Reviews

A Great Crime Thriller Drama for Matured Audiences

Taxi Driver did a great job executing a solid story concept seriously and maturely.
Most K-drama series tend to include unnecessary romantic subplots that add nothing to the overall story.
I'm glad Taxi Driver avoided that. As a man, I don't enjoy seeing a "knight in shining armor saving a damsel in distress" in the middle of an otherwise serious and compelling narrative.

The acting from the cast is fairly average, especially the main character and the hacker girl. It's hard to empathize with their emotional breakdowns due to how mediocre their performances are.
The only truly great actor in this show is the villain, Baek Sung-Mi. Her acting is impressive and really stands out compared to the rest of the cast.
However, my favorite characters are the mechanic/engineer duo—you’ll know exactly who I’m talking about if you’ve watched the series.
Those two have the best chemistry in the entire show.

The music is also pretty average, nothing outstanding or memorable, but not bad either.

Overall, even though the acting and music are just okay, what matters most to me is the storytelling, and on that front the show truly delivers.

I’ll probably watch the second season of this show.

Read More

A Soothing and Relaxing Countryside Watch

This drama was such a relaxing and heartwarming summer watch. The story isn’t complex or overly dramatic, but that actually worked in its favor. Instead of focusing on twists or tension, it puts its energy into the gradual growth of the leads’ relationship, which felt genuine and really enjoyable to follow. ( Although they had some random underdeveloped conflicts but nothing too annoying.)

Yechan completely stole the show, he’s so adorable that I honestly got cute aggression more than once. His bright, warm personality just lights up the screen. Yul, on the other hand, had a more grounded and likable charm, and together they balanced each other so well. Their dynamic was sweet, natural, and fun to watch.

The countryside background added to the beauty of the drama. The quiet, rural scenery gave off such a peaceful vibe that made the whole experience even more soothing. Combined with the OST, which matched the mood perfectly, the atmosphere really pulled me in.

Overall, this isn’t a complicated drama, It’s a light, cozy watch that makes you smile and feeling a little lighter after each episode. I liked it a lot, and if you’re in the mood for something simple, sweet, and healing, this is definitely worth checking out.

Read More

Our Unwritten Seoul: Healing, Frustration, Repeat

At first, I was hesitant about whether or not I should start this drama, but in a moment of boredom I just went for it. To my surprise, the plot turned out really interesting. I liked the concept of twins switching lives, which is tricky to pull off, but Park Bo Young did a great job.

🌸 POSITIVE ASPECTS:
-The acting during sad scenes was so good (I actually teared up more than once). It had a very great impact.

-The character development of the mother was slow but satisfying, which makes it realistic in my opinion.

-I liked how they encouraged taking a break when you're feeling hopeless and tired. Healing and self-care are more important than a job and that’s on period.

Overall the plot and execution was nice, not flawless but nice.

⚡ NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
-This is more of a personal statement rather than a critique. I just couldn’t get on board with Mirae’s character. I know she had suffered workplace bullying and was most likely depressed, which led her to attempt, but I just couldn’t understand why she stayed that long just to suffer. Also, she was very cold and strict at first so it just wasn’t for me, but I still respect the execution and her character development.

-Some aspects of the story felt unexplored and made me raise questions, like Lawyer Lee’s behavior. I still don’t know why he was so ruthless at first and then just randomly became better.

-Honestly i didn't feel chemistry between the main leads and just wasn't that interested in their love story.
Also, and I can’t stress this enough, I HATEEE the miscommunication trope and the “I’m a burden for you let’s break up” trope. It literally made me rage because the main leads were grown ass people who had already experienced something similar in high school and couldn’t even learn and move forward as fast as I wish they would have.

Overall these are the main aspects that ruined some of the drama, plus a few boring scenes here and there but nothing too major.


Our Unwritten Seoul tries to teach us to prioritize our health, both physical and mental, and that it’s never too late to start over and be who you wanna be.

Read More

Unique but not for everyone

Gelboys is set to take a unique approach to BL. The reception of this series among the BL Shia Community has been quite mixed. While many viewers lauded the series for its captivating visuals, distinctive aesthetics, and striking compositions, others found it challenging to connect with the characters. Some fans appreciated certain aspects but struggled to understand the characters' motivations, leading to a feeling of emotional detachment from their journeys. One viewer described the characters as cold and distant, exhibiting a lack of emotional depth. Additionally, the pacing of the series has raised some eyebrows, with critics noting inconsistencies that affected the overall experience. Although the plot had the potential to stand out as unique, opinions varied on whether it delivered compelling intrigue; some felt it was well-crafted and believable, while others disagreed. On a positive note, many applauded the production quality, deeming it among the best they had seen.
In summary, Gelboys has received mixed feedback, highlighting that while certain standout scenes may attract viewers, essential elements like character development and narrative consistency might fall short for some viewers.
Our server Poll resulted in an overall average score of 7.5/10. This is an aggregated review from the BL Shia community. Want to know more and have your voice heard? Join us in Discord: https://discord.gg/zDynbwQpP4 and come talk about it!

