Reviews

Love Between Lines

It’s the kind of drama that doesn’t rush love or exaggerate feelings. Instead, it lets emotions grow naturally—through conversations, misunderstandings, and moments where characters almost say what they feel but stop themselves.
What stood out to me most was how realistic the relationship felt. The leads don’t fall in love instantly; they circle around each other, guarded but curious. Their chemistry is subtle—more about comfort and emotional safety than sparks. You can feel how their bond is built on understanding rather than grand gestures.
The cinematography matched the mood perfectly. Simple settings, muted colors, and quiet scenes made everything feel intimate and grounded. Nothing felt flashy, but nothing felt empty either. It suited a story about people who struggle to express themselves but feel deeply.
I also appreciated how the drama focused on communication, emotional distance, and timing. It shows how love can exist between the lines—unspoken, unfinished, but still real. Overall, Love Between Lines is calm, sincere, and emotionally gentle. It’s not a drama that overwhelms you; it’s one that slowly settles in your heart.

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Decent adaptation of a masterpiece

My Mister is my favourite kdrama of all time. Expectations were sky-high for this adaptation, and Loving Strangers mostly delivers. The core of the story is the warmth of the unconditional friendship that develops between the leads. While I don't think the leads have exactly as much chemistry or dynamism as the original, they have enough to make this a good watch.

The plot of this adaptation mainly mirrors the original with some story differences. The pacing feels faster, as many of the longer dialogues are shortened. There isn't as much philosophizing. The neighbourhood vibe is less important. Jiaqi doesn't introspect as much as Dong Hoon. The downside of all this is that Jiaqi is more difficult to understand as a character than his kdrama equivalent. He is a very withdrawn character and even colder to his wife than Dong Hoon.

Once the emotional sparks finally get lit, Loving Strangers became a really good drama. But for me, that took almost 20 episodes. The original starts slow as well, but it ramped up more quickly. A huge factor is the music, which doesn't do enough to set the mood and at times feels out of place.

The writer of My Mister, Park Hae Young, has a lot to say in her dramas about the mental health struggles that people go through. Loving Strangers has all the same events as My Mister, but the deletion of certain dialogues means that it doesn't answer the 'why' question. We simply don't get the same detail about Jiaqi's motivations and worldview that we get from Dong Hoon. He felt more lifeless and closed off.

To be fair to Mark Chao, I think he's playing his role very accurately and did justice to what was on the page. The script just makes it harder to grasp him. Similarly, I think Zhang Zi Feng also played her role well. Her character just wasn't written to have as much agency and fierceness as IU's.

Even the positive changes made in the adaptation are more about fixing possible plot holes than trying to write a deeper story. Both the CEO and the loan shark character are better sketched out here than in the original. I kind of expected this as soon as I saw Zhang Xin Cheng (imo the most talented actor in this cast) playing the loan shark, since he's great at playing these more raw characters. Unfortunately this isn't the type of drama where a villain's performance is critical.

For fans of My Mister, I think this is still worth watching to see a different interpretation of the roles.

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stunning

The slow burn of all slow burns. Watching them fall in and out of friendship while realising all their problems were out of love for each other was simply beautiful. The first 3 episodes set the scene perfectly for the last 2 where emotion comes pouring through. The rawness of the two exploring their own sexuality at an age where the world is so confusing. They are both young and controlled by emotion with their worlds revolving around getting into university.

all the small details that come unfolded as the story progresses makes it all the more interesting leaving you hooked. I was in tears by the end of it because some of it hit too close to home but that made it all the more special. I am so glad the cinematography was so beautiful and put together. I can safely say this is one of the better BLs I have watched. I can’t wait to watch the sequel.

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Even After a Lifetime of Loss, Coming Home Is Still a Beginning

Love Between Lines is already a widely discussed and well-reviewed drama, so there’s little need to reiterate its plot or summarize how it unfolds. Instead, I want to use this space to talk about what I haven’t talked/posted about during the watch!

This is not just about this drama, but a concise interpretation from all the projects I have seen…

Over time, I’ve come to see that a script is simply a story told from a particular perspective and angle, unfolding within a chosen span of time. However, knowing this doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

The wins, the losses, the injustices, the extent of forgiveness or the extent of allowed immorality, and even the emotional interests are all malleable—shaped by who is telling the story, what theme it serves, and where the storyteller decides to begin and end. They all change with perspective, with intention, with where the story is allowed to end. And how it ultimately reflects on the audience depends on how brave and candid the audience is willing to be.

For instance, I found myself unwilling to tread too deeply into my thoughts about the mother, the woman who married the man responsible for framing her husband and causing his death. When the truth finally came to light, what must she have felt? Disgust? Regret? Loathing? And directed toward whom—the villain, the circumstances, or herself?

