Reviews

Redflags, done well!

I wasn’t gonna write a review because i thought msnotes’ one was perfect already! And captured most of how i felt! But i wanted to rate it?

here is what i can add:

-you will find many reviews calling for toxic relationship, redflags etc… and first episodes the mess is quite crazy and a bit overdone , but along the episodes i came to realize it was well done!! How ? What i mean is doona’s character and actions slowly reveal her fears & vulnerability behind her mess.

-both ML & FL go through their weaknesses and both evolve. (FL maybe more?)

-the ML character us so genuine, he really made me reflect on how kindness can be perceived as flirting, lol

-i loved the dialogues, the said & unsaid , the questions that echo a lot of imagery and deep conclusions about fame, ambition, loneliness, abandonment and love


- i dunno if it was binging the episodes that made it look so overdramatic at times, but towards the end i got that feel.

- i wish it was a longer show! The pace was nice, i rooted for the characters and i think their evolution/story was not yet complete

-Doona’s character suited suzy soooo well! I think this kind of drama makes her shine so much!

-the secondary stories were really a bore ( i dont know why ! They felt so disconnected… ) but i looooved their evolution.

Its a show that reveals itself slowly and keeps getting better n better w each episode. A highlight of 2023 so far for me!

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This is not a love story

Rather, this dorama is about the changing societal expectations of relationship, the roles of gender, and their interplay. Questions like what does 'to protect the woman' in a relationship or the significance of a piece of paper to define your romantic connection is discussed in modern society where nuclear family is no longer the norm. So, this is not a love story. It's a story on navigating modern relationship, both platonic and romantic. It doesn't necessarily give you an answer but it treats the audience as intelligent and invites you to ask these questions yourself. This is probably one of the most thought-provoking dorama I've watched ever that questions self-love and the relationship without shoving an answer down my throat, which I so much appreciate and recommend this.

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The Shades of Justice

In this gripping thriller, we delve into a world where the boundaries of justice are not clearly defined. The story revolves around a young servant who masterminds a heinous crime, leading to the murder of his master's entire family, heirs, and servants. With their wealth in his hands, he vanishes for years, only to be confronted by justice two decades later. This short drama, spanning just 12 episodes, is a rollercoaster of enigmas, mysteries, ironies, suspense, and dark humor.

Constable Qu Sangeng, portrayed by Bai Yu Fan, embarks on a harrowing journey to uncover the gruesome murder of his beloved superior, whom he regarded as a father figure. Soon, a string of similar murders emerges, all pointing to a common culprit. Qu Sangeng must untangle the web of connections between the victims and decipher the motive. The trail leads back to an incident that occurred two decades ago at the Lu mansion, which was razed to the ground, claiming the lives of most of its occupants. Only Lu Zhi, played by Yu Yao, and a handful of others managed to escape.

As the narrative unfolds, viewers will empathize with Lu Zhi, understanding the circumstances that drove him to commit these atrocities. As a clever adolescent, Lu Zhi believed he had executed the perfect crime, unaware that someone held knowledge of his dark secret. This mysterious individual resurfaces two decades later to exact vengeance on those responsible.

While Lu Zhi's story is the genesis of these events and the serial killer's vendetta sets Constable Qu Sangeng on his quest for justice, they are not the central characters. The focus of the story shifts to Qu Sangeng and his decision to prioritize justice over personal vengeance, as well as Song Chen's struggles, portrayed by Ning Li. Both the adult Lu Zhi and the serial killer make only hidden or fleeting appearances as the story progresses.

Every character seems to harbor a motive and arouse suspicion. As the present-day plot unfolds and investigators attempt to piece together a complex puzzle, flashbacks shed light on the events from two decades ago. While the drama hints at hidden and illicit affairs, there is no central romantic subplot, reflecting the societal norms of the era.

Without good translations, some viewers may find this drama hard to understand as it is laden with riddles from verses and poems by the ancient sages. Even those well-versed in Mandarin and written Chinese may find themselves struggling with certain scenes and story elements, as the narrative moves swiftly and some details remain unexplained, catering to a more discerning audience. Rewatching becomes essential not for cherishing particular moments or characters but to gain a deeper comprehension and capture the subtleties that might have been missed.

My Verdict

This thriller is an adrenaline-pumping ride, offering a captivating storytelling format, top-notch direction, and commendable performances, with Yu Yao's portrayal of the juvenile Lu Zhi and Ning Li's portrayal of Song Chen standing out the most.

