Completed
The Long Ballad
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
49 of 49 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0

Great story

I thought I would love this more. It had so much potential, but just fell a little short for me. I speed watched most of the middle, as it was a bit dull in spots, just cause I wanted to know how it ended. It's not one I will rewatch.
Such a shame, cause I love all the main actors. There was just no chemistry between the two main leads, so it made it hard to believe their love story. The secondary couple's story was cute though. I'm a massive fan of Leo Wu and Zhou Lu Si, so I had high expectations for the cast.
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Re Wen Mei Gui Hui Shang Yin
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
88 of 88 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

Yao Guan Yu excels at smirking & sneaky seduction

I was intrigued by Yao Guan Yu so I chose to watch this drama on Damazone youtube channel 3 months ago. This is my first drama from both Yao Guan Yu and Zhang Yi Lin. I hate to say this but this drama is forgettable. Not a drama I'd watch on repeat.

What I liked:
1. Yao Guan Yu - Damn, he gave me 'Leo Yang in Undercover Affair' vibes with his smirks & sneaky seduction. The amount of teasing and flirting, damn!
2. Styling - Great outfits worn by FL & ML. The red dress at the start of the drama was gorgeous!
3. ML characterisation - Despite the cocky flirty exterior he put for FL, he was devoted to FL.

What I disliked:
1. Romance - Despite the good looking visuals of both YGY & ZYL, I felt that their chemistry was lacking. Too much push from FL, ML was too patient in their relationship.
2. Writing - Somehow this drama is not memorable to me. I couldn't remember a single scene so I had to rewatch before writing this review. I found the running time was too long as well.
3. FL characterisation - She's cool, independent woman but as a lover, I wish she had sorted out her feelings earlier. I couldn't connect with her character and I don't know whether to blame ZYL or the director.

Favourite scene
The introduction

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Not Me
2 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Not me, Not you, But everyone

Let me start by saying this: I didn’t touch my phone once while watching Not Me. No fast-forwarding, no distractions—just me, completely immersed from start to finish. And if you know how I usually watch dramas (a little skip here, a little scroll there), you’d know how rare that is. That alone should say something.

The story follows twins White and Black, who were separated as children. White was raised abroad while Black remained in Thailand. Years later, White returns only to suddenly feel a mysterious pain—soon learning that Black is in a coma after a violent attack. To uncover the truth, White disguises himself as his brother and infiltrates Black’s motorcycle gang, suspecting someone in the group betrayed him. But as he dives deeper into Black’s life, White finds himself entangled in political resistance, personal awakening, and an unexpected emotional connection with the very people he once viewed as strangers.



What I Loved:

The Social Commentary: This drama didn’t just mention injustice—it held a mirror up to it. From systemic corruption, class disparity, and police brutality, to the internal guilt of privilege (especially shown through White’s monologues), Not Me tackled complex topics with honesty and boldness. It never spoon-fed solutions, but made you question the world you live in.

Romance That Wasn’t the Whole Plot: The romance—especially between White and Sean, and Yok and Dan—was powerful because it wasn’t the focus. It didn’t feel forced or tokenized. It felt like real people connecting through shared struggle. Their love stories bloomed naturally within the story, not because of it. And that made all the difference.

Gun Atthaphan (White/Black): Gun absolutely blew me away. This was my first time seeing him act and—wow. I genuinely had to check if the twins were played by different actors. He brought so much nuance, pain, and personality into both roles. You could feel the contrast between White and Black not just in dialogue but in posture, eyes, even breathing. And then to top it off, he also played White pretending to be Black?? The layers!

Female Characters That Weren’t Just Props: Eugene and Name were written like real people. No exaggerated reactions, no weak plot devices—they had depth, strength, and stories of their own. I loved every scene they were in. Even Nuch, who had less screen time, made a lasting impression—especially with her line: “Law is a door to justice, not justice itself.”

