Reviews

Almost as good as season 2

I'm sure I'm in the minority on this, but I found season 3 an excellent season. If I rated all three, I would put season 2 the best with 3 coming in a close second. The story was great picking up were season 2 left off and the games were more "squid game like", showing a bit gruesome ... it definitely added a plus to the story.
Kento Yamazaki shows a much more mature side this time around, all grown up, trying to save his wife, Tao Tsuchiya. They're a good chemistry couple, unfortunately half of the series they're trying to find each other, so they're not working too much together with the games in play.
The antagonists are another big plus in this final season. They give you several reasons to hate them, and even more reasons to want to see them dead.
I didn't find too many questions left unanswered, as people were complaining about. I mean not everything was explained, and some left to our imagination ... but I think they do a job job at wrapping everything up toward the end of episode 6.
I think it was great how everyone that survived through season 2 makes a cameo toward the end of the series in the last few minutes, just giving us a glimpse into their lives ... showing us they're still around.
"Why is life worth living?" is asked at the very end ... and they pick the perfect character, Chishiya, to respond .."Even if you don't know the answer, it's not so bad, is it?"
Sorry to see it end!!

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Easy on the Eyes

It’s honestly impossible not to compare this with the Thai version—especially since this is a retake of that exact series. And I’ve got to say, I actually enjoyed this version a lot more. While it stuck pretty closely to the original storyline, the pacing here felt way smoother and more refined. It didn’t drag or feel rushed; everything just flowed better, which made it easier to stay engaged. Now, let’s talk about the actor who played Kaishin. He was an absolute treat to watch—seriously, a sight for sore eyes. He brought such a natural charm and presence to the role that it felt like it was written just for him. Granted, the excitement factor wasn’t all the way up there for me, mostly because I already knew how the story would unfold. So yeah, no major surprises. But even with that familiarity, I still found myself interested and invested. It had its own flavor. Overall, I’d give it a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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A stepping stone for historical BL and bl wuxia

This drama really took me by the throat. And to me this was something I had been waiting for a very long time. I won’t shut up from saying that this is definitely a stepping stone for the genre, which is historical bl. I honestly think this drama had everything one could expect and I could see bits of The Untamed here and there and couldn’t stop from wondering what chance we could have had now, in 2025/2026. We've come a long way and eight or seven years ago I would have never hoped for something like this to come to life.

Acting was great, I’m impressed by the two young protagonists. The way Duan Zi Ang was portrayed felt very intense, the actor did amazing at expressing all his gut-wrenching emotions. His character was full of contrasts and interior battles which he certainly showed with Anakin Skywalker vibes. There were moments where I was totally in awe with his acting. I can say the same for Mi Jin, even though he had a bit of an easier job considering the steady and chill poise of Xiao Shu He, but he delivered a perfectly coherent and fierce young man.
The story was solid, in the first half it made a lot of sense and I appreciated the way facts and multiple characters intertwined. Starting from episode 7 things got a bit stretched for me, and I still think this could’ve easily been a 10 episodes drama. Some parts were prolonged, some dialogues way too slow. But in its wholeness I loved every bit of it, being the Chinese way of expressing conflicts. I love poetry and everything always feels so poetic and frail in these dramas, even when things get hectic.
I didn’t foresee their relationship being the way it was towards the end. Duan Zi Ang certainly is possessive and we could all see that from the very start, and man do I love tragedy and characters being overly dramatic, but still, I still think he acted out of his typical self a few times and all the push and pull was, at some point, exaggerated.
I liked every character, especially the supporting ones for whom I'd grown a soft spot. Dialogues were wonderful, not a common script for a bl series for sure. The quality of the discussions and the thoughts expressed out loud, often coming from the heart and soul, was remarkable. Most of all I appreciated how their love was multifaceted, complex, perfectly mixed with both pure emotions and the darkest, deepest corners of a man's soul. Neither of them is a perfect character and their flaws made their relationship intriguing.
All I wanna say to end this is: prepare to shed some tears, get your heart wrecked and your soul absorbed. Get ready for the ending too, which wasn’t exactly satisfying for me and I’ll probably never accept it. In my eyes it was neither good nor bad, that’s debatable for sure. And debate on this drama could go on for years. 1000% recommend.

