Reviews

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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Eggshells

Forewarning. If you stumbled across this, and you’re unaware of why I review, this one could be a bit jarring. If you wish to continue, by all means, get comfortable.

This is no easy drama to watch through one episode and click next, again, and again. Yet somehow, in the span of 2 days, here I am, wondering what it is exactly i want flushing back into my memory as I revisit this initial takeaway. As always, I have quite the unpopular opinions and perspective to draw on. But, it just so happens the one extremely popular opinion that I do share, is that this drama is nothing short of a masterpiece.

You and Everything Else, hurts, alot. No, not in a good way, but that’s the good part..? I was hesitant on giving it a try on release. Nothing really grabbed my interest through any of the previews, synopsis, and first impressions. Even judging the book by its cover, after finishing, I feel the same way. It’s a miracle I mustered the courage to try it out. Well, its huge success, recent accolades, and raving reviews from credible mutuals helped i guess.

Again, a forewarning. We’re approaching the uncomfortable part. Feel free to skip to my overall thoughts at the end if that’s what you came across the review for. If you’ve seen reviews of mine before, you’re no stranger to my tangents. And without further ado..

How to Boil an Egg

First time? Oh come on, don’t be embarrassed. We’ve all been there. You know, it’s not as easy as people make it out to be. Following a guide on this shouldn’t feel like you’re adjusting a bib. Hold one for me. Do Not Drop It. Who says multiple tries are needed to get it down? Let’s perfect it in one.

Step 1: Cool and place into a pot of water.

-Easy enough, right? I mean, where else do you store them. Take a couple out, Do Not Drop. Get the pot and plop them bad boys in.

Step 2: Bring the water to boiling temperature.

-Now i know, you’ve probably heard a different order. Trust Me, you’ll find letting the eggs in earlier to be simpler. It’s allowing the egg more time for its shell membrane to loosen. Peeling should be less difficult.

Step 3: At boiling point, let them sit for 4-6 minutes a soft boil, 8-10 minutes for hard boil.

-Pretty easy times to remember, go ahead an- NO!! Don’t grab the pot by the edges like that when it’s fucking boiling hot. What are you.. first time what? Encountering heat? You shouldn’t have to be told how to properly handle a pot that’s sitting directly on fi…………

I need a minute.

Safety Tips
•Hold your eggs upright, remain steady.
•Keep safe distance from the stove top upon lighting and placing items down.
•Be extra cautious when removing items from stove top. Grab by handles. Wear gloves.
•Take accountability
•It’s your fault, don’t give me that.
•Stop being dramatic, shake it off, you’re fine.
•Place the lid on top of the pot as its boiling for consistency and to prevent splashes.

Step 4: Place the eggs in an ice bath and allow them to cool off for 5-6 min.

-All good now. Hm? Oh, this is to allow m-the eggs to begin a process known as “Cold Shock”. The cooking stops inside, prevents them from burning and leaving an unpleasant texture and taste. Keep them in, give the process some time.

Step 5: Begin peeling under the water.

-Okay, the hard part. It’s kinda funny, actually. Everything could have went perfect in the previous steps, but you can still screw this up. One after another, mistake after mistake.
Aren’t you tired of failing? Slow down, you ripped that one. Don’t hesitate, that one crumbled up from you trembling over it. I’m so tired of having to correct over you, tending to your cracks and wounds. Aren’t you? Are you not annoyed by me yet? No? Is it hate? You have no one to blame but yourself.

Step 6: Enjoy!


To Crack An Egg

Cooking over the stove or adding as an ingredient for baking, this is the usual way to prepare eggs. There’s the classic gentle taps on a counter top or bowl, the spoon taps, etc. As long as the yolk’s fine, you can go about it in any way resulting so.

But what if it isn’t fine? The yolk broke? Worse? The shell’s inside. No need in stressing, it’s not the end of the dish, we’ll just remove the pieces that fell in. Just one? Great, saves us the hassle.

Wait, but I don’t understand something. The recipe called for 2 eggs, but we have three.. Did you happen to misread? Was it just in case one went wrong? Ah, of course. But, it couldn’t be, because these are three empty shells. D-did you remove one? Then why is the shell still in… oh, that’s right. No one’s here. You always do this.


Skip Here

Well, there you have it. You & Everything Else. I’ve come to the conclusion of what drew me in to this obsession over the two leads, it was like reading a familiar book. I could feel every bit of emotion and action before they became overt. Not because it became banal in any way, but because every action and thought process simply made sense for their characters. Because I and I’m sure many others have encountered someone like them before in life.

We have Eun-Jung. Let’s break away from the popular consensus immediately. This woman was not the forgiving, thoughtful, and indulgent angel people have been making her out to be. Throughout the show, and i mean the entirety of it, I’ve witnessed time and time again how truly vindictive and selfish Eun-Jung was, and just how hard she was trying to hide it.

