Reviews

How about a love story transcending age gaps!?

This is a dating reality show worth watching if you don’t get pissed off easily and if you are emotionally strong. You might find some people irritating but you might as well brush that aside and focus on the bigger picture (a participant or couple you like)😂 It’s the type of show where some scenes or people may trigger you to drop it but there are better moments which will keep you hooked. It has its messy, dry, awkward and dramatic moments but it still can pass as a pastime watch. Sometimes the drama may be unnecessary or too much so this is heads up before you go down the rabbit hole.

Firstly, the show had the concept of younger men and older women which had a fresh idea compared to other Korean dating shows. This became the show’s weakness as well as its strength. Having this age gap made the dating show unique thus drawing attention from various audiences. That being its main highlight would keep you hooked so that you can find out who ends up with who, the age gap between various ships or how participants will handle the age gaps.
Despite this, participants seemed to have entered the show without expectations of huge age gaps which made things a bit awkward among participants in noticeable manners. If participants had joined with acceptance of potential huge age gaps relationship dynamics would have been much easier and better.

While on the positive side, this show really had interesting moments like concealed age, careers, ways of choosing dates which made things more fun! They tried their best to make sure that and relationships’ growth among participants could develop solely based on feelings rather than career and age. However, we do all know that it is inevitable to avoid some things but this concept built and broke some relationships, but a win is a win hey🥱

It is important to note that some of the flaws of the show cannot be pointed directly towards directors as other problems arose due to certain people’s behaviours, attitudes and actions. After all you can’t push someone to have confidence, self love, decisiveness, respect for others overnight. It would have been better if all participants mentally prepared themselves for the type of show they were signing up for because some of them clearly could not stand the variation in age or career differences since some women seemed more established than men. The only solution to this can be made during casting but you can never know how one may act in the face of competition or pressure 🫠

If l had written this review mid-show l would have confidently told you not to get emotionally attached to any couple as you may be disappointed but now that the show has ended, l approve of shipping any couple you like. After all, it’s a reality show, what’s bound to happen will happen just be emotionally strong to embrace the outcome!

PS: l dropped it several times after certain episodes’ endings but l still found myself continuing it because the couple l was rooting for kept the fire burning till the end!🥰 Anyway, my interest in a certain couple is the main reason l kept on watching the show because some of the stuff was either too chaotic or unnecessary.😂🙈

Read More

A STRONG AND PROMISING START!!!!

"This drama immediately captivated me with its unique premise: a romance blossoming between two people who first connect in a virtual reality murder mystery game, eventually carrying their connection into the real world. It's a familiar trope, but the execution feels fresh, especially with the immersive virtual reality setting, which offers two distinct timelines – the game's historical setting and the modern real-world. The dynamic between the characters in both settings is incredibly compelling.

The female lead is a standout. Lu Yuxiao delivers a natural and expressive performance, but it's her character that truly shines. She resonates deeply, reflecting the struggles of those who have had to set aside their dreams. Her journey to reclaim them is incredibly moving, and the quote, "Do you know what happens to someone who keeps a bad option while looking for better ones, they spend the rest of their life with that bad option without realizing it," perfectly encapsulates her character's internal conflict. I'm already rooting for her to achieve her goals; she's a truly comforting character. I also love her personality; she's real, fierce when necessary, brave, calm, collected, mature, and kind.

Chen Xingxu, who impressed me in "Love on the Turquoise Land," is equally captivating here. His acting is strong, and I'm eager to see more of his character's development. My only minor critique, and this is a recurring observation with many male leads in Chinese dramas, is the heavy makeup. It can be a bit distracting. However, this doesn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

The leads' relationship is beautifully developed across both timelines. Their shared interests, the support they offer each other, and the natural development of their chemistry make them a joy to watch. I'm eagerly anticipating more episodes. This drama is off to a fantastic start in 2026!"

Read More

review in progress... "What if I lied to you or fooled you? - Then I would like you even more"

CHI CHENG:
Chi cheng is the pinnacle of "looks like he could kill you, but is a cinnamon roll". It's adorable, how much he cares about his snakes <3. AND the way he cares for Wu Suo Wei and is so incredibly thoughtful and attentive around him is sooooo sweeeeeettt. AND I love the way he treasures Wu Suo Wei's sugar thingys 😍. AND Awwwwww, he got embarrassed after being vulnerable around Wu Suo Wei. So Chi Cheng is basically a sheep in wolf's clothing XD (and a total green flag in disguise). In conclusion my standards for men went through the roof watching him.

