Reviews

Tale of revenge and politics drama

This drama isn’t just about flashy fights or pretty costumes, Legend of Zang Hai has real substance behind its fantasy setting. The story balances adventure, mystery and emotion in a way that keeps you engaged without ever feeling dragged out.
I like how it doesn’t rely only on action or romance to keep things interesting but instead builds a world full of layers where every character has their own purpose and growth. The pacing flows nicely with each episode giving you either a big reveal, a clever twist or a quiet but powerful emotional moment.
It feels like the writers actually cared about tying everything together instead of just throwing in random drama to fill time.
The cast really carries the story too. The male lead gives a performance that feels strong and commanding, but also layered with vulnerability, so you see more than just a hero type.
The supporting cast also adds depth with side characters that are actually memorable instead of just background fillers. The action scenes are exciting and well-shot, but what I appreciate even more are the emotional beats and character arcs that give the drama its heart. Sure, there are a few predictable moments and some scenes you can kind of see coming but they don’t take away from how much fun and heart this drama has.
It’s a solid pick if you want epic fantasy that actually makes you care about the people in it.

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My Vice Versa was missing vice versa

I would have ADvised the screenwriting team to ADd a bit more to this ADaptaion.

Acting:

The acting was pretty solid, nothing super noteworthy, though. Nothing was horrendous either. I don’t think there was any real issue with the acting, the issues were elsewhere. Solid performances for what they were given.

Writing:

This could have been a grand story about two couples from parallel universes finding themselves and each other through obstacles and changes within their surroundings and within themselves. But instead we got this. It was an alright story as is, it just could have been amazing if they hadn’t made the decisions that they made. Having two couples would have made the conflicts faced by the characters feel more significant because you would have to wait to see what happened next while the focus shifted to the other world. I think the whole Tess didn’t grow thing was so dumb. Why introduce their backstory in their universe if you’re going to do absolutely nothing with it? I’m not gonna spend too much time talking about the ads because obviously I skipped them, but they were quite atrocious. This was okay at best, but it could have been so much more. Cameos were fun, but would have been more fun if the story was better.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

Chemistry was solid. Jimmy and Sea work well together. This was a good romance, it just could have been a great romance and that’s disappointing. The kissing was fine, nothing crazy. I always hate the constant kiss dogde trope, though. It gets old real fast.

Music/SFX:

Music was alright. I liked the OST but the corny drama songs needed to be toned down a bit. SFX were fine.

Overall, I’m disappointed but I still enjoyed it for what it was.

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- JIMMY so fresh so cool
- Yay Sea the boyfailure teehee
- OHMMM
- ForceBook just married grooms 10/10
- NANOOOOON
- Milk and Love EEEEEEE
- GUUNNNN
- I wish they had decided to switch between worlds/couples. I feel like it would have expanded the story and made the moments of conflict seem more important because it would be spaced out even if it was a brief conflict
- There really do be full-on ads in this lmao whatever the skip button is readily available
- I hope my Ohm and Nanon are doing well out there
- PEEERRRRTHHHH
- No Face cameo on that popcorn bucket 10/10
- MIIIIIXXXX MY LOOVEEE
- *Things are looking up, oh finally*
- Of course bro is asleep before he can hear the name because drama logic
- Nooo I want more interaction between the other world charatersss
- Why is Tess such a butt all the time
- This really should have been a 2 couple series, it would’ve been stronger
- Bro ruined his life fr
- Second chances are coming pretty easy to this guy
- *You would find me at the beach in every life, through every door*
- AWEE the FOLDER
- *Love over money every single day. Rather smoke with you than get paid*

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When a cat princess meets a sickly and prickly human

I have had this drama in my watchlist for a few weeks and decided to watch it on Saturday evening. I enjoyed it immensely!

What I liked:
1. Tone - It started with a bang and overall the drama was lighthearted and comedic. I liked it a lot!
2. FL characterisation - I liked her kind, cheerful and bubbly personality. She was a princess but wasn't a spoilt brat. She listened to advice from her mentor / watcher, ML's cat & grandma.
3. Acting - I have only watched a handful of Sun Qian Xun's drama and I must say her acting was fantastic in this drama. This is my second time watching Li Bo Yan and I liked his acting here too. Both of them had fabulous chemistry.
4. ML characterisation - He was sickly and prickly but overall kind. He was suspicious of FL's secret identity but never confronted her. In fact he protected her and I liked that.
5. Fantasy - I loved the use of different elements e.g. superpower, talking to animals, teleportation.
6. Styling - FL had fantastic feline-like outfits & hairstyle - I loved it! ML's outfits were good too - I liked the maroon-black combo.
7. Romance - Slow but there was affection. Good kisses and there was even 2 spicy moments.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonist - FL's sister was jealous & delusional. She knew no shame with the threat and posing as somebody else.
2. FL's action - I wish FL didn't resist ML's attempts at intimacy too many times.

