Reviews

Totally heart warming drama

Tbh I started this drama because of Jun, but the more I watched it the more I got hooked. I liked how this drama was able to develop the supporting characters without it becoming boring or less interesting. I was so invested that I wanted to know what was going on in their lives. The stylist also deserves credit because I really liked most of the characters’ outfits. There was nothing like love triangles, breaking up and heart breaking scenes by the main leads. Their relationship was so healthy and it kept on developing gradually which I also loved. I loved the glow up of Jia siwen and how he managed to handle his relationship till the very end. I liked seeing them although they had some misunderstandings but I loved them. the way the parents were shipping the kids’ relationship also was so exciting to watch ???. like they planned a whole trip just to let them have time for themselves…??!!!!! I liked the way Linglong (childhood friend) didn’t fixate so much on Ling chao after he dumped her. she literally accepted her fate and life went on and became friends with xiao Tu.

this drama is definitely worth the hype ❤️

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Fun Wuxia/Mystery with Buddy Cop Comedy Vibes

Surprise delight of 2022. Even though Su Wuming is a disciple of Dectective Di, I think I liked this even more than the Detective Di movies I’ve seen (!) because as much as I love Su Wuming, the genius detective trope is a little played out for me. Giving him a great foil in Lu Lingfeng made the whole thing more enjoyable.

The writing for and acting of the two leads was an absolute delight to watch. They had great buddy cop chemistry that really elevated the whole drama. Female characters were pretty well written and realized, and some of the villains were downright enjoyable (creepy ghost guy, you looked like you had so much fun!)
Production values were fairly high across the board - sets, visuals, costumes, sound, for what could have been a very cheap drama. Everything seems to have been done with care and attention to detail. Though the plots are a little silly sometimes, I didn’t mindat all because they were entertaining.
Also tw to people like me who are sn*ke phobic - uh there are lots of scenes you will need to skip in the second mystery.

The drama starts at the end (!) which was an interesting way to wrap the whole thing up, but also an odd choice because they ended up basically reusing most of the first ep for the final episode.
In between there are several loosely strung together 'supernatural mysteries’ that our guys find themselves solving in different places all across the country. Each mystery is only slightly more difficult to solve than your typical Scooby Doo plot, and similarly any supernatural element is soundly debunked by the end. But the mysteries themselves are almost beside the point because watching the leads is so entertaining.

Pros: writing, acting, chemistry between leads, production values, almost no romance (a pro for me)

Cons: easy 'mysteries’, almost no romance (if you're into that sort of thing)

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A concussive flurry that leaves you in anticipation of what's next

--Summary--
A provocative, in-your-face kidnapping into the disturbing world of Korean school violence. High quality production with excellent action scenes, visuals, and sound. Gripping and fast-paced story with convincing setup. Reasonable plot progression without major holes, but also some plot convenience and noble idiocy that I was able to overlook. Captivating acting from the impressive young leads and veteran supporting actors added to the realism. Though more a prequel than complete narrative, it's a thrilling prelude hopefully to a well-fleshed out story.

I give it 8 (+0.5), which is very good score reserved for one of the best shows of the year. But it's difficult to rate higher because we've only been given a partial story and the compact S1 doesn't leave room for greater thematic depth or connection to characters. I may bump the rating if future seasons are able to develop this into a high quality, fleshed out story.

--Detailed Rating--
✅ Plot (8.5) - The core of the plot is logical and moves the story along at the brisk pace. In the second half of the show, previously calculated and pragmatic characters like Ahn Soo and Yeon Shi both indulge in some noble idiocy and create a bigger mess for the very people they were trying to protect. In addition, Oh Beom Seok's descent into malevolence appeared too abrupt and unfounded as he betrayed Ahn Soo over minor slights while allying himself with bullies that have tormented him far more brutally. While these plot issues are not dealbreakers, they do stretch the plausibility and detract from the story.
✅ Theme / Message (7.5) -

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A drama about volunteer rescue in China.

