Reviews

A Drama That Feels Like Home-Cooked Comfort Food

Yummy, Yummy?Yummy! honestly felt like comfort food in drama form for me.

I originally expected a light food drama, but what surprised me most was how much the food itself became part of the emotional storytelling. This is one of those dramas where meals are not just there to look pretty (although everything looks delicious and will absolutely make you hungry). Food becomes comfort, care, stress, connection, and sometimes even communication between the characters.

Some of my favourite moments were the quieter scenes in the kitchen — cooking after difficult days, sharing meals, the exhaustion and chaos during busy moments, and the way relationships slowly develop through food and small acts of care rather than big dramatic gestures. There were scenes where tension softened simply because someone cooked for another person, and I really loved that.

The father and especially the son can be quite silly and over-the-top at times, particularly in the beginning, which took me a little while to adjust to. Some of the humour felt a bit exaggerated early on, but as the drama progressed, it started to feel part of the charm and warmth of the overall atmosphere, and I honestly got quite attached to them.

The romance is also very slow burn. Do not expect intense romance early on, because the drama takes its time developing the relationships naturally. Personally, I think that worked well for this type of story, as it fit the softer and more comforting tone of the drama.

The atmosphere is probably what worked best for me overall. It feels warm, cozy, and surprisingly immersive. By the later episodes, I genuinely looked forward to seeing what they would cook next and enjoyed spending time with the characters. The found-family feeling and emotional warmth made it very easy to become attached.

The pacing is occasionally a little slow, and not every storyline felt equally strong, but for me that did not matter much because the overall feeling of the drama worked so well. It felt relaxing, comforting, and somehow made me both hungry and emotionally invested at the same time.

If you enjoy food-centred dramas with warmth, comfort, and relationships that develop naturally, this one is definitely worth watching.

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Silk Knives

A Splendid Match unexpectedly became one of those dramas where I kept waiting to be annoyed…
and somehow ended up finishing.

This is a family drama wrapped in romance, household politics, complicated loyalties, unfortunate timing, and people repeatedly making painfully understandable mistakes. Less political chess, more emotional consequences.

Think family grievances, household loyalties, emotional debts, and people repeatedly trapped between duty and feeling.
This is also the kind of drama where soft words frequently hide sharp consequences.

The politics are not exactly:

“everyone gather around while I execute a 14-dimensional chess move.”

The writing frequently wanders into melodrama territory.
And there are frequent moments where the plot politely asks you to suspend disbelief and simply continue moving.

But somehow?
I minded it less here.

Because even when people behave dramatically, and occasionally irrationally, I could usually understand why.

Messy?
Absolutely.

Emotionally recognizable?
More often than not.

And perhaps most importantly:
these people occasionally look like they have lived through mild inconvenience before.

I know.

The standards are in hell.

But seeing actual skin texture, shadows, and lighting that occasionally remembered human faces are supposed to have dimension felt oddly refreshing. Nobody looks permanently trapped inside soft-focus perfection.

Thank you.

Beneath the drama, there is something slightly more mature than expected. Less interested in exaggerated romantic fantasy, more invested in complicated loyalties, family tensions, political obligations, and people making painful decisions for reasons that feel emotionally believable.

The Jinzhao / Chen Yanyun / Ye Xian situation worked better for me than expected too. Not because this becomes some dramatic “choose your favorite man” competition, but because each relationship quietly represents something different emotionally: longing, timing, emotional dependency, partnership, loss.

The romance itself works less through dramatic intensity and more through the quiet accumulation of trust, consistency, and emotional safety.

Meanwhile, the Fu Huailian political situation slowly collapsing into tragedy gave the later episodes more emotional weight. Watching loyalty gradually turn into collateral damage ended up more compelling than the drama gets credit for.

Does everything work?
No.

The scheming is far from brilliant.
The pacing stumbles.

And parts of the drama absolutely could have been stronger, especially toward the end.

But truthfully?
I still ended up enjoying it more than expected.

At this point, a costume idol romance where people mostly behave according to recognizable emotional logic rather than whatever the plot urgently requires already deserves partial credit. Add an atmosphere that feels appropriately grounded for the world these characters inhabit, without constantly exaggerating itself for dramatic effect, and I found myself appreciating the restraint.

