Reviews

too many subplots, not enough time.

i was really excited for harmony secret since lmsy is one of my fave couples, and i loved the idea of having a strong supporting couple too. unfortunately, the show tried to do way too much in too little time, and it ended up dragging the whole thing down. even the main plot (the auction) started feeling confusing by the end. even as a big lmsy fan, im surprised to see everyone giving this series a 10…

the pacing was the biggest issue — they crammed in so many subplots that almost all of them fell short. it needed either more episodes or a tighter focus on just the main storyline. lmsy did an amazing job with what they had though. their chemistry is always off the charts and they still remain some of the best girl kissers out there lol. lillybelle were also really good, and i’d love to see them lead a series soon, but their development felt rushed. their reconciliation in the finale especially didn’t feel natural, and their relationship leaned way too heavily on mae & ai’s instead of standing on its own.

production-wise, no complaints. the visuals, ost, styling, and cinematography were flawless as always. everything looked amazing. but the finale? completely disappointing. the father’s sudden change of heart, the villain and everything he did, the bidding auction, the awkward “love scene,” the unnecessary second breakup ten minutes before the ending, and ai feeling like a totally different character — it was all rushed and unbearable at times.

my least favorite part was how many subplots went nowhere (mae’s father faking being sick, ai’s mother hiding, ai’s father threatening yam, ai’s initial assertiveness in pursuing mae). so much setup, zero payoff.

overall, harmony secret had great acting and flawless production but was let down by poor pacing, wasted subplots, and a finale that felt messy and rushed.

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Wasted Potential

I think the plot actually has a lot of potential but the execution falls flat. Mookda has the most character development which is funny because she's the villain. I expected a typical one dimensional villain. Phumin and Ployrung are such one dimensional characters and I feel like Bua and New don't really shine in these characters. Phumin and Ployrung as a couple sometimes doesn't look convincing. There were scenes that they looked like they just met yesterday lol They're just 2 nice people with personality of a cardboard stand, 15 episodes is way too long, could have been just 8 episodes. The confrontation with Mookda in the cave is always the same thing with same outcome. I think the backstory of their past lives are interesting.

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Noona-dongsaeng done VERY right

This is my new favourite noona-dongsaeng romance. Or maybe that should be jia-didi romance. In the end I scored it a 10 because there was nothing substantially wrong with it, and it delivered a near-perfect blend of emotion and realism that left me feeling completely satisfied at the end. No makjang (often a plague in TW Dramas), minimal histrionics, and lots of real feeling. Several times it skirted landmines I expected it to hit, impressing me each time.
The Chinese remake Sunshine By My Side was very good, but completely different and lacking almost everything that this drama supplied. If you want a Drama almost exclusively focused on a woman succeeding professionally despite toxic Confucian chauvinism in both her personal and professional life, and with dialogue that ruthlessly skewers that mindset, watch the C drama. If you want a not dissimilar message presented more quietly and with the addition of emotion, warmth and romance - and quite a lot of humour - watch the original.

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Messy plotting not really redeemed by good actors

It felt like they tried to jam a full length plot into a mini, then had to cut out so much it was completely random at times. Even the always excellent Yang Ze was not able to fully save this one (though he made the middle third very good). Such a shame because I was really looking forward to this one bringing the KIAR pair together again.

There were some charming bits, like the second couple and the MLs parents. But there were also the completely inconsistent plots that looped on themselves, making the characters seem really dumb.

Giving it an overly generous 7/10 for cute cat moments, some lovely secondary characters, and Yang Ze.

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Brilliant, underrated gem

I'm going to have a hard time moving on from this one, it's now my second fave drama after Nirvana in Fire. I loved the way they handled the history while giving us a fictional take on the Three Kingdoms period that isn't all dark and grim. I braced myself for a lot more sadness than I ended up getting which is a relief. There were deaths, but I think they made sense and they weren't the kind where you know the writers are just trying to just use deaths for shock and angst.

