Reviews

a lot of good ingredients but the predatory romance ruins everything

God what an aggravating experience. But let's start w the positives bc the positives are really really strong. There are a lot of really poignant moments relating to death — the entire sequence of 9 year old Euntak arriving at home and slowly realizing she's talking w her mom's ghost and then immediately running into Reaper... goosebumps! Reaper as a character is just so well-crafted and intricately written and Lee Dong Wook's performance is breathtaking. I love the lore/worldbuilding for Goblin and the Reapers. Goblin's backstory is fascinating and the way it is entangled with the present is so so so cool — I cannot count how many times the editing had me gasping w the way it showed the past paralleling the present. Reaper/Sunny was so beautiful and heartbreaking and I love their dynamic so much.

There are some really, *really* excellent impactful scenes... but it's so hard to enjoy this show for more than 5 minutes at a time before remembering the revolting predatory romance that is at the center of this whole thing. And I think I get what the writers were going for bc in order for Goblin to reevaluate his life and want to continue living, Euntak had to be Goblin's complete opposite — bright personality/optimist, in need of a protector, naive due to her lack of experience and youth. But, like… she can be these things and an adult. Yet the writers chose to have her be a 19 year old — a girl who is still in high school! — while he's 900+ years old. Why the hell is he falling for her? We can't use the excuse that she's mature and he(/the narrative) forgets that she's only 19 bc she truly acts like a teenager — the inciting incident of the whole show (Goblin and Euntak meeting) happens because she makes a birthday wish for a job, to get away from her abusive family, and to get her first boyfriend. When he helps grant those first two wishes, she becomes fixated on him granting the third. She becomes infatuated with Goblin within moments of meeting him — when she follows him through his magic door and finds herself in Canada she's telling him she loves him and asking him to marry her????? GRIL WHAT????????? YOU'VE KNOWN HIM FOR 10 MINUTES!!!! Later she reunites with a childhood friend — who I guess she had a crush on when they were growing up? — and then starts obsessing over him because she feels rejected by Goblin. She constantly makes stupid, impulsive decisions with no thought to her safety. Practically everything about her behavior screams teenager. So, again, why the f*ck is Goblin falling for her??????? At 900+ years old, he's falling in love with a girl who has no solid sense of who she is (because she has barely had the chance to live her life!) and the show is trying to gaslight me into finding this cute???????? And for the first half of the show he honestly treats Euntak like shit bc he's trying to keep emotional distance since he wants the Goblin bride to pull the sword out and if he lets himself get attached to her, then he will want to live and hesitate. Like he is so petty and immature, it's insane to me that this man has been around 900 years and still acts like this. As I already mentioned, Euntak reunites with a childhood friend and Goblin straight up threatens this teenager to stay away from her. When he's upset with Euntak, he will do passive aggressive bullshit — there's one sequence where he forces her to do all of the household chores (under the implied threat that she will become homeless if she doesn't) and it's just like..... Wow, you're really telling me that this man is treating her exactly like her abusive aunt but now I'm supposed to find it funny and cute bc he's jealous and wants her attention? These writers can go to hell.

And honestly the show is confused about their dynamic too! Goblin and Reaper regularly refer to Euntak as a child. Like Goblin will quite literally be referring to her as a child and then the next scene he's talking about his romantic feelings for her or he's smiling and blushing about her expressing her feelings for him or they're kissing. Also as someone who LOVESSSSSS a pairing w a size difference, I have gotta say that this is the first time size difference has made me want to vomit from discomfort. Bc he truly acts like a paternal figure half the time. There's a scene where it's her birthday (so she just turned 20) and she wants to celebrate so she pleads for Goblin to buy her alcohol and this somehow leads to their first mutual kiss 😵‍💫😵‍💫 There's another scene where she graduates from high school and everyone's parents come to celebrate their kids and I was sitting here like "please don't blur the line anymore, please don't have him show up." But then he does 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 He thankfully doesn't claim to be a parental figure but still... It's just so f*cking weird and awful and I can't believe how many people are either seemingly shipping this or are unbothered by it.

And the romance is just so enraging bc there are two really simple ways this could be fixed!
1. Just make Euntak an adult! Her characterization would have to be majorly tweaked but literally nothing else would have to change
2. Make Goblin/Reaper the romance! This would require a lot more alterations (removing the Reaper/Sunny romance for one) but I honestly think this would have been stronger narratively bc the angst of falling for the person who betrayed you and doomed you to this horrible existence in his past life and then choosing to forgive and still loving that person just..... whew! It would hit so hard!!!

