies in its pacing. The show would have greatly benefited from a longer runtime, as several important plot points and emotional developments felt rushed rather than fully explored.

Kanata and Akira their interactions begin subtly, with the two observing each other from a distance before Kanata finally approaches Akira and gradually builds a friendship with him. The progression from friendship to romantic feelings is handled with notable restraint and realism. Rather than relying heavily on dialogue, the series conveys their growing affection through lingering glances, body language, and quiet moments, making the emotional shift feel natural and believable.

However, the subplot involving Akira’s tutor felt underdeveloped. While the recurring flashbacks provide some context, they remain confined to a single moment in time and fail to fully explore the complexity of the situation. The portrayal of the tutor as emotionally manipulative was executed surprisingly well. The manipulation was subtle and nuanced, presented in a way that many viewers may not immediately recognize, which ultimately made those scenes more unsettling and realistic. Akira’s initial acceptance of the situation also felt believable, especially considering how trauma and grooming can distort a person’s understanding of boundaries and relationships until later in life.

That said, the misunderstandings between the two characters were handled convincingly and reflected the emotional immaturity and confusion often present in high school relationships. I only wish the confession scene had been written more effectively, as it was immediately followed by yet another secret and further emotional distance, which weakened the payoff of an important moment.

Akira’s backstory ultimately adds significant depth to his character and explains why he struggles to trust others or allow himself to form close relationships. The emotional push-and-pull between the leads feels grounded and authentic, capturing the awkwardness, fear, jealousy and uncertainty that often come with first love.

One area where Contrast truly excels is emotional expression. The series often communicates more through facial expressions and silence than through words, allowing quieter moments to carry emotional weight. The soundtrack also complements the atmosphere beautifully, enhancing many of the series’ most impactful scenes. While the cinematography could have been sharper and more visually refined at times, it was still effective overall.

The only trope that felt unnecessary was the familiar stereotype of the quiet loner hiding a dark, often inappropriate or illegal secret. It is a trope frequently used in dramas of this kind, and here it felt somewhat predictable. Additionally, the final episode suffered heavily from rushed pacing, leaving several emotional beats without the resolution they deserved.

Despite its flaws, Contrast remains a thoughtful and emotionally grounded drama. The title itself is fitting, as Kanata and Akira ultimately balance one another through their contrasting personalities and experiences.

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So many shuai gessss

Finished this maybe ?last week and glad to say, series like this slowly reined me back towards cdramas from thai series and variety shows. Lol.

Gong jun as usual, served in his main role. I’ve always like his acting and charisma, and the loyal and to-the-point character of Su Muyu really suits him, down to the straight-faced humor he had. And to my surprise, i really like the character of Su Changhe, the actor made it lovable despite its ambiguous grey character. SCH’s loyalty to SMY, the bromance, the protectiveness, the power he wields, made the SCH character even more lovable to me. I enjoyed their bickering, so much so that I was praying so hard SCH did not betrayed SMY during the time he came out from his seclusion after regaining the 9th level Palm Hell.

The story is fine, it builds up from one problem and as they solved one, moving up to apparently another bigger mess lol. I love the fact that theres so much of whump scenes in this (yeah, thats me, a whump scene lover. Lol) The fighting choreo is superb, and the cgi is also nice enough not to appear clumsy and cheap. The characters being introduced are aplenty, as with the other two in the series, but i think it was more doable this time around (i had a headache trying to keep track of characters in DY and TBOY) The costumes were all awesome and I’m in love with all of them, especially Su Muyu’s and Su Chang He’s ones. BHH’s costumes were all flattering as well. I’ve just recently watched a short drama of the actor who played Xie Zaiye (Min Xing Han) and he was so pretty in that, but here, his hairdo made his appeal less and if I didnt watch Realm’s Night Rain Dreamlike, I’m sure I will not found him to be able to be that handsome and pretty based on his character in BR. This proves how the way the production clothed and giving suitable hairdo for a character played so much roles in making a character appealing to fans.

All in all, this is worth renewing my subscription of Youku vip pass. Hope to see more of Gong Jun and Chang Hua Sen in the future!

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Perfection!

I have a soft spot for kids doing well in acting (makes me cry every time since I know how hard it is), and seeing the energy from the students and the passion of the teachers I can confirm I have not teared up this much in ages while watching korean tv.

