Reviews

Only Disagreement: SPOILER ALERT

I just finished this drama. I agree will the majority. The cast delivers an outstanding performance, including the secondary and supporting actors and actresses.
The writers corrupted an outstanding fantasy romance with a cheap ending to elicit painful tears and angst. A Shakespearean ending, i.e. "Romeo and Juliet" or heroic deaths, would fit. Here in this FANTASY, the script elevates duty to the clan above duty to the individual (heroine). The demon hunter repeated PROMISES to LOVE AND PROTECT his love forever. He defaults on his oath because he envisions himself as the only one that can save the clan from destruction. No one is indispensable. Others can always arise as needed. Individuals grow old and die, become crippled or senile. The world doesn't end.
In a romance drama, the pain of loss never fully fades.
I suspect this complaint won't be included; nevertheless, this is how an old romantic feels.

Read More

mind-blender and not as bad as everyone says

I'll start off by saying--I still don't entirely know what happened in this series. That being said, the comments are dramatic as that lack of understanding is its only flaw.

The concept/idea was super thought provoking, and given more time to fully flesh it out (longer than just 7 episodes that's for sure) it would have been a really cool production.
The actors are all extremely talented and showcased how each character was complex and had more depth than 7 episodes would allow to explore.

Personally? I enjoyed the series, even if I was asking myself what was going on the whole time.
However, I can definitely understand that this type of series wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.
If you were looking for a BL with a clear cut love story--then this definitely isn't for you.

I would love to see these actors in more, the fact that all four boys seemed to have some kind of chemistry with each other was what really kept me coming back for the next episode, on top of the fact that I really love apocalyptic-type series, and this one definitely scratched something in my brain.
So once again, in my opinion, the only flaw is that it was too short to fully explain what was going on in the story.
Truly had it been longer I think I would have enjoyed it much more, and all in all I am excited to see what Earth, Leo, Double and First bring to the table in their next series.

Read More

Their translation of love was mostly on track but kept veering off course

I was really into every episode in the first half especially early on, but the second half fell pretty flat and I mainly just continued to watch because I was curious on the ending, almost felt like I was watching a different drama once it got to the midway point. The OST was super sweet on the ears and genuinely a treat, and the acting and chemistry between Seon Ho and Youn Jung was great; I really hope they get another project together because they showed that they bounce off each other really well. Their scenes were really sweet and sometimes bitter, but I loved watching their relationship slowly build, even if it took a while for them to actually translate their love. All the leads did really well, though I wish Hiro had been written a little better, felt like his character was never given the chance to shine despite having the best development in the show in my opinion but seems like they just wanted him to be the guy who would make Jin Ho realize his feelings and bridge the gap.

Plot-wise, again it had me hooked early and I looked forward to each episode throughout my week of watching, but around the midpoint it lost some direction and shifted away from the rom-com sweetness it was building toward to a more uneven drama that felt different every episode, again almost like I was watching a different drama. It wasn’t bad, just unexpected, which I think made the second half not feel as exciting but what did get tiring was the “will they, won’t they”. The back-and-forth between wanting each other and then pulling away happened a bit too often, especially with Ho Jin. Felt like he changed his mind 5 times an episode, while Mu Hui they would have Mu Hui continue to chase him. At a point felt like it should of been the other way around but felt like the writers didn't like that route i guess? Also for as much and long as they tried to build up the relationship, kinda surprised they barely gave them any time to be a proper couple before the story kinda abruptly ending. After everything they went through to understand each other, they really made them speed through their love phase which we barely saw any moments of truly developing after becoming a couple and were just left to instead envision it while they were apart.

Overall, it was still a nice watch with some nice moments that unfortunately didn't fully meet my expectations after the really long wait.

Read More

The script had to be revised many more times.

It caught my attention because of the synopsis, I am used to seeing strong and intelligent women in dramas. It is one of my favorite tropes. My problem is that some characters become unbearable as time goes by (especially the grandmother). I like the plot in general, it has twists that are very good, but there are so many that it becomes hard to process one and then the next. So many characters from the beginning that end up becoming villains or even being discarded as if nothing.

