Reviews

NaNa Makes Her Move °7.6° °VG°

“Before you catch the killer, figure out how we can get out of this mess. Think about that first.” In S2 we see one of the worst aspects of policing. The team is encouraged to wrap up a serial killer investigation by charging someone whom they believe is the wrong guy. The chief wants the case closed, mostly, because he wants the credit. I remember being taught to respect the police /absolutely/ as a kid. When I learned this was a “thing” I was truly scandalized. But, this IS a thing. The problems the police have now are because they've failed to police themselves. One aspect of that is that some unions have made it near impossible to fire bad actors which will affect the whole department like a rotten apple affects the barrel. In S2, they bludgeon the audience with the level of corruption.

S2 starts in brutal fashion. A man of privilege mounts a savage attack against a woman. She survives, barely. Before ep1 is half way over the gang is running again. They're running men! This time, an enormous wild boar is chasing them. It doesn't look real.

“Have those guys ever listened to us? Just let them do what they want.” The chief gave them a week off, but they're all at their desks, working hard, poring over videos, and ordering delivery. (Apparently, it's “pore-over,” not pour over. The idea is to look so closely that one can see inside the tiny pores). Turns out, they do their best work while on vacation.

Hong Seo Young makes an appearance as the Chief's daughter, Moon Bo Gyeong. Noting that I've seen her in Her Private Life-8, and My Absolute Boyfriend-6.5 already where she plays a dominantfemale. She takes a liking to one of the crew, and the Chief is determined to put the kabosh on that. They further explore the parent/child dynamic by diving into the pain children experience over divorce with the male lead's nephew. It's a thoughtful treatment.

Jung Moon Sung has increased exposure as Woo Tae Ho, a buttoned up corporate animal. His most memorable performances for me to date are in Hospital Playlist-9, where he's a resident under one of the main characters. There, he's the epitome of fawning, needy, goofy, and yearning for relevance. He etched that role so deeply it's hard to see him any other way. He's a great actor. The Cursed-8.3 is a surprise hit in which he plays the cop husband of one of the leads, and that jolted me after his HP performance. By now I know how versatile he is.

Kim Hyo Jin plays his ice queen of a wife, Cheon NaNa. NaNa ends up being a central figure in S2. The character and the actress are quite interesting. She seems to be carrying pain deep within. She was fantastic is Private Lives-8.1, which is a just-for-fun action thriller. I seemed to like it more than most did. She's one of the main reasons why (plus Go Kyung Pyo. He's irresistible). In TGD she's fabulous. She's a ruthless character, but she has such presence and she's so utterly gorgeous that I admired every syllable from her mouth. I have a bit of a girl crush, I think.

This show is good, but maybe it doesn't need to be. I wonder if looking at Jang Seung Jo is enough …🤔 S2 isn't quite as good as S1. They drag it out a touch and some of the drama feels heavily manufactured. It seems to be a case of MAL-content in which they stretched 10 or 12 episodes into 16. Thankfully, it's a mild case. S2 is good, just S1 is better.


QUOTES🗣

This is my smiling face.

Even a miserly pack of wolves can hunt a bear if they work together.

Real men can sleep anywhere.

I thought there was a possibility, but my doubt was greater.

Shazamed: Good Times, by Davey Nate

Age 15+ There's some gore but more than that, disturbing violence against women.

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Tried Twice, Gave Up Both Times

I "watched" this show in November 2025 but only posted the review on Viki at the time. I am now posting it here as well.

I tried twice to watch this series, but I gave up both times. The first time, I made it to episode 3, and the second time, to episode 5. The story is slow and doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. Most of the acting feels flat; you don’t feel the emotions, so the story never pulls you in.

What’s worse, I found myself rooting against the main characters. Phurich comes across as arrogant, especially after Nava turns him down and he confronts Nava about avoiding him. There is also absolutely no chemistry between them. At this point, I would rather see Nava and Prapai get together.

I gave it 3 stars for effort.

