Reviews

When Burnout Meets Stockholm Syndrome

this was amazing!

i get that people are skipping this. I was also putting this off because I don’t really enjoy dramas with toxic relationships or love triangles. but I really appreciate BLs that go against the usual norm, which this one does. that’s what made it amazing for me.

this was such a well made drama. the direction, the cinematography, the acting, everything was amazing! especially, the acting. oh my! this is my second time watching OffGun. I watched Not Me a few days ago (I’m very new to thai bls) and absolutely loved them there. this drama made me hateeee them (the characters, not them as a person or actor). that’s how well they pulled off their roles!

this was my first time seeing Dew. and goddamn he’s HANDSOME. and a freaking giant😂😂 and his acting?? omg. i think I loved his acting even more than Off and Gun’s. the scene where he sees the painting Jira made for Ko, that scene broke my heart in a million pieces. the immense pain on his face, you could feel the pain he’s feeling!

before starting the drama, judging by the comments i could tell that there are plenty of red flags and toxicity in this drama. I was under the impression that Ko is the biggest red flag, Pheem is maybe also a red flag, and Jira is probably caught in between the red flags. boy i was so wrong😭

while Ko was indeed the biggest red flag, Jira wasn’t any greener. if anything, i hated Jira more than i hated Ko. at least Ko was a POS through and through, he never pretended to be a nice person. Jira on the other hand….sigh. at first i was somewhat feeling bad for him. but then he just started stringing Pheem along and kept hurting him over and over again. the more the drama progressed, I stopped feeling any sympathy towards any of these two, i was wishing they get doomed together. lol.

Pheem, my man :’) i see some people calling him a red flag as well. I personally wouldn’t tag him as a red flag. pitiful, maybe. but not a red flag. he got the most severe case of stockholm syndrome, first with Ko and then with Jira. I don’t blame him for not leaving Jira (even though he should’ve), because I believe he’s genuinely a good hearted person and he genuinely wanted to trust and understand Jira. I'm honestly relieved that he didn’t end up with Jira. he deserves so much better.

OffGun chemistry was explosive, as expected. I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing DewGun’s chemistry was, despite this being Dew’s first time acting in a BL. this proves once again what an amazing actor he is! i would love to see him in another BL (idk if that will ever happen though:().

I might be in the minority here, but I really disliked Gun’s makeup in this drama. I can’t quite pinpoint what it was, but it just felt…off? (pun intended lmao). the hairstyle was also awful. Gun is absolutely gorgeous, but this makeup and hairstyle didn’t do justice to how beautiful he is.

one thing that I really appreciated about this drama is how they brought up the usage of AI. I thought it would have a much bigger role in the drama, unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I wish they implemented it more, that would’ve made this drama so much more bold and refreshing.

I was also expecting the burnout aspect to be a bit bigger, considering the drama is called BURNOUT syndrome. they touched the topic, but never went any further. the psychological aspects of a burnout, how much it affects a person mentally and how it can change them, things like this was never explored. I really liked the idea of the burnout bar, though. also, the bartender was HOT 😂 and the drink names were super interesting.

overall, this was a great drama. but I highly doubt I’ll ever rewatch this and make myself swim through the ocean of red flags again😂

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A Soft and Beautiful Ending to Yumi’s Journey✨

Wow… I seriously can’t believe Yumi’s Cells is finally over after 5 whole years, and honestly, Yumi couldn’t have gotten a more deserved happy ending. ಥ_ಥ

Going into this final season, I really didn’t know what to expect. Compared to the first two seasons, this one is definitely shorter, and I’m not gonna lie, I do think it was kinda unfair that a lot of Soon Rok’s moments were given to Woong and Babi instead. But at the same time, it makes me think a third season wasn’t originally planned. Even so, I ended up loving every single episode and enjoying the ride all over again. (｢･ω･)｢

Out of all of Yumi’s relationships, Soon Rok’s is the one that feels the most compatible and emotionally balanced. She had chemistry with Woong and Babi, sure, but with Soon Rok, it feels different. More natural, more stable, more mature. They just fit together in a way that feels effortless. This sense of comfort and stability between them makes their connection feel incredibly real.