Overall, I think what really divides opinions of this drama is audience expectations of the male lead (ML). If you're expecting something like Nirvana in Fire or even something like The Double where the leads are always 10 steps ahead of the villains, never panic, or never make mistakes, you probably will not even finish the drama. The first 17-20 episodes have the ML evade the bad guys, but barely and often with sacrifices. It's a constant Trolley Problem: sacrificing the few for the greater good, or insisting on saving the few at a potential higher cost. It can be frustrating watching him insist you can have both but still ending with casualties. Even I got frustrated but thankfully I stuck it out because it gets better. He doesn't fully accept his role as the emperor and grow into his own until around ep 20 with the Guandu arc: after that, it's a delight to see him win against his enemies without betraying his original heart. He keeps his moral compass but is able to use his own wisdom and foresight to handle things his way rather than get pushed around as a puppet as he was in the capital in the first arc. Honestly he's kinda badass after that, I loved seeing the confident emperor hitting his stride.

Personally I disagree with some reviewers who said the characters don't have development except the Empress. I think many of the characters grow or change. Very few characters are one-dimensional. Over the course of the drama, you start to see that many of his enemies are not one-dimensional devils and eventually are won over by his wisdom and kindness. He lights the flames in their heart and reminds them of their original values of caring for the will of the people, things they slowly lost sight of as they followed Cao Cao who himself once had those ideals but abandoned them for gain. People I despised in the beginning, I grew to admire by the end. People I hoped would not change, did for the worse (well, mainly just one, but if you knew the history then you knew he would have to by the end).

(**spoilers!!!!!!**)

I also disagree with the reviewers who think the end was pointless with the emperor abdicating and that he should have done it earlier. Besides the fact that it had to follow the history of Emperor Xian abdicating and Cao Pi ascending to establish the short Wei Dynasty, the ML did not abdicate until after he was able to get the Central Plains to a place where it was much more peaceful and unified. He explained his reasons perfectly in the last episode when talking to Sima Yi, so I don't know if people just ignored that conversation and the peace that the emperor had been able to bring before he stepped down, or what. He long realized that what was most important was the well-being of the people, the title of the dynasty and ruling family name isn't what's important. Cao Pi probably wasn't a great ruler but at least he had Sima Yi at the helm, who bided his time to be rid of the Caos. I also loved the way that the emperor stepped down and was loved by all, and Cao Pi finally realized his ambition but the victory was ultimately empty. I think if you weren't paying attention to the story you could see it as cruelty winning with the Cao family ascending, but I think this story actually did a good job of showing how kindness isn't weakness, and how it was ultimately it was the emperor's selflessness kindness that brought great prosperity and peace to the land in its last years. Selfish ambition like that of Cao Pi and Cao Cao will ruin you, make your allies abandon you, and put you in the history books as crooks and demons., and their short-lived Wei Dynasty fell shortly thereafter to the Jin Dynasty of the Sima family who ended the Three Kingdoms period.

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what a waste of really good idea

I am not happy about this drama because it really did not deliver. The beginning of the story has flashbacks to the modern times and ancient times but that is all. Nothing included in the plot, nothing explained. And the same flashbacks at the end. Like what the fudge??? I like both actors in lead but their story, even though it had a great potential, really was neither here nor there. The FL character was written like an imbecile, which I had a problem with because she could have been a much better one, but alas, this low budget thingy did not give us any chance to really care for the people in it. The villain was wooden and straight from cartoons. The 2ML was such a powerful presence yet completely underutilized. The 2nd couple was actually really cute, but then the whole cat demon thingy was reduced to a caricature. I am not sure if it deserves 7 points but I am writing this because after that bait beginning (with the leads on the motorcycle and in republican China which was awesome) I am left with "really??? what did I just watch???". If this was an inside joke of the makers of previous dramas with these actors, then it was really poorly executed and did not entice me to watch any of them. How would we even know that there were other dramas about this couple???
The screen writer and director need to go back to the drawing board and make it consistent story telling of two lovers across the time who sacrifice themselves for the sake of showing others that love between humans and demons is possible.

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why are we running...?

i've decided to drop this series for now. i'm definitely open to returning to it some day, but at this moment, i can't see it being worth my time to watch 7 more episodes of this. it's way too fast paced, yet it seems to drag at the same time. it's repetitive, boring, and has no original qualities. emphasis on repetitive. why have i seen the same scene of them chasing each other like, 5 times now? this is getting really draining. the actors are cute, sure, but the characters don't have a whole lot going on as individuals. they're fun as an ensemble of friends but none of them stand out. maybe my hopes were just too high, but i feel as though i've been severely let down.