WU SUO WEI:
Chi Cheng is very pushy at first and it takes a while for Wu Suo Wei to sort out his feelings (which is totally understandable and quite cute). Wu Suo Wei's antics are hilarious! It's really funny that Wuo Suo Wei tried so hard to seduce Chi Cheng, but when he finally succeeds he's like "HOLD ON". LMAO, he got a fever just after one kisss?! Bro is jealous of Chi Cheng's snakes XD. BUT when Chi Cheng's snake and Wuo Suo Wei are in danger, he always chooses Wu Suo Wei <3.

OTHER CHARACTERS:
Yue Yue is quite annoying, but she's supposed to be and doesn't get too much screentime XD. It would be cool if she weren't such a one-dimensional stereotypical gold-digger character, but it didn't bother me all that much (as she is not that important to the overall story). I don't like that she's kinda stupid; c'mon give her at least a few positive traits.

IN GENERAL:
I love that the episodes don't have much dramatic cliffhangers. So far I love the main and the side couple and the actors are great. At no point did I feel like I was impatiently waiting for the main couple to get together, because you get the occasional hot/sweet moments even though they're not really together yet.

A LITTLE RANT ABOUT SNAKES (yes, really):
One small thing was kinda disappointing: When Wu Suo Wei is lying on the floor next to the big yellow snake he suddenly forgets how to handle snakes and just waits patiently for her to wrap herself around his neck?! That doesn't make any sense. And I wish that they had done more research regarding snakes and wouldn't perpetuate fears that people have of them by showing cliche, over-done snake-"attack" scenerios that are quite unnecessary and unrealistic imo. One quick google search will tell you that a snake can't strangle a human by its neck, but instead constricts its whole body by wrapping itself around its whole torso and gradually getting tighter when the prey exhales to the point where it cannot inhale anymore. This requires far less power than strangling someone.
AND even when they would've shown that somehow accurately, Wu Suo Wei was shown handling a lot of snakes in the past episodes and should have known what he is supposed to do in situations like this (especially when the snake is just about to slowly slither up his body where he has plenty of time to react).
ANYWAYS, why do I care about that in a silly romance show: Perpetuating any harmful stereotypes of any animal makes people fear or not care about them. This is extremely detrimental when it comes to preservation of endangered species. It would have been amazing to see positive snake representation in "Revenged Love" (especially with a character like Chi Cheng who canonically adores his snakes), but instead they just resort to the good old cliche snake-situations just for a little bit of drama. Sad.
I must admit that that scene had great symbolism, but I think it could've been done better. Especially that Chi Cheng didn't even know how to remove the snake without killing it, seems very unrealistic, because he had snakes since childhood and knows how to handle them. This kinda ruins the emotional impact for me that the scene is supposed to have.

I'm excited to see where all this is going and I'm worried that the storyline will take a wrong turn some time during the 24 episode runtime.
I will add more things to this review as I continue watching, so stay tuuuuunnnnnneeeeedddddd :)

Read More

Atmosphere Over Noise

The Truth Within is the first Chinese crime series I have watched, and I came to it because of Luo Yunxi. But I got into something new:
The drama is dark, tense, and distinctly modern. It does not rely on exaggerated characters or melodrama to create suspense. Instead, it builds its tension through atmosphere, pacing, and the slow uncovering of each case. The world it creates feels closed, uneasy, and psychologically charged, which gives the investigations a weight that lingers rather than explodes.
What surprised me most is how deliberately the series holds itself back. In a market that often pushes toward emotional excess and obvious hooks, The Truth Within chooses a quieter, more controlled storytelling style. That restraint makes the violence, the guilt, and the moral ambiguity feel sharper, not weaker.
Seeing Luo Yunxi in this setting is also striking. Stripped of fantasy, romance, and heroic framing, he becomes part of a bleak, procedural landscape. His presence does not dominate the show but integrates into it, which makes his performance feel more real, more vulnerable, and more human.
So the Truth Within is not a spectacle. It is a slow-burning, unsettling crime drama that trusts its audience to pay attention. And that, especially in the current Chinese television environment, feels quietly bold.

Read More

perfect 10 liners was absolutely a TEN.

so to be completely honest here, i only wanted to watch this show for perthsanta. i have been so obsessed with both of them for years, and i have wanted to watch this one since it released, but i pushed it off until late 2025. with that being said, perthsanta were not the only great thing about this show. the show's name fits so well, because honestly, i haven't had this much fun watching a thai bl in a little bit. i'll break up my review into 3 different parts, each part focusing on a different main couple.

