'Destined with You' review: a spellbinding romcom falls flat with a lackluster story

With the number of psychopaths in this kdrama, its title should have been "Obsessed with You" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Destined with You revolves around Hong Jo, a civil servant, whose life unexpectedly got tangled up with Shin Yu, a renown corporate lawyer. A mysterious box and several encounters later, they find themselves stuck with one another and they discover their unbreakable connection.

For starters, the plot was messy, loaded with uninteresting supporting characters and subplots. The series can't even create two episodes which tackles the same thing. Every episode is unrelated to one another. It is very important for a fantasy k-drama to steadily build the mystery and keep the thrill. Adding more confusion and questions to the bunch is certainly not one of the ways to do that.

Most of the episodes were merely fillers and keeps poking around the central conflict of the show. I'm not even sure if the main characters only have one main problem since they, too, are not searching for answers. The antagonists mostly did the work to keep the momentum going.

At the very beginning, the story is about spells and a century-old curse. Then, halfway through the show it became a secret office romance. Once again it changed course, the story became a thriller and that's the moment I knew the writers screwed up big time. It tries to have all genres at once. Honestly, the kdrama's only saving grace is Rowoon's visuals and his striking suits. At least the fashion department knew how to get the right work done.

Anyways, Rowoon and Jo Bo Ah had an undeniable chemistry here. Rowoon throwing funny puns while keeping a straight and handsome face certainly deserves a daesang. As for Jo Bo Ah, I kind of wished her character were more smart and strong. Hong Joo falls under the weak female lead stereotype category and I find damsels in distress intolerable. Her struggles of working and living alone definitely pulled some heartstrings. She also had some character development at the end but it felt too formulaic for my liking. Maybe it's just me who saw this issue. Perhaps I simply prefer smart female leads over the ones who needs saving and longs for a hero to realize her true worth.

On the other hand, I wish it had gone the same route as 'Extraordinary You' where the leads had one goal in mind and then conflicts appeared and the answers unfold one after another. We are solving the puzzle together with the main characters. That's the most simple structure of a fantasy drama.

In Destined with You's case, we don't even know what Shin Yu and Hong Jo want to do with their lives. They're simply flirting and encountering lunatics, that's it. The plot had so much potential. If only they stayed picked a lane, this fantasy k-drama could have been interesting and gripping.

This series could have also been way more short if it solely focused on Shin Yu and Hong Jo's past lives and their unbreakable connection. Up to now, I still can't figure if the spells were real or not. Shin Yu got better so the spell transcends through time? But why was Hong Jo never able to cast a spell if she were a direct descendant or even the reincarnation of Aeng Cho? We'll never know the answers to these questions because the show didn't even bother to acknowledge and answer them.

Episode 14 was not the resolution I was expecting. They could have given us glimpses of their past lives bit by bit throughout the series. However, they decided to dump the whole Joseon period in one go. I got emotionally invested in that episode but the sudden return to the present day only left me hanging. Aside from the talisman box, the show could have given more reasons why ML and FL were bound together by fate and how they gravitate towards one another even if they stay out of each other's lives.

Overall, 'Destined with You' both had its highs and lows. It was fun and swoon-worthy. However, the lackluster script made this show messy and incoherent. If only this story were written right, it could have been at par with What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and Business Proposal and will go down in the record books as one of the inventive and spellbinding office rom-com. The series is entertaining but doesn't quite put you under its spell.

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Spectacular dresses and world-building but falls short on screenwriting

Sadly, Hotel del Luna's fanciness couldn't make up for the story's lack of coherence and sincerity.

The extravagant hotel for the ghosts and the splendid clothes of its owner didn't quite impress me. Each episode has the same dreary pattern of spirits struggling and protagonists babbling at the end. After the first half of the show, I found myself neither interested nor thrilled.

The answers were already laid out so I didn't get the point of dragging out the story. The antagonists which I once thought of as formidable opponents were easily gulled and defeated. Indeed, there is a fine line between a show with a high-caliber script and one with a mere show-off wardrobe.