I'm giving this a higher rating than I might based on reviewing it as a didactic example of how rescue squads operate, and as a recruiting device for volunteerism.
Though some of the marketing makes it look like a cp drama, it is in fact an ensemble cast, with the focus being on the diverse people that make up volunteer rescue squads. It’s very politically safe and I was not surprised they chose to air it during the party congress.
Surprisingly for the moralistic/didactic theme, I thought all the couples were really cute and well done, so if you want romance, there is some. The special effects and sets were realistic, and everyone’s tragic backstory was tragic. You may need tissues for this one if you’re a crier.
The point is that everyone has a role to play - yes, even Ding Ding Ding. She kinda grew on me by the end.
It wasn’t without some super cringe moments though (spoiler: the little orphan would be doubly scarred for life by their wildly inappropriate attempts to help him 'heal’) but in general was ok.

Wu Qian was really good - I’d only seen her in two things when she was much younger, and she really is a mature, talented actress. Her character was written as cold and uncompromising though, so it was hard to really like or relate to her. Luo Yunxi turned in a decent performance as a disaster survivor with MAJOR PTSD who has a laundry list of issues that he really should be working through with a therapist but...it's cdrama land so we can't do that.

Pros: acting, special effects, ensemble cast, cute dog
Cons: not enough of the cute dog, didactic and moralizing, choppy editing and weak plot that made it feel a little like 'how to survive x disaster’ instructional videos strung together rather than a coherent drama

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moving in all the right directions.

so this k-drama I was hesitant on watching only because I had a hard time finding where to stream it. now that I found my ways I was really missing out from not watching this at the beginning when it first aired… or was I… this show is really that great that I have binge watched when I find a lot of k-dramas hard too because of their lengthy episodes.

this drama proves again my point that I’m capable of enjoying dramas and being so hooked that I don’t feel like time is dragging on. It’s because there are so many different elements put on the table for viewers that I can’t help but be immersed. There are likeable main characters, fast paced action, romance, high school relationships, dealing with anxiety and bullying, and gore.

This drama is such a fresh idea to me. It has been done before with a lot of American superheroes etc. But with this it just feels so new. The budget helps with making this drama a good watch, it’s expensive and each episode feels so cinematic. It’s intense in the right places and has a good pace. I like every plot this drama picks up, and I really like the sets of main characters with the parents and their children.

So this drama is really starting to pick up, and it never was boring at all. It has a good setup and the hook that comes in the middle is thrilling. I definitely will rewatch this and recommend to anyone honestly. I can’t put a name on the genre and that’s what makes it so unique. It’s a 10/10 for me.

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Finding Love in unexpected places

I recently binged the hell out of this show, after craving something fun and light-hearted as I was recovering from a cold. I thought it would be a light fluffy romcom, but this show exceeded all my expectations. I’m writing this review because it hurts me personally to see so many negative reviews lol.

WARNING: Full Spoilers ahead.

Let us start with the Positives that exceed the negatives and have resulted in me giving the show such a high score (if it was only the couple I would give 10 stars):

1) The main leads: Both Bo Ra and Su Hyuk are realistically flawed and think that their ways of loving/ being in a relationship are the best. Hers is valuing how the relationship looks, ticking all the important milestone boxes (irrespective of her caring for them), and putting forth only her "best side". She, however, is someone who would do everything, no matter how much it hurts her pride if she loves the person. And would probably stay in a dying relationship where she isn't treated the best simply because she loves the other person so much.

Su Hyuk is more of a muted lover who believes actions take precedence over other love languages. He takes his gf and her love for granted, and will never inconvenience himself to say things he finds embarrassing or cringy even if his gf wants it. He almost thinks his gf is a mind reader and will know of his love even if he never says 'I love you'. His self-confidence in his opinions can sometimes make his gf doubt her own simply because he doesn't think them worthy. However, he believes in being honest and showing all sides of yourself in a relationship.

2) Realistic breakup: The time and the energy that takes to break up and move on, the indecisiveness, the awkwardness, the pathetic behaviour we engage in to get over it, the unhealthy and irresponsible life choices we make, the ugly emotional outbreaks, is very realistically shown. Bo Ra goes back and forth changing her mind, even trying to compromise on her fundamentals if she can be with the person she loves. Some might find that off-putting but I thought it was realistic because, in that heightened emotional state where you think you cannot function without that person, rationality is mostly out the window. The show manages to capture that vulnerability and sadness and add humour to it in a very tasteful way.