The Whole Ensemble Was Strong: Gumpa, the emotional anchor of the group, stole my heart. He was everyone's protector—but made me wonder, who protects him? Yok’s story was deeply moving, especially the portrayal of his relationship with his mute mother and the added layer of how society treats people with disabilities. And that heartbreak when he saw Dan’s betrayal? Gut-wrenching.

Tod and Black’s Relationship Deserves a Whole Spin-Off: Friends to enemies to… possibly friends again? Their story was so layered. They both wanted change, but walked different paths—Tod believed in changing the system, Black wanted to burn it all down. Their conflict was philosophical and emotional, and the coma twist? Brilliant.

Black, in His Own Right: Though absent for much of the drama, when Black appeared, he made it count. A character with a hard exterior and a soft, fiercely loyal heart. The way he left Eugene to protect her, how much he clearly cared for his brother—it all showed how human he was underneath the rage.

The Twin Bond: The special connection between White and Black added mystery and heart. That line in the finale—when Black says maybe he doesn't feel angry at Sean anymore because White loves him? Chills. It was both tender and thought-provoking.

Realistic Aesthetics: One thing I really appreciated was how natural everyone looked. The makeup was subtle and real—you could see pores, scars, skin texture. No beauty filters, no overly glossy perfection. It made the characters feel like people you could actually meet, and it suited the raw tone of the show perfectly.

Cinematography & Soundtrack: The camera work was gorgeous. Natural and unpolished in the best way, with stunning shots that highlighted the grit of the story without glamorizing it. And the soundtrack? Perfect. Every piece matched the mood without being overused or intrusive. It added to the scenes rather than overpowering them.


A Few Tiny Critiques (Because I Gotta Be Honest):

I wish the group had shown a bit more care about what happened to Black. It felt slightly under-addressed considering how central he was to their cause.

The constant product placement (PPL) pulled me out sometimes. Especially when the show was making such raw, anti-establishment statements—it felt a little contradictory.

And if we're being realistic they would have been either dead or arrested before the drama even started. There were some plot holes now and then too.

But did it ruin anything? Not at all. The show still delivered one of the most daring, powerful narratives I’ve seen in a long time.


Not Me was not just a drama—it was a statement. It dared to be political, queer, and emotionally complex all at once. It told the story of resistance, love, guilt, identity, and change in a way that felt real.

It wasn’t just good. It was important. At least for me, and won't be forgetting about it soon.

on a side note, I'm going to pretend the "flying" scenes didn't happen, because my rating would've been so much lower for how cringe that scenes were!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Dropped 14/40
Serendipity
3 people found this review helpful
by Resa
May 13, 2025
14 of 40 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Shallow but watchable

WHAT I LIKE:
• Gorgeous female costumes, hair and makeup depsite not having a high budget.✅

• Strong female characters that won't throw away their lives for a man.✅

• Support and trust FL, ML and SML have for each other.✅

• Villains aren't completely bad and one dimensional, there's motives behind their actions.✅

• ML and his mother being kind and brave enough to take FL in after what happened to her family.✅
• Lu Yuxiao. She's convincing in every role she plays.✅


WHAT I DON'T LIKE:
• How the story is written... Even mini dramas you see on TikTok have more compelling writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing. In this drama the writing is undercooked, they're ALMOST there but then fumble it. Whenever they're solving a problem they make all the answers so obvious to the audience or you've already seen this exact scene in other dramas a billion times and can tell exactly what's going to happen next.
They could lie to other characters to get what they want and when the characters find out they accept the fact they've been deceived(even if it's for a good cause, where is your shock?...) so fast, and suddenly trust main characters 100% and follow up with the plans of the main characters. Every act plays in favor of main leads, their plans never fail.
For example a female character's husband is a cheater, he has cheated on this said character multiple times, one time the character tried to confront one of her husband's side girl and changed her whole mind after hearing what FL said(FL saw her coming into the room and said that on purpose too) about women being tools of men, why make life harder for ourselves.... does that mean this character would have gone ahead and confronted her husband's side girl and stay in that marriage forever?? Can't tell if the writer did this on purpose or not. What should I be excited for then?
Do they think the audience is dumb and they need to spell everything out? Where's the jaw dropping moment? Plot twists that make you stay up late watching? But to be fair I didn't have much expectations from the beginning.