1. arc + arm (forcebook) episodes 1-8
im not always the BIGGEST forcebook fan. i enjoyed them in only friends and in a boss and a babe, but they never seemed like anything special. however, they were absolutely ADORABLE in this show like genuinely oh my god. arm is the perfect character for book like seriously he was so good at this role it was so fun. force did a great job as arc as well. i feel like these characters resemble their actors very well, so nothing felt awkward or weird. i will admit their story was the most cliche of the three, but i didn't even care. yes arc being a jerk to arm because he liked him was kinda annoying at first but you have to get past the first few episodes before you see him being sweet like UGHHHHHHH they were so cute. even after their main episodes were done, i would get so excited when they would show up later on in their cute little scenes. i love arcarm so much, i would say they were the weakest couple of the three, but that is all due to the story. forcebook were great, their chemistry is always rock solid, and their story was a great way to get acclimated to the story. however, if you find yourself getting bored during their episodes, juts skip to episode 9, it'll pick up with yothagun and you honestly won't miss that much.

2. yotha + gun (perthsanta) episodes 9-16
okay so, yeah, I LOVED THIS ARC SO FUCKING MUCH OASDFNDJFA;DFEO FJA WEF WE i love perthsanta they are so freaking cute like i could go on for ages i love them so much they are sososososososoos dear to me. my love for perthsanta might make me a bit biased, but i think its safe to say these two crushed it here. perth seems to play the same character in every show, and its no exception here. yotha reminds me a lot of chopper from never let me go, and i also feel like hes similar to tawan from me and thee (ik me and thee is newer but still) so i think that perth is very good at roles like this, and by "roles like this" i mean roles of the reserved, kind-of-an-asshole-but-not-with-the-boy-he-likes type of role. yotha was absolutely an asshole to literally everyone else in the entire WORLD besides gun, but i thought his feelings for gun seemed really genuine and sweet. the word "beagle" still makes me wanna cry sometimes and i still say "don't have nightmares" whenever someone tells me goodnight like the yotha effect is REAL. santa also did a really fantastic job playing gun. honestly, gun was such a ray of sunshine and every time he would come on screen i wanted to giggle like a middle school girl he is just SO CUTE. unlike a lot of overly nice and cute bl characters i never got annoyed with gun. he wasn't dumb, and i think his nightmare trauma stuff is actually pretty interesting. i do have a few complaints about this arc tho.. (lowk really big spoiler coming up) WHY DID YOTHA KISS WA AT THE BAR THAT ONE TIME LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS UP WITH THAT??? i'll be honest like i didn't really care much for aouboom's characters (boom was wa but lowkey i forget what aou's character was named) but oh my god when i tell you i threw my laptop across my bed when i saw yotha kiss wa like i MEAN it. i was SO mad i was getting war flashbacks to wu so wei watching chi cheng kiss wang shuo in that one scene like i was ENRAGED. idk if i missed something, but that scene had like no reason for happening. both of them liked other people (wa had a fucking BOYFRIEND for gods sake) so like i was pissed bc it felt so forced. also gun was mad for maybe like ONE episode and then he was fine, and honestly yotha's apology was so booty cheeks like come on man you LIKE him right??? idk that felt weird, but other than that they were super cute. actually wait i also didn't like how yotha said "not saying anything means yes" that one time like EWEWEWWEWEWEW #consentishotassaultisnot i know gun was insinuating yes but that line icked me out so bad like yotha please you're so cute 90% of the time don't mess this up!!! my last critique of this arc is that i just kinda dont give a shit about yotha and faifa's mommy issues. sorry not sorry but mommy issues in bls bore the crap out of me, so i lowkey skipped like every scene with the mom, also their shit ass mom is played by the same actress who played gun's (fourth's) absolutely GOATED mom in my school president so i just couldn't take it seriously because that actress will always be gun's mom from msp and she will always be the best mom ever. but other than those three complaints, this arc was my absolute fav. not only do i love perthsanta, i also love the depth of the story. the introduction of aouboom's characters and how aou's character was like a dickwad was pretty fun, tho seeing aou playing that role after seeing him play tan in we are was SUCH whiplash like holy switchup!! i will touch on aouboom's characters later, but now i want to discuss the final arc.