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Smile Code as Happy Pill

The story was beautifully written from start to finish; I couldn't find any scenes that were off-key. It was delivered exceptionally well by the actors, and their emotions were top-tier. I love everything about this drama. Someone may find it odd for me to say it, but these are my thoughts, and this kind of story is my cup of tea. I love how humorous and emotionally driven the story is. And most importantly, the OST—my god, it is so good to the ears! I love the beat so much. Highly recommended to anyone who gets songs stuck in their head (LSS).
​The Cast
​The Main Cast
​First of all, I love the way Shen Yue acts; it was very natural. Maybe I'm biased because no matter how well the plot is written, if the actors aren't really my vibe, I can't survive the drama—that's my preference, and yours is basically yours, so there's that. As she portrayed Gu Yi, I loved it so much; the way she acted, her emotions, were excellent. Every time she smiled, I smiled—that's how her actions resonated with the audience. When she was sad and forlorn, you'd feel it too. The way she delivered her jokes to Ounce was very funny, and you'll find yourself smiling throughout her performance.
​And then, there's Lin Yi as Liang Daiwen, and wow, what a man. This is my first time watching him, and I love the way he acts too; it was natural, and he's very handsome. I like how he gradually evolved to be a proper human, transitioning from being robot-like to feeling things human do in daily life—that was the best transition his character went through. They both perfectly fit their roles, and their chemistry is thousands of percent top-tier. I couldn't ask for more; they're perfect for the role.
​The Supporting Characters
​They're as vital as the main cast, and I was also rooting for them in every episode. The Ounce and Nextmonday respective casts were lovable too. The touch of comedic and emotional drama is so good; it balances the viewers' feelings. As for me, I'm pretty much sold on the comedic banters between the mains and the supporting cast. It will keep you entertained. Although it's not all pure serotonin, the emotional aspect also fueled you as a viewer. You'll wonder how the characters dealt with their past traumas and current situations, how they coped with the loss of someone important, someone they loved and cherished. And the plot caters to it beautifully. There were no loopholes or unanswered questions left loose.
​Conclusion
​I love how the characters gave justice to their respective roles; it was all fully packed. See it for yourselves if this is your liking. Nonetheless, for me, this drama deserves higher ratings because it made the viewers happy, and you'll also get to learn a lot of lessons along the scenes, be it coping with past traumas, learning to accept the reality that losing someone is inevitable, having a reliable partner in every aspect, being independent, standing by your own beliefs, and loving someone with all your heart without losing yourself along the way.
​Smile Code has its own perks and is highly recommended to someone who loves comedy and a hundred-percent touch of romance. It's worth the time spent. A drama that's dear to my heart. My Robotcat couple! Kudos to all. 💯🎬💕

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The Rooftop Where Music Meets Silence

Such a shame! Depth of Field could’ve been something truly special. The series is actually quite nice. It was soft, melancholic, and visually beautiful, but it just lacks the depth that its own title promises. This is exactly what happens when you rush everything into six short episodes.

I genuinely loved the chemistry between the leads. Usa Takuma (as Hayakawa Shuichiro) and Hirano Koshu (as Konno Ryohei) delivered heartfelt performances that felt raw and believable. Their quiet interactions, the shy glances, and that emotional rooftop scene. All of it had potential to be something deeply moving. But because the story moved so fast, the emotional buildup felt unfinished. One minute they’re strangers, and the next minute, we’re already at the confession and kiss scene, with barely any time to breathe or see their relationship grow.

The theme itself isn’t new. There was a Japanese BL a few years back with a similar concept of emotional healing through art. Still, I wanted to give Depth of Field a fair chance. It had all the ingredients I love like music, photography, loneliness, and that nostalgic “high school rooftop” vibe where everything feels fragile yet magical. Unfortunately, the story never quite reached the emotional crescendo it was aiming for.

Visually though? Absolutely stunning. The cinematography is top-tier with the blend of ocean, sky, and rooftop scenes gives the series a poetic and dreamlike quality. Every frame looked like a postcard. You could tell the director wanted to express how art and love help people find themselves again. I especially loved how Konno’s photography mirrored Hayakawa’s journey back to music, both of them using art to process pain and rediscover who they are.

But for a show called Depth of Field, I expected more… well, depth. The pacing felt like we were flipping through beautiful snapshots rather than watching a full story unfold. I wanted to see them struggle more, heal more, love more. I wanted to feel the connection grow naturally, not just in the last ten minutes of the final episode. Even the happy ending felt slightly forced, ike they wanted to tie it up neatly instead of letting it breathe.

