Reviews

A feel good show

I have mixed feelings about the show. Some parts I LOVED it while some scenes fell flat. It was a character driven story with very minimal character development and plot however the acting, script, jokes and great showcase of friendship made it enjoyable.

The plot was simple and basic. No twists, no toxicity, just story about a pretty big group of friends. What I loved his the showcase of the bond. It felt very real as if I was watching the a video journal of a group of friends in their university time. However the biggest drawback would be how there's little to no plot and barely any character development. So when the group is not together and we get scenes with the couples it falls flat. It was cute but that was all it was. I wish it was explored on the character development side.

Cinematography was fantastic. I think this is what helped make this a slice of life comfort show. They successfully captured all the moments of the university life and friendship. The little jokes and the dumbest moves of a group boys is kind of fun to see.

Acting wise they all truly captured the essence of their individual characters well, especially Phuwin who I never thought would do good in comedy but I think this is by far his best acted show yet. The rest of the cast were absolute pleasure to watch. Satang as Toey was surprised me in the best possible way. They truly felt like a group of friends.

It's a show you need to watch with breaks. 2 episode a day while having meals is the perfect way if you want to just relax while watching something. It did gave me moments of comfort and overall it's a nice show.

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Zhao Lusi is the Queen of Comedy. Highly recommend First Half (Eps 1-13).

The first 13 eps are entirely preciously hilarious and had me wheezing constantly on the floor - PEAK COMEDY. Zhao Lusi's acting and perfect comedic timing and expressions + her character's fine cooking (the FOOD ahh!!) are the centre focus and that's what I was sold on and am here for. 10+ for the first half as I will certainly rewatch for a pick-me-up! Solid pacing and solid acting from her as well as the supporting cast (mostly her group/fam) here.

When it comes to the second half, however, we get to see less ZLS and her shenanigans, and more of the ML and his family's corporate/office drama, all of who I found entirely too annoying. It reached a point at which nothing about this drama interested me, as it did such a turn so fully we get to see neither ZLS' FL cooking much, nor the fun that was constantly served in the first half. This bait and switch was not a good choice.

ZLS for her part did all the chemistry and acting for the main otp throughout~ the ML left me completely cold and stiff - which is essentially doom as this second half of the plot focuses on him and the FL being subjected to ridicule and problems because of his family and their relationship. Also throw in a couple love triangles. Look, you CAN have a reserved/cold ML character to STILL be interesting (**looks at Leo Wu's performance as the ML in LOVE LIKE THE GALAXY**)!

Even if the plot is bland, the chemistry would have been able to redeem this drama for me if that was better (**looks at LEGEND OF THE FEMALE GENERAL**). Age gap is not an issue for me, but the ML's lack of acting is.

Overall, fully recommend watching the first half (eps 1-13) are entirely worth it, and skip the second half altogether (probably just watch or skim the final ep/scene). After averaging, this one gets a 7.5/10 (Zhao Lusi really IS the Queen).

~~~

Just found out that this drama's director - Cheng Chang - have also done LIE TO LOVE (Luo Yunxi, Cheng Xiao), NOTHING BUT YOU (Leo Wu, Zhou Yutong), AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU (Xu Kai, Seven Tan/Tan Songyun), and the recently premiered LOVE'S AMBITION (Zhao Lusi, William Chan). Already have all of these on my tbw except NOTHING BUT YOU which I've already watched and enjoyed~ Also it would be interesting to see if William Chan will be able to hold his part up in as the main otp with a large age gap.

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A thriller about justice, abuse and motherly love

When I learned about the plot of Queen Mantis, I became interested from the get-go. I love stories that center around complex female characters and the premise of a son who has to work with his imprisoned mother in order to catch the culprit promised a complex story with many opportunities for a deep insight into psychological aspects.

The first episodes made me so excited. The beginning was very strong and I got immersed very quickly. Each episode had me on the edge of my seat, my eyes were glued on the screen in order to not miss a single detail that could lead to more clues about the copycat killer.