Recommended for: viewers who enjoy slow-burn romance, complicated loyalties, emotionally messy relationships, unfortunate timing, and watching emotionally complicated people make painfully understandable mistakes.
Not recommended for: viewers expecting flawless plotting, high-level scheming, or enough emotional maturity to prevent half the problems in this drama.

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Byeon's Apology!

I watched Perfect Crown twice already.

The writers and directors of this drama should be the ones addressing the controversy, not only the actor.

Fans should understand that before a drama is released, scripts, scenes, and story direction go through many levels of approval. Actors perform the roles they are hired to portray, but they do not always control the deeper message or final direction of the production.

If the drama was approved for distribution on major platforms like Disney+, then responsibility should not rest only on the shoulders of one actor. A production involves writers, directors, producers, investors, and distributors together.
Byeon Woo-seok gave an emotional performance, and I personally do not believe he should carry the entire burden alone. Accountability should also include the creative team behind the project.

An actor bringing a character to life is different from creating the script itself.

Just my personal opinion after watching the drama carefully twice and now I will watch it a third time, fourth, or more... I loved it! I love Byeon Woo-seok and I.U.

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Whatever this was, I liked it!

There were some obvious plot holes. I mean, swapping senses does not come with a guidebook? Dilraba is so underrated as an actress. She makes all of her ML's look good and finds the chemistry even where there is none. Honestly, for me the chemistry was a little lacking. I mean, not completely, but I thought Dilraba carried Arthur through most of it. I did not find him 100 percent believable. Dilraba, on the other hand, was 100 percent believable.

I liked this storyline, but it was confusing with the title. Si Mu had all the powers of a god, yet she was not a God and was limited by small things. The sudden narration during the drama helped wrap things up and get through heavy battle scenes, but it also had bad edits.

I love that even though this is somewhat whimsical, it is not overdone and simple at times. The costumes were beautiful, and the production made sense and was not annoying.

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What A Drama!!

This is an amazing drama that I believe everyone should watch at least once. I remember when I first watched the show I was hooked from the start and was fortunate enough to watch it after all the episodes where already released.

This is the show that will make you laugh and cry at the same time, the comedy is truly unmatched. The story gets a 7 because in their attempt to be funny whilst also dealing with very heavy topics as well as the shows main villain; the writers lost a bit of the plot and struggled a little to find the balance between comedy and the main story line.

The acting and cast were phenomenal, everyone in the show played their roles with absolute perfection. The leads where absolutely lovable and had chemistry with every other cast member. The villain also did an amazing job because you couldn't help but hate him. The only reason this is a 9 because some of the characters where repetitive and lacked a little growth however, that it me being a little picky. So watch is and make your own conclusion.
The OST 10/10, I have no notes, the music just brought the entire show together and did it well.

It is re watchable that is a given however, having re-watched it 4-5 times I can say that the re-watch value drops over time. Some the characters that were once likable and made me laugh every time they were on screen became a little bit irritating after the 3rd watch and their scenes become skip- able. Other than that, without being objective this is a 10/10 drama for me; Do Bong Soon and Min Min will forever be one of my favorite on screen couples!

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"Plot whiplash" is the absolute perfect way to describe it. Can there be a part two?

It's like the production team was handed a pair of safety scissors and told to trim a sprawling epic into a neat little box with five minutes left on the clock. There is nothing more frustrating than falling head over heels for a drama's pacing, cinematography, and characters in the first half, only to feel like you're riding a runaway train by the finale.

Because that "chopped down" feeling is incredibly common in C-dramas right now. Due to recent broadcasting regulations limiting episode counts, so many sweeping historical dramas are forced to violently edit down their back halves. It leaves us viewers with massive plot whiplash, wondering how we got from point A to point Z in the blink of an eye.

If I had the magical power to override those broadcasting regulations and restore the deleted footage, the very first thing I would flesh out is the political downfall of the rival faction and Marquis Wu'an's subsequent tactical retaliation.

In the actual finale, the grand, high-stakes chess match we spent 30 episodes building up to was suddenly resolved in what felt like a two-minute montage. Blink and you missed the mastermind getting outsmarted.

