Reviews

bem machista

pasta é uma comédia romântica de culinária que, mesmo tendo grande parte das cenas feitas dentro da cozinha e restaurante, consegue desenvolver os outros núcleos bem bonitinho.
eu nunca escondo meu favoritismo pelos secundários e com pasta não foi diferente.
fiquei torcendo pelo secundário até os últimos minutos do drama. a relação dele com a protagonista foi tão delicada. embora ele não tenha sido escolhido, sempre ajudava a cozinheira e, diferente do protagonista, tratava ela muito bem. injustiçado!
o chef choi é charmoso, perfeccionista e, acima de tudo, machista. sempre que eu estava esquecendo desse último fato, ele fazia questão de lembrar e isso permaneceu até os últimos episódios. a gota d’água foi ele impedir a seo de ir pra Itália. além dele, os cozinheiros do la esfera também eram misóginos e insuportáveis.
chef oh, ex do chef choi, é simplesmente uma diva! obviamente errou mas ainda sim uma diva. eu adorei cada segundinho que ela apareceu nas cenas.
acho que a minha surpresa foi ter gostando tanto do eun su. retirando as partes ruins, pasta é muito gostosinho de assistir.

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why so much hate:((

i really do not understand hate that this drama is getting from people. maybe plot isn't the best and isn't showing anything new. war between good and evil and saving people from monsters/demons/ending of the world is something very popular in fantasy k-dramas.
actors did really good job, I actually started this show because od Park Hyungsik and Ma Dongseok and I do not regret it truly. I had so much fun while this binge watch.
also big plus for setting romance more at the background of the plot, this causes that action and battles between zodiacs and demons were more enjoyable, not thinking that its just because of love 🙄🙄
last two episode were a bit chaotic because of number of threads to develop and finishing them all tho and this little "apocalypse" after opening Hellmouth was something unnecessary in my opinion, they just lost their time
i wouldn't tell that my needs are that low that I enjoyed this particular show, maybe the thing is that I've been watching kdramas for over 10 years and I see development in the context of creation and the final product over the years...
in conclusion its definitely not "10/10 would recommend" show, but for sure "7/10 check it out" 8 eps are enough for this plot

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bom

sendo baseado em acontecimentos reais e marcantes do povo tailandês, shine retrata a sociedade da década de 70 e seus embates políticos de modo amenizado. o que eu achei compreensível.
apesar de ter dois casais na trama, krailertnaran ofuscou totalmente qualquer outro de brilhar. tiveram química, enredo, conflitos e, ou meu ver, um ótimo desfecho.(claro, adoraria que tivessem ficado juntos, mas não rolou né)
ué, mas trintawan não teve? depende. a química entre os personagens foi bem rasa, então todo o enredo e conflitos foram sem profundidade. senti que o tawan tava caído ali de paraquedas, além do contexto romântico que ele tinha. nada em relação à ele foi mostrado o suficiente. igualmente ao personagem do jj e os hippies. faria alguma falta eles na trama?
agora sobre personagem que me surpreendi: victor e dhevi.
inicialmente eu pensava que o victor seria apenas um figurante, como o jj, mas no decorrer dos episódios, junto com a turminha dele, os protestos e as causas que ele lutava e acreditava, fui gostando do personagem e digo que foi um personagem muito querido.
Dhevi é como o ditado “lobo em pele de cordeiro”. rezei tanto pra essa mulher cometer adultério, igualar os chifres na cabeça do krailert pra no final a bicha saber de tudo! loba.
no primeiro momento, eu xinguei ela, mas analisando o contexto, eu entendi. ela já sabia que era corna, aceitava isso desde que fosse por debaixo dos panos, mas em uma sociedade, nos anos 70, ser traída era bem melhor do que ser abandonada pelo marido, não é? ainda mais ela que é da alta sociedade. ela segurou o tranco.
veera foi um outro querido também, fiquei muito sentida com a morte dele.