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Too good to be true

After a long time I watched any series while airing … the wait of each and every week for the next episode.. too thrilling. After the first two episode…. I was hooked…maybe also because of the leads..He is like walking God….so tempting…But I liked the storyline most . I loved the bold IU she got what she wanted by hook or crook …she is strong knows how to stand up for herself even in front of her father. They both had great chemistry from the start u can feel the urge for them to get closer. The Queen mother is too elegant to get any hate …The young king is too cute….oHhh what to tell every thing is perfect..

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Strong Cast Wasted by Poor Writing

From the very first episode, the drama felt confused and poorly planned. The biggest problem of the show was the writing — it never felt like the story had a clear direction.

The whole villain arc was weak, pointless, and very badly written. Nothing about it felt interesting or properly developed.

I honestly don’t fully understand what made IU choose this drama. Compared to her usual projects, where she really shines, this role didn’t feel as strong or impactful for her. A lot of the attention the show received also seems to come from IU’s massive popularity and loyal fanbase, rather than the writing itself.

As for Byeon Woo-seok (Lead), I feel like the character writing did not give him much to work with. Most of the time, the same emotions and scenes kept repeating again and again.

Half of the conversations were left unfinished and then shown later in another episode. Doing this once or twice is fine for suspense, but repeating the same writing style in almost every episode became frustrating.

A lot of scenes were just people staring at each other or the lead walking through palace halls every episode, which made the drama feel slow and repetitive.

The only character I actually liked was Gong Seung-yeon (Queen), but because of the weak story, even her character felt wasted in the end.

Overall, the show felt below average and very overhyped for me. I honestly feel like I wasted 12 episodes on this drama.

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A Villainess Who Refuses to Lose

The Fortune Writer is one of the most creative and emotionally gripping short dramas I have watched. It takes the familiar concept of characters discovering they are trapped inside a story, but instead of following the destined heroine, it focuses on the so-called villainess who refuses to accept the tragic ending written for her. The result is a dark, twist-filled romance that feels both refreshing and deeply moving.

The story follows Su Yun Qi, a second female lead who is supposed to interfere with the main couple and suffer for it. Unlike typical antagonists, she becomes aware of her role and decides to fight against the fate imposed on her. She is cunning, ruthless, and often morally gray, yet her determination to write her own ending makes her impossible not to root for. This is one of the rare dramas where the female lead remains intelligent and strategic throughout, even after falling in love.

Daisy Li delivers a phenomenal performance. She carries the drama with remarkable emotional depth, effortlessly shifting between vengeance, vulnerability, and tenderness. Her portrayal of Su Yun Qi is captivating, and she once again proves why she stands out among short drama actresses.

The male lead initially took some time to grow on me because of his youthful appearance, but his character turned out to be far more complex than expected. He is not a conventional noble hero. He is morally gray, ruthless when necessary, and fiercely devoted to the female lead. Together, the two leads share an intense and layered relationship built on manipulation, distrust, sacrifice, and profound love. Their chemistry is powerful, and their romance gradually evolves into the kind of all-consuming devotion where both are willing to give up everything for each other.

One of the drama’s greatest strengths is its writing. The plot is full of unpredictable twists, and every episode reveals new layers to the story. It boldly explores dark themes, including betrayal, murder, and emotional trauma, while still delivering moments of tenderness and hope. The drama also cleverly pokes fun at common romance tropes, adding a self-aware humor that keeps the story engaging.

The production quality is impressive for a mini drama. The pacing is tight, and there is very little filler. Supporting characters such as Jin Jiu are memorable and add both emotional support and strength to the narrative.

At its core, The Fortune Writer explores two powerful ideas: that only we can change our own fate, and that true freedom comes when we let go of our fears and desires. Beneath the fantasy and suspense lies a deeply emotional story about identity, destiny, and the courage to challenge the role the world has assigned to us.

The Fortune Writer is dark, romantic, and wonderfully unconventional. It offers a rare anti-heroine, a complex love story, and a plot that consistently surprises. If you enjoy morally gray characters, angsty romance, and stories about defying destiny, this drama is absolutely worth watching.

