Reviews

i too, would love to beat my husband black and blue

comedy is funny and well placed.
lore is surpisingly interesting despite its comedy
im not arab or arabic, but it didnt feel like it was directly yoinking arabian culture which is honestly surpising given south koreas reputation
fl was interesting, flawed, but still made the viewer want to root for her

the ending (at the very end) was kinda eh but, if youre looking for a romance filled with comedy and actually enticing lore the watch this. i really cant tell you what to do tho


really liked how the fl didnt spare ml. i thought the fl in spirit fingers was violent, until i saw ki ka-young

Read More

Too much and not enough, no middle here.

I understand why fans of "Bed Friend" were angry about "The Middleman's Love". This might be set in the same universe as the dark-ish "Bed Friend", but the genre couldn't be more different. What's more, the series isn't even very good as a stand-alone comedy.

If you have read enough fanfics, you might be familiar with a specific type: A fan decides they want a fluffy feel-good happy-ending with some elements of crack for their "fav charrie" -- and why not throw in some cross-over characters or OCs in there as well? -- and then to their own astonishment the fic suddenly has plot? And they don't quite know what to do with it, so they decide to throw in another few comedy scenes and a sex scene or two and call it a day.
This is what "The Middleman's Love" feels like.
We get the OOC scenes of a ghost hunt and a "company sports day" with children's party games; we get the catchphrases and the OTT humour, we get a lot of snacks, we get a "workplace" that is a joke and has no bearing at all on the story, and so on and so forth -- and then, suddenly, character backstory and angst? Which breaks the style and the established rules of the story.

What doesn't help is that director Cheewin Thanamin wasn't able to create a vision from the mess of a script. He re-uses elements from his previous dramas; for example the animation from Why R U? or the over-acting from YYY or Toh's character design from Secret Crush On You or the background music from Bed Friend, whether it fits or not. But he does not manage to make it a cohesive whole. In the beginning, he chose to use elements of parody and over-done narration, like when Jade and Mai "ride" in the obviously parked car or in the day-dream sequences, as well as the use of the "mandee" logo for the company. But then he switches the style to that of an average rom-com later on, while he still tries to keep Jade's over-the-top character.
That the sex scenes neither have any kind of narrative function nor round out the characters' relationship dynamics (on the contrary, they break them completely) is only the over-ripe cherry on top.

I wish that both the screen writers and the director had committed to one singular vison and style for this drama. Either go completely overboard with everything and make something unique or follow the title of a "คนกลาง", "a middle/mediocre man", and make Jade really an absolutely ordinary, unremarkable and middling man. The latter also would have had its own potential for a good and special story, be it comedy or serious drama, in its own right.

One positive thing that can be said is that Yim, who plays Jade, does his utmost to fill the role. He doesn't hold back and obviously is not afraid to look ridiculous, which is a must-do for his role. Unfortunately, he is neither directed with good vision (see above) nor coached well enough to use his whole body for the comedy; and it does not help that (for whatever reason) he doesn't move all his facial muscles to the extent needed, so his Jade doesn't reach the kind of physical comedy that would have been required for the series to work.
There is not much to say about the other actors -- none of the roles required much acting skill, even for a romance.


Was it good?
It had some good elements for a crack fic or a parody but didn't dare to go all the way. Both the script and the style of direction muddied any potential vision.

Did I like it?
I didn't think of dropping the drama, so it wasn't that bad for me. But I also would not say I enjoyed most of it.

Who would I recommend it to?
I wouldn't.

Read More

A manufactured romance at the expense of portraying real people living real life and love ...

The first 8 eps were very good. But after that, the drama got way too generic for my liking.
The introduction of the drama felt so raw where characters felt deeply real and raw.

But after ep8, the characters started to behave in ways you would guess way too easely, life itself was portrayed without its true essence. Everything was at it place, everyone was doing what their characters would have done ...
I'm not sure how to explain exactly what I felt ... so let's say it felt artificial.

The relationship between the cp was lovely and healthy but tbh, after ep9, they rarely behave as raw characters but as a cp that was doing its job to get people to root for them ...

I got bored after they got together, the dialogues weren't that interesting. The directing was generic and bought nothing to the table lol.

