Reviews

The Perfect Parody: The more dramas you watched the better this one gets

First off the drama has stellar casting, and not just for the leading roles. You can see the hard work and meticulous preparations that went into it in every plot point, every scene and shot. But soon you notice what's really going on.

Every character name looks rather normal but they're all intentional and layered with references. Every emotional moment drags on just too long, making you laugh while you sob. Every costume has some tiny flaws like sewed on shawls, but fantastic fabric and beautiful design. Every song is just a bit too cheesy or silly but they're just so catchy! The fight scenes are so obviously filmed to look stereotypical as hell but they're just *so* cool. There are so many tiny intentional details like the FLs overdrawn lipstick or 'corpses' fluttering their eyelids.

This drama made me feel emotions I didn't even know I could have. I was annoyed, crying, laughing and cringing at the same time, watching the drama going through every cliché possible in the most absurd way. All while I could not stop being dragged into that world and fall in love with it and its characters, just like the FL.

The more dramas you have watched and the more you know about the language, sayings, memes, the better this one gets.

If you are in any shipping fandoms or write/read fanfictions, I literally can not recommend this enough, since you *will* be called out even harder!

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A well-made drama

The story is quiet refreshing and engaging to watch. I watched this drama as it dropped episode by episode and it felt a little disjointed so I rewatched it for that continuous feel, which made me appreciate it better.

Many actors in this drama played their roles really well. The main leads, Gulinazha played Rong Shanbao really well and Huo Ming Hao as Lu Jianglai actually brought more life to those moments with Rong Shanbao with his micro-expressions. He is a really good actor and I enjoyed his acting.

The set and the costumes are well-thought of. The tea plantation scenery are very scenic and indeed.

There are even lessons about tea at the end of some episodes. As a non-chinese watcher, I learned something as well. Kudos.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama and would recommend it to others.

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I enjoyed it enough but could be better.

These are just my random thoughts after finishing the show. I may update it later (or not)

The production and the OST are the highlights. I read a few comments about a lack of chemistry between the main actors and went in expecting that. It was true to a point but largely due to the writing decisions, but the moments they were allowed to just be, I think it was just fine if not great, including in the first episode.

I loved the cast; everyone played their parts perfectly. My favorite character is definitely the uncle. I'd have loved to see more of his interactions with the main lead.

Now, I enjoyed the show but there were quite a few issues. First, the conflict between the main leads wasn't executed well at all. Even the use of dissociative identity felt like a cop out. I disliked the sometimes-callous nature of the male lead. I don't think it was necessary for him to be written like that at all. Just easing his dialogue at points could have made for better moments overall. It created conflict to drag the show on, but I think the male lead (and the show) suffered for it. It will probably be a sticking point for many who watch the show. I guess that's my biggest gripe with the show.

Like most dramas, most elements were there for it to be truly brilliant, but it ultimately fell short due to a combination of editing choices, dialogue (I know the English subtitles were poor here as well) and repetition. I think the drama could have had the characters fall for each other later rather than having it happen early then introducing all the misunderstandings to fill out the runtime. This drama could have been shorter than it was given the route they chose.

I did like it enough to not regret watching it but not enough to be sure about recommending it. Weirdly, these are the kind of shows I like rewatching (Abyss and Extraordinary You are the other ones) despite finding them so frustrating in terms of lost potential.

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Devastated

If you just want to admire Garvey Jin, or watch it as background noise while eating, you can give it a try. But for those looking for fresh plots and logical storylines. I wouldn't recommend it. Don't be stubborn like me.

First of all, the actors are truly eye-candy Zhao Muyan is both alluring, her acting is on point, and her eye acting is amazing. Love the height difference between Garvey Jin and Zhao Muyan. The ambiguous tension between the two at the beginning is full of tension and definitely hooks you to keep watching. But! The plot...Wallahi we're finished.

The plot completely revolves around old tropes, offering zero novelty. I couldn't take it anymore and gave up halfway through. The plot is too formulaic and makes me lose my mind; even the good looks of the ML and FL and the initial chemistry couldn't save it in the later episodes. Dropped.

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Coming of age, becoming your own person.

What I looked for was a shallow feel good fluff slice of life, what I’ve got was so much better. Be it in terms of romance, character development, the depth of storytelling or the quality of presentation - it went beyond what I expected. As much as I enjoyed the romance, the portrayal of the hardships these characters had to go through and how they supported each other was what truly won me over.