What makes this drama truly striking is its realism, even in today's world, in depicting the complex backdrop of wealth and power. Characters like Lu Yuan Bao, portrayed by Zhang Xi Lin, who transformed from a bandit to a wealthy and influential figure, highlight the murky waters of power dynamics. The story also portrays corrupt government officials who can be easily swayed, and the wealthy who, despite their outward respectability, remain to be despicable and thuggish. The concept of justice is portrayed in shades of gray, demonstrating that what one person sees as justice may be viewed as injustice from another's perspective. This theme resonates with the contemporary geopolitical landscape. For Qu Sangeng, choosing justice over personal vengeance is a wise choice given his superior's role in his father's death which he remains unaware of.

Great watch!

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The love between a pair of brothers who are not related by blood is wrapped in a pretty good story

I think the story in this drama is not bad and I think it should get a rating of 8. I don't know why on this website, ordinary good dramas only get a rating of 7 while trash dramas get a high rating of 8-9. this drama doesn't have any clashes that make ml and fl break up, there are just a few skins that make me feel they should be more firm in taking action and not be too naive or kind because in the real world maybe they wouldn't do something like this which I mean is too good of a character against the enemy in this drama. I watched non-stop for 3 days and until episode 26, I skipped a lot to episode 30 because I felt the story was a bit boring because it tells a lot of characters, which doesn't mean the story is bad. Chinese drama always has a lot of episodes, so there are lots of scenes that just waste time. I watched this drama with enjoyment even though I skipped a lot of SML and SFL in the last episode. Overall I give a rating of 8.

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What?

I started this before and dropped it at three episodes but i thought maybe the was something wrong with me, my state of mind, or something. So i gave it some time and tried again. This time i got farther-- episode six-- but now I'm going to permanently give up.

I don't know how this could get such high ratings. The plot is absurd. Why would he fight so hard to keep this building? Just move the gold, which is what they end up doing anyway...

The acting was pretty bad. I love Song Joongki, but the character gave him nothing but deadpan looks and flat emotions to play with. Deadly and tough is great but it gets pretty dull after a few episodes. The actor that played the father of the FL was great and i liked the lead gang guy with the curly hair, but that was pretty much it for good acting. Everyone else was just so overplayed or dull.

It went out of its way to make SJK look cool but without the emotion to back it up, there's just no soul to it. With such flat characters, it really needed a great plot to keep you interested but it didn't have that either.

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Weird tone, poor storytelling, totally unrealistic behavior

It's trying to be a lot of things at once--comedy, romcom, gangster flick--and fails to be any of them.

I don't need everything I watch to be 100% authentic/realistic, but I need SOMETHING that feels genuine or is even remotely convincing and Kiseki just doesn't give me anything. On top of that, everything is extremely rushed to the point of absurdity. If a guy randomly blackmails you to take care of him otherwise he will *frame you for murder,* you're not breathless with attraction in two days. (The framing threat, btw, is unbelievably stupid. Fingerprints on a knife will not single-handedly convict someone with no record, motive, connection to the victim, or presence at the crime scene. Like, be serious.) I can turn my brain off and have fun, but only to a certain extent apparently.

No coherent plot, no chemistry, no clear identity, it's a mess. Ever seen a movie on the Hallmark channel? This is that bad. Though I guess if you think Hallmark is great then you'll love this.

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Toxic But Engaging As A Fantasy.

General spoilers only. Extreme obsession. In reality, hugely toxic relationship dynamics. As a fantasy, it was engaging and surprisingly emotional. This was very much a story of "the mind says no but the heart and body say yes". The fact that the obsession was kind of mutual, the character that I liked (Shao Yi Chen) got what he wanted, and the ending was sweet, helped mollify my unease with the way this fantasy was told.

This was superior in every aspect of production to the first two parts of History1. The screenwriter (and director) is different for this one and it shows.

The acting was great and tugged at my heartstrings a lot more than I expected. The story grabbed my attention and held it, and the acting of the lead quickly got me invested in him. The music fit perfectly and enhanced emotions and tension. I did not fast-forward through anything.

The two leads were very comfortable with each other and their physical and intimate interactions were very intense. If you like the fantasy of forced-seduction, their scenes deliver spectacularly!

I'll likely watch again at some point, but it will probably be a while.

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A few good men

This is a dark yet poignant tale of the frailty of human nature - the loss of innocence in the effort to survive in a world where justice is hard to come by.