• The dubbing not matching the actor's mouth movement and you can tell it's not the actor's own voice.

• Dull male characters. Both ML and SML seem to be just there. Can't tell if it's once again the script that doesn't let them shine or their acting itself.

Would've rounded up my score and gave it an 8 but it's not on par with other dramas I've given an 8.

Watch if you have nothing else and want to pass time.

Dropping cause I can't be watching one episode for a week.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Tomato Swissue

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Genre: Legal, Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Streamed on: Netflix

Plot Summary:

Our story revolves around an autistic genius that until recently has struggled to find employment as an attorney due to her disability. As the story progresses, Attorney Woo will have to learn to navigate the legal system, workplace politics, family drama, romance and, worst of all, revolving doors.

Characters & Cast:

Main Characters:

Woo Young-Woo
Lee Jun-Ho

Other Cast:

Choi “Spring Sunshine” Su-Yeon
Jung Myeong-Suk
Dong to-the Geu to-the Rami

Best of OST:

I just realised that this calming tune was done by SUZY!!!
https://youtu.be/CzSOnojxrqk?si=AQOhPdEWw3OpRZDM

And this is a bonus. This track was sung by Extraordinary Attorney Woo herself. I believe on the plane trip either to or from Jeju.
https://youtu.be/QT93FwerODU?si=G-KtMYxKzVW5uVCl

Good luck not hearing this every time you attempt revolving doors from now on…
https://youtu.be/Wz0cqovS730?si=zLb-3WcuFn0Iz2cv

From the intro, to the special song sung by Park Eun-bin in the later episodes, the OST is catchy and memorable, complimenting the show rather than outshining it at any point.
https://youtu.be/OvbEvBXrzkw?si=uI2TYi3yrdZy433O

Writing & Themes:

It’s difficult to properly assess the writing for this drama. This is because I am in no way knowledgable on:

- Autism
- Being a lawyer
- The Korean Legal System

However, I’ve heard people say that Park Eun-bin is just playing the same character she always does. I’ve seen a few of her drama’s and in this one, and in the others, she plays a radically different character. I can see the effort placed into the idiosyncrasies of her character. The emotional growth the characters go through is gold, and the legal drama is just the engine that gets them there.

Pacing & Flow:

The format of the show takes on a case-of-the-week sort of flow, with the cases in the later episodes sometimes spanning multiple episodes. Most of the show is paced really well. If there is one complaint I have, it’s that I wish we could have spent more time with the couple, and dealt with more of how their relationship would have panned out.

That said, while the romance was sweet, I understand that it wasn’t the main driver of the show.

Final Thoughts:

Extraordinary Attorney is a lovely drama that tugs at the heartstrings. For some reason this scene in particular always chokes me up no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

https://youtu.be/A4IxJj4eHWM?si=3CG0KrNtERpUe6_h

If you’re someone that empathises easily, someone that likes a good underdog story, or someone that likes a legal drama, I think that *Extraordinary Attorney Woo* is the drama for you.