Ask yourselves, when has Eun-Jung ever attempted to look at things from her friend’s point of view? Up until the last what, 2 episodes? She has done nothing but deflect and deviate away from issues that needed resolving to her own, until it was too late. I won’t spoil for the sake of proving my point, but the proof’s all there, in every flick of an episode. I thought i was losing my mind from reading every review on the characters, has my media literacy gone to shit with my time away?

Spoiler, nope. Let me instead shit on Eun-Jung a bit more. Let’s discuss her main flaw, she’s soft boiled. Any longer you keep her in, she loses herself. Ever since she was a kid, she puts up a welcoming facade to mask her insecurity. One of the pivotal moments in the story, causing just about everything later to go to shit, happened in the sheer blink of a phone flash.

Okay, i do need to spoil a bit here, just this once. You’re telling me, all it takes is some crappy ass movie to completely shut off the outside world that’s reaching for you, knowing full well what it meant? Sang-Yeon isn’t the type to call her or really anyone else for just anything. In fact I’m sure it has always been something eating away at her that she can’t go on without reaching for one of the only people she’s positive she can rely on.

Not only has she made that grave mistake, what does she do after? Oh, spoilers still by the way. WHAT DOES SHE DO AFTER ?? Plays dumb. Yeah, that’s right. She plays the blind fool. She suddenly pretends she can’t recall when was the last time Sang-Yeon reached out to her at that point in life, before cutting ties and parting ways without any notice. And not only that, she goes on to attempt shifting the blame on Sang-Yeon for not attempting to call her multiple times, knowing that it literally couldn’t have made any difference.

Anytime she’s read like a book, she becomes unreadable. Anytime her shell cracks, she hardens. Anytime she’s needed most, she looks at how it benefits her. This isn’t me hating the character, I don’t think anyone can be so passionate of a character you downright despised. I’m just shocked at how many people fell for these acts as well. We all know full well who was the problem child throughout this, but to not reflect on where Eun-Jung went wrong, at all? I could talk about her all day. Let’s shift the blame now to our favorite problem child.


Sang-Yeon, where do we even begin? For someone that wears her heart on her sleeves, for someone that we constantly think can’t go any lower with those she holds dearest , she sure knows how to write up a new page and find a new low at any time she desires.

Ladies and gents, the egg shell. This is who everyone has to walk around carefully. This is who’s always ready to crack if it means getting closer to what she wants. This, is the one shell piece that broke off into the yolk, surrounded by uncertainty of her wellbeing. The feeling of loneliness, desperately grasping for someone to pull her out of it. But not just anyone, of course. No, that would be too simplistic, and she’s far from that.

Sang-Yeon manipulates whoever she pleases, to be pleased. There’s not many things in their world that can, and it’s not everyone, that she can. Another deviation from the popular consensus. Sang-Yeon could not manipulate Eun-Jung. Recall back to what i said, Eun-Jung was not the gullible indulgent person you may think she was. Eun-Jung herself has openly narrated multiple instances of Sang-Yeon playing tricks on her. She has caught on to her every time. But you see, Eun-Jung decides to play back when she can come out the winner. Nope, no more spoilers, this whole proof’s in the pudding shtick isn’t my style, go back and pay more attention.

The thing is, they read each other, because they know each other too well. Sang-Yeon knows the front Eun-Jung puts on, and how she reacts when confronted on it. Yup, that was no slip up on the character, she was dead on the marker. Eun-Jung always know when somethings up with her as well, but can never muster up enough courage to tackle those issues head on, and decides to wait for her to come around, every time. Even when it’s invasive of her own life, she waits.

Eun-Jung never takes a step too far from her comfort zone with Sang-Yeon. She knows just how much she’s hurting, just about how much she’s not telling her most of the time, just how uncomfortable she is around her. And why’s that ? Oh, because when Sang-Yeon cracks into her shell, our little egg is revealed. The egg reflects light, but it bares none as Sang-Yeon glances away with regret, knowing it’s a reflection of no one other than herself. What it took to get to that point, swallowed in darkness. What a weird mirror.

Sang-Yeon can only manipulate as far as Eun-Jung allows her, but she knows just how much. But if i were to say that manipulation wasn’t ever the intention, would i seem illogical? She uses it as an excuse. Each and every time, she gets something off her chest that has been holding a heavy burden on her . Things that only became news to Eun-Jung due to ignorance, and the wall Sang-Yeon keeps between them. It’s her way of letting down her wall, something she rarely has the chance to do, with the few she’s willing to do it with.