The complexity of abuse and neglect - difference between physical and emotional abuse, direct and indirect, intentional and unintentional behavior. Truth to be told, both Jin and Haruki were abused by their parents. One could argue Jin was “only” neglected, but is that true?

In the case of Hirukawa Haruki it’s really clear - he was psychically and emotionally abused by his father, who used him as a relief for his own issues. Fueled by his grievance about divorce, sense of abandonment and alcoholism, he channeled all his anger, hatred and sense of incompetence into abusing Haruki. It was awful to witness, but the scene that actually broke me was when Haruki blamed himself for his father’s death. This is the true horror of abuse. It’s not the bruises, it's not the physical pain, but the way your personality, identity, confidence, self-value shatters. When you start blaming yourself for others’ choices and the consequences that follow.

I also do not want to give any slack to his mother. There is no way on the planet she did not put two and two together that his father was abusing him. She just did not want to acknowledge it, even to herself. The lack of interest in her own child’s well being was just sad to witness. She cared enough to make herself feel good and blameless in this situation. She failed as a parent as much as the father did. And it’s not just her neglect about Haruki’s current situation, but what led to it in the first place. The fact it was Haruki who thought he needed to protect his mother and her new family, instead of him feeling like she should go to her for help tells you all you need to know about their relationship and her role in his life.

Minase Jin’s family situation does mirror Haruki’s. Even if initially it feels less severe, long term it has similar consequences. Here we have an abusive mother and neglectful father. From one perspective his family situation was worse, because it did not seem like neglect and abuse. When your father beats you up, people know it’s wrong. When your mother tries to control every aspect of your life and emotionally guilts you into obedience, how do you even explain it to people? When you say you are scared to leave, because your abusive father might actually kill you, people understand your fear. But if you say you are scared of making your own decisions and being disobedient to a parent, because you fear disappointing them - that’s so much harder to grasp for someone who looks at your situation from the outside. People won’t say that you should be grateful to your father for beating you up, because he did it for you and he had good intentions. But people will try to convince you that your mother is dictating your whole future and telling you to not have friends and only study for your benefit. Abuse that does not seem like abuse is scary, because in most cases you won’t get external validation for wanting to get out of it, you won't get support or understanding.

And I think we see it in the drama - after Hirukawa Haruki’s father dies, he is able to chase his own dreams, build a stable life, reach his goals and set new ones - find his identity and thrive. On the other hand Minase Jin still somehow lives his mother’s dreams. We know he got to the university of his first choice - was it his first choice, or was it his mother? How much of the path he is taking is what he wants to do, and how much is it him appeasing his mom and just going with her plan for his life? This is one aspect of the show I wish they explored more - Minase Jin family relations in adulthood.

For romance, I’d say this is the perfect example of meeting the right person at the right times - the plural here is important. Usually I am completely against the couple breaking up when tough times come, to lessen the burden on their partner, but here it just made sense and was the correct choice. They were extremely young, inexperienced in any and all areas of life, confused about who they were and what they wanted. What they both needed is alone time to explore and to grow and I think staying in a romantic relationship at that time would only become another cage that stops their progress. The deep feelings they had for each other would lead to them always prioritizing the other person and that’s unhealthy.

They were the source of each other's strength in the dark times, but without some growth and exploration as individuals, the support they gave each other would turn into co-dependency. That’s why I was fine with them saying their goodbyes as teens, and meeting again as adults. I wished the transition between these time periods was a bit smoother and better presented, but I am for sure not against the idea of separation itself.

For the production I especially want to talk about the make up for the injuries and bruises. Whoever was the make-up artist, they need a raise - these were truly well done. It’s one thing to half ass the job when the story does not center around abuse - throw that red paint and call it a day, sure. But for a plot where the injuries are in fact important, they are used as a tool to progress the development of the relationship between the characters, a way to portray the harsh reality Haruki was facing, you need to put more effort, and effort they put! Truly amazing work.

What’s more, the drama had its poetic flavor mostly delivered by Jin and that tone quite well contrasted the expectations put on him and the strong opposition to arts his mother had. I feel like this was another way of showing the internal conflict and confusion our main character had to deal with. Getting a glimpse of his writing style in his novel we can see that he does enjoy arts, that he has an artistic soul in him that was squashed by his mother's expectations. That directing choice just made me appreciate the drama more, even if I am not exactly a poetic person myself.