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Vagabond: Double Lives, Deadly Lies

🔹 What would you do if the only way to survive in your world was to live as someone you're not?
🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes
✨When truth is concealed by power, the only way to resist is to risk everything that defines you boldly.

📕 Overview
🔹 16 episodes, action/spy/thriller/crime
🔹 Lee Seung Gi plays Cha Dal Geon, a stuntman whose nephew dies in a plane crash. Driven by grief, he sets out to uncover the truth.
🔹 Bae Suzy as Go Hae Ri: an NIS agent who struggles to balance her sense of duty with her loyalty.
🔹 The story begins with tragedy as Cha Dal Geon's nephew dies in a mysterious plane crash, driving him to uncover the surrounding corruption.
🔹 At the time of this review, I have completed this drama

🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 The opening immediately immerses you in themes of grief, mystery, and danger within the first few episodes.
🔹 Watching it was intense and suspenseful, with a cinematic quality and moments filled with raw emotion.
🔹 Themes: grief, corruption, justice, identity, sacrifice.
🔹 Despite the story getting messy toward the end, the action and the pairing of Lee Seung Gi and Suzy kept me engaged.

✨ Cast & Performances
🔹 Lee Seung Gi, portraying Cha Dal Geon, convincingly delivers action, showcasing a blend of vulnerability and rage.
🔹 Bae Suzy's Go Hae Ri felt real to me, with her determination as an agent balanced by moments of doubt that showed her human side.
🔹 Supporting cast: strong villains and government figures keep the tension alive, although some side roles feel underdeveloped.

🎶 OST 🎶
🔹 "Good All Days" by Lee Chan Sol
🔹 "Fallen Star" by Elaine
🔹 "Breaking Dawn" by I'LL
🔹 "Hello My Lover" by No Jeong Hun

🎞️ Production Style
🔹 The atmosphere evokes a globe-trotting spy film set in Morocco, Portugal, and Seoul.
🔹 The costumes and sets highlight agent uniforms, modern offices, and international locations.
🔹 The pacing remained gripping for me, even as the twists piled up and stretched believability.

☕ Tea Notes
🔹 What worked: blockbuster action, Lee Seung Gi's dedicated lead role, Suzy's strong presence, and the constant suspense.
🔹 What did not: there were several logic gaps, and the ending felt unresolved.
🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes
☕ SpillTheDramaTea's Rating: 9/10
🌿 Tea Scale: Rich brew worth savoring
✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride full of twists, turns, and unexpected thrills!

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okay-ish short & simple slice of life story

I wish I liked this more than I did. The show really shined when it was focused on the queer community - i.e. episode 2 showing us how Damian and Jerry met and started dating, episode 3 at the PRIDE parade - but it was just kinda meh otherwise. Also there was surprisingly little of Kaikai given the show is titled "Papa & Daddy"? Like, obviously Kaikai doesn't factor into the flashback episode, there's A LOT of Damian at his restaurant, there's a lot of Jerry's dynamic with his mom (which Kaikai mostly isn't involved in). Like it does almost feel like false advertising to give the show that name, but then probably a solid half, if not more, of the story has nothing to do with Kaikai?

Anyway, back from that tangent, gay marriage was only legalized in Taiwan a couple years before this show was made, so I definitely understand (and support!) the intention of the show being to present a gay couple as normal parents and to combat homophobic narratives. But I did find it very perplexing and slightly tiring how much of these 6 episodes were devoted to Damian and Jerry having to come out. Episode 4 is about one of the moms from school catching Damian and Jerry getting ice cream with Kaikai and being extremely confused about both of them being Kaikai's dad and there's an implied discomfort, especially since she sees Damian's sister pick Kaikai up from school the next day and she excitedly ambushes her, assuming she is Kaikai's mom. The episode ends with Damian and Jerry asking the teacher to explain things but then.... episode 6, the gossip moms still aren't aware that Damian and Jerry are a gay couple until Jerry accidentally sends a long text about it in parent group chat? And suddenly these moms are all very excited and want Jerry to be their gaybestfriend? It's just... jarring. Also basically the entirety of episode 5 is about Jerry's strained relationship with his mom - she has no idea about him being gay and he doesn't plan to tell her, but she forces him to go on blind dates, which inevitably leads to him coming out to her and an explosive argument as she's distraught about him being gay. This is seemingly resolved by Jerry's father coming by and gifting Damian a bracelet(?, I could not tell what the gift was lol) but imo the show never satisfyingly grapples with her discomfort.