The drama starts off seemingly like any straightforward murder-crime-mystery series. You are drawn into deciphering various clues and studying each character to determine who is the murderer. By the show's end, however, even though it pulls out a "surprise" reveal, the power in that moment is not so much the shock factor of who is who but more so the underlying sadness of seeing two friends end each other's lives. There is no mustache-twirling psychopath villain here. It's a hauntingly realistic tale of greed and deceit that explores the lengths to which someone will go to obtain what they want.

The entire ensemble cast give great performances - my favorites are Ning Li as Song Chen and Yu Yao as the young Lu Zhi. Great atmospheric music and realistic sets/props/costumes make the world of Du County come to life in all its dingy glory.

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Comfort drama worthy!

Put Your Head On My Shoulder is my all-time favorite comfort show! If you like lighthearted, college, fluffy, and attractive characters then this show is for you! I will say, this drama is a slow burn but when the characters finally get to together it's to die for!

What I like about this drama is that both the male lead and female lead have a personality and goals that aren't just getting into a relationship. Situmo goes through tough things concerning her work and the plot with Fu Pei. Guwei isn't the normal, stiff, attractive male lead that just pins for the girl.

I do have to break the bad news to y'all. There is a fish kiss.. But the show is so cute and has scenes that make up for the cringe kiss! This show is so worth it. When you're feeling down or just need a show that will make you smile, I fully recommend this one!

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Doesn’t need all this hate

A lot of people said over the time how bad the drama was. It is not. The plot isn’t bad and the acting is amazing. It is refreshing to see Lee Min Oh on a different kind of role which until this series, remaines mostly the same.

The scenery is beautiful. I mean the drama is indeed gorgeous. It took us so many of us to visit the filming locations. Not just because it is a drama but because it’s beautifully filmed.

The only regret might be the ending. Some regret that it ended well (which is a spoiler tho). The problem to me is that they tried to make a complex ending and I understand it. The directing process is complex and also a reason why so many people didn’t approve. But towards the end that complexity wasn’t necessary or at least not necessary once you finished the whole drama. Not necessary to a point that instead of finishing on a good note it gives you a “unfulfilled feeling”.

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The best light hearted Korean BL!

Looking for a show to watch after crying your eyes out? Look no further but for Semantic Error! This show is so cute, and I have watched it about nine times since it came out. This show is very simple. It's a university enemy to lovers story. There is no big blow up in the plot, and it will not make you cry. This show is not for someone who likes very deep and in depth shows. I like light-hearted shows with lots of fluff, and that is what this show brings to the table! This is actually one out of my eleven 10/10 shows. I recommend this show to anyone who is new to BL or new to kdramas in general. Even though Sang woo can frustrate watchers because hes so orderly, you come to love is quirks. The character development that we get to see from Jaechan's character (sang woo) is actually so nice. Jaeyoung is definitely a fun character who knows what he wants! The side characters aka Jae youngs friends were so funny!

ANYWAY, there is nothing I can complain about for this series. I have yet to find a Korean BL that lives up to this! Definitely give this show a try!

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"PERSONALLY" ONE of the BEST K-Drama in 2023.

First let me say that this review could be biased since I personally like the cast so much. But seeing the positive ratings from pretty much most of the people watching this drama, I hope that this review could relate to most.

Story, the story is so good. Perhaps saying that it is just good can't possibly show how good it is. This drama doesn't only provide entertainment, but also a lot of hidden messages that have meanings where we can relate in real life. I thought at first that it would be like 18 Again, but instead this drama actually went back in time and instead of the dad being the lead, the son will try to change his dad's fate and make sure that his dad would not change his love interest whilst also trying to prevent him from getting into the accident that made him lose his hearing. (My prediction is that I think him preventing his dad's accident is so when he returns to his timeline, he wants to perform in front of his dad knowing he could hear the music he's playing). The best quote on this drama is where Balsan shares what HEG has been doing for HYC without him knowing and says that he almost cried when he said,

"I want him to shine. First, on the stage. Then in life."
- Ha Eun Gyeol

Casting, there is no other words I can use to describe HOW each and everyone FITS exactly where they should be. I can't even imagine anybody else playing the main roles other than them. Both couples, Ryeorina (Ryeoun and Seorina) and Hyunsoo (CHW and SES)'s chemistry is so good. Even though I ship Ryeoun and Eun Soo more than... nvm since it would've been weird if the drama took that turn.