FL
FL grew up being cunning, strategic, and skilled at everything she sets her mind to. She has to act like a boss at all times and command respect amidst so much conspiracy and hatred. She strives to be the perfect leader her grandmother expects her to be, but ends up being a Mary Sue for whom everything goes according to plan and who knows absolutely everything. Anything can happen and she already has a solution within seconds. It’s fine that she is decisive and straightforward, but the fact that she never doubts and everything goes according to plan becomes repetitive; she has no conflict beyond family, business, or reputation. Her character sometimes goes from being just cold and serious to seeming like an immobile stone. Thanks to the actress, who gives her some life with micro-expressions, I can manage to see that FL feels something in some moments. I like her boss attitude, but I think it’s taken to the extreme to the point that it affects her relationship with other characters.

Rong
The Rong family in general seems good to me, but too extreme in their clan rules. One of the things I dislike is that there are things that are wrong within the rules and Shao Bao knows it, questions it, but doesn’t even make an effort to do something different or change anything. The grandmother is the main problem, she is very cruel. She made her granddaughters compete with each other for power against Shao Bao, despised them while praising the eldest granddaughter as if they were less and as if she hadn’t raised them herself. She said cruel things, like to Yunshu, that she was useless and humiliated her for being the daughter of a servant and also blind. But when she expelled Shao Bao and Yunshu recovered her sight at the same time, suddenly she loved her a lot 🤨. Yunwan, knowing that she has some kind of autism, she refers to her as a disgrace to the family. With Yunxi she silently instigated her to be against Shao Bao for power, without even caring about what she wanted to do or what she was good at to help the family. She also disapproved of Yunxi’s daughter just because she accidentally dropped a cup, SHE IS A CHILD. I was so happy that Yunxi chose, above the family business, to be with the man she loves and her daughter in front of her! I would have liked to see more of that and development of that relationship 😍. So many bad things happened inside the mansion and the grandmother never stops to reflect on what truly matters besides the business; instead of apologizing, she victimizes herself for being old and unreasonable (which is true, she is unreasonable). Shao Bao puts her in her place once or twice, but she never changes or thinks about what she's doing wrong as a grandmother; she always thinks like the head of the family, and that made me lose interest in understanding her character. Like when she forces her to be with Yan Bai Luo and then sends her to a temple for fortune-telling just so she can see that the ML is with another woman (What was the point of breaking your granddaughter's heart 😭). I liked all the sisters with their different personalities, although I think she could have handled them better. I liked that Shao Bao helped Yunxi with her daughter, but it was strange when she said, "No Rong should be around" (Are you doing it for your sister or for blood? I'm confused 😭). The way she helped Yunyin after Grandma expelled her from the clan (super extreme, she can't even enter the house? 🫠) seemed good to me because she taught her responsibility, and they were able to forgive each other in their own way.

Besides the power imbalance between men and women, the women rule and manage everything and I love that, but the men who marry in have no voice or vote in anything, they seem like tools just to continue the lineage.

ML
He was very good at the beginning, super intelligent and versatile. A great magistrate with the goal of giving justice to the innocent and hunting criminals, but attentive, sensitive, and loyal to the woman he loves. The problem with the character is that after revealing his identity, he spends all his time chasing the FL, the script even seems to put him as decoration in the cases against the FL, when he is supposed to be a magistrate. She is solving the cases while he does nothing or very little. His arc from 30–36 was unnecessary, what happened to Magistrate Lu who faced everything in front of him? He became a man insecure about himself and his goals. He was fine with just being the son of the Lu family.