I don’t think they hate each other. I’m more inclined to believe they hate who they become around one another. Match made in heaven, right? What an incredible yet emotionally exhausting dynamic here. Outstanding performances from them both. There’s so much left open to the audience to pick apart and interpret on their own based on these two. Huh? Everyone else? No, it’s called You & Everything else, keep up.

Well, it’s been at least two hours since i started writing this, who’s counting really? Its my favorite pass time. Let’s sum up everything else.

Cinematography throughout the show is decent. I admit it left a lot more to be desired at times, then the last two episodes happened… Touché.

The soundtrack is a heavy weight of its own. Trickling down your spine in the tense moments, calming your nerves in the warmer ones, very few of, but worth its rarity.

The shortcomings? What hasn’t been touched on again ? Oh, everyone else. The supporting cast is there to step on eggshells, nothing more. You’ll see what I mean at the very beginning, it does not change from that at all. The one other good use they had, died off early on. Fortunately the show hardly relies on any other character. Disappointing utilization nonetheless.

You & Everything Else has become a new favorite of mine. One that I can’t see myself rewatching unless it’s to experience someone else’s takeaway from it. Hell, I’m craving that already. I recommend anyone who isn’t against heavier subjects to give this one the time needed to immerse in these two delightfully delicate stories with very touching and rarely touched subjects.

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When Oranges Fall Is The Softest and Most Comforting BL of the Year, A Sweet Little Gem From GMMTV

I did not expect to fall in love with When Oranges Fall this quickly. After episode 1, I was completely hooked by how cute, soft, and fluffy everything felt. I have been watching so many toxic, crime filled, and murder mystery BLs lately, so this series honestly feels like such a refreshing change. It is warm, comforting, and full of youthful charm in the best way possible.

This is my first time seeing Progress and Almond acting, and wow, GMMTV really knows how to cast their high school BLs perfectly. Both of them feel so natural in their roles, and the fact that they are close to the age of the characters makes everything feel more believable and genuine. They are both so young and talented already.

What surprised me the most is how different this series feels from a typical GMMTV production. The cinematography and scenery capturing the late 1990s to early 2000s atmosphere are done beautifully. I love the rural setting, the old style high school, and seeing teenage boys riding bikes around town instead of being glued to phones and computers. Watching them sit outside reading comic books and spending time in nature gives the show such a nostalgic and peaceful feeling.

The friendship group is also adorable and so fun to watch. Every interaction feels natural and heartwarming. The story between Ko One and Ko Two already has me invested. I love the whole neighbour dynamic and how their personalities completely clash at first. You can already feel the slow burn romance building underneath all the teasing and awkward moments. I just know watching them slowly fall for each other is going to be the cutest journey ever.

So far, this series feels almost perfect to me. It is sweet, comforting, nostalgic, and genuinely refreshing. I can already tell this will become one of my comfort shows for the next 11 weeks.

Honestly, I have watched every single GMMTV series released this year, and this is easily my favorite one so far.

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Learning to love through the chaos

What I appreciated the most about this series is that it never limits itself to just one emotional conflict. Even though the central situation between Pobmek, Solar, and Sun already carries a lot of emotional weight, the story constantly expands into other themes too, adult friendships, family wounds, the pressure placed on children, the exhaustion that comes with teaching, and even the difficulty of connecting with kids when you don’t naturally know how to handle them. Sometimes it almost feels like the drama tries to discuss too many things at once, which can make certain parts less focused, but at the same time that’s also what gives it depth. Perth and Santa’s chemistry really carries everything naturally, especially because they make the emotional and lighter moments flow into each other without feeling forced. One second the series is genuinely funny, and the next it hits you with something unexpectedly painful. I also ended up liking the entire cast a lot, every character felt easy to care about in some way. It’s definitely not a perfect drama, but it handles difficult conversations with a surprising amount of warmth and sincerity, and that made the whole experience feel much more meaningful than I expected.

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​A Heartwarming Rollercoaster Ride—Give It at Least 3 Episodes!

If you are looking for a series that will make you laugh and cry in the exact same episode, Love You Teacher is it. While it might not always be the most realistic show out there (the everyday wardrobe is wildly colorful, but hey, it’s a comedy-drama!), it is incredibly heartwarming, deeply touching, and surprisingly relatable.

(Alert: might contain some spoilers)
Character Dynamics & A Crucial Clarification
First things first to put anyone's mind at ease: there is absolutely no inappropriate relationship between Phobmek and the younger version of Sun. It is a pure, wholesome uncle-and-nephew dynamic, so you can rest assured!

The character growth here is wonderful. Phobmek is such a relatable character—he tends to gatekeep his feelings and struggles to solve things on his own, especially when it comes to his past trauma regarding his mother. He views asking for help as a burden, fearing it makes him look "useless," which makes him heavily dependent on Solar.