Acting wise I highly doubt anyone can have any real criticisms. Be it the chemistry between the leads, the fluffy moments that brought a smile on my face, the abuse and hardships they faced that made me want to punch a wall, the development and growth they achieved that made me feel like a proud mom - they cooked, I ate, no crumbs were left.

Overall, I went into it expecting fluff and a cute slice of life. What I’ve got had far more depth and realism. It presents a surprising quality of storytelling for a short drama dealing with such complex subjects. You understand the full picture of what the characters were going through, and how they overcame all the obstacles without each and every moment of their existence being spelled out.

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Moon River is a beautifully crafted historical drama that stayed with me long after the final episode. From its evocative storytelling to its stunning cinematography and elegant costumes, every detail feels deliberate and full of soul. As someone who truly loves historical dramas, I can confidently say this is one of the strongest productions of 2025. ✨

The chemistry between Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong is natural and deeply moving, giving the love story a tender, heartfelt quality. Jin Goo’s performance deserves special praise—subtle, powerful, and absolutely impeccable. Supported by a solid cast, Moon River delivers a romance filled with quiet emotions, unforgettable moments, and a timeless sense of longing. A must-watch for lovers of historical romance. 🌙💙

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Romcom Korea yang Gak Bisa Ditonton Satu Episode Doang

Menurut aku, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim itu drama romcom yang ringan tapi nagih. Dari awal nonton aja udah langsung ketarik sama hubungan antara Lee Young Joon dan Kim Mi So yang unik—boss super narsis ketemu sekretaris super sabar 😆
Yang bikin drama ini seru, karakter Lee Young Joon tuh benar-benar bikin gemas sekaligus kesel. Dia pede banget, tapi justru di situ letak lucunya. Terus Kim Mi So digambarkan sebagai cewek mandiri, pekerja keras, dan tau apa yang dia mau, jadi gak cuma sekadar karakter cewek lemah di drama kantor.
Selain komedinya, drama ini juga punya sisi emosional. Pelan-pelan kita diajak tau masa lalu mereka yang ternyata saling berhubungan. Di bagian ini menurut aku ceritanya jadi lebih dalem dan gak cuma soal cinta di kantor doang.
Chemistry Park Seo Joon dan Park Min Young juga kuat banget. Adegan romantisnya gak berlebihan tapi bikin senyum sendiri pas nonton. Alurnya cukup ringan, cocok buat ditonton pas lagi pengen hiburan tanpa mikir berat.
Kesimpulannya, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim cocok banget buat yang suka drama romantis, komedi kantor, dan cerita cinta yang manis. Menurut aku, ini tipe drama yang bikin mood naik dan susah berhenti nonton sekali mulai 🎬💗

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NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT EVERYTHING FOR SOME

As a viewer, I have always been inclined to the K-dramas, that are about love, yearning between the leads with their deep gaze of longing. The complexities of the characters and character growth with something emotionally compelling is compelling to me.
"Can this love be translated?" is a beautiful drama, with brilliant cinematography and careful use of visuals and lighting that almost give it an art movie experince. The story moves slowly following the leads, especially the female lead, unpacking her emotional turmoils as we go along the story. The male lead is a caring, thoughtful person, who ends up liking her, and becomes the very key to the female leads' emotional journey. But will an emotionally and mentally flawed person be able to muster up courage and face her fears, to finally be with the person who yearns for her and helps her find happiness? This is the major plot of this K-drama.

The things that I loved about the drama were, the insane chemistry between Kim Soen-ho and Go Youn-jung. Their chemistry makes you smile and giggle at their small encounters and is able to make you squeal even in cheesy lines. The screen writing makes everything flow smoother and feel natural and cute. The character development and the new twists of the plot makes the drama much more compelling as it is executed brilliantly once you understand their backstory. It may not be perfect, but it surely is beautiful.

This drama is for the ones who enjoy a slowly moving plot, and who love romance with longing and slow burn. It may not be for you if you tend to skip moments and want very dramatic plot lines or twists and turns. However, if you liked drams like our unwritten soul, home town cha cha cha, a time called you, our beloved summer, love struck in the city, where there are aspects of mental health, detachment and overcoming them, with cute romance, you may like this drama.

Had to review because it sadded me to see so many negative reviews.

