This review may contain spoilers
Entertaining but male contestants suck.
Starting off, I gave this show a high rating due to it's plot twists and several shocking decisions of the participants rather than shipping anybody in specific. However, near the end, I did adore jeongyeon and in kwon's pairing and was happy they ended up together. I believe they were a great match as her other option seongmo, was incredibly rude and ignorant during the family dinner with kang hyeon. I get not having interest but BOTH her parents had shown up yet his manners seemed to have vanished. With such a unstable job, he should've been grateful to even have been picked unless he preferred for his parents to eat alone. The lawyer on the other hand was the worst male contestant along with shin woo. The lawyer's horrible comment in the beginning of the show isn't spoken about enough. He said "I like my woman to have good body proportions, a small face, specially if I have a daughter.. I can give money for plastic surgery but bone structure is hard to fix." I was beyond disgusted as his ideas implied he would pressure his daughter to have cosmetic surgery if she wasn't attractive enough to him. It's not even his partner but his DAUGHTER. Absolutely disgusting. The lawyer also kept his feelings a mystery and calculated everything like a mad man. His top interest was jeongyeon yet his ego was so high, he waited until the 2nd last day to speak with her. In the end, he still liked her the best and dragged around Do yoon just to abandon her like her feelings were nothing. I felt truly bad for her as In kwon was also too blunt with her about her age which was strange because she was pushing 30. Shin woo on the other hand is the opposite of the lawyer yet just as worse. He is insanely direct and proactive which would make ANY girl uninterested. He also has this look on him that instantly gives you the creeps. He also had the audacity to blame his mother for his stupid actions and shouted at her shamelessly. Flustured, his mother begged dahye to like her son. The bag giving scene to dahye felt so embarassing that I had to fast forward. Pushing 40, I doubt anybody in real life looked at Shinwoo's direction as to why he forced the hell out of dahye. No consideration of her feelings whatsoever. That's how you know he will not care about her words and values in the relationship and will push his own opinion until she accepts it. Dahye's mother was another unbearable person with the way she spoke highly of dahye and praised her daughter's relationship with ye chan's mother, making everyone extremely uncomfortable. Dahye was not any better with the way she insulted Shin woo's mother by comparing her with Ye chan's mother and shit talked about Shinwoo together with her mother and Ye chan's mother. She dragged him through everything but after a few words about the lawyer liking her, she switched and gave Shinwoo a thousand excuses but never mentioned that she simply lost interest. In the end, to potray herself as a kind and generous girl, she picked him and told her mother to do the opposite, escaping him. She pissed me off so bad and her facial expressions, constant nodding, fake laugh, all seemed so weird. I could never tell what she was thinking but it was obvious that none of what she said and did was ever genuine. Dong young on the other hand didn't pick ha yoon in the beginning even though she picked him and embarassed her in front of everybody. I believe even if he was 1% interested in her, picking her was literally supposed to be an act of decency. It was not the final choice. After learning about her job, the mother and son chased her like crazy because obviously where else would Dong young with his bald head, low paying job and no manners find a beauty like her who's ALSO a doctor. Everything he did seemed so fake and I was so happy Ha yoon's mother didn't give in and Ha yoon also ended up not picking him. So, all in all, In kwon did seem the best option in the end so jeongyeon definitely got the better pick of the bunch. Ha yoon and Do yoon were lovely but it was a pity that they had to get their feelings hurt by these unworthy men.Was this review helpful to you?
The story mainly revolves around the ML adapting to the new situation and with his unusual (and modern) approach builds new relationships in every (eventually powerful) group, that is out there. And with that he's unknowingly uniting them all.
The comedy in this drama is quite well balanced. I esp. grew very fond of his family. Man, they made me laugh so much all the time. I quite liked how subtle their behavior towards him changed throughout the drama, from unsympathetic to deeply caring for him.