A Nuanced Take on Mental Health
The show handles mental health in a way that feels very human. Not every character understands or is immediately aware of psychological struggles. When they finally seek help, it might seem a bit late, but it makes sense in context. Phobmek was initially overwhelmed and confused, especially since Solar's brain CT scan showed nothing physically wrong.

The series highlights a profound truth about trauma: while they do consult a professional, therapy and medication can only do so much if you aren't ready to face the trauma yourself. I love that Solar chose to take things slowly, completely refusing to force Sun out of his body.


Phenomenal Acting & Casting
The chemistry is a breath of fresh air because they have a beautifully established relationship. Solar is such a fantastic character—a total power bottom who is equally thoughtful and fierce.
Also, the Mean Girls reference for Elsa and the gang is absolutely golden!

The acting is undoubtedly top-tier:
- Perth is masterclass here; you can feel every single emotion just through his eyes.
- Santa is doing insane work. The way he differentiates Solar and Sun is brilliant—you can instantly tell who is who just by his portrayal.
- The supporting cast, including Sammy, Kay, and the child actors, are all perfectly cast.


Stunning Production Value
Kudos to P'Dome for directing such a stellar series. He clearly put in the work, even doing proper research and consulting a real licensed psychologist (who actually makes a cameo in episode 3).

The attention to detail is immaculate—from the deliberate choice of colors, ornaments, and decorations to the thought put into the school's name. The CGI, cinematography, camera shots, and settings are gorgeous. A special shoutout goes to the transitions, particularly the rollercoaster ride of moving from their university life into their working life.

Finally, please tune in for all the episodes because the story truly gets better and better. Give it at least a 3-episode rule before making up your mind. The first episode simply introduces the characters and the setting, but after that, the plot beautifully unfolds. You won't regret it!

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Crowned by Hype, Dethroned by Writing

Perfect Crown was one of those dramas that had everyone seated long before the premiere even aired. A cast lineup led by IU and Byeon Woo Seok already sounded like a recipe for success, and adding Gong Seung Yeon and Noh Sang Hyun into the mix only raised expectations higher. The premise itself also sounded promising: a modern Korea still ruled by a constitutional monarchy, where noble blood determines opportunities, status, and power. It had all the ingredients for a layered political romance with emotional depth. Unfortunately, this drama became a reminder that a strong cast and an interesting premise cannot fully save weak execution.

The story centers around Seong Hui Ju, the illegitimate daughter of Korea’s wealthiest conglomerate family. Ever since she was young, Hui Ju grew up painfully aware that she would never be treated equally simply because she lacked noble status. At school, noble students were given privileges she could never access. At home, she constantly compared herself to her father’s legitimate son and resented the cold treatment she received. Those experiences shaped her into someone fiercely self reliant, ambitious, and desperate to prove herself. She builds her success through hard work and eventually becomes the CEO of Castle Beauty, but beneath all her confidence is still a girl trying to compensate for years of feeling lesser than everyone else.

Hui Ju is introduced as someone narcissistic and media obsessed, constantly showcasing her achievements and luxurious lifestyle. At first, I honestly struggled with IU’s portrayal of the character. Not because she is a bad actress, but because this type of role feels outside her natural forte. IU shines brightest in emotionally wounded characters with quiet vulnerability, so seeing her act coquettish, flashy, and almost arrogant felt awkward at times. Still, the more the story progressed, the more I understood that Hui Ju’s personality itself was meant to feel performative. Her confidence is basically designer armor. She challenges the status quo at every opportunity, whether through her words or by boldly showing up to a palace banquet in a striking red modern outfit while everyone else stayed within tradition.

That same banquet introduces Grand Prince Yi An. Much like Hui Ju, Yi An quietly rebels against the rigid royal expectations surrounding him. His untied hunting costume and melancholic demeanor practically turned his entrance into Byeon Woo Seok’s personal runway show. Visually, their first meeting as adults was stunning. Fire sparks flying, Yi An noticing Hui Ju standing confidently in red, the slow motion eye contact. Blandly beautiful is honestly the best way I can describe it. The drama looked expensive, but emotionally, I felt very little.

Flashbacks later reveal that Hui Ju and Yi An actually attended the same school, with Yi An being her senior. Their first interaction at the archery range was genuinely cute. Hui Ju openly voices her resentment toward the inequality between nobles and commoners while still respecting his royal position, and Yi An immediately becomes intrigued by her. Like every classic drama cliché, the prince falls for the girl who dares to challenge him. The problem is that the drama never develops that fascination into anything deeper. We are constantly told Yi An has loved her for years, but the writing barely explores why beyond “she’s different.” Did he ever try to know her better? Did he admire her resilience? Did he understand her loneliness? The emotional depth simply never arrives.