A brilliantly written short drama that proves mini series can be just as compelling and emotionally powerful as full-length productions.

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Your typical vertical drama plot, but surprisingly funny and good acting. (I dropped it)

Some positive notes:
+ the acting is not so bad
+ genuinely funny in the beginning
+ the FL can stand up for herself and is quite sassy
+ ML is funny

What made me drop it:
-- White Moonlight (childhood love etc.) trope ewwwww (I'm so tired of it)
--- gaslighting and manipulative ML but framed as caring and nice (the FL kinda called him out on it, but still went through with his request) --> I stopped watching here, because I really really don't like that. It was just one scene, but I'm so averse to this trope (especially if he's otherwise framed as a nice person) that I dropped it immediately.

Some basic, prevalent annoyances that wouldn't stop me from watching but give me the "eh, here we go again":
- too unrealistic and plot armoured
- cliché af
- feels like it was heavily inspired by A Business Proposal
- the FL is ofc piss-poor
- annoying Green Tea Bitch
- they have 0 actual time to get to know each other, but the feelings are alr there cause the plot said so

Story: 5 stars because it's your typical cliché vertical drama and idw give it more because of that manipulative moment

Acting: 8 stars because I liked it

Music:
There's no SFX as usual. But I'm giving it 7 stars for that one abs scene hahahah

Rewatch value: 2. I hate manipulation. I might come back to it eventually because I'm hoping that maybe the ML won't display any other manipulative behaviour. I'll update my review then.

All in all:
I'm disappointed because I genuinely enjoyed the first 10 mins (and then they hit me with a white moonlight, green tea bitch and a very ridiculous abs montage (it's so funny, you should watch it even if you don't wanna watch the whole thing fr. It's somewhere around 10 mins, after we are introduced to the Green Tea Bitch)

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PERFECT CROWN STAYS ICONIC!

I just want to share my rating of the Korean drama Perfect Crown. Honestly, before watching it, I was hesitating because the male lead and female lead are usually not known for happy endings. But this drama felt different, so I decided to give it a try, and guess what? I absolutely loved it.

I found myself waiting every Friday and Saturday for the new episodes, and now it feels so sad knowing that I no longer have something to look forward to every weekend.

Talking about the drama itself, I freakingly loved everything about it, especially the male lead and female lead. Their chemistry was just so good that while watching the last episode, I was already wishing for a Season 2.

At first, I thought the female lead’s father did not care about her, but it turned out that he actually cared for her deeply. I also really loved the duo of Huiju and Taiju.

This drama showed me that people will truly do anything for love. When the male lead and female lead faced problems in their relationship, the female lead even lost her dignity just to beg her father to help them, and honestly, that scene made me cry.

THERE'S A LOT I WANNA SAY BUT NOOOH CAUSE ULL HAVE A LOT OF SPOILER NAD MIGHT NOT CHOOSE TO WATCH IT😭🥹

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The Second Couple Steals the Show

First Romance started out with a lot of promise and quickly caught my attention. The initial misunderstanding, where the male lead mistakes the female lead for a boy, was resolved within the first few episodes, which made me think the story would avoid dragging out unnecessary clichés. Unfortunately, after that strong beginning, the drama fell into a long cycle of misunderstandings, poor communication, and every familiar romance trope imaginable.

The story follows a typical college romance formula with childhood connections, jealous classmates, love rivals, sports competitions, and even the obligatory hand injury. While none of these elements are inherently bad, the drama does little to make them feel fresh or emotionally compelling. Much of the plot feels repetitive, and there are long stretches where very little actually happens. The male lead does not confess his feelings until episode 18 of 24, which makes the romantic progress feel frustratingly slow.

The female lead is especially stands out from the usual childish heroines often seen in youth dramas. Her tomboy personality is believable, and Wan Peng portrays her with charm and confidence.

The highlight of the drama is undoubtedly the second couple. Their relationship is a well-developed slow burn with excellent chemistry, and I often found their story more engaging than the main romance. The second male lead is incredibly charismatic and visually striking, while his counterpart is understated and quietly captivating. Unfortunately, they are not given enough screen time, and their conclusion feels somewhat incomplete.