One thing I really loved about Soon Rok is how calm and respectful he is. In the previous seasons, romance often came from someone actively chasing Yumi, almost forcing their way into her heart. But Soon Rok never does that. He’s patient, calm, and lets things develop naturally without pressuring her, which honestly made their relationship feel even more meaningful to me. Their dynamic felt mature in a way we hadn’t really seen before.

I also loved the shift in Yumi herself this season. For once, she’s the one who falls first and openly takes emotional initiative, while Soon Rok is the one who eventually confesses. It really gave the whole relationship that “she fell first, but he fell harder” vibe. (/ω＼) In the earlier seasons, Yumi often reacted to other people’s feelings instead of fully taking charge of her own, so seeing this growth in her character felt really satisfying and fitting for the final chapter of her story.

And yes… I absolutely cried during the final episode. Partly because I was happy, and partly because of the nostalgia. This drama has been with us since 2021, so reaching the end genuinely felt like saying goodbye to old friends. I’m definitely reading the manhwa now because honestly… why did it take me this long? lol

Even with only 8 episodes, surprisingly, the pacing didn’t feel too rushed, which I appreciated a lot. Though, to be fair, I definitely wouldn’t have complained if we had gotten a couple more episodes. The main reason I’m giving it a 9 instead of a 10 is definitely the number of episodes. I really feel like the romance would’ve been developed even better if the season had at least two more episodes. It took a while for them to finally get together, so I would’ve loved more time to actually see their dating era and enjoy them as a couple for longer. (；；)

Now let’s talk about the chemistry because HELLO??? These two felt so natural together. Soon Rok is honestly perfect for Yumi. Their personalities balance each other out so well, and he’s genuinely one of the sweetest male leads ever. And this might be a spoiler, but I will NEVER recover from him saying he knew from the very beginning that he wanted to marry her because what they had already felt real to him… like excuse me, sir??? (/ω＼) No wonder this man had zero hesitation proposing after only a month. How am I supposed to not fall in love with him after that? (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

And again, those last two episodes?? Yeah, they completely destroyed me. They were way too sweet, way too soft, and now I already miss them so much! ಥ_ಥ

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Finding Quiet Humanity in a 1999 Superhero Comedy

There is a strange, heavy expectation that comes with the end of a millennium. The Wonderfools sets its foundation in 1999, leaning into the quiet dread and apocalypse vibes of a world waiting for an ending. It is a superhero comedy, a genre that often rushes toward loud, chaotic spectacle. Yet, beneath the Marvel-esque mutant storyline , the drama manages to find a grounded, emotional rhythm, relying on its cast to carry the narrative whenever it begins to wobble.

The Synopsis
The narrative centers on a group of misfits navigating sudden, inexplicable powers. Rather than treating these abilities merely as a gimmick, the script attempts to give each character a real emotional arc. Director Yoo In-shik carefully balances this tonal mashup, making the absurd elements of the story feel grounded within the familiar, quiet anxieties of ordinary people facing the turn of the century.

The Cast & Chemistry
The people inhabiting this world carry their roles with a delicate balance of humor and hidden exhaustion, creating an ensemble chemistry where you can tell they genuinely like each other.
- Park Eun Bin (Chaeni): She delivers a superb performance that serves as a primary reason to embark on this journey. Chaeni is loud and chaotic, yet Park Eun Bin makes the transition into revealing her character’s deep, quiet hurt look completely effortless.
- Cha Eun Woo (Unjeong): He plays a mysterious, fairy-tale boy carrying trauma he can barely articulate. It is perhaps the most disciplined and restrained work he has shown recently. Instead of playing the emotion loudly, he lets it accumulate in his eyes and tiny shifts in his breathing, making the moments he finally cracks land with profound, hard-earned weight.
- Choi Dae Hoon and Im Sung Jae: They provide a necessary lightness, elevating the comedy multiple levels as a duo of comedic relief characters.

The Good & The Bad
The Good:
- The 1999 setting is not merely an aesthetic choice; the millennium dread bleeds organically into the characters’ lives in unexpected ways.
- The production balances its elements beautifully, offering clean action while ensuring the emotional beats actually hit their mark.
- The comedy consistently lands, providing a comforting, grounded charm to the heavier emotional arcs.