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Red flag with an attractive face is still a red flag. No excuses!

I still can't understand why people were sympathizing and rooting for Min Jae when he is practically a walking red flag?! This kdrama is so realistic and the finger flick was like a metaphor and a catalyst on how Oh Jin's eyes were opened to the truth.

Min Jae does not need a second chance because he keeps on disregarding her feelings and he's keeping her only because he needs her not because he loves her. He only put away the umbrella during the rain scene because he finally realized his mistake and how narcissistic he is.

People were rooting for Min Jae because it's Kang Tae Oh but if the tables were turned with the other ML, would it still be the case? Probably not. People naturally favors charming and pretty people just like Park Jae Eon in Nevertheless. The majority approved the ending in Nevertheless even though everyone knew from the get-go that he is a red flag and the writers even redeemed Jae Eon's character by making it seem like he changed for the better, he changed so that Na Bi would not leave him.

It's very disheartening to know how the public approves of red flags and they easily get away with their bad doings just because they have nice faces. I really admire Oh Jin because once she realized ML is a red flag, she didn't try to turn a blind eye to it. Furthermore, she acknowledged that both of them were at fault for the break-up. She didn't try to sugarcoat the truth that she may have been lacking in some ways in their relationship.

Red flags might look like roses but they are little more than heartache in the end. So please people save yourself from pain and catch red flags early on.

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Thrilling, fast-paced and loaded with gripping action sequences, Vagabond has certainly raised the bar for action-packed kdramas.

Vagabond starts off slow and sloppy with subtle plot holes and unimpressive lead characters. If only there were less talking and more of swift buildup on the first half, the pacing of the story would have been far from faulty. However, the flaws went unseen as the veteran actors help elevate this series while Seung Gi and Suzy Bae show off their charisma and chemistry. There are also fleeting touches of humour which made it a lot more fun to watch.

On the other hand, the elegance and visual coherence of the set pieces have given this kdrama a discernible impression. Although the big-deal stunts aren't that many, they will still make you jump up and down with exuberance.

Overall, Vagabond is a gratifyingly clever, booby-trapped thriller with the right amount of fun and swoon. Lastly, to those who are skeptical on watching this series, I will give you a piece of advice: don't let the first half's boring dialogues get into your nerves because the exciting action awaits on the later part.

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Interesting Concept but Poorly Written Story

Love Alarm's dull narrative voice and excessive flashbacks undermine the interesting concept the story has.
This series might have been better if it had more episodes to slowly unravel the plot and to let the viewers sympathize more with the characters. However, everything feels so hastened, from falling in love with a stranger to breaking up with hardly a closure that could have been easily fixed. This drama is overhyped, to say the least. Sun Oh gives me chills because he is like one of those nice-looking stalkers. His stalking and unrelenting efforts to make Jo Jo his girlfriend should have terrified the viewers but it has done the exact opposite. Sadly, I was among those who fell completely under his spell. If it weren't for Song Kang's mesmerizing eyes and abs, this drama would have been a total flop so kudos to him.

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While Flower of Evil is sometimes less than the sum of its impressive parts, gripping performances from Joon Gi and Chae Won make this k-drama worth watching.

The premise of Flower of Evil is so promising that I expected it to have a never-ending cycle of entangled truths, lies, and deceits. However, this isn't a crime thriller but rather a melodrama romance. With an intriguing start and unpredictable plot, I was caught off guard when things went downhill after the first half. The last episodes are heavily laden with melodramatic turns. The narrative suddenly became formulaic and mawkish.

Despite the series' mediocre direction and perfunctory screenplay, the easy and quiet chemistry between the leads will keep you glued to the screen. Joon Gi inhabits the psychopathic role with every nerve in his body. He still exudes charisma as he plays his chilling character. It is also refreshing to see Chae Won completely turning the tables and putting damsels in distress to shame.

Ultimately, Flower of Evil may have failed to constantly deliver thrills-and-spills but it will certainly pull on some heartstrings.

