Reviews

Cute rom-com with a slice of life about book publishing

This drama tells the story of a female lead who begins working at her dream job as an editor and a male lead who is a promising new author. Male lead decides to accept the female lead as his editor when he discovers that she is the online friend who he has been talking to for years.

The first 20 episodes were fantastic and engaging but afterwards the drama got a little boring and draggy, mainly as they focused too much on the book publishing and not enough on the romance. The work conflicts felt very similar, the characters didn’t have much development and the romance died down. I feel like if the drama was shorter, these things wouldn't have been such an issue. Despite all that, I still enjoyed the storyline, characters and romance.

Many comments say the male lead is childish and I agree. In real life I would have been annoyed but in the drama it was the perfect comedy relief and I absolutely loved him (I might also be biassed because I love the actor and he is the reason I watched this).

The second couple was a nice watch but very typical and cliche storyline. I feel like it would have been a stronger storyline if they ended up with different people.

POSITIVE:
- Great insight into the book publishing world. As a book lover I loved seeing that and the plot felt very realistic regarding that.
- Cute romantic scenes between the leads and second leads.
- Good balance between comedy and slice of life maturity.
- Hard-working, career focused and independent female leads.
- Light-hearted for the most part.

NEGATIVE:
- Too much about the book publishing in the second half of the drama which made the romance die down.
- Not much character development.
- Female lead was a bit too focused on her career and sometimes I felt she didn’t care/love the male lead.
- Too long and draggy. Drama would have been better if it was shorter.

OVERALL:
If you are a big fan of the book publishing world and want a bit of romance thrown into the mix, you will definitely enjoy this light-hearted, slice of life drama.

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Average series. Total 26 episodes.

What began as something fun, then whimsical, became a frustrating watch for some viewers - me included. The last third of the series a jumble in editing, with a story line that became confusing and commonplace. The first stumble for this series; was the writing.

As an example; adding a second female lead want-to-be [a.k.a. 2nd princess] the last seven episodes was a slap in the face of the characters that lived this story till then. Wasting screen-time on a superfluous character with no story history; that looks and dresses like the teenage female lead character from the beginning of the drama [A FL placeholder?]; whose appearance lasts right up and until the last 20 minutes of the official finale; was an annoyance that wasn't needed. It was the moment, the writer, abandoned their purpose.

There were so many loose ends, a continuing story, and characters that should have been fleshed out on screen instead. Sadly, the writer didn't appear to care [ie - the male lead becoming a misunderstanding-cliche], but ultimately production seemed to regret their choices. Culminating those editing and writing decisions, into giving watchers the last few minutes of an extra episode with the main couple on-screen together. An average series - With a frustrating story arc. Watch accordingly.

Note, Review based on 26 episodes count.

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Outstanding!!!

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This was an outstanding series. Overall, the script was nicely done and successfully connected multiple elements and characters together. It had a few weak elements, but it did not distract me from enjoying the series. The first episode did a great job giving brief introduction about mental health, as well as the stigma and prejudice society has about it. It tackled so many aspects of mental health in a very considerate way. This series not only showed how it impacts individuals diagnosed with a metal health disorder, it included how it impacts family members and the medical staff caring for them. The series often used a whimsical/fantasy aspect to help represent certain disorders without it being disrespectful. My only critique is that I was not a fan of the romantic storylines. See the spoiler alert at the end of this review if you want more information. The cast was incredible and did a beautiful job portraying their characters. They did a wonderful job with the cinematography and special effects too.

Random Notes:

I anticipated this series since Netflix announced it and happy it didn’t disappoint me.



******Spoiler Alert******

The romantic storyline between Hwang Yeo Hwan and Min Deu Lae was not bad, but felt a little misplaced within the series. The other romantic storyline was slightly bizarre. The series introduced a love triangle between Dong Go Yoon, Jang Da Eun, and Song Yu Chan in the beginning of the series, but then this completely disappeared by the end. However, I was cool with it because I hate love triangle storylines.

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It was great until the end

The setting of the story and first plot twist were not really surprising, I think they were what we all expected them to be. That doesn’t mean they are bad. I always like rivals to kind of friends to lovers stories. I do like how they actually talk through the important things that have happened between them in the past instead of just ignoring those. I am a bit bothered how it is implied that one of them now likes guys because he was not successful with a girl he used to have a crush on. It doesn’t really work this way and it’s a very problematic depiction. I am not sure if that is just a dialogue translation problem or if the actual conversation is also like that.