I even more liked his growing bond with Master Wen (the leader of the Guardians). If you ask me, that was the actual main "love" story here, lol. The obvious love story was only a side branch, one of many relationships in the drama - and thankfully didn't take up much space. I didn't take much interest in that one at all. His different bromances/fellowships and comradeships (esp with the guardians) were what made the drama so enjoyable.
But with so many likable characters it's difficult to give them equal space throughout the drama, esp. in the second half. For example, I was very fond of the Gold Guardian Yang Yan, and I was quite sad that he didn't appear for several episodes later on, I was even worried that he might not appear at all anymore. Thank god, he did though.
I also appreciated that the court affairs/conflicts/intrigues didn't get out of control (didn't become the main force and didn't get too much weight) but instead adapted to the situations and went with the flow. No one-sided ministers and a quite obscure emperor.
If it wasn't for the upcoming 2nd season, I would have been quite disappointed about the finale, because it didn't feel like an ending at all. Too many unanswered questions, the wizard cult wasn't explained enough, etc. The end presented a big cliffhanger and I can't wait for the 2nd season. Hopefully with all those likable characters again.
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1Connecting to You Is Colorful, Cute and So Much Fun, From Enemies to Lovers One Thread at a Time
It’s August and we have only had two Taiwanese BLs this year, so I was SO excited for our third one! After watching the trailer, I already had high expectations, and after four episodes, each around 25 to 30 minutes, I can confidently say Connecting to You has absolutely lived up to the hype. You can watch it on YouTube, Viki or iQIYI.As the title suggests, Connecting to You is all about connections. Jiakai has a unique ability to see invisible threads linking people together, with each colour carrying a different meaning.
🔴🧵 Red represents love
🟢🧵 Green represents family
🟡🧵 Yellow represents friendship
🔵🧵 Blue represents hostility
🩶🧵 Silver Grey represents a connection that has not yet been defined
There are more colours with their own meanings, and what makes this ability even more interesting is that it is not only about the colour. The thickness and solidity of each thread also show how strong the connection is.
I absolutely love this concept. We have seen countless dramas where characters can see ghosts or have supernatural abilities, so seeing someone who can literally see the invisible connections between people feels so refreshing and clever. It gives the story a unique way of exploring relationships.
And the irony is even better. Jiakai can see everyone else’s colourful threads, yet he cannot see a thread connecting himself to anyone. He has become used to being alone and having no connection of his own.
That changes when he meets police officer Dawei.
I am LOVING the enemies to lovers setup between these two. Their first encounter had me laughing so hard. Who on earth takes off all their clothes to save a girl who is about to jump from a rooftop? Jiakai absolutely deserved to get handcuffed by Dawei because that whole situation made him look like a complete pervert! The comedy, awkwardness, and secondhand embarrassment were hilarious.
Then, after several chaotic encounters and plenty of bickering, an unexpected accident brings them even closer. When they accidentally knock their heads together, something incredible happens. For the first time in his life, Jiakai sees a thread connecting him to another person.
And of all people, it is Dawei. 😂
A silver grey thread appears between them, connecting Jiakai to the one person he least expected. 🩶🧵 I love how this supernatural ability is not just there for decoration. It actually becomes part of the romance and gives us a visual way to watch their relationship change.
I also really enjoy the supporting characters, especially Jiakai’s friend Chaonan. He brings so much fun energy to the series and adds another layer of comedy to an already entertaining cast.
Even the police station scenes are enjoyable. This is not a dark police drama filled with violent crimes and murder. Instead, the police setting is used in a much lighter and more playful way, which fits the overall tone of the series perfectly.
One of my favourite things about Connecting to You is the atmosphere. The comedy works without becoming painfully cringe, the music is fun, the visuals are colourful, and the entire series has such a bright and cheerful feeling. It is genuinely the kind of BL that can instantly lift your mood.
The production and visuals are also really good. I especially love the anime style opening. It gives the series an extra bit of personality and immediately tells you that this is going to be something different.
And of course, Jiakai and Dawei are both ridiculously cute and adorable. Their chemistry is already so much fun to watch, and I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops.