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Tough watch

I like to think of myself as an intermediate level k-drama watcher, my favorite category being supernatural dramas...which means I have seen plenty of strange and down right disappointing series. But this one takes the cake! Watching this, I could only think about how this is the Korean version of Days of Our Lives-- overly dramatized, plot that is all over the place, embarrassing "cliffhangers", and dramatic music in the worst spots.

There were only a couple of things that kept me watching: Jung Ji-hoon, Rain, and the guy that played Seo Do-yoon ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I thought that his acting, as well as the FL's acting, was actually really good...they're the only reason I rated the acting higher. The other characters (especially the Chairwoman and Yongmin) were so dramatic and cringy and just not very good. But to be fair, the plot didn't really shine the best light on these actors/actresses. To me, the plot felt like there were multiple writers, who each wrote an actually okay arc, but then just pasted it all together without any editing. That, combined with the dramatic/random music, and the mediocre acting, and you get a pretty disappointing series.

Mind you, I stumbled upon this drama after watching the first 3 episodes of Tempest (because that's all that had aired), and absolutely fell in love with it and *needed* more dramas with the bodyguard trope. So my hopes and expectations were high, which may have made my judgement unfair. Maybe if you know what the vibe is before you give this a watch, just maybe your experience will be better than mine??

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Same Story, Different Title: A BL Drama Without Surprises

10 Things I Want to Do Before 40 had potential with its slightly more mature setup, but in the end, it felt like something I’ve already seen too many times before. I’m honestly not sure why I finished the series—maybe out of habit more than genuine interest. The story moves slowly, and while it tries to explore personal growth and relationships, it never really dives deep enough to make an impact.

Like many recent japanese BL dramas, it suffers from the same issues: self-denying characters who avoid conflict, act overly passive, and often seem stuck in a cycle of guilt and hesitation. I understand that some of this is tied to cultural context, but it’s becoming a too repetitive formula. The characters in this series feel more like stereotypes than real people, and it’s hard to connect with them emotionally.

The pacing is also a problem—very little actually happens across the episodes, and what does happen is predictable. The chemistry between the leads is subtle to the point of being almost invisible at times. Visually, the series is fine, and the acting isn’t bad, but nothing really stands out.

If you’ve seen other similar japanese BL dramas in recent years, you’ll likely feel like you’ve already watched 10 Things I Want to Do Before 40 — just under a different name.

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A Polished Period Drama That Doesn’t Quite Deliver

Even though the series has good actors and looks beautiful, Memoir of Rati doesn’t really reach the level I hoped for. It has some nice moments, but overall the story feels weak and a bit too simple. The series is about a Thai nobleman and a French translator with Thai roots who meet during a difficult political time. Their relationship grows despite cultural and historical differences, and they are forced to make hard choices between love and duty.

I really wanted to like this show, especially because I usually enjoy series from this production company. And with Great and Inn in the lead roles—two actors I really like—I expected something much stronger. The acting is actually one of the better parts of the show, and many other viewers agree. The music is also well done and adds emotion in the right scenes.

But unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s hard not to compare it with I Feel You Linger in the Air, which also had a kind of Romeo and Juliet feeling but was much more emotional and believable. *Memoir of Rati* felt more like a Disney production—pretty to look at, but too simple in both story and characters. The costumes and locations were nice, but also a bit too clean and soft, like the show was afraid to show anything dark or real.

I also think the characters didn’t feel very real. Their choices didn’t always make sense, and I never really felt their connection in the way the show wanted me to. It’s sad to say, but I don’t think the writers managed to make the characters truly believable.

Still, if you’re a fan of Great and Inn, I think it’s worth watching. Just don’t expect too much. There are a few good scenes, and the actors do their best with what they’re given. In the end, Memoir of Rati had the potential to be something more, but it didn’t quite get there. Beautiful on the outside, but missing the depth it needed to leave a real impact.