I think that having the two episodes air before and after Halloween was immaculate timing! There is a hint of supernatural and maybe even a bit of horror. The ghost was an interesting addition to the story. I liked that there was a story to why the ghost is there and why it set its eye on Camp.

I think Kaownah and Turbo have great chemistry together. They did great with the characters and made this an enjoyable watch. Even if some of the humor was not my favorite kind, it fit the characters and setting. I think Turbo wasn’t as good at portraying emotions as Kaownah was though. Kaownah has very expressive eyes.

And then the ending happened. It was extremely anticlimactic and all it did was leave me confused about what was and what wasn’t true. Sure, it was unexpected, and that possibility never crossed my mind. But that doesn’t make it good. To be honest, the ending ruined these two parts for me.

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Another crime thriller by Shin Hakyun ? Of course I had to check this out as soon as I learned about it and Jesus was I hooked .

The premise , the plot , the characters , the storytelling , none of it disappoints . It seems like kdramas are finally taking a step out of their comfort zone and delivering morally ambiguous antiheros and I sure as hell am here for it .

Although the main villains are too stereotypically villainy ( seriously I can see them twisting their mustache and snickering each time they appear on the screen ) , I can ignore that because Shin Hakyun alone completely more than makes up for it with his amazing portrayal of Han Dongsoo , an incredibly smart lawyer who decided to live most of his life complying by the rules , which had cost him , a lot . And we watch as he's inevitably driven into a corner and forced to make a choice . Fight fairly and undoubtedly lose , or accept a bloodied hand , the only salvation that reached him in the most desperate moment of his life . When his family is on the line , he has no choice but to accept Seo Doyoungs help . And even though each time he convinces himself that he will put an end to it before he's too far down to climb back up , we the audience understand and anticipate that that's not going to happen , that something or someone will force his hand , because of course , that's what this whole show is all about and I absolutely love it, watching someone this smart finally let loose and go out for blood , how can I not be excited !

Watching him rack up his brain to come up with ideas to save himself and his brother was seriously one of my favorite parts of this show .

I have to add , I love the outfit choices , even up to his haircut and the glasses he wears . As I was watching the show I couldn't help but notice how nicely he always tried to dress , even when the situation didn't call for it . I am not an expert but you can tell a lot about a person with how they present themselves to the world . And it seemed like he was trying to make up for some inferiority complex through his clothes . Because he was so deeply humiliated , made to feel like a fraud , his fashion was a way of reclaiming some of his personhood " I'm a real lawyer , I even look the part , from my hair to my shoes . " But more than anyone else he was probably trying to prove it to himself . And Seo Doyoung saw right thought that : " You look better without the glasses . " I was completely blown by that line , he saw through this fragile facade for what it was , but instead of mocking it as a shameful and lame act , he instead praised his real self , because who Han Dongsoo really is , is better than whatever fake persona he was trying to trick himself into believing was him .

How will all of this end , will our protagonist be able to bare the consequences of his choices ? How will his brother be affected ? Will Doyoung face justice ? I can't wait to find out!

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Actually I did stop watching this series after few episodes but decided to give it a try. And I'm glad that I gave this series a second chance. BL series has very set pattern, lead actors meet they fight and they fall in love then they go through some misunderstanding and resolve it to get back together. This series has some different vibe. I love the story it's light and the actors have done a tremendously good job. The pair is so cute and lovely. The cinematography is good. I can just keep on adding positive points but for the experience you have to watch it. Just go and watch this series.

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Japanese BL are very different from other BLs.
I'm glad I watched it. It's a very sweet story. I stared watching this hoping the same. A very light and calming ending.
If you are looking for a refreshing series go for it.
Actors have done a good job. I personally feel that they have done justice to role. A high school romance.
The only drawback is that the series ends very suddenly. It leaves you wanting for more or may be this is the intension of the writer or production team.
But I wish that they would have written it for at least 8 episodes.

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completely fallen for her smile

This is work of love
Really all of them loves their work in this drama
Specifically Lee Jun Ho [ Seo Poong ] and Jung Ryeo Won [ Dan Sae Woo ] both of them chemistry in love awesome
Jung Ryeo Won [ Dan Sae Woo ] her smile is mesmerising
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There's light at the end of the tunnel

Mental illness is a taboo issue that most people still think of. Most people will think of it as being crazy, but this drama will open up a world of psychiatry in a new light/view.

