Reviews

Not putting myself through that heartbreak never again in my life

Bittersweet is the only word that go through my mind when I think about this drama. So sad but so pure at the same time.
The plot could've been better that's true but the drama's a true masterpiece with the acting (Zhou Yiran and Wang Yinglu ate and left no crumbs), the OST, the cinematography. As I write this review I'm still blown up by this drama.

1. A'Tang & A'Xun

My babies, they lived such difficult lives across all the timelines but the fact that they found themselves and treated each other as the family they never had is so comforting, I think that's why ep 6 is my fav all the whole drama. Their love story is so subtle, so pure but so deep, I think it's one of the most beautiful romance I've ever seen. I'm even so emotional when I writing those words thinking about them. All of this makes ep 8 even more heartbreaking, to think fate is so cruel that it can separate two people so emotionally connected. But at last, they finally triumphed, win against fate and had their happy ending.

2. Yu Nian & Shen Cheng

I'm not gonna lie, they annoyed and stressed me on the first episodes because of their behaviour but I suppose they were acting like this out of love for their parents. They grew on me throughout the drama and honestly their ending makes the story so bittersweet. Although we didn't see much of Shen Cheng's childhood with Haitang, seeing Xun becoming Yu Nian's father, how their bond formed makes the ending so heartbreaking for her.
But I respect their decision to make their parents happy together for once in their life even if the result is sad.

3. small bad point

The plot was confusing sometimes I'm not gonna lie. I don't know if the writer wanted it to appear like that to let to the interpretation to the viewers or something like this. However I like it more when things are detailed don't let too much interpretation. How the mail box appeared ? How the old Xun understood there's something with the mail box ? I also thinks the multiple timelines should've been well more explained. But the theories I've read are fun, I'll pick the one I like the most and makes my heart less heartbroken .

Anyway it was great drama, tough, emotional because of what the characters goes through but it worth you're time, so I recommend it to everyone 🩷🥹.

Read More

Female Vigilante

Just like watching Mr. Queen, I did not look into any reviews about Knight Flower. I just got intrigued again by the drama title.

Some would say that they irked at the thought of casting a much older woman and partnered with a very young male lead. Well, the story actually calls for that. I actually tried to compute the age since the FL was about to get married at the same time the ML lost his family when he was a young boy. So perhaps the FL was around 18-22 years old then and the ML maybe around 10 yrs old. Fifteen years later, we can assume the FL maybe in her 30s and the ML in his early 20s.
Anyways, I believe the casting director took note of this, so I think it is not a miscast.

Lee Ha Nee did a great job living a double life. It is amazing how she remained undetected by her mother-in-law having a Ninja-like skills. I love it when women in this kind of era are presented not as powerless or just submit to the order of society, but as one who can make her own decision and fight injustice.

Lee Jon Won has a very expressive face. I think his role fits him well and though young was never intimidated.

For me the 12 episodes is good for the whole story, though the last episode seemed rush for me. Can this one have a season 2?

Read More

A Delicious Blend of Time Travel and Royal Romance

Wow, I absolutely love time-travel dramas, and Bon Appétit, Your Majesty did not disappoint one bit. The series mixes palace-era storytelling with the modern twist of cooking, and the result is fresh, funny, and absolutely addictive.

Lee Chae Min completely stole the spotlight for me. I already liked him from Hierarchy, but here he truly shines. Tall, handsome, and commanding, he looks every bit the perfect king. His presence on screen is powerful yet warm, making his character both regal and relatable.

On the other hand, this was my very first time seeing Lim Yoon A in a drama, and I was pleasantly surprised. She’s so naturally funny and brings such a lively energy to the series. Her expressions and timing had me laughing out loud more than once, and she balances the drama’s historical setting with just the right amount of lightheartedness.

What really sets this series apart is its unique mix of genres. The cooking element blends seamlessly into the palace backdrop, creating moments that are both heartwarming and mouthwatering. The time-travel concept feels refreshing instead of cliché, keeping the story engaging and full of surprises.

Beyond the characters and concept, the production value is top-notch. The cinematography is gorgeous, with sweeping shots of the palace and beautifully framed cooking scenes. The soundtrack elevates every moment, and the pacing of the story keeps you hooked from the first episode.

Overall, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a perfect combination of humor, romance, and fantasy. Every detail—from the acting to the music, feels spot on. I genuinely love this show and cannot wait to see how the rest of the episodes unfold.