And lastly... let's talk about the ending, bc IMO the ending should've been ep13 with the time jump showing that Euntak and Sunny are okay and happy. To get more into this let me talk spoilers. Typically I do not do talk spoilers for the last ~third of a show in my reviews, but the finale pissed me the f*ck off and made me rage cry for 30 minutes, so... yeah. Do not read beyond this if you don't want the entire show spoiled lol.
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Okay, so I get it. I get that a major theme of the show is that certain things are fated to happen and cannot be stopped. I GET IT!!!! Euntak was never supposed to be born, she was supposed to die when her mother was in the hit and run while pregnant, so it narratively makes sense that she would die at the end of this since she only exists bc Goblin meddled in human affairs. BUT! The entire premise of the first 13 episodes is that Euntak is the only person who can pull Goblin's sword out so he can finally die and be at peace and yet the writers found a way to work around that ending and bring him back after his "death." So why the f*ck does the 900+ year old predator get to live and mourn her, while Euntak — she's only 29 at this point btw — is forced to sacrifice herself??????? And then in an attempt to soothe the viewers with the final scene, we see a reincarnated Euntak — WHO IS A TEENAGER AGAIN!!!!!! Goblin is told that students are on a trip before he leaves his residence and then we see Euntak wearing a school uniform while Goblin is now nearing 1000 years old! Oh my god I'm going to hurl!!!! — stumble upon Goblin and they recognize each other. Just.... what the hell is wrong with these writers GOOD GOD.

Anyway where's my Goblin x Reaper remake I want it so bad 😭😭

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LUKAL LUKAL

Dec. 13, 2025

Luna and Kalix are the first couple of the University Series and for this adaptation, I purposely watched this last just because I know the budget would be on the lower end. However, the casts and the team really did justice to the book adaptation, there are moments where I felt like I did not need notice the low budget of the series. And the fact that the scenes were not as rough as I expected.

I think my only critique is how they kept doing present and past scenes in an episode, I feel like having the book timeline would have been better instead of this experimental approach that they used.

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Is this a dating show or casting call?

This was really cute, and I really liked all the boys...I just wish we got to see more couple moments rather than all group moments. It started off so well in the first couple episodes. It felt like a dating show, which is what they advertised it as, but then it felt more like they were auditioning to be the next BL couple. Why was there only one solo date throughout the whole show? Like I said I loved all the boys especially Shark and Kong, I just needed more time with just the pairings and less group stuff.

I do like all the couples that ended up together and wish the best for everyone!

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Cutie patootie romance

This story was so stinking cute! I loved the characters so much! Everyone was so fun, and all had great chemistry with each other! A very cute high school love story!

Shane and Kit were pretty adorable together. I loved seeing them grow closer as friends and then into a relationship! They had such sweet moments together!

Kim and Mon were my favorite couple! Their story felt the most natural on how they got together. They are both just so cute together! Need a show of these actors as the lead couple together!

I figured Tar and Per would get together just based on how much they were on screen together. I think they're a cute besties to boyfriends' relationship.

Tan and Nat's relationship was definitely the least interesting to me, but they were still cute!

If you want a cute high school romance, I highly recommend!

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Reincarnate in 3 months ?

If it wasn't for my dumb habit I have that I MUST finish watching a series or movie, I would have dropped this one. 🙈

Sorry guys, this one just didn't gel with me. The acting, the chemistry, the special effects, I guess they were on a low budget 🤷🏻‍♀️

The dude that was burnt to a crisp, did you all see it was a wooden face? 🙄

Earth that got stabbed, like what the hell special effects was that??
My cousins and I pulled that trick off when we were young playing together, where the knife or sword is between your arm and body, and not in you 😂

And why didn't Kor re incarnate as well. Yeah I know he isn't from their past, but still. Shame he gave such a nice little speech while dying, apologizing to Pun that he won't make it home (cause he is busy dying and all), and 3 months later, Pun didn't even seem like he shredded 1 tear for loosing him. 💔

I thought everybody was gonna die in the last episode the way everyone was dropping like flies. Even the dad and his son, the dude that was Siwats friend / bodyguard in the toxic forest.

