Reviews

I thought it would be a boring romcom drama but turned out the plot and storyline is beyond my expectation! This is so good, refreshing, and fun to watch! Lee Seyoung's acting ability is beyond doubt. She mastered every aspect from intonation while talking to her facial expressions, all of that point is GOOD! Although Bae Inhyuk is still a rookie, he is able to keep up with Lee Seyoung. Their energy and chemistry are unmatched. The chemistry between Seyoung and other characters, including Yoo Seonho and Joo Hyunyoung, is also very interesting to watch. Looking forward for episode 5 this friday!

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It has its flaws, but everything else about this drama is beautiful

I absolutely loved this drama. There's no mistaking that there are some plot holes here and there and that a lot of people wish they had gotten to see more of the "ending", but I think everything else outweighs that and makes this a 10/10 for me. The characters, the acting, the story were all amazing, emphasis on the character/acting because WOWWWW it's been a while since I was so attached to so many characters while watching a k-drama. Dramas can often become boring to me even after initially enjoying them but this show had me hooked.
Some say giving this a 10 is overrating it but I think this drama has a really beautiful story that so many people can enjoy, its so very touching.

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Deeper than expected with great OST

This show ended up being much deeper than I expected when I first started this. I assumed it would be a light hearted rom com about finding your way to stardom and love but what it delivered was a poignant journey through pain while maintaining a radiant heart.

First can we talk about this string of dramas lately that have green flag men as the male leads? Because I am all for it and both the male leads in this drama are the type of men you wish you were surrounded by as a woman. This drama touches on domestic abuse and suicide which carries a hefty message throughout the drama. Watching these characters navigate these desperate and heartbreaking situations will make your heart ache right along with them.

Exceptional acting from the entire cast, and I'll specially mention the child actors here for their performance. Between the acting, production, and OST this will quickly become one of you favorites this year. And its heavy subject matter turns this from your typical rom com to a bit of a mystery while also delivering beautiful life lessons type of dialogue throughout. It is hard to not enjoy this or root for the characters.

The only things that I think took points away from this drama are the pacing in the first half of the show that made me a bit bored occasionally and the romance was a little lukewarm for my taste. The actors had chemistry but the story did rely heavily on the shared trauma and past to glue the pair together which did work but I would have liked to see some more actual romantic scenes. That is a minor complaint though since the trade off is the well balanced and lovely family portrayal that had plenty of time to capture your heart.

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A micro-series reacting to the current state of society in one afternoon or evening. It is innovative and original in that the lockdown brought together two individuals from other countries (Taiwan, Japan) and even through an old camera. I would characterize it by immediacy, cuteness, you won't come across any deception anywhere, insidiousness and an excellent rating on MDL and IMDb won't deny it. One of the "young people" is played by the Japanese Akihiro Kawai, who will be 40 years old next year and even the big age difference was not very noticeable. The director won't deny it, and at least cast his favorite Aaron Lai from Be Loved in House in a supporting role.

Mikroseriálek reagující na současný stav ve společnosti zvládente za jedno odpoledne či večer. Inovativní, originální je v tom, že lockdown spojil dva jedince z jiných zemí (Taiwan, Japonsko) a ještě přes starý fotoaparát. Charakterizoval bych jej bezprostředností, roztomilostí, nikde nenarazíte na žádný podraz, zákeřnost a výborné hodnocení na MDL i IMDb to nezapře. Jednoho z "mladíků" hraje Japonec Akihiro Kawai, který bude mít příští rok 40 let a ani ten velký věkový rozdíl nebyl moc poznat. Režisér se nezapře, a alespoň do vedlejší role obsadil svého oblíbence Aarona Lai-e z Be Loved in House.

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This kind of drama is like enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and some smores... MUST WATCH!!!

As the title suggests "Hidden Love," it revolves around hidden affection for someone. I appreciate the natural acting and the overall mellowness of the drama, creating a cozy atmosphere like enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and some smores.

Initially, I was hesitant about the love story, given that the female lead grew up with the male lead, starting at the age of 14. It felt a bit awkward, even though the male lead didn't romantically see her at that time. However, as the episodes progressed, I realized that the female lead also felt the same way. The one-sided love seemed hopeless and awkward, especially considering they had known each other since her adolescent years and he was in his early uni/college years

I won't give away too many spoilers, but it's worth watching as the drama unfolds and evokes genuine emotions (likeee GENUINE)

This drama struck a chord with me, particularly as someone with little to no romance in real life. It beautifully captures the essence of one-sided love, making it a must-watch for those who enjoy heartfelt stories.

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50 EPISODES BUT WHY NOT?