3. faifa + wine (juniormark) episodes 17-24
i was expecting this arc to be my least favorite because juniormark were the only actors in the show that i hadn't seen much of before, but holy hell i was SO wrong. i want to start off by saying i am SO glad that someone in the show was finally like "wait you all like dudes and thats like.. normal?" wine was so real for that. i loved wine so much more than i ever expected, he was the only normal one in this show i swear. his confession to faifa in the bathroom that he likes guys lowkey made me cry my eyes out and not JUST bc it reminds me a lot of me but also because mark played that scene so well it felt so fucking real. like i felt like wine was going through insane emotional turmoil and i felt for him so hard. faifa was also the biggest sweetie pie of all time he was SO CUTE SFSDFSDLKFJSDKFJDKLFJSLKDFJ oh my god wine you are so lucky. like faifa might be the biggest green flag i've ever seen in a bl ever period point blank (maybe besides kim from boys in love aka my other baby) but like faifa was so cute and fluffy and soft and baby like im sorry i just love this boy so much these two were so cute together. i do feel like their episodes could drag on a little bit, but every moment with faifawine was a happy one, so i wasn't complaining. what did kinda piss me off was how much screentime klao and wa took away from faifa and wine like.. im glad i got to see my aouboom but AT WHAT COST. just give them a spinoff at this point like!! anyways, i really enjoyed this arc as well, and i think that these were the fluffiest episodes of the whole show

quick little discussion on klao and wa!!
soooooo i love aouboom like sosososososososo much but im being so honest when i saw i did not give a flying fuck aboout klao and wa the entire show. i mean, klao pissed me off a LOT ( which is sad bc aou is one of my fav actors ever but whatever) and wa also kinda annoyed me. i get that they connect a lot to yotha's past but honestly i just did not care like im sorry. i guess i was happy when they got engaged but like.. i would've prefered arcarm get married or smth like these two didnt even matter until halfway through the show anyways!

to conclude, i want to say that even tho it may sound like i have a lot of negatives to say, those negatives are very minor and do not impact the show very much at all. this show is 24 episodes and i watched it in the span of like 3-4 days DURING FINALS WEEK so yeah its safe to say i was really obsessed with it. i had so much fun with every single arc, every single story line, and all my complaints are just nitpicks so.. yeah! if you made it this far: PLEASE WATCH THIS SHOW OH MY GOD!!!! its simple, easy to digest, and fun. i had a blast, and you def will too!!

Read More

BIGGEST KOREAN PEAK

I remember binge watching whc1 and then re-watching it twice. Most absolute peak u can find. The main role played by Jihoon was my favourite. He suffered from mommy issues, depression etc. He played it so well, i must say i had goosebumps everytime i saw him. You can see the mood by the camera and simply being in the vibe which was crazy. We also cant forget about Choi.I loved his attitude! The tension between Jihoon and Choi were crazy. And Kyung?! Gosh. He played his role so well that people started hating him. Imagine how good your acting is when ppl start hating u based off your role. Everyone is talented. A MUST WATCH!! :D

Read More

Si la vida te da mandarinas hay que compartirlas :)

Empecé esta serie con mucha ilusión, atraído no solo por la bella y nostálgica estética de épocas pasadas que prometía, sino por la mera idea de seguir, capítulo a capítulo, el inexorable flujo del tiempo en la vida de una persona. La propuesta me parecía tan fascinante como aterradora, porque intuía que no sería un simple drama, sino un reflejo íntimo de la vida misma, con toda su belleza y su peso.

La historia nos presenta a Oh Ae-sun, una joven de campo cuya vida está marcada por la modestia y la resiliencia desde el principio. A su lado, como un pilar inquebrantable, está su fiel enamorado, Yang Gwang-sik. Juntos, se embarcan en la aventura más hermosa y, a la vez, más realista que puede existir: construir una familia. Lo que más me atrapó fue la honestidad con la que muestran esa construcción. No hay atajos ni milagros; es una lucha constante contra las dificultades económicas y los desafíos emocionales, donde cada pequeño avance, cada sacrificio compartido, se siente como una victoria auténtica y conmovedora.

Si tuviera que destacar el punto más fuerte de la serie, sin duda sería el vínculo realista entre padres e hijos. Mientras que el amor entre Ae-sun y Gwang-sik tiene ese halo romántico y casi idílico, es en la relación con sus hijos donde la narrativa alcanza una universalidad abrumadora. Ahí es donde conectamos de verdad, más allá de un amor idealizado. Vemos un amor real, terrenal, lleno de conflictos no dichos, de expectativas frustradas, de silencios cargados de preocupación y de esos momentos de conexión pura que lo redimen todo. Es el retrato más honesto de la dinámica familiar que he visto en mucho tiempo.