Still, despite its flaws, I don’t regret watching it. It’s a short and calming drama that’s perfect if you want something visually soothing and emotionally light. Just don’t expect too much plot development or deep emotional payoff. Think of it as a series of aesthetic moment, fleeting but lovely, like looking through a camera lens that never quite comes into full focus.

If there’s ever a second season or special episode, I’ll be the first in line. With just a little more time and storytelling, Depth of Field could easily turn from a soft breeze into a full-blown masterpiece.

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Light, Funny, and Sweet

I needed a short, funny drama, and this fit the bill. Was it silly and nonsensical? Absolutely. And I enjoyed nearly every minute of it. I realize my rating is too high, but I derived that much pleasure from it, so judge away (or wait to judge me further, because I'm going to discuss Bruce as one of my cats again).

Bruce Hung played the merman, and his performance was delectable. I'd seen him as a sweet, adorable romantic figure in Hello Again! As a merman, he was fierce, irritable, and clueless. Excuse me, while my brain goes wacky here, and I reveal I think he's the embodiment of my cats. My review for Hello Again! stated he reminded me of my most beautiful cat. As a merman, he evoked memories of my most simple-minded cat, S. He, too, didn't understand human actions or interactions. He didn't understand personal space or respectable behavior. He'd walk across the back of the sofa and decide my head looked like a good spot to land, or he'd jump up next to me and stick his butt an inch from my face (my cat, not the merman). So when the merman climbed on the back of the ML while he was at his computer, I had flashbacks of my cat S doing the same. I could never stay annoyed with S, because, like the merman, he was so adorable. The scene where the merman was eating hotpot in the bathtub with the anticipation and enjoyment of each bite was exactly like my S looking forward to his treats.

Besides the merman's dimples and attractive torso, watch for the wonderful chemistry between the MLs. The story arc had them both growing and learning, and the bond they forged was pleasurable to watch. The supporting cast was warm and supportive. All in all, a life-affirming drama.

I've added a half star for the sweet memories Bruce evoked of my ridiculous cat.

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? “One Boy vs. an Entire School of Bullies.”

Here’s the story of Weak Hero Class 1

At a high school full of violence and bullying, there’s a quiet student named Yeon Si-eun. He looks weak and fragile, but in reality, he’s extremely smart and strategic.
He’s not physically strong, but he uses his intelligence, observation, and clever tactics to defeat bullies who terrorize other students.
Si-eun fights using anything he can find — pens, books, chairs, walls — whatever’s around him becomes a weapon.
As time goes on, he goes from being seen as a weak kid to becoming one of the strongest and most respected students in school.
He also starts forming real friendships and faces the trauma and violence in his environment.

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Korean Vampire BL With heartflutters

Not The storyline does not seem to be very unique, but the cast and the script manage This common theme has both very funny and very emotional aspects. For example, when the vampire gang tries to feed their prey (their roommate) to the weight of which It can be sucked, disguised as opulent breakfasts and parties.

Und Jewoon Torn between his own desires and the attempt to protect the new human addition from the bite attempts of his fellow residents. As is unfortunately often the case, the episodes are very short and so there isn't much time for character development, but it still seems acceptable.If you are looking for a short entertaining BL with an Enemy to Lovers trope With really good Chemestry, you've come to the right place.

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Really wholesome drama

After a generally enjoyable drama which was Heavenly Hand, I didn't know what to expect from this since I was hesitant to watch it at first. A TCM mixed with a bit of kung fu was a bit.. odd, but it worked for the most part here. (even if they didn't include a lot of martial arts) This drama stars Moses Chan, Kelly Cheung, Mark Ma, Moon Lau and Karl Ting as the big bad

Personally I'm not a fan of Karl Ting as his acting can be pretty stiff and awkward, but I found him to be really hateful in this drama and he really pulled it off as the villain. Definitely a much more memorable role than his previous dramas. The chemistry between Moses and Kelly was also fun to watch and Mark Ma was great too. But the character I hated the most was Moon Lau as this greedy hateful bitch who was willing to work with Karl to scam Moses' entire family. It was especially hard to watch when she was pretending to be friends with the gang, along with being a love rival to Kelly. And I'm sorry but I think she's too old for that kind of haircut. Thankfully they changed it in the end but even her entire personality change felt odd as she became not just a teacher, but a kindergarten teacher. It was weird considering that she used to sell her body just to seal in deals, but I guess that's a way to change your conscience??

