Reviews

The shine of the jewels of Section E faded as we dived deeper!

All the things we watched were pure nonsensical and dumb. At first, I enjoyed it because of the precious bond of the classmates with Jay-Jay. It was really exciting to watch her winning over her classmate's heart one by one, but as we proceeded with the storyline, it just made no sense. Unruly rich high school kids doing all illegal things and not getting a simple scolding from their parents, but Jay-Jay getting punished for the slightest mistakes was ridiculous. I really disliked how Jay-Jay got tossed around and her brother, cousin, Keifer, Yuri...all the men in her life just shut her up, bossed her around and dominated all the time. It was not nice, not romantic or fun, it was insulting at times.

From the bottom of my heart, I love David and Ci-N, and I'm not interested in either Keifer nor Yuri. Both of them are dumb af. But the MVP of this drama was Daleng Dale song. It was the best OST of the year.

Looks like we will be having season 2 because this is not the end. Till then, if you are looking for something mindless and don't mind idiots bullying a girl and seeing her life getting fckd up, then you're welcome to watch this. But please don't expect sensibility and seriousness because it's a Wattpad drama in the end. Keep your expectations at bay.

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Just okay, lacks the heart!

I know people have said this is a different drama, and fans of Hospital Playlist should not expect the same vibes. I agree and disagree. I don't think it's unreasonable for fans of Hospital Playlist to expect that this drama would be as good as Hospital Playlist, especially when from the get-go, they said this was a spin-off of the drama. At the very least, the quality of the drama should at least resemble, no? I'm obviously not saying the plot should've been the same but so far, I feel like this drama is lacking in many ways.

It's not realistic that almost all, if not all, residents are so unaware about BASIC practices like showing empathy to patients, or my favourite, Yi-young holding the scalpel in the wrong direction and hurting a fellow doctor DURING SURGERY, hello????? It's obviously not impossible, but the way it was enacted was too careless.

I wish there was a balance showcasing all residents' growth journey, in a way that does not make them look like they're college students, they're already doctors for crying out loud! The hand-holding is just way too much for such a profession.

My other qualm about this show is the love storyline, to ME - it feels very forced, and frankly, unneeded. The in-laws falling in love trope is not the worst but also, why? LOL. I'm genuinely confused about how we got here - it felt so sudden that Yi-young just started liking and pursuing Do-won? I'm sure they'll likely show us the backstory in later episodes, and he may have liked her first, we'll see. It feels like that has become a key focus of the show - the show is literally called Resident Playbook, LOL. Shouldn't it then balance showcasing all residents' journeys, in a nuanced, meaningful manner??? So far, the other residents characters lack depth, IMO, for a show that was marketed as an ensemble? For instance, I thoroughly enjoy Shin Siah's acting and character so I'd love to learn more about her outside of her seemingly being boy obsessed and her flaws at work. I know GYJ is the main lead so obvi more screen time but I actually wish they let us watch GYJ's character develop first before this love plot. It'd be interesting to watch how her relationship to work evolves, the debt issue (which 6 episodes in has not been properly explained yet but has been presented a major reason why she has to work again), her relationship dynamics with her colleagues, and her internal growth journey, in a deep, meaningful way. I truly feel like this love plot is a distraction because otherwise, the drama plot would be very shallow. I think this is also why there are so many HP cameos, to fill in the gaps in the writing.

There have been a few heartwarming moments, especially with the patients, which I've truly loved, and appreciated, so it's not ALL bad :))

I read reports that there were several re-shoots and I'm also aware that the drama delayed airing because of the doctor strike in SK so may be they got rid of critical scenes that would have made me feel more connected to the cast and the plot, but as is, the storyline feels all over the place and the characters journeys are not compelling enough including the love plot, idk. I'll keep watching and hope things get better.

Edit: Another insight, and this is likely an unpopular opinion - despite GYJ having the majority screen time, her acting in this project felt a bit subpar, in comparison to her most recent projects. I enjoyed her acting in Moving & Death's Game, so maybe it's just this project, or maybe her acting strengths come out more depending on which actors she's working with(?), and obvi the writing. I'm drawing her out because she's the lead in this project, so she should ideally stand out, but I found myself more wowed by Shin Si-ah's acting, who is seemingly a rookie actress - her facial acting was especially quite good, and her acting generally felt more organic. I'll come back after I finish the last 2 episodes!

Final Edit: I wrote a larger part of this review only 6 episodes in, and I was hoping my views would change significantly after the show, but I'm afraid that's not the case. I truly believe there was great potential for this show had they given us well-rounded characters and delivered an actual ensemble cast. The overfocus on the FL's story (debt, unmotivated to work, convenient romance) became boring at some point. The romance plotlines (including the potential one with Jaeil & Sabi, and Namkyung and the intern) were too predictable, and I wish they'd offered us something new and refreshing, even if that meant further exploring the developing camaraderie and conflicts amongst the residents. In fact, I'd argue, the romance with Yiyoung and the anesthesiologist could have been more interesting and convincing. It generally feels like the writers were afraid to take risks so here we are!

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Mixed feelings...