HONESTLY, it is an older drama so there will be cringe moments and out of trend cliche's but... OVERALL it was pretty good!

The humor is actually cheeky and it's long bc it really goes into depth of each family's hardships, growth, wholesomeness, character development etc etc.

I truly loved all the characters - really portrayed their part so well!

Each family taught so much about life - the importance of family, revenge, forgiveness, studying, independence, wealth, respect, and just so much more... I really recommend if you're in for a show to put in the background but still want something that will want to keep making you watch the next episode!!

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We go fast .. pass on side characters

There's a lot of enjoyable aspects of this drama but # 1 reason is always:

1. Zhai Zi Lu - ML. He is phenomenal. In the drama wasteland amongst pretty faces famous w/o much acting skills, Zhai Zi Lu is not one of them. I first enjoyed him as the sleezy boy in the Pavillion as a small supporting role then found him as the ML in Hello Debate Opponent S2 followed by Calorie Boy. He will be the reason you'll want to watch any drama. I love his expressions (go full force on ugly cry scene and not worry about how great he looks like some idols....). His voice is never dubbed which I think it should be a part of any actor's skillset (unless they really have a heavy accent that warrants it).

2. ML FL polar opposite personalities. They are not my favorite pairing in terms of chemistry but it's nice seeing a race car driver falling for a brainy girl. They complement each other and somehow it works.

3. Race car stories not so common. I mean how many office dramas have you seen vs race cars?

What I didn't like:
Zero to little character developments on supporting roles and there were a lot of potential too.
Draggy after abrupt break up trope ~ ep 16. Felt forced to prolong the series into a different direction making you pretty much want to 2x watch it through.
Patriotism -- hmmm is that due to censorship? suspicious....

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YAMATO REACHED MY HEART

I am into a Genre of BL's Like this ! I have not watched every Japaneses BL out there but I must say Japanese BL has this different vibe also that no other BL's can give, well as far as I know BL originally started at Japan so everything made sense that they can easily get me with when it comes to BL's and of this kind of genre.
The story is common, like childhood friends to lovers, but you know what I like here is, they went straight to the point, beginning it with Yamato secretly admiring Kakeru and so on, no idle moment, I liked how Yamato pronounces Kakerus name ! like OMG I am so Jealous !, right from there I was caught , like no way ! They got me ! I gave up! this is my weak point in BL.
So the cute reactions are remarkable, at the mall scene where the Yamato taken a stuffed toy for Kakeru , it was so cute, kakeru did not know why he did not give the stuffed toy to the girl, but he just kept it because he knew Yamato is special to him as well ! and it was so adorable ! Kakerus reactions are so cute and I just really had fun watching this guy, I liked their interactions to each other ! specially when Kakeru first realized that maybe the one Yamato likes is him when Yamato was being asked at the moment when they were still at the mall ! and he was right !
The interruptions of Yamato's confession is annoying but I find it funny more than annoyed ! I thought it really made sense because as the title of this show says, the story goes through it, so I just watched how this show will elaborate the title , and it was great ! I am not disappointed ! everything made sense, what I thought was right ! When Kakeru was with his mother and younger brother at the mall again, I enjoyed the scene there when Yamato hugged Kakeru , everything was so cute because I don't know why , when Yamato says something to kakeru, Kakeru says Yamato's name ! the way Kakeu say's it like OMG ! I was shouting all the time ! , it was funny that this drama has so many realization part and the suddenly running back to their lover, but it was cute as I say it just all made sense. I just loved these guys interactions to one another , like the sudden close faces , the indirect saying that they like each other, the jealousy parts waaa this is so much good vibes every minute I watched it so so fun, Just to add Yamato's sister was so cute also, she give a very anime vibe , her character is someone who always appear out of nowhere and it was so cute and fun to watch, so glad that she was that supportive to her brother.
The blonde hair Hosaka is my favorite wing man here , like he was a master, I thought I was going to be annoyed of him, but if it wasn't for him, Yamato wouldn't realize to confess to Kakeru , also he helped Kakeru to understand Yamato's POV, he is such an important player here ! Expert wing man ! kudos to you !
I was so happy that they have enough kissing scene here , my favorite part is when Yamato first confesses to Kakeru on their trip, I was annoyed at first because Yamato is so weak at expressing his feeling but thankfully he realized he had to confess, and when he did ! OMG he kissed Kakeru waaaaa , and then he fainted HAHAHA that moment was so funny and cute, that shows how afraid he is to confess OMG he is such a baby ! and the Kissing scene at the nurses room at the school I don't know what you call that room, it was so cute and I was so jealous I want to experience this romance also waaa .. The kissing is just right, just enough for a high school romance drama requires , so love it !
Yamato is so charming ! he was also the reason why I really had to watch the show even if I had to sleep 3am ! HAHAHAh , even when he went to so many things just to reach Kakeru's heart, he has reached mine !
So glad I watched this show, it was on point, everything made sense, I had so so much fun and enjoyed every episode, I just hoped it was longer, I hope I'd see these boys on another BL show again and most specially Yamato! and It is really nice how they ended this show where, when you fall inlove, you always want to be better for the person you love, it is true and it is so nice and sweet and romantic, Kakeru improved a lot in his grades when he got together with Yamato.. true love is when you grow together as a person. so Yeah that's all I probably have to re watch this many times ♥♥♥