The Bad:
- The serious, overarching narrative remains highly predictable, and the drama might have found more peace leaning fully into its comedy rather than attempting a Marvel-esque action route.
- The villains are forgettable, and their story arcs wrap up much too neatly for the buildup they were given.
- The narrative struggles with consistency, scaling the heroes’ powers by the convenience of the moment rather than grounding them in solid, deliberate writing.

The Verdict
If you approach The Wonderfools expecting a flawless, tightly plotted superhero epic, you will likely find yourself frustrated by the predictable serious storyline and the inconsistent scaling of powers. It is, in many ways, an imperfect journey that occasionally falls flat when it tries to be too serious.

However, if you simply sit with the story for its superb ensemble and the quiet heart beneath its comedy, it becomes a genuinely beautiful watch. It is a must-watch for those who appreciate Marvel-esque stories, and a deeply enjoyable, comforting one-time journey for everyone else.

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more sad than romance

I ended up really enjoying this show but I have a few criticisms.

1. Why was the ML playing mind games with the main character when she was clearly mentally ill? Instead of getting her more help?
2. The introduction of her second personality should have been smoother. It was jarring. And too fast paced. I really thought that the storyline was screwed and the rest was going to be just this jumble of a story but luckily it came full circle! My score for this show went up more because the explanation that it was her moms inage haunting her made more sense.
3. Poor Hiro.
4. This show parades as a romance but then hits you over the head with sadness mid watch.

The acting and character complexity of the main characters really redeemed this show for me. The acting was also quite spectacular. Ignoring the cheesiness of the second personality I think Mu-hee is one of the most interesting FL characters I have encountered. She is so flawed and contradicting, its very realistic.

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Everyone Needed Therapy, Including Me.

I had this drama on my watchlist since 2023, but I wasn’t really drawn to it because the male lead seemed like a red flag based on the synopsis.
After watching Pursuit of Jade this year, I wanted to explore more Zhang Ling He dramas, so I came back to it.

It wasn’t bad, but it was a very stressful watch. From episode one, I already felt tense. The female lead, who has already experienced death in her previous life, constantly panics in front of Xie Wei. I kept wondering what exactly she was afraid of—he already killed her in her past life, so why is she still so overwhelmed, to the point that it makes the whole viewing experience stressful?

Even with knowledge from her past life, she remains stuck in constant struggle and never really manages to handle things on her own. It became quite hard to watch. She wasn’t very likable from the beginning, and she rarely takes independent action as a “reincarnated” character, relying heavily on the male lead and second male lead, who are not supposed to be reincarnated.

The male lead is also a red flag for me. He clearly has psychological issues and violent outbursts that don’t feel normal or easy to accept.
The female lead’s mother is also toxic and adds to the overall stress throughout the story. In general, nothing felt particularly enjoyable to watch, and I ended up skipping a lot of scenes just to get through it.
I rate The Story of Kunning Palace 8/10 mainly for its production quality and storyline, but definitely not 8.7. And I don’t think I would watch it again.

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Best drama 2026. Plot twists and oufits on point

If you love complicated plots with lots of fighting and mystery, this is for you. If you like more straightforward plots, with not a lot of pondering, this is not for you.

Each character had great stories and the plot twists were surprising and unpredictable. Fighting scenes are some of the best that I've seen. Music is S-tier, evoking emotion and being used in the right moments. Visual effects never missed and was extremely impressive.

Chemistry between the 4 main characters were amazing. The sisterhood was especially great. I loved both couples, but my favorite was definitely Ju Jingyi and Tian Jiarui. Their moments together were touching and cute. They can't do without the other. The last half of the series got me crying at every episode because of them 😭

I was impressed with everyone's acting, but especially with Ju Jingyi. Her facial expressions and portrayal of her character was incredible. I'm glad she was able to show everyone in this drama that she is a very talented actress.

Outfits were extraordinary. I was awed everytime a new outfit was worn by each character, especially the 2 sisters.

