Reviews

ML Completely Undermined Blossoms in Adversity

Blossoms in Adversity was completely undermined by the choice of this actor as the male lead. He wore the exact same expression no matter what was happening, which made it impossible to connect with his character. Honestly, any of the other young men in the cast would have made a stronger, more believable lead. I ended up fast-forwarding most of his scenes because the supporting characters were far more engaging and delivered better performances. I also couldn’t take him seriously as a supposedly formidable “commander.” Maybe younger viewers like his looks, but he really needs more acting training before being put front and center again. I am not hating on this man, I wish him well…but he should probably choose another profession.

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simple and fun

I watched Like Flowers In Sand right when I needed something light, sincere, funny, and heartwarming. No devastating conflict, and the drama of the characters' past wasn't over the top. I really enjoyed the story and the choice of actors and actresses. For me Jang Dong-yoon was perfect as the not-particularly-bright Kim Baek-du, a former wrestler with a heart of gold and a surprisingly quick grasp on putting pieces together. It still amazes me that Jang Dong-yoon was discovered on the news and has become such an impressive actor. His portrayal made me laugh out loud multiple times. I also loved Lee Joo-myung as Oh Doo-sik, Baek-du's long lost best friend and first love. Too often, for my taste, female characters in Korean shows talk like children and dumb themselves down, but Doo-sik is strong (literally and figuratively), works for justice, is opinionated, smart, and loves deeply. The group of older villagers who are always in the background watching and gossiping were a lot of fun. Same goes for the wrestlers at Baek-du's gym. I knew nothing about ssireum before watching this show, and found it very interesting to see the matches and learn about it. The seriousness of a pair of possibly-connected murders, the loss of fathers and childhood friends, along with a rumor of match-fixing add poignancy without being overbearing. And I think a little white runaway dog named Snowball might just steal the show.

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Another diabolical piece of crap

Just total garbage. The people that produce this content sick in the head because honestly when you advertise something as a romance but continue to brutally torture abuse and humiliate the heroes from beginning to end does that go into the realms of a deep seated demented state of mind? Who finds this kind of stuff entertaining? I’m really curious because there was a bit in the middle where the MLNFL had a bit of respite where they were being lovey-dovey but then five seconds later they decided to arrest him on some trumped up murder charge and we had to witness him being brutally tortured in prison for about three episodes. This show did not want to give us a break. It kept trying to give us like romantic moments but immediately was persistent in ensuring the villains were always having the upper hand until about 10 seconds from the end of episode 23.. I find it utterly disgusting and ridiculous that this content is allowed to be produced. I’m not believing any of the hype about censorship or watching a hero perseverance and resilience because they seem to lap it up when it’s time to torture the heroes, but we can’t ever see the villain taking too big of a loss.. it’s all rather disturbing

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I have watched over 400 dramas and this one is now one of my favorites

Review

I rate this a 10/10, and I honestly don’t indicate perfect scores very often. I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it.

The premise is incredibly refreshing and adorable: Hana Iwayama has severe social anxiety and can’t meet people’s eyes, while Sosuke Kojima has a phobia of being touched by others—yet from the very first moment they meet, they can look at and touch each other without any problem. It’s such a sweet, clever twist on the “fated connection” idea. What makes it truly special is how both characters grow and heal each other throughout relatively short series. Sosuke is smitten with Hana from the start (and never wavers), which is just pure catnip for romance fans. The series is funny when it needs to be, deeply heart-warming the rest of the time, and surprisingly thoughtful in its portrayal of anxiety disorders and trauma without ever feeling heavy-handed. The chocolate-making scenes are gorgeous—almost therapeutic to watch—and the happy, wholesome vibe is off the charts. If you love feel-good romances with zero second-lead syndrome, no unnecessary angst, and a perfect happy ending, this is an absolute must-watch. I already want to re-watch it, and that basically never happens.