The turning point comes when Hui Ju’s father begins arranging marriages for her with wealthy commoners. Feeling insulted and cornered, Hui Ju decides that the only way to secure her future is to obtain noble status herself. Naturally, her eyes land on the kingdom’s most untouchable bachelor: Grand Prince Yi An. I actually enjoyed watching her desperately try to secure a meeting with him. Yi An ignores every request until she addresses herself as his 후배, the title he always used for her. It was obvious the writers wanted that word to become Perfect Crown’s signature romantic phrase, but the execution lacked impact. By the end, it never carried the emotional weight the drama clearly intended.

Yi An also faces pressure from the palace. Queen Dowager Yun Yi Rang arranges his marriage to someone she can control in order to maintain political influence over him. Refusing to become her puppet, Yi An accepts Hui Ju’s proposal for a contract marriage instead. From there, the drama focuses on palace politics, public image management, fake relationship tropes, and of course, the inevitable transition from fake love to real love.

The issue is that Hui Ju and Yi An’s romance never truly convinced me. Their relationship felt surface level from beginning to end. Yi An’s love mostly came across as fascination, while Hui Ju’s feelings seemed built from proximity and repeated moments of nonchalant love bombing. Yes, they had cute scenes. Yes, they had emotional scenes. But it often felt like the drama was stitching together random romcom moments without properly building the emotional foundation underneath. A collection of pretty scenes does not automatically create a memorable romance. At times, I felt more chemistry from the lighting department than from the actual couple.

Ironically, the relationships surrounding the leads carried far more emotional depth. Prime Minister Min Jeong Woo, played by Noh Sang Hyun, completely stole my attention. Jeong Woo’s feelings for Hui Ju felt believable because the drama actually showed his quiet care and long standing admiration. Noh Sang Hyun portrayed yearning so well that every glance toward Hui Ju carried emotional weight. I genuinely found myself rooting for him instead. When Hui Ju revealed her marriage to Yi An was only contractual, his visible relief honestly gave me peak second lead syndrome. Him telling her to marry him instead if she only wanted noble status? Sir, I understand you completely.

Another unexpectedly compelling relationship was between Yi An and Queen Dowager Yi Rang. Before their history was revealed, their scenes carried a strange mixture of political tension and unresolved emotional intimacy. The hotel scene where Yi Rang barges into Yi An’s room after spotting a woman’s bag while Yi An casually appears in an untied bathrobe practically screamed unresolved tension louder than the OST itself. Yi Rang ended up becoming one of the drama’s strongest characters. Once a bright young woman with dreams of her own, she sacrificed everything under her father’s greed to maintain her family’s legacy as producers of queens. Her guilt over the late king’s death, her complicated bond with Yi An, and her desperation to maintain control all gave her layers the main romance lacked. Gong Seung Yeon was phenomenal here. She carried herself with such commanding elegance that she genuinely felt like royalty.

The political side of the story also had potential but suffered from rushed writing. Yi An spends most of his life stepping aside for his weak older brother because tradition dictates the eldest must rule. Even after his brother, the late king, secretly wished for Yi An to inherit the throne instead, Yi An continues suppressing himself for the sake of peace. But after repeated assassination attempts and Hui Ju getting hurt because of palace schemes, he finally decides to ascend the throne himself. I was genuinely excited to see where the story would go from there. Then the drama immediately pulled the rug out from under everything.

Yi An’s very first decision as king is abolishing the monarchy entirely. Excuse me? That twist felt painfully underdeveloped. If dismantling the monarchy was always the endgame, the story should have planted those ideological seeds much earlier. Instead, it felt like the writers suddenly realized they needed a clean ending where everyone could conveniently move on. Hui Ju gets to continue her business life without dealing with royal restrictions, Yi Rang gets closure, and Yi An becomes a romantic hero who destroys the system for love. It sounds poetic in theory, but in execution, it felt shallow.

Jeong Woo’s downfall frustrated me too. His sudden villain arc because Yi An “wouldn’t let Hui Ju go” felt inconsistent with how passive he had been throughout the story. If he truly loved her that deeply, why did the drama barely show him actively fighting for her before the final stretch? Even his exposure was anticlimactic. One conveniently recorded conversation suddenly destroys him, and after his final confrontation with Yi An, he practically disappears from existence. The drama simply forgets to address what happened to him afterward. Plot hole kingdom, your crown is slipping.

Toward the end, the relationships that emotionally worked best for me were actually the family dynamics and the side characters. Hui Ju’s relationship with her family slowly reveals itself to be far more loving than it initially appears. Early on, her father and brother seem cold, manipulative, and hostile. But later episodes reveal that much of their harshness came from wanting Hui Ju to survive in a ruthless world. Her father’s fury after she gets hurt and her brother risking his own reputation to protect her genuinely moved me. I would also like to formally apologize to Sir Brother for doubting him.