Spoilers:


The ending was what made me rate this show a 10/10. Everyone got their happy ending. I was very satisfied with the ending. Some people might not like it since it involves going back to the past to change the future. But it made sense to me if you think about what would've happened if everything went accoding to plan since 50 years ago and they were able to easily defeat the bad guy and have wu shiguang become the proper dragon deity. It made sense no one else remembered the true past except for wu shihuang since he is a dragon. Most importantly, Ji Ling got the happy ending he derserved 😭.

If I had any minor complaints, it would be that the storyline is VERY complicated so you had to remember everything and piece it together. But I love complicated plots so I don't really mind lol. And using the same actors for characters could get confusing. And I was very sad that the connection between the 2 sisters were no longer there because they do not have memories together anymore 💔 I know it unavoidable, but I'm still sad about it. And it wouldn't affect my rating for the drama as much.

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Revenge drama with political intrigue

Felt like a pretty standard revenge drama, similar to the Legend of Zhang Hai in many ways in that the main character uses their intelligence rather than their fighting ability and it is their love interest who does the fighting. Felt like a big budget series with amazing sets, costumes and overall production value. The plot dragged at times, but overall was engaging enough to keep me interested. For those expecting a romance, there is definitely some of that, but not as much as you would see in a series more focused on it. This is mainly going to be a revenge drama, the romance is secondary.

I would say that they had some unusual casting choices though. I really liked the ML actor. They aged him up so that the 12 year or so age difference between him and FL wasn't as obvious, but the similar situation in which the emperor was 29 and his consort was in her 40s was quite a bit more apparent. It was a bit jarring to see the FL looking like she was in her mid-30s playing a character that should be around 21 at most. The acting from the FL was good, but she just doesn't look the part. I really liked the Tong'er maid character played by Ai mi. She's going to be a star someday.

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objectively awful 12 hours of pure expensive torture

2.0 only bc platform begged for it :/

this is the sloppiest shi that sucked so bad for me. the drama was genuinely painful to sit through lord... the only reason i even survived 12 hours of this mess was Gong Seung Yeon. she absolutely carried this whole thing with insane elegance and class. every time she came on screen the drama suddenly looked expensive again. beautiful, icy, remorseful, heartbroken, brave... she delivered EVERYTHING. her screen presence is actually crazy and she was easily the best styled person there too. the hanboks, the gowns, that Dior looking suit in the end?? she ate every single frame. and her deep voice added so much impact too. queen mother also SERVED hard every time she appeared like at least some women in this drama knew how to act. she basically ATEEE.

Our prime minister deserved so much better too because his performance was genuinely nuanced compared to whatever the ML was doing. his micro expressions carried more emotion than entire conversations in this show. meanwhile Byeon Woo Seok looked awkward and miscast the whole time. this icy tsundere role was NOT for him at all. even when his character literally fainted from the fire and was lying unconscious in bed he somehow still looked like he was smiling 😭 i could never take any emotional scene seriously. he only became slightly watchable near the end when he turned into a pathetic simp househusband because that softer vibe fits him way more.

and omg IU... im sorry but acting is just not her field. her facial expressions were annoying most of the time and every emotional scene felt so flat. they tried SO hard to force this rich cold CEO aura on her but it never landed once. she was just mean, spoiled and underdeveloped the whole drama. not to mention her styling was atrocious too which is insane considering her character was supposed to be some fashion influencer. half the outfits looked cheap and ill fitted. even her face always looked bored instead of intimidating. she should honestly stick to roles that actually suit her strengths because this role exposed every weakness possible.

half this drama felt like it was desperately trying to recreate Queen of Tears emotional glamour and Lovely Runner fangirl hype but ended up looking like a confused pinterest board with no identity of its own 😭 they tried SO hard to style IU like some mix of Yoon Se Ri and Hong Hae In with the expensive cold rich girl aura but it failed miserably because neither the writing nor the acting could sell it. and the amount of scenes that straight up felt copied from QoT and Lovely Runner??? insane. except those dramas at least knew how to build emotional payoff and chemistry while this one just kept throwing aesthetically shot moments together hoping the audience would eat it up because the cast is popular.