My first impression is that there are 2 main appeals to this drama. The first is that people have been wanting to see this CP since LBFAD. The second is that people are always criticizing Yu Shuxin only playing cutesy, babyish characters and this was her chance to add something more serious to her portfolio. So far, neither box is really ticked for me. These two had more chemistry in LBFAD and I wasn't even rooting for them to end up together in that show.

As for Yu Shuxin, her characters never annoyed me that much because I feel that she is a naturally bubbly person off camera. That is why seeing her play this stoic, dull person it looks like it is physically hurting her to play this character. To me Yun Wei Shan just looks and acts emotionally constipated. YS shines in her comedic roles and this boring character is just doing nothing for me. She did kill the fighting scenes though, especially the mud scene. That was badass.

As for Zhange Linghe, I find him to be just the opposite of YS. He shines in more serious, emotionally tormented roles. The Story of Kunning Palace is easily one his best roles to date in my opinion. He's a great actor and obviously very handsome but I'm not seeing either trait being taken advantage of in this show. His spoiled, prince type persona in the beginning just isn't a full sale, and then he's immediately thrown into a leadership role and changes his personality that fast? Also they went too heavy with his make up and wardrobe where he looks like a Japanese geisha, just with more glitter.

As for the rest of the characters/story...I'm really hoping things get more interesting. So far there's been gruelingly long scenes of dialogue with very little action. The first half of the first episode was spent talking about was going to happen. Then the 3rd or4th episode the two spies literally talked for 75% of the episode. There's slightly more passion/chemistry sparking between Shangguan Qian and Shang Jue but I feel like she spends more time talking about him, than actually with him.

As for the "villian" brothers. They're not very interesting. I'm not sure if we are supposed to pity them or hate them? Maybe both? And the comedy is not comedying. Nothing clearly meant to be funny actually made me laugh. Every "funny" scene feels inorganic and forced into the overall dark and serious setting. The only scene slightly amusing is when Shang Jue calls Ziyu out for noticing Shangguan Qian's good looks and Wei Shan gives him a death stare. But unless you're five years old you probably won't find Gong Zi Shang funny either.

The cinematography is pretty good. I have no problem with the dark vibes, graphics and settings. It was part of the appeal for me. The ambient sounds can be a little too intense for what's actually happening though. The background music for Shang Jue's entrance and for the scene where the brides arrive by boat was too dramatic for the scene. But overall the OST sounds decent and fits the drama well.

The premises of this drama seems really interesting so I'm going to stick it out until the end. It's a short enough drama to endure, even if things don't get better...UPDATE: I'm actually dropping it for now. I may circle back another time but after 8 episodes I was still bored to death.

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Perfectly Balanced Heartbreaker That Never Lets You Fully Break

This drama is like a friend who tells you a sad story. They know you might cry, they know you might feel guilty, so they drop in a random joke to make you smile again.

To say this drama was a big surprise to me would be an understatement. When I first found out it existed, I thought it was just another short romance drama - nice enough to watch, but forgettable a week later.

Way Back Love is anything but that. It's a beautiful story about love, friendship, and learning to accept the guilt you carry from the past. It's definitely a hopeful yet sad journey, but it never felt overwhelming. It never left me too hopeful, and never too sad. The director balances all these emotions so well, like that friend I mentioned, the one who knows exactly when to step in before you break - and somehow, it worked for me every single time.

The story jumps between past and present timelines, but it never felt random. Whenever something heavy happened in one timeline, I was brought to the other in a way that made me feel okay again. It always felt connected. When a character did something in the present that mirrored what they had done in the past, I was taken right back there with them to experience it as well. The pacing was great, it never felt boring.

So yeah, you can probably tell by now, the directing here is chef's kiss. One moment the scenography is colorful and full of life, and the next it's bleak and heavy - and every time, the music fits the mood perfectly. Nothing felt out of place.

The performances? Absolutely amazing. I'd only seen both leads briefly in other projects, so maybe that's why I was so impressed. They were both great, but I really have to single out Kim Min Ha - she was on a completely different level. Her acting felt so natural it honestly didn't even feel like acting. It was as if someone simply said, "Be Jeong Hee Wan," and she just was. Also, shoutout to Jung Gun Joo - a really, really good performance too.

Overall, a truly amazing watch. One could say, after reading the synopsis, that this is a story that's already been told many times before, and I would even agree. But the key is the execution, and here it made the story feel really special.

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Marriage is a work in progress for both partners

A story of the Li family to find a husband for the five daughters, who have different and distinct characters.

This story shows that a marriage will not always be perfect. They must understand both their strengths and weaknesses to make it work. Each daughter got a set of stories, and little by little both the wife and husband, especially the husband, learned to adjust to their hard-to-crack wives.

I love the son-in-law alliance. Despite their constant betrayal, they manage to help each other make amends with their wives and lead peaceful lives.
The sisters were definitely sticking to each other through ups and downs. What a wonderful opportunity to see how the family united, especially in the hardest part of life.

A big applause to Madam Li. This story shows what a mother can sacrifice for her children. She is tough but very soft with her daughters. Such behavior shows that whatever happens, children will always count on their mother.