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Hilarious & warm tale about an actress & a CEO in a fake relationship

I was on reely browsing their catalogue when I saw this drama. I had been looking for vertical dramas with contract relationship and this one fitted the bill. I watched it on Sunday afternoon and enjoyed myself a lot!

What I liked:
1. Romance - They were intoxicated and had a one- ight stand but feelings started to grow soon after. ML was totally smitten by FL. I liked the kisses and sweet moments.
2. FL characterisation - She was smart & quick thinker. I was delighted that she took advantage of their contract relationship and used ML's status & influence to her advantage.
3. ML characterisation - He was sweet & nice. I liked that he was genuinely concerned about FL 90% of the time.
4. Supporting characters - Yan Yu & ML's assistant were outstanding.
5. Acting - Great performances by Zuo Yi and Chen Zheng Yang. Their comedic timing was impeccable and their chemistry was great.
6. Acting demo - The scenes when FL put her acting skills to use were hilarious. I particularly loved it when director asked FL to demonstrate how a villain should act to her rival who stole the role from FL.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - There were 2 jealous rivals: Bai Fei Fei & Yuan Meng. Both of them were evil in their scheming.
2. ML's action - I disliked when he chose Yuan Meng over FL.

Favourite scene
When director asked FL to demonstrate acting to the rival who sucked at portraying a villain

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Genuinely surprised by the warmth of this fake relationship story

I was searching fake relationship vertical dramas and this drama was in the search results. I had watched Meng Jia Hui dramas before but I wasn't familiar with Zhang Yu Tian. This drama exceeded my expectations - I liked it a lot!

What I liked:
1. Writing - A well-written vertical drama. I liked that it took time to establish a contract relationship but the drama didn't drag secret part. The fake identity was out by halfway mark.
2. Comedy - This drama was hilarious & lighthearted.
3. Romance - Slow burn but satisfying. I liked that ML was upfront about pursuing FL after secret was out. I could sense their growing feelings despite the difficult situations they were facing.
4. FL characterisation - Despite the deception, I liked her because she was nice, smart & endearing. She was also a great friend. Zhang Yu Tian was great in this role.
5. ML characterisation - Overall he was sweet & straightforward. I liked that he didn't deny his feelings for FL despite the deception.
6. Supporting characters - FL's bestie was awesome! I also liked ML's grandma & FL's mother - the former was funny while the latter gave food for thought.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Thankfully there were no evil people in this drama. FL's friend Lin Feng was conniving and I was delighted FL immediately realised his bad behaviour. Director Hu was disgruntled employee who was angry for getting caught at receiving kickbacks.

Favourite scene
When FL's mother talked to ML

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A Touching Story That Loses Its Way

There are some dramas you know will be a tearjerker from the very beginning, and Hi Bye, Mama! lives up to that expectation completely. The show’s emotional foundation is its greatest strength: a truly heartbreaking narrative centered on a loving wife who dies and the family she leaves behind. We're given a beautiful glimpse into her and her husband's life together, making his grief and her spiritual return all the more poignant. Each episode is a testament to the pain of loss and the power of love that transcends even death.

A standout element of the story is the gentle and empathetic portrayal of the new wife. Instead of being a source of conflict, she is a genuinely kind character, making it impossible for the audience to dislike her. This moral complexity elevates the drama beyond a typical love triangle, focusing instead on the shared love for the same person and, ultimately, a child.

However, the show's greatest strength is also its biggest weakness. While the main story is captivating, the pacing is significantly disrupted by what feels like unnecessary side plots involving other ghosts. These stories, while sometimes charming, add little to the main narrative and often feel like filler. They were so boring that I found myself fast-forwarding through them just to get back to the main characters.