3) The romance that creeps up without warning: Our leads start as a working relationship; however, their connection and friendship evolve beyond that to the point where they essentially become each other's safe space. They are constantly interacting and talking and seeing every side of each other. Bo Ra finds she can be her true self (something which she avoided because of her lack of self-esteem) and Su Hyuk starts realising that as much as it is important to be in love, it is equally important to appropriately express such love. They appreciate each other, adore all their sides, and make reasonable compromises if needed. They are not afraid of speaking their minds and being honest. They become friends first and lovers later. They see all the ugly bits first and help each other grow.

4) Conflict and its resolution: Throughout the show, the leads constantly find their norm and views about things challenged. Bo Ra learns to love all of herself and be unashamed about wanting what she wants. Su Hyuk learns how his lack of action made him the 'bad guy'. He becomes more proactive in going for what he wants even if it is embarrassing or cringy to express it.
When Bo Ra realises Su Hyuk loves her, she does not compromise and settle for a vague undefined relationship. She declares her love for him even when she had initially promised herself to henceforth be the one who loves less (to hurt less in case of a breakup). She accepts that loving with her whole heart is who she is. In exchange, she wants a verbal confession and chooses on what terms she enters a romantic relationship.

Su Hyuk loves Bo Ra and wants the best for her and hence tries to take himself out of the picture (as much as he can lol) because, on paper, her ex-bf is what Bo Ra had wanted. His lack of confidence in this situation and his refusal to put himself forth to be cheesy and confess in words of his love becomes the couple's final conflict before they officially get together.
I liked that and thought it was fresh to see. Because in real life, people hesitate, people get embarrassed easily, they think their feelings are obvious (because to them they are). In real life, confessions of love aren't drama-like with passionate declarations of undying love. They are usually quieter and filled with small everyday actions of love. That is why we have so many memes going 'It's always hyd, and never *insert choice of romantic declaration*'.
Both small actions and grand declarations are important and this couple shows that.

5) The Humour: This show is super funny. If you easily experience second-hand embarrassment (as I do) I would suggest you go with a cautious mind, but Bo Ra was so realistically written and acted by the wonderful and talented Yoo In Na it was impossible to not root for, laugh at and with her. Yoon Hyun Min holds his own by being ever charismatic and charming as Su Hyuk and perfectly complementing Bo Ra's ridiculous side with his patient and understanding one. Some of the scenes were so hilarious I was rolling in laughter. E.g., peeing on the street, slow-motion walking, crying while sticking her head out of the bus window, headband as a neck brace, all her next morning recollections, the garbage breakup scene where Bo Ra and her ex were finally being honest, even the aegyo scenes at the very end were all laugh out loud and FUN to watch.



Things I did not like and made me deduct 1 point (wanted to deduct more, but that would be an injustice to the main couple):

1) The doomed marriage: The best friend (YJ) was in a "marriage" where her "husband" (Yang Jin Woo) was more of a roommate. His only positive was that he said he loved his wife (but even then, he did NOTHING to show that). I was expecting growth for this couple. The husband to grow the f up and pull his weight or YJ to open her eyes, realise her worth and divorce him. The show made a point of having YJ explain how the cringe "jokes" of husbands being trapped in marriages are disgusting, but it's never followed up. YJ is in a sexless, unromantic marriage that remains the same throughout the show. However, the worst part is that this relationship is somehow touted to be "love" and "marriage". This lack of growth frustrated me because it took screen time which could've been used to show more of our main couple.