We are only four episodes in, which means we are roughly one third into the series, and I am already loving it so much. It has the perfect balance of comedy, romance, fantasy, fun music, colourful visuals, and a genuinely unique story concept.
Most importantly, I cannot wait to see what happens to that thread between Jiakai and Dawei. Will their connection continue to change? Will it become stronger? And when will they finally realise what is happening between them? ❤️
Connecting to You is definitely going on my recommendation list. If you enjoy cute romance, comedy, fantasy, enemies to lovers, and BLs with a unique concept, please give this one a try. You won’t regret it!
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This review may contain spoilers
That's it??????? What's your thoughts?
I just finished this today (Aug 14,2026), and I feel like there is so much to say!First of all, the episodes. I feel like I'm always being deprived because the episodes are only about 13 to 15 minutes long—including the intro, outro/previews—which is pretty frustrating.
Watching this made me think of my golden 7. I know all about their debut days, their trainings, and their documentaries, and I've always wondered what goes on behind the camera. Seeing this series really made me rethink what idols actually have to face behind the scenes. What happens to those who hear the words, "You're not going to debut this time"?
Second, the music: since it's an idol-themed show, I was really hoping there would be a lot of songs incorporated into it. But given the tiny amount of time per episode, I guess that wasn't even possible.
Third... what even happened to Khun's stalker? And why is it that no justice was served for Jae Min? Also, wait—we don't even know what happened with Ye Eun and Stella!
As for my opinion on Hyeon Jae, I didn't understand him at first, to be honest. Was it all just an act for him? But it turns out those were his true feelings, and when he had the courage to quit and leave his dream behind to give justice to Soo An, I really respect him for that. Though if I were Soo An, I'd probably feel a bit mad—that "I was already part of the issue, so why did Hyeon Jae have to figure it out alone?" kind of feeling. But it worked out well in the end.
For Soo An and the other trainees, I just feel so bad for them because they weren't even given a proper chance to show what they've been working so hard on.
Regarding Hyeon Jae and Soo An's relationship (or lack thereof, since I'm not even sure if they put a real label on it), it definitely felt rushed for a main couple. But then again, the drama is just way too short to really delve deeply into it.
As for Khun, considering how severe the stalking he experienced was, I wonder if his agency even knew? Didn't they do anything about it? He looks rich—he could pay for his termination or quit fee with PNJS, after all—so where he lives should be well-protected, right? But in the video he took once, it really looked like someone was right outside his door. Anyways, I like him.
Now, Jae Min is definitely my favorite. He has this innocent, sweet vibe compared to Khun's more cunning look. Regardless of whether it was his real voice or not when he sang that song, if Khun—who has 10 million followers and is well-known in Thailand—was amazed by him, the company seriously should have secured him! I'm still so frustrated that the trainer embarrassed him like that. My poor baby, and right in front of his crush, too!
As a couple, I like Khun and Jae Min's story. It wasn't too crazy since their main problems stemmed from their individual issues. The English dialogue wasn't great, but honestly? It's not their first language. Coming from different countries and cultures makes communication genuinely hard, so fumbling through different languages and imperfect English is totally understandable.
It's definitely not perfect. I mean, I tried learning Thai—and mind you, I gave up and just learned Spanish instead 😅, which was a little easier for me. I also tried Korean and couldn't understand the writing, so... But I still want to learn both of those languages eventually🥺. Please rec an online where I can learn easier...
I'll always be amazed by idols who still try to learn a language even if they aren't perfect at it!
And can we talk about how the agencies in this series are the absolute worst?!
They can't help their trainees debut, and they can't help clear or find out the truth for them!
There is just way too much craziness happening across all these agencies—from PNJS to Unicorn to Khun's agency—that I don't even want to list it all out.
Overall, it wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. Every single episode felt rushed because they tried to cram everything into a 13-to-15-minute window, so I pretty much understand why the story flowed so quickly.