THE WRITING YA ALLAH... this genuinely felt like a first time writer opened ChatGPT and said “write me a royal political romance” because what even was this sloppy ass script 😭 they kept introducing plotlines and abandoning them two episodes later. who started the fires?? who killed the mother?? who sabotaged the brakes?? who leaked the marriage contract?? what happened to the prime minister in the end?? NOTHING got resolved properly. and instead of fixing these massive plot holes they wasted screentime on cringe romance scenes and forced hero moments like that stupid car accident scene.

the monarchy abolition ending literally felt like they made it up during filming with zero buildup. everything about this drama screamed expensive but lazy. huge budget, big cast, beautiful visuals at times... yet the execution was so half baked and empty. like a gourmet meal with no seasoning. there was actually so much potential in the premise too which makes it even more frustrating. with proper writing, stronger character development and more episodes this could’ve been amazing. instead it became one of the sloppiest and most badly written kdramas i’ve watched in a while. if it weren’t for my husband, i would’ve dropped this immediately. genuinely a waste of time and potential.

coming from someone who has been watching kdramas for over a decade now... i could already tell from the FIRST episode this drama was gonna turn into a sloppy expensive mess and unfortunately i was right 😭 and no before people start with the “not every drama needs something happening every episode” excuse... there’s a difference between slow paced storytelling and a completely directionless script with unresolved plotlines everywhere. we are watching a drama not staring at aesthetic pinterest edits for 12 hours. even as someone who genuinely liked IU in Moon Lovers and Byeon Woo Seok in Lovely Runner, this drama exposed so badly that visuals and fandoms carry them harder than acting ever did. both of them felt painfully weak here and the only reason this drama is surviving is because of their huge fanbases hyping up every frame. my husband literally got baited into watching this because of the expensive looking sets, cars and cinematography 😭 and yes the aesthetics WERE beautiful at times but good visuals don’t magically excuse lazy writing, awkward acting and a story that keeps going nowhere.

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Succeeds more than it fails

I would say that the best part of this drama is the interaction between the main characters. Their little "team" of investigators each with their own skillset, working together to solve cases was by far the best part of the show. The middle part of the series kind of devolved into a palace political intrigue plotline, but for the most part, the series involved the main characters solving cases that ultimately led them to the conclusion.

In terms of the weak areas, I would say that the biggest has to be the acting. I am someone who almost never complains about the acting in shows, but this time I have to make an exception. Zhang Linghe has really improved by the time he got to Pursuit of Jade, but here, he looked like someone mechanically reading his lines with some occasional overly dramatic facial expressions. But almost all the characters were guilty of having exaggerated facial expressions, and I can only assume that it is something asked of them by the director. The show suffered a bit from looking low budget at times, but overall I did enjoy it and watched it to the end, mainly because I enjoyed the close camaraderie between the main characters.

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Perfect Crown Review: Finding Quiet Comfort in a Modern Joseon Rom-Com

Sometimes, we do not need a narrative to challenge us with heavy palace politics, intricate plots, or deep angst. Sometimes, we simply need a story to offer a quiet, fluttering romance and a place to rest. Perfect Crown is exactly this kind of rare rom-com gem. It is silly, cute, and fluffy, carrying the nostalgic warmth of the classic romantic comedies we used to love so much.

The Synopsis
Set against the interesting premise of a modern-day Joseon dynasty governed by a constitutional monarchy, the story unfolds within the rigid social hierarchies dividing nobles and commoners. Seong Huiju is a stubborn, strong-willed woman who fights not necessarily for sweeping social equality, but fiercely for what she deems her own right. Opposite her is Prince I-An, a seemingly perfect, regal romantic who has spent his life dimming his own shine so as to not overshadow others. Together, their journey moves past the straightforward tropes of the genre to become a quiet, fierce pursuit of personal freedom.

The Cast & Chemistry
The drama does not bank on strict naturalism, instead relying on exaggerated scenarios and expressions to create its comedy. Yet, the leads carry this weight effortlessly, anchoring the emotional depth of the series.