2) The younger sister: Bo Mi is an entitled brat in the first 3 eps. I am a younger sister too and could NEVER dream of contacting my elder sister's ex bf who cheated on her to come console her. That was honestly a disgusting thing and a deep breach of trust. However, we see some growth in her in the next 2 eps and with her meeting her love interest (Yang Jin Ho), I was mildly interested. Alas, it's soon evident that these two are immature children pretending to be adults, Bo Mi especially. She has no sense of responsibility, lives (mooches) off Bo Ra, is rude, and blames Bo Ra for everything that goes wrong. Then the couple gets pregnant (while the guy is hiding/ camping in his employer Yang Jin Woo's basement because he doesn't have enough money to rent out a place) and it's okay because the couple love each other and apparently that is going to feed, clothe and shelter them and their baby. Again, frustrating to watch because it's silly and against EVERYTHING the show so far is trying to say.

3) The creepy age gap office romance: Uri (the f employee) is so immature it's ridiculous. She is probably 21-22, comes off as 17-20 and is in love with her boss (Sang Jin) who is in his 40s and is a divorcee. This is realistic as young women do have crushes on older men, and I was okay with the show having SJ rejecting her advances and Uri maturing from that. The vast experience and knowledge difference between them is palpable in their every interaction. It feels patronising at best, grooming at worst. However, they still end up together! The actors too have a 20-year age gap and they look like they could be father-daughter. Super unwatchable.

4) The ex-bf being brought back: Now I get why they did that, and I was totally on board with Bo Ra meeting him in ep 14 and him proposing to her. But the show lost me when we find that he is still cheating (not that I expected him to change), because the mistress shows up. Having the mistress arrive right after Bo Ra had rejected him, reduced the importance of it being Bo Ra's conviction that led to her finally saying a firm no and kicking him to the curb and instead made it seem that the situation was out of her hands because she HAD to reject him as he was still cheating.

Conclusion: Don't waste time reading my essay, instead use it to watch the show.

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‘‘Twas good until it wasn’t

It’s one of those Kdramas where there’s a lot of bickering and Aigoo and aishhh and whyyyy and shouting and hitting… very typical Kdrama , which I’m not particularly fond of.

I DO LIKE the essence of the storyline- which is centred around mother Eun Mi and daughter Jin Hee. Each episode started with a little prologue of their lives years ago- how she got pregnant, how tough it was, how Jin Hee grew up as a child etc.. but again, the bickering and shouting were just too much to handle. There were also many soppy moments talking about love and life. I do like the dynamics and tacit understanding between mother and daughter. It was very unique and admirable, no matter how “broken” it was.

The romance was nothing really… just like a flittering speck of dust. Hahaha… so don’t expect anything at all. There is only one kiss- but the build up to it and the after effects will disappoint, lol. The last few episodes were quite meaningful, I teared quite a bit but then again I also Ff quite a bit. The crime and mystery aspect as so-so, just passing episodes I guess.

Shout out to both FL leads though. Their acting were commendable and both did well.

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Accept it's a fluffy rom-com, not RL, and it'll be a fun watch

Aug 2023
A great big squishy ball of fluff, in the traditionally wonderful vain of many successful rom-com K-dramas.

You get the flashy backdrop of a wealthy family run conglomerate; the main story centres around the successful 5 Star hotel, while also featured are the company's Airline and a high end clothing branch, where each of the FL's 2 besties work.

Within these settings are power struggles, prejudices over education, divorce and social standing, with a smattering of greasy palms, connections and the usual jealousy, spite, bitching and abuse of the have nots/underlings. Some characters are wonderfully nasty and underhand... I was having a right go at the TV on many occasions! ;-D

Then, of course, there is the most important, most focussed on, romance between our drop dead gorgeous ML and effervescently can-do, pretty FL, who when at work speaks in the same way UK announcers did in the 50s ;-D and smiles through 99% of everything that a busy day as Hotel Concierge can throw at her.

Due to a childhood trauma, our ML hates what he sees as the false smiles automatically plastered on the faces of a large percentage of the hotel's staff and refuses to either conform, or acknowledge them.

With our FL gaining success with her attitude and having more and more dealings with our ML, it's very much an enemies to tolerated colleagues, to friends, to lovers.

There is almost every cliché in the book, from one falling into/onto the other, a bike ride, fairground visit and sudden overnight stay, to money getting offered to get rid of people.

There are also the trials and tribulations of the FL's 2 best friends sewn into the story and plenty of light moments with the ML and his dork of an assistant.