Spoilers

Hana Iwayama is one of the genuinely sweetest, most selfless female leads I’ve ever seen. Giving up her prized original recipe at the chocolate competition so her teammate could take the spotlight? That moment was the cherry on top of her kindness.Sosuke Kojima is just as lovely. When his cousin tries to stage a hostile takeover of the family company, Sosuke doesn’t get bitter or vengeful—he understands the envy, empathizes, and immediately offers to share the top position. Even his best friend Daigo is an absolute gem (no wonder Hana briefly mistakes him for the guy who saved her at the beginning; they’re cut from the same ridiculously decent cloth).There’s none of the tired Japanese drama tropes I usually groan at—no silent pining from afar, no “I loved you first so you owe me” nonsense, no cold chaebol/F4-type male lead. Sosuke is soft and melty for Hana pretty much from episode 1, and it’s glorious. The story is fairly predictable, but in the best comfort-food way. And that ending—seeing them get married, Hana freezing in panic halfway down the aisle, and Sosuke just casually walking over to meet her instead? Perfect encapsulation of how they’ll keep supporting each other forever. I was grinning like an idiot. Easily one of the best short romances I’ve ever watched—yes, even compared to my beloved Korean dramas. 100% recommended.

Synopsis
Aired: 2025
Number of Episodes: 8
Average Run Time per Episode: 50 minutes

In the enchanting world of artisanal chocolate, two guarded souls navigate the delicate art of vulnerability, discovering that the sweetest confections are born from the courage to connect. Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri), the reclusive heir to a faltering sweets dynasty plagued by an aversion to physical contact, acquires a quaint Tokyo chocolaterie to revive his family's legacy. There, he encounters Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo), a masterful yet reclusive confectioner who crafts divine treats under a pseudonym, her genius veiled by a paralyzing fear of eye contact. As their professional collaboration ignites unexpected sparks—forged in late-night tastings and whispered recipes—they form an unlikely alliance, immune to each other's deepest anxieties. Through a tapestry of melting ganaches and tentative gestures, they unravel personal scars, blending professional rivalry with budding affection in a heartfelt ode to love's imperfect alchemy.

*Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri): The introspective president of a struggling chocolate empire, haunted by tactile phobias from past trauma, who steps into the kitchen to reinvent his legacy and finds solace in unexpected partnership.
*Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo): A prodigious chocolatier with scopophobia that keeps her hidden behind aliases and aprons, whose innovative flavors and quiet resilience bloom into bold self-expression amid budding romance.
*Takashi Fujiwara (Ryo Narita): Sosuke's steadfast childhood companion and confidant, a pragmatic executive at the family firm who offers wry humor and unwavering support while navigating his own tangled loyalties.
*Motomi Kawamura (Ayumi Ito): The bubbly, ever-optimistic sales whiz at the chocolaterie, whose infectious energy and meddlesome matchmaking often propel the leads toward awkward but pivotal heart-to-hearts.
*Kenji Koiwa (Eiji Okuda): The wise, no-nonsense veteran chocolatier and former mentor figure, dispensing gruff yet profound advice on life's bitter-sweet balances from his perch behind the counter.
*Shuntaro Fujiwara (Koichi Sato): Sosuke's imperious father and the iron-fisted patriarch of the Fujiwara confectionery empire, whose high-stakes expectations clash with his son's quiet rebellion in pursuit of authentic passion.

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Dark, mature, sweet

Dark, mature, and sweet—this is how I would describe The Journey to Killing You. The story follows Odajima and Kataoka. Kataoka is ordered to lay low, and Odajima is assigned to accompany him. What Kataoka doesn’t know is that Odajima carries a hidden mission: he has been instructed to kill him. For seven years, Odajima has also harbored a deep-seated hatred toward Kataoka, so this mission becomes his chance for revenge. But because they keep sleeping together and spending every day in close proximity, real feelings slowly begin to form.

I don’t know why, but even though Kataoka is a yakuza, I find him incredibly sweet—especially whenever he calls Odajima his “wife.” Meanwhile, Odajima is a broken character who carries childhood trauma, leading him to grow up directionless. Then someone finally treated him like family—only for that person to be killed as well. No wonder Odajima turned out cold, distant, and frigid. But I love how his character slowly develops throughout the series.

Japanese BLs really hit differently. They’re usually short, but they pack so much depth and emotion. There are a lot of good Thai BLs too, but the direction and storytelling style are just different. In this series, the cinematography and acting are both on point. If you prefer fluffy shows, this might not be your cup of tea. For me, it’s not a perfect series, but it’s definitely interesting and engaging.

If you’re into gritty crime-action BL with dark romance and forced proximity tropes, you’ll surely love The Journey to Killing You.