The acting was good, but nothing outstanding, the second ml Lai Wei Ming did shine the most in term of skills imo.

Song Wei Long's acting was good during the first 8 eps were his character looked more grey, but after that it was boring.

Zhao Jin Mai doesn't know how to not act tbh. But her acting isn't always that great, often repetitive. Here, she did the job without truly making her acting shine. I hope she would improve her range, she stagnates a lot. I rarely see her displaying other type of energies.

The chemistry between the cp was very nice but unfortunately the drama overall was more about fanservice and a way of displaying what people wanted to see, through a rather stereotypical moral point of view where the leads (the cp) never get their hand dirty ... 

Read More

Everyone played but not everything paid off! Strong start, wobbled at the end!

The drama takes a familiar school trip setup and wastes absolutely no time turning it into a psychological pressure cooker. What starts as an ordinary group of high school students quickly descends into a deadly version of the mafia game, except this time, losing doesn’t mean sitting out the next round. It means you don’t make it to the morning.

The biggest strength of this drama lies in its concept and execution to a certain extent. The rules are very simple, but they don't fail to generate the much-needed tension. We see a lot of alliances- some permanent, some temporary and where trust is a luxury no one can afford. I liked how the build-up to the whole mafia was constantly evolving, a bit creepy and quiet. The overall unpredictability of characters and that made it binge-worthy.

Once it hits the later episodes, some choices start feeling a little… huh? Now, the biggest reveal was mafia and the game lords and the reveal of both of them felt more convenient than logical. It left me with like "So all the build up was for that... THAT?".
I want to argue that the vagueness was supposed to be intentional and it was for us viewers to fill in the blanks. But sadly that thought didn't translate on screen as planned. The underlying message was nice and did make sense, but again it left me with so many questions.

The performances are strong overall. None of the characters come off as exaggerated or fake and the emotions whether it is panic or denial or that false sense of confidence, felt real for a group of teenagers suddenly dropped into a life-or-death situation. You might not like every character, but you get them and honestly, that matters more. Visually, the drama maintains a dark, claustrophobic mood that supports the story well and the overall production feels polished without being flashy.

Overall, it’s not perfect, but it’s interesting, unsettling, and absolutely worth watching especially if you enjoy nail-biters that make you think and give you that constant “something is wrong” stress for no reason.

Read More

Lives Up to Its Previous Seasons

Taxi Driver 3 genuinely stands on its own merits, and with ratings hitting new highs every episode, it might even be better than Season 1.

Season 3 feels like the series has finally found its true identity. It is confident, balanced, and sure of itself, less focused on healing trauma and more on celebrating growth, teamwork, and purpose. This is the most complete version of Taxi Driver so far. The shift away from emotionally draining storytelling to something you actively look forward to each week is refreshing. The show is exciting, fun, and packed with stylish action, making every episode a thrill. The characters and the tone feel lighter now, no longer defined solely by personal vengeance.

This show truly belongs to Lee Je-Hoon. Kim Do-Ki is Lee Je-Hoon, and Lee Je-Hoon is Kim Do-Ki. He carries the series effortlessly. He is brilliant in the goofy disguises he uses to outwit villains, yet just as compelling as the almost invincible vigilante who delivers justice with his fists. He completely embodies the character. My eyes are glued to him in every scene. His fight scenes this season are especially intense and precise, noticeably sharper than before. The wire fight in Episode 8 had me screeching, like damn. And him filling in as an idol group member in Episode 10, complete with a full performance? I was on the floor the entire time. The reverse car driving scene in Episode 14 was so sexy and crazy good. His Japanese in the first two episodes had me acting like a full fangirl ngl.

Pyo Hye-Jin brings a quiet brilliance to her role, her performance shining every time she is given the opportunity. Her scenes are consistently fun to watch, especially her scamming-the-scammer moment in Episode 12, which was deeply satisfying. Her putting the soldier in his place in Episode 15 was equally good. Watching Ahn Go-Eun grow across the seasons from a hurt, revenge-driven keyboard warrior into a confident woman fighting for justice and literally kicking ass has been incredibly rewarding.

