Reviews

Boyhood: The White Tiger, the Blue Dragon, and the Boy in Between

Some dramas come into your life like a punchline. Others slip in like a quiet poem, unfolding stanza by stanza until you realize your heart has been slowly, quietly rearranged. Boyhood is the latter—but it's also the kind of poem that occasionally punches you in the gut.

Set against the nostalgic and often misunderstood 1980s rural Korea, Boyhood manages the incredible feat of being both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly devastating. It’s a high school drama, yes, but it wears its genre with an ironic smirk, upending your expectations at every turn. The story follows Jang Byeong-tae, a scrawny kid with a bowl cut and chronic victim status, who accidentally gets mistaken for the infamous street fighter "White Tiger." Rather than correct the misunderstanding, he rides the wave, and thus begins a bizarre, emotional rollercoaster through fists, friendships, and false identities.

Im Si-wan, a true chameleon in the world of K-drama acting, delivers a performance that borders on sorcery. His portrayal of Byeong-tae moves like water, shifting effortlessly between slapstick comedy, pitiful vulnerability, and fiery defiance. At times, you forget you’re watching the same character, because he gives you four different versions of Byeong-tae: the perpetual victim, the pretend predator, the broken-hearted boy, and finally, the young man who learns to stand his ground. His physical comedy is as sharp as his dramatic gravitas—one moment he’s contorting his face into a human emoji, the next he’s staring down a bully with tears and steel in his eyes. Im Si-wan acts with his whole body, and the result is nothing short of mesmerizing.

Standing beside him like a flame to his shadow is Lee Sun-bin as Park Ji-young. Fiery, no-nonsense, and a master of the side-eye, Ji-young is the kind of childhood friend who'd uppercut anyone hurting you and then scold you for getting hurt in the first place. Lee Sun-bin brings her usual comedic timing, but layers it with deep emotional nuance. There’s a scene where she watches Byeong-tae hit his lowest point—and she doesn’t cry, but you do, because her silence says everything. Together, Ji-young and Byeong-tae form the emotional axis of the show. Their chemistry is crackling, not in the typical romantic tension kind of way, but in the deeper, richer way that says, "I will always be in your corner."

As a coming-of-age tale, Boyhood manages to do something quite rare—it makes growing up look both beautiful and brutal. One moment you're giggling at absurd misunderstandings, and the next, you're reminded that high school can be a battleground, especially when the enemy wears the same uniform as you. The bullying isn’t sanitized here; it's raw, real, and relentless. But that only makes the victories—small as they are—feel like full-blown revolutions. When Byeong-tae begins to train, not just his fists but his sense of self-worth, it’s less about becoming the strongest and more about reclaiming a space where he can exist without fear.

The revenge arc that unfolds toward the end is particularly satisfying—not just because it's cool to watch the bullied fight back, but because it's earned. This isn’t about flashy fight choreography or hero tropes; it’s about quiet resilience turning loud. And in a post-The Glory landscape, it stands proudly as one of the most cathartic revenge arcs to come out in recent years.

The supporting cast also gets their moment to shine. Lee Si-woo as the real White Tiger, Jung Gyeong-tae, is a study in contrasts: effortlessly cool and quietly dangerous, with a good-looking face that masks deep-rooted rage. You’re never quite sure whether to root for him or duck when he shows up. Kang Hye-won as Kang Seon-hwa, Byeong-tae’s crush, plays her role well, though admittedly her character feels slightly undercooked when standing next to the more fleshed-out leads.

Then there’s the soundtrack—oh, the soundtrack. It slaps. And I don’t mean that in the casual, overused Gen Z way. I mean it genuinely lands like an open palm to the nostalgia centers of your brain. Norazo’s "Double of Nothing" sounds like it came from a martial arts arcade game set inside a karaoke bar, in the best possible way. Meanwhile, "When I Was Young" by Munan and "Take Me Home" sung by Im Si-wan himself, act as gentle balms for the heavier emotional wounds. These songs aren't just background noise—they’re emotional amplifiers.

The drama is also smartly paced. At just ten episodes, there’s no room for fluff. Every beat matters, and the story wraps itself up in a satisfying bow—mostly. I say mostly, because if you’re like me, you might feel a little greedy. After spending so many episodes watching Byeong-tae suffer, I wanted a longer epilogue. Just a little more time to bask in his hard-earned peace. But perhaps that was the point. Growing up doesn’t come with a credits roll. Sometimes, it just… continues.