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Great Revenge Romance Drama

Perfect Marriage
Revenge 📺:Viki

Melodrama, Time Traveling, Romance, Revenge

As a reader of the webtoon, I am very happy with this adaptation.

PROS:

◇The writing
◇The pacing, no filler episodes, and there was always something happening.
◇The changes made from the webtoon/ manhwa.
◇The intro and outro song.
(Meangingless by Collie & Halo by Yerim Sohn)


CONS:

◇The budget was low, but the whole product felt like an early 2000s Meolodrama (soap opera). So maybe it's not really a con.

◇I wish we would see more of the relationship of the leads in the 2nd half. I did read the webtoon, so this didn't bother me as much.

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Friendship turned to Love and life lessons- Must watch!

I'm a bit lazy writing reviews, however, at some point I think I owe it to this film/ series to have a high rating and for people who tumble on this to watch. Noona Romances are a trend nowadays, some would be on it or don't. But for me, I like it because it brings a lot of maturity to watch unlike those school-setting boys next door falling in love with a clingy school girl or crush theme. What's lovable about this series is it didn't focus on one topic only, it showed how fate would bring two people from opposite sides of the table to be awkwardly acquainted, be best friends, fall in love, handle society's pressure, make the best version of themselves and succeding in life having a happy ending. That's how the story goes.
Now talking about the actors and characters. There is no single doubt that the lead actors did a fantastic job. Ruby Lin and Derek have great chemistry, thou there is a huge age gap in real life which is 17 years I guess..they both portrayed their roles with no awkwardness. Though Ruby Lin at 41 and had just given birth 4 months prior she started this role, how amazing this woman is and her passion for acting. I have been searching some of her works and mostly it is drama and historical roles. If you want to see her being light, goofy, smiling with her dimples on, laughing, funny, and stupidly childish lying drunk on the floor then you are lucky to see her on this. I wished she could have done more romantic comedy roles in the past or maybe in the future, who knows thou she is 47 now in 2023 she still looks young. Now talking about her character, I have all praises as said above the only thing I would comment about on the other side is that I hoped her character could have been vulnerable during the times that they were already a couple. The character was so fun to watch in the beginning as she was vulnerable. The character has always been a strong independent woman and would have been nice to see her being vulnerable in the relationship. Mentioning there was no time in the series that she said she loved the male lead "wo ay ni". I could have cried a lot if there was a moment in the story about confessing her love to the male lead. She did confess she had feelings and cried but was still in denial of it. Also, there was another comment I read here saying it did not show exactly what the female lead liked about the male lead. It would have been nice to see how she gets jealous of Shampoo who is the first love of the male lead. And with that, the support role of Shampoo could have been maximized.
Now Derek Chang, as a new actor is very good. No wonder he was nominated for this role. When he cried, there was so much sincerity that he didn't care that his saliva was dropping. Character-wise, the only thing to comment on is it just took a long time in the series for him to grow up. Yes, the story is that he is a boy who doesn't even know he is in love that is why he acts stupid. But it could have been nice if half of the series already showed that he grew up and that this time the female lead fell in love more. It could have been nice to see a little pride in the male lead character.
Overall both characters and actors did a fantastic job, and also just to add up the kissing scenes were done in a respectful, light, and kind-hearted way. The pecks and hugging were enough for the romantic vibes. This is the kind of chemistry that there is no need for a bed scene or hot kissing scene to make it sizzle.
To add up as well, I know most Chinese dramas though this is Taiwanese Drama, the story only focused on those two main lead characters. There are support characters but they just moved the story and main lead characters to where they should be. It is not like Chinese dramas which there are side stories aside from the main lead which is confusing. I became a fan of Ruby Lin and Derek Chang because of this. I am also glad that they are real friends following each other on IG even Derek having pictures of them together while filming. The story made an impact on me and I want to share it with all the people out there who want to just for a little while in their heavy lives escape and smile for 20 hours of watching. The last thing, you may also want to watch "Rational Life" on Netflix which is as great as this.
The final verdict is a 10/10!