This fit absolutely perfectly with what I wanted to watch. There are imperfections (I never really understood why someone who disappeared, did) and realism is often overlooked to make things and people beautiful, and the story work... but the drama is a rom-com and from the very amusing first arrival of our ML, does not set itself up to be anything remotely true to life, so no disappointment in that respect, for me.

There was one scene near the end, with the FL's grandmother (played by a favourite senior actress, Kim Young-ok) that was so touching, I needed tissues.

The music I did find exceedingly odd at times, especially when a group of them visited Thailand... it was almost hilarious, with what sounded like bangra, and Ska!!! I've heard traditional and modern Thai music and it didn't sound like that!

It's no more than a bit of fun, and a great feel-good drama. I quickly ate up every second of it!

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Hello! Just finished this serie, and here are my first impression :)!What a journey ;p !

1.The story got me so interested, that I will read Tong Hua book to get all the essence of it (and continue the journey to it's ending...).

2.The characters and their relations-connections are sufficiently researched to make me, (allow me) to wonder about my own inner desires, love goals, the background of the life garden seed. Also on how to give it or not a go/what it involves, for the best it can result on.
For the happy ending we, audience all exptect to see, to have too. :)

=>After all: In "Lost you Forever" the FL have lived as a boy/man for decades and think she can detect what she needs from mans when she switch back to woman form . The first chilhood relative is not an innocent like at all, the nine headed demon is by all means as dangerous as to meet a handsome version of Nosferatu and makes you dangerously feel that some part of you (your neck? :p) is just like he is- waiting for a thrill to feel even a bit alive..., and the fox-kind man is like a fragile, porcelaine god of purity, an absolute container of kindness. He's character is innerly very feminine and rafiné (refined).
But that said, each of them trully have some parts that matches our female male lead. Be it, for her male or female inner self. They are all multi dimensional, So is this show. I love it <3!

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Unusual Plot, Even Better

I'm very picky when it comes to BL series, but 'I Will Knock You' broke my ideal type of BL series. One of the main cast members here is violent, and the other is portrayed as not very bright. I completed watching this series back in February of this year (2023). Surprisingly, every time I search for another BL series to rewatch, 'I Will Knock You' is always on my top list, even though there are lots of other popular, highly-rated, and well-regarded BL series available. I can't explain why I keep coming back here. Maybe it just perfectly suits my taste or preferences. Who knows? Haha.

#saynotoviolence

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Clean way to reset your mind

If you're looking for a drama that's short and not a lot of episodes then this drama is a must watch. I first saw some clips of this drama on my Tiktok for you page and thought it was interesting and decided to give it a try. Totally worth it!!! This drama is about two people who goes on a bus and ends up getting trapped in a time loop due to an explosion accident on the bus. THese two work together to solve the mystery and try to save everyone in the process. an amazing drama that's written really well. Although this drama mentions a cycle of repeat, it never gets boring. Each new cycle is filled with more clues and situations that makes you feel like your apart of the crowd. Each cycle is different and provides different points and clues. The main leads chemistry was amazing. Even though it was a slow-paced romance, but you could definitely feel the chemistry was there. with only 15 episodes, the directors and production crew managed to tell a story in a short amount of episodes while not rushing the plot or the ending, providing the viewers with a sense of comfort. Throughout the whole show, you will never get bored and it is really amazing to watch. Thee ending was also very well done, because usually in a short-episode dramas, they tend to rush the ending to quickly finish the drama, but all the pieces come together and provides a very satisfying ending. everyone on that bus got an ending where they live their normal lives and their happy, providing each character with a sense of closure. I also love the way all the passengers of the bus helped even though they dont know eachother, which really shows the compassion of people when faced with dangers.

*A little spoiler!!!!!!*
The acting was also very well done by the whole cast, especially the lady carrying the bomb, hearing her story about her daughter and how painful it was for her.

Overall this was an amazing drama to help refresh your mind if you feel too overwhelmed by longer dramas or don't have a lot of time to finish a long drama. I finished this drama in 3 days, it was so addicting!!!!! <333333

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Neither bad, nor good

Looking back this drama, I don't really have fond memories with it. It was okay and that's it. Could have been better for sure. The ending felt a bit odd and rushed. Not really satisfying. They should have used Jin Hee's and Jae Won's plotline more.