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Beautifully painful

I gave everything a 10 except for rewatch value because of how much crying there is. If you're looking for an uplifting watch, this is not the show for you.
There is pain on pain on pain; almost every episode is a slow burn of tears rolling down cheeks. There's very little relief for the heart.
That being said, the production is beautiful and ensures that each character is loveable and has their own developed arc.
The cases that the crew tackle all illustrate great storytelling, are rooted in creative mythology, and all make sense when woven into the bigger picture.
10/10 drama

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below my expectations

Ultimately the biggest problem with this drama is that the Soo Min / Woo Shik pairing just doesn't work. There is no chemistry between them whatsoever. I like these actors a lot, but even ignoring the lacking chemistry I feel neither of them tried very hard here. Also Woo Shik feels totally miscast in this calm intelligent role, I don't know.
Beyond that everything else that actually matters is mediocre to a fault and that's pretty much it.

The photography is completely lacking even a hint of creativity. Sure they used expensive gear & have produced high quality footage, but it's lifelessly over-optimized & boring. TV is a visual medium & this matters a lot even if the untrained audience doesn't notice it consciously.

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Honestly, Eat The Rich

After watching 'The Elixir', I was hella sceptical about watching another zombie film. I mean, 'All of Us are Dead' and 'Kingdom' (both seasons) and 'Happiness' are some of my holy grail zombie shows, and 'The Elixir' was gonna do me like that? Nah, I was traumatized.

I didn't wanna see another non-Korean zombie show. My trust was broken. That, coupled with the fact that I've been disappointed by some of the main character's acting chops in BLs b4.... my expectations were on gasping for breath on the floor. Despite all that, I was genuinely impressed by this.

What I Liked
🧟The overall story is what carries this. As a fan of zombie shows, I love how fresh (and sciency) this concept is. IDK who worked on the script, but hats off to them. They honestly made this story so very interesting to watch. If some things were done differently, I genuinely would have rated this as highly as I did 'All of Us are Dead.'

What I Didn't Like
🧟The acting - I'll not be naming names but yoh...! I was right. Some of these BL boys.... Please send them to acting school. My two cents are these: we know that actors can get by with good looks. It's been done over and over and over again. BUT!! With Netflix investing so heavily in Thailand, and companies obviously wanting to get themselves a piece of that pie, wouldn't it be better to have their actors do better so they can represent them - and Thailand - well on the global stage? Some of these guys have been acting for years, and they are still so stiff. HOW???? How can you not express more than 2 facial expressions? Oi🤦🏾‍♀️

🧟‍♀️We lost Lilly too early - She was one of the better actors in this (one of the best TBH), and I hate that we lost her to Zombieism when we did. IMO, she should've had a bigger role.

🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️ - Why were the girlies written like that? - If it wasn't Fah with the phone, it was Mook(?) who let's an obviously unstable friend out, leading to unnecessary deaths. And let's not forget about little miss horrible, Prao. Seriously, does anyone know why she was so mean to literally everyone? Good Lord! Oh.... Also, Ning, I don't like a know-it-all. I just... If I rant about her, I'll never go to sleep, and it's already 1:20 am

🧟All the anger management issues and dumb decisions - I understand that it is a high-stakes, high-stress situation. But did we need to keep arguing that much? Not only did it waste time, but it also cost lives. In terms of dumb decisions, the pple in this show acknowledge that they've seen zombie movies before. Now, with that in mind, why would you
1. Start running after a friend who's been bitten in the name of saving them?
2. Ditch the survivor group to go find your bitten friend to apologize to them?
3. Start a fucking cheer routine in the name of trying to get your friend back? Isn't silence the ONE cardinal rule of any zombie world?
Bro... The number of times these pple made me want to punch my TV. Lawd Jesus *rubs temples*

🧟Continuity Issues - Some of those scenes needed better consistency

Random Thoughts
a. Tutor, I did not know the power that you hold. You beautiful, beautiful man. Whoever styled his hair, tell him to keep it like that, always
b. I kept expecting to see Noeul. Zee&Nunew were present, so were Keng&Namping as well as Max&Nat, so whenever I saw Boss, I expected Nouel to pop out, even though I'd gone through the cast list and seen he wasn't in it😅
c. I really would like a 2nd season. The final ep ended at a really incredible point - Full zombie son, half zombie mother, and human daughter... That is such a cool place to start the 2nd season from. Plus, let's not forget the pple on the roof. It's been a month since they were left there. Clearly, they were able to restrain Non, but how have they survived (if at all) for an entire month? What have they been eating? Will the Patron be exposed for his misdeeds? His secret is known by a lot more pple now, so I'd love to see what they'd do with the info.
Basically, there's so much good content they could give us in season 2, but... Will we ever get that 2nd season, or will Netflix make it another 'All of Us are Dead' situation?