The relationship of FL and ML
In the first 20 episodes it was perfect, that dominance on her part and his willingness to let her take the lead was incredible. They listened to each other, respected each other, and understood each other. She allowed herself to feel loved amidst so much hatred, and he was able to love her. After he revealed his identity and she got angry (she had every right), they grew distant. She seemed not to care at all while he was yearning for her. Always hiding things behind each other’s backs, and more on her part. I know her love is expressed in actions, but they seem so few and so calculated that it doesn’t feel like she truly appreciates him, as if all the affection from the beginning had disappeared. She was willing to kill him without hesitation until she remembered moments with him. It feels like she uses him all the time: if she wants him, she keeps him close, and if not, she pushes him away. When he disappears, she never once wonders where he is or how he might be. Once she finds out what happened, it doesn’t seem like she does it for him, she does it for the family business to get out of the tea debts. When she helps him and the personal maid asks if she worries about him, there is an inexpressive look as always. She doesn’t directly answer a question that is asked more than once throughout the episodes. When he becomes sensitive and opens up to her, she seems so insensitive toward him, I don’t feel that she wants to comfort him. She kept saying they were not compatible, and I don’t understand why, knowing that he was crazy about her and capable of never letting her go, he was willing to accept the family rules and she accepted that he would continue his career as a magistrate. (It was mutual, so why suddenly say they are not compatible?). He forgives her everything, and instead of talking to him she slaps him, she never validates his feelings of insecurity about her. We never see her be honest with him about her feelings, her vulnerable moments have more to do with her family and with him, none. Of those remaining 6 episodes, I think they could have been used better to deepen and resolve conflicts between the two of them instead of leaving the emotional imbalance between them.

I liked the songs, and the locations and costumes are beautiful. Unfortunately, I couldn’t rewatch it, even though I loved the actors, but the script simply doesn’t let me stand it.

Read More

A Surprisingly Emotional, Addictive Drama With Heart and Humor

Oh My Ghost Clients (2025) completely caught me off guard in the best way. What starts with an intriguing, slightly quirky premise quickly turns into a drama filled with emotion, warmth, and quiet depth. It balances humor, mystery, and heartfelt moments so well that I found myself genuinely invested in every episode. I loved every scene — nothing felt unnecessary, and the story kept pulling me in deeper.

Jung Kyung-ho is, once again, phenomenal. He brings so much emotional intelligence to his role — switching effortlessly between humor, vulnerability, and quiet pain. His performance feels grounded and sincere, making even the supernatural elements feel human and relatable. He carries the drama with ease and proves, yet again, why he’s one of the most dependable and compelling actors in K-dramas.

Seol In-ah is a standout. She brings warmth, charm, and emotional clarity to her role, making her character instantly likable. Her performance feels natural and full of heart, adding lightness where needed and emotional strength when the story turns heavier. She complements Jung Kyung-ho beautifully, and their dynamic feels comfortable and genuine.

Cha Hak-yeon adds another strong layer to the drama. His performance is sincere and emotionally grounded, bringing both sensitivity and depth to his character. He fits seamlessly into the story and ensemble, and his presence enhances the emotional balance of the drama rather than overpowering it.

The supporting cast is excellent across the board — everyone plays their role perfectly, making the world feel complete and alive. The OST deserves special praise as well. The music blends beautifully with the emotional beats of the story, enhancing both the lighter moments and the more touching scenes. Oh My Ghost Clients is a drama with heart, soul, and sincerity — one I truly loved.

Read More

A Beautiful Nightmare

I am deeply impressed by the visual direction of this series; the way it contrasts a bleak dystopian world with the lush "Garden of Eden" and the sterile, clinical hospital is striking. Beyond the aesthetics, the show tackles heavy philosophical questions, searching for answers through characters who represent different facets of the human psyche. The acting is exceptional, capturing everything from chilling detachment to fear-based volatility and raw anger. I loved the way the characters simultaneously show their desires while desperately trying to hide their true selves.

The confusion surrounding the different "worlds" and "loops" took me on an incredible journey. Every episode had me questioning, 'What is the reality?'and later "Whose world is this?".

After rewatching (the first two episodes in particular) so many details clicked into place, even while the show kept me feeling somewhat in the dark. The dialogue between the charects especially what Iron said, is really haunting when you consider the themes of objective "good" and the characters psychological states.

By the end, I see two main possibilities (I am sure there are multiple out there):

1) Irons Loop: The more literal interpretation (a psychopath in comatose state).

