Reviews

Reminiscent of the palace drama days, so much scheming and so much fun

I went into this show not really knowing anything about the plot or holding any expectations. And to be honest, before it aired, I had seen rumors about it here and there, but I didn't really care enough to look into it. So imagine my surprise when I decided to check it out, shout out to Twitter editors, and found out it's actually a true reverse harem about a matrilineal tea-empire family. There were so many twists and turns, and I kept guessing things wrong. It was so fun! Also, lots of familiar faces. I feel like if you go into this show completely blind, you'll enjoy it. Are there some plot issues? Yes, but nothing that turned me off that much. Additionally, if you like palace dramas/miss the palace drama era, I also feel like you will enjoy this show a lot. All in all, I definitely recommend watching this show.

Read More

Nice but that's it

Promising but didn't live up. I end up watching it on a faster speed just to get through it. There seemed a good strong storyline but I think the core focus ended up jumping around between the FL’s money struggles, the prophecies and the love triangle. It was a bit over the place with the core focus that all the additional elements fizzled out the strong hold on the story and any reason to keep engaged.

Surprisingly it was the FL who needed the cheering up as the story unfolded towards the last 2 episodes. Though, I found the FL acting a bit over the top and unnatural. She does great in showing different emotions but the overjoyed or casual self of the character seemed too much. The character could have had more scenes of why she holds herself in such a boosted way that would have rounded the character much better.

There was a good balance between the characters that's one thing they did achieve.

Good concept, maybe room for another drama, I would love to see another that uses the cheer up theme and cheerleading squad to navigate through life’s hardships it would need to be much more heartfelt and have a stronger script.

Read More

Wasting of time. Especially for LYX's fans.

This drama has just... exhausted me. The action was so slow that I sometimes watched it even at 2x speed. The script is quite boring. They're in love, and for over 40 episodes, they just run away and chase each other. You think that finally everything will be okay, you get one episode of happiness, and then... it all falls apart again.

Although I like most of the actors in this drama, their performances were nothing remarkable. I really like Luo Yunxi's gentle voice, so this dubbing drives me crazy.

The music is overly dramatic all the time. It doesn't make me cry; instead, it bothers me.

Do I recommend "And The Winner Is Love"? No. It's just a waste of time. There are a lot of more worthwhile series to watch.

Read More

Tea does not judge itself, people judge the tea

As it's said in the chinese title 玉茗茶骨 (Yu Ming Cha Gu), the core of this story is about tea which it's plantations are ran by the family Rong, more exactly Rong Shanbao, but with appearance with Lu Jianglai, played by Hou Minghao, which is also his 1st billing drama, things start to evolve a lot more than expected.

Let me talk about the story first. As said above & since HMH is the billing for this drama, everything will have to involve him. It started really well, more than I actually expected and it was so well build, from his amnesia to him remembering stuff, to getting his title back up to a point where it got ruined by the intervention of YZ director. From episode 26 to 30 (even a bit of 31), that's when it all started to go down a bit 'cause of the changes he made. The Rong family's story should've ended a while ago, but he added extra scenes that made no sense at all and ruined the story by a lot. Later on, it was slowly recovered by the Duke Mansion's story which was really interesting to see the truth behind Lu Jianglai's (LJL) identity, which he has been always knew about, but he didn't care about it at all because, in the end, he never wanted to take part of it. Once he started to love Bao a lot , he gave up everything for her and even before.
His relationship with his brother was something I was looking up forward to a lot, but even tho it was a bit short, I still enjoyed it. In the end, I wish Bao's grandma was more lenient with her and to stop caring about tea plantation that much, but it's whatever it in the end.

As for acting, it was top notch. As a fan of HMH, who has been following him since Cambrian Period, till even this day, I was literally looking forward to every day to watch him act. My favorite scenes with him are totally in the first episode where he was first shown as Lord Lu, a ruthless magistrate, which is later on getting to realize his love for Bao (btw, they've fallen in love since ep1). Also, his scenes as Lu Fusheng we're so good and I'm glad that they didn't drag his amnesia to 15 episodes or so. It was solved pretty fast. During the time he was filming this drama, even tho he was sick, had stomach problems, these stuff weren't seen in the drama at all. You literally couldn't see it on his face when he was acting. So, I am really proud of his acting & especially for all his hard work on this drama, giving his all to get the best scenes.
As for the other actors, especially FL, I didn't really watch a lot of stuff from them, but I was really impressed by everyone who kept working hard and delivered.

Lastly, if you do want to watch Glory, try to look at the trailer first rather than reviews, because everyone has different views on how they "evaluate" it. But if I made you, even for a little bit, to watch it, then I am glad.

P.S.: Even tho I enjoyed it a lot while it was airing (as of 15th Jan 2026) for S-VIP, rewatching value for this would be 8*. I would simply do it only for HMH and the FL, while skipping other parts, especially Shanbao's grandma.