Here is how that extra breathing room should have looked:

1. The Tactical Chess Match

Instead of a rushed betrayal, we needed at least two full episodes dedicated to the intellectual warfare. I wanted to see Zhang Linghe’s character actually laying the traps, outmaneuvering the court corruptists step-by-step, and using that brilliant, calculating mind of his. Let us see the genius behind the Marquis, not just the aftermath of it.

2. Emotional Fallout & Healing

With the plot rushing to the finish line, we completely lost the quiet, lingering moments between our leads. After a mountain of unspoken trauma, you can't just fix everything with a quick smile before the credits roll!

The Aftermath: We deserved a slow-burn resolution where Tian Xi wei’s character helps him dismantle that emotional armor.

The Contrast: Her vibrant, grounded energy balancing out his heavy, stoic grief—giving them a few peaceful scenes in a place that looked like Xigu Alley would have been the ultimate catharsis for the audience.

3. A Properly Paced Farewell

A historical epic deserves an ending that breathes. By restoring those episodes, the final sequence wouldn't feel like a sprint; it would feel like a sunset. We’d get to see the empire stabilize, the side characters get their proper closures, and Marquis Wu'an finally shedding the weight of the world from his shoulders.

That said, I have appreciation for the aesthetics and the cast is spot on:

The Visuals: The production team really created magic. Even if we can't book a flight to the real Xigu Alley, the way they captured the rivers and mountains gave the whole show a breathtaking, poetic atmosphere. It felt like a living painting.

Tian Xi wei: She is an absolute treasure. Her natural comedic timing is so refreshing—she has this effortless ability to keep a heavy historical plot from feeling too bogged down.

Zhang Linghe: He absolutely commanded the screen as Marquis Wu'an. His micro-expressions do so much heavy lifting, especially when the script is rushed and he has to convey a mountain of unspoken trauma with just a shift in his eyes.

And honestly, my take on his weight is a pretty popular sentiment among fans! He is incredibly tall, and while that lean, sharp look definitely gives him that ethereal, tortured-statesman vibe, a little more weight would give him a broader, more imposing presence for those heavy armor scenes.

It really is bittersweet because the raw ingredients—the breathtaking cinematography, the effortless chemistry, and the sheer talent of the cast—were all right there.

Since we are rewriting history here, how did you feel about the secondary characters' endings? Was there a specific side-plot or dynamic that you felt got unfairly chopped completely out of the script?

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I wanted to like it, but it ended up being a non-immersive experience..

I want to propose a question to the producers of this drama: why should I care about this story?

This isn't a bad drama/movie, however it feels like eps 10 and 11 of a 12 episode drama.

From ep 1, you are thrown into the story, there is limited world-building, which results in me not caring about the characters, story or how it ends. Something went wrong somewhere.

I felt like an onlooker, rather than being immersed into the story.

The music was nice and gave it a nostalgic vibe.

The romance was very short-lived while she was alive.

In the end, I was left hoping for more..

The cast and acting is good.

But like I said, I didn't even know what was happening with the gangster plot. I wouldn't have known the ML was a gangster if I hadn't read the plot beforehand.

Many people seem to really like this drama, so don't let me stop you from watching it.

I will leave you with some random thoughts I had while watching:

- you're thrown right into the story, if I didn't read the premise I wouldn't have known the male lead to be a gangster from the start of things, it didn't really introduce you to characters like what usually happens in an ep 1.. ep 1 to me felt like a later episode, but it is only 2 eps long so maybe for the best that they didn't spend time world building?
- mr. yellow shoes is in this
- why should I care about this story?
- it has nice music (classical and 'a love so beautiful')
- things were happening in ep 1 and I just didn't care about it.. I wanted to, but they didn't set up the story in any way that you would end up caring about the characters, I feel like an onlooker
- at the end of ep 2 I started getting more interested, but then it ended
- the story in itself is not bad, but just felt incomplete and I couldn't immerse myself in it..
- it has an early 2000s vibe