I just wish that since they already went to the trouble of creating this, they should have given it a real chance to shine with at least 30 minutes per episode, allowing them to truly delve into each character, plot, and problem.
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Great story and Wonderful Acting..
The story follows criminal police officers investigating the disappearance of a father and daughter over the course of 18 years. On the surface, it seems a simple case, even a prank. However, the more we dive in, the more complicated it gets.It discussed issues such as the effects of medical expenses on ordinary people's lives, domestic abuse, and society's disregard for women's lives, especially those who are deemed unfit by certain values.
I don't remember the last time I watched an investigation drama as good as this.
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Only friends is drama done right
This was such a fun ride. I was promised a mess, and it was delivered perfectly. The characters keep fucking up all the time right till the end, and it's honestly so fun. The last episode was perfect and the post credit scene made me scream. Khaotung's acting was INSANE. I never knew he was such a good actor. The cast is perfect. Everybody did a great job.Was this review helpful to you?
Bad Acting
Unfortunately, *East of Eden* just didn’t work for me. I watch a lot of Chinese short dramas, so I’m used to fast pacing, quick scene changes, and storylines that have to fit a lot into a limited amount of time. But even by short-drama standards, this one felt all over the place.The biggest problem for me was the storyline. Instead of flowing naturally from one event to the next, it felt scattered and sometimes difficult to follow. There were moments when the plot seemed to jump ahead without enough explanation or character development. I found myself trying to figure out how we got from one situation to another rather than becoming invested in what was happening.
The acting also didn’t help. Chinese short dramas can have some surprisingly strong performances despite their smaller budgets and shorter runtimes, but I didn’t feel that here. A lot of the emotions felt forced or flat, and some scenes that should have had a strong emotional impact simply didn’t. I never really connected with the characters or their relationships.
I don't expect every short drama to have a huge budget or perfect writing, but I do expect the story and characters to pull me in. Sadly, *East of Eden* never did.
Overall, this was a miss for me. The scattered storyline and weak performances made it difficult to stay interested, and by the end, I was watching more to finish it than because I wanted to know what happened.
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Eight Episodes Were Not Enough
One of my most anticipated dramas this year, and after finally finishing Season 2, I can say it was absolutely worth the wait. What I appreciated most was how naturally the season continued from Season 1, bringing back familiar characters, answering lingering questions, and expanding on the events we were left with.This season gives us more insight into Jeong Jin-man, including what happened after he faked his death and what he was doing during the attack on Jian. His past becomes increasingly important as the Babylon Group and its branches emerge as a new threat. Since Jin-man already has a history with them, the conflict feels personal and connected rather than simply introducing another group of villains.
At the center of the season is Jian, who is still struggling with everything she experienced in Season 1. She wants to escape the dangerous world her uncle left behind, but she gradually realizes that running from it won't make it disappear. The more she tries to protect herself and the people she loves, the deeper she becomes involved.
I especially loved Jian's character development. She becomes smarter, more resourceful, and more capable of protecting herself. Her traps, cameras, and ability to anticipate danger show just how much she has grown since Season 1. But what makes her development more interesting is the darker direction her character takes.
Her first kill in Season 1 clearly traumatized her, but as she experiences more loss and betrayal, that fear and hesitation slowly begin to disappear. Her actions become more intentional, and she starts to understand that violence may be necessary to survive and protect the people around her. That transformation is fascinating, but also a little frightening.
The final look Jin-man gives Jian says a lot without needing words. It feels like he's beginning to realize that Jian is entering the very world he spent so long trying to keep her away from. I love how much stronger and more capable she has become, but I also worry about what that strength is turning her into. If we get a Season 3, I hope Jin-man can help her navigate that darkness without allowing her to lose herself completely.
I also really enjoyed getting to know Jin-man better this season. Season 1 showed us what he was capable of, but Season 2 gives us a better understanding of the person behind the violence. He's cruel and capable of doing terrible things, but he's also deeply aware of the consequences of the world he's involved in. His guilt and concern for Jian add another layer to his character and make his relationship with her much more complicated.