The moment I begin to analyze the situation she was in when she made that decision, to consider the reasons behind it, to imagine what her son must have felt, or to question what alternatives she might have had—whether her choice was selective or truly the only route to survival—Is it wrong to think of oneself when one is helpless? — Stupidity is a crime, but to what extent does that hold? — Was it wrong of Xiao Yi to hide all of this from his mother? If yes, how so? And if not, then what? Which choice would have been more cruel? — What is she meant to do with the time she spent in wrongful hatred and misplaced trust—the time that has aged her, shaped her, and by now become an inseparable part of her being? – And what qualifies me to judge the morality or pragmatism of any of the decisions at all?-- these questions arise almost instantly. They take barely seconds to surface.

And yet, I deliberately refuse to pursue answers to any of them. Maybe I am not brave enough to face the answers and be able to determine the correct path.

But I want to end this on a gentle note. All’s well that ends well. Even if I’ve been lost for most of my life, it is enough to know that I am home now. From here, I can build—with what I have—the blocks of a future.

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It was glorious but ended up meh

This drama started out really interesting. I especially liked the episodes where the FL was trying to find a husband. It's like a different kind of Bachelorette show. All the family drama - with the sisters and grandma - had me so invested. I liked how the sisterhood relationships moved the plot and introduced us to different story arcs. However, as we got towards the end, it just got abandoned and we have this entirely new family drama that was very annoying and frustrating. I seriously was annoyed at the last few episodes and it just felt like they just dragged the story on with unnecessary drama. It felt like all the good from the first half of the series just turned sour. I was literally just trudging through the episodes to get to the ending. I mean, I have already invested so much time on this show to just drop it. Needless to say, the ending was unsatisfactory for me. I still liked how this series made women the stars and really went hard on women empowerment but it just didn't make for an enjoyable show.

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Heartfelt, Realistic, Unforgettable

This drama beautifully portrays the power of love and dedication in the face of hardship. Despite living in poverty, Oh Ae-sun and Yang Gwan-sik raise their family with extraordinary care, sacrifice, and support. They provide their child not just with material needs, but with a nurturing environment full of love, a depiction that feels both authentic and deeply moving.

What makes this drama particularly resonant is its portrayal of Asian parenting, where love is often shown through actions rather than words. For viewers who grew up in Asian households, the emphasis on acts of service as demonstrations of affection...cooking for family, doing laundry, taking care of daily needs...feels profoundly relatable.

Many scenes resonated with me, but one stood out in particular: when Yang Geum Myeong and her family meet Park Yeong Bum's family. In this moment, Oh Ae-sun says, "I wasn't able to teach her. She was so precious to us. We cherished her dearly. So I chose not to teach her." This line encapsulates the quiet, steadfast love that defines her parenting, reflecting my own experiences and the way my parents raised me.

Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon deliver exceptional performances, portraying a couple who has loved each other since childhood. The way they look at each other brings their love story vividly to life, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

While I would rate this drama a one-time viewing for myself, that does not reflect its quality. The storytelling, performances, and emotional depth are exceptional. The intensity of the emotions and the heartache it evokes made it a deeply affecting experience, but one that I could only endure once. That said, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who appreciates heartfelt, realistic family dramas.

In summary, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a tender, poignant exploration of love, family, and sacrifice. Its themes are universal, yet its cultural specificity allows it to resonate especially with viewers familiar with the nuances of Asian family dynamics.

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A True Psychological Triller

Let this story be the one to invoke the understanding of what "letting go" means. At this point in the story, the FL feels as though "nothing has changed". With this mindset, she overlooks others' individual actions. This is where she uses her past life to judge everyone's actions in the present, without acknowledging that the timeline change has affected those actions. Could this be a plot hole? Maybe. I do enjoy the irony of it all. Now the ML and FL have the "misunderstanding phase" I wonder how the writers will approach the second half of this story.

Psychologically wise, this is a great thriller. Although the FL actions could be confusing at times due to her many personalites. This shows how damning our brains can be while reliving memories of violence. It's not easy to remain rational in times of facing continuous stressors and fatigue.

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Cute characters but kind of loses the plot

I wanted to love this premise but the overall plot was kind of not great.

The actors and characters were very cute and I enjoyed their interactions and the chemistry between them the most. It's probably the number one thing that kept me watching all the way through. Sometimes the acting felt a little off but that may be the plot/script more than the actors fault.

The overall plot was kind of unbelievable and all over the place. First, the premise of an entertainment company buying a professional football team and replacing half the players with their own idols (who aren't professional players in any shape or form) is not really believable to me - they're going to rely on their marketibility and good looks to keep the team successful? Yeah right! How about when they have to play real matches? (Which they do not show much of lol - more a bl with a garnish of football if you will)

As for the plot going forward, it honestly felt like they kept coming up with plot points, but couldn't seamlessly connect them all together. So sometimes you feel like you're jumping from one scene to the next, instead of smoothly transitioning forward.