And the new dude Peem, that's now the re incarnation of Siwat I take it... If it's been 3 months since he died, doesn't that mean this dude was walking around already, when Siwat was alive still?
How fast do you re incarnate these days, like wow. I thought in my professional experience (from watching movies and BL's of course 😂) that you get reborn and age normally etc, so shouldn't it have been like 20 years or so they had to wait before he could appear?

I bet you the other BL's are so pissed now watching this and realizing they wasted all those years waiting, it could have happened sooner, like 3 months tops 🤭

It had potential, I'm a sucker for the dudes and their long hair back in the "old days". Maybe it could have ended with Khun and Siwat going back to that time?

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It's almost perfect

So sexy!!

I loved this so much other than the ending. This show had me hating to wait for the next episode every day because it was so good! Absolutely loved it!

The two main characters had such amazing chemistry with each other and I loved watching all their scenes together! Their kissing was pretty good too! I loved them together and as individuals as well!

The only reason I can't give this a perfect score is the ending. I personally hate open endings, especially in something like this where romance is the main focus. Open endings do work for some stories, but this isn't one of them. I hate that we don't know if they really end up together or not, or if one of them dies or not. The finale episode felt a bit rushed, which I know happens a lot in these shorter episode series which is super unfortunate.

That being said, I would still highly recommend the series! Amazing story, characters, and chemistry!

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Pure sizzling chemistry

What stands out from the very beginning of Speed and Love is the intense chemistry and tension between the two leads. There is something undeniably captivating about the way they share the screen — a quiet pull, subtle looks, and an emotional undercurrent that makes every interaction feel charged. The drama feels like a really good dessert: one you never want to finish, because you enjoy and savor every single bite.

He Yu, in the role of Jin Chao, is nothing short of exceptional. He feels perfectly cast in a way that is almost rare. His presence alone carries the role — a natural, effortless masculinity that never needs to be announced. Calm, controlled, and emotionally contained, he radiates a powerful magnetism that dominates every scene he is in. There is something unmistakable in the way he looks at Jiang Mu, protects her, and clearly wants her. That quiet desire and control are what make their chemistry feel so real and intense.

Esther Yu, portraying Jiang Mu, gives a solid performance, and the actress is clearly capable. However, at times I find myself noticing elements of the actress rather than the character. While her role is meant to be younger, some moments come across as overly childish, almost as if she is trying too hard to appear like a “little sister” figure. A bit less exaggerated playfulness would have made her character feel more natural and better balanced alongside such a grounded male lead.

Even with a few narrative inconsistencies, I am completely here for their chemistry. It is something you don’t just see — you feel it. Much of that emotional impact comes from the male lead’s magnetic presence and his ability to convey desire, restraint, and protection without saying a word.

Beyond the performances, the drama itself is fresh, engaging, and far from predictable. The pacing keeps the story interesting, the cinematography is stylish and dynamic, and the overall atmosphere feels modern and polished. Combined with the strong chemistry between the leads, Speed and Love becomes a drama you don’t simply watch — you experience it.

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Although there are many dramas I like a lot, and more than a few I love, there is only a very small number I would call close to perfect. "Our Dining Table" is one of them.

Whichever aspect I consider -- story, acting, the pace, the set design, the message, how music and silance are used -- there is nothing I would want to change.

"Our Dining Table" is a gentle, slow-paced romance, tied together by simple but delicious food and an energetic little boy.
Both young men are missing something in their lives -- Yutaka is the more obvious one; since the story is mostly told from his perspective, and his loneliness and his problem with eating in a group is at the centre of the story -- but Minoru is also alone in his own way: Caring for a pre-schooler as a 23-year-old, he is only met with incomprehension from his peers, and so has lost most of his social circle.

While I was interested in Yutaka's story about how he found his own family, as well as delighted by Tane's overwhelming cuteness, it's Minoru who makes me come back to this drama. I love watching his face, and especially his eyes when he looks at Yutaka, and how their expression subtly changes over the course of the story, from interest to happiness to resignation and finally, to a gaze that is so full of love that it almost feels intrusive to watch him.

And it's not only Minoru's actor's ability that elevates a lovely story to something special -- it's all of them. The child actor, of course, but also the father's actor, who infuses the character's silliness with genuine fatherly love for his sons.

"Our Dining Table" is one of two dramas I choose to rewatch whenever I despair of humanity.

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