El elenco, simplemente, es perfecto para esta historia, IU realiza un doble papel deslumbrante. No solo da vida a la joven y temperamental Ae-sun, sino también a su hija adulta, Yang Geum-myeong. Su actuación está llena de matices; logra crear dos mujeres que, compartiendo rasgos, son profundamente diferentes, encapsulando a la perfección esa mezcla de herencia y rebeldía que define a madres e hijas. Moon So-ri, como la Ae-sun madura, es el alma serena de la serie. Transmite una calidez profundamente arraigada, una sensibilidad que ha sido templada por los años, y todos los conflictos silenciosos de una mujer que ha puesto su vida en pausa por los suyos. Y Park Hae-joon, como el Gwang-sik adulto, continúa con una delicadeza impresionante el legado de Park Bo-gum, manteniendo ese temple tranquilo y esa sensibilidad, pero añadiéndole las arrugas de la experiencia y una paciencia que solo da el amor de toda una vida.

Podría extenderme sobre más actuaciones secundarias brillantes y escenas de una qué te llenan el alma. Pero si algo me llevo en el corazón de "Cuando la vida te da mandarinas", es el viaje de madurez de Oh Ae-sun. Presenciar su transformación es un regalo para mi como espectador. Verla pasar de una joven algo caprichosa, limitada por sus circunstancias, a una mujer que ha aprendido a encontrar gratitud en lo cotidiano, es un proceso que disfrute muchisimo. Aprende a arriesgarse, a apoyar incondicionalmente al esposo que siempre fue su roca, y, lo más difícil, a aceptar la vida tal como vino: con su osxuridad y su luz. Su gesto final no es de derrota, sino de suprema aceptación. Es dejar ir sin amargura, solo para poder volver la mirada y contemplar, con felicidad todo lo que ha vivido.

Esta serie para mi no fue un simple huracán de emociones; fue más bien como una marea, constante y serena. No te golpea sin mas, te envuelve. Te invita a observar, a reflexionar y, quizás, a apreciar un poco más el lento y valioso transcurso de los días en nuestra propia vida.

Después de todo, así es la vida. Y esta serie tiene la rara virtud de contarlo sin adornos, con una verdad que, al final, resulta profundamente reconfortante.

Read More

A very chaste Japanese BL with two great leads

PLOT: Because of a name with a heart on an eraser, Aoki (Michieda Shunsuke) confesses his feelings to Ida (Meguro Ren). Ida is surprised but decides to think about it. Over time, Aoki truly falls in love with Ida, who eventually agrees to be a couple. But these two love novices have many obstacles to overcome.

+++ A funny, subtle, and very cute CL with Michieda Shunsuke and Meguro Ren. The emotional bonds are strong and well-expressed, but romance and physical expression are lacking.
+++ Talented actors and endearing characters (some almost caricatured "in the Japanese style").
+++ Fast-paced direction and a story that portrays the trials of first love quite well.

### Very Japanese style OSTs
### Not even a kiss :(

=> Cute series, but a little frustrating.
****************************************************
BL japonaise très chaste, avec 2 great leads

PLOT: A cause d'1 nom et d'1 coeur sur une gomme, Aoki (Michieda Shunsuke) se déclare à Ida (Meguro Ren). Celui-ci est surpris, mais décide d'y réfléchir. Avec le temps, Aoki tombe vraiment amoureux de Ida, qui finit par accepter de se mettre en couple. Mais ces 2 novices en amour ont bien des obstacles à surmonter.

+++ Un CL drôle, subtile, très cute avec Michieda Shunsuke et Meguro Ren. Les liens affectifs sont forts et bien exprimés, mais le romantisme et l'expression physique sont absents.
+++ Des acteurs de talent et des personnages attachants (certains presque caricaturaux "à la japonaise").
+++ Réalis° rythmée & story qui décrit assez bien les affres du 1er amour.

### OSTs très très nipponnes
### Même pas un bisou :(

=> Mignon, mais un rien frustrant.

Read More

i really liked this!! it was so fluffy and cute

main characters areadorable together !! the casting is immaculate. both are so good looking on their own and they suit each other soo well
i love how gu xuejie remained dedicated to her goals and didn't allow romance to lead her astray the second time around, but rather allowed it to further her progress. lin zhihua was the biggest green flag ever and treated her so well!! the pacing felt very natural and i loved seeing them fall for each other. i really enjoyed the studying aspect as well, it motivated me to et to work :)
the only thing i disliked was the shiyun plotline. halfway through i just started entirely skipping all her scenes. very veryyy unsuccessful revamp
though the ending was rushed, i thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, hence the 8/10

Read More