Reviews

A Storm Worth Watching!

I’m honestly loving this show right now. Finally, a solid political K-drama that dares to bring back a North Korea–South Korea love angle (it instantly gave me Crash Landing on You vibes, though the story here is totally different).
The plot is gripping, the cast is doing a great job, and while the humor is almost missing (guess we can’t expect too many jokes in politics + cross-border romance 😅), the drama keeps you hooked. Music-wise, it’s a little underwhelming, but the emotions more than make up for it.
My absolute fav moment (up till Ep. 7) is when the male lead says to the female lead: “Can you pretend this is one of the ordinary days.” Those words might sound simple, but in that scene? Pure magic. ✨
So if you’re a fan of action, politics, and romance all tangled together—Tempest is definitely one to add to your watchlist!

P.S.- Finished watching this on 2nd Oct 2025

Read More

Absolute Banger till first 19 episodes.

The first arc of the drama is really amazing and deserves all ten stars. I'd recommend this show just for those 19 ep. The second arc though? Bah 🥴

I'm not saying this because I dislike complications or tragedy but because the writing in the second half is genuinely awful. It seemed like the characters had no development in the span of three years and were just stuck being shadows of their past selves. The consequences of their actions do not seem to inspire any change in their outlook. The story seems to be in a state of complete limbo, it does not move forward but just keeps referencing the past. This kind of lazy writing is what makes the second part feels like a less charming reenactment of the first part with nothing new to add. The ML's character was also really inconsistent in the second half, like they weren't sure what they wanted to do with him.

Moreover, there's no satisfactory resolution of the conflicts that are set up, both in the terms of the romance and revenge arcs. As the audience we are baited into watching these episodes for the epic downfall of their enemies WHICH NEVER HAPPENS. Instead we are fed some sloppy shit about how everyone makes mistakes and all that like!!? That Gao dude is literally a wife beater what do you mean he gets a redemption arc? What was the point of setting up the stage for their battle then? In terms of romance the conflict between the two characters never gets the kind of treatment it deserves. They just sort of brush it under the table with one measly apology from ML. The show would have been much more meaningful if the whole revenge fiasco had made both ML and FL reflect on themselves and grow as people. Especially the ML, the lack of a proper grovel from his side really makes the second part feel so superficial and makes the FL seem like a doormat.

I'd suggest you to stop watching after their graduation party scene in ep 19 and give them a happy ending in your mind.

Read More

In the end, only one Rider can remain.

One of the more popular and highly regarded Kamen Rider shows, Ryuki, is an odd beast. Its fifty-episode length certainly feels unwarranted, but when combined with the show's complex depiction of justice and outstandingly choreographed action, it can make for immensely satisfying viewing. The humour doesn't always work and can even be detrimental to the tone the series is trying to maintain, especially given the high amount of emotional plot beats during the final stretch. Many episodes feel very meandering, focusing on a small cast of characters and emphasising the sillier elements; it all feels like a different show entirely, where the Rider Fight is merely an afterthought.

It's difficult to buy into Shinji's antics at the start, but thankfully, it seems the writers realised this and gave us a second Rider to follow right from the get-go with Ren. They make for an intriguing double act early on, with Shinji's carefree attitude contrasting heavily with Ren's more personal involvement in the big battle royale. The problem arises when nearly every character introduced, even the small one-offs, has their own arc and journey, which leaves many of the leads fighting for screentime; it makes the series feel cramped when it has a whole other dimension to explore.

As this show features a whopping ten Riders to keep track of, with some having a greater impact than others, it can be a challenging follow. Some turn up and leave just as quickly as they are introduced, while others stick around for a lot longer. Imperer and Scissors are examples of the former more than the latter. Their ultimate deaths are also a mixed bag, with Scissors' demise only there to serve as a warning to the fate that will befall the rest of the cast, while Raia's death is utterly soul-destroying, signalling a change in direction for the rest of the run.

Production-wise, it feels very much of its time; the reliance on CG ultimately dates the show quite severely, but the direction usually more than makes up for it with the musical score being generally delightful to listen to, even if it's somewhat repetitive. The cast all do a great job with the material, bringing a range of different levels of energy to their roles. It's hard to single out any standouts when they are all good.

Honestly, I think Ryuki is just alright in the end. The mystery regarding the Kanzaki siblings doesn't do a lot for me, especially when it's plainly evident that Shiro is the big bad from the moment he's first mentioned. Still, when the show is focused on each Rider and their individual goals, I was hooked. It's a show where I wish the core elements were just a bit more consistent because it had all the potential to be a winner, especially with its brutal gut-punch of an ending. Still, I did enjoy watching the show, and am looking forward to checking out Dragon Knight one of these days.

Read More

Best Modern C Drama this year so far

The acting, Storyline,flow and chemistry between the actors is top Notch.Though there were concerns about the male lead being older,I find that his maturity adds to the seriousness of this serie.The story is something that doesn't feel repetitive, because we have had a lot of the same girl gets reborn, comes back for revenge, gets reincarnation plots this year,so this story feels a tadbit fresh.Its a girl fighting for her way in the world without having to die first then get a new prospective at her life.she is a strong female lead who used the trauma she went through growing up as fuel to attain something she wouldn't have otherwise,it is more realistic than reincarnation in my opinion.