I’ll admit, I was rooting for romance, but Taxi Driver is one of those rare shows where I would have been happy whether the writers chose to explore a romantic arc or not. The connection between Kim Do-Ki and Ahn Go-Eun doesn’t need labels to be powerful. The way they look at each other, trust each other, and ground each other speaks volumes. Romance or not, they are soulmates. They are anchors who keep each other present, and it genuinely feels like they would live or die for one another.

The Rainbow Team is just as integral to the show’s success. Their camaraderie feels authentic and heartwarming. Whether it is how they come together to protect Ahn Go-Eun in Japan, seek revenge on behalf of the CEO’s friend, make Do-Ki announce the service over the tow truck mic, or simply share quiet team dinners, their chemistry is undeniable. Their found-family dynamic radiates genuine affection and remains one of the most uplifting aspects of the series. Every member gets their moment to shine, making their bond feel real and deeply endearing.

The weekly cases are disturbing, thought-provoking, and gripping. Each one makes your blood boil with injustice, and the team handles them with care, allowing the audience to feel every step of the journey. Moving away from real-life-inspired cases to fictional ones was a smart choice. It keeps the audience guessing and lightens the emotional weight. There is no longer that unsettling feeling of knowing this actually happened to someone.

The villains this season, Sho Kasamatsu, Yoon Si-Yoon, Eum Moon-Suk, Jang Na-Ra, and Kim Sun-Kyu, were insanely good and distractingly hot. Every one of them was magnetic. They pulled you in the moment they appeared. Honestly, a lesser actor than Lee Je-Hoon would have been completely outshined.

That said, seeing Jang Na-Ra and Lee Je-Hoon share the screen was enough to make me wistful, wishing for a full 16 episode kiss-slap drama like Hyena that could fully explore their chemistry.

Ironically, the season’s biggest strength also becomes its weakness. Because the tone is lighter and the characters are already so well developed, the main cast does not evolve much, largely remaining where we left them at the end of Season 2. By the end, most characters feel comfortably familiar rather than meaningfully changed.

Still, I found myself eagerly awaiting each new episode and never wanting them to end. Taxi Driver 3 reminded me why I fell in love with dramas in the first place. Characters I care about, stories that resonate, and a world I am excited to return to. It strikes a near-perfect balance between fun, action, heart, and emotion. It is a real shame that this is very likely the last season, and it makes me genuinely sad. I would have sincerely enjoyed many more seasons of this.

Read More

Is Being a Hero Worth It?

The Journey of Legend is a story of a young teenager, Xiao Ming Ming, who accidentally transmigrated into a novel of the martial world. He faced many challenges and tribulations that helped shape the person he wanted to become.

This drama showed a rough journey of choosing righteousness over evil deeds. Fighting evil with goodness is really hard, especially when people prefer comforting lies over hurtful truths. That’s the nature of humanity. Taking this path is not easy, it can give you second thoughts along the way and make you ask yourself, “Is this even worth it?” And it doesn’t even guarantee that you will win.

But Xiao Qiu Shui showed us that taking this path is far more worthwhile than walking on a road you didn’t build. Choosing right over wrong is never a bad choice, it’s just that people often give up too easily and allow themselves to be deceived. Even when the world was against him, he never stopped protecting people and even helped open their eyes so they would not be deceived by the villains.

In the end, it showed us that goodness never truly leaves people’s hearts. It’s just that we become consumed by negative emotions, which lead us to choose the wrong path. Goodness is the foundation that unifies the world, and it never disappears.

Just like how Xiao Qiu Shui sacrificed himself to save the world, it shows that true heroism lies not in victory or recognition, but in the courage to stand firm for what is right, even when the cost is your own life.

MY RATING | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Acting & Cast: 8
Storyline & Writing: 10
Directing & Pacing: 9
Cinematography & Visuals: 8
Music/OST & Sound Design: 10
Overall: 9

Read More

for me it's in between average & very good/excellent drama .. rating wise maybe 7.8/10 ..