When I learned that Queen Mantis and Black Out shared the same director, my expectations arose even more. Black Out is one of my most favourite kdramas so I expected Queen Mantis to be at least half as good as the director's previous work. And I wasn't disappointed. The camera work was really effective, during the investigation scenes it was chilling to see the arrangement of the weapons and how the culprit worked. The closeups of the characters during their dialogues added more tension, especially the ones between I Sin and Su Yeol. It was a very effective method that added more emotional impact in their clashes.

The writing for the main characters was overall good and made me feel for them a lot. Su Yeol is a really complex character who saw his life turn into hell because of his mother (at least, this is what he believes). In his eyes, I Sin is nothing more than a cold-hearted criminal. A murderer who killed people without remorse and who didn't think of the consequences of her own actions. He resents her for ruining his life. He is afraid of becoming like her and that fear still lingers inside him, even after becoming a cop in order to not step into his mother's shoes. Hate and anger accompanies I Sin's memories throughout the years.

And yet, there's a tiny glimpse of another emotion buried deep in his heart. And that emotion is love. Su Yeol hates his mother but he still cares about her, even though he'd rather die than admit it. The abandonment he felt and the trauma he went through made him build a wall between him and I Sin. But as he reconnected with her, even if it was because of the investigation's case, that wall started to crumble. And for the first time, Su Yeol's twisted image of his mother starts to shift.

Jang Dong Yoon was very good as Su Yeol. He perfectly captured Su Yeol's feelings. You could feel his frustration and tiredness from his expressions alone. His eyes always conveyed a hint of desperation and pent up anger. Desperation for truth and anger for I Sin. Dong Yoon was very strong in the more dramatic scenes, especially the ones between Su Yeol and I Sin. Every time Su Yeol would let his emotions take a tool on himself, I couldn't help but watch in awe at Dong Yoon's performance. Su Yeol's emotions were valid to a great extent and Dong Yoon did a good job at making his character look more sympathetic (even if the audience might not share the same opinion as him about I Sin).

And then we have the Queen herself: Jeong I Sin, also known as "Mantis". It goes without saying that I Sin became a favourite character of mine from the very first episode. Her skillful maneuvers, her soft-spoken voice, her expressions, her motives...It was inevitable not to care about her. I will not hide behind my finger and deny that I opposed to her actions. Yes, I believe of the importance of law and I also believe that taking justice into our own hands is not the best solution. But when the justice system itself fails to protect the victims, what's left to do? I Sin killed men who abused their families and tormented them. She saw that the police was unable to put a stop on this and decided to step up. And even though she remains a criminal, the audience cannot help but justify her actions (or even support them).

I Sin is by far one of the most complex heroines I've encountered in kdramas. She's meticulous. Dangerous. Manipulative. Unpredictable. But not a monster. Never a monster. She is not the cold hearted criminal who was incapable of feeling love, like Su Yeol's believed. She is an abused woman who became Mantis led by the abuse she endured from the men in her life. And above all: she's a mother first and foremost who did everything in order to protect her child.

There are not enough words to describe Go Hyun Jung's performance. No words will do justice to this magnificent performance. Hyun Jung carried herself in such an effortless way. She didn't just play I Sin. She became I Sin. Every movement, every expression, every utter of words was carefully planned by Hyun Jung. Her performance alone was enough to carry the series, particularly during the second half when the plot started to become less engaging. I couldn't take my eyes off her every time she appeared, I was enamored and I got chills just by observing her. During the final episode, when I Sin finally broke down and let her emotions free after repressing them for so long, I couldn't help but cry with her. Hyun Jung's performance deeply moved me and I really wanted to give I Sin a hug and apologise for how the world failed to protect her.

The relationship between Su Yeol and I Sin is ultimately the catalyst of this story. Queen Mantis was not just a mystery thriller. It was an exploration of the complex dynamic between a mother and her son. The contrast between Su Yeol and I Sin added more layers in their interactions and personalities. On the one hand, Su Yeol was rightful for being unable to understand his mother after experiencing so much trauma and repressing his memories and feelings. He attitude was understandable for the most part and I couldn't blame him for his dislike towards her. On the other hand, I Sin was not the monster he painted her to be. Su Yeol, blinded by his sense of justice was unable to comprehend his mother's motives and threw accusations at her. Driven by denial and internal conflict, he refuses to excuse her or forgive her for abandoning him. And yet, I Sin never stopped caring about her son. Even if she expressed her love and care in a bizarre way and even if she caused distress to Su Yeol, she always cared about him and wanted to protect him and his family. Gradually, mother and son come closer and Su Yeol finally sees I Sin as the woman she is: a victim of abuse who did everything in her power to protect him.