And although I said Karl Ting was really good as the villain, he felt really one dimensional to me. Like he only had one goal and that was to shut down and sell Moses' dad's factory, most of his actions were made just to do that and nothing else. It was also never explained why he hated Moses so much. Well, only good thing that came out from this drama was that Mark Ma finally doesn't die and the supporting casts did great as well, although Zoie Tam's acting as Kelly's autistic sister can come a little bit forced. Special mention to Eddie Pang for finally not playing a villain and a nice change of pace. Overall, quite enjoyable

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Good fluff but not impressive

It's a lovely story, a fan-girl ultimate dream come true.
It's very simple and of course lacks some sparkles but it's good enough to entertain.

The webtoon was more explicit as far as I remember, I picked it up a while ago and decided after a few chapters that it wasn't for me, and I opted to watch the adaptation instead.
And I believe it's heavily tuned down.

This version is much lighter and fluffy, still as cute and warm but also excessively censored.

I don't think the chemistry was great here, both actors looked good together but on the other hand, there were not much intimacy here so I don't think chemistry mattered that much, they fit and that's more than enough.

I loved the SC story too, Ju Ha was adorable, I needed to see more of him and probably would go back to the webtoon if their story is explained more in it.

Overall cute fluffy and adorable for a light BL lovers~

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The Freedom to Be Soft

Gosh, I absolutely loved this show. I am a firm believer that everyone should be free from the restrictions of gender norms, to dress and exist in a way that makes them feel whole. It’s rare to see an Asian drama explore this kind of story without turning the male character into a symbol of queerness. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it feels refreshing to see a heterosexual relationship portrayed where both partners freely merge their identities without the limits society imposes.

I’m in a relationship very similar to this. I personally prefer to dress in a feminine way, yet it brings me happiness to see my husband refuse the idea that he must be only masculine. I share my jewelry, my clothes, and my makeup with him. Together, we decorate our home with Sanrio characters. We find comfort in softness, in vulnerability, and in being completely ourselves. Watching a relationship like ours appear on screen filled me with quiet joy, like seeing a small reflection of our world finally acknowledged.

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A Mirror to Your Own Heart

Genie Make a Wish doesn't just tell a story—it excavates your own.

This drama becomes a vessel for every dream you've ever tucked away, every regret that still whispers in quiet moments, every version of yourself you've been and might still become.

You'll find yourself wandering through your own past as much as the characters navigate theirs. The happiness hits differently because it reminds you of joy you've tasted. The sadness cuts deeper because it touches sorrows you've carried. The anger rises because it mirrors frustrations you've swallowed. And the love—oh, the love—it doesn't just show you romance, it reminds you what it means to be vulnerable, to hope, to believe in magic when the world feels too heavy for wonder.

This isn't passive entertainment. It's an experience that asks something of you: to feel fully, to remember honestly, to stay present even when it hurts. The journey demands strength—not the kind that hardens you, but the kind that keeps your heart soft enough to break and brave enough to mend.

If you make it to the end (and I hope you do), you'll emerge changed. The sky really will look brighter, not because the world has shifted, but because you have. You'll carry these characters with you like old friends, their choices echoing in your own.

We need more dramas like this—stories that don't just entertain but transform, that trust audiences to meet them in the depths. Let's hope this isn't the last of its kind. Let's hope it's the beginning of many more.

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The first Chinese BL without censoring, Danmei lovers rejoice!

Warnings: Non-con sex scene due to an aphrodisiac.

Tags: Enemies to lovers dynamic, Crossdressing, Cold second lead

A fun and intriguing story, there is humor and action scenes. The costumes are pretty and the set is beautiful. I always find dramas that have cross dressing or confusion around gender identity to be interesting and it is done quite well here. It is very believable that the second ML could be mistaken for being a woman as he looks very pretty, slender and has soft facial features.

As the show progresses up to about episode 6, the romance scenes are all forced with few genuine interactions. The acting is also in need of improvement although it is still watchable.

I recently got into reading Danmei so these series finally being able to avoid the Chinese censorship is a huge win.

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