2) Marduks Loop: The more tragic interpretation (one trapped, loving a psychopath who killed (at least) Marduks pregnant sister)

In both scenarios, the experiment technically "failed", yet it provided a chilling look into how these loops could be used in the future. Personally, "Marduks Loop" makes the most sense to me, even if "Irons loop" is the more obvious path.

Read More

A GREAT WATCH!

Actually, this is my first time writing a review. I just think that I have to jot down a review given how great the drama but underrated it is LOL.

The plot was great but still needs some refinement, I think, at least for me. I find every episode intriguing that keeps me want to watch more. It's just kinda bit of gore with all the bloodly scenes and violence depicted especially on children. Though, everything was just right for the plot.

For this one, Lee Jae Wook has really won my heart. Dude - he nailed his role. I have watched some of his dramas like the "Alchemy of Souls" and "The Impossible Heir", but he got me going crazy with this one. It reached a point that when he cries or even a single tear just came out of his eye, it also makes me want to cry with him. His character was deep and scarred that makes you feel with him. I salute the actor for portraying it so greatly.

For Jo Bo Ah, she was good. I just don't get why she's being bullied by her acting skills. She did well too as Jae-yi actually. People are saying she's lacking the ability to express the emotions of her characters but nah I don't really agree. I noticed the hate and critique since she starred in "The Tale of the Nine Tailed Fox" with Lee Dong Wook. Maybe the netizens were just jealous that she got good looking male leads with her LOL, kidding tho.

All the villains from Grand Prince Hanpyeong (The Painter) , Sim Yeol-guk, Min Yeon-eui and at some point Moo-jin also played very well. They successfully caught my anger honestly. Thankfully, they payed pretty well by the end. Oh soo satisfying when the hands of the painter b@stard was cut down with his face torn up HAHAHA. For Yeol-guk that is the painter's accomplice all along was shot down by his past lover while Yeon-eui got totally crazy. Then, comes Moo-jin, he was pretty annoying especially when he asserts his love to the FL and tries to eliminate the ML so that he gets want he wants. Thankfully, Moo-jin realized and tried to correct his wrong doings (well just by saving Jae-yi the last moment).

For me, I was really expecting more from Kkot-nim and her organization. I think her story was not highlighted. It could have been better if she does her revenge big time instead of just hiding. She was yet again striked and suffered the loss of her brother before she even got to shot the man who she once loves and believes that would protect her. Thus, the snowman, I really thought that he plays a more bigger part in the story since he was the most highlighted antagonist from the very start. I was expecting something like he was also a victim of the painter given he's snow like skin. Turns out his just a minor character like any other HAHAHA. The connection of the guild to the painter too was kind of vague. How could they possibly agreed with other to do child trafficking. I wanted more from that part. And oh, I think they forgot that the real hongrang have seen the snow man. He shared it with Jae-yi which leads her to at some point conclude that maybe her little brother was a victim. Seriously, we believed from the very start that the real hongrang was also a victim of the snow man kidnapping because of it but it turns out he just slipped and lost his footing. He's death was completely not connected to the snow man and painter plot after all HAHAHA. So what does it mean when he said he saw the snow man in his dreams while waking up in strange places?

The drama has a great cinematography and OST track. The actors was just as great too, especially Lee Jae Wook who literally nailed it. The plot lacks a bit but the actors did really well, especially the leads. If you are in for a romance packed with action and thriller in a Korean historal drama, then this one's for you. It's only 11 episodes so the pacing was also okay.

The biggest concern that I have is the ending of the main characters!! Soul Reaper and Jae-yi deserves soo muchh moreee. I'm aching to see them happy together as they have been hurt so much and carries a lot of unhealed scars. Author-nim?! Director-nim?! Why??!!

Overall, the drama is soo great. Such a great watch!