The secretaries unexpectedly became my favorite source of romance. Aide Choi Hyeon and Secretary Do Hye Jeong had more natural chemistry in a few scenes than the main couple had across the entire drama. Their relationship progression actually made sense. Watching them slowly bond after work and awkwardly show interest in each other was adorable. Also, that kiss scene? Not a camera angle trick. Not a dead fish kiss. A real REAL kiss. Thank you for your service.

Visually, Perfect Crown is undeniably beautiful. The cinematography, palace sets, and costume styling were all impressive. The OST lineup, especially songs by Sam Kim and RIIZE, was also pleasant to listen to. However, the music rarely blended memorably into the scenes themselves. I also remained deeply confused by the drama’s worldbuilding choices. One episode gives us traditional palace banquets in hanbok, the next gives Disney prince cosplay energy mixed with modern suits and gowns. Sometimes it felt elegant, other times it felt like the costume department spun a roulette wheel before filming.

In the end, Perfect Crown is a drama filled with beautiful ideas but lacking emotional depth. Beneath the luxurious cinematography and star studded cast is a story that constantly settles for clichés without fully exploring them. The romance feels underdeveloped, the political arcs feel rushed, and many character motivations remain frustratingly surface level. Still, despite all my complaints, I kept watching every week. Not because I was deeply attached, but because the drama remained an easy watch with enough pretty moments to keep me entertained. If you go into Perfect Crown without overthinking the logic or expecting layered storytelling, you may still enjoy the ride. Just do not expect the crown to fit perfectly.

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This is not a love story, its a story about love.

You know when you watch a gay or LGBT movie and it does not center about being LGBT, like I don't know how to best explain it, like it's not just, oh, it's a gay movie. No, it's so, so, so much beyond that. I read somewhere about this movie that it's not a love story, it's a story about love. And that whole dialogue or line, it just touches so close to me because it's such a wonderfully written movie.

One of the biggest hate comment thingy that they're getting, that this movie is getting, is that there was no kiss, there was no heavy romance, but it showed love at its purest form ever. And I loved that, yes, the main characters were guys and they were in love, but it was so much more than that. It showed a whole process of how they saved each other when they were at their lowest. It was two really, really, really good friends coming together. And even beyond them, there was their other friends and other family.

There was a scene where Ryu, the main character's parents, offered the Rumiko the same thing that her in-laws had offered her, that you can come live with us and you're always going to be family. And they both offered the same thing. Two sets of parents who were not hers offered the same thing, yet one was so much more warm than the other. And the other was actually legally binded. And I don't know what else to say.

A lot of the times people tend to reduce queer films to did they kiss, was there enough romance, was it explicit enough, but what this movie is trying to say is much quieter and much bigger. It says that love is not always loud. Love is something understanding and quiet and beautiful and warm. Love is staying and understanding, and it's becoming a home for another person. I think that's another reason why this movie feels so intimate. The relationship doesn't need constant romantic confirmation because the care is already overflowing from every scene.

It was such a beautiful movie. I don't know. The ending hit me in a really good way, but like most other times, I wish I had gotten more. I wish I had gotten to see them even more happier, but I was thinking, oh, I wish we could see them happy, but that's not even true. We did see them happy. We saw them happy. We saw them sad. We saw them go through a lot of phases and it was wonderful. This is truly a wonderful movie about love and how it really is all around us, but it's just difficult to find sometimes.

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Having watched about 10 episodes, it feels like watching Zhan Zhao endure mortal trials

it feels like watching Zhan Zhao endure mortal trials, with a beautiful woman as his reward.

But I'm not entirely sure; Linglong might actually die at the end since she constantly puts herself in dangerous situations. Also, while watching, I feel that the bromance/friendship between Bai Yitang and Zhan Zhao looks much more beautiful than the romance between Zhan Zhao and Huo Linglong.

I really want to praise Yang Yang for dedicating himself to the training and delivering such an excellent performance in this drama. Of course, there must have been accidents and injuries; I heard he even got injured during rehearsals before filming started. His postures and movements in this show are incredibly precise, showing immense physical training. Usually, men's bodies are quite stiff and not as flexible as women's, but in this drama, he is so flexible. His forms are beautiful and perfect, just like a man practicing yoga, yet filled with power. It’s absolutely gorgeous and highly enjoyable to watch, even though some scenes are pitch black. Why does it have to be that dark?

However, I don't really understand the script. They want to defeat the villains but refuse to kill them—instead, they wait for them to recover, go gather more backups, and then come back for another beating in the next scene. What's the point? It's like playing a video game where the difficulty just keeps ramping up. They could have just used lethal force and finished some of them off to save energy. I am totally against this kind of hero trope; it’s exhausting and makes no sense.

