Reviews

Weak in the Knees for Ming?! My My Stand-In Review

First off, the music no shade, but it just wasn’t for me. The intro especially didn’t click, though some tracks were okay. I think the style just didn’t match my taste, but that doesn’t mean it was bad overall.(I don't judge shows off music so it's not included in my rating)

The story is where this series shines. I’d give it a 10 because it hooked me in the first 15 minutes (which is rare for me). That shows how well-paced and engaging it was right from the start. If I had one gripe, it’s that Joe never got his “lick back.” Tong definitely got off too easy after all the mess he caused, and Ming while he could’ve been forgiven but still should’ve faced some direct consequence too like sure he was distraught after but that was not enough for me. That would’ve added an extra layer of justice and realism. But despite that, the plot had me locked in. I literally binged it in one night, which says a lot about how addictive it was.

Now Joe and Ming’s dynamic Joe frustrated me because he didn’t learn after the first death. He fell for Ming way to fast you would think he would start using his brain go about stuff different but honestly can't blame him the second life was even worse than the first but still, he was weak in the knees for Ming (LIKE STAND UPPPPPP). But looking deeper, Joe was lonely and wanted to give his love fully to someone. Ming wanted to be loved fully and unconditionally he craved loved but his feelings leaned more toward obsession. He was fixated on Joe, wanted him completely, and even without the “back activities,” you could tell he genuinely loved him. I do believe Ming truly loved Joe, but his unresolved attachment to Tong messed up everything. The “stupid” thing he did after Tong’s call really looked like a breaking point. It wasn’t calculated cruelty it was him snapping under pressure, consumed by jealousy and fear of losing Joe. That doesn’t excuse his actions, but it does show how fragile and unstable he was in that moment. . That doesn’t excuse him, but it shows how fragile he was. He wasn’t just a villain by the end, Ming did redeem himself in a lot of ways. You could see moments of sweetness and regret that made it hard to paint him as purely bad. He was messy, broken, and obsessed but also human.

Acting was a full 10. Up and Poom delivered AMAZINGLY, they had me crying, angry, laughing and emotional right along with them. That’s good acting you can’t fake that kind of impact. Even Tong’s actor deserves major credit: I hated his character, but I still felt a little sorry for him at the end. That balance proves he played the role perfectly. Everyone did amazine honestly Everyone.

Overall, this show is a 10 for me. The acting, the emotional weight, the storytelling it all worked. It’s messy, emotional, and intense, but that’s exactly why it hit so hard.

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?️? A Tasty Trip Through Time

So I started this drama because my sister recommended it… and honestly, it didn’t disappoint! The story is solid, the acting is superb, and the music hits just right. Our lead travels back in time and turns out to be an amazing cook — and, of course, the king falls head over heels. 😍
One of my favorite parts? The way the drama explains traditional Korean dishes — I legit learned a thing or two and got hungry just watching! 🍲
Now, full disclosure: I found the humor a bit missing. Maybe I was subconsciously comparing it to Mr. Queen, which has that perfect mix of laughs and chaos. If you loved Mr. Queen, you’ll notice the storyline vibes are kinda similar here, just with minor tweaks.
For me, I like some laughs in my period dramas, so I probably won’t rewatch it. But as a one-time watch, it’s definitely tasty, charming, and worth your time.

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⚖️? Mary Kills People — Mercy or Murder? You Decide.

Okay, so imagine this: our lead is literally killing people… but not out of malice. She truly believes she’s easing the pain of the terminally ill. She starts out thinking she’s doing the right thing, only to find herself walking a path she never expected.

This isn’t a lighthearted watch. The acting is solid, the tone is serious, and while heartbreaks are there, the drama doesn’t lean on music or flashy emotions. Instead, it leaves you with a question that lingers long after the credits roll:

💭 If you knew your days were numbered, would you ask someone to speed up the process? Or would you spend those days chasing the dreams you once postponed—because life got in the way?
It’s thought-provoking, morally complex, and quietly heartbreaking. Don’t expect laughs, but do expect a story that will stay with you.

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A wonderfully written love story that could emerge as a classic

Normally, when I write reviews, I'd try to state all possible selling points that a show has. I'd write about the characters, the story, the performances, etc. However, Learning to Love is a wonderfully crafted love story with such genius storytelling. To get the best experience out of it, you would have to watch it with blind faith knowing only its synopsis. Trust me; I would give anything to watch it again for the first time.

But here is something that I can say for certain: this is one of the most well-written asian dramas in the recent times. Everything about the drama is intentional, and there is no such thing as "filler." Every single element in the drama serves a specific purpose. It could either move the story along, give the characters more depth, or to symbolize an aspect of the main's relationships. Heck, even a featured umbrella has meaning. Moreover, all the characters feel very "human" and complex. All the characters are capable of doing good and bad, and yet you're given enough back story to know their motivations. These characters are so layered that they go beyond the concept of "green flags" or "red flags."

It was such a pleasure to watch this drama while it was on-going, and this story will remain stuck with me for a very long time. I don't normally write short reviews, but like I said it is better to watch it without knowing much about it. You'll thank me later.

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Entertaining but characters’ motives were unclear

Let me start by saying that seasons 1 and 2 were 10/10 and the ending of season 2 gave a lot of opportunities for this season to be just as awesome.

However, the story fell flat. The motives of the characters were maybe the biggest issue for me. Like why would Usagi, a happily married woman, suddenly leave without saying anything to her husband? And were she trying to find her father or what? And why would the ”citizens” want Arisu there?? Etc.

Also I didn’t like at all the theme of ”saving Usagi” as a starter for the season. It would have been better if they were both forced to go and then separated for some reason.

The feeling of mystery was also gone in this season since we already knew that they had to play until they win the last game and get to go back to real world. And that they were in between life and death and that there were people running the games.

The games were okay but not nearly as intriguing as in previous seasons. The last game focused too much on the videos which the gamers believed to be true too easily.

Overall it was still entertaining but there was so much lost potential.

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Just give it a try

It is a good story, not a new plot, but definitely interesting. If you are a person who loves to binge-watch, then I suggest you wait for it after it's done because the wait is killing me. The episodes released so far is good. Tbh, I didn't have that high expectations, but it's an enjoyable story.

Review of every character as for now-
Samut is very intelligent and calm. I like how he is observant. Also, off topic, his face card is insane.
Mamay is a typical class president type character. I want to know more about her.
Aom is so mysterious; she knows about this game a bit too much. The way Samut is always so suspicious of her is funny
Don and Benz- I don't like Don, but he is evil. Characters dumb like Benz is needed in this type of show.
Kaen needs to step up his game.
Mark is not as clever as he thinks he is, and Pie, I am sorry to say, is straight-up annoying.

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This drama is really so heartwarming.
I’ve been following it since the booting ceremony.
After they dropped the very first episode, the OST really touched my heart. Day by day, I kept waiting for this drama.
Every cast member blended so well, and every part of the story was amazing.
The way SWL portrayed Ling Xiao’s mental illness really broke my heart. He Ziqiu really deserves happiness, and Li Jianjian, thank you for being the bright color in your brothers’ lives.
Papa Hai Chao was the most heartwarming person in this drama.
Mango executed it so well. This drama truly accompanied me during the COVID era, and I’ve been rewatching it over and over.

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