Reviews

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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New Cast, Classic Cases

This series starts with a completely different cast compared to the previous three installments. I was really sad that the original cast didn’t return, but this was due to Michael Tao and Joey Leung leaving TVB, which led to the creation of a new cast. Honestly, I wished they had simply renamed the series to reflect that it was essentially a new story.

In this series, it feels like TVB was trying to recreate the same chemistry that the two leads had in the earlier installments, Michael Tao and Joey Leung. I can say that no one can ever replicate the unique dynamic those two shared. The only real connection between this and the previous installments is that it is a police drama focused on solving cases. Beyond that, there is little continuity in characters or storyline, which makes it feel more like a spiritual successor than a true continuation.

Louis Koo and Sunny Chan had good chemistry, but it wasn't on the same level of as they tried to recreate with Michael Tao and Joey Leung though.

Despite these differences, the series remains a classic in its own right, largely due to the chemistry between Louis Koo and Jessica Hester Hsuan. Their on-screen presence is undeniable, and their interactions bring depth, charm, and tension to the series. Louis Koo carries his role with confidence and intensity, while Jessica Hester Hsuan adds warmth and wit, creating a dynamic that is both compelling and entertaining.

Overall, Detective Investigation Files IV proves that even with a new cast and a fresh approach, TVB could still deliver a strong police procedural with memorable characters. It may not replace the nostalgia of the original trio, but it stands on its own as a solid, entertaining installment that highlights the enduring appeal of 90s and early 2000s TVB dramas.

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An Abusive Man's Fever Dream

It's no secret that I love possessive, obsessive male leads. It can be sexy and unlock the feral side that it's not out often. But I love the ones who sulk when jealous, who yearn, and who do not have an obsession with a second woman and belittle the female lead for this other woman. This type is not sexy and feel like characters written by an abusive man on a fever dream. The saddest part is this might have been written by a woman.

The male lead constantly abuses the female lead in all forms and shapes and she cannot be anything but hopelessly in love with him. I really dislike how there are no consequences for this man's abuse . He got what he wanted at the end, and instead, they punish the female lead by making her lose her memories and tying her to this beast for the rest of her life. Because again, she can't be anything but hopelessly in love with her gege.

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Humor, Chemistry, and Classic Cases

One of the things I miss most about TVB in the 90s is the quality of the scripts from that era. The detective cases were written so well and felt genuinely intriguing, keeping viewers invested from start to finish. Each case was carefully thought out, with strong pacing and clever twists that made the investigations exciting to follow. The cast also had incredible chemistry, which added depth to both the professional and personal dynamics between the characters. Another thing I loved about 90s TVB dramas is that when they made new installments, the original cast always returned, something I really miss today.

In this installment, a few new characters were introduced, and they meshed perfectly with the original cast, bringing both humor and drama to the story. The cases in this series are just as engaging as in the previous two installments.

I didn’t like Cheung Dai Yong’s character in this series. He was extremely secretive about his past with Jesse. Jesse had lost her memory due to an incident in the previous installment and would occasionally get flashbacks in pieces. When she asks Cheung Dai Yong about these memories to gain clarity, he either delays answering or brushes it off with lines like, “You were so stubborn and wanted to know if I cared, so you would find reasons to start arguments with me.” These actions understandably made Jesse feel insecure in their relationship, as she could not completely trust him. I couldn’t blame her for feeling this way, and it made sense that she continued taking birth control, bringing a baby into a relationship full of uncertainty would have been complicated and unfair.

Liu Kai Chi as Jap Wing Tin was absolutely hilarious. Despite his unconventional methods for solving cases, he is a good cop with a good heart, though often misunderstood.

Law Koon Lan as Chu Sau Kwan, Jesse’s aunt, was also fantastic. Her character is desperate to find love, and she eventually finds her forever person. She was a bit annoying at first, often being inconsiderate of Jesse and Cheung Dai Yong’s life and sometimes causing arguments between the couple.

Jap Wing Tin and Chu Sau Kwan truly stole the show. Their constant banter was hilarious, and their chemistry as a couple felt natural and charming. They added a wonderful comedic and emotional balance to the series, making their interactions some of the most memorable moments of the show.

Overall though, this is a drama you have to watch.

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Chemistry and Cases in Detective Investigation II

One of the things I miss most about TVB in the 90s is the quality of the scripts from that era. The detective cases were written so well and felt genuinely intriguing, keeping viewers invested from start to finish. Each case was carefully thought out, with strong pacing and clever twists that made the investigations exciting to follow. The cast also had incredible chemistry, which added depth to both the professional and personal dynamics between the characters.

This series is an all time classic for me, though it is the installment I watch the least. I did not particularly enjoy the Carmen storyline, mainly because I preferred the dynamic between Cheung Dai Yong and Jesse. Still, Detective Investigation Files remains a strong example of why 90s TVB dramas are so memorable.

One of the things I didn't like was how Jesse was written in this installment. She was extremely jealous and stubborn, nothing like the Jesse we knew in the first series. She would find every little reason to argue with Cheung Dai Yong, which I found quite frustrating.

Amy Kwok as Lam Ka Man did an absolutely fantastic job. Her portrayal of a character with an alter ego was impressive. Given her upbringing and circumstances, it was hard to dislike her, since she didn’t actually do anything wrong. Her biggest mistake wasfalling in love with a man who was already spoken for which set off a chain of events that drove the story forward, making her character both compelling and sympathetic.

Highly recommend to watch this. You won't regret it.

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