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아깝다

Honestly, I don’t even know what the exact problem is. I’ve watched seven episodes, but I haven't felt happy, romantic, or sad once. Watching it feels like a chore. In the beginning, I only tuned in because of Ahn Hyo-seop and Kim Bum, hoping that things would turn around and it would become enjoyable. But nothing changed. I just realized I’ve been constantly forcing myself, saying, 'Keep watching, it’ll get better, it has to be good...' But nope.
I’ve honestly started questioning why these actors accepted this script in the first place—especially Kim Bum. Bro, you are the Kim Bum. You are a cornerstone of the K-drama industry. You basically helped start the global K-drama wave, and an entire generation grew up watching you. How could you choose this role? What was the goal here?
Also, why is your character so head-over-heels for the female lead? She drew boundaries so quickly, and we barely see enough of their backstory to justify him liking her that much.
As for the female lead, it feels like she’s just reading lines off a page—zero emotion, zero feeling. I can’t feel any chemistry or love. Her character arc feels like: she burns out, leaves her broadcasting channel, and goes, 'Oh, look, a guy. Let me just fall for him since I have some free time now.' The actress has potential, so I really hope she improves.
The logistics don't make sense either. Mathieu lives in a village while she lives in the city, which is a two-hour drive away. She is portrayed as an incredibly busy workaholic who lives for her job, so there's no way her character would casually make that two-hour commute all the time.
At this point, I have zero interest. I don't even care what happens to the young girl in the mask—honestly, it's so predictable that I already know. It's the most cliché K-drama trope: they’ll fight, they'll feel responsible for the girl, she'll sleepwalk, and he'll find her. Cue the cliché couple moments. Nothing interesting. Even the shopping scenes are a total bore.
I give 1 point for music because of the one … I can’t describe this thing, I don’t want to use bad words.

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Sweet Start, Romance Built on Lies

This drama started off heartfelt, funny, and cute, which made the twist even more frustrating. At first, Xia Lin and Ling Yi Zhou’s relationship seemed charming and emotional, especially with how supportive and caring he appeared toward her. But then we find out that everything, even the moment Xia Lin approached Ling Yi Zhou, was orchestrated by him from the very beginning. After that reveal, I honestly could not look at the romance the same way again.

What made it worse was the fact that Xia Lin was not even sick to begin with. Ling Yi Zhou had doctors, hospital staff, and basically everyone around her lying straight to her face just to manipulate her into depending on him. That is not romantic, it is controlling and disturbing. The drama tries to frame his actions as acceptable because he loved her deeply and spoiled her constantly, but love does not excuse deception on that level. He violated her trust, took away her ability to make informed choices about her own life, and emotionally manipulated her into a relationship built on a lie.

What annoyed me most was how little accountability Ling Yi Zhou actually faced. The show brushed past the seriousness of what he did as if grand gestures and affection could erase the damage. Xia Lin was understandably hurt for a while, but the drama rushed through the consequences and expected viewers to move on quickly because he is attractive, rich, and devoted. It really felt like the writers wanted the audience to excuse obsession and control as if it were romance, instead of showing how unhealthy it actually was.

Their entire relationship was built on lies, manipulation, and a fake medical crisis. The foundation they supposedly built together was nothing more than a facade created by Ling Yi Zhou’s schemes. Trust is one of the most important parts of any relationship, and once that is broken to this extent, it is hard to understand how the relationship could continue as if nothing happened.

Honestly, I do think Xu Kai Cheng and Simona Wang had strong chemistry, and that is probably what kept me watching until the end. Their scenes together in the earlier part of the drama especially had a lot of warmth and softness that made the romance feel very engaging. I would still recommend the drama, but only with the understanding that the early fluffy romance takes a very different turn once the truth is revealed. If you don't want to be disappointed with their relationship, I would honestly suggest dropping it after episode nine because everything after that shifts the tone completely and the later half of the show felt pretty corny compared to the beginning.

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The Greenest Flag Drama I’ve Ever Watched

Love Me, Love My Voice honestly became one of my biggest surprises. I went into it with almost no expectations. I had heard people talk about it for long, but I never expected to love it as much as I did. I’m genuinely shocked by how attached I became to this drama.