In order for a thriller to maintain its thrill, it needs a fully fleshed story and unfortunately, in this area, Queen Mantis fell short. The plot about the copycat killer was interesting at first and I had many theories but after a while, I kinda lost interest. I think that the character of the actual killer was explored in a shallow way. Having an abused transgender woman following the path of Mantis could have been interesting if the writers had invested more in her character. I understand her motives to some extent and her admiration towards Mantis but they were presented in a sloppy way.

The police squad's incompetence and mistrust really got on my nerves. I could understand where they came from, it was logical for them to question Su Yeol's and Chief Jung Ho's closeness or Su Yeol's connection with Mantis but this hide-and-seek game became really tiring. It was clear that the writers wanted to add more tension and drama but there were better ways to do so. The squad saw how competent Su Yeol was and yet they were still questioning his abilities. It became irritating, it was as if I was watching a bunch of children, especially when it came to Na Hee and Sung Gyu.

I understand that since Queen Mantis was 8 episodes long, there wasn't room for much character development regarding the secondary ones. But this was another weak element which didn't help me connect with the story as a whole. Many characters had potential for something more but because of limited time, their personalities and motives weren't written in depth. I was disappointed at how Na Hee was handled because the writers could have done so much with her, even make her mirror I Sin in a way. By the time the writers attempted to add more depth in the last two episodes, it was late.

Moreover, I would have liked to see a deeper commentary regarding the justice system and how it fails many victims of abuse. The drama tries to do so by having Jung Ho silently approve of I Sin's actions since police didn't do anything to prevent the mistreatment of the victims but it was very superficial. If done well, even more questions could have been risen and more topics could be addressed.

Thankfully, the ending was satisfying enough and did not leave me with a bitter taste. It's a pity that Queen Mantis wasn't as strong as it began but it still left a lasting impression on me. It raised many questions regarding abuse and justice and it gave me a complex and yet beautiful mother-son relationship. I would recommend it to people who enjoy psychological thrillers for Hyun Jung's acting alone and I consider it as one of the most interesting thrillers out there.

P. S. Hyun Jung, I'll get you that Baeksang, Queen.

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Poetically changing the formula and keeping the series' spirit

Following the Chihayafuru movies is a large task, and the crew behind Full Circle (Meguri) really put a ton of work into the story they wanted to show. The series result is a well put together, detailed, and modern story that has that Chihayafuru style emotional connection to our new main cast.

An easy path for a sequel would be creating characters that are similar to the originals with different back stories. What this series did to change up the formula and look at a different kind of main character was very well done. As the series progresses we gradually find through Meguru's growth why she was the focus of this series and I applaud the team for this choice. Intangibles that set her apart and make the relationships she has with everyone so much more impactful are shown to us viewers in every episode.

I enjoyed the details of the show a ton. Not only do we have small bits to show what the characters go through, but we also have the poems themselves that play a huge role in the influence of each episode and character. Paying attention to this was greatly rewarding for me, personally. The stories and interpretations of the poems really makes you want to get into karuta.

While this is a show about youth and maturing, as an adult I found it to be endearing without feeling the usual tropes. The cast was chosen to perfection, and following the behind the scenes online showed how much chemistry the cast has off camera as well. Everyone played their parts well and the acting was great. The one hope I have is that someone who watched the movies goes straight into this show without any promotion media because I think that would have the best reaction.

Overall, in every episode I felt strongly for the characters and was emotionally attached. Week after week I would be anticipating watching a new episode and felt rewarded (and a little empty, not going to lie) when it all ended.

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Nostalgic, Amazing, Funny & Finally a new and worthy to watch romcom!