Definitely my favorite story was the fourth daughter, Haode, and Shen Hui Zao. Their story is refreshing, where both of them were honest and took a stand for their values.

Overall, this is wonderful to watch. What a wonderful set of stories in one drama.

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time loop- murder mystery done right ---- wow it was so thrilling

Reset Review- an invigorating time-loop series worth your time
I gave this show a 10/10. Its rewatch value is off the charts, personally, as I’ve already watched the show like 4 times. The plot was executed well from beginning to end, the actors/ actresses do a wonderful job portraying their characters, even the length of the show is perfect, a good 15 episodes that are emotional, heartbreaking at times, filled with hope, fear, thrilling, and love. It was thrilling from beginning to end, and the 2 main characters' arcs, and how they grow to understand each other more and work together better as the show continues is just wonderful to see! All in all, I recommend this show to anyone who loves time travel/ loop series/ movies, or a good murder mystery.

How did I feel about the plot?
This show honestly had me on my toes for a while. At one point, I already knew what and who caused the explosion, however, how the show plays out, and how every little detail matters in this show is really well done. I went into this show not expecting much since I’ve seen very little time loop shows/ movies done well, I was pleasantly surprised with how the author wrote this show/ brought together all these little details to help us understand how the story is coming together. From beginning to end I enjoyed this show thoroughly, because of how well put together it was. Time loop plus murder mystery, it's a concept we see a lot in Hollywood media, however, my first time in a Chinese production and it was executed so nicely. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing the backstories of the other characters on the bus. By the end of the show, it makes you feel more connected with all the characters and you genuinely hope for no one to die.








Beware of (Some) Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!








The actors portrayals of the character
I could go on and on about how I feel about the acting in this show. My god. The actors, let's give a round of applause to them. *vigorous clapping* LOL. They. just wow. The actors in this show were phenomenal. Let’s start with Bai Jing Ting and Zhao Jin Mai, I have almost no words. These two are wonderful actors, they evoked all the feelings that most people would feel in a situation like this, through their acting. Considering this is a time loop show, a lot of the scenes are done in the same areas (aka on the bus) for the majority of the show. They always show these two actors waking up in the new loop, and every single time, their reactions are different. Sometimes they are significantly different, yet sometimes there are very subtle differences, and that shows how well they understand their characters. Let me just say, the actress who plays Tao Ying Hong, Liu Dan, she’s a gem. Her portrayal of this character was insane (literally), and she does a wonderful job portraying the sorrow and vengeance that her character feels throughout the plot. I, also, want to applaud all the other actors who play the characters on the bus. I felt genuinely connected to all of these characters, one because of the plot but also because of how the actors/ actresses portrayed them. I fell in love with all of them and their stories.

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Tasteful Story Line along with Tasty Food!

This was a series to watch without dealing with too much drama. The story itself is good, although I wish it would have gone much further than it did. It seemed to be rushed a bit in baking everything into a sweet dessert.
The acting of Yoon Soo & Do Hoon mixed well together. The characters were very believable, but I think there could have been a deeper story line between the two of them in present day of the series, adding just a bit more drama.
Overall, it was enjoyable to watch. Just be warned not to watch this series on an empty stomach. The food looks amazing throughout. Bon Appetit will definitely give you an appetite!!!!

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Poor ending

The beginning of the drama was good. I liked the concept and the reason behind the second phase of the story. In addition, I enjoyed the performances of both the leads and the supporting characters. This time, I even liked the acting of the person who played the devil. His makeup was cool—simple, yet effective—and for the first time, a devil didn’t actually look like one. I don’t know why, but he looked good. Everything was going perfectly. However, when the female protagonist spent some time with him and then left him for his sake, the story started to lose its charm. After that, everything felt bland. It seemed like they were unnecessarily stretching the story. Even the ending didn’t feel satisfying.

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Almost a Great Series!

This series had me glued to my seat, not being able to turn it off. A very powerful story line with a great cast of actors.
Se Ok & Deok Hui was fantastic. Their characters had the skills of being believable, with just a touch of evil below the surface.
Being a big fan of Yoon Chan Young, I wish he would have had a bigger role, but he was great as a supporting actor in this. He gave a touch of comedy and sensitivity during the really dark moments.
The series did become a bit of a disappointment at the end. Without giving a spoiler, it ended sort of flat, nothing like I was expecting. Without knowing if there will be a season 2, it sort of flat lined the story and really left us waiting for the big moment that never came.
Hopefully a season 2 will happen.

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IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING THIS...WHAT???????

So first of all, I'm not a actor fan who will cheer bcz my fav actors are there. I didn't even know about them from the start. Secondly I'm not a dakaichi fan as I've never read it. But from all the edits I've seen, I can guarantee they don't only look like the characters, they embody them.

Every episode is adding value to the plot, nothing is fluff or casually done. Their emotions are so beautifully portrayed. The cinematography is like an art film and beautiful way of story telling.

I'm loving it everyday. I will rewatch as a whole once the series ends airing. If you're a bl fan, just go for it. Trust me. Chemistry, acting, good looks, plotline, everything is serving.

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