Read More

A Meaningful Law Drama

The main reason I decided to give Pro Bono a try was Jung Kyung Ho. I’ve always enjoyed his acting and consistently liked his past dramas, so there was really no reason not to check this one out as well. Overall, Pro Bono is a fairly decent take on the legal system in South Korea. What stood out most to me was its focus on pro bono side of the legal world that many law kdramas don’t usually place at the center of the story. The various cases, usually spanning two or so episodes, were quite unique and sometimes unexpected, which did keep me engaged.
That said, the comedy didn’t always work for me. Some of the loud, exaggerated moments felt a bit forced honestly. They often came across as unnecessary and occasionally even annoying. But can be avoided by skipping through those scenes (atleast that's what I did).
Kang Dawit's transformation from a career-driven, self-focused lawyer into someone genuinely shaped by the clients he represented was the most compelling part of the drama. His growth felt gradual, believable, and well-earned.
Jang Yeongsil’s quieter arc was another highlight. Watching him grow into someone courageous felt very real. SPOILER STARTS: The scene where he confronts his estranged and abusive father, struggling to gather the courage to speak up, was raw and emotional. I found myself truly rooting for him in that moment, and the actor delivered it well. SPOILER ENDS

All in all, Pro Bono feels uneven at times, but it’s a drama I don’t regret watching. If you’re drawn to legal dramas that prioritize social issues over spectacle, this one is still worth your time.

Read More

Mediocre drama with artificial sweetness.

I was so excited to see Ma Lejie in this drama, but I was very disappointed. The plot was so-so, and the sweetness was artificial. It's a cliché story: because the ML d is rumored to be dying, FL marries him as substitute bride of her pampered younger sister, using her medical skills to heal him. Then the sister tries to sabotage the wedding, and the FL gradually reveals her true identities as a jewelry design genius and a medicine god.

Actually, the substitute marriage was all planned by the female lead from the beginning to run from her abusive family. The performances of both leads were mediocre; the domineering CEO was annoying. I wonder if higher expectations lead to greater disappointment.

Maybe hardcore fans of both actor could enjoy this.

Read More

Beauty, Brains, and a Third Act That Blinked

I can’t believe I’m writing this review again after accidentally deleting the first one, but maybe that’s fitting— this is the kind of drama that makes you want to revisit your thoughts anyway.

Let’s start with what ''Glory'' does exceptionally well.
- Visually, this drama is an absolute feast. The tone, the narrative style, the color palette, the costumes—every frame feels deliberate. The attention to detail pulls you straight into its world, and the OST doesn’t just accompany the story, it elevates it. This is one of those shows where aesthetics aren’t decoration; they’re part of the storytelling.

- The cast deserves genuine applause. Supporting characters aren’t just fillers here—they all have agendas, motives, and secrets. At various points, I found myself rooting for them, distrusting them, or doing both simultaneously. No one feels entirely safe, not even the characters who initially present as innocent. My naturally suspicious heart was on high alert from early on. Bonus joy: spotting so many familiar faces from short dramas felt like a delightful little Easter egg hunt.

- Plot-wise, the first two-thirds are rich, layered, and genuinely gripping. Tea cultivation heritage, a powerful family monopolizing an industry, murder mysteries, abductions, reverse harem undertones, and multiple no-nonsense female characters—it’s a dense mix, but one that mostly works. The Rong family arc in Linji, in particular, is where the drama truly shines. That stretch is confident, immersive, and sharply written.

- And then there’s the female lead. A queen, frankly. Cool-headed, scheming, razor-smart, and always ten steps ahead while chaos unfolds around her. She had me fully sold at the very first slap. What I admired most is her consistency—she never bends her core personality to appease the plot. I know the comment sections were in full meltdown mode over her “overly cool” demeanor, especially in romance, but you don’t get to ask for a strong, calculating woman and then complain when she’s emotionally composed. The traits that make her formidable are the same ones that make her restrained in matters of the heart. Personally, I loved her throughout and found myself applauding like a proud stage mom every time she outplayed everyone.

Now, where did I struggle?

- The male lead. HMH is endlessly charming on screen, and his portrayal of LJL—scheming, mischievous, shameless and morally grounded when it truly matters—was a joy, especially early on. He’s justice-driven, devoted, and willing to burn the world down for the woman he loves. That’s the good stuff. I genuinely enjoyed the leads’ dynamic up until around episode 20ish.
But in the final third, his character veers into insecurity and emotional neediness that didn’t quite work for me. This is entirely personal taste, but I tend to adore strong female leads paired with unwavering male leads. Watching him oscillate between fierce devotion and emotional instability left me conflicted—swooning one moment, mildly annoyed the next. HMH handled the role amazingly and made the character’s emotional arc believable, even when the writing choices didn’t fully work for me, and full transparency: I probably wouldn’t have picked up this drama if not for him. Still, I wish the writers had taken his character in a steadier direction.