I didn’t watch such a great story & amazing acting since long time. Everything in this drama feels fresh and heartwarming. Uhm Jung Hwa did an amazing job in this role she adds so much vulnerability and strength that you can’t help but connect with her. Song is just great as usual, effortlessly charming and emotional, proving once again why audiences love him. Both have great chemistry and they compliment each other in an amazing way.

That being said, a few supporting characters could have been given more depth, since the leads are so powerful that they overshadow the rest. and I wanted more romantic scenes between the leads, I truly wanted the series to be longer than 12 episodes, therefore I wish there is season 2 of it.

Still, these are small things compared to the overall brilliance. For me, My Troublesome Star is not just entertaining, it’s relatable and uplifting. It reminds you of old school Kdrama and how love, resilience, and humor can make even the toughest moments brighter. Definitely one of the standout K-dramas of this year!

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Quitting "My Stubborn" the second time. 🥱😅

Seriously... I tried. I am close to the end of Episode 3, just right around the same point where I quit the series months ago. Sigh. I mean... I began fast forwarding seggs scenes! I felt so NOTHING about it. Like romance was sucked out of me from some emotional vacuum cleaner!

Yes it looks all hot and steamy, but Lordylord... I feel nothing about Sorn and Jun. Like not an inkling of romance. Both are brash, hyper-acting, irrational characters, whose actions make zero sense to me. Is any of them feeling any affection for the other, for I can't tell. And everyone seems to take seggs and relationships so nilly-willy. Like Jun has this lukewarm boyfriend, whom he treats like a random stranger he just met in a hook up bar.

And then this "oh I teach you" plot. .... Seriously? Does Jun have the IQ of 30? Rrriiiiight. I am having seggs with a guy to train.... There is no character develop... can that, there is no CHARACTER I feel behind any of these actors. Sorry, if you liked it, but I feel like nothing. Nobody seems even remotely having any normal human emotion, at least as far as I can tell. I don't feel any personal interest of Jun or Sorn towards each other whatsoever. Or maybe they are the Asian face-masters of hiding, but then... what the heck is this BL even about?

I know the series is leading lists, and yes "oh it gets interesting at Episode 7"... but each episode is LONG and by now... I feel nothing about them.

"Jun, a mischievous high school boy and expert in pushing people’s buttons, and Sorn, a composed, orderly man who absolutely cannot stand kids like him, have been at odds since the day they met. From sneaking salt into toothpaste to hiding personal belongings, Jun’s endless pranks have made Sorn loathe him to the core"
Sorn is composed WHEN? What pranks did Jun make? Isn't it more the other way around Sorn is pushing Jun's buttons for no reason at least I can see.

"But fate has a sense of humor." (DO I look like I am smiling??) "When Jun unexpectedly runs into Sorn in an unusual situation, (Liike Sorn letting Jun almost DIE!) what starts as awkwardness soon becomes the beginning of a complicated connection. The man who once firmly declared, “I don’t like kids,” finds himself slowly stirred by unfamiliar emotions. From conflict to closeness, the line between annoyance and affection begins to blur."

Or like this. Jun receives a parcel from a delivery guy for someone else. Sorn: WHO WAS THIS? WHAT DID HE WANT?
I'd really want to channel my inner working class Englishman and say "Oi mate, that's none of yer bloody business, innit?"

Boy does Sorn hide these feelings well. They just push each other around like being really annoyed ALL THE TIME, and suddenly have seggs. I just raise my arms to the heavens, and like Maggie Thatcher long ago cry "NO. NO. NO."

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The angst could've been epic, a missed opportunity

The quality of the production was very nice, the costumes were stunning.
The chemistry between the two leads is definitely what made me stay, it was lovely, sexy, intense, but also could've been even deeper if it wasn't for the lack of scenes displaying actual depth.
Their acting was good but the plot itself was actually the most interesting thing. I really liked it.
I enjoyed the grey nuances of the writing of the female lead and male lead. I
The writing and execution of the storytelling weren't that good, and the short format is probably the main cause. This one could've been far better if it was a longer drama. The angst was there but wasn't executed properly because of the format and the flat writing.