Read More

When Love and Hatred Exist together

"I hate you to the core but still i love you the most." This single line perfectly captures the essence of the drama. At its heart, its a story about the toxic yet unbreakable friendship between Eunjeong and Sang Yeon. No matter how destructive their relationship seems, they remain each other’s one constant.

Sang Yeon is clearly toxic but i never found myself truly hating her. Maybe its because her backstory was portrayed so convincingly or maybe because deep down, Eunjeong never stopped needing her. Thats what makes their bond so fascinating, it defies simple labels. To call it mere friendship feels inadequate. Its the kind of connection where they shouldnt be together yet they cant exist apart.

Romance and especially the love triangle, was also a big part of the drama. The triangle was complicated, but after finishing drama you couldnt really hate anyone in it. At times you might get angry on characters like Sang Yeon or Sang Hak and at other times you could even understand where they are coming from. In the bigger picture, i dont resent any of them for how the story unfolded. The romance between Eunjeong and Sang Hak was touching but her love-hate bond with Sang Yeon absolutely stole the show.

The drama leans heavily into melodrama and it had me in tears multiple times. The first real breaking point for me was Sang Yeon’s brother’s backstory, which was devastating and then the last two episodes hit just as hard. They were painful to watch, but in the best possible way.

What i liked most was how the drama never painted their relationship in black and white. It didnt glorify Sang Yeon’s behavior but it also didnt make her a complete villain. It showed how love, anger, insecurity, jealousy and dependence can all exist together in one relationship. That made the characters feel very real, even with their flaws.

I personally think that in real life no one should have a friend like Sang Yeon. But in this drama, i dont know maybe its not for me to decide whether a toxic friend like Sang Yeon should stay with Eunjeong or not. What i felt after finishing the drama is that Eunjeong herself needed her. And because of that, i still accept and even approve their toxic friendship within the story.

The drama also had a very strong atmosphere. The music, the pacing and the way side characters were written all added to the heaviness of the story. The subplots didnt feel extra, they actually made the drama deeper and showed how Eunjeong and Sang Yeon’s choices affected everyone around them.

In the end, even with its unusual and heavy storyline, i loved it a lot. For me, its a solid 9.5/10.

Read More

Who should we root for, if everyone is bad depending on the situation?

Ignore the show's poster and period costumes... This series has EVERYTHING to seem boring, but it's not! What an incredible series!... Imagine a series full of intrigue, plot twists, and ambition... Where practically EVERYONE is a villain to each other, everyone has their share of wickedness, because in the end, everyone only thinks about themselves... You understand? Well, that's "My (Im)Perfect Family". If we take away one or two characters, everyone else is a villain to someone in this series, and that's FANTASTIC! I was COMPLETELY on Chen, Hongyok, Thap, and Janraem's side throughout the entire series. I rooted for the characters to fall into their own wickedness and for them not to fall into the wickedness of others. For me, THEY are the true protagonists of this series.

This series isn't a romantic comedy or anything like that. It's living in the middle of a snake pit. Everyone has their own ambitions and steps over each other to get what they want. So you choose your favorite "villain" and root for them; that's basically it.

The plot is a bit rushed; I think it would need about 30 episodes to properly develop the events, but for now, it's perfect! This series arrived at the right time and, honestly, the protagonists are the least charismatic of the entire series. There are many plots, and you keep wondering "where is the series going?".

I saw an incredible scene from Enjoy and almost cried without even knowing the context. After that, I decided to watch it (the scene happens in episode 6). After the first episode, I couldn't stop. I stayed up watching until dawn and only stopped because I had to work very early the next day, hahaha. The plot is very engaging, with deep and captivating characters, with desires and dreams. Envious, greedy, and bitter characters, with a villainous aura even without being the villains, because, after all, "we all have a bad side". There's no dragging things out, things happen and you're surprised by the events and the attitudes of various characters.