Rating:
9.2/10

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Everyone Loves Me
1 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 3.0

started off really well but became flat way too fast

I don’t want to write a long review so I will just state the main points (just finished it, thought I found a gem but ended up wasting my time)

✅ lots of expectations at the beginning because it started off really well and the editing was great
✅ the female lead personality at the beginning was promising (real one, not the cutesy whatever that was)
✅ the video game immersion was interesting (I loved it in Love Scenery) at the beginning only
✅ second lead couple is cute
✅ I love Lin Yi’s acting usually (I have to put that here cause I ain’t got any other good point to state for the positive side)

❌ no chemistry between the leads
❌ no romance, completely missed the romcom part
❌ the editing after the first 6-7 episodes makes no sense, they make you expect something but completely ruin it and goes straight to the next day for some reason ?
❌ the female lead was okay at first but gradually becomes unbearable and very toxic, I was very disappointed about that because I related to her at the beginning
❌ the plot becomes super flat, anything and nothing happen it’s very blurry
❌ no time to actually care about anything
❌ editing, directing AND scriptwriting could have been much better, it got so bad towards the end that it was painful to watch
❌ just what the actual hell was the part with the parents meeting ???????? like, what ??? felt like a fever dream
❌ the ending was complete garbage to be honest, it was rushed and not satisfying at all

yeah so my final advice would be, if you are genuinely extremely bored, why not ? 🤓

but if you are looking for a really good drama with a great plot, good chemistry, satisfying editing and characters, and most of all, ACTUAL romantic scenes and relationship development

don’t waste your time 🤗

here are some recommendations to watch instead :
- Love Scenery (with Lin Yi but much MUCH better)
- Hidden Love (if you’ve been into drama for a while you probably already watch it)
- The Romance Of Tiger And Rose (my guilty pleasure, Zhao Lusi will entertain you all the way and the plot is innovative as well)
- Till The End Of The Moon (Luo Yunxi and Bailu’s chemistry is excellent and the overall plot got me on a chokehold all the way through)

thank you for reading this and have a great time watching dramas :)

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Love in Pavilion
0 people found this review helpful
by Heila
May 13, 2025
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

A feast for your eyes! Not perfect though..

Love in Pavillion has to be the highest budget xianxia drama of the year, because the CGI! THE. CGI!! IS OVER THE ROOF! It's so good to the point that each episode felt like a movie! Not to mention the amazing CAST, filled with recently popular actors and actresses. What's not to love about this drama?

Liu Shishi (Dongfang Huai Zhu) is an actress that I've been watching since Chinese Paladin 3, granted there's a huge gap of her dramas that I haven't watched that I won't go into detail. I digress, I cannot picture much of her facial expressions in acting other than being stoic. Whether or not it's her character, the way she portrayed her character was quite boring for a lack of a better word. Her evil arc was good, but then it went back to be stoic expressions. I rarely see some microexpressions coming from her and I really expected that from a veteran in the industry. Unfortunately, her acting disappointed me. However, her martial choreography was beautifully done and I applause her for it! I even had to repeat a couple scenes, because it felt looked very crisp and invigorating.

Same goes for Leon Zhang's character. I mean his character was more expressive than Liu Shishi's, but there wasn't any acting that truly hit me as if, "WOW, this is amazing acting!" There was one scene that is suppose to be heartbreaking to watch, but I guess it didn't seem convincing enough for me? Granted, I did know he was heartbroken, and depressed, etc. But something was missing in that scene. I don't know if he improved in acting or not, as the one and only drama I've seen of his was from 2017. He is quite handsome though ngl. lol
With these two together as leads, I don't know if it's the acting or the script or even the directing, but the romance between them just fell flat for me. I did not see much chemistry between them, it just felt ilke two wooden planks talking to each other. I don't know, just a boring couple.
Aside from the main leads, I like to think the supporting cast filled with current popular actors and actress, carried this drama pretty hard.
There has to be something wrong if I prefer the secondary, tertiary, and even the VILLAIN'S love story over the main leads'.
My favorite couple from the beginning was Yang Yi Tan(Zhai Xiao Wan) and Wangquan Zui (Wu Xuan Yi These two fill the friends to lovers trope. I love how they met, grew up together, and one is always protecting the other, etc. It just uuggh I loved these two so much. LOL They had such good chemistry and bond. I demand another drama with these two together! The acting was very natural especially coming from idols to actors!