Read More

Fantasy vs. reality

This is a sweet and fluffy drama, with just enough drama for it to be a drama. The acting/directing could be better, I wouldnt say it was bad but it felt a bit awkwered at times and could probably easily be fixed by more experience and directing.

The characters are interesting but a lot is under explored and could use more screen time and depth but where rushed instead leaving me with a slight feeling of meeh... However it does have its fanboy charm... And does have a nice touch of idol vs human behind idol idea to it.

If they were to make a season 2 I would probably watch it, not that they have much more to explore but more out of curiosity of where they would go with this,

Read More

My Review of The Glory (雁回时) ?

This might honestly be one of the best historical dramas I’ve ever watched. Chen Du Ling’s acting was absolutely top tier—her portrayal of Zhuang Han Yan was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

One of the things that stood out to me the most was the mother-daughter relationship. It was so beautifully written and so painfully real. I loved how they showed the deep bond between them, but also the distance the daughter desperately wanting to be close, while the mother kept pushing her away. It felt like a constant tug-of-war between love and pain.

The scene where it was revealed that the mother hadn’t put Zhuang Han Yan’s name in the family register completely broke me. 😭 I cried so much because it felt like she was about to lose her mother all over again, just when she had finally found her. That moment captured so much raw emotion and was one of the most unforgettable parts of the drama for me.

What really impressed me was how Zhuang Han Yan endured so many hardships, yet still stood tall. She’s strong, resilient, and refuses to let her painful past define her future. Watching her journey gave me so much admiration for her character.

And I can’t forget to mention the OST The music was stunning and carried so much emotion that it elevated the drama even more. Every time I hear 剪 (Cut) by Li Mofei and Jila Shilin, I start tearing up all over again. The way that song feels like a dialogue between mother and daughter is such a unique and beautiful concept—it perfectly expresses how a mother’s love can remain silent, but everlasting.

Overall, The Glory left a deep impression on me. It wasn’t just entertaining, it was moving and unforgettable. I truly believe it’s a masterpiece worth watching.

Read More

I'm sorry but I didn't like it

Started this with high expectations considering how people were raving about it and some even rewatched it 7x. First 10 episodes were good but went downhill from there. The reason I would continue to watch this is solely because of Arthur Chen. He was the only one carrying the whole drama. Female lead was such a weak character and I disliked her. While watching in Youku, I could read comments about her and some people liked her and some people didn't. The whole story was too long and just felt dragging. Found myself fastforwarding and cringing from some too-sweet scenes where ML just goes out of his original character and becomes the loveydovey loser dude. Sorry but I dropped it.

Read More

A beauty that can't hold you strongly....

Well... I must say this show is filmed beautifully. I was almost at awe at every frame, everything looked so good,set designs,costume,visual effects,action scenes,camera angle.... None of these has disappointed me.Also that little happy dance at the end of each episode was really refreshing,after whatever the mess they created in every episode.

All the actors looked amazing...The costumes, styling of everyone especially the male actors were so good!!I couldnt take my eyes off of ZYC,he looks majestic in every frame.Whoever styled him as Bingyi deserved an applause,he was looking ethereal!!!Even the villains or "Evil" demons looked terrific, especially Li Lun. The main trio, ZYZ,ZYC and Li Lun were just gorgeous whenever they appeared on screen.Probably one of the saving graces of the show.

The show did a good job in portraying the backstory of all of them.ZYZ, as a demon with morality,humanized emotions and lots of guilt and trauma who loves to make jokes and have fun was done brilliantly by Neo Hou.Second male lead was good too,his character development was very evident,his persona as a man who is cold outside cause of traumatic loss of his family,him growing up with hatred in his mind towards ZYZ but later letting himself grow as a better person who understood ZYZ and becoming his protector and friend/soulmate was portrayed rightfully.
There is amazing bromance,understanding and connection between him and ZYZ.From nemesis to besties,their relationship was the best one.They even had better chemistry than the main couple.

Now,about the other casts of the demon hunter group...Was the female lead casted only to cry and stand helplessly shouting for either ZYZ or ZYC to save her??? Isn’t she supposed to be a goddess... Yeah as per story she is weak cause the Baize token is lost/broken or whatever... But that doesn’t mean you would waste every potential of one of the most important characters of the show.When you are a part of a "Demon Hunter" team, the least you should know is how to fight and protect yourself. She does almost nothing every episode,her team mates are dying left and right and she's just there staring blankly...does it even make sense?????Two male leads keep saving her every time,her team mates are fighting for their lives...and she still somehow manages time to sit on the floor drowning in her tears!!! There's not even much chemistry going on between her and male lead,their relationship looks forced cause she doesn’t show any emotion except crying.... Even if she wasn’t in the show,I don't think there would be much of a problem.