In the end, I had to drop the drama midway through. A 16-episode run is already a long commitment, and when half of that time is filled with irrelevant side characters, it becomes a shame. It's a testament to how good the main story is that it kept me going as long as it did. Ultimately, the beautiful core of the drama is diluted by the filler, preventing it from being the perfect show it could have been. It's a missed opportunity, but the moments of pure, heartbreaking emotion make it an experience worth at least a partial journey.

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from ↘️to↗️ True to its title.

It has its own highs and lows. There were times I felt like giving up watching, but as always, I stayed—and eventually, it started to become more interesting to my taste when the truth about the main leads was finally revealed on both sides. I even had to restrain myself from enjoying their chemistry. 🤦🏻‍♀️😭🤦🏻‍♀️😭

The first few episodes were so-so until it reached a certain point. I like that they always get justice. However, it's kind of unbelievable at times when the male lead is always three steps ahead in every situation. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 (Not just him, but the female lead as well.) He did make a few mistakes, which helped made him look a little more human. Maybe this was their way of compensating for making them both suffer early in the drama? 🤣🤭🤣🤭

I don't know if it's just me, but I believe the female lead's hairstyle doesn't help accentuate her beauty. There's an overemphasis on her upper head—since it's already wide and her chin is narrow, it makes her head look big and bulky. If I'm not mistaken, she seems to have an inverted triangle face shape due to her wide forehead and narrow chin. She's prettier when her hair is down. However, I'm not well-versed in the hairstyles of people from their era, so... 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Her character is sometimes too stubborn for her own safety. Sigh.

When it comes to the male lead, he seemed smitten early in the drama, but later he came across as too self-assured—like he knew the female lead wouldn’t turn him down. Even if you're incredibly smart, doubts still linger when feelings are true. He's a good actor and quite suited for serious, masculine roles, but I didn’t see love in his eyes in the latter episodes. Unlike the female lead, whose affections toward him visibly progressed through her facial expressions, especially after the dynamics shifted.

I've heard a lot of comments about the female lead's voice, and yes—at first, I was kind of surprised that that's how she truly sounds. It's cute, and I appreciate that it's not performative. The male lead's voice is soothing to the ears when he speaks calmly, but it becomes quite authoritative when he's angry. Versatile, indeed.

The supporting characters are impressive too, especially the elders in the Lou Family—their acting really stands out. I love the second wife of the male lead's father the most; grandma comes second. As for the male villain in their love story, he’s handsome, but he has such a strong presence that I get genuinely scared and anxious whenever he appears on screen! 😭🤦🏻‍♀️😭🤦🏻‍♀️

It may not be truly well-written, with some unbelievable and irresponsible characters—excluding the villains, of course—and unrealistic plot twists, but overall, I enjoyed it. I just wish there were more wholesome, fluffy moments between the main leads.

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Loved loved this show if the actors did not awards
Someone in industry is crazy. It was a wild ride for sure, a little hard to follow till I figured it out.
If the two male leads are not friends from appearing together in this film, I would be sorry. Not much romance as all us fabs are of Lee Dong Wook , but still his acting is stellar . Loved the brotherhood formed from male leads in show . And the Beautiful smiles of both of them . I pray they have won great recognition from industry in these roles. It would be great to see them again making another film together. Please watch all who have not done so, I will watch many times. Oh almost forgot the action scenes were fantastic . Great ride with show .

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Overall ok historical drama

I like historical dynasty drama with a mix of palace scheme and fight against other country, ML with great martial skill and FL with brain. This drama started off like that however the story is not well tailored together, it's jumping here and there through FL backlash just bit and pieces..

Will they tell how in the past life from a meek girl to change completely to become a saintess who managed to kill the high and above royal princess ? It was told that she turned against her own country to avenge her husband but when she woke up her first line was "why did you kill me?", not showing even a bit of surprise nor glad that he was alive. Her character is someehat badly written from the start.

Then there's the part where his brother was saved from the river. He was such a weak man who is not disciplined how could he withstand the test of burnt on his chest when he pretended death? Secondly he can't swim to start with, how was he not drawn after he's thrown into the river with bad wound..