PRO:
- Easy to watch
- Slice-of-life
- First few episodes are really enjoyable

CONTRA:
- The Murder Plotline
- Boring at times -> I skipped a lot of scenes that I found boring
- Rushed towards the end + weird ending for my taste
- Why not include more scenes between Jin Hee and her father
- Not memorable
- Wishing for more scences with other characters and not the mother is not a good sign if the premise of the show is a mother-daughter relationship

Neither bad nor good, in my opinion just OK

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Even a great cast could not save this failure

Aug 2023.
I was really looking forward to this , but found it so disappointing, apart from Taec-yeon and some other cast members who kept me watching, it was pretty poor.

Great idea, but such lazy writing and poor direction, ruined it.
Such childish humour, that frankly I see starting to pop up in too many K-dramas where it doesn't fit, and woeful plot failures...
No heartbeat means no breathing is necessary, so stuff getting up their nose and making them sneeze just would not happen.
Sensitivity to the sun was completely forgotten from one episode to the next, depending on what the story needed from the scene :-/

Both female characters were the most irritating of all. The FL veered from doe-eyed and mushy, to petulant, spiteful, loud (lots of shouting that was way more than necessary for the scenario) and aggressive. I get she was meant to be cold and distant as a form of protection, but her reactions were overdone. There was a mace/pepper spray incident that was like, WHAT?!!! So not funny, at least not to me.

The supporting female character was dull as dish water, not to mention psychotic/delusional, which we see far too often in poorly written K-dramas.

Inappropriate reactions, drawing out parts of the story until they were so thin they were transparent and a woefully weak baddy.
The humour this show craved was witty dialogue, subtle looks that can speak a thousand words and make us laugh, not the overreactions, characters getting hit, shouted at and generally acting stupid, which is what we got.
Also, there's a guest house that never got a guest, which would not have been a profitable business, me thinks :-/
Lots of clichés too, which again were not necessary; there was far more that could have been done with those moments.

The sets were nice.
The cast were nice to look at and did their best.
I honestly could have done without watching and not once did I shed a tear, when there were times I should have, as the story was definitely aiming for that.
I never tell anyone not to watch something, as we're all different and you might love it; many others did.

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As good as expected

This was one of my highly anticipated watches of the year and it lived up to my expectations.

The bad

The only things I didn’t like was the random forced love connections they were trying to make with our leading men. They were clearly not interested but glad it didn’t take the same approach like Blood of the Youth and force it in the end. Also, the acting of Chen Du Ling left a lot to be desired. During her crying scenes, I couldn’t tell if she was crying or smiling. Definitely didn’t move me. The third thing was the constant vicious cycle that Di Feichang had with Jiao Li Qiao.. That story arc could have ended earlier on but they sort of dragged that out for the sake of having a story. Lastly, the OST wasn’t anything special.

The good

So many good things about this show. I still give an overall 10 rating even with some flaws because it was a uniquely written story that kept me engaged all the way through. There wasn’t a single throwaway episode. I appreciated how they kept the story progressing even when completing side cases. Many of those still connected to the larger story. I also loved how our 3 men used their real voices. It made things so much more authentic and the conversations and interactions between them seemed so natural. Definitely one of the more interesting and most fun leads in a show. Each had a different personality and brought something unique to their trio. Of course the acting was top notch in here. Besides Chen Du Ling, everyone else did such an amazing job, especially our 3 male leads. Hands down, this is the best show I’ve seen for them 3 to date. Next the fighting scenes were amazing. I wish we had more. It’s refreshing to see leads with good coordination and real martial arts pull off the scenes. It elevated the show for sure. Lastly, the visuals were beautiful. Pretty good CGI, costumes were good, high quality wigs with no visible lace fronts that I see quite a bit in CDramas. Also no CDrama tropes that most of us come to dread.

Watch for yourself but this one goes down as one my favorites. Make your own judgement.

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