Small review board

8/10 average

Not bad for a daily drama. The beginning follows a very standard setup typical for its era, but it still offers a few interesting characters and a likable cast. I mainly picked it up for Jisoo’s goofy smile, yet that alone is not enough to carry fifty episodes of a classic soap opera.

The start is pleasant, but the story becomes increasingly complicated with hidden pasts, tangled love lines, messy family relationships, and money issues. It tries to juggle too many threads at once, and the charm fades as it goes on.

The opening episodes reminded me a bit of Once Again, but the drama lost its grace after a few episodes and never fully recovered.

8/10

A solid short series with good actors and nice visuals. It is easy to watch and the pacing fits its length well.

The story is another matter. It is messy, logic is often missing, and some scenes are so absurd you can only hope the writers knew exactly how silly they looked. The plot includes three romance lines and every single one of them leans into toxicity in its own way.

Simplified story
Three factions are locked in a gang war inside the city. The older sister of the female lead, who married into one of the factions, is killed. The female lead, who was supposed to be dead as well, returns for the funeral and to find the killer. Her return pushes the already tense situation into open conflict. The whole thing becomes even more tangled because one faction has three young masters and each of them is involved with a girl from a different faction.

8/10 average
This one gave me quite a few flashbacks to My Lethal Man, which for the record I did not enjoy. Both dramas share the same vibe and the same issues, and that ended up killing the fun for me.

The start feels promising with an interesting setup, good chemistry and solid acting. But the deeper it goes, the more the story becomes overcomplicated, silly and honestly quite boring. If you enjoy this type of plot you might have a better time, but for me it just did not work.

weak 8,5/10

Short GL with nice chemistry and a good cast. The story leans a bit into action, but the main focus stays on the romance. Thankfully they did not dive too deep into the toxic side of the FL’s revenge plot and wrapped that part up smoothly. Overall it works well as a compact romance with just enough tension without dragging the darker elements too far.

Better 8/10

I really enjoyed the actors and the characters. Ju Jing Yi brings a perfect mix of innocence and charm, and the ML’s aunt is a standout presence. The FL’s best friend adds a lot of warmth, and the drama delivers several catchy scenes along with a romance plot that has genuinely good chemistry.

The weak point for me was the villains, who felt abominable rather than compelling. And while the story had solid momentum, the ending didn’t land as well as it could have. Instead of giving the leads the emotional payoff they had been building toward, the finale shifted direction in a way that softened the impact. It would have been stronger if they had wrapped things up one episode earlier and avoided that final detour.

8/10 average
I saw plenty of comments trying to talk me out of watching this one. The ratings aren’t great either. People complained that it tries to juggle too many romances at once or that it is not a real sports drama. In a way I get it. The sports theme is mostly in the background, but it is still present enough that I didn’t mind the stronger focus on the characters and their relationships.

The romance side is stretched across the whole drama. They introduce several potential couples and even a few triangles, but most of them never get real attention later. Maybe that is for the best, otherwise it would turn into an even bigger mess. What worked for me were the actors. The FL completely sells her worried, almost tearful innocence look, and the ML has that soft puppy charm that fits the story well. Even their teammates have small but noticeable personalities that make the group feel alive.

It is a quick watch and not a bad one. If you enjoy youth romance dramas with a light sports flavor, this is worth checking out since there are not many in this niche.

weak 8.5/10

I kept subconsciously comparing it to Rise of Ning, and only later realized it is probably because both dramas share the same female lead. The chemistry here was genuinely nice, the romance had presence, and the actors carried their roles well. The story itself was talkative and fairly standard, but it was not really boring at all, almost bingeworthy.

Even though the main plot dragged, there was always something happening. The drama relied heavily on intrigue, hidden motives, and quiet schemes, so the momentum never fully disappeared. The pacing still had problems. The first half stretched the female lead’s arc by giving her multiple budding romance possibilities and multitasking her storyline. In the second half, once she finally settled with the male lead, the progress of the main story slowed again because of many side stories. These side stories were always connected to the main cause, but they still pulled attention away from the core progression.

I debated between an 8 and an 8.5 and hoped the ending would help me decide. Instead, it left me conflicted. They managed to hit a surprisingly strong emotional moment that genuinely affected me, but the final episode felt anticlimactic and cryptic. It did not explain much or try to tie up the open knots, so when it ended I actually checked whether there were more episodes, a second season, or a special.

Overall I enjoyed watching it.

9/10

I waited for this GL drama for months after seeing a YouTube short and it was worth it. It delivers enemies to lovers, office romance and a secret relationship, all done in a way I enjoy. The early enemy phase feels real and they never switch into that usual act where couples pretend to hate each other in front of coworkers. When colleagues think they are still hostile it is usually because they are in the middle of a lovers quarrel.

The early episodes are great, but the later ones lose direction. The final villain makes the story repeat itself and the couple breaks up and reunites too often, mostly because one person acts without talking. Communication issues are a classic drama flaw and it shows here.

The chemistry is strong, the supporting cast works well and there are plenty of intimate scenes. Despite the weaker parts it is a very enjoyable watch.

Better 8/10.
The production and visuals are genuinely impressive. Everything feels raw, grimy and slightly off‑kilter, capturing that romanticized yet uncomfortable picture of 70s China. The drama doesn’t shy away from showing the everyday struggles people faced or the nature of the system they lived under. It’s effective, but it’s also the part that held me back from loving it. Even though the story builds several relationships and some of them are genuinely touching, the constant political weight around every scene made the whole experience less enjoyable for me. And I’m fully aware this is already a softened version of reality.

Overall, the craft is top tier. Visuals, acting, atmosphere, all executed at a high level. It just didn’t quite match my personal taste.

A strong 8.5/10
This drama deserves that score so clearly that I actually need to adjust some of my other GL ratings to keep everything consistent. The chemistry is the real anchor here, warm emotional cute FL vs colder masculine rich FL. The plot isn’t reinventing anything, but within the GL space it feels refreshingly alive. The pacing stays tight, scenes move with purpose, and I ended up binging it because it simply never drags. It’s the kind of drama that earns its score by being consistently enjoyable.

9/10

This screenwriter clearly has a gift for crafting emotional stories centered on older, weathered characters played by veteran actors who carry decades of life in their faces. Her last three works feel like they come from the same mold, but honestly, if the mold keeps producing this level of depth, why change it. I loved My Mister, found Liberation Notes slower but still quietly brilliant.

We are all trying here drama starts rough. The main characters are imperfect, obnoxious, even embarrassing at times. They push you away before they pull you in. But as the story unfolds, their flaws become the very thing that makes them human. You start to understand them, then root for them, then feel protective of them. Their growth isn’t dramatic or flashy; it’s slow, painful, and shaped by the people around them. Watching them confront their inner demons and gradually become wiser feels earned. Hardship teaches lessons that comfort never will, and this drama understands that better than most.

8/10
Basic idea movie. About long term friends unsuccessfully seeking love after each break up uplifting each other. But not accepting their feelings for each other.
Not bad, but nothing great. In way I remembered another alike movie thai movie :Friend Zone: which though alike theme I liked more.

weak 8.5/10

A pretty fresh drama that puts a strong spotlight on minority culture and everyday lifestyle. It actually reminded me of To the Wonder or Meet Yourself. Same gentle, grounded vibe.

For some viewers it might feel a bit slow, since most of the plot revolves around family stories and the romantic journeys of the female leads, each standing at a major crossroads in her life. But that’s also part of its charm.

The best thing here is the length. With only 8 episodes, it almost feels too short yet at the same time, you never get tired of it. It delivers its message, shows its world, and wraps up before overstaying its welcome.