Idk. It's perfectly fine, but the intention of this show is very much to combat homophobia, and while there is some fluff (and a bit of smut too!), that definitely gets lost under the push to guide straight audiences to be more accepting.

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Solid hit, but no KO

This was a solid story all around, but nothing really blew me away.

Acting:

Solid performances all around. Nothing to complain about. I love a good crier and Great delivered me that for sure. Inn was good as Dr Wandee and the supporting cast was all solid.

Writing:

Overall, this was a pretty good story. I liked the representation, though it felt a bit unnatural and they probably could have done it a little better. No 3rd act breakup which was nice, but they technically weren’t together till like the last 30 minutes of the damn show so. I feel like it went between being a mature show to an immature show often. Like at times it was aan adult show and other times it felt like a YA story. I wish they stayed a bit more consistent with the realism in that regard. Nothing blew me away with the writing, but it was a solid story.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

The chemistry was pretty solid as well. They worked well together and I could definitely feel the attraction and growing love. This was a pretty good romance. Frustrating though it was for them to take so long to get there, I still enjoyed it. The kissing was good throughout.

Music/SFX:

Music was fine. They forgot to add in the punching SFX when Yak hit Ter for the second time at the ball which was funny. Other than that, it was solid.

This was a cute little watch, nothing too heavy which is a nice change of pace.

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- Damnm okay, visuals in that ring
- Oh we got attitude coming in from all directions
- Throw a guy a pity fuck or two, won’t ya
- Congrats on the sex, ya’ll
- Ter got that audacity
- Super cool granny alert
- Not the “saving my kisses for love” trope
- Love the inadvertent roleplay lmao
- Already giving jewelry okay, ya’ll
- 69 on wooden floors is a choice
- Chances of transitioning from FWB to committed romantic relationship status are actually closer to 15% rather than 27% according to recent studies
- We’re not serious, but he gave me his necklace. We’re not serious, but we only sleep with each other. We’re not serious, but he’s met my grandma. We’re not serious, but I took him to my parents’ graves.
- Grandma is Yak’s idol lmao cute
- Two whole days with Ter sounds like hell
- Bro needs to get a cooties shot
- Yaks a dumbass
- So they aren’t together yet? But like… The kiss? The I’m yours statement?
- Taem’s entire character changed real quick there
- So they STILL aren’t together yet?
- Therapy x Yei when?
- We love to see Lookwa
- Boy, get in that damn ring already
- Oh god, not the serenade lmao
- Just go train in a gym in America for a bit every once in a while

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Generally good with one major flaw

If you are a fan of Japanese fiction authors such as Junichiro Tanizaki, you appreciate the complexities and nuances of the struggles in the mind that are explored in a slow and introspective way.

This series shares the introspective writing tradition as the characters consider their personal needs and feelings versus the needs of others and of society as a whole. All the while, responding to a changing environment and unwinding whatever misunderstandings that exist in themselves and others.

Some viewers will be bored by this. However, as other Asian reviewers have pointed out, these struggles are fundamental to many Asian identities. "Crying in H-Mart" anyone?

Technically, there is a lot that is good here. I love seeing some of the older seasoned actors who can bring some power to the screen. The cinematography, set design, and sound track are good too. The series would generally be good (for those who like this sort of drama), but for one major flaw: The kissing scenes. OMG... maybe some of the worst I've ever seen. Hori Natsuki (Mashiro) tries, but Ikeda Masashi (Kanade Shinichiro) ... just terrible. These kissing scenes often represent the culmination of some plot point and these BIZARRE kiss scenes just ruin the moment. If this a directorial choice, shame on the director. (-1.5 points)

A more minor flaw is the resolution of the typical parental conflicts. Shinichiro's conflict with this father is resolved adequately, if a little tersely. Mashiro's conflict with his mother is not handled at all. An inexplicable change of heart? Makes me wonder if they ran out of air time and scenes ended up on the cutting room floor (metaphorically speaking). (-0.5 points)

I'm giving this a 7.5 because I'm a fan of this introspective tradition. But a rating of 6 or 7 wouldn't be unfair either given the dreadful kissing scenes.