Yes its nice to see him alive as he's such a cheerful character but it makes more sense that he's really dead from the torture since the writer wouldn't let him escape the hands of the princess regardless the FL intervention in the second life.

The almighty and scheming royal princess who loves her daughter and spoils her actually lets her daughter marry a nobody just because of a prior agreement? Regardless how her daughter cried to her opposing it. Seriously out of character. She killed the guy's whole family and she wasn't at all suspicious that he is coming for his revenge? Seriously????

Writer please can do better job next time to make characters more consistently please.

Overall, it's still nice to watch alot of actions on this drama. There's the classic family pressure from the matriach and plotting, and FL outsmarted them in the second life, saving her loved ones from the danger.

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another xiao zhan acting conviction alertt

As someone who loves male-centric and political dramas, this series never disappoints. All the positive reviews I read about Legend of Zang Hai before watching it were not exaggerated—it truly is a great series.

Xiao Zhan’s acting is consistently on point. What I admire most about him is his willingness to explore diverse roles, and he always executes them so well. This is the kind of show you want to marinate because every episode keeps the plot engaging—never a dull moment.

I also love strong female leads like Xiang Antu, portrayed by Zhang Jingyi. She really embodied her character with conviction. The acting of all the cast is excellent, and the storyline keeps you guessing—you genuinely never know who to trust. I especially enjoy smart, cunning male leads, and I appreciate that this series doesn't rely on the stereotypical "invincible" male lead trope. In fact, it’s refreshing to see the male lead depend on the female lead in sword fighting and physical battles—something rare in dramas.

Another thing, it felt a bit out of place to see a queen character with obvious Botox and lip fillers—it breaks the portrayal in a historical setting. Not hating tho, just found it distracting.

Sa villains sad, wa kaayo ko na-satisfy sa ilang pagkamatay oi samot na si zhao bingwen, like I want a brutal death for that mofo pero okay since namatay man sad siya sa something nga obsessed siya which is the gui seal.

That said, this drama has it all: action, romance, suspense, and political intrigue. It’s a must-watch, seriously. And lastly, the chemistry between Zang Hai and Zhuang Zhixing is chef's kiss lmaoo

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If Legend of the Female General is an 8.6 this one is an 11!

Under the Moonlight is a criminally underrated drama that deserves far more attention. Instead of relying on tired tropes, it offers a mature mystery and investigation story with characters who feel genuinely alive.

The cinematography is very, very nice, with realistic tones, atmospheric settings, and costumes that add to the sense of authenticity. Political intrigue, carefully paced romance, and nuanced character development all combine to create a drama that rewards viewers who want more than surface-level storytelling.

It is hard to believe this sits at just a 7.7 rating. Do not let the numbers fool you: Under the Moonlight is a gripping and beautifully crafted hidden gem, one of the most satisfying dramas of its kind.

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Dare to be Different

One of the most anticipated BLs of the year, the comeback series of ApoMile. Visually, it did not disappoint. The cinematography was absolutely stunning, every frame felt like it was pulled straight from a high-fashion editorial. The production design was rich, layered, and clearly expensive—like, you could feel the budget in every scene. It had that glossy, cinematic sheen that made it stand out from the usual BL fare. What really set it apart was how bold it was. It felt more like an art film than a typical BL series. You could tell the creators wanted to push boundaries and elevate the genre. That said… the storytelling didn’t quite match the visual ambition. Some scenes dragged on way longer than they needed to, and the emotional beats—while intense—sometimes tipped into melodrama. There were moments where I found myself wishing for tighter pacing or more dynamic dialogue to keep things moving. It’s like the show was so focused on being beautiful that it forgot to be engaging in parts. Still, it’s a solid watch. ApoMile’s chemistry is undeniable, and the ambition behind the project deserves props. I’d give it a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars—worth watching, but not quite the masterpiece it could’ve been.

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