The supporting cast was also strong, and I liked how their relationships and motivations continued to unfold. Some of the betrayals genuinely made me angry, but most of them were well executed and made sense within the story. Unfortunately, some character deaths were difficult to accept, especially one that I felt was completely undeserved. Still, I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything.
My biggest issue was the pacing. The first half felt a little slow in places, while the latter part became noticeably rushed. I understand why, considering there were only eight episodes, but I honestly think this story needed more room to breathe. There were too many characters, connections, past events, betrayals, and plot points to fit comfortably into such a short season. I wouldn't have minded 12 episodes, or even more, because the story had enough material to justify it.
The music was also solid and fit the dark, tense atmosphere of the drama without taking attention away from the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed Season 2. It successfully built upon the first season, gave us a deeper understanding of Jin-man, introduced a threat tied to his past, and delivered some of the most interesting character development through Jian.
My biggest wish is that the season had been longer. Despite the rushed ending, I think they made the most of the eight episodes they had. The open ending definitely left me wanting more, and if there is a Season 3, I hope they take their time and explore Jian's transformation even further.
At this point, I'm not as worried about whether Jian can survive this world. I'm more worried about what surviving it is turning her into.
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Thoroughly entertaining, kept me wanting more.
For me, it started out rough the first couple episodes.. i actually stopped and restarted the first episode a couple of times.. but after getting through the initial building of the backstory, it got better and better as the story went along, kept getting more entertaining and kept me wanting to watch the next episode all the way through to the end. I can't say the same for many other series that either disappoint halfway through or has a lousy ending but this one is recommended.Was this review helpful to you?
That acting and chemistry
So I just finished watching this series and I love Gemini.Fourth even more knowing that they are friends in reality but that chemistry that tension in drama is awesome. This is slow burn story so I suggest who genuinely want to watch simple two boy chemistry who have there own burden in their life, own situation, own feelings to handle still how they came across each other life path, just watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
Give this series a chance
Normally, when I write an early review it is because the show is so bad I needed to rant about it. I'm writing this for a different reason.If I'm honest, I wasn't feeling it either after watching episode 1. I hung in there for another ep just to be sure. While I won't say the show is now amazing, it has at least stabilised and I can see a path forward. Please allow me to explain.
This show is basically Border Security: Japan dramatised. It actually feels quite claustrophobic as the bulk of the set consisted of a smallish passenger processing area and a few small auxiliary rooms/office. There are scenes shot in the airport proper, but you know the set is in a studio.
Gate24 is meant to be an experiment where Immigration and Customs are integrated into a coherent unit. Hence it is placed in a separate area. As you can imagine, the friction between the two groups is amplified rather than lessened at first. Lots of sly remarks and feather ruffling.
On top of that, there are no top stars in the ensemble, just semi familiar faces. The characters are roughly divided into key/quirky characters and boring ones. You know who will be waving the flag from the front and who are the well-paid extras.
As you can imagine, the storyline is contrived. A plane full of international passengers seldom go on a crime spree. ;)
It is obvious the writer-san has big plans for the team. They will be sorely tested in time (I hope). I can see the plots are getting more interesting. This goes for the team building as well. There is now a tacit understanding. Who knows, friendships and maybe something more will follow? ;)
I suppose what I'm trying to say is while some show digs a deep hole during its run and ends up lying in it, this one started in a shallow pit and is trying to climb out of it. I know this type of mockudrama is an acquired taste and quite niche. Some viewers might take one look and hit the skip button. I was THAT close to doing the same.
For once, maybe we should give this a chance. While the show is earnest, there is every chance it will fade into obscurity. It does need more time in the oven. The potential is there. Both the setting and characters are starting to grow on me. It is almost quaint to see this type of "old fashion" drama. Trust the Japanese. Just don't sue me if this turns out to be a dumper fire! Peace.