The pacing was good but unfortunately the cringy scenes during the last episodes really affected the unitial appreciation I had for it.
The ending was flavorless and was extremely boring & cringe.
The first part of the drama was really nice but then, it went downhill.

Nevertheless, this short drama is one of the very few I managed to finish.
I definitely recommand this one, but I really don't see myself rewatching it.

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Sweet drama about 17 but for non-teens as well

I ignored this drama for years as I thought it is for teens and discovered that it is for everyone!

The other reviews great and to the point. The drama is indeed healing, romantic, simply nice and peaceful to watch. I just want to add to the other reviews that towards the end when the past is revealed, Seori suddenly becomes more mature than Wujin and their dynamics reversed. Super interesting to see this is happening within 5 min. So well written and acted.

If you want to watch a good K drama, a lovely story about growing up and about great friendships, this is the one.

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MOOK IS BEAUTIFUL

I finally finished watching Oh My Boss, and honestly, I have to say this drama was a huge letdown for me. At first, I was excited because it seemed like it would be a fun office romance with some drama sprinkled in. Plus, Mook is absolutely gorgeous and really did a great job in her role—she was probably the best part of the whole series for me. Luke was okay too, but I wouldn’t say he stood out. He was just… fine.

The problems for me started piling up with the way the plot was handled. One of the biggest issues was how the female lead’s mother was written. She said such nasty, rude things that really hurt her daughter, but then she was forgiven so quickly, like it was no big deal. I get that forgiveness is important, but this just felt rushed and unrealistic. Words like that cut deep, and I wanted to see a more meaningful resolution, not something brushed off so easily.

And then there’s the antagonist woman. Wow, she was honestly exhausting to watch. Her actions throughout the drama were way too much, almost cartoonishly evil at times. And after all that, the show tried to redeem her in such a lazy way. Suddenly she regrets everything just because the female lead confronts her, and the male lead kneels down in front of her? That’s it? After everything she put them through, that’s all it took? It felt so cheap, like the writers just wanted to wrap it up quickly without giving it the weight it deserved.

But the thing that annoyed me the most was definitely the male lead’s behavior. He just stood there like a mannequin while another woman touched him and flirted with him right in front of his girlfriend. I mean, hello? Do you not have a mouth to say, “Please don’t touch me, I have a girlfriend”? It made him look so weak and stupid. It’s one thing to be polite, but it’s another to completely disrespect your partner by staying silent and letting things slide. That was such a huge turn-off for me.

Overall, the plot was boring, the resolutions were lazy, and the characters made decisions that felt completely unrealistic. The only saving grace was Mook’s visuals and charm, but even that wasn’t enough to keep me hooked. Honestly, Oh My Boss won’t be on my rewatch list anytime soon. It’s the kind of show that looks good on the surface but completely falls apart once you pay attention to the story.

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Missing a KEY ingredient

I enjoy a good toxic romance as much as the next guy, okay. I’ve enjoyed many a comparable story to this one. The issue I have with this particular toxic romance is that, in order for a toxic romance with a happy ending for the toxic pairing to be good, you need at least 1 of 4 things:

(1) a redeemable quality in the bad guy to make you like him despite everything
(2) a good backstory and redemption arc
(3) both characters are toxic
(4) bad guy has god-level visuals and/or an undeniable aura

This show had NONE of those. So, in my opinion, this was not a successful toxic romance story.

Acting:

Great job all around. Can’t deny that everyone did a good job portraying their characters. Poom and Up were fantastic. I think the casting was good for the most part However, I think they could have gone a different direction. Like, I wouldn’t say the casting for Ming was as good as the casting for Vegas, ya know? His acting was great, but he didn’t have like some sort of mannerism, or a natural swagger, or some sort of physical quality that forced me against my will to root for him despite his actions like other villains or toxic love interests do. It could have been anything. An expression of some sort, just anything to get me to root for him even a little bit. But, alas. None to be found here. Supporting cast was good, they weren’t really in it much, though.

Writing:

Listen… I like the basic concept with the whole stand-in who is a stand-in thing. But good god did they ruin it.