The friendships are another positive aspect. The loyal and supportive friend group adds warmth to the story, and several supporting characters, including the parents, are genuinely enjoyable whenever they appear.

Overall, First Romance is a cute and easy watch with a charming female lead and a memorable second couple, but it is held back by a dull and overly familiar storyline. The excessive misunderstandings and very slow romantic development make it less engaging than it could have been.

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Sensitive & Well- made Deep Story Sidelined By Cute & Comedic-like Production.

If we had no problems at all, we'd never discover anything new in life or dare to do things we never thought we could.

The story starts fresh, lively living upto its name, honestly no disappointing episodes at all. It keeps you engaging & hooked all the way till the heartwarming finale while touching and tackling numerous sensitive topics like :
• the actual rawness and difficulty in ASKING FOR HELP (Pobmek)
• DOING WHAT YOU LOVE V/S LOVING WHAT YOU DO
• PEER/ ACADEMIC PRESSURE
• UNDERSTANDING as roommates and the nervousness surrounding it.
• how EFFORTS IN RELATIONSHIP is important

A lot of people might not like it may be because of the childish posters which may call for lazy, comedic production. But it still stands far above it as the series also showcases the importance of real-life problems like :
• Involuntary Age Regression
• Childhood Trauma And Severe Stress
• Neglective Overly Controlling Parents
• Postpartum Depression
• Panic Attacks, Dissociative Amnesia
• Caregiver Stress Syndrome
• OCD
• PTSD

The acting, the cast- I have to admit that they really did a good job.
Lines from EP 10 which stayed and resonated with me.
° If we never faced problems in life, we'd probably never realize whose willing to stand by our side on our worst days, & well'll probably never know what happiness looks like.

° Sun is not really gone. Sun is me. I am Sun. We're a part of each other. He'll stay with us forever,in my heart.

° Good job for having the courage to show your feelings. We are all humans. Whether we are kids or adults, IT'S OKAY TO CRY IF WE WANT TO.

Overall the series balances the emotional conflict well, allowing us to experience each one of it with no ambiguity. Cudos to the team crew especially Perth, Santa, Kay and Sammy!!! I really loved Kay tho- he usually is potrayed as a villan , but here it was a whole new experiment of his comedic yet comforting character of being a source of support for Pobmek.

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I think it says a lot about this drama that it pulled me out of my drama slump and got me finishing it within a day. Very entertaining but it seems no drama can escape the curse of caving in on itself towards the end 🫠

The first 8 episodes were great, a real fun time. It was interesting to see their take on the monarchy in the modern era in comparison to The King: Eternal Monarch. The politics were a little much at times but it’s unavoidable in a palace kdrama.

The thing that disturbed me the most were the plot holes that they didn’t even bother to explain. First it was the brakes in Heeju’s flashy red car. How did someone drive it to from the mechanics to the prince’s private residence if the brakes no longer worked??? They could’ve said someone at the residence tampered with it AFTER the mechanics but no. But even then, anyone should notice if there is something wrong with the brakes immediately after they start driving. So THEN you’d have to argue someone hacked into the car’s electronics and disabled the brakes at the exact right moment. Or that once it reached a certain speed, then the brakes disabled. But no, none of that.

The next and obvious one is how anyone found that marriage contract when it was inside a locked safe??? I knew it was a bad idea the moment they started writing it, all because of the prince’s indecisiveness and backflipping on their verbal agreement. I can understand Heeju wanting to have something so he couldn’t back out again. But if the prince holds the one and only copy in his safe, he can just burn it any time he wants. So what’s the point? SHE was the one who wanted the contract for security so why is he the one keeping it? The fact that the queen was able to get her hands on it makes zero sense.

And then there’s Prime Minister Min. I mean they presented this character as someone who secretly pined for Heeju in school and had been her and I-AN’s long time friend. He never stopped ‘loving’ Heeju (obsessing over is more accurate) but was still a morally sound person who did a good job as Prime Minister. Even when the queen said to object to the marriage, he said ‘No, the crown and cabinet must act as one’. The moment he decided to let the marriage proceed, he should have realised that meant letting her go. Especially when he never once confessed his feelings. That is until she was about to marry someone else and he asked if she would marry him instead. And even then, she said no. That should have been enough for him to understand he had no chance.