First of all, the casts, I love them all, even the mental illness patients (love their acting). I think it's hard to act as someone with mental illness. But the casts nailed it very well.

I love Park Bo Young, her acting is sure diverse. Her acting in this drama is so great that I was so immerse in it. She actually deliver how depression in a person looks like. She surely never disappoint.

Yeon Woo Jin's acting was great as well, quirky yet adorable character he portrayed. I love how his character developed throughout the drama and how he ended up with PBY's character in the end.

Jang Dong Yoon surely never disappoint. I love how he tried different characters in his acting career. He really nailed it portraying someone with panic disorder.

All the mental illness portrayed in this drama were actually what many people may have seen in real life. Some deemed these people as being crazy (to the point they should just be banished from society) others just deemed it as being possessed as they may have lost their faith. But actually these people with mental illness just needed help , care and kindness from other people and their surrounding.

I hardly cry watching drama, but this drama made me tear up a lot. Especially the part where PBY character was depressed. I totally relate to this as I've experienced it before. I didn't know I was depressed at first, but I kept on blacking out and can't really remember how I walk from one place to another. When the doctor run tests on me that I found out I was too stressed up in my study that I was on the verge of sinking into depression. Luckily, I didn't need any medication just needed to try and not be too hard on myself.
And so, with this drama, I learnt all over again how to battle with depression (it serve as a reminder to myself) and how I should get out of my cave when I'm too stressed out.

In our lives, we sometimes encounter lots of hardship that sometimes we don't realize that we succumbed to our stress and become depressed.
I think through this drama, it will help you to care for yourself more and cope with the stress in your life. Give it a try and have no expectation as usual but rather enjoy it to the fullest (like me).

Oh almost forgot to mention, all of the CGI used here are all very cool, especially the part where we entered the imaginary world of Kim Seo Wan as a mage warrior with the dragons. It was so realistically real that I got immersed in it. It's a good thing the producer did spend almost a whole episode on him as we got to see his point of view as he suffered breakdown.

In the end, I would like to give you all a big hug and pat on the shoulder. You did well, you've worked hard. Keep it up.
I hope you will enjoy this drama as much as I do. ^^

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A Light and Fun Introduction to the Sport

"It's not a loincloth, it's a mawashi!" This drama is a lighter more fun take as an introduction to the sport. It covers a more modern version of the sport on a collegiate level. It has female wrestlers, which I was happy to see because they are less covered when it comes to the traditionally men's only sport. The main character ends up joining the sumo team in order to graduate. He clearly doesn't care for the sport and is only there for the credits. The captain of the team is a girl who is super passionate about the sport and a strong wrestler. Unfortunately, she doesn't get many opportunities to compete and is often ignored by the team's alumni, who often only want to focus on the poorly performing men's team. Both of them have their own challenges that they need to learn how to face. Together they work together to first build a men's team and then bring the sumo club back to its glory days. Sumo is a strange world full of traditions, but I liked how this drama covered it from a modern sport perspective. It is a pretty wholesome drama. The club members absolutely suck in the beginning when they join the team but work really hard just to get one win and make their captain proud. I absolutely loved everyone's character growth by the end.

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A simple story of two people finding happiness in good food and in each other

This has to be one of the coziest dramas I have ever watched. It's calming and slow-paced without ever becoming uninteresting or boring. It also made me incredibly hungry every time I watched an episode, but that is only to be expected from a Japanese series centered around food.
I also really enjoy the was the show emphasises the importance of female friendship, of finding companionship and building a life that makes you happy despite the myriad of little rules society loves imposing on its members, specifically on women.
Furthermore, I find Yuki's slow realisation and exploration of her feelings towards Kasuga incredibly well done and I'd love to see their relationship evolve further.
I will never get enough of love stories (be they romantic, platonic, or otherwise) told through the medium of good food and I simply can't wait for season 2.
Do yourself a favour and watch this show. Do prepare some snacks first though, you'll probably need them.

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Aromantic or not, I fell in love with this show

I cannot begin to describe the feeling of seeing myself represented on screen this way. I have never seen a show featuring aro-ace characters that are central to the plot, much less a show where they get to be main characters. I am so insanely grateful for this drama's existence and even more grateful to see all the aro-ace people in the comments finding joy and solace in this story just like me.