Now, no drama is without its flaws, and Boyhood has its quirks. A big one is its deep entrenchment in 1980s Korean culture. There are scenes and dialogues that will leave international viewers scratching their heads. Why is Byeong-tae’s dad being arrested for a dance class? Why are schools single-gendered? Why is Yakult delivered like morning milk? If you don’t already have context—or a patient friend to explain it—these things can feel disorienting. The regional dialects also don’t always translate well, and some jokes lose their punch across the language barrier.

And while it’s billed as a comedy, let’s not sugarcoat it—there’s darkness here. Physical violence, emotional abuse, underage drinking, and extortion are all present and accounted for. They’re not the focus, but they’re not brushed aside either. This might be a dealbreaker for viewers seeking a lighter watch.

Still, if you’re willing to step into its world and let it teach you the rules as you go, Boyhood is one of those rare dramas that lingers. Not because of how it ends, but because of how it makes you feel along the way. It’s a show about what happens when someone finally gives you a place to belong. When your name—real or fake—starts to mean something. When you stop pretending to be the White Tiger, and finally roar as yourself.

Score: 8/10

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Goofy ahh ending.

I couldn't believe I actually binged this show in one sitting. It was almost 4 hours of pure nonsense yet I had this perverse need to see how they were gonna end it. I have never read the original novel but I need to know what crack this author was on. The fact that I even gave this a score as high as 6 is a blessing afforded by the fact that it had my attention in a chokehold for its entire 24 episodes. Because, as it stands, this story is all over the place and the ending was annoying.

I just finished this show yesterday and I am still in shock from the absurdity of that last episode. (Spoiler!) You'd have to have been there to see my jaw drop on the floor when she pulls out a GUN in historical China. I was unable to take that scene seriously at all and even when she was getting all emotional with her friend zoned scholar guy I couldn't pay attention to anything other than the bandit extras that were still flailing on the ground all around them. Oh btw I even joked earlier on before the object was revealed that she asked him to make a gun because of how funny it would be and oml they actually went through with it. I cannot make this up.

I liked that the female lead was capable and intelligent but of course her talents came out of left field. She was a martial artist, top-tier chef, S+ businesswoman, better than a seasoned wet nurse, and investigator on par with Sherlock Holmes. And her love interest felt very undetailed which was sad because he was pretty nice and I liked that she took on the more assertive role in the dynamic. Yet, the relationship is super vague and by the end he just disappeared when she went back to her time. The kids, her older lady friend, and the bitch actress were there, yet he wasn't (unless he was and I'm just blind). I really dislike the endings of "it was all a dream" yet this time I'm confused if it happened or not though? Because I remember seeing her sleeping in the car with a bad edited rainbow spiral outside of the vehicle but that may have just been her dreaming it up to explain the setting in her fantasy.

I liked the relationship of her taking up the role of the daring stepmom for her kids but the pacing really made it confusing how she gained their love that fast and her leaving at the end was sad but I can't even tell if that relationship was real or not. I'm so confused on what emotions are valid after that.

The villains were......something. The most cliche you can possibly get but hey, at least there were extremely aggravating. I wanted that evil mother-in-law to suffer the most but of course the ending leaves a lot to desire. The cousin of the step-kids didn't even seem to ask his father to join the classes and we see him like thrice in total. Him even helping them could have been built up better because it is realistic for a young child to feel guilty but to betray his father and grandmother sporadically felt out of place. Then of course we have whatever was going on with Li Yi. I thought they were gonna make her a sympathetic villain that is only going against Chi Yue because she is guilted by her family but NOPE! She is just pure evil that literally killed her brother and paraded around with his jade pendant on her hip. We don't even see her be put on trial either.

The production was funded by a very small budget and the runtime was too short to really create a gripping story. The music was extremely forgettable and the pacing was extremely fast. So many plot points come out of nowhere because the story doesn't afford them enough time for build up. The ending was confusing and I didn't like it. I was left with that bittersweet feeling but it disappeared just as fast. I was, however, entertained by the intense nonsense and some of the humor was actually hilarious.