Favourite scene
When FL seduced ML to accomplish her goal

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Eleven signs were harmed in the making of Tiger’s screentime

Watching Twelve honestly feels like Ryan Reynolds in his Green Lantern era. Big ambitions built on a cool concept, but get buried under weak world-building and dull lore. Green Lantern flopped because it threw CGI and lore at the screen without earning emotional investment, and Twelve makes the same mistake, just with prettier actors and zodiac powers (or not). Sadly, there’s no Deadpool on the horizon to save it.

It reminds me of the DC's early, failed attempt to replicate the MCU, rushing to assemble heroes without laying the necessary groundwork for their individual stories. Twelve falls into that exact trap, just on a smaller, K-drama scale. There's potential, yes. The cast? Solid. The core concept? Intriguing. But the execution? Disappointingly shallow, flat.

It wants to be Marvel level, but ends up feeling like Wish.com MCU. The emotional weight doesn’t land, the pacing feels random and weird, and it often confuses flash with depth. And look, I wasn't even expecting deep, layered storytelling. Most superhero shows get by just fine on simple plots built around cool characters. Heck, I wasn’t asking for logic either, I mean, we are watching a flying human crow as the main villain after all.

But what I at least expected was the bare minimum, a story that is easy to follow, entertaining to watch and characters with clear reasons to support their quest, just like what every other good superhero content is all about. Also, for the plot to respect the theme/title of the show, which was ultimately the reason why we hit the play button. What’s most shocking is the lack of polish, especially considering it’s produced under Disney, home of Marvel and a studio that’s supposed to be an expert at this genre.

The biggest ick I have from the start is how hard it is to tell which angel represents which zodiac sign. The zodiac concept had so much potential. You have 12 characters rooted in one of the most iconic themes in East Asian folklore, but the show does almost nothing with it. Outside of maybe 2–3 obvious signs (like Tiger and Pig), there’s little thought put into making each angel’s fighting style, personality, speech pattern, or presence reflect their sign. It becomes a shallow gimmick rather than a meaningful identity, and that’s such wasted potential. It feels like the most basic world-building detail they should’ve nailed with such a theme. (I only found out later that their names are literally the names of the animals in Korean, and they thought that was good enough lol)

I came into Twelve genuinely excited. I love supernatural/superpower dramas, and the premise had so much promise. I kept hoping it would improve, that it would eventually tap into the emotional or thematic depth the story hints at. But….

Honestly? This is so much worse than Uncanny Counter Season 2, and I hated that one. Easily the lowest rating I’ve ever given a K-drama. They really said “Twelve” but gave us Tiger and the Cameos. I felt cheated into watching this and I think I’ll be avoiding superhero K-dramas for a long while after this.

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Many viewers and reviewers praised Cha Eun-Woo's acting in the Korean drama "Wonderful World," and I agree.

Cha Eun-Woo bravely stepped out of the role of the sweet, sweet guy. He hasn't completely transformed into an annoying villain, though. Cha Eun-Woo plays a dark figure who seeks revenge and then regrets it.

Besides Cha Eun-Woo, I watched the Korean drama "Wonderful World" because I really miss Kim Nam-Joo's acting. I've been following her since playing Kyeong-rin Song in the Korean drama "Model" (1997), and she seems selective, as she rarely takes on drama/film roles, yet has a ton of awards under her belt. One of them, as Go Hye-Ran in the Korean drama Misty (2018), won the 2018 (54th) BaekSang Arts Awards.

The tandem of the 53-year-old actress, Cha Eun-Woo (27), and Kim Kang-Woo as Kang Soo-Ho, coupled with a compelling storyline, managed to garner double-digit ratings of 11.4% in episodes 9 and 13, although it dropped to just 9.2% in the final episode.

What's the reason?

Perhaps there are many "too good to be true" coincidences in this drama.

Like when Kwon Seon-Yul (Cha Eun-Woo) managed to photograph Kang Soo-Ho's affair with his wife's adopted sister. Even though they only had one affair, it was a coincidence that they managed to capture it. The window happened to be open. And the couple happened to be having sex while standing, making the shot clearly visible.

The story would be different if the affair were more casual, like in a closed room and lying down. But then the conflict wouldn't be as exciting, right? 😀😀

But otherwise, it's great. It's like the audience is given a puzzle that, when put together, creates several complete stories. Each story is connected by a common thread called "love." Love between adopted siblings. Love between husband and wife, and of course, between a mother and her child.