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Very elementary in its presentation of the law

This was an enjoyable drama to watch. What I like the most is that it had a separate case for each episode. The cases vary in interest and effect but all get overall satisfying endings. Well, too satisfying. When it comes to the acting, I thought the cast was great. They all showed, when permitted, a varying degree of emotions and dimensions. The music was fitting without overpowering the scenes, and a lot of interesting subjects were tackled.

So why didn't I give it a better rating? Well, it was too basic. Hyo Min is supposed to be this genius at law, yet the things she wonders are as if someone never studied law. And a lot of time she is shown as impressive only by dumbing down those around her. And by half way through the drama, it's as if all the other characters took a back seat for her to shine. Her co-workers constantly fawning over whatever she says in court. All of it did not sound natural. We barely get to know any of her co-workers. We got to know a little bit about the other female intern, but it was mostly through her absence rather than her presence. I think the cast was great for the intern, and a huge mis when they were left in the background.

Tackling Yun Seok Hun's backstory was when the drama shined for me. That episode about the husband and wife with Alzheimer's disease describing the colours a marriage goes through as life goes on and having the maturity to see it shed the light Seok Hun's own relationship. His ex-wife wasn't evil in any way, yet her immaturity hurt him in so many ways it felt evil. The presentation of the characters involved and their changing relationship was multidimensional and the best part of the drama.

I think the drama would have done much better at centering Yun Seok Hun with each intern individually. The problem here was that the drama wasn't sure if it was going to go with the romance line with his character or not, but they created a character who would never permit himself to fall for an intern yet the makers of the drama wouldn't let go of the idea. By the end of the drama, it all became a murky territory.

My other issue with the drama is a place that was actually successful for most viewers but just didn't sit well with me personally. I loved the character Heo Min Jeong. Her life, hardships and strength is something is something many women experience and can relate to. Her longing for her mother was especially heartbreaking. What I didn't enjoy was what felt like forced romance. I thought the guy was more like a pest who wouldn't let go and wouldn't respect her personal space. He's drunk in the whole being a savior while she already saved herself and doesn't need anyone's help. In my view, she was just untouchable for him. I don't see it as a successful relationship, and neither does she. And also, his character was too emotional for the role.

Good watch overall, but had a number of wasted potential.

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Easily One of the Worst Romantic Series I've Ever Seen!

100 Days My Prince? Even 10 days is far too long to have to deal with two of the most pathetically unromantic people I’ve seen in recent memory. Screenwriter Noh Ji Sul must have had a brain aneurysm when she put this farce of a story together. It’s about as “romantic” as watching an automobile accident. And that’s what this entire story feels like: a bad accident.

I have to wonder about Korean history as it seems that nearly every single K-Drama I’ve watched involves a king who is an absolute incompetent moron. He has no guards. He has no support, nor does he even know how to utilize the resources that are so obviously at his disposal. Conversely, there is also always some “First Minister/First Premier” who craves power and seeks to undermine the king. Is this truly the only scenario that Korean writers see and use for such stories? Repetition quickly becomes tiresome. And Noh Ji Sul’s feeble attempts are beyond tiresome!

Here, we have a somewhat ridiculous premise: Prince Yi Yul is summoned to a rain ritual (yeah, don’t even get me started on that one!), and, of course, he’s ambushed. He conveniently strikes his head on a rock and his found by Yun, a local villager who nurses him back to health in order to fulfill a silly edict, issued by the Prince himself: all bachelors and spinsters are required to get married or get flogged 100 times. Now under the guise of Won Deuk, as he doesn’t remember who he is, the Prince is forced to marry Yun’s daughter, Hong Sim, who is a noble woman also living under another identity after her father was murdered years ago by the current First Premier, Kim Chae-Eon, who is the mastermind behind all of the manipulations that are going on.