A solid 10/10 for me!

Read More

It's not great or anything, but it is GOOD.

Y'know how if you're watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you're like really into it and having fun watching it, but at the same time you know it's not like fine cinema or some mindblowing acting...? This is good like that.

The plot and story are really not anything new. The dialogue is not transcendent. The acting is not stellar. Settings and costumes are not extravagant, but they give "cool" vibes... also great hair stylist for this one. Lots of good hair and good dresses good makeup and ML wears armor a lot so that's all like overall a plus. Not hi-budget but made the most of what they had for sure.

Anyways I digress, what I was saying was there's nothing that groundbreaking about this. AND YET. Something about it feels fresh, and the plot moves at a very nice pace, the story is stripped of "all that boring shit" many of us 2x through, and consists only of conversations and interactions that capture your attention.

The acting is not great. Not by a longshot. But it's GOOD. The interesting thing here is that the script is actually better than the actors, meaning... there are scenes that are powerful, and I could actually see a lot of actors doing a better job of acting out those scenes. So I guess what I'm saying is, the script demanded a lot of the actors playing the parts, and the actors who are actually playing those parts are doing their best to get the emotions across, and their insufficiency as actors is showing.

Does that mean the acting was bad? Well.... yes? And also... no? Because they are making it fun to watch. Even their shortcomings as actors is fun to watch, just like Buffy is also kickass and fun to watch even though the acting is not the best.

Honestly, I think romance is one of the hardest genres for actors. Many actors can act a lot of emotions, but they can't act "in love". Well, after seeing both the ML and FL in other projects, I'd say that's a weak point for both of them... however I like watching them really put effort into their roles, and they are both gaining experience and maybe someday they will be able to tap into that "in love" magic. But that day isn't today, lol.

That, and the somewhat conventional vibe the story gives off, are the weakest parts of this drama. Even so, it's a really good watch (at least for a one-time binge) because something about it is a little bit addictive and fun and interesting. If you have an interest in the career of either of the leads, this is a good watch. If you are bored, this is a good watch. If you're between heavier shows, this is a good watch. If you need a fluff-break, this is a good watch.

Read More

Delightfully Comical

When I picked this drama to watch, I did not read any reviews. I was just intrigued by the Title. The promo photo looks like a period drama, yet the first episode is in modern times.
What I like about the drama?
First it is Shin Hae Sun - really great acting, though in the eyes of the king she is a woman, her acting is that of a man trapped in a woman's body. I really could not stop laughing as she is no ordinary queen - very candid, open, expressive and perhaps her maids had thought of her as crazy and vulgar. Though you may look at her as distressed at her situation, her interaction with all her maids and even the king made it even more comical.
2nd, King Cheol Jong could not seem to control his queen. Even if this is a period drama, So Young and Cheol Jong seem to be equals in many ways. Perhaps the king was really perplexed to see her behavior.
Court Lady Choi was really fantastic, together with another maid who constantly try to control the situation. Their loyalty and love for the queen are undeniable. Then comes the royal chef who is so insecure with the queen. These supporting characters added to the comic leads.
Though we see a political struggle and violence, overall, the drama is easy and light to watch. And in the end, the order of things both in the Joseon era and in the modern times had some justice and peace.
Though we may see other dramas with time travel or body swap, this one is way up that category. Love the series, love the actor, won't change anything at all.

Read More

Not a fluffy romance but love in a real world

When we start watching a show or a series, what most of us look for is an escape.
An escape into a world that is not ours, that doesn't consist of the same problems that we go through in our daily lives.
This show does offer you an escape, but without completely losing touch with the reality.

The story follows Jim, who is the owner of a chicken diner shop, that offers free chicken after midnight to its customers. He is a middle aged man(looks too fine for his age though), who struggles to make ends meet. Along with his financial problems, he has a somewhat stained relationship with his nephew Li Ming. Jim is a good and kind-hearted man, but also a man who has been broken and humbled by life for too long to have any place for love and romance in his life.