I will admit, the beginning was a little hard to get into. The first few episodes felt very slow and awkward, especially the romance. But honestly? The awkwardness felt realistic. He’s introverted, she’s shy, and their relationship starts in a very natural way. It wasn’t some dramatic, instant-love kind of romance — it was just two people quietly falling in love, and I ended up loving that simplicity so much.

Sometimes life gets overwhelming and busy, and you just need a drama like this: something calm, soft, comforting, and completely non-problematic. Watching this felt like a reset button. I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time.

At first, I genuinely thought the sweetness was TOO much. And I mean too much. I’ve watched countless dramas, and this is probably the first time I’ve ever had to pause because something was overwhelmingly sweet. It was beyond sweet — almost unreal. But after a while, you settle into their quiet everyday life and start craving more of it. By the end, I honestly felt like 33 episodes weren’t enough. I could have watched another 10 episodes of them just living life together.

This drama completely depends on whether you feel the chemistry between the leads. Because the plot itself is extremely simple — it’s basically just two people falling in love. If the chemistry works for you, the show works. And for me, it worked perfectly.

The chemistry was amazing. Their relationship felt warm, comforting, mature, and incredibly healthy. No unnecessary misunderstandings, no dramatic breakups, no toxic behavior, no random tragedy — not even a tiny “car accident for angst” moment. I’ve genuinely never watched something this non-problematic before, and somehow it still kept me completely invested.

It reminded me a lot of Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, which makes sense because they’re from the same writer. You can definitely see the similarities. But honestly, Love Me, Love My Voice has even less plot — and somehow I still loved every second of it.

I also think Tan Jianci was absolutely perfect for this role. The character felt so natural for him. His passion, perfectionism, calmness, teasing side — everything fit him perfectly. And Zhou Ye matched him so well too. She had exactly the right amount of softness and shyness for the role, and together they created such a comforting dynamic.

One thing I really loved was how culturally Chinese the drama felt. The outfits, music, food, scenery, cinematography — everything had such a strong Chinese identity and atmosphere. It felt very intentional and immersive, and visually the drama was so pleasant to watch.

The voice acting/dubbing industry aspect was also really interesting. Since voice actors are such a huge thing in China, it was nice getting a glimpse into that world and seeing these characters balancing ordinary lives alongside their careers.

And honestly, the friendships were just as important as the romance. I loved the group dynamic so much. Everyone had chemistry with everyone. The trips, dinners, performances, casual hangouts — all of those scenes added so much warmth to the show. It wasn’t just a romance drama; it was also about friendship, comfort, passion, and found family.

I absolutely loved the side characters and the secondary couples too, which is why my biggest complaint is that most of the side couples only officially got together near the end. I really wish we had more time actually seeing them as couples instead of waiting until the last episode for confessions.

Overall, I absolutely loved this drama and genuinely cannot recommend it enough — but only if you enjoy slow, slice-of-life romances with almost no conflict. This is not a drama for people who need constant tension or dramatic twists. The entire show is carried by chemistry, comfort, healthy communication, friendship, and pure softness.

This might honestly be the greenest-flag drama I’ve ever watched.

And finally, the OST was AMAZING. Tan Jianci’s voice was absolutely beautiful, the performances were wonderful, and every musical moment felt heartfelt and immersive.

This drama honestly felt less like watching a story and more like spending time with people you grow to love.

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My royal hope!

What I like about this show is even though romance is a big part of it, I feel like the main plot is all about self growth, acceptance and dealing with past traumas that have a direct impact in the current life & i fuck with it so much.
It is funny, interesting and the acting is great. The chemistry is believable and essentially just full of good stuff.

Now, I hope the show doesn't merely focus on the romance aspect because I feel like it can be so much more. I hope the MLS, thanks to e/o, will be able to thrive and finally heal and be happy because they both deserve it!!!

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Old story and yet!

I will try to keep it short because I do not think too much words are needed for this one.

- There is great writing
It's an old story, one i am very familiar with and yet the writers managed to surprise me and catch my attention from the first episode and that until the end.

- There is great acting.
A very competent ensemble of actors that make you believe every single lines and breathes. The chemistry is alive, the talent and line delivery is impeccable.