IU (Seong Huiju): She plays Huiju as someone kind in her own way, yet unapologetically selfish in her own right. Her character is not necessarily written to be relatable, but IU makes her undeniably enjoyable to watch.

Byeon Woo-seok (Prince I-An): He brings a palpable chemistry to the screen, balancing the sassy, dramatic moments with sincere vulnerability. He beautifully captures the quiet exhaustion of a prince who harbors unspeakable desires for power, understood only by Huiju.

The Good & The Bad
The Good:
- The drama is visually pleasing, offering beautiful cinematography and stunning costumes that seamlessly fuse traditional and modern styles.
- The narrative makes the structurally perfect and shocking choice to abolish the monarchy in the finale. This political shift seamlessly erases the class divide, serving as a profound, full-circle victory for Huiju's younger self.
- The resolution illustrates that I-An’s heart never truly yearned for the heavy burden of the throne, giving him a beautiful, poetic ending.
- The comedy actually delivers, providing enough suspense and laughter to keep the straightforward story moving at an enjoyable pace.

The Bad:
- For a premise with such huge potential for complex political exploration, the narrative leaves those depths largely untouched, which may disappoint some viewers.
- The writing unfortunately fumbles near the end, with the final arc suffering from shaky pacing.
- Given the strong buildup of the first eight episodes, the ending leaves a few loose ends unattended, and certain character motives fall flat.

The Verdict: 8.5/10
If you approach Perfect Crown expecting an intricate plot and complex characters, you will find yourself analyzing a story that never promised to be a gripping political thriller. It is an imperfect journey; it has its fair share of flaws, and the final arc leaves behind a slight feeling of dissatisfaction.

If you approach Perfect Crown expecting an intricate plot and complex characters, you will find yourself analyzing a story that never promised to be a gripping political thriller. It is an imperfect journey; it has its fair share of flaws, and the final arc leaves behind a slight feeling of dissatisfaction.

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This Ain’t No “Sound of Music” story

Don’t be fooled, this ain’t no Captain Von Trapp and Julie Andrew’s Sound of Music! 52 episodes of drawn out misery. I’m up to Episode 46 and already completely bypassed a few entire episodes. But I’m determined to make the final sprint to the end. Everything is replayed over and over, breaking up, back together, crying children, screaming 66 yr old annoying madam mistress lunatic of the house. Crazy lady Sera, pathetic weak ML and traumatized FL. Controlling stupid Dad. Selfish mother who abandoned her baby and now karma has come around for her in a terminal illness. The amnesia themes are ridiculous in these KDramas. Watching the second love leads finally marry was enjoyable as well as the three 66 yr old moms pulling out each others hair at the wedding. Not worth starting this kdrama if you are deciding to watch it.

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WHY DID I TORTURE MYSELF WITH THIS

Ah, it's been a long time I've enjoyed GMMTV shows. Sorry to say but I managed to watch this because of Mix only. Mix as Dean was perfect. In fact, I loved Mix. He can act so well and he did a great job bringing this character to life.

First of all, I wouldn’t say I am a die-hard fan of season 1 but I loved that it had drama. It was messy for a reason. This season two made me laugh all through. And not in a good way.

It's like whoever directed this series struggled to come home with something dramatic and messy for this season. The storyline didn't make sense at all.

How can there be so much casting and not single chemistry with people they supposedly had crushes on and I am not talking about fixed pairings now? I want to rip my hair off anytime Jack and raffy come up on my screen. As much as I don't fancy season 1, it wouldn't have fucked things up like this. Everyone was missing everyone. I don't like too many NC scenes but why was everyone not kissing everyone? GMMTV and the curse of fixed pairings. So are you telling me, Mix and Joss couldn't share one kiss on stage? Like hello? Even if we don't get from other non-parings, Romeo and Romeo couldn't share one kiss? Fucking hell. Just say Mix and Joss don't want to kiss. I miss the former cast.

Thank God for Mix. I wouldn't have known I was watching Onlyfriends.


The only couple I loved was RomeRaffy. Let me not get started with JackDean. And there's Arnold and Tua who makes me wonder what they are doing in Only friends? So funny.