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'Linlang' review: gaslight gatekeep girlboss in thriller drama form

When it comes to infidelity our first instinct is to blame the husband — he must have been the one who cheated or neglected his family.

Rarely it happens in real life and in shows that the wife is the one who is in the wrong. Hence, Linlang's plot comes to me as a fresh narrative as it revolves around Juliana, our female lead, breaking everyone's lives, hearts and trusts.

This series is divided into three acts and I must say the last act is my least favorite. It felt anticlimactic and rushed.

The last few episodes didn't live up to my expectations. The story should have stuck up on being a makjang. I certainly enjoyed the dramatic plot twists and heightened feelings. All the rage and fury dissipated by the time we got near the ending. They also gave us a glimpse of the younger sister's dating life which no one asked for and is irrelevant and bland.

Despite these shortcomings, I must commend how the four main leads never fail to deliver great performance. What struck me the most is the pile of lies and betrayal and how each character stood their ground even if they are in the wrong. How audacious of them. The characters/actors made quite an impression to me and that's what I appreciate in this series the most.

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'Nevertheless' review: FUBU and red flags but make it aesthetic and artsy

This was an almost realistic portrayal of how red flag gaslights and manipulates us. Except the writers decided to write episode 10 and flip the whole thing.

Nevertheless revolves around the no-label and f*ck buddy relationship of Nabi and Jae Eon. For starters, Nabi is fresh off a break-up from her toxic and manipulative boyfriend.

So is Jae Eon different and better than his ex? No. They are practically the same except Jae Eon is younger, so handsome that his face and body should be displayed in a museum, and tries to make it seem like he's asking for her consent when he's not. He persists until she gives in.

Before I list down the million reasons why Park Jae Eon is a dangerous predator trying to disguise himself as a gentle and innocent lamb, let me point out some things I did like in this show. The every day montage of Nabi and Jae Eon sleeping will go down in history as one of the best cinematic experience in kdrama. Nevertheless' cinematography and soundtrack ate and left no crumbs.

Nabi's actions may seem foolish and delusional but it's the reality of our feelings. Feelings waver most of the times and are incoherent. We always get our hope up over simple actions of people we like.

Han So Hee realistically portrayed the roller coaster of emotions when we fall for the wrong guy. The cycle of emotional manipulation is very vicious and at one point Nabi even questioned her own values and worth. She thinks Potato Boy doesn't deserve someone like her.

The first thing you will notice about Jae Eon is his gaze. It's very hypnotizing. It's like he's inviting you to go with him in the shadows. I hate to admit it but I can't take my eyes off him once he comes into my sight. That's how powerful he is.

Whenever he and Nabi fight, he always tries to act cool and calm. He twists Nabi's words so that at the end he gets the upper hand and gets what he want from her.

Jae Eon's gaslighting skills never cease to amaze me. In one episode, Jae eon said he always keeps his guard up because he doesn't want to hurt other people's feelings. That's really ironic since manipulating and messing other people's feelings and minds is what he does on his every affair.

He knew Nabi was broken inside the moment he saw her in the exhibit. But he still went after her just for fun and fling. He's so psycho. I'm aware that FUBU and FWB exist and are acceptable for others but is distorting the truth part of such relationships? He should have been clear from the get-go that he only wants sexual relationship and nothing more.

The episodes about Jae Eon's inner thoughts are so contradicting. It tries to paint him as a broken guy who just needs love and affection. Redeeming his character is the most unrealistic thing in this show. He is literally the ultimate manipulative sad boy.

Jae Eon towards the end of the show is literally the behavior of a gaslighter who is mad over losing his control and power over his victim. He can't believe he lost his own game and to get back at Nabi, he fakes his sincerity just to win her over again.

People rooting for him may have distorted perceptions of reality. I cant blame them since Jae Eon playing the victim looks so bewitching. This is the very reason why Na bi feels confused, anxious, and unable to trust herself.

I believe Nabi's feelings left for Jae Eon is withdrawal symptoms. It's her brain missing the thrill and danger of treading on egg shells. She's missing Jae Eon's mysterious facade and unpredictable behavior. She's missing not knowing what comes next because she's always anxious and confused and horny.