Among the other teammates, I liked the Mountain God the most....and unfortunately he was the most ignored one. He cared about everyone,always made everyone smile, even gave his life to save them... And what did he get??? Nothing. They didn't even acknowledge him as one of them when two leads were talking with the ancestors.I really didn't understand this bit.The archer girl was extremely good in action scenes,but I just couldn’t look at her too much of a stone faced acting. She was even crying in stone face. The kid doctor and his screaming was just pure annoyance.But he did a great job as a possessed demon.

Li Lun...as a villain,his pov was quite understandable! He got betrayed by his best friend,abandoned by him,got caged for eternity,he witnessed his bestie giving more attention and showing more compassion to his new found human family than him..... He had every reason to be a villain.Yes he was wrong for killing those human but from his pov,it was his first time out of wilderness and he witnessed how vile human were while using low spirited demons only for their own benefit.He didn’t even get the chance to know about human. ZYZ was known to human nature,he knew they were not all bad,Li Lun didn’t. And ZYZ didn’t even try to sympathize with him...he just abandoned his best friend.ZYZ got new friends,new family...Li Lun was left all alone,he had none. He was one unfortunate misunderstood anti-hero.He could be used as one of the most powerful entity who was also at the same level of ZYZ,but that potential got wasted.At the later end,his character had the most beautiful redemption arc in the show.You would even feel sympathy for him and his action. And then...he died.They just killed him and ZYZ couldn’t even do anything cause the storyline made him powerless like that... WHY????

Now storywise... If it wasn’t for Li Lun's scheme, there wasn’t much things to do for our demon hunter team,the story wasn’t going anywhere. When Li Lun stopped being active,the whole team suddenly became jobless,just sitting,talking or crying. There's no romance,lots of backstories,flashbacks,slow mo actions.....and everything is going on on a real slow pace. Sometimes its so slow... Had to skip to the next scene.There's talking...they talk..A LOT. You can skip a few minutes of a scene...and they are still there,talking.Storytelling went completely downhill at the middle of the show,every thing was happening so randomly. It turned into a soapy draggy drama where everyone was crying in every two minutes and collecting random objects like dragon scale or something else from here and there or repairing Baize token or cloud light sword .... when it was supposed to be a thrilling demon hunting group.And then almost all of them died... The amount of tears they used in each episode was really something!!!That perfectly placed teardrops on everyone's glossy eyes couldn’t be more fake. Don't make so much tragedy if you can't make it bearable.... It became annoying at some point.

The backstory of BingYi and YingLong was really good. The visuals of the two leads as the ancestors,the action scenes and the way of showing the reasoning behind everything that happened between them,I enjoyed it a lot.

The OST's were good though..... But sometimes overused.Every character had their particular ost and lyrics were written according to their character and storyline, when the ost's were playing,they were taking the scenes another level up.

The action scenes,the connection and chemistry of the male leads,the visual effects and the cinematography, ost's...these are the things that were saving the show. Could be much much better if they put some efforts into the storytelling and avoided to make it into an emotional tearjerker which makes no sense.

Also...how much blood spitting is too much blood spitting?????

Read More

Insecurely, crushes, gender conventions and sweet smiles

Nothing (okay maybe somethings) bet the smiles on these leads faces, as we are invited in to 20 shades of handling ones insecurities and finding ones own path and love on the way. The drama also offers a whole lot of great self aware lines, and a whole lot of "Ha??".

Here we get to see long time crushes meet new love, as well as questions about kindness, gender conventions, and what is love? what is attraction?

Our female lead is so insecure yet blunt at the sam time I can't help but love her smile, honesty and all round awesomeness being true to herself and others.

Our gender fluid/crossdressing lead is such a sweetheart juggling armour, jealousy, expectations and shock over and over again. Can I be loved for who I am or do I have to throw away my wig and make up? For the person I love, for society or for myself?

The male lead is such a cutie too, while he may not war make up he has more or less 0 macho tendencies (honestly the gender fluid one has more macho/manly than this guy) and is such a clueless little sweetheart I just wanted to give him a hug.

Actually all the character in this play around with gender conventions, beauty, crushes, and insecurities in various ways offering us the viewers a whole palette with an added bonus of amazing dimples, smiles and people who truly smile with their whole face especially their eyes.

Read More

Ahn Bo hun didn't impress me that much,But Teamwork Did

Well,I was reluctant to start it at first because of ABH.I am not a fan if his acting. But still i tried it after watching reviews.And it actually didn't disappoint me turned out reviews are actually true.

Plotwise it was a well directed and written Directive drama.The whole detective team are worth being watch.Despite some sloppy fight scene PJH really did well portraying as a female detective. It is my first drama of her she really nailed that character.Other team member did really well,specially The park junyung this is the character and his unspoken love arc with the forens8c doctor really dragged me to them.I really wanted to watch these two more.their chemistry effortlessly working.
ABH character Irritated me a lot in the end,As his father say he is really immature at some times,giving me headache.I didn't like that the story revolve only around Him.other character should also be focused.

The FL family is very nice.Her mom is my favourite character i don't know why.Writter could have used her.She is fun to watch.

Another thing that disappointed was those case.They were difficult but it was hard to digest how ABH solving those easily and only he has the idea to solve when he is not even a detective. That part kinda lousy i was totally agree with park junyoung when he was angry with him.

Read More