So, would I recommend this show? Yes, but only as a time-waster when you have nothing else to watch. The absurdity was entertaining enough for me to binge 3+ hours of it on Youtube. Yes, it is on Youtube!

Have fun. XO

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Boring? No. Predictable? Absolutely

As the title says, I knew how the whole show was gonna go just from the 1st ep. The show was predictable in every way, but it was still never boring somehow.

This was somehow addicting, i feel like some it is cuz you want to figure out if the next episode is really going to go exactly how you think it's going to (spoiler alert, it will). If you want a campy vampire BL to relax to after a long day, this fits the criteria. But if you want something with a darker theme, this is going to disappoint you.

I expected a better story from P'Aof, his works have never been a bigger miss than this. Ngl, came here for Gawin, stayed here for Gawin, if it were any other actor I would've dropped after ep 3-4. I wish they gave Gawin a better project, like that man can ACT, but he's always sidelined. But, even after the scathing review, I will recommend it. Cuz it's good, just not as good as it could've been imo.

Explanation (With major spoilers) given below :-

First of all, WHAT WAS THAT CGI like I've seen better fan made edits done on free capcut than that 😭 And what the hell were those vampire noises... Bruh there was a life and death fight and I was almost pissing my pants from laughing at the vampire noises.

The only saving grace were the actors, they truly did amazing with what they were given. I believe the story had potential that was held back by budget and time. Idk if they actually wanted to make this a campy vampire BL or they wanted to portray darker vampire themes that ended up falling short. Because there were truly some good emotional scenes, such as the one in ep 6, in the hotel, and ep 8, when Mark tries to get away from and but Tong holds him back.

The side characters were very underdeveloped as well. Tonkla could've been more than just a shield for Tong, they didn't develop their friendship nearly enough, or show enough of Tonkla's side of the story for his death to be compelling/meaningful for the story. It felt like they needed a character to die to make it a "dark vampire series" so just randomly chose him.

The story wouldn't have been as predictable if they actually established Nakan as a viable villain alternative to Thara. You cannot tell me that people didn't instantly clock Thara as the real villain as soon as she appeared. Nakan felt like just a canon fodder. He could've been much better established as a villain, and then give a much more surprising reveal about Thara. His redemption arc also makes little sense.

Let's not even talk about how much better the show could've been with NakanTonkla as a side couple 😔 (RIP Nakan & Tonkla, have your romance in heaven... Or hell... Or wherever vampires go after death)

Overall, it was a very predictable and underdeveloped story for me, and I blame it all on gmmtv's excessive need to follow the 12 ep format with the 11th ep curse. If they deviated even a bit, the story could've been made much more interesting, now it's just another cookie cutter story with zero variation.

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I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable series. The first episode really grabbed my attention which kept me engaged to watch more. They also did a great job introducing all of the characters. Some of the main characters start off unlikable, but the script does a decent job explaining the reasonings behind their actions. For example: I didn’t like Oh Yi Young at first but grew to like this character as the series progressed. I thought the script was good with the exception of a few aspects. My main complaint is it did not fully focus on all four main characters. This was supposed to be about all of their experiences as first-year residents, but I felt the focus was mostly on Oh Yi Young in many of the episodes. They do show some character development with Pyo Nam Gyeong, Um Jae II, and Kim Sa Bi, but most of the screentime was devoted to Oh I Young. My minor complaint is they didn’t fully explore the four main characters’ backstories. This is mostly due to another minor complaint which is the romantic storyline in the script. However, the cast was incredible.

Random Notes:

You don’t have to see “Hospital Playlist” to see this series.

It was fun to see all of the actors’ quest spots from the parent series. The good thing is they were written into the script without the need to see the parent series.

This will probably be a very unpopular opinion. I enjoyed this more than “Hospital Playlist”. It took a while for me to get into that series and also found some section boring.

As much as I would like a second season to further explore Pyo Nam Gyeong, Um Jae II, and Kim Sa Bi’s characters’ backstory/development, I would not be heartbroken if we don’t get it.


******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I was not a fan of the romantic storyline involving Oh Yi Young and Koo Do Won. This is weird because I like the characters separately and the actors had good on-screen chemistry. However, I found their storyline not very interesting and it removed the focus, and screentime, from the other three main characters.