Enters Wen.
At midnight, Jim finds Wen drunk and passed out at his diner. As they start to communicate they both realize the undeniable spark and tension between them. So, they have a one night stand. Or so Jim thought.
Wen falls head over heels for him from the very first glance and not even for a second does he try to conceal that. On the other hand, even though Jim also likes him and is attracted to him too, he finds it difficult to let go of his past traumas and fears and so creates a wall around his heart, keeping his true feelings locked away.
What I truly loved about the development of their relationship was how mature and unapologetic it was. There was no - 'I think I like you' or hidden glances or confusion created just for the sake of drama. It was clear to both the characters and the audience from their very first scene together that they liked each other. But their unresolved past stood in the way.
Theirs is a romance between two adults who have baggage, regrets, and jobs that don't pause for romance. Their characters have lived life enough to understand that only love wasn't enough to get by in life. That even if you love hard and unconditionally, it can still end in heartbreak. And so their relationship grows silently, not with electric passion or shivering at each other's touch - but through silent moments, by not leaving each other's side.

Alan and Wen's dynamic was also very beautifully explored in the plot. Alan's yearning and his inability to let go of his love was painful to watch. It just showed how sometimes love doesn’t disappear — it just changes form, and sometimes the bravest thing is to let go with love. First's acting in those particular scenes with Mix felt so real that it was a struggle to not burst into tears.

While Alan struggled to let someone go who he has been with for many years, Gaipa on the other hand, was stuck in an unrequited love. Even though we don't get to see their relationship blossom, I felt like the series did justice to both their characters. Alan accepting the fact that Wen can't be a part of his life anymore and Gaipa realizing that some relationships are just not meant to come to reality gave a much needed closure for both the characters which helped them move on.

Now for the young love! Li Ming and Heart's story was as you would expect teenage fluttery love story to be. Simple, Sweet and heart-warming.
Heart is deaf and to avoid him getting judged by people, his parents restrict him to his house. Their first encounter with each other is not very pleasant. But over time they become friends and Li Ming, a sulky teenager soon turns into Heart's most trusted companion. Both of them find solace in each other's presence, and grow a bond that is beyond just friendship. They create a world within the world where both of them feel understood by each other.


Apart from the romantic relationships, the highlight for me was Jim and Li Ming's evolving relationship. Their misunderstandings and then reconciliations felt personal. All of us have been there with our parents at some point, where we struggled to speak each other's languages. But as we learn to be better sons and daughters, our parents too are learning from their mistakes. It was heart warming to see them choose each other despite all the differences. To try to understand each other better and be there for each other.

Over all, I was really satisfied with each and every story and the way they ended. None of them felt forced. We get to spend enough time with each of the characters to understand their internal conflicts and see a reflection of our lives in theirs. This show can't be described as 'love story' but rather a story about love that is always growing and evolving as we move through life. And in the end, it's the people we choose to sit with at a random chicken diner shop, at midnight and share our plates with!

Read More

Feelings have found their name and it’s sweet love!

This mini drama is 6 ep , roughly about 10 minutes each, all centred around the classic friends x lovers trope. It was a soft, easy and light hearted watch.

The chemistry between the leads was definitely the highlight for me. I love their silly playful banter and tension. It felt very genuine. I liked and understood the hesitation. I think both of them liked each other but the thought of risking their friendship and crossing the line kind of terrified them. Considering how short the overall time was, I wasn't expecting much of a character development or a full fleshed out story but not over complicating things here definitely worked out for everyone.

Also, I love the trio's friendship was so healthy. No unnecessary drama, no toxic vibes. No Jeon Su was such a supportive, low-key comic relief and his bond with Jaeyul and Dowan was honestly so wholesome. Major props to the writers for NOT turning this into a dumb love triangle.

Acting wise, I found the overall performance satisfactory. I have seen Lee Jae Hyeop in Sweetheart service before , but he was way better here in my opinion. The rest of the actors were new to me,but they did their thing.

Production-wise, GND Studio has been pretty decent. My only complaint is why they didn't release a few episodes together instead of one per week or at least just increase the runtime for the story to have a bigger impact and continuity. I literally binged five episodes in a row and had to wait a few hours to see the final episode. But I also understand that waiting a whole week for ten odd minutes is frustrating.

All in all, it is a simple feel good story that is not asking much. It never tries to be what it isn't , that is no complex layers or intense character development.
I will definitely recommend it if you have an hour to kill and don't mind some light, fluffy fun but don't expect anything ground breaking.