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There is a solid story here.

This will be long!! This is a scatterbrained attempt at a review but I really wanted to write one so here we are.

When it first aired, there seemed to be an influx of negative comments highlighting how bad many things were. But I’d decided to watch it over a year ago when I heard that there would be a show in an assassin organization so I stopped checking comments and decided to watch for myself and that is the best decision I think anyone can make with a show they really want to watch.

I watched BR almost like a brand new drama with no expectations because I remember almost nothing from TBOY though I've watched it. Infact, I honestly don’t even remember SCH and SMY from TBOY. Until I checked and saw them on a clip on youtube, I honestly had no idea who they were or what they did there.

What I really loved was the story...
I like that we get right into it from the beginning. The Patriarch is hurt and the patriarchy is seemingly up for grabs within an assassin organization made up of three families with very little trust between them and a thirst for power. Its a rush to heal him or kill him and it looks like a free for all but there's a schemer with a whole other plan controlling some aspects of the plot. That's the kind of power play stuff I like and SCH did well with it.
I was never confused with the numerous characters at the beginning as they were color coded by family and there is no need to remember a large cast within the first three episodes, there was always going to be a weeding and cool down process with a story like that so I just tried to know what family each person was from and that was enough before everything settled.
I like SMY and SCH's introduction, you immediately understand that they are on opposing sides but they are also dear to each other.
I liked how every arc was an organic offshoot of the last one. No new arch felt misplaced like"where did this come from and why". I perfectly understood why each arc had to happen and also the hardships that were part of their goal.
I really liked when BHH asked SMY when they would get to the other shore, it felt like she was asking for us the viewers because I'd also wondered when they would reach the other shore and what it would even mean to do so. But show made sure that we were clear on what reaching the other shore actually meant, it wasn't just a new place physically but a new way of living for every member.
This brings me to the end, I really like that it wasn't a perfect end yet it wasn't a failure by any means. What they were seeking might take a generation to achieve but that doesn't mean they should stop and we can see that they were clearly willing to bet their lives on it and would not stop even with the disappointments they faced.

What I liked
- SCH, He was maybe the first character that really piqued the curiosity from the time he showed up. I liked his first interaction with SMY. The way his voice said ‘only you think anhe is your home’ stood out to me for the delivery and also because it immediately showed how their different mindsets at that point. Plus the voice acting as well as the physical acting was so lovely. And I liked that his character was smart, strong and wary.
His character was one I always loved to see on my screen and he gave off that -teetering on the edge- vibe sometimes. Plus some of his outfits were my favorite especially the one in ep 10, that red and black was delicious and his eyes always looked birdlike to me.
- The brotherhood between SMY and SCH. It really was one of the draws of this show and I think it was well done. It really conveyed the feeling of “I-trust-you-even-when-I-don’t-know-what-you’re-doing-but-I'll-still-trust-you-because-I-KNOW-you.”
It was so well done that you begin to understand that they know each other on a whole other level and respect and love each other regardless. I like that SMY knows how ambitious, greedy, conniving and cunning SCH can be and still chooses to protect him and even help temper him. And I like that SCH knows how honorable, righteous and rigid SMY can be but still chooses to be close to him, infact doesn't see any other options than being so.
We are so clear on their relationship that we have an idea of what one would say or think towards the others action even when it’s not shown and that’s really the best type of friendship. It didn’t give shippy vibes but one of genuine respect and loyalty to each other.
- BHH, so I already said I didn’t really like TBOY and one aspect of that was the cute-voiced female who I just never grew to like. I was afraid that BHH would be like that but I can reasonably say thatI don't think this drama would be the same without her. Romance or not, she’s not just a pining damsel in distress and she was competent and independent enough for me to respect her. Plus I liked her teasing vibe with SCH.
- The plot and writing was really good. The story of a power tussle within an assassin organization is already an interesting premise and I think they do a good job of conveying it from the first episode with the betrayals, plans and schemes. I loved all the scheming at the beginning and could have watched it for another 10episodes. I was initially afraid that it wouldn’t be as interesting when the first arc was done but it was shockingly still good. I found the bumps they hit realistic and they way they moved to the next arcs felt organic and the ending made sense to me.