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Enchanting Echoes: A Love Letter to Park Eun-Bin's Voice in 'Castaway Diva

I have fallen deeply in love with Park Eun-Bin's voice in "Castaway Diva." The series, while not necessarily emphasizing romance prominently, has left an indelible mark on me, and I truly believe that no amount of kissing scenes can surpass the sheer brilliance of her voice. Throughout the entire series, I found myself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions—crying, feeling sad, and getting excited in equal measure.

If there were a voting system in place, I would wholeheartedly cast my vote for "Castaway Diva" as a top K-drama for 2023. Park Eun-Bin's performance, coupled with the overall emotional depth of the series, has truly resonated with me. It's not just about the romantic elements; rather, it's the raw and authentic portrayal of emotions that has left a lasting impact.

Sharing my sentiments about the series and Park Eun-Bin's exceptional voice is something I am eager to do. Even without a formal voting system, expressing our appreciation for such outstanding performances is essential. Whether through social media or online forums, discussing and recommending "Castaway Diva" can potentially connect me with like-minded viewers who share a similar passion for quality storytelling and remarkable acting.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse "Castaway Diva" as a top K-drama for 2023, and I encourage others to explore this captivating series, not just for its romantic aspects but for the rich emotional tapestry it weaves, brought to life by the incredible talent of Park Eun-Bin.

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A Disappointing Follow up to a Alright First Season

I had my problems with the first season of Uncanny Counter due to various reasons but it finished off strong towards the end. That had given me the wish for more of the story and the whole universe surrounding the concept of Counters. And somehow my wish was granted, a second season was announced with the entire cast which I loved, would be returning. I don't know if the wish and the hype for a second season led to this being a disappointment but throughout the entire season something always felt off about this drama.

The one major issue the second season had was its failure to commit to a specific tone. Going from a super violent scene to a goofy fight in a barn filled with poop gave me whiplash trying to figure out what the writers were trying to establish with the second season. The first season was able to perfectly keep in sync serious and comedic bits throughout it's run but the second season failed to follow the formula that it's predecessor set. Another problem was the new counter that was introduced.

When it was announced that the cast was adding another counter to the team I actually thought it was going to be a great idea. However they completely dropped the ball with Yoo In Soo's character Jeok Bong. With the season being cut to only 12 episodes compared to the first's 16 episodes, leaving his introduction until the season episode was a horrible idea. On top of that, the drama spent too much of the time on him being an annoying crying fool all the way up until around Episode 9. I understand they wanted to introduce a totally different personality to the Counter team but they spent far too much time on establishing that he's a bumbling fool and only gave his character a chance to shine toward the very end with 3 episodes to go.

The one good thing the second season had over the first was it's villain cast. The Evil Spirits group lead by Kang Ki Young's character Hwang Pil Gwang was absolutely fantastic. Kang Ki Young played a fantastic villain, I looked forward to each scene he was in as well as his accomplices, Gelly and Wong. Jin Seon Kyu did a perfect role in portraying a fallen hero/anti-hero/villain with his portrayal of Ma Ju Seok. His ability to show the conflict inside of the character was top tier drama acting, I really hope he get's more main roles in his future because he definitely deserve it after this wonderful performance.

There really isn't much else to say about this disappointing second season, after hoping for a second season with the first, I truly hope this is the final for the Uncanny Counter's series. I love the characters and everything about the concept, but the writer's have shown they didn't care for their own work that they established themselves.

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Review of part 1 and 2 as a whole

The Glory, this Korean drama series struck a nerve on many occasions. The subject matter of bullying is not new. However, the production of this series brings to light the matter in a very strong way.

The Glory covers several issues masterfully with incredible acting, and a storytelling.
It portrays the devastating consequences of bullying and resilience's power. The series also highlights the courage of Moon Eun and her resurgence and courage to stand up to the bullies, and the power of trust and love.

In the series Moon Eun (Song Hye Kyo) endures hardship on many levels. Her childhood lacks love and support. The bullying she endures from her terrible schoolmates and their perceived entitlements manipulates her social status, knowing she has little to no support.