Won Deuk and Hong Sim live a precarious life together as a forced married couple. Never mind that they don’t sleep together (after all, the integrity of both must be kept intact until the final reveal), and they scarcely act like a married couple at all. Nobody in the entire village catches onto Won Deuk’s obvious noble upbringing in his speech and mannerisms. The only one who knows is Yun because the Prince was in his bodyguard’s attire when he was found. Meanwhile, Hong Sim is searching for her brother, whom she hasn’t seen in years, and the Crown Princess happens to be pregnant with another man’s baby. Of course, Kim Chae-Eon is trying to keep all of these “balls” in the air while trying to remedy the mess. The last thing he wants is for the Prince to come back, and when he does, after finding out about his lost memories, hopes to use and manipulate him.

It isn’t difficult at all to piece this shabby puzzle together, as we already know that Hong Sim’s brother is the father of the Crown Princess’s baby. The whole thing plays off like a bad episode of “The Young and the Restless,” leaving the viewer to wonder what else can be thrown in with the kitchen sink.

Perhaps the silliest gimmick used was during the final episode when the reveal comes out. Finally free of Kim Chae-Eon, the Prince finally has Hong Sim, right? Of course, not! Why would things be wrapped up too soon? Instead, she begs him to forget the past, as she feels responsible for all of the pain and turmoil he’s suffered. However, she conveniently chooses to NOT let go of the past herself. Such is the sound advice of a truly pathetic hypocrite and a coward. Don’t worry, it gets worse. The Prince, after a year, returns to the village to try and convince Hong Sim to marry him again, and again, she refuses. He asks her to find some books that he conveniently dropped and to return them to him. Of course, these are his diaries, and, of course, she sits down to read them. So, I guess what’s written down is far more important than a man’s spoken word? I was already tired of this silly escapade when this drivel came around! And, of course, she finally accepts him in the most pathetically ridiculous manner I’ve seen in a long time. I guess Noh Ji Sul really had no clue what she was doing.

We also get another ridiculous premise. One of the Prince’s closest allies, Jung Jae Yun conveniently suffers from “Face Blindness,” and yet, he’s always able to recognize the Prince under his guise of Won Deuk, even when Won Deuk doesn’t speak?! The stupid gimmicks for this series just kept coming, which is always indicative of a poor writer. The series is literally riddled with such poor plot devices.

When Hong Sim’s brother is finally killed by assassins, Hong Sim goes to look for him, and yet, she somehow (without being told) knows where to look for him?!

It’s bad enough that the story and plot are carried out so poorly, but then you have two of the worst acting performances to make sure it’s even worse!

Doh Kyung Soo is obviously trying to give the Prince a very haughty and high-mannered personality. However, what we get is a man who speaks robotically without any personality whatsoever! The trick is to make an arrogant character likable, and he fails miserably! Take TV icons like Sheldon from “Big Bang Theory” or Alex Keaton from “Family Ties.” Both were extremely arrogant, but the actors knew how to make those characters likable. Doh Kyung Soo succeeds in giving us a vain, rude, and overbearing Prince with virtually no redeeming qualities at all. The man needs acting lessons!

Nam Ji Hyun is almost as bad with Hong Sim. She’s got to be one of the most undesirable women ever put to screen. She acts like a little girl half of the time. Even Nam Ji Hyun’s voice sounds like a 12-year-old girl speaking! It’s unnervingly irritating! She rarely smiles, and she’s never grateful for anything at all. It’s bad enough that her father whines and cries like an old woman in just about every scene he’s in. It’s also a fact that Nam Ji Hyun and Doh Kyung Soo have absolutely zero chemistry together. They’ve also got to be the worst kissing couple I’ve ever seen. If you don’t like doing kissing scenes, then pick projects that don’t have them! Hong Sim is also a cowardly hypocrite, which makes her about as appealing as a piece of used tissue paper.

Han So Hee is a vastly superior actress, and she should have been given the role of Hong Sim. And conversely, Kim Seon Ho is also a much better actor than Doh Kyung Soo, and he should have also been given the lead role of the Prince. These two would have been an infinitely superior job, given that they both outshone the lead actors (not that that was hard to do!) of this series. The only actor who stood out was Cho Seong Ha (Kim Chae-Eon), whose masterful performance was wasted.

This is easily one of the worst romantic series I’ve seen in a very long time. Trust me, you don’t want to spend even 1 day with this farce of a series!

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