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group of doctors in action

finished 8.5/10 🌟

One of the Kdramas I was most looking forward to seeing since it was set in the same world as Hospital Playlist 👀
Overall I really liked it, it follows the same rhythm and consistency in addition to the different stories that converge within the Yulje hospital 🤍
There were characters that I loved from the first time I saw them, like my beautiful Yi Young, who went back to work to pay off a debt and found herself slowly falling in love with her job ✨
Jaeil, a former idol who took up medicine as a second option after failing in his debut ✨
There were also other characters that drove me crazy, from the main cast to the guests, but I must say it was a pleasure to watch this story on air 👏
As for the ending, they left it open to a second season and I hope they keep it, I would like to see more 🙏
Maybe medical dramas aren't for everyone (I include myself on that list) but I feel like they're worth checking out ✨

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This drama is haunting, dramatic and psychologically intense!

Finished this drama in just 3 days—completely hooked!

I was blown away by the acting, especially from both main leads. Narimiya Hiroki delivers a powerful performance—what a phenomenal comeback after his long hiatus. You can really feel the depth and intensity he brings to his character.

One of the things I loved most is how the drama allows us to explore the story from both the protagonist’s and antagonist’s perspectives.
It’s not just a mystery.. it’s a deeply emotional, psychological, and tragic love story.

The title “Dead or Love” couldn’t be more fitting. While an alternate title, “Love Me to Death,” might suggest a romantic couple loving each other until the end, this drama tells a much darker and more twisted story. It’s not about mutual love—it's about obsession, control, and emotional desperation.

Masato wants Mio to fall so deeply in love with him that she would die for him.... literally. Meanwhile, Mio, in her loneliness and naivety, just wants Masato to stay by her side and love her until the end, no matter what.
It's a battle of egos masked as love, where each tries to own the other's heart completely with different goal.

[MORE SPOILER]
The male lead’s murderous intent is chilling, rooted in a traumatic childhood full of abuse and bullying. He grows into a cold, calculating psychopath, driven by a twisted sense of love and revenge.

He kills without hesitation, hiding behind a mask of charm, believing real love doesn’t exist.
And yet, his tragic motivation: to save his sister no matter what, while punishing those who “love” him.. adds painful complexity to his character.

His plan to manipulate and ultimately kill his wife, Mio, is heart-wrenching. But the ending takes a dramatic turn as Mio, lonely and desperate yet still full of hope, softly whispers to him, “Live.” Her love, though born from manipulation, never fully dies.

This drama is haunting, dramatic, and psychologically intense. It’s one of those stories that lingers with you. I really hope there's a second season—it deserves one!

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Gorgeously directed and superbly acted story about the power and danger of desire

Dear Hong Rang is an emotional and compelling story about how what we chose to desire leads to either our salvation or our destruction. We follow characters as their unchecked desire for power, for possession, for control causes them to sacrifice love, family, and even their humanity, leaving them monsters and shells of themselves they barely recognize. While others who fearlessly follow the desires of their heart for connection, authenticity, and belonging overcome their past pain and inner demons to find wholeness and a new freedom of being.

This show doesn't shy away from complex psychological themes and relationships--things like obsession, exploitation, shame, forbidden love, dark spirituality, the abuse of power, revenge, torture, cruelty. It balances it with moments of quiet, persistent love, bravery, fortitude and integrity. I was fascinated at times, repulsed at times, thrilled at times, brought to tears many times.

This is a more intimate historical--blessedly there is very little of grand palace politics and machinations. It all centers on the tragedy of one merchant family who cannot put aside their own selfish desires for the good of the whole. It was refreshing to center on merchants instead of the usual nobility, and to explore themes of art and artistry and the darkness of the occult.

The writing excels in the scenes themselves--on the dialogue that highlights complex feelings, interactions between the characters, and the way what is not said is just as important as what is said. On an overall plot level the writer often cut corners or used lazy tropes to maneuver people into place, or explain backstory or other overarching information, and so the overall plot can feel simplistic and unimaginative at times. I barely noticed, though, because the directing squeezed every last value out of the writing, as did the cast of overall excellent actors, and it was easy to get lost inside the scenes themselves.