What I didn’t like
- I sadly never really liked the ML. I read from comments that he was actually conveying the character accurately based on the source material but I found him quite stiff, and sometimes he just looked almost uncomfortable or something. I didn’t hate him, infact I grew to accept him but never really liked the way the actor played him.
- The last 5 episodes were a bit draggy and ultimately made me lower my scores.
- MYM and TLY were two I could have completely done without. I didn’t enjoy their story at all or the way it was acted by both and ended up fast forwarding their scenes a lot.
- I wish the zodiacs were used better and actually powerful or something.
- My worst con are the action scenes. This is not a new complaint for me but the action scenes can be so confusing to watch. So much twirling, tumbling and posing all over the place with a nice helping of not-great cgi. I really hope they improve this aspect of their magical shows.

The music didn't stand out to me so I guess that is both good and not good as it means it wasn't annoying but it wasn't great or memorable either.

Random thoughts
- My only ship in this show was the Li Hanyi and the Scholarly Sword deity (forgot his name, sorry), I thought the vibe of headstrong fussy strong girl was well tempered by the calm, mature, coolheaded, equally strong nerd who wouldn’t and couldn’t be cowed by her as well as match her in power levels. I’d watch that drama.
- Maybe I should peek back into TBOY as I’m truly curious as to what would cause the divide that will bring about that tragic ending for SMY and SCH.
- Mu Ciling was a great standout and I wish to see more of that actor. That character could have been very cringy and animesque but instead he was interesting and I found myself enjoying the way He spoke and his quirks.
All 3 corrupt Tang Clan heads had some my favorite outfits, and the ones I’d wear if I could, looked so comfy atimes.
- Where are all the MOTHERS?! So many dead mothers!!
- I said Tajaja so many times while watching this show : )

Have a nice day!

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God, this is sloooow

Basically what everyone else arealdy said. Very slow plot. Venus confesses to his friend Sky but he rejects him initially and that breaks their friendship. After some time apart Sky realises that he loves Venus and confesses to him. Venus plays hard to get for the next 6 or so episodes which is crazy knowing that he was already in love.
People said this show is spicy and that why i gave it a go, but after a good NC scene in the first episode, nothing happenes until ep 7.
I watched this show on 2x speed and occasionally slowed down when main couple was flirting or a spicy scene came on.
This was a hard watch and i won't be rewatchung or recommending this

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The horrific sickness and diabolical perversion of this drama has left me deeply disturbed

Utterly Horrendous and horrific. On IQIYL it is classed as a romance but this is absolutely a horror sprinkled with inhumane torture and abuse for the female lead throughout.
They’ve already established in the first couple of episodes how horrifically and brutally she was tortured showing us her being beaten to a bloody pulp with open wounds and even losing an eye with blood gushing out and even showing her mum getting thrown off a building and slamming into a parked car to her death. Yet we barely saw the villains get laid a finger on and when they did demise it was short and sharp and quick without any suffering while for 98% of the drama, they were still standing on the female leads neck for most of it.. this can’t be just a cultural thing, it can’t be due to censorship regulations and guidelines because you are more than happy to show us the horrific torture the FL was getting uncensored yet you didn’t really wanna show the villains getting their comeuppance. I really don’t understand. It’s as if the writers just decided that they’re gonna stop pretending to have a moral code because what they want is deeply horrific, physical and emotional abuse to be inflicted on the good guys with little or no accountability for the villains.. and it can’t be just to get clicks and it can’t just be lazy writing. is this something in the psyche of the Chinese? content like this has such massive audiences and are popular. Serious questions need to be asked about this kind of content because all it would do is desensitise Chinese people into the horrors of these horrific crimes and make people believe this is part of the norm. It’s frankly disgusting..

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