Read More

One of the best

I’ve sometimes been critical of certain popular Korean or Chinese dramas. But I’m having a hard time finding anything negative to say about GO AHEAD, a 40-episode Chinese family drama made in 2020. It’s certainly not a perfect production. Still, it’s entertaining, interesting, and touching. And it dodges so many of the common traps that these kinds of series fall into, that all I can say is: Bravo!

Most of the actors were impressive, especially the three male leads: Weilong Song who plays the older brother (and also the young actor who plays him as a child), Steven Zhang/ Zhang Xin Cheng who plays the younger brother, and especially Tu Song Yan the Dad, the owner of the noodle restaurant, where so much of the action takes place.

Whenever one of these three incredible actors was on screen, I was totally immersed in the drama, and emotionally convinced that I was watching a slice of reality and not a fictional work. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Yi Sun who plays the best friend of the FL. She’s convincing as a kind, generous, but inhibited young woman who’s oppressed by her overly-dominant mother.

I did have some problems with Songyun Tan, an actress in her 30s who plays the FL, Li Jianjian. For half the series this character is supposed to be sixteen years old. When playing a teenager, the actress seemed to be working too hard to make the character spunky, cute, and childlike. She came across as childishly petulant and performative way too much of the time. Also (as is often the case in older Chinese productions) she seemed more like a twelve-year-old than a sixteen-year-old, throwing whiny tantrums and hitting her brothers in fits of pique.

But I really can’t blame the actress. Because this is such a common problem in older Chinese dramas, I suspect it’s due to other considerations. Perhaps she was given instructions to play it that way from the director.

In the second half, when the same character is in her late twenties, Songun Tan is much more appropriate and believable in the role–more relaxed and also more likable–although still a fun-loving, cheerful tease.

The series got a little too sentimental for me in the end. “Emotions aren’t like a faucet where you can turn them on and off at will.” Too many bromides along with the schmaltzy music...but by and large the skillful acting sold it–so it was OK.

A winner.

Read More

A few problems

I’m not sure exactly what’s wrong with WHEN DESTINY BRINGS THE DEMON, but this drama just didn’t land for me–partly because it’s so simpleminded. For example, when the demon army invades the Grandmaster’s stronghold in ep. 20, the demon fighters are all dressed in black. The good guys are dressed in white. Pretty convenient.

There are many parallels in this story with LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL. There’s a dragon buddy in one, a snake buddy in the other. Fairies and demons fight each other in the first. Immortals and demons are at war in the second.

The female leads in each series are different. While Orchid is sometimes irritating in LBFAD, she’s also lovable, funny, and appealing, and she grows into a strong, impressive woman.

But the writers of WHEN DESTINY BRINGS THE DEMON infantilize Tingyan. She pouts and simpers and makes eyes at Jiao. Her goal is life is to eat, drink, and try on pretty clothes. It doesn’t hit home with her until about halfway through the series that her boy is a serial killer. Also, who is this woman? Is she a demon? a reincarnated human? or a fish?

What’s motivating the ML? Power? Revenge? The attainment of higher cultivation levels? Personal animus? The villains seem like a bunch of feckless, bungling clowns. It’s hard to take them seriously. Mostly they seem like a swarm of annoying insects buzzing around Jiao’s head. Every once in awhile he brushes them all away.

Arthur Chen as Sima Jiao is disarmingly handsome, but that’s not always an advantage for someone wanting to be taken seriously as an actor. His looks make him subject to everyone’s projections. Sima Jiao, is a pit of hatred, negativity and despair– in other words, a damaged soul.

The writers need to show us how someone who’s never known a kind word, can reach into his heart and find a boatload of self-sacrificing love for Liao Tingyan, a well-meaning, not-too-bright klutz. But character motivation is missing throughout. They don’t give Chen enough to work with, I’m sorry to say–so Sima Jiao’s transformation into Mr. Wonderful isn’t convincing. Or at least it wasn’t to me.

The comedy scenes in WDBTD are repetitious and not very funny. It’s cute that Liao Tingyan keeps using 21st century lingo and 9-to-5 work metaphors in her “employment” with her “boss,” but after the third or fourth time this device gets a little old.