Oookay. So I already mentioned my main issue with this story. But DAMN it really is a serious issue. You NEED to make me root for the bad guy at least a little. At least give me context as to why tf they are the way they are so I can attempt to empathize. Like, I love a flawed character but a flaw is a bruise on an apple and there is a story behind that bruise. Sure, you can have a rotten apple character. But if you want that rotten apple to have a happy ending, you gotta do something to either make me understand the apple, like the apple, and/or desire the apple. NOW Joe… obviously he’s a loveable and pitiable lil guy. I do not for the life of me see what he saw in Ming. I can’t wrap my head around it. No shot that a man with a face like his was NEVER propositioned by someone before Ming in that truck, but he acted like he’s never been desired before, and that led him to somehow fall deeply in love within a matter of days. Idk, man… Nothing made sense with that guy. No real redemption arc here and no repercussions. Even the weird plot change to making Mr Papa Big Money the bad guy for a hot sec was executed so poorly. Idk, this was just a waste of a decent concept.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

I felt like there was chemistry in the beginning of the story, but I couldn’t really feel it for the rest. Like, they had better chemistry when Ming viewed Joe as Tong’s replacement. This was not a well-executed romance. The kissing was fine.

NC Scenes:

Pretty solid stuff with the direction they went with them. I think the decision to write and shoot them as more raw and impulsive shots rather than making them artsy and intimate fits the story well. Actors really went for it. I love a vocal bottom situation, bro delivered.

Music/SFX:

I honestly didn’t really pay attention to the music in this, so it was fine ig. SFX were solid.

I just… Like… Idk… I just wish they gave me a reason to give a shit.

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- Boy is beautiful
- Lmao not the two top trouble
- Ming is losing points at every turn here
- Run for the HILLS from that man, Joe
- The fact that Ming is endgame is INSANE I actually hate everything about him he needs at least one single redeeming quality but there is NONE to be seen
- The only positive thing you’re getting in this situation is dicked down and that does not suffice
- “And who said I was someone to you” to the person whose affections you accepted and MOVED IN WITH is INSANE
- THIS IS A MING HATE ACCOUNT
- “In this life, you won’t be able to find a better boyfriend than me”?????? I’d rather date Joo fucking Jaekyung, bro.
- I CANNOT BELIEVE that they expect me to watch these two end up together later
- AND he’s gonna sabotage his career to help Tong because he’s jealous?????
- Bro is a BLACK flag
- The description and tags on this show did NOT prepare me for any of this lmao
- This BEGS for a revenge plot
- Put this man in a psych ward OH MY GOD
- No because we’re not just gonna say “I’m sad I missed you so much” and have things be better
- Okay so Ming wants him to be the stand-in for his stand-in, who’s a stand-in. He’s to be the stand-in stand-in’s stand-in… So he’s a stand-in who was a stand-in and is gonna be a stand-in for the stand-in who was a stand-in… Joe the stand-in, who is now Joe the stand-in, will be a stand-in for Joe the stand-in who was a stand-in… Just making sure
- Lies of P(Joe)
- “No, no, no. I spent like 7 years obsessed with Tong just because I liked him for his back in a movie promo, which was actually YOUR back and that’s totally normal person behavior and I think we should just like be happy together now” LOCK HIM UP LOCK HIM UP LOCK HIM UP LOCK HIM UP
- Bro cooked 2 meals, drove him to work once, then used his mother to get brownie points so far. Current redemption score: -1
- Ming fucking him face-to-face is not nearly as impactful a plot point as I’m sure they intended
- Umm.. Wait.. Hold on… I think I must be mistaken… THAT was the redemption arc??? Final redemption score: -0.5
- GASP “You traded your privacy for little old me??? Wow, what a dreamboat” and NO ONE CLAPPED
- *Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking out the dooooor* JUST DO IT
- This last episode is trying so hard to like patch things up but I could not give less of a fuck at this point
- Wow, everyone changed their minds real quick here for a happy ending
- Tong gets off scot-free with a happy ending too??? What the fuck is this story
- This joyous dinner feels like a fever dream… Am I high??? What the fuck
- Wut: If you take this job we’re no longer brothers
Also Wut: You’re back with Ming? Live your life, brother.