Highlights and standouts--

- The cinematography/directing was superb. Such a variety of sets, of color palettes, of lighting, of framing, of camera movements and angles, each scene meticulously considered and planned out shot by shot, nothing felt rushed or overlooked or standard. Some of the best camera-work and directing I've seen in quite a while. I want to re-watch just to relive some of the beauty of the scenes.

- Lee Jae Wook as Hong Rang-- I cannot think of another actor who can so effortlessly switch from a dark, commanding, dangerous presence to a fragile, heartbreaking vulnerability in the span of a breath. His sure delivery and excellent physical acting makes him completely believable as a legendary figure, yet his eyes never lose the softness and pain to remind you of the angry, scared, shamed boy underneath. Truly one of the best actors out right now of any age.

- The score of the show felt fresh and was used sparingly and masterfully, so it never felt like it overtook the emotion, only highlighted it.

- The editing-- this is an often overlooked aspect of production, but the editing was phenomenal, especially in the fighting sequences.

- Jo Bo A was also great in her role as a quietly strong, longing, loyal survivor, and had great chemistry with LJW. Park Byung Eun brought a beautiful restraint to Chief Min that allowed him to rise far above a cliche ambitious antagonist--out of all the characters I found him the most tragic. Kim Jae Wook was flawless as the Grand Prince, and it was only in some of his scenes with Hong Rang where I felt as if LJW was matched and even at moments outshined. I wish we could have seen much much more of him.

Overall a high-quality production that will make you think and feel deeply, and will stay with you for quite a while afterwards.

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Unconsistent with some flaws but a great cast

In my opinion, the show starts off a bit slow, but then it begins to improve. It dips again for a while, but the last four episodes are really good—except for the very last one. I feel like they tried to show too many things in that final episode without prioritizing the right ones.

There were also a few things I really wanted to see: certain relationships that deserved more development and screen time (hello, Sa-Bi), and some moments I kept waiting for that never came.

What bothers me the most is knowing they've confirmed there won’t be a second season. It feels like they had originally planned to continue the story, which makes the ending feel a bit poor imo.

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A Heartfelt Journey of Growth, with Romance as the Spark

I'm usually not someone who enjoys hospital dramas, but Resident Playbook completely changed that for me—I ended up watching each episode twice! The character development is beautifully written. The screenwriter and director created something truly wholesome, and the cast gave 100% to bring their characters to life.

When I first decided to give it a try, I had no idea I’d end up loving Resident Playbook this much. As a woman in her mid-20s, I found the characters’ personal struggles to carve out their own paths especially relatable and inspiring.

💖 Couples & Romance💖:
The romance was slow and steady, but it picked up speed toward the end. The sweet, lovey-dovey moments between the main couple were my favorites. OIY being straightforward really stood out for me.

As for the second couple—if there’s a season 2—they’d definitely start dating soon. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their dynamic shows a beautiful balance of EQ and IQ.

✨ Actors & Characters ✨
Jung Jun Won, who plays Dowon, was already a candidate for series producer, and I’m so glad he was the one cast. He truly deserved the recognition he gained from Resident Playbook.

Kang Yooseok auditioned several times before landing the role of Um Jae Il, and his persistence clearly paid off—he brought depth and warmth to the character.

Han Yeji, in her first role after graduating, made a fantastic debut as Sabi. She and Kang Yooseok absolutely nailed their roles, even dancing in character! That scene was such a clever and fun way to reveal that Sabi was a Hello Girl.

Shin Shi Ah, who played Pyo Nam Gyeong, had the most emotionally intense scenes among the four residents. Her performance was impressive—she showed so many layers to her character.

Professors Seo Jeong-min (Lee Bong-ryun) and Ryu Jae-hwi (Lee Chang-hoon) stood out to me the most. They did an exceptional job portraying supportive mentors whom the residents relied on the most. Their guidance and presence brought a sense of stability and warmth to the series, making them integral to the residents' journey.

Let’s not forget our villain—Kim Hye In played Myung Eun Won so well that I genuinely got annoyed. Personally, I found the ending satisfying, as this time she couldn’t get her way.

🫶🏻
All in all, I’m really grateful this project came to life. It introduced us to such a talented cast, and I’m so happy I got to experience this journey with them. They truly did an amazing job. If there is the slightest possibility for season two, I'm already down for it.

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