The female lead is cute but doesn't seem very smart. She blindly believes whatever tricks Zhan Zhao plays on her. She must be very young and naive; according to the story, she doesn't seem to be over 18. As for Zhan Zhao, I’d guess he is somewhere between 26 and 29 years old."
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Edit at EP 22
Now, the main lead and heroine have taken their relationship to the next level, becoming each other's special someone. Notice how he called her "Linglong" three times; it's a clear message to the audience. Given historical and cultural norms, along with Zhan Zhao's personality, he would never directly call a woman by her first name unless she was family or a childhood friend. He used to maintain distance by calling her "Lady Huo" or playfully teasing her as "Heroine Huo." But this time, he emphasized her name because after being apart for just one night, he missed her. Seeing that she had left and then returned, his joy slipped out. She wasn't surprised and didn't mention it, quietly accepting it.

It's a classic trope in historical Chinese dramas—the audience just has to read between the lines. It's truly funny but sad for this love line.

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✦ Perfect Crown — “Love was never the weakness. Suppression was.” ✦

(aka: I watched it, I survived it, and I’m still emotionally unemployed)

❖ INTRODUCTION: I came prepared. The drama did not care.

I came into Perfect Crown terrified.
Not because it looked bad — quite the opposite. It looked like one of those emotionally suspicious dramas that pretends to be safe while quietly setting up your downfall.

And considering certain actors’ history of “we swear this is happy but actually cry for 3 weeks,” I genuinely spent the entire runtime emotionally bracing myself like I was defusing a bomb.

Instead, what I got was worse.
A romance so emotionally coherent that I forgot I was supposed to be a detached viewer.

And honestly? That’s the problem.

Because this drama doesn’t force you to feel things. It makes you realize you already do.



❖ THEMES: Love as resistance, not decoration

At its core, Perfect Crown is not a romance.
It is a study in suppression.

The palace is not a backdrop — it is a system designed to erase individuality:
love must be strategic
desire must be hidden
identity must be controlled
grief must be quiet
And into this system step two people who absolutely refuse emotional compliance.

So the romance doesn’t feel like escape.
It feels like rebellion. And that’s where it gets dangerous.

Because suddenly:
affection becomes political defiance.



❖ CHARACTER CORE: Two people who forgot how to exist freely


✦ The Grand Prince — “a man trained to disappear”

He is not weak. He is over-controlled.
A man who could easily take the throne but has spent his entire life practicing emotional erasure:
don’t want
don’t react
don’t attach
don’t become noticeable

And all of this is rooted in loss:
mother’s traumatic death
father’s preventable death
brother’s palace fire death

At this point, his emotional stability is basically a myth maintained by repression.

So when Huiju enters his life, he doesn’t fall in love.
He destabilizes.
Because she behaves like a system error in his emotional programming.


✦ Huiju — “rebellion with emotional intelligence”

Huiju is not just “strong female lead.”
She is structured defiance.

Her ambition is not greed — it is emotional compensation:
“If I become undeniable, will I finally be acknowledged?”
And what makes her compelling is not just strength. It’s that she never becomes smaller to fit love.

Instead:
she becomes more herself while loving him.
Which is rare enough to feel suspicious.



❖ ROMANCE: Opposites → emotional mirroring → shared destruction (affectionately)

Initially:
he is restraint
she is rebellion
Classic setup.

But the writing does something far more interesting:
It removes the distance between them emotionally.

They begin to mirror each other:
both protect too much
both sacrifice too easily
both assume love equals danger
both choose others before themselves

And then comes the moment that breaks you a little:
“I wanted to divorce you to protect you.”

Which is basically the drama saying:
“Congratulations, you are now emotionally synchronized.”



❖ EXECUTION: Tropes, but make it emotionally expensive

Yes, the drama uses familiar tropes:
contract marriage
palace conspiracies
poison attempts
hidden identities
political tension

But instead of pretending to be original, it does something smarter:
It commits emotionally.
Nothing feels thrown in for shock value.
Everything feels like it had weight building underneath it.
Which is why even predictable moments still hurt.



❖ VISUAL LANGUAGE: rebellion without speeches

This drama doesn’t over-explain.
It shows.

Huiju wearing red at a royal event is the perfect example:
No monologue.
No dramatic pause.
Just defiance.
“Nobody said I couldn’t.”

And suddenly you realize:
The system only works because people obey rules that were never written.



❖ POLITICS & VILLAINS: Everyone is emotionally compromised

No one is purely evil.

Everyone is:
emotionally damaged
politically trapped
or morally exhausted

The Queen Mother is not just a villain — she is a consequence of suppression.

The Prime Minister is not just ambitious — he is ambition that consumed everything else.
And that makes him worse, actually.
Because he doesn’t fall into darkness.
he chooses it repeatedly.