???????????
- “I’m going back to Korea because I know he’ll make you happy” ???????? BASED ON WHAT
- No.

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i love khemjira story and cast most favorite harit and namping

i love love love this drama i love this story i love all cast i love all song most favorite harit and namping
story is amazing😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

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Obsessed With Their Dynamic

I love their dynamic so much. Both the ML and FL feel like carbon copies of the manga and I am honestly obsessed with their story. It is rare to find a character like Hikaru who balances both feminine and masculine sides so well. The drama is excellent, though I do feel the FL’s acting gets a bit awkward whenever she has to play bubbly and cheerful Haruka. She comes off a little empty headed, loud and shouty, especially in the early episodes. But when it comes to the serious, cool and confident expressions, she absolutely nails it. Other than that, no complaints and I would totally recommend this one <3

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Has a grip on you but can be a bit lacklustre

I thought the plot twist would be that the FL has some type of mental illness where she has an alter ego that commits these murders but she well has no idea. The other things I was fully convinced was that the captain of the station was the murderer because the handkerchief thing I mean I think it’s illegal to tamper with evidence in a crime scene. This profiling job so fr like these people are hella observant like is there a course they teach in the police academy to make these people notice things and people’s ulterior motives???? I am happy it didn’t have any romance in it.


“Why would someone kill one person to build a place where another can live” ~ Lee Seung-Joo

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I came for the hype, stayed for the hush between notes

I almost didn’t pick this up. The title, the poster, the vibes — everything screamed slice-of-life, and that genre and I have a long-standing cold war. But the internet wouldn’t shut up about it. “Best thing since sliced bread,” they said. I caved. And while I won’t echo that sentiment (and don’t get me started on the word masterpiece — it’s been diluted to the point where it’s lost all meaning --- even my 10/10 favorites don’t get that crown), I’ll concede: Twinkling Watermelon is quite good.

The beginning is slow, yes, but it earns its pace by laying out Eun Gyeol’s family dynamic with care. Ryeo Un, whom I hadn’t seen before, delivers a quietly compelling performance — a son caught between sound and silence, duty and dream. He doesn’t overplay it, and that restraint makes his emotional beats land harder. Seol In Ah, usually relegated to supporting roles, gets to stretch here. Playing two distinct characters, she’s versatile and surprisingly grounded.

On the other hand, I was less convinced by Choi Hyun Wook. I couldn’t decide if he was overacting or if the writing forced his hand, but the disconnect between his youthful portrayal of I-chan and the subdued adult version (played by Choi Won Young) was jarring. It stood out even more when compared to that with Yun Cheong A — a character, played by two actresses and yet they somehow kept the character’s essence intact across timelines. That consistency made her arc more emotionally resonant.

Now about the time travel mechanics? Just suspend your disbelief. The drama isn’t about that. It’s about perspective — how seeing someone’s past can reshape your understanding of them. Eun Gyeol learns to see his parents not as obstacles, but as people with their own silent battles. The theme of communication runs deep, especially in a story where three characters are deaf/mute. Their condition forces effort, while others (like Cheong A’s stepmother) weaponize silence. The older I Chan’s outburst — “How will I know if you don’t tell me your dreams?” — hits like a gut punch, because it tells you that communication IS important.

Then there’s warmth too: I Chan’s grandmother feeding a band of teenagers despite her humble means, grounding the show in small acts of love. I wasn’t here for the romance, and honestly, I wanted more closure on Eun Gyeol’s parents — how I Chan and Cheong A found each other again after the timeline shift. And the ending? I wish it leaned into earned understanding rather than rewriting their lives into glossy success. A return to their humble beginnings, with Eun Gyeol choosing to communicate and pursue music anyway, would’ve been more honest. The “magic eraser” ending felt too clean.

Still, if you overlook the shortcuts, Twinkling Watermelon is a warm, thoughtful drama. Not a masterpiece — let’s retire that word for a while — but a story that understands the power of perspective, and the quiet revolution of being truly heard.

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