The way the writers portray the leads is simply excellent as well. They both have distinct personalities and interests and their character arcs don't simply evolve around their sexualities. It's made clear that their identities are an important part of their lives, but certainly not the only part. Seeing the two of them grow and evolve as people over the course of the show is a genuine pleasure to watch.

I will say that quite a few of the side characters annoy me immensely and I don't enjoy how some of their storylines were handled. Some plot points felt a bit unnecessary or out of place to me as well. However, all in all I still feel that the good of this show far outweighs the bad.

There is no singular aro-ace experience and the series doesn't try to pretend that there is. It offers a glimpse into the lives of two specific people in a way that will feel familar to most aro-ace people at least to a certain degree and which will give others the opportunity to learn just a little bit about one of the least well known sexualities.
For that alone I highly recommend you give this show a shot.

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Harem Drama

*The time I am giving this review, the series is still ongoing so I might edit this after the series ends.*
Nothing typical with this series

This is a story of a lady who is carefree and vibrant, who has a doctor beau and then got entered by her mother in selection for a concubine for the Prince. Now, it is not typical young prince. He is an older prince with many adult sons who are mostly married and have numerous concubines.

The FL looks so much like the consort of this prince who died 30 years ago giving birth to the now heir and the selection is for a consort who looks like this dead consort for this aging prince.

This is where the drama starts that changed a carefree and vibrant lady into a woman trying to get out of a mess consistently.

There is not a lot of martial arts here, only one doing any is Huang You Ming who played the part of Lu Bei Yi (the doctor ex-beau of FL). Its very minimal martial arts.

As so the casts, I have seen ML Peter Ho in a lot of period series, and most times, he played a role of a carefree support character. I find his roles quite fitting for him. He seems to be a natural when it comes to those kind of roles. It closely resembles his role here but not to the full extent. I am actually confuse sometimes as to why his character was written to be a man who plays dumb but sometimes smart, and emotionally responds to certain situation in a way one would not expect or confusing. One sample is his son with his first wife being killed and he went berserk towards FL Lou Qing Lian but when his son with FL was miscarried at 8 months, he didnt investigate nor did he react anywhere like he did with 1st son (when this happens he was already in love with FL). When he found out his brother, the heir has something to do with it, he didn’t react towards his brother and was more focused that the 4th brother setting up this heir brother. Mind you, this heir brother did a lot of nasty things towards him. This made me confuse as to the way this chatacter was written. He even spent and risked a lot to keep this brother as the heir.

The rest of the story revolves around the harem, plots, tricks, friendship, enemies etc.

The rest of the characters and story is alright. It is interesting enough for me to keep watching. I love the first wife of ML. I think her character is the best in this series.



As to the artists playing the roles, I find nothing wrong with it. Most viewers are so used to seeing beautiful, young actors in a drama that when someone like Peter Ho plays the part, theres criticism bound to come up. I think he is a good actor and played his character well. Chemistry wise, its not exploding in chemistry but it is good enough.

The production part as in wardrobe and sets, all I have are positive words and compliments. One thing tho personally, I am not digging the FL's hairstyle by episode 15 (hehee its just my own taste). Don't expect grand palaces and sprawling mansions. But all the same, you can tell the sets in each scenes were done very creatively and efficiently.
One other odd thingbis the appearance of Madam De - the mother of ML who never appeared nor had a say before when FL was jnitially brought in the mansion then midway of the series was the hating on FL for lookingnlike thebold consort who she blames for the prince not visiting her anymore.

The background scene music is not that great for me. The credit music is alright but could have been better.

It is worth the watch I think. At least try 6 episodes and you can decide if it is for you.

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This is what communication looks like...

It's been months I've seen a relationship this healthy in a BL.

They both have their back story but help each other through it and it is so heartwarming.

I was so worried that they would ruin it with a stupid plot twist or the usual misunderstanding plot but this had none of that thankfully.

Story: Communication on point! It was such a breath of fresh air.

Acting: I enjoyed both of the main leads, I kept thinking that Ryuji is so loveable it is unreal.

Music: I enjoyed the outro, and added it straight to my Spotify

Rewatch: Totally! This is perfect to binge after a traumatic series.

Overall: I am so happy I gave this a go! I want to watch seasons upon seasons with this couple and their story!

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