Another favorite couple is, I think it's everyone's fav at this point, Zhang Zheng (Ding Yu Xi) and Qi Muyuan (Meng Zi Yi). Their love story is more of a chasing after the one you love kind of story with some angst. It was cute when they do end up together and such. I don't want to spoil too much, but Meng Ziyi's is the more bubbly, outspoken character while Yu Xi's character is more stoic (except he displays microexpressions! ) and somewhat dark character.
Noteable mention is Charles Lin. Dude is handsome, his eyes can slice you within a second! Anyways, his acting was satisfactory imo. What stood out for me is his character's love story. It just felt like "US AGAINST THE WORLD" but make it dark and evil. I just loved it and wanted to mention that. lol

Shen Yue's character, Dongfang Qinlan, the younger sister of Dongfang HuaiZhu is pretty much a very bubble, incessantly annoying little sister - possibly overprotective -but-can't-protect-kind of sister. I suppose she's written to be a comedic relief? Regardless, there was something about Shen Yue's acting that threw me off every time she's on screen. It just felt like she's acting a screen play - that feeling when you know someone is just acting instead of embracing their character and acting naturally. I think this is the same acting style she portrayed in MG and ALSB. I just never enjoyed the way she acted, some may love it, but I did not.

Aside from the CGI and great ensemble of a cast, I think the music was really good, I'm definitely adding it to the list. The compositing of the scenery was nice to see, the directing of scenes was good as well. Post production did a great job here! :]
I think what kept me watching is how this felt like I was watching old xianxia dramas, just like a recently finished drama, "A Demon Hunter's Romance" both dramas felt like the early years of xianxia and it;s definitely my cup of tea instead of the usual predictable gods, goddess, endless reincarnation stuff.

Was it a happy ending? *spoilerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* n *spoilerrrrrrrr* o *spoiler * p *spoiler e but I kind of expected this as not all xianxia are going to have happy endings.
Would I recommend it? If you want to watch it for main leads, I wouldn't think it's the best drama. But for the overall cast, yes definitely. And the martial arts choreography? Heck yes, watch it, The CGI?! FEAST FOR YOUR EYES!


Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Ongoing 10/10
Tastefully Yours
27 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
10 of 10 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 7.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

surprisingly(?) this drama has a good start

actually this is not surprising, i mean, this is kang haneul and go minsi's drama (both are talented actors/actresses). what surprised me was, it turns out I like this restaurant-themed drama. I can say that I rarely watch dramas/films that are related to the chef profession, have a restaurant theme, or include cooking scenes. but it turns out... liking this drama in eps 1 is already a proof that this drama brings a new era (for me) and is a drama that is worth watching by many people. I really looking forward to tonight's eps
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Missing Persons
1 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

The Red River Valley ♥️ CaseBook ; Absorbing the Truth ?"

Only the valley remains knowing the truth, Missing Persons may have ended without closure, but its gripping storyline and suspenseful atmosphere left a strong impression. From the very first episode, the drama pulls viewers into a chilling mystery, layered with secrets, psychological twists, and well-developed characters.

The plot unfolds with a thrilling pace, never wasting a moment as it dives deep into disappearances that feel hauntingly real. Each episode builds suspense masterfully, keeping you on edge and guessing. The performances were subtle yet powerful, adding emotional weight to the already intense plot.

Although the drama remains unfinished, it doesn’t feel incomplete. Instead, it leaves you wanting more — not out of frustration, but out of hope. The unanswered questions and cliffhangers only add to its eerie charm, and many fans (myself included) are eagerly hoping for a second season to bring the story to a satisfying close.