- There is a story.
A heartwrenching and quite dumbfouding case of serial killer that will make you think how could this have happenned? It shows you all the human's mistakes, it enlights the darkest creases of humanity.

It is a very well creafted drama in his globality, one that seriously stood out by how complete it felt. Highly recommend.

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A delightful and moving healing drama about the power of grace and of being present

There were so many times throughout this drama that I laughed out loud, sighed, clapped, and even cried. It explores the cost of holding onto unnecessary guilt and blame, all the while maintaining an uplifting and fun vibe using the contrast between the busy home shopping network world of the city, and the quiet, small town serenity of a mushroom farm.

--THE STRENGTHS
Why I recommend this drama:
- There was not one episode I didn't laugh out loud, like cackle level laugh. Usually more than once. The comedy is absurdist, breaks the fourth wall often, isn't afraid to go all in, and never takes itself too seriously. The cast seemed to be having a BLAST.
- The main couple had truly wonderful chemistry. You could feel how drawn they were to each other from the start. Their romance felt organic and subtle yet at the same time passionate and loud. I rooted for them from the start, and they are one of the few romcom couples lately that I feel are actually perfect for each other on a soul level, and who will be really happy together for a long time. I enjoyed every single scene between them.
- Solid character arcs for the main leads. As the show goes on more and more is revealed about what the two leads have been through in their lives, and all their actions, even the ones that are frustrating, truly felt rooted in genuine past experiences that shaped who they are. Even the short period of angst in the drama felt necessary when you consider what they've been through and the depth of the pain they were trying to learn how to face. I connected with their struggles and enjoyed the layers underneath each character.
- Well connected plotline and emotional arcs. Too many dramas have a plot that seems to unfold separate from the emotional arcs of the characters, so that the drama ends up feeling disjointed or superficial. Not the case here. The plotlines of the contamination backstory, the current day cosmetic acquisition, Yejin and her mother, Mechoori and his lost dream, all weave together and ebb and flow along with the emotional arcs ebb and flow, resolving in a way that felt perfectly aligned. It's really satisfying and makes all the emotional notes hit quite strong. To the point I actually shed tears more than once.

---LONG DIGRESSION ON SUPPOSED PLOT HOLES (some small possible spoilers)
[tl;dr-- viewers complaining of "plot holes" either were very confidently wrong about something they called "unrealistic" that actually completely aligns with real world situations and facts, weren't paying attention to details that explained it, or were being exceptionally picky for small plot contrivances used to set up interesting moments or scenes that are on the level you see in almost all TV shows. ]

This drama got a lot of unfair criticism during its run for supposed plot holes or unrealistic situations. People seemed to go through it with a fine toothed comb, trying to find anything to pick at, especially when it came to the FL, and then calling it a plot hole. Stuff like the FL accidentally locking her phone in her car. They called that a plot hole because... she should have known not to accidentally leave her phone in her car? So many times there WERE reasonable explanations the viewer completely missed because they weren't paying attention. At worse there were some mildly under-explained plot conveniences used to create a compelling or interesting scene, no more egregious than you see in almost every other TV show.

And in fact, I loved one of the only TRUE coincidences, which was the ML getting the same phone number as the FLs mom used to have, as it created a unique way for them to connect on a truly intimate level that I haven't seen used in a drama before, and felt more like the universe was giving them a fateful gift than anything contrived. Yet people still complained even though it was part of the premise and was used very well in the show.

More than that a lot of people were just ignorant of real life facts explored in the drama. It is not uncommon at all for sleepwalkers to have fully coherent conversations and leave the house and walk long distances without any memory of what happened, and abusing sleeping pills can cause chronic sleep walking disorder and worsen symptoms. It is common for companies to try and cut costs by cutting corners on quality. It is common for products to be recalled even after they've passed testing and gone out to the public. It is also very common psychological reaction for people to take on blame of others when trauma is involved, and to hold onto it even if they aren't truly at fault in some attempt to cope. It is common for people with unresolved self blame and shame to lash out at people they care about once things get too close to that pain. Too many viewers were very loudly proclaiming something as "unbelievable" when it was actually completely believable based on subject they simply had no actual knowledge of or experience in, and acted like it was a badge of honor to point out something wrong with the show like this.