Hou Ming Hao is a good actor , but the vibe of demon lord i feels missing .. in dramas in which ML is the demon , then i prefer Arthur Chen , Ao Rui Peng , Dylan Wang , Ryan Cheng .. maybe if Wang Duo [ Bing Zhu ] would have been the main ML than it's demon vibe would have different . but out of the names i have mentioned Arthur Chen is now currently my no. 1 preferred ML in demon main ML dramas after watching When Destiny Brings the Demon ..

coming to the story it's same type of happy ending where the ML will sacrifice himself & they will meet again in last 3-4 minutes before ending , but in this drama the style is different ..

in flashback it was shown that Ning An killed Hong Ye , & in the present time when Xiao Yao went back in time to get back Hong Ye's power she became Ning An & Xiao Yao knew that Ning An killed Hong Ye & still in the end Hong Ye still died & Xiao Yao couldn't prevent it even knowing what had happened & actually it was Xiao Yao as Ning An who killed Hong Ye because she was controlled using magic & she couldn't stop it which was shown in flashback but it still benefited her because she got his drop of tear & he was able to get back power in present time ..

when Xiao Yao went back 10000 years ago , at that time Hong Ye was human & Xiao Yao was a demon & still Xiao Yao during that time she had to stab & made him sleep for 5000 years . so in the end Xiao Yao learnt a technique where she can go specific time in the past as per her choice . so when she want back 1000 years ago she knew Hong Ye died in the past still she couldn't change that . when she went 10000 years ago she doesn't have any memory of that time but still she had to stab & make him sleep for 5000 years in the end . so in the finale episode when she went back in time , when she had to kill Hong Ye 2 times & couldn't change the timeline , so going back in the past in the finale how she can change the timeline & stop Hong Ye from sacrificing himself in the end ..

Read More

a love letter to the genre

this is a mid-length psychological dark comedy thriller crime drama (no, really, what exactly is this?) that reads like a film student's last work before graduation, in the form of a love letter to film noir and its German expressionist roots. at times, the cinematography is thoroughly distracting, especially when the framing of characters is so obvious as to lean towards the ridiculous or the low-key lighting tips over into what looks like a stage spotlight with erratic wiring.

but this distraction is actually an asset. in a series which focuses on flawed individuals and a system designed to exclude them if they can't buy their way in, every inappropriate line, peculiar frame or flickering light reminds us just how broken and messed up this universe, and our own, is.

the cast plays into this vision incredibly well. Maggie Huang, who I'd previously only seen in a production I consider subpar, proved to be a revelation in a more thoughtful work. Wang Duo was less of a surprise and there were moments when he almost seemed to enjoy himself too much, but he truly showed why this type of role is in his remit. Qin Junjie felt somewhat underutilised through much of the show despite his screen time but I can't fault his performance.

while I know there isn't much to go on in this review if you are deciding whether to watch this, here is my recommendation. if you like slowburn thrillers, slightly absurd dark humour, damaged psychology, arthouse cinema, it's well worth the time. it's likely not for everyone but where it works, it really does. I have no regrets.

Read More

Modern Robin Hood

Compared to the first season, I found it more violent, with situations taken to the extreme. This made me stop watching several times and made me reluctant to continue.
This time, these Robin Hoods of cons help prosecutors frame criminals, even making a profit.
Their desire for revenge for the death of their partner and for the prosecutor to get justice for the murder of her boyfriend will finally be satisfied.
The actor Song Seung Heon (Ha Ri) always cool, but I missed Kristal from the first season.

PS: Episode 10 is practically the summary of the entire story.

Read More

Underrated system drama

I was watching this when i don't have any drama wish left. I never seen Xu Landi works so this is my first time watching her and I was mistakenly Lei Yihao for Chen Gang at the time (My face blindness strikes again) and have zero expectation with this.

The plot is basically about transmigration FL who was actually NPC character who will killed by ML (who was actually the antagonist) for being witness of ML fiancée affair with FL boyfriend. System give FL mission by close to ML for hindering her erasure from world.

The leads have great chemistry but Lei Yihao still stiff at kissing skill. The wedding scene is most memorable part in this drama. The System was the bad guy in here and the slight plot twist are well-executed.

Recommended.

Read More

Do you believe in magic? Do you believe in yourself?