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Love Hurts
I love the Republican Era for the sets, fashion, and neon, but I wish they were less titillating and had better story lines. Maybe I just haven't found the right ones yet. This did offer a compelling couple with plenty of chemistry. I'd love to see them star together in something more substantial. Both lead actors suited their roles admirably.Circle of Amnesia, er, I mean Love, put the FL through horrible memories, total amnesia, reverse amnesia, and then full memory again. Every time she got Whack-a-Mole'd, she'd have a different personality: sweet, young girl; hardened assassin; helpless victim who grew into a more confident woman; back to innocent, young girl again; and, finally, murderous avenger.
ML was shockingly cruel and violent, but his downfall was that he was a habitual liar. If just once, he'd sat the FL down and told her the truth, there might have been a different ending than the Circle of Bullets. And what the heck was that time skip after the ending about? I despise time skips, but this one was beyond weird and unnecessary. Know when to stop, director.
Watch if you want to watch two attractive people with chemistry, and your cringe level is high.
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This review may contain spoilers
How to train your husband
This drama's all about men and women learning to cohabitate together in marriage and not try to one up each other in a relationship. It starts rather fresh, without too obnoxious villains or usual political intrigues, but by the second couple's story (1st sister+scholar) it devolves into some sort of moronic circus, full of convoluted bs and very unnecessary decisions, like noble idiocy, for the sake of angst.And by the second couple you can start seeing a certain plot pattern. The plot goes on a loop akin to this till the end:
- one of the sisters' gets yet another smug, unlikable guy in her crosshairs;
- they go round in circles until getting married through tricks;
- the guy mistreats that sister and threatens with divorce to a point of actual divorce;
- she goes crying to her family;
- the family concots schemes to turn things around and make the guy come crawling back converted into a docile husband material;
- in parallel, the family is also battling some stupid villains who are after their money, husbands or just to bully them.
I also didn't appreciate how women and marriage here were presented like selling and reselling cattle. No, I think people treated their cattle better than some of those women.
P.S. Also, why everybody slept here wearing their full get up - dresses, hairdos and accessories? It was very ridiculous 🤣.
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Noise over substance
The fictional universe of "Soul Mate" is, by deliberate contrivance, inhospitable to those affections which wander from the procreative norm. Here, gay characters are made to wither in silence. To them is denied the light of joy, or the warmth of intimacy. And such is the cost of upholding a doctrine that reckons human worth by the measure of offspring aloneTime, that most precious of commodities, ought not be squandered upon so homophobic a spectacle. It would be wiser to turn our eyes elsewhere, to a narrative that honours the full complexity of same-sex unions
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Awkward, Cute, and Surprisingly Addictive: Harutora Brings Light Into Sui’s World
Japanese culture is known for being formal and respectful, and having been to Japan 🇯🇵 myself, I have witnessed that firsthand. Japanese people are some of the most respectful people I have encountered, so when the series begins with the male leads bowing and even kneeling down, I saw it as part of Japanese culture rather than something strange.This series is honestly so awkward and cute. Japanese dramas always seem to come up with the weirdest plots, but somehow they get you addicted every time. Sui is bullied for being gay, which leads him to hide behind a face mask and keep his emotions to himself. He can be really awkward, but I can understand where his behavior comes from. He has built walls around himself because he is afraid of getting too close to people. Then Harutora comes along with his straightforward and warm personality, slowly becoming a light in Sui's nightmare and helping him open up again. And we already got a first kiss!
I was also really happy to see Ishi Masaya from School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To get the main role of Harutora. He fits the character really well, and I was glad to see him take on another BL lead role. The poster is also incredibly cute and matches the sweet atmosphere of the series.
Overall, Hold on, Harutora-kun is a very light and fun BL to watch. The story is simple, the romance is cute, and the awkward moments make it entertaining. It may not be the strongest BL out there, but it is an easy and enjoyable watch if you are looking for something sweet, youthful, and uncomplicated.
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