Honestly, my ONLY "disappointment" is that justice sometimes only comes to collect from one side of the story, and for me, the side of the story that "justice" came to collect from wasn't so wrong compared to the other evils in the series, but it's okay. This kind of brought a bit of realism, after all, in life there is "injustice when justice itself doesn't come for everyone".

Chen ☆ Hongyok ☆ Janraem ☆ Thap ☆ My loves S2

Read More

Real and Addictive

Finally writing a review after re-watching it for the nth time.

I stumbled on this masterpiece a few years back, and alas, I was hooked. So much so that I finished watching it in a single night. And since then, I think I've kept on re-visiting the show once a year (if not more). I can't exactly pinpoint what it is about the show that keeps me coming back to it.

Maybe it's how the story is really well written and acted out with everyone doing justice to their part (yes, even the annoying characters did a great job). Maybe it's the chemistry between the leads where you are watching them look at each other and yet a whole conversation happens between them. And surprisingly, you get it.

The whole show is really well done. And very entertaining with great chemistry and comedic relief as well. But it's a show which makes me think, makes me wonder, but also lets me marinate in silence as I watch this realistic portrayal of life, love and long-term relationships. It makes you question your own morals and values because at one point, you do find yourself rooting for morally grey stuff. It's messy, it's quirky, it's grey and yet, so real. Though a part of me dislikes the ending (like many people), I also understand the need for that arch, cuz it's exactly that which makes it much more rooted in reality than just wrapping a disaster in a bow.

hope many more stumble on this show and find enjoyment like I did. Because it's for sure that I'll keep coming back to this one.

Read More

It's gonna be hard to pull myself out of their world ? I adored every second with them.

This drama will now be on my list of favorites. the representation of autism in this one comforted me, so many beautiful lines of dialog Sang tae gets that just feels so true to life I could relate to being autistic myself. I do think if they also made ko moon young autistic as well with the way they connect being on different levels of the spectrum would've been so spot on I also just loved their best friendship 🖤
and gang tae was so relatable as well with the masking in general cause you dont just mask as an autistic person its valid and happens with truama in general and going on that journey to talk about how everyone's valid and important with what theyre going through is a beautiful lesson. him swallowing up everything to stay strong for his family was very relatable for me as well and they all just hit so hard in their little way and now I feel apart of their family hahahha you really go on that journey with them. all of their fights that make you cringe and uncomfortable are needed thats how you build a relationship especially with someone who is traumatized so its just such a special drama for that.
p.s my favorite scene is when Moon young and Sang Tae fight so hard they both drew blood 🖤 I will forever love them.
I also just loved moon youngs interesting obsession with beauty and learning she doesn't always have to be beautiful. her meltdowns felt so good to see with her beautiful face showing its okay to not be okay!
and with that I think im done spewing for now. anyway 10/10 the only thing id say i didn't like was how the mom was still alive at the end lol but its true kdrama fashion for her to be so I can't complain much lol

Read More

Cute & Fluffy!

I really liked the actors who played Kosuke and Shinichiro
I thought they had a nice easy chemistry between them, which never seemed passionate but thats fine. Not all relationships are all fire and thunderstorms.
The setup of 2 highschool friends reconnecting as adults and finding that they always liked each other was nice and I liked that they showed the various stages of their relationships— from the happy honeymoon period to the arguments to the personal growth. It was all kinda superficial and fluffy without ever getting serious, but thats okay. This was a fun and cute watch for me.

Read More

Must watch if you’re a huge fan of Liu Tao!!

If you enjoy watching slice-of-life dramas based around friendship like Hello, My Twenties! and Hospital Playlist, you would love this drama, too. It’s refreshing to see a show where none of the main characters are morally upright or perfect, but you can’t help but root for them. I didn’t particularly care for any of the love stories, but that didn’t detract from the watching experience, except for the Wei Wei guy who I hated with a passion.

Unlike Hello, My Twenties! 2 and Hospital Playlist 2, Ode to Joy 2 didn’t retain the momentum that it carried in season one. There were inconsistencies in storytelling and character struggles, especially with Andy’s character, but still, it was an enjoyable experience.

Read More

boring...

This series had an unusual premise, but the execution didn’t really work for me. The whole "waiting 300 years and suddenly confessing" part felt rushed and a bit random, and I never fully connected with the characters. The pacing was slow, and the story leaned too much on the forced-love idea, which made it hard to enjoy the romance.

There were a few nice moments and the cast tried their best, but overall it just wasn’t engaging. For me, it ended up being more boring than exciting, and I wished the script had developed the plot and relationship in a more natural way.

Read More