No notes on the show. Perfect mix of classes, fun activities, cooking and just getting to know everyone on the show. The dedication from Kim Tae-Ri is so inspiring, no one told her told her to do so much research or care this much, it really shows her love for the craft of acting (give her more awards pls!). Choi Hyun-Wook being so young as he is and being there for all these kids was beautiful to see. Kangnam and Code Kunst was the perfect balance for this show as well. All of the kids are such strong characters as well and made me so happy to be able to follow them.

I want a another season so bad, or at least an episode where they all just meet up again!

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A healing rom-com in a very interesting historical setting, with hints of sadness

This drama is centred around the romance between a Japanese navy officer and one of the daughter of a merchant in 1936. The Japanese era on which it focus as well as the gallery of loveable characters made it a very easy and soothing watch. I also loved the secondary characters, with them having both my fave relationship of the series, between each other as well as with the leads.

The casting was great. Honda Kyoya and Yoshine Kyoko, as the main leads, have a fun chemistry and are oozing cuteness as their characters get to know each other, in a very charming and wholesome way. It's been a while I had not seen Honda Kyoya and he is such a dream in that role. Yoshine Kyoko is also bringing a lot into the drama, with some good comedic instincts without never feeling annoying.

I loved how detailed the costumes and decors surrounding the characters were. You really feel immersed in a different era of time. I also salute the choice of having an external narrator punctuating some scenes : for once, it made perfect sense. The OST was also super sweet with an adorable opening generic.

I would recommend this to people looking for a rom-com, in an historical context, providing room for deep thoughts, balanced between instants of happiness and hints of sadness as the heroine is confronted to the tough reality of being in love with a soldier. You go through the seasons with the characters, as they get to know each other : lovely !

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A different kind of love story

... and I say this because its not about romantic love, but a love between soulmate friends.

Overall I kinda felt tricked. lol
But that's because at the beginning I felt like this would be a feel good series,
but it made me cry in the end.

Anyways, I`m writing this review because I really don't understand the other bad reviews here.
This is a must watch if you are a fan of bittersweet story lines.

**Directing**
Overall I really liked the directing, because it has that special vibe throughout the whole series.
Which not all directors are able to do tbh. It really pulls you in. Like I said, the vibe and mood was
the main reason for me to like this series and is often overlooked from other ppl and in reviews in general.
But if a series pulls me in just with the mood, I know its gonna be good, but a lot of ppl usually don't appreciate it sadly.

**Music**
Music fits really well and supports the mood I mentioned above. Nothing noteworthy from my side, which is actually a good thing.... otherwise it would be bad music. >.<

**Acting**
I was really surprised tbh, because you see so many different nationalities but they made it work perfectly. All actors were great, no overacting, just a great fit. Also, its my first drama with Taec Yeon (I think) and I was positively surprised by his good acting. Isomura Hayato was great too and he took a great part to portray & support the mood too.

**Story**
The story follows 2 young man that are stuck in their life and also experienced some kind of trauma I might say. They first meet in Berlin after an accident and somehow grow closer. I really like how their meeting changed both of their life and also made it possible to overcome their trauma. It really shows what it means to have a soulmate and what kind of support it could be in your life without being romanticized. Both characters experience bad things in life, but also are able to overcome those things. Its really great to see, thats why it sometimes feels like a feel good series. In the end it just shows life and life isnt always an easy walk. I say its a good story, not because it is. Its a slice of life, so I would not call it special itself, but the directing, acting, etc made it into one.

**Overall**
If a series is able to pull me in and make me cry with emotional scenes (and I dont cry easily even when its emotional) I rate it as a good drama. Simple as that. Because not many directors are able to make me cry. In the end its all about the acting and directing that make ppl cry, not the story. So, my rating is a 9.5 for that reason (and I didnt skip lol).

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The FL looked too old for the role

Things I liked

1 The adults. The acting was good, the characters were good and sometimes they made me tear up, sometimes they made me laugh. They were the best part of this drama which says something since is a youth drama.

2 The male leads. I liked all of them. Good actors and although I think some things would have been written better they did a good job with what they had.

3 The 2FL. She was beautiful and I liked her arc. I liked that she became independent and how the relationship ended with the friendship remaining intact.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. Too old for the role and too conscious she was acting. No chemistry whatsoever and she tried hard to be cute. She wasn't. She ruined the drama for me and the 4 is for the rest of the cast. It would be much higher if she wasn't part of it.

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