Read More

as a woman i know this feeling

i loved everything. It's not just about love and friendship. It's about how sometimes friendship between woman are.i hear this everytime that man's friendship is not toxic like girls.but men are not girls or women.we are generationally suppress our feelings and sometimes we think that acting tough is the best way to deal with own feelings.we hesitate to say things about ourselves and our fanily beacause we think how will they react.sometimes we don’t need reaction we just need someone to listen and not say what to do just listen....female friendships are complicated but once It's goes through everything it just become the unbreakable... i think this is the story.. they got jealous,angry,rage about themselves, laugh and at the end nothing matters except themselves. stand by each other no matter what

Read More

home

i have never been more emotionally attached to a bl.
this show has it's flaws, some worse than others, but i think it just adds to the charm.
the casting is PERFECT. i truly couldn't think of better actors to play these characters. the chemistry is so strong, not only between the couples, but between all the characters. their interactions felt so natural.
a hats off to tian xuning especially. chi cheng may be troubled, but he knows how to keep a show entertaining. incredible work.
the plot twists and turns in all sorts of ridiculous ways and some things just didn't make sense. i can't leave a review without speaking on my gripes with the 7-8 episodes worth of misunderstandings, lack of communication, and unreasonable drama. i just choose to blame wang shuo and pretend it didn't happen. nevertheless, it's so hard to not love this series. i'll absolutely be revisiting. so much kudos to everyone who worked on it.

Read More

A Trashy Manhua - So Bad it's Good?

It's as if the producers looked at all the Wuxia Manhua's available,
compiled all overused trashy troupes and put it all in this mini production. Haha

- A well intentioned, loud and dumb MC always crying for help when encountering each obstacle. He powers up each time, through the Goddess' generosity rather his own effort.
- Sultry Females always saddlying the MC. Showing extra Skin. ^^Harem? Even an enslavement..
- Stereotypes/Cliche Troupes, Noble Bullies, Demon Revival, Random Poem Competition, alot of energy sucking...
- Inconsistent power levels, tone and pacing. One minute tragedy next minute comedy. lol.
- Extensive Dialogue vomit explaining stuff rather than showing. Cliche dialogue like "Courting Death!"

You could probably turn your brain off for this one and still muddle through, just like our MC.
Perhaps this was intended as a Satire?

If you enjoy the trashy Manhua's, you will have fun with this. Otherwise best to avoid.

Read More

Entertaining and heartwarming

A Shop For Killers is a kdrama I've seen being constantly praised on social media. The plot captured my attention and since Lee Dong Wook was part of it, I decided to give it a try. It's safe to say that I do not regret it one bit!


For a short kdrama (8 episodes), the plot was fleshed out very well. The pacing was perfect, neither too slow nor too fast and it made the series bingeworthy. For the majority of it, the drama had my full attention, I was so curious to see how Jian would manage to survive and my excitement was always high. The structure of the storytelling was also very good. I liked the way it incorporated the flashbacks and the jump between the past and present helped in elucidating some matters that needed more explanation.


One of the strengths of A Shop For Killers was its action scenes. I myself decided to watch the drama because many people shared positive things about the action sequences and since I am big fan of action series, I was sold. And you people were right. The series did not disappoint. The fights were well choreographed and added so much tension. I especially appreciated the sound design and the variety of weapons. Finally we saw something different instead of the typical sword or gun fights. The villains used drones, robots which made the game for Jian's survival even more lethal.


Of course what made me enjoy A Shop For Killers the most was its characters and the way they were written. Apart from the fact that every actor owned their role and transformed into it, the characterisation in general was very good. It was so exciting to see all of these people gathering together in order to either destroy or help Jian and both sides (good and bad) were interesting to look at. I admit that the bad guys had some good moments too, they had some nice comedic moments which I personally did not expect (the gimmick with Seong Jo said "Attain enlightenment" every time someone died had no reason to be as funny as it was).

The secondary characters really shined, each one in their own way. I loved Min Hye, she was so fierce and cool and her fighting style was so fun to look at. Pasin became a favourite of mine, I adored his dynamic with Jian and how he became her master. I was rooting for him to survive throughout the series. And "Brother" was so funny and sweet, with such an emotinal backstory!

But the characters that completely won me over were Jeong Jian and Jeong Jin Man. A niece and an uncle who tried to navigate life after experiencing great tragedies. Both actors did a magnificent job, they really became the people they portrayed and their dynamic felt so natural.