So for him to just turn around and abuse his power as Prime Minister and not apprehend the person who tried to MURDER her (I know she was not the intended target but she’s still a member of the royal family) just shows that he never loved her. And for him to go so far as trying to kill her husband and KING of the nation just makes zero sense. You can make him an incel sure, but for him to have no plan nor motive for this madness and seemingly going off the rails is bizarre from a plot standpoint. If you want to make him a villain, at least show us why he strayed from the noble path.

I mean the fact that I-AN asked him why he tried to kill him and his answer was “you just wouldn’t let her go” is complete insanity. And then for us to not even see his punishment??? In the 3 year time skip we don’t see him at all? This is terrible writing.

I also hated the fallout with the public over the marriage contract. I mean they have no way of verifying if the contract is even real, there’s no signatures or anything that legitimises it. All I-AN had to say is ‘that’s not real and this is slander’. The fact they just bowed their heads and admitted it is stupid. And then it was all downhill from there, in what world would a divorce fix things for either of them? And the fact I-AN knew he is the rightful heir to the throne, all he had to do was take the former king’s will and go ‘I was willing to stand down for the sake of my nephew but now that they’re trying to assassinate me to bury the truth I can no longer stay silent. I am the true heir to the throne and I am setting the story straight’ but NO they just stayed quiet and let things torpedo in their enemies’ favour! Heeju always said that they need to fight to protect what they have and they always held their head high no matter what came their way. So for them to just unravel at the seams at the first sign of public outrage is wild. Even the fact that Heeju had to investigate things herself, track down the mechanic and palace attendants, take care of PR, etc is crazy. What’s the palace and cabinet doing! What are they there for! Oh and that fire, why are there no firefighters when the PALACE in the middle of the city is on fire. Why is it up to the QUEEN and the king’s AIDE to save the KING trapped inside a burning building. Can none of the attendants or guards step in?!! Honestly.

But putting aside all its flaws, I did like Heeju’s character and her amazing outfits. The aides were great value and Heeju’s brother and sister-in-law turned out to be endearing people by the end and a cute supportive couple. Even her father was an interesting character. He was by no means a good father but at least he seemed to care about Heeju, even if he didn’t show it for most of her life. I think it speaks volumes that he never wanted Heeju to marry into the royal family, even though it would give him and their family more status and power. But from the beginning, he was against it. And I don’t blame him for suggesting a divorce considering there were countless attempts on Heeju’s life after getting involved with the prince. I’d call the palace a ‘hellhole’ too.

I will say that I did like the ending and found abolishing the monarchy to be a fitting way to end the story. It gave Heeju and I-AN their freedom and a chance to live a normal life away from palace life and the rules, responsibilities and restrictions that came with it. Heeju got to return to being Castle’s CEO and reclaiming her place as her family’s successor. And now that there’s no ‘nobility’ anymore, she no longer has to worry about being ‘illegitimate’ and a ‘commoner’. So if you think about it, I-AN is no longer providing her status or power yet they stayed together anyway, because they love each other. So I do think it’s a great ending with them able to kiss on the kisscam, a reminder they are no longer bound to palace rules and can be a normal couple ❤️

Overall I'd say it was an enjoyable watch until the nonsense began in the 9th episode and then it just felt like a chore to push through and get to the end. But at least the ending was done reasonably well.

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Well Executed Royal Romance

One of the best drama in recent time that i watched live waiting week after week , really made me tune in every friday .

From a overall standpoint the story may not seem as deep or valued , especially with the ending the treatment given to the villains . But the entertainment value with IU never fails to miss , her charisma paired with bws hit the right spots .

Queen Mother (Seungyeon) totally stole the show in my aspect with her acting and portrayal , hope to see her in more roles .
Jeongwoo role could have had more depth it felt a bit shallow towards the end .