The characters in this drama are always telling the viewers what’s happening: “Why isn’t the Grandmaster here? Looks like he’s figured out our plan.” Or, “If I can win the Grandmaster’s favor, perhaps I can help Mother through this crisis.” Weak writing.

The special effects and CG make many scenes seem low-budget.
My greatest wish for Arthur Chen is that he can find a substantial role that truly inspires him--maybe some kind of an eccentric character–a role that he can individualize and make his own. This drama doesn’t give him that.

Read More

Entertaining

1. Of all the women our brilliant alien friend met in 400 years, a shallow, scatterbrained, selfish, vain narcissist was the ONE? Well, OK. She was a babe, no doubt about it. It would be nice if there was some explanation for it–other than hormones.

2. Why do they keep talking about this dude’s original home as a“star”? Unless he can withstand temperatures of one million degrees F (or more)--to say nothing of the crushing gravity--my guess is that he comes from a planet, not a star.

3. In one episode Do Min-jun points to a bright point in the sky, obviously a “star,”and tells his startled Joseon acquaintance, “That’s where I come from.” Later, he tells Song-Yi who wants to know the same thing, “You can’t see it from here.” Which is it?

In one of the first episodes we hear that he comes from “another galaxy.” But any other galaxy, especially Andromeda our largest neighbor which is 2.5 million light years away, would look like a smudge in the sky, not a star.

4. Not to go all nerdy here, but there are some other problems too. Hey, Korean movie makers, get a science advisor.

5. Dangling plot points. What did the young girl who looked like Song-Yi, the one he met when he first came to Earth, have to do with anything? She’s totally irrelevant to the plot.

What I liked:

1. I thought this series was very funny in places. Often the humor in Korean Dramas doesn’t work for Americans. This series was an exception.

2. I came to like Song-Yi much, much more toward the end. She showed some really likeable characteristics. Loved her honesty and sensitivity.

3. I’ve seen reviews that were critical of Kim Soo-hyun’s acting in this drama–but I thought he was absolutely great. It’s true he was poker faced in most scenes, but he somehow communicated deceit, tenderness, anger, confusion, disdain, and a host of other emotions. And he did it all with an almost imperceptible change of expression.

4. The compositions of the various settings and the wardrobe choices were exquisitely done. That library in Do Min-joon’s house was to die for.

Read More

Awesome

MOVING is just as good as the most of the reviews say it is. It’s basically an entertaining thriller, and almost every episode ends in a cliff hanger. Each character is a complete individual--even the villains aren’t totally evil. Everyone’s more or less a victim of their particular circumstances. While certain characters have powers, their abilities often create as many problems as the solve.

The story manages to be surprising in spite of the overworked theme. Unlike some other Korean and Chinese dramas, this one never once made me feel that the writers were making it up as they went along. The story was well-crafted, tightly woven, and believable within a fantasy framework.

The back story was parceled out a bit at a time, and sometimes the writers would circle back and fill in the details of a previous scene adding texture to the plot or more dialog to a previous conversation. The visual effects and ost during the final credits for each episode enhanced and deepened the atmosphere.

Because the plot, characterization, and logical development were so well-done, I have very few criticisms. I’ll just mention a couple. It bothered me that Mr. Electric, who went AWOL twice with disastrous effects to the company’s property, was allowed to keep his job as a bus driver. A few weeks before the school year ends, practically the entire school collapses in rubble and ruin, and yet during the graduation ceremony, a few weeks later, everything looks as good as new.

But I’m being a bit picky--it's really quite good.

Read More

Best Chinese Drama I’ve seen in 2025

I give high ratings to dramas that:

1. Entertain me.
2. Teach me something.
3. Or have heart – the rarest.

This is a No. 3.

I can’t say this is a perfect production, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with the two leads (and also with many of the minor characters). This was a MUCH more appropriate role for Yinglu Wang, than her role in WHEN DESTINY BRINGS THE DEMON. She plays a strong woman with sensitivity and nuance. As for Yiran Zhou, he commanded every scene he was in.