Do you believe in magic?

Did no one else watch the scene after the credits? Because that is what ultimately made this a 10 for me instead of a 9.5. They revealed that the entire thing was a musical on a stage. It was all a performance, played for an audience, us, and what we watched was the story through the eyes of the audience itself. In a theater, people are far more willing to suspend reality and let their imagination fill in the gaps between sets, props, and limitations. Seen that way, everything suddenly made sense. What we watched felt real.

Seeing everyone bow at the end, the audience clapping, every performer smiling, it was beautiful. Not just a perfect ending for the drama, but for the whole project itself. And it finally answered the big question:

Do you believe in magic?

After watching this, I do. At least a little more. :)

At first, I was not convinced and even considered dropping the drama. That would have been a huge mistake. This was such a refreshing watch. I was intimidated because musicals usually only work for me if I speak the language, but they performed everything so well that the emotions carried through the acting, movement, and staging alone. Nothing was lost.

I loved how we first saw Ri-eul as someone cool and mysterious, almost bigger than magic itself, only for the story to slowly teach us that magic is only real if we believe in it. His parallels with Na Il-deung were surprisingly strong, and sadly very realistic. Far too many Korean teenagers are victims of the education system. Thankfully, Il-deung chose his health and dreams after learning what happened to Ri-eul. In a way, Ri-eul saved him too. :D

Ri-eul’s relationship with Ai was especially compelling. He helped her stay afloat through hope, only for her to realize in the end that she had to believe in herself all along. That is what this drama is really asking us:

Do you believe in yourself?

The characters themselves are intentionally clichéd, which makes sense, especially after the end-credit reveal. While they did not reinvent character archetypes, they absolutely reinvented the story.

Ai, the classic smart and poor girl, does not become a high-powered lawyer or professor. She becomes a magician. Someone who helps others smile, one person at a time. She helps people believe in magic, and in themselves, even if just for one night. She was a wonderful character, and Choi Sung-eun played her beautifully.

Ri-eul’s backstory was tragic, but expected. No adult clings to magic this desperately without a reason. His character was built with care, and I even briefly believed he might have committed the crimes. D: Instead, I chose to believe in him. Seeing him disappear without resurfacing was bittersweet, but I like to think he is still out there, teaching people to believe in magic, one person at a time. :) Ji Chang-wook played him masterfully.

Il-deung’s character, the smart, rich kid crushed under impossible expectations is familiar, but the asphalt versus dirt road and flowers metaphor made it resonate deeply. Watching him choose his mental health over his parents’ dreams was genuinely satisfying. Hwang In-youp was charming enough to make Il-deung likable even at his worst, which was absolutely the right casting choice.

In the end, being a musical worked entirely in this drama’s favor. The acting was strong, the symbolism rich, the metaphors layered, and the pacing excellent. I am genuinely glad they did not stretch this into a 16-episode drama. It was perfect exactly as it was.

Annarasumanara

Read More

Not the Love Story I Hoped For

Even though Eternal Love technically has a happy ending, it feels far too small and sudden compared to how many episodes I had to get through to finally reach it. Out of 58 episodes, only a handful actually show warmth or joy between the main leads — everything else is conflict, sacrifice, separation, misunderstanding, and pain. I wanted to watch a love story, but instead, I got a long chase where love is always out of reach.
There are a few genuinely beautiful moments between the two main leads, and they are well acted. In fact, from an acting perspective, the drama is impressive — the actors deliver emotional depth, and the fantasy world is visually stunning. However, when it comes to romance, it feels like a constant pursuit rather than a relationship. The happy scenes are too brief, making the emotional investment feel unrewarded.
I also wish we had more everyday moments between the leads, or even scenes with them and their child — who, by the way, is one of the only bright, pleasant parts of the drama. Instead, everything is rushed and overshadowed by suffering.
So yes, the drama has a “happy ending,” but it doesn’t balance out the heaviness of the journey. I watched dozens of episodes for just a few minutes of closure. If you’re here for a satisfying romantic journey, be prepared for more tragedy and frustration than love. If you’re here for acting and aesthetics, it might impress you — but as a love story, it left me wishing for much more.

Read More