Music, I personally like both the OSTs and songs covered or used in this drama. For the OSTs a few that I personally liked the most is A Song For You by Joonil Joon, and Higher by JU-NE. But this drama also features Canon Rock, Walking to Heaven by Jang Hyunchul but I think in the drama they used Song Jin Wook's rock version, and much more (including their band's songs like Shining, etc).

Rewatch Value, I can't tell you how many times I've watched this drama from episode 1-8 while waiting for the 2 new episodes each week. I would rewatch this drama over and over again since I can't wait for the next episode. (And this is during my mid term exams as well..).

10/10 for me. If I could rate it higher I would.

UPDATE:
I just finished it and currently in the middle of debating whether I should be happy or sad that it's over. Even though in my head I had thought of a very different ending,
*SPOILER*
I half hoped that the accident that HYC had in episode 15 wouldn't be the same as what had happened before and he wouldn't be deaf, and the ending would've been them (HEG's band) performing in front of him and him being proud of his son's band.
*END OF SPOILER*
but the ending that happened in the drama didn't disappoint me at all, but I think that this is one of the most acceptable happy endings and didn't make me change the rating for it. Personally I felt that the ending was quite rushed, since a few things haven't been cleared up (Such as OEY's trip back, HYC's coping mechanism to his new condition, HYC and YCA's love story after the accident, and the band's fate ). But still a well deserved 10/10 drama near the end of 2023. Hoping that this drama would bring a few awards back home to either the production crew or the acting casts since this was a blast.

Currently waiting for Sweet Home S2, Squid Game S2, and All Of Us Are Dead S2 and hoping that they would come sooner and not end up as a disappointing season 2.

Dictionary for the Abbreviations:
1. HEG - Ha Eun Gyeol
2. HYC - Ha Yi Chan
3. YCA - Yoon Chung Ah
4. OEY - Oh Eun Yu
5. CHW - Choi Hyun Wook
6. SES - Shin Eun Soo

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It’s way overrated

I’m currently @ ep4 but I wanted to say this, when your mom tells you that the only reason she gave birth to you was so you could look after your brother, wow, I don’t know how anyone can come back from that, because that’s just so wild and traumatic on all levels.

Update after completion.
Honestly I like the premise of the drama but some details in the execution left me smh. That Ok psychiatrist hospital was just a prop in the drama, there was basically no work done there, it was just for gossip and drama. The three leads had severe traumatic experiences but they didn’t seek extensive treatment, they should be in therapy both individually and collectively before they can become that real family they are seeking, after everything they went through I’m not buying the kumbaya family times without proper treatment for the 3 of them but what do I know. I know that Sang Te met with the director doctor sometimes and Gang Te also talked with him a couple of times too but it felt to simplistic in terms of the severity and enormity of the situation.
I finally decided to watch this drama after a long time of putting it off, if I never watched it, I really won’t be missing much IMO, so I can’t say I recommend or not.
I definitely won’t be rewatching this.

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Not a very good Marvel version of K-drama franchise

This marks the second K-drama from Netflix that I've found myself unable to finish. The first was "King The Land," a series that turned my favorite actor into a rather bland Disney character.

"Strong Girl Namsoon," on the other hand, feels like a Marvel show with a Korean twist. While the original show placed a heavy emphasis on character development and their emotions, this one seems to prioritize the superhero aspect without delving into substantial character growth.

The male lead and the grandmother are undeniably talented actors who manage to shine with the material they are given. However, the female lead feels one-dimensional, lacking any significant depth or emotional complexity. Surprisingly, she doesn't even have any abandonment issues, despite being left with adoptive parents.

My breaking point came when I witnessed the antagonist resorting to a blue drug for superhero abilities. It felt like a significant departure from the tone and direction I was hoping for, leading me to decide to drop the series altogether.

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JoongDunk deserves better

I adore JoongDunk to death but this series was horribly written, most of it was just contrived drama thrown in, then solved within 10 minutes. At a certain point I didn’t even know what the overarching plot was. It lost the plot completely and just turned into glimpses of JoongDunk fanservice (which was the best part of the show). Again I love them so much but my baby Dunk needs an acting coach or acting lessons because his mediocre acting was really highlighted in this show.

I’m begging gmmtv to give JoongDunk a good script with a good director for their next series. Because SIMM and Hidden Agenda don’t show anything the two are capable of, especially Joong.

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