Both the assistants did really good job (such cuties). Ofc our young king as well , did a really great job

Watching/Rewatching depends on you , View it from a entertainment and Romance standpoint and you have yourselves a treat . If you watch for the art of film(like me ) you may find it plain and at times but a really good screenplay makes up for it .

Feel free to share your opinion and lets keep watching.

By: KTK

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A Heartfelt Blend of Comedy and Trauma

Love You Teacher starts off strong by effectively introducing each character and establishing the relationships and dynamics between Pobmek, Solar/Sun, Jee, and Sodchuen. From the beginning, the series creates a believable and engaging friendship between the group, while also laying the emotional foundation for the story ahead.

One of the show’s greatest strengths is its use of flashbacks. I appreciated how these moments were used to explain the emotional significance behind certain objects, memories, and interactions instead of overexplaining situations through dialogue alone. Since the series begins with Pobmek and Solar already in a relationship, the flashbacks become essential in showing how their bond developed over time. Small details, such as the meaning behind Pobmek’s umbrella, are given emotional depth through these scenes. They were beautifully shot and executed in a way that made the moments feel both heartfelt and endearing.

Solar’s transition into Sun also brought much of the show’s comedic relief, which helped balance the heavier emotional themes throughout the series. His nickname for Pobmek, “Uncle Kidnapper,” in the beginning added several genuinely funny and memorable moments. However, what stood out most to me was that Solar did not immediately want to erase Sun as quickly as everyone else did. Instead, the series gives him an honest and emotional conversation with Pobmek where he explains how he truly feels. By helping Pobmek understand Sun’s importance, the story also helps the audience understand why Solar continued reverting back to him.

I also really liked how the show incorporated objects, physical touch, conversations, and specific events as emotional triggers connected to memory and trauma. It realistically demonstrates how ordinary things in life can unexpectedly trigger memories and emotions tied to past experiences.

Pobmek trauma stems from his overbearing and controlling mother. The resolution between Pobmek and his mother did feel somewhat rushed, but considering the events that unfolded, I interpreted her sudden change as the realization of what she could potentially lose. After everything that transpired, it seemed as though she finally realized how much she stood to lose if she continued controlling her son’s life. Her decision to step back and attempt to understand him felt less like a sudden personality change and more like a realization brought on by fear, regret, and love, which finally allowed her to let her son live life on his own terms.

As for Solar, his trauma being rooted in childhood experiences made his behavior and emotional struggles understandable. His tendency to revert back to Sun was his subconscious mind attempting to process and remember painful memories he had suppressed for years. While there were still certain situations and details that could have been explained more clearly, the emotional reasoning behind his actions remained believable and consistent throughout the story.

I also think some criticism surrounding Solar “simply needing therapy” overlooks the complexity of trauma and healing. While I do believe therapy could have helped him significantly, the reality is that not everyone is emotionally prepared or willing to seek professional help, regardless of how beneficial it may be. Healing is deeply personal, and people cope with trauma in different ways. You cannot force someone into healing before they are emotionally ready

Regarding Pobmek teaching without a teaching license, the show does provide context for this situation. He may have been able to secure the position because of his mathematics degree. It is also implied that he was actively working toward obtaining his teaching license, as the series mentions he had not yet completed all the necessary requirements. Sodchuen’s only issue was forgetting to apply for a sponsor waiver, which was eventually approved after Ms. Peng was shown proof of his dedication to the job.

What makes Love You Teacher particularly effective is how well it balances serious subject matter with moments of humor and warmth. The series conveys the idea that life is filled with both hardships and joyful moments, and that healing does not require someone to constantly live in sadness or isolating oneself in darkness. Life continues even while people struggle with trauma, and moments of joy, humor, and connection can coexist alongside pain. The show emphasizes the importance of balance, acknowledging pain without allowing it to completely consume you, while still making an effort to heal and move forward.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed Love You Teacher. The soundtrack and cinematography were used effectively to elevate many of the show’s emotional moments and strengthen the atmosphere of key scenes.

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