Love that can destroy injustice.

So, if you want to witness the beauty of love (and shed some tears), the Korean drama Wonderful World is highly recommended.
You can read the rest of the review here:
https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2024/04/wonderful-world-review-drama-ko.html

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Life’s Boring.. Not this drama

Finally watched the premiere and am returning to say that it did not disappoint. Cheng Yi comes back in this drama, and is the drama honestly. I’m a fan.. have been.. always will be. That isn’t to say I’m blinded of the faults here, but for what I’m watching now- I recommend.

The costuming of Cheng Yi is gorgeous, and I love how the team gives him outfit changes and not a single one misses. It’s beautiful costuming, hair, makeup, and isn’t overdone or washed out. His natural features shine, where his bangs aren’t too long, and the side profile of his is balanced with the bangs and hair being done so well. What I’m saying is he looks great- the drama looks great, and the performances don’t disappoint either.

Cheng Yi is a master when it comes to this drama, he’s had several other dramas under his belt and this one comes out and his talents are on full display. The story is more light and just a journey to follow, but I see things that anyone can take out and enjoy. It’s impressive and eye catching to watch all the combat; and the choreography is seamless.

The story moves fast: and that’s my only complaint so far. With the talent that comes with this drama I can’t see it derailing too hard but we will wait and see. I reccomend and am more than happy this drama is finally out !

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A true feel good series.

I really love this series. Honestly it was short but it could convey all the emotions they could have in a full length drama.
Let's go one by one.

1) it felt relatable. Jung dohoon working so hard for literally pennies, the underlying toxicity of the work culture, going through the same thing again and again. Too relatable. When yoonsoo said to dohoon, "compared to now you were cuter in college. By cute I mean someone who enjoys life innocently and express their feelings directly smiles a lot and looks pretty while smiling. But compared to that time you've become more worn out" honestly I feel like that is relatable to most of us. It was so beautifully put. I honestly shed a tear when dohoon was crying for his mother and the regret he had, i honestly felt like crying it was so sad 😭.

2) The romance. Top tier. When both of them had terrible day at work and then they went camping, that's peak romance for me. It beautiful, it's something I yearn for. The kind of love that is like a warm hug at the end of the day. Beautifully done. Or taking care of a sick person. That top tier, chef's kisss.

3) its really funny. Honestly it's funny. When seobin made an appearance. That was funny as hell. I was on my third rewatch. And honestly when dohoon gives the compliment about the food after seobins done with his, it get funnier with each rewatch. The second hand embarrassment i felt for my boy. Or when the coworkers were talking about dating and getting married after dohoon bought lunch given by yoonsoo. Funny as hell, or the running with the air fryer, like boy what was that😂😂😂

4) side character. Honestly I really loved sungwoo's character. Man i really felt so bad for him coz dohoon is so dense😂😂

5) the food. You can never go wrong with food and bl. The best combo i fear.

6) rewatch value 100/10 . Honestly I feel like it gets better with each rewatch. Whenever I feel terrible like the world is out to get me I pop this on. It relaxing.

Honestly even though it was short i felt like it was able to depict everything that was needed, i felt so involved with all the characters. I would say it is the only kbl that has a pretty good rewatch potential. Personally i may be biased, but it is one of my fav kbl.

I honestly get why some people would not like this series. I think it would mostly appeal to mature audiences. Thats okay. The story doesn't have much going on, and particularly that is the reason I love it. It's a slice of life🥺

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Don't miss it

This Drama is soo Good. At first I didn't expect this long and in depth drama but this is way more than what I expected of it. The chemistry between the leads is something worth mentioning it was too gooddd.The ending was soo satisfying. I was thinking this would definitely be a sad ending but no the writer gave us a happy ending with. I was totally worth watching!!!! The OST is also good.. This drama took many turns but every turn is worth waiting and watching it. The support roles are also soo good. I loved every scene where main leads are there their chemistry is just over flowing, like they are meant to do that..

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Undercover High School is a surprisingly fresh K-drama. The premise, an NIS agent undercover as a student in search of missing gold bars, might sound over the top, but the show turns it into an addictive story that keeps you hooked episode after episode.

What makes it stand out is its balance: exciting action, well-timed comedy, and twists that keep the suspense alive until the very end. There are no filler episodes; each one adds tension, mystery, or a new revelation. That ability to hold the viewer’s attention is one of its strongest points.

The characters bring real depth: Jeong Hae-seong (Seo Kang-jun) is not just a tough agent but a man facing his own vulnerabilities; teacher Oh Su-a (Jin Ki-joo) adds warmth and nostalgia; while the school chairwoman injects mystery and high-stakes tension. Together, they create a drama that goes beyond surface-level entertainment.