If you’re into intelligent mysteries with a dark, emotional tone, Missing Persons is worth the watch. Just be prepared — it ends before it should, but the thrill is absolutely worth the ride.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
What's Wrong with My Princess
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

Hidden Gem

Now, I did not expect much from this show since it is a mini-series. However, it really surprised me and exceeded my expectations. Especially the plot was more tight than I expected it to be. No plot holes and understandable motivations.
First things first: its main focus is revenge, not romance. And it's doing the revenge part extremely well. You root for FL and it's very satisfying that she doesn't lose her focus, is smart and certainly is a (wo)man on a mission. ML is mostly there to help her along and to find true love. It's really sweet and I liked them together. I wish though, that they would've fleshed it out a bit more. But since it's a mini-series, one shouldn't expect miracles. It's also low-budget but the compelling story definitely makes up for it.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The First Responders Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

Thrilling and worth watching!

Thrilling and exciting, from season 1 to season 2, this detective series did not fail to meet all expectations! 😱 🤩

The crimes and their investigations are very well explained and do not lack creativity and originality. It is truly impressive how the screenwriter were able to assemble such a tv show.
In addition, the viewers (especially me) are drawn within it at an emotional level without a doubt. When the firefighter Bong Do Jin died, I could not hold myself from crying. 😭 While I couldn't understand for a while the reason for this character's death to occur (which brought me to frustration for a while), it allowed the storyline to develop and to entrap the viewers within it. All actors executed their roles in perfection. 👌🏼

To sum up, this tv show left a strong impression. While I now know the plot, it is nonetheless worth rewatching eventually.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Love in Pavilion
0 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers
If you have watched “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact” and felt dissociated with reality, then the sequel “Love in Pavilion” will make you feel a pain of epic proportions!

The couples in this storyline are perpetually doomed, they go through trials and tribulations, their love is tested and yet in the end, they don’t necessarily end up together. Wangquan Hong Ye & Dongfang Huai Zhu should have been happy on the day they got married; but the ceremony was saddened by the loss of their near and dear ones, both numb and almost emotionally distraught. It is the way, this storyline builds up the love stories to end them tragically that leaves you devastated. Because the characters are intriguing, the actors literally embrace them and as audiences, you can’t help but fall in love with them. But the ending tears them apart and you never know what went wrong and where? It’s like torturing yourself for 30 or 40 episodes, expecting a “Happily Ever After” only to be met with a disappointing ending. I’m so exhausted after watching the finale episodes, maybe even numb myself!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/love-in-pavilion-series-review/#more-1800

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Once Upon a Small Town
0 people found this review helpful
by Nyy010
May 13, 2025
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Everyone is a good seed in this!

This was really a sweet & enjoyable series. It's kind of unusual where you find yourself rooting for everyone in this, but I found it difficult to dislike any of the characters. Young Woo was great as usual. He matched perfectly with Joy. Even Ji Yeol's rival in this, Sang Hyun was likable and turned out to be a really good guy, looking out for just pure happiness for his true love, Ja Young. Sung Chul played the role perfectly, which made you hope for a happy ending for him, but you also knew things just couldn't go his way.
Lots of funny moments & a few very touching scenes, especially the old man & the bull. Any animal lover would find that an emotional spot in this . "As long as you don't forget about someone you yearn to see, they will come to you as the rain or even the wind"
Definitely a feel good series.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Top Form
2 people found this review helpful
by LiN
May 13, 2025
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

TOP FORMAT: A distant Black Cat finds shelter in a Puppy´s Warmth

WeTv hasn´t let us down with TOP FORM, especially in unwrapping the layers of emotions connected to such a heart-wrenching love story. Moreover, the on-screen chemistry between the actors is nothing short of electric. Portraying well-crafted, consistent characters, P´Boom and P´Smarts bring to life a vulnerable yet vibrant romance that stands as one of the most captivating I've ever seen. Their performances are a true gift, making "TOP FORM" a must-watch.