Lee Dong Wook was captivating as Jin Man. Even though Jin Man appeared to be cold and nonchalant, Dong Wook managed to bring up his soft side. The soft looks towards his family (especially Jian) captured his love towards them and made him more humane. Jin Man was a very interesting character, he wanted to be righteous but he constantly had his back against the wall because of Babylon and Bale. He made some questionable choices but all he did was to ensure that Jian would be safe. Lee Dong Wook's cold yet calm demeanor demanded attention throughout the series. I liked the way he portrayed Jin Man, even though he wasn't very expressive since the character didn't demand it, it was the little details in his expressions and body language that gave a glimpse to Jin Man's emotions.

As for Jian, I found her to be a very complex character, one of the most complex female characters I've encountered so far. Before I had watched the drama, I expected her to be the typical young protagonist who is able to solo all of her enemies, who appears to be cold and serious and yet has a soft side and who is constantly strong. But Jian was nothing like that. To put is simply: she was a very vulnerable person. And not because she was unable to protect herself but because she had endured so much from a young age. I really appreciated the way the series handled her trauma, the scenes where she would have panic attacks and hallucinations because of her PTSD gave me so much anxiety and made my heart break.

I really liked how Jian was portrayed when she faced her enemies. Jian was never meant to be a soldier who had been trained to face dangerous enemies in the battlefield. She was a regular girl who had lost her uncle, the last member from her family and who wanted to survive. It was honestly so refreshing to finally see a protagonist who struggled to take down her enemies and who needed help from the more experienced adults. It was realistic that Jian wouldn't know what to do at first and it was also realistic that she wouldn't be able to just shoot at people. She might have trained with Jin Man but she hadn't shot a real person before. Moreover, I liked how she utilised her environment and her surroundings to take down Babylon's people. She was clever and creative, truly Jin Man's niece.

Both actresses did an excellent job portraying Jian. The child actress' performance was AMAZING, kudos to this young girl! Her eyes and the tone of her voice alone conveyed Jian's distress and fear so convincingly. During the scene when she had been locked in the basement and called for Jin Man, my heart almost broke while hearing her call for her uncle so desperately. Kim Hye Jun nailed her role as well, she was great as the older Jian and she added so may layers to her character. When Jian finally broke down, Hye Jun was absolutely terrific, you could sense how tired and sad Jian was after all the things she had to go through. Her portrayal was raw and pierced my heart.

I expected that A Shop For Killers would be thrilling to watch. What I could not foresee, however, was how heart warming and emotional it would be. Jin Man and Jian's relationship is one of my most favourite depictions of love between family members. I did not expect to be so moved. In the first half, there were some moments that made me tear up, specifically the ones between young Jian and her uncle.

I am a sucker for the "grumpy man adopts a child" trope but in that case, it goes deeper than that. Jin Man is not just grumpy. He had been exposed to many traumatic experiences and ultimately, he lost his family because of his choices (which wasn't his fault). Jian was the only thing that made him continue living. Everything he did, he did to protect her and ensure her safety. He didn't show his love in the same way her parents did but he did so through his actions and advices.

It was so heartwarming to see Jin Man and Jian grow closer after Jian's parents death. Jin Man's influence was poignant in order for Jian to cope with her trauma, while Jian herself added light to Jin Man's life. Despite his annoying shenanigans, Jian still cared for her uncle which is why she felt her world crumble when she learned about the secrets he had kept. At one point, I also started questioning myself about Jin Man's actions and feelings but thanks to the flashbacks, everything started to make more sense.

With all things considered, as much as I enjoyed A Shop For Killers, there were some aspects that prevented me from loving it as a whole. I found the second half to be less engaging than the first one. It was good that during the last episodes we got Jin Man's backstory and that we saw the events unfold from his point of view but all of these flashbacks felt so repetitive because they showed scenes we had already seen. It would have been better if there was more balance, I think it was a little bit unnecessary to dedicate two whole episodes to Jin Man and then go back to present time in the last episode.

Additionally, I would have wanted to see more scenes between Jin Man and Jian during the second half. The first episodes did an excellent job depicting their developing relationship through the flashbacks but I think we should have gotten some more interactions between them. Of course it was important to focus on Jin Man himself, since we needed more answers regarding his past but the series could have given us more scenes between him and Jian. To tell you the truth, I didn't particularly find the way the drama presented his advices very convincing. Yes, some of his words helped Jian and gave her strength but it wasn't as much impactful as I had expected. Jian didn't rely on Jin Man's advices as the description and blurb indicated, she took them into consideration but ultimately, it was she who helped herself.

All in all, I am extremely happy for finally watching this drama. It deserves all its hype and more and I cannot wait for season 2!

Read More