Bottom line: Undercover High School is one of those dramas you binge without realizing it. It grabs you from the first episode and doesn’t let go until the very last. A smart mix of action, humor, and heart that’s absolutely worth watching.

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Really good drama, but the rapist storyline…

The show is really good, my first introduction to the omegaverse and im really enjoying it. I would give it a perfect score, but the relationship of the main couple transforming into a rapist storyline who manipulates a persons feelings and lies about their identity is really uncomfortable for me, thus im not really rooting for them as a couple, which defeats the purpose of a Boys Love for me. im mainly sticking through it for the secondary couple which is more interesting to me and far more entertaining.
Basically near perfect drama, but get rid of the raping…

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Sep 2025
This is one of those dramas, where the storyline can be taken as light, or as meaningful, whichever way you want to see it.

On the surface, it's a comical, sometimes mildly angsty, young romance, with a decent mix of characters ~ including a good % of quirky ones, which I like.

If wanted, it can be viewed more deeply... a gender stuck in the wrong body. That's something, which is experienced irl, possibly by more than are able to admit it.

It wasn't perfect, and there were some cringe moments, but personally I was hooked by it! I enjoyed every episode and thought the acting fit the concept, and young fresh vibe.

The female characters were an interesting mix, and Kang Min-ju was as annoying as she was doubtless intended to be! Well played by Chuu.

Yoon San-ha was very believable as the intelligent, slightly nerdy, supportive and sensible boyfriend, Yun-jae. Arin was perfect for the role of girlfriend Ji-eun; and Yoo Jung-hoo was so lovely as 'The Man!' of the title, Ji-hun.

No overacting or hamming it up, which I was grateful for. Disliked Yun-jae's mother and sister ~ 2 annoying characters in one family... poor son/brother!

A favourite was Ji-eun/hun's grandpa, fabulously played by Yoon Joo-sang - criminal that he doesn't seem to appear in any cast listings.

Several other storylines run alongside the main one, which meant this drama rarely got boring, and quite a bit was packed into 12 episodes.

I actually rather loved it ~ and Yoo Jung-hoo/Ji-hun.

Well worth a look.

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excellent and unique story about time travel and time paradox... BUT

time travel stories are one of my favourite genres and i can confidently say, this one is one of the better ones out there - mindbenders like tenet being the bar. so, if you like the genre, definitely go watch it - even though the ending might need some extra untangling.

for this review, i think it is important to point out, that when watching sci-fi or time travel, personally, i don't mind, having to dive a bit into some physics or rewatch certain scenes to be able to check for plot holes or because i didn't get it completely the first time around. so it's kind of part of the fun (discovering plot wholes is not, though ;)) same with this series: (despite it not really tackling the whole theory thing in detail) with some confusion along the way, i did have to rewatch, but it still earns a higher rating on my list. because, from a very unique perspective, grid takes us on a journey to face an underlying, yet easily overlooked, side effect of a reality, where time travel would be an actual thing. and not in a forseeable manner, which speaks for the quality of the approach.

starting out, we follow a time travel time line with a certain goal, that then experiences complications, followed by more time travel. even if kind of formulaic, since well written, executed and acted, that alone makes this already up until ep 8 an enjoyable show, but also not outstanding. so far the story is stylish, consistent, understandable and gripping.

however, meanwhile and without the audience realizing a more unexpected culmination of the show is building up to a turn of events and revelation of the underlying message in the last two episodes.

yes, i did rewatch the last ep a few times to understand the plot fully but do not rate it as a deal breaker in and of itself. yes, it is a really well played surprise. and yes, i think it is crucial to leave the ending open like that to deliver the core of the message. so, generally speaking, story telling wise, well done.

BUT... no, i don't think the audience's confusion in the end is justified as it's not an effect of potential knowledge gaps or creative thinking challenge. or in other words, it doesn't motivate to consciously decipher the message or the scientific grounds. it's simply due to messy execution on creator's side. in addition, when we want to follow through with the show's revelation in all consequences, it kind of opens up a pandora's box. but then it just doesn't. like, the idea is total fun, but the moment the turn of events in the final ep happen - this very second - the story ACTUALLY becomes super unmanageable, since in reality the possibilities explode to, like, a gazillion, in the blink of an eye :) BUT... the creators choose to ignore :/

my take: respect, for the idea, consistency and effort to have given it a good run. it's a well enough ride, to confidently recommend it to genre-savvy fans. even though it does fall too short to be up there with the mindblowing, excellent ones.

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