Nabi taking a chance again with Jae Eon even though she knows he will cause her pain is just so masochist of her. Until the very end, we got nothing from Jae Eon. Still can't believe Nabi did all the talking in Episode 10. It's Jae eEon who should have expressed his thoughts and feelings. Just because a jerk cries in front of you doesn't mean all of his wrongdoings will be gone in a blink of an eye.

Putting aside the criticisms for this kdrama, I genuinely think Song Kang totally nailed his role as a red flag who constantly has you wrapped around his finger. Who would not fall for that kind of face anyway? Who can even refuse him?

The mind games he play with Nabi was seriously unsettling and made me queasy yet addicting. He's like a drug you can't resist or can't say no to. You know he's bad for your health but you do it blindly.

I just wished they didn't write Episode 10 the way they did. Nevertheless could have been an impactful and realistic portrayal of a push and pull relationship. It could have educated its viewers about how damaging having a manipulative and gaslighting partner. It's such a let down how they wasted this opportunity.

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A sappily charmed romance that is simply irresistible

One of the things I like about C-dramas is that their stories are relatively simple yet the relatable characters draw you in. Hidden Love is no exception.

Hidden Love revolves around Sang Zhi who has a crush on her brother's friend Duan Jia Xu. From the get-go, you know that the major conflict from this story is their age gap but this suprisingly this C-drama has more to offer.

The story follows Sang Zhi (played by Zhao Lu Si) throughout her high school and college days. We watched how her feelings evolve through time. What was once a harmless crush turned into an undeniable affection and beautiful love. I was impressed by how Lu Si was able to pull of the 13-year-old school girl look similar to how Kim Tae Ri effortlessly portrayed her role in Twenty Five Twenty One.

Sang Zhi's object of affection is Duan Ji Xau (played by Chen Zhe Yuan). I initially thought his character would be just one-dimensional, a male lead who only exists to be handsome and serve as the eye candy of the show. As the story progresses, Ji Xau's back story is revealed which ultimately affected the relationship dynamics between him and Sang Zhi.

In another note, this Cdrama reminds me so much of Twenty Five Twenty One sans the sports and slice of life theme. Hidden Love heavily focuses on romance while 25 21 revolves on ML and FL chasing their dreams. They may have different narratives but I must commend how they both handled well the age gap between the leads including the right time and the transition for the romance to bloom.

It is no easy feat to weave compassionate male characters in shows like these. It comes as no surprise when I learned that the director and writer of Hidden Love are women. Because of the female gaze, viewers like me were able to empathize and follow along Sang Zhi's journey as she learns more about her emotions and intimacy with Duan Ji Xau. It helped a lot that both our main leads did not rush their relationship and instead made efforts to get to know each other's feelings and intentions. It was a good slow-burn romance, one that keeps you at the edge of your seat while you can't stop giggling and swooning over the characters.

Although the show started at a slow pace, it successfully drew viewers into Sang Zhi's experience of first love and heartbreak. The show also portrayed the green flags of a relationship as both Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu constantly communicates their worries and dreams for each other.

Overall, Hidden Love contains familiar tropes but perfectly delivers a sincere and pure love supplemented by charming performances. This show is far from perfect but the absence of annoying villains and over-the-top conflicts makes this rom-com a comfort watch.

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I can't even explain what I was feeling right after I finished the last episode. It was overwhelming, disappointing, and confusing at the same time.

In this drama, we follow the unpredictable lives and interesting love story of Joon Young and Young Jae. The first half is adorable and swoon-worthy as it mostly focuses on the feelings of being in love for the first time and also the fights and make-ups in a relationship. I liked it because I have never understood how relationships work. Little did I know that everything is all about compromise. The second half blows my mind away as I didn't expect any of it. The drama suddenly changes its atmosphere from being romcom to melodrama and my heart is found in a ditch shredded into pieces. However, I notice that Young Jae always seems to be the one who faces hardships and struggles and Joon Young always ends up wandering every time they break up. I somehow wished the writer was fair in giving them hardships and recoveries from their broken hearts. I know it's for the sake of narration but it's just unfair on Young Jae's part. Nevertheless, everything is so realistic from the misunderstandings to the raw emotions of the characters.