Attention to detail really boosted the quality of this drama. The cinematography, the ost, the editing--all were outstanding. I usually don’t like an ending that doesn’t wrap things up neatly -- but, for me, this one worked perfectly. We see all the different sacrifices various characters make for love – and at the end, the most rigid character, makes the ultimate sacrifice. (Although maybe not..?)

Speaking of attention to detail, I read that FOUR orange cats were used in the making of this drama. Cats being cats, that helped ensure that at least one of them would always be in the right mood. Another endearing detail–a woman who’s nine months pregnant is the action hero who saves the day.

Loved it!

Read More

ALREADY THE BEST DRAMA OF 2025/2026!!!

SERIOUSLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS, SONG WEI LONG AND ZHAO JINMAI DID AMAZING, I NEED THEM IN MORE DRAMAS TOGETHER!! THE CHARACTERS ARE THE BIGGEST GREEN FLAGS (in fact LIN YUSEN, much like HIS NAME, IS A LITERAL GREEN FOREST!! and NIE XIGUANG IS RADIANT AND BRIGHT!!) IN LOVE WITH THEIR CHEMISTRY AND SO MANY SWOONWORTHY SCENES!! I REALLY NEED SONG WEI LONG IN MORE MODERN DRAMAS BECAUSE HE ABSOLUTELY KILLS IT AS BOTH A DOCTOR & CEO TYPE CHARACTER. LITERALLY IN LOVE WITH HIS SMILE, I HAD TO REWATCH SO MANY SCENES MULTIPLE TIMES TO REPLAY HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE. I LOVE BOTH CHARACTERS SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY AREN'T JUST GOOD PARTNERS TO ONE ANOTHER, SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING, BUT ALSO GREAT TO THEIR FAMILIES, I LOVE BOTH SIDES OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY MAKE IT EXTRA SWEET. I ALSO AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM BOTH REALIZE THEIR OWN DREAMS AND WORK HARD TO FULFILL THEM. THEY BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND TOGETHER ARE SUPER INSPIRING, MATURE CHARACTERS!! I LOVE THAT WE GET TO SEE TIME PERIOD OF WHEN HE IS PURSUING HER, THEN WHEN THEY DATE TO THEIR MARRIED + KIDS, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROGRESSION!

Read More

THE GOOD
- Good chemistry
- Doesn't rush the couple to be together
- Interesting characters with flaws and unique character traits
- Very satisfying romance arc

THE ???
- tbh I expected this to be way more toxic based on the title. There are definitely still some IFFY things in this, but for the most part I think it handles them well? Or treats them as toxic, so it doesn't just pretend like being toxic is okay...mostly?

THE BAD
- Pace sometimes drags.
- Way too much lingering on love scenes to fill time and just gazey fan service.
- Way too much lingering on homophobia and each antagonist plot in general.
- Doesn't resolve antagonist plots well -- rushes the wrap up after dragging them on too long. Weirdly some are granted forgiveness (way too easily) and others are vilified even in the end (when maybe they deserved some sympathy?)

Read More

No connection between leads

Some positives and some negatives. The story held my interest.
Most of the energy in the script centered on the main conflict and the FL’s various problems. But the script just didn’t give the secondary characters, who were apparently supposed to be a group of lovable eccentrics, any good material to work with. The over-acting of the semi-hysterical principal, the scatterbrained dancer, the guy who was supposedly possessed by spirits, as well as some of others was painful to watch.

The male lead seemed warm and likeable, but the female lead was a bit cold and imperious. I didn’t feel much connection between the two of them. Couldn’t she have at least put her arms around him when they finally kissed? She acted as if she could barely stand to touch the poor guy.

By the way, teachers who specialize in early child education (kindergarten and pre-school) are committed, trained professionals, although no viewer would get that from this drama. A kindergarten teacher would never leave children unsupervised or allow random people to wander into the classroom. It would have been nice if we could have seen the FL actually teaching something (yep, there’s actually a curriculum) or doing something other than reading a picture book to the class–which any parent could do.

Not my favorite K-drama of the year.

Read More