Bullying scenes are intense and don't pull any punches. You immediately feel for the main character and seek justice for her. Even the school administration is no help. One of the main ring leaders of the bullies is Yeon Jin (Im Ji Yeon) She is heartless and evil in many ways. As well as betraying her own family by her adulterous ways, she causes mental and physical pain to others. The character of Yeon Jin is one I despise yet cannot forget. Because she represents such evil, you want her punished for her crimes. The abuse by her can be seen as an example of the consequences of such behavior. Her character is very well portrayed by Im Yeon. Her performance deservedly earned her an award. (And she is on my list of favorite actresses) :)

A great feature of this series is the story telling structure. I can see why the director received many praises and a Baeksang award. Moon Eun's revenge plan has a lot of depth. In itself, the use of Mrs. Kang Nam (Yeom Hye Ran) and Yeo Jung (Lee Do Hyun) as her assistants is remarkable. Kang Nam has also been a victim. A revenge plot involves her abusive spouse becoming a chess piece. As she struggles to escape her abusive spouse, Nam's growing friendship with Kang Nam motivates her to help Moon Eun.

There is more to Yeo Jung's story than just a love interest for Moon Eun. It's different for Jung's family unit, they are more successful than Moon's upbringing. It is tragic that Jung's father was murdered. As a result of the development of this backstory, a new revenge narrative is bred against the psychopath who murdered his father.

All of these characters and stories are very well woven together in The Glory. As a result of Moon's years of planning, the bullies slowly destroyed themselves by just being themselves. one by one. Of course, with Moon's help. The message was powerful about how your own actions can ultimately lead to your downfall. Moon's journey of self-discovery and transformation also played an important role in making the bullies pay.

Part 1 was slightly slower than part 2 but overall, the series was pretty enjoyable.

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It's cute alright

I have watched this series twice so far. Read the comments from various people about this series also. I admit, there are many loopholes / inconsistency / "hanging parts" in the series. However, overall the series is actually a very nice and light series to watch with alot of humor and adorableness in the series. I actually watched it because of Huang Jun Jie but I came to really like the series for the funny parts. Yes, like every other series that is existing out there, there are it's flaws but I don't see why should the entire production be shot down just cause of bad writing? Even in books we have shitty authors. I think the casts, all of them, did a good job in this series. As mentioned in the provided synopsis of the series, Tian Qi is an imperial doctor living in the General's house. Yes there are comments out there stating that there isn't much "healing" done. Are you guys expecting the entire series to have a plague or something that the doctor is needed 24/7? There are some "doctors needed" scenes throughout the movie. Also, it is not a healing movie so why should there be exaggerating amount of healing in the series?

The music paired to this series is also quite awesome.

If you are looking for something light, not too serious but alot of comedy, I would recommend a first time watch. However, it's up to you - after you complete the 24 episodes - to decide whether is it worth the extra binge / rewatch moments. I have no regrets or rants about this series.

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It may not be perfect, but it was perfect for me

I don't get the negative reviews here, but to each their own.

This show was recommended to me after I watched King the Land, which I absolutely adore. I've come to need good rom-coms in my life; I've had it with hackneyed dramas with their manufactured angst and cliche story-lines. This show, for me, filled in all the blanks. ALL OF THEM.

I came to fall in love with the cast, their stories, the direction, photography, locations, etc. The OST was not quite as good as KtL, but it's background score was better, especially her theme (available on YouTube). The show correctly and perfectly developed not only the leads, but the supporting cast as well and included them in the leads story so well and logically. We came to care about them TOO.

I don't feel the story let down after the background mystery was resolved - in fact, how it was finally resolved and confessed brought tears to my eyes. And the lead's journey after that, was no less compelling. His love for her, that had been so long in coming, that he dare not reveal, was at time heart-rending for him. Her confusion about the past and her deep feelings for him kept us coming back for more and more.

Everybody talks about "chemistry". Not only did the leads have great chemistry, but this extended to the supporting cast as well. The scenes between the VC & President were not only funny, but touching and realistic. Everyone played off each other so well; I've never seen a show like this before. Kudos to the casting director!

Their fumbling and stumbling thru their relationship (the first one for each, despite their ages) was relatable. Was he a "toxic" person? No, he's just a dork. He's a clueless rich guy, whose intelligence is matched by his social awkwardness. And he was traumatized by events in his past that would have shattered lesser personalities. Is she a cold-hearted, selfish woman? Seriously? She is trying to deal with her long-time boss being someone who is more than he seems and trying to balance her affection for him with her sense of duty and uncertainty in falling in love for the first time.

The webtoon goes well past their marriage, and tells us their story in the future. I still hope that maybe, someone, will pick up on this and give us a Season 2.

I only wish KBS would give us something more like this instead of what passes for K-dramas on their network these days. I eagerly await the Filipino Version!

PS - I liked it so much I bought the DVD (tip: the translations on the DVD are OK, but not as good as those on the online streaming sites).

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