--THE WEAKNESSES
That said, the drama wasn't perfect. And I have to point out its flaws as well:
- The 2ML is one dimensional, bland and unfortunately not played very well by the usually more compelling Kim Bum. Useful only for adding comedy to the main leads story. Luckily he doesn't have a ton of scenes, and he does start to feel a little more two dimensional in the second half. There was a lot more that could have been done with him, so he feels utterly wasted as a character.
- Uneven execution at times, especially for anything other than the main leads story. The bones of the story were really well sketched, and when things came together well it hit SO well, as detailed above. And there were times when the side characters were SO funny and well done. But there were times where the side plots with the villagers felt a little thin, where some of the side character's acting felt weak and distracting, where the pacing felt a bit off, or where certain side characters or side plots got more attention than they merited.
- The first two episodes were by far the weakest. I didn't dislike them as much as others seemed to, and am glad I kept watching. But the show improved tremendously as it goes along.

The above reasons are why I gave it an 8.5. If we're talking just about the main leads story it would be a 10/10.

If you like a slow burn super romantic drama with great chemistry and absurd but hilarious humor that thoughtfully tackles real issues in a genuine way, you will enjoy this drama.

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A fun watch for horror fans, but content warnings for suicide and self-harm intrinsic to the story

I'm a huge fan of any death game-esque type of horror, and while this isn't really that it is close enough that I decided to give it a watch. I'm happy that I did. I found the writing to be pretty solid; the characters were consistent (and clever!), the balance of humour and horror was good, the pacing didn't drag, and the worldbuilding/explanation for the horror felt pretty well thought out. The soundtrack was simple and beautiful, doing a great job of creating an atmosphere without being too distracting. The acting was 10/10 (to me), and the visual effects were excellent. The story overall felt more character-driven than "get us to the next scare/gross out" driven.

It occasionally verged a bit too close to feeling like it might go into fantasy-adventure territory for my taste, but that's more of a matter of preference and really wasn't so bad until after the plot had been essentially wrapped up. There might be some confusion around the fate of one character, but I think that may be intentional as it seems like they may have been trying to set up a second season without leaving the show on a cliffhanger. I'm not giving a perfect score mostly because I feel like for a horror show, it wasn't especially creepy or scary. It was suspenseful, and got intense at times, but to me it is missing a bit of that sense of fear and consistent heightened emotions that I usually go to horror for. However I did enjoy the relationships between characters being such a big focus.

Overall I enjoyed it, I would say that this is more of an easy/light watch for a horror fan who's okay with a bit of gore (so long as scenes of suicide and self-harm are not a trigger for you, if they are then I would say you should avoid this show). It's not too intense, but it also isn't boring. If you don't like horror, you won't like this (because it's horror). But if you're horror-neutral you should be fine.

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Could be better

I’d been waiting for the series Soulmate ever since it was announced, especially because of Taecyeon’s involvement. I was really curious how they would approach the relationship between two men in this case — considering it’s a Japan + Korea and streaming on mainstream Netflix. And honestly, I’m not surprised by the way this story was presented.

The fact that there are no romantic scenes in the series isn’t the issue for me. Feelings can be expressed in a hundred different ways. But I’m not sure I’m convinced by the idea that they wanted to portray a “pure” kind of love between the two characters. I know BL relationships are often overly sexualized and that romantic scenes sometimes add nothing to the plot, but here, honestly, one lingering look and one brief touch of hands would’ve been enough.

I don’t really buy the argument that they simply wanted to show the purity of this relationship. In my opinion, in mainstream Asian cinema the real reason is still fear of how this kind of relationship will be received, so it gets reduced to bromance instead. I’d genuinely like to read opinions from people who see it differently and why, because maybe I’m missing another perspective.

Personally, I think we should find some kind of middle ground between excessive sexualization and completely avoiding the subject of intimacy. Are we really supposed to believe that two young people wouldn’t want any deeper physical closeness over the course of years? That’s hard for me to believe.

The story also has a few plot holes, but I’m not that bothered by them since I understand this is just a fragment of several years of the characters’ lives. The ending, in my opinion, could’ve been better.

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