The ending somehow felt right as Young Jae is still in the process healing and Joon Young might be confused about what he feels whether it's pity or love towards Young Jae. So I'm giving wishful thinking that after some time they will still end up being together.

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For starters, I watched this drama because of Kyungsoo as I am an EXO-L but he exceeded my expectations. I didn't immediately notice that the plot is one of those overused stories. KYUNGSOO IS SO DAMN GOOD IN THIS DRAMA I'M TELLING YOU GUYS. The chemistry of the leads is so natural. The only thing that I did not like about this drama is how it exaggerated the 100 days of Lee Yol in the village. I somehow got sick with their cute fights. The last two episodes are also a disappointment as the Vice Premier's reasons were ludicrous. I felt like they squeezed everything in those 2 episodes just to run the drama in 16 episodes. Overall, I think I got carried away with Kyungsoo's acting that is why I gave this drama a high rating. But I promise it is still worth watching.
PS I only gave 8 stars to its soundtrack as they are repetitive. I only heard Gummy and Chen throughout the drama. It's kind of tiring to hear them over and over again whenever an episode ends.

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PYHOMS: One of the best feel-good romance out there

You took the time to memorize me:
My fears, my hopes, and dreams
I just like hangin' out with you all the time

Packed with captivating cast and swoon-worthy scenes, Put Your Head on My Shoulder is a must-watch fluffy youth romance sans frustrating characters. It's impossible not to leave the drama with a smile on your face.

Everything about the plot and characters ia easy-going and heart-fluttering. No irritating characters, stressful scenes let alone blood-boiling antagonists. This drama is one of those joyful, feel-good shows that brings smiles to our faces.

However, the show's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. Halfway through the show, I found myself slowly losing interest as the main leads' conflicts are very lighthearted and whimsical. Thankfully, the two leads exude amazing chemistry that they still make the story more engaging and interesting despite the bleakness.

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With an ensemble cast and inimitable cinematography, Something in the Rain portrays more than just the hackneyed thrill of a secret relationship.

The mundane and trivial conversations of the characters makes the show easy to watch. I did not find any of the episodes tedious because of the palpable chemistry between the leads. It was a relief that the story didn't introduce new characters that will meddle the already complicated lives of Jin Ah and Joon Hee.

On the other hand, I'm beyond impressed with the show's prowess to shed light on the lesser known culture of South Korea such as dating taboos and the ordeal of going through a sexual assault trial. This series is poignant and compelling behind its frivolous romance and toxic in-laws.

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'Yumi's Cells' review: Back for a second chance at love and dreams

Is love sweeter the second time around or more cruel?

Yumi's Cells Season 2 tells the story of Yumi and Babi's relationship from her brain cells' point of view. Will she get her happy ending this time or will another heartbreak be added to her list?

For starters, Yumi's Cells illuminates Yumi's conflicted emotional life with superb storytelling, animation and performances. This k-drama is very inventive and psychologically astute, witty, imaginative, and utterly relatable.

What sticked to me the most from Season 1 was the seamless transition between the animation and the reality. However, for this new season the show hardly shed light on Babi's cells. His thoughts and true intentions remained a mystery throughout the run time. Perhaps this was a plot device to keep the audience glued to their screens and constantly wonder if Babi is her endgame.

In contrast to Season 2, Woong's cell village had a fair share of screentime. Woong and Babi's personalities are in opposite spectrum after all. Woong is an introvert and is not expressive. Babi on the other hand is a straightfoward guy and always speaks his mind to avoid confusions and misunderstandings.

Woong ponders a lot before talking that's why the cell village can discuss what tactic to take on. He doesn't even have that much cells because almost everything acts according to an program That speaks volume to how intelligent Woong is.