Initially, I harbored doubts about the series. Given the numerous shows already exploring the movie industry and the trials of showbiz, I wondered how "TOP FORM" could distinguish itself. However, the vision realized by the writers and directors is simply breathtaking, both visually and emotionally. I can't recall the last time a character, like Akin, especially in Episode 10, tugged at my heartstrings so forcefully: capturing such raw, intense emotions repeatedly is proof of TOP FORMs excellence.
P´Boom has brought his character, with all of his complexities and flaws, to life and made him a star to the audience. He left by far the biggest impact on me, as the character's struggles and fears were expressed in such a remarkable performance. The portrayal of Jin by P´Smarts was also top-notch; his movements never felt exaggerated or misplaced.
I also enjoyed the performance of the supporting cast, such as the mysterious character Jade and the cunning Johnny, who fell victim to the showbiz. I could go on and on, it´s that good ...

Minor Shortcomings: That being said, there are a few minor aspects of the story, perhaps related to the original manga, that left me wanting more. Some plot points could have benefited from further explanation or emphasis.

The Editors were in TOP FORM when editing TOP FORM:
Let´s also talk about the cinematography and editing of "TOP FORM", which I haven´t done in other reviews for a long time, because there seemed to be a consistent level of cinematography, to my eye at least. BUT, if we take out the scenes in costume, this series has TOPped the level that other series have reached, by a lot. Especially the creativity in editing and coloring has satisfied my aesthetic eye on a level I can´t comprehend. This isn't just about the NC scenes; it's about the entire palette of emotions conveyed through color, the vividness of each frame, and the meticulous selection of filming locations. I feel fortunate to have witnessed such a masterpiece in 2025. GIVE THE EDITORS an award or raise or something, please!

The choice of music and original soundtracks in the series is also worth special mention. The music seamlessly complements every scene, enhancing the emotional resonance without ever feeling out of place. In the context of Thai series, where this wasn´t always the case - sometimes you had the most goofy background music for emotional scenes, this achievement is truly remarkable. So that´s TOP notch again.

Overall, I count myself lucky to have been part of the audience of "TOP FORM". It's an experience I don´t take for granted, and I wholeheartedly recommend this series, hoping that others will be as enchanted by it as I have been.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Kawaite Soro
2 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2025
1 of 1 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 5.5

"If you stop the bleeding, you'll survive"

A Samurai’s Sorrow was a made for television movie directed by Inoue Akira. Set during the 8th shogun’s reign of the Tokugawa shogunate the special was embellished with ninjas, poison tongue needles, fratricide and possible matricide.

The castle is in an uproar because the shogun’s food has been poisoned. The leader has been subsisting on very little rice for nearly two weeks for fear of being felled by poison. Everyone is hoping Mondo will return and save the day. The poison taster and tester is also masterful with the sword and ladies. Mondo’s mother died when he was young leaving him heart broken. As soon as he returns to town to help the shogun, attempts on his life begin in earnest. Secrets revealed by rivals could unravel Yoshimune’s command and Mondo’s heart even further.

Mondo would have made Rurouni Kenshin proud. For the most part, Mondo didn’t kill those who attacked him, telling them, “If you stop the bleeding, you’ll survive.” Just being in Mondo’s presence could cause a woman to lose her sense of reason. He was said to be so beautiful and well dressed that he could be mistaken for a woman. Satoh Takeru, yes. Fifty-year-old Tamura Masakazu playing a character around thirty years of age, not so much. The actress who played his mother was only twelve years older than he was. All of the actors were subjected to horrendous wigs and exposed wig tape.

The problem I had with A Samurai’s Sorrow was that it lacked spark. With rival clans, concubines, allies, ninjas, and spies around every corner it could be hard to keep up with all of the characters jammed into 90 minutes, much less care about any of them. The basic premise centered around Mondo’s promise to protect the shogun with his life despite the shogun’s betrayal of his mother, rang hollow to me. His mother’s love and hatred for the shogun caused her to kill herself three times for the man. Her son was just as blindly loyal. An emo ronin who constantly mentioned his heart was full of sorrow and might be dead by morning just didn’t resonate with me.

12 May 2025
Trigger warnings:
Three goldfish died trying to save the shogun and this special. RIP little buddies.
Suicides, ritual and otherwise

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?