❖ THE WORLD: The crown is the real antagonist

The monarchy is not glamorous. It is suffocating.

It destroys:
identity
love
freedom
and emotional honesty
Even children are bound by it.

So when abolition is discussed, it doesn’t feel political. It feels inevitable.
Like the only logical emotional outcome.



❖ EMOTIONAL CORE: Why it actually works

Everything works because nothing is sudden.
Love is not instant. It is cumulative:
fear
hesitation
protection
breakdown
attachment
repetition
So when they finally love each other openly…

It doesn’t feel written. It feels arrived at.



❖ ENDING FEELING: I thought I could move on. I was wrong.

And now we arrive at the part the drama did not warn me about:
The aftermath.

Because I finished Perfect Crown thinking:
“That was beautiful. I can move on.”
I lied.

Because now I’m here:
watching edits at inappropriate hours
replaying their gazes like they are evidence in a trial
losing emotional stability over hand-holding scenes
and developing a concerning inability to accept that fictional people are fictional

And it’s not even just nostalgia. It’s worse.

It’s the feeling that:
every touch meant something, and now it’s over.
The kisses, the hand-holding, the finger-grasping, the almost-touch moments — they don’t feel like scenes anymore.
They feel like memory fragments. And that’s why it hurts.

Because the drama didn’t just show romance. It made intimacy feel real enough to miss.

So yes.
I am crying over edits.
Yes.
I am emotionally unwell.
And yes.
I will probably rewatch everything anyway.

Because apparently I enjoy suffering with good cinematography.



★ FINAL RATING: 9/10 (emotionally irreversible condition) ★

✔ Beautiful emotional writing
✔ Strong character mirroring
✔ Visual storytelling that actually means something
✔ Romance that feels earned, not assigned
✔ Politics that support themes instead of overwhelming them

✘ Prime Minister needs consequences (legally and emotionally)
✘ Viewer may develop attachment disorder (fictional only, hopefully)
✘ Post-drama withdrawal is not included in warnings but should be

Final verdict?
This is not a drama you “finish.”
It is a drama that stays.
In scenes.
In edits.
In your brain at 2 AM.
And apparently… in your emotional stability.

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Nonsense in the 21st century

I apologize if you are offended by my opinion.

The drama in general was good, interesting, average, and more of the same and final duh respectively for each group of episodes.

In the 21st century and they still don't have surveillance cameras, a fire suppression system, or the restoration of the mahogany in the castle or whatever their kingdom houses are called.

They never revealed who was responsible for the death of the first King, the second fire, or the punishment of the third. How the lives of the little King and his mother ended. The end of the stratified school. As I mentioned before, a very bland ending, devoid of enthusiasm or emotion, pure speculation.

I liked how the girl's family really became a buffer and support system for her, as well as providing emotional support. Whether she was named as the heir or not is irrelevant.I loved Minister Min because he really does look like a natural Korean with his yellow skin. And don't get me wrong, but it's ridiculous that the protagonists looked at each other as if they had 4 layers of talcum powder thrown on their faces.

I also noticed the cultural appropriation more because I prefer Chinese dramas to Korean ones.

Korea is ridiculous based on its series that idealize the country and its culture as such when the reality is completely different. Actors and actresses can't even express that they're tired, much less have a partner, because they're attacked by their own fellow citizens. It's absurd how misogynistic men are superficial women...

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A Romance K-Drama That Stopped Feeling Romantic

I rarely watch romance K-dramas, which is exactly why Love Scout surprised me so much at first. The beginning felt genuinely refreshing — soft, warm, comforting, and very character-driven. The chemistry between them was honestly so good that it carried the entire show effortlessly. Their interactions felt natural, mature, and full of tension in the best way. It wasn’t overly dramatic, it was simply enjoyable to watch two people slowly grow closer.

That’s also why the second half frustrated me so much. The drama completely lost sight of what made it special in the first place. Instead of giving the audience time to actually enjoy the relationship they spent episodes building up, the writers suddenly filled the story with endless external conflicts, misunderstandings, villains, business problems, and emotional crises.

First the revelation about her father saving him in the fire creates unnecessary distance between them, then immediately after that her company and position are suddenly at risk. And it just keeps going. Every time the couple finally reconnects, another dramatic obstacle appears.

What disappoints me most is that the romance itself almost disappears toward the end. There’s barely any romantic tension left, barely any intimacy, barely any meaningful moments between them anymore. No real time for affection, no excitement, no payoff for all the buildup the show created so well in the beginning.

It honestly feels like the writers no longer trusted the relationship itself to carry the story, even though that was the strongest part of the drama from the very start. And that’s such a shame because for a while, Love Scout truly felt like it could have become one of my favorite romance K-dramas. only rating it so high because of the actors and the lovely ost.

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