However, Babi is very eloquent with words (he's actually a marketing specialist) but we don't get to see enough decision making going in on at his cell village. We don't even get to see his naughty cell. All that Yumi's love cell saw in his village is that he is very romantic and sincere. Babi was at a very disadvantageous point because no one really knows what's going on in his head.

The two seasons also highlighted different concepts. Season 1 pointed out that opposites attract while season 2 condemns this by telling that same people attract each other. Woong and Yumi do not share the same interests, hobbies and group of friends. Interestingly, Yumi and Babi had a lot in common. This is what essentially draws Yumi to Babi. They both like reading books and listening to the same type of music. It seems logical that they attract each other as they think similarly. The absence of AI in Babi's village cell attests to this.

Going back to Babi's character development, I still had tons of questions about it. When the story reached its dilemmas, Babi's change of heart suddenly doesn't make sense to me.

Babi is someone who speaks his mind and it is very unlikely of him to hide secrets and get swayed by a young intern. Those were my first thoughts. However, looking back at Babi's past actions and relationships, it seems like he's not the green flag guy we all thought he is. He's actually the opposite.

If one can remember, Babi actually developed his feelings for Yumi even while they were both in a relationship. Reason and sensitivity cells tried so hard to hide this fact from Yumi. The alarming red flag about Babi is that he gets wavered easily whenever his girlfriend is not around which is a very unfaithful thing to do. I really felt defeated and saddened by this realization because who on earth can resist Babi's charming and alluring presence? He's simply irresistable and attractive.

I can't help but notice the similarities between Babi and Yijin from Twenty Five Twenty One. Everyone keeps telling that Yijin is a green flag for being a supportive and understanding boyfriend to Heedo. The same thing can be applied to Babi.

Both guys are very considerate towards their partners. However, kindness is not the foundation of being a green flag. Both main leads failed to be consistent, honest and maintain an open communication. Babi and Yijin kept secrets from their partners — the former not telling Yumi how he got affected by an intern's confession as well as when he got in an accident; while the latter not telling his SO that he is going through a rough patch and he doesn't want to share his burden, pain and sorrows.

Still, one can't help but feel that the writers did dirty on Babi by the second half of the show. The sweet and romantic moments between Babi and Yumi were actually based on Yumi and Soonrok's scenes in the webtoon. The directors and writers purposefully led us to the thinking that Babi is a wonderful and dreamy partner. We, the audience, got fooled and disappointed at the end. I personally really felt that it was hard to let go someone like Babi.

As for the performance, Kim Go Eun and Jinyoung's chemistry was insane to say the least. They portray immense love for each on-screen and it's undeniable that they would make such a great couple in real life. Their soft face features compliment each other. I hope that they can work on a project soon with a HEA.

Overall, Yumi's Cells is a lovely kdrama which transforms emotional conflict into an adventure. There's a beauty and care in every scene of this k-drama. As we tag along Yumi's self-actualization journey, we learn about the pain of growing up, heartbreaks and handling big, new emotions as they come and go.

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Amplified by Kim Yerim's performance, Blue Birthday is not your mediocre web drama as it offers an intriguing and nostalgic high school drama with impressive directing and scoring.

I felt a rollercoaster of emotion throughout the series specifically from Episode 1 to 15. I was always on the edge of my seat every time an episode ends. I highly recommend this series for binge-watching.

However, the last episode was such a letdown. I kind of wished ML still died at the end and that FL only get to have stolen moments and new memories with ML. It was so absurd how they can time travel and change things on their own accord carelessly. I get that what they did is for everyone's sake and happy ending. It just felt like every turn and twist of the story boiled down to the leads' happy ending.

On the other hand, I didn't expect that Yeri was such a natural actress! The camera obviously loves her but I was amazed by her acting skills. And this series is absolutely a good start for her acting career. I can't wait for more!

Once again, this drama is a breath of fresh air in web dramas! Usually, web dramas are so cringy with lots of cheesy lines and cinematography that do not have that much creativity. Blue Birthday is hands down one of the best short series I have seen!

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