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Sweet and that's it

Things I liked

1 The FL. She is cute and her character was sweet and luminous. But that's it. There was nothing more. No sparks, no chemistry, no dynamism. I'm baffled that this drama has an 8 while others much more interesting are rated lower. This was boring and was lacking something. Especially after the first 4 - 5 episodes, it became tedious.

2 The ML. I liked him but I didn't love him. He was too bland to awake any feelings in me. Negative or positive. I don't think he's a great actor, but I can't make myself put him on the "dislike" list. That said, the couple lacked chemistry and sweet isn't always enough.

3 The script itself. I adore tropes and high school friends or enemies is one of my favorite tropes, but here it was lackluster. Nothing was interesting, every scene dragged down the whole series.

Things I disliked

1 The 2 FL. I found her spoiled, annoying as hell and I wanted her to get rejected and live alone. What an unpleasant character.

2 The ML. It's not the actor but hi s character was also too juvenile and that he fell for that stupid and spoiled woman, the 2FL sealed his fate. Otherwise I could put him in the "liked" list.

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In the words of Jisoo: NOT BAD BUT NOT GOOD

I neither hated the plot nor could enjoy it properly. I didn't watch it one go, I watched it slowly but I really felt there wasn't a need of 12 episodes, it could have been finished in 8-10. The concept was different and I wanted it to be little more enjoyable but was just average. Confused me a little but the acting and chemistry was good enough to hold on to it. I really really loved Go Youn-jung and Seon-ho's chemistry. Really was adorable. And Muhee was such a relatable character- clumsy, flustered easily and innocent. 😚 This was truly unexpected. I only watched the teaser and didn't watch the trailer, so on the basis of teaser I expected a fluffy kdrama but this was so much more. I think it is a good one time watch.

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Ignore the ratings, this drama is truly enjoyable!

I honestly don’t understand why it didn’t get at least an 8.5 rating. Is it because of the ending? In my opinion, an ending like this is quite common in xianxia dramas. It wasn’t that bad either — it was simply an open ending, which leaves room for interpretation.
Hou Minghao’s acting in this drama is absolutely outstanding, especially in the crying scenes. His emotions felt so real that they made me cry as well. Tan Songyun, as always, never disappoints in any role she plays. The storyline is very engaging. Although the beginning feels like a typical and familiar plot, the story develops into something different and more interesting in the middle.
I also really loved the chemistry between the two leads. Their interactions felt natural and emotionally convincing, which made the story even more enjoyable to watch. Overall, despite the mixed ratings, this drama is definitely worth watching for its strong performances, emotional depth, and compelling story.

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A beautiful, grounded rewatch that proved why honesty matters more than tired tropes

This is my second Japanese BL rewatch of the day, and returning to this story with fresh eyes has highlighted a few things I missed the first time around.

Story
What sets this apart is Amane. It is honestly exhausting how many BLs fall back on the tired “I don’t like men, I just like you” or “I love the soul” narratives. Most relationships begin with a baseline of physical attraction, and I love that the story doesn’t shy away from Amane being a believable, convincing gay character. Seeing this level of honesty in a Japanese BL high school setting is rare and welcome

Then there is Ryuji. It is revelatory to see a male character react to a gay confession with such natural acceptance, rather than the typical shock or discomfort. He recognizes the weight of the mask Amane has been wearing and, instead of forcing it off, he gently helps him dismantle it. It’s a beautiful study of emotional safety

Romance
If I’m being honest, the reason this sits in my Top 10 rather than my Top 5 is the momentum. The separation over summer break in Episode 4 felt like a stumble. With only five episodes to work with, that time felt wasted. I wanted to see more of the post-confession “bridge” like those small moments between the two of them where Ryuji could actually sort through his feelings

Because we missed that development, their bond occasionally feels more platonic than romantic. However, I have to give credit to the honesty of the finale where Ryuji admitted his feelings might not be at the same “level” as Amane’s yet is an honest touch you don’t often see in the genre

Acting
The chemistry works because of the contrast. Takato Okura brings a necessary bubbliness, while Hyuga captures a specific brand of “charming yet humble gentleman” He avoids the typical over the top eye candy tropes and instead delivers a performance that feels lived-in and sincere

Cinematography
Enoshima does a lot of the heavy lifting here. While the color grading remains fairly standard, the shooting locations are top-tier. The coastal backdrop elevates the production value, making the entire show feel like a breezy, nostalgic summer or high school memory

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