- The final third of the drama also suffers in comparison to what came before. After spending around 30 episodes deeply invested in the Rong family arc, the Capital storyline—compressed into roughly six episodes—feels rushed. The pacing wobbles, the editing becomes uneven, and the overall narrative polish drops. You can feel the story sprinting toward the finish line instead of arriving with confidence.

That said, I still consider this a good drama, especially when viewed through a female-centric lens. From that perspective, it succeeds more often than it falters.
The romance is… fine. Enjoyable, but restrained. The chemistry is there, the kisses (though few) are undeniably fire, yet there’s a lingering sense that something is missing—more spark, more heat, more emotional payoff. Again, very much a personal take.

So, would I recommend ''Glory''? Yes, absolutely—especially if you go in knowing what kind of story it wants to tell.
Will I be rewatching it? Probably not. But am I glad I watched it? Definitely. It’s flawed, stylish, ambitious, and anchored by a female lead who refuses to dim her brilliance—and that alone makes it worth the journey.

Read More

Ooo it's so good

You think you know what the story is going to be - but it's the complete opposite! From episode 1 it has you on the edge of your seat. Damn annoying when you have to wait a week to find out what's going to happen. If you want a seriously good heightened suspense, thrill, mystery, between a husband and wife this is one to watch.

It definitely deserves the hype it got. The delivery, script and acting are great. The team really rode the suspense and mystery thread and got the audience rooting for the couple, which really helped keep everyone captivated week after week. Want to learn how to captive an audience this is one drama to learn from.

You won't be skipping any scenes. However for me the last two episodes could have been written differently, after all that adrenaline and heightened suspense it felt it dropped a bit. They managed to tie the ending together in a manageable way, it was lovely and sweet though I was looking for a more high peak at this point especially from what this drama had delivered and managed to produce so far. I did feel the last episode dragged only compared to the rest of the series for the sake of completing 12 episodes. I think if they cut an episode that would of be fine as long as the story held strongly. The rewatch rating could be higher. But this is small compared to what the drama delivered and is without a doubt worth watching. Congrats to the story writers and directors for creating this.

Read More

Hyun Bin's Best Work Till Date, Obviously!!

This show is political espionage that is equal parts thrilling & disappointing!

Hyun Bin delivers the most consistent yet heinous villain in existence. Yes, for those unaware, he plays an antagonistic with a screwed moral compass. He is brash, bold and determined to make money; he wants to own power and make his life more comfortable. None of his actions make sense, he is questionable, and he is a certified terrorist parading as a member of KCIA. I have no idea of how KCIA worked in that era, or how much more power it held over the prosecution; but from start to end, the show is a personal revenge saga between a KCIA agent and a prosecutor. Meth smuggling is just the pretext; it is a chess game, played by both sides. While Hyun Bin gives a believable performance as a flawed KCIA agent, it is Jung Woo Sung who wins your heart. Jang Gun Yeong is persistently determined to dealing with meth dealers, no matter who they are.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/made-in-korea-series-review/

Read More

Maybe my review will change

I am currently on episode 15. Eventhough the cinematography is beautiful, and the cast does great work, I still can't think of a reason why other viewers are calling this a "masterpiece".

I would like to think I'm missing something due to a language barrier. ChatGPT made me realise that Korean, oftentimes isn't translated as should.

So the deep love that is supposed to be transmitted through dialogue and looks alone is a little lost on me.

The story in itself can be intriguing, but sometimes too long winded with all the political plots.

This is only my tenth K-drama, and I've seen some I really didn't like.

This one isn't that bad, but I can't really say it's the best.

I stil have 9 episodes to go. I'll come back then.

Read More

You won't regret clicking play

It's not just another enemy to lovers story. It's gripping, filled with lots of tension, amusement and keeps you hanging on a thread. You can't stop watching once you start! The FL is not a damsel in distress quite the contrary she’s strategic, clever and very thoughtful. But decides to not to show all her cards fully. Which makes the duo super fascinating to watch and wonder what their next steps are going to be as they fight through their relationship challenges.

Watched this because of Liu Yuning and he goes even beyond what you expect to see from him. Superb performance from him. He absolutely does an amazing job in all his roles!

What makes this drama different is the tension and internal battles from the main characters. You get to see them question themselves, their beliefs, apologies and make small efforts to build their relationship and all the mishaps along the way. It's beautifully acted, projected and written. No extra unnecessary scenes, a great balance between the main storyline and the side characters - they all feed into the main plot and build the storyline forward. Great script and lines for the characters and direction. Something other dramas could pick out from.

I’ve rewatched it a few times now, and gone on to watch the female actor in her previous roles as this is my first time watching her, though she shines more here.

Read More