It's low budget, so a lot of the scenes happen in the same locations, not a huge turn off for me, but something to note.

Overall, it's a fun easy watch if you don't take it too seriously and question the plot too much lol. The characters/actors are the saving grace of it all.

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2026 is off to a STELLAR start.

“Love Between Lines” is one of the best modern Cdramas I’ve seen in a few years. That’s not to say there haven’t been great ones; it’s just this one is another level. It’s a masterpiece.

What makes it stand out?

• The incredible intersection of the game and reality. They did this excellently, without the real world getting boring in comparison. It made every return to the game something special and unique. Their chemistry in the game was phenomenal.

• Masterful story telling. This is Asian drama writing at its best. The pacing is fantastic, the characters are lovable (and logical!), the plot is captivating—it’s just a great story from beginning to end. Even the angsty time apart was done excellently, and our leads fought for each other so beautifully.

• Our leads. Oh my goodness, our leads. Hu Xiu and Xiao Zhiyu are some of the best leads we’ve seen in a while. Our FL is resilient but vulnerable. Watching her grow is a highlight of the show. Our ML is equally amazing. He has so much healing that happens, and loving Hu Xiu is one of the most healing parts of his journey. Plus these two are walking green flags.

• CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY. Where to start? These two are incredible. No shock from these two fantastic actors, but this is another level. Every kiss (and there are tons), every touch, every look, and every moment between them is electric.

Truly a great start to the year.

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Just okay.

If you're looking for fluff, this is it. College setting, "rivals" to lovers, low stakes second couple, premonitions. I was enjoying it up until the last couple episodes. The thing that pissed me off was the way the dad's plot was resolved. This is a man who very bluntly told Jinn (as a little kid!) that he was not his father, and he disappeared for years. Then we find out that he's been secretly seeing the mom and hiding it from Jinn. When they're discovered, he gives some extremely half hearted "sorry, but it was to protect you." (because the dad was a celebrity, but apparently was fine to see the mom and not the child??) And Jinn is understandably upset, but is persuaded to let it go for no reason at all.

Honestly, I hated that. The rest of the show was good, but it ended on such a sour note for me. Yes, the beach trip was cute but not enough to save it.

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Rude Awakening towards the End

Love Between Lines initially used both real-world and virtual-world interactions between the main leads to build its story, which was what originally drew me into the story. The drama also stood out for its beautiful aesthetics, both visually and acoustically. For the first twenty episodes, I loved most of it. So much, I was certain I was going to rate it above an 8.
I really enjoyed the premise, even though the virtual world aspect mostly faded from the story a few episodes in. The main leads had amazing chemistry, and their interactions were fun to watch. They were very cute together, and I even enjoyed the petty jealousy the male lead exhibited from time to time. At first, it added to his charm.

However, starting from episode 21, everything shifted. While the drama was airing, I used to look forward to coming home from work and catching up on the day’s episodes, but that excitement slowly disappeared. The angst simply wasn’t angsting. The struggles the couple faced in the final eight episodes felt blown out of proportion and could have been resolved with something as simple as a text message. Instead, the drama relied too much on cute, domestic scenes that ended up dragging the story down for me. These moments felt like unnecessary fillers when I just wanted the story to flow. I went into full avoidance mode and ended up finishing the drama days after it finished airing, despite having the express package automatically unlocked.

Pei Zhe, who was the second male lead, was done incredibly dirty. He deserved so much better. While I don’t excuse his behavior, his actions made sense given his background. He had lived a life where no one genuinely cared about him, and every interaction he had was transactional. It’s not surprising that he developed a “what can you do for me so I can do something for you” mindset. He was a complex character with so many layers that could have been explored, yet the drama completely wasted that potential. Even his final scenes felt like a slap in the face, not just to me, but to many viewers who were hoping he’d receive more than what he got.

The first 20 episodes of the show felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from, but then a bucket of cold water was thrown on me, and I was back to facing reality.

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Heartbreakingly beautiful

Love Me is a rare gem, and definitely the kind of drama that leans more into portraying the reality of life than giving you a fairy tale where they all lived happily ever after. This doesn't mean everything is suffering or that there's no happiness, like in reality, the characters stories have a mix of emotions and experiences they must go through in order to grow as people and a family. There's falling in love, heartbreak, separation, weddings, kids, and more.

This will likely be consider one of the best written kdrama by the end of 2026. A slow paced and insightful journey into overcoming depression, grief and loneliness. All types of relationships need our effort and you just have to be brave and bold communicating your feelings.

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