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Great performance by all four leads + better written FL made this version my favourite out of 3

I had watched 2 versions of this plot because I like the actors & actresses or curious about one of them: (1) Xue Zi Qi, Wang Nian Jiang Cheng (2) Han Jia Hui, Chen Zheng Yang & Duan Mei Yang. I wasn't planning to watch other versions but I was preparing a reddit post about the Xia Xuan Zi so decided to watch this drama. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this version. The best out of 3 versions that I've seen mostly because of their acting.

What I liked:
1. Acting - I must say that all 4 leads did very well in their roles. There was also good chemistry between the couples, the sisters, the brothers & the four of them.
2. Romance - There were good romantic scenes for both couples. In terms of pairing, I liked Su Qing & Fu Yang more because of jiejie-didi & alpha FL vibes. The main couple went through a hurdle and I liked that because it showed growth.
3. FL characterisation - Wow, this FL was better written compared to the other versions' Su Wan. She was girlish but not childish. She stood her ground when ML put unrealistic expectations on her.
4. SFL characterisation - She was career-focused and no-nonsense. I liked that she made effort in her relationship with SML.
5. SML characterisation - Young & slightly immature but I liked that he too tried his best in making his marriage work. I liked that nugget of wisdom he imparted to ML about marriage and expectations.
6. Styling - I really liked SFL's burgundy work attire. I also liked FL's quirky outfits. The pale yellow was good choice of colour. Gosh I was surprised to see Zhang Hao Yang in a mullet. He was handsome and toned.
7. Supporting characters - I liked Mrs Fu. Her screentime was short but impactful. I also liked the female colleagues who comforted Su Wan when she was feeling down.
8. Family - I liked the contrast between two families: old money vs new money, parents still alive vs parents passed away.

What I disliked:
1. ML's action - There wasn't any antagonist in this drama but ML was an arsehole for a moment. I disliked that he put high expectations on his wife then punished her for lack of progress.
2. Mr Fu - He was too focused on other people's expectations.

Favourite scene
When SML advised ML about marriage & expectations

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AN UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE

THE DRAMA OF 2026, there will be no competition. what truly elevates the series, is the extraordinary synergy between cast, directing, and writing. IU delivers a flawless performance, balancing vulnerability, restraint, and emotional intensity with precision. alongside her, Byeon Woo-seok proves once again why he has become one of the most compelling actors of his generation. yall can say whatever you want that he can’t act, but his performance even in simpler works carries a quiet emotional weight that gradually unfolds throughout the time, always creating some of the dramas’ most powerful moments.

the supporting cast is equally impressive. Steve Noh brings such a wonderful work with details and micro expressions that makes you lean to his side for a couple of seconds sometimes, while Gong Seung-yeon brings the Queen to life with such elegance and emotional nuance that enrich the story in a crazy way.

together, the ensemble creates exceptional chemistry that never feels forced. and about ROMANTIC chemistry, IU and Wooseok understand the assignment. they are already a force of nature by themselves, now together is just one of the best couples i’ve seen in any fictional story. whoever says they don’t have chemistry honestly just have a screw missing in their head.

directing deserves immense praise for its cinematic approach and emotional control. every frame feels carefully crafted, with breathtaking cinematography that turns even quiet scenes into visual storytelling, and each creative decision of Park Joon Hwa tells why he’s so different.

screenplay is equally strong. thoughtful, mature, and emotionally resonant without relying on unnecessary issues, like what do you mean characters don’t have miscommunication and silly melodrama that drags itself for 5 episodes? IS THAT A PARADISE?? everything Yoo Ji Won did in this script is masterful. the politic plot is beyond amazingly built, not to mention the GORGEOUS romance development and scenes that led to the final result on screen.

also a hauntingly BEAUTIFUL soundtrack that perfectly complements the tone of each scene. we all thought the OST wasn’t being special at the beginning but the show proved us wrong while the episodes moved forward. LIKE SERIOUSLY i am stuck to specific scenes for more than a week because all of that combined. whoever says this show “is a mess”, “have plot holes” or anything bad don’t deserve this level of quality. yall deserve dramas like Still Shining.

Perfect Crown is more than just a drama, it felt like a complete experience that i’ll never forget.

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