If you want lots of drama, love triangles or misunderstandings that drag too long... look elsewhere.

If I had to use three words to describe this drama they would be soft, fluffy and heartwarming. It falls into a very well known category, which is Coming Of Age School Drama, but unlike so many others before it, it does not care to create unnecessary plots where our leads suffer too much in their relationship (by breaking up out of nowhere, for example) or act stupidly for the sake of creating conflict; one of its greatest strengths is that characters trust each other and as a result, they won't blindly believe what outside forces try to convince them of when it comes to one another, which is something that happens way too often in dramas like this one.

Are there misunderstandings? Of course, but misunderstandings *are* a part of life and having them in small quantities in dramas and done realistically adds to them, and When I Fly Towards you manages to sprinkle them in a way that feels organic enough that you believe it could easily happen in real life.

This drama is something to watch when you need something cute and uplifting with the certainty that good things will keep happening as you watch and problems will be solved. It's comforting and wholesome, and manages to be those things without its characters leaning too much into being cheesy, corny or cringeworthy. An amazing feat, without a doubt.

Read More

Fifty Shades should disappear so Love and Leashes can become the introductory standard for BDSM

Going into this movie I was afraid they would make a joke out of BDSM or portray male submissives as pathetic, but I was ecstatic to see that it was not the case in the slightest. This movie is a very solid introduction for what BDSM is and means if you have no clue about it-- even putting up definitions and explanations of terms on screen to make it easier to understand.

The portrayal of male submissives is scarce at best, but actually good, respectful, judgement-free depictions of male submissives are almost nonexistent in mainstream media. That was my primary concern, but if it's yours as well I am here to reassure you that you've got nothing to worry about. The movie does an incredible job of framing Ji Hoo's submissiveness as something that is simply his preference and there's nothing wrong with it, even when others may judge him. Another common problem with the depiction of men who have more submissive personalities is that writers tend to end up delving in the territory of trying to reassure the audience that the character is not *actually* 100% submissive in bed, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. That. Never. Happens. Here.

On the other hand, Ji Woo's character is absolutely incredible because she is the inexperienced Dom that had never been able to put into words what she is actually into. Maybe TMI, but that was me, once. Her quick ease into the Dom role even if she is unsure about doing a good job clearly stems from the fact that this has always been who she is-- she just never had a chance to explore it with anyone. The inexperienced Dom trope also sometimes falls prey to the sudden role switch where the male character takes charge because she is *so* inexperienced and gets *so* easily flustered because of it-- or he was actually in charge all along even if he "acted" submissive, but this incredible movie avoids that completely. He is the submissive, she is the Dom, and even when she may falter and worry she is not doing a good job, those roles remain the same.

You may think this should've been a multi-episode drama instead, but I disagree. Had they done that, the conflicts would've been dragged and many people who may give this a chance because it's  a movie simply wouldn't have watched it. The movie is incredible just the way it is.

This was made by people who took the topic seriously and approached it with nothing but respect, and I am eternally thankful for it.

*It should be noted that I have not read the manga, therefore my opinion is solely based on the movie as a stand-alone story about BDSM.

Read More

If you want something incredibly sweet and heartwarming with little conflict, THIS IS IT.

First things first, thank you so much Carmon Sub for subtitling this show, you're the reason I was able to enjoy it in the first place!

In general terms, Meeting You is about a girl who's incredibly bright and extroverted, and a very intelligent boy who has deep social anxiety— and the wonderful way in which they compliment each other and lift each other up in their own ways.

If what you're looking for is to feel happy and enjoy some fluffy, sweet romance— this is a must watch.

To tell the truth, the reason why I gave this drama a chance is because I am a sucker for extroverted girl/shy boy stories, but even then it's not like my expectations were incredibly high. But boy, was I in for a treat with this one.

Guo Jun Chen, who I knew from Accidentally In Love (I don't remember much about that show, though) is absolutely adorable as the shy, reserved Nan Xi, and something I really enjoyed is that his growth and him coming out of his shell is incredibly organic and feels very realistic; he doesn't simply change one day and becomes more extroverted, his spirit remains the same throughout the entire show even if he grows and evolves as a person. On the other hand, Wan Peng SHINES in this role as the bubbly, protective and fiercely loyal Xia Rui; she is so incredibly easy to like that you immediately end up wishing you had her as a friend in your life. Their chemistry is palpable, which is probably why it's so easy to fully believe they are soulmates who are destined to be together and it absolutely should not go any other way.

Now, what I loved the most about this show:

• Serious lack of heavy conflict and dumb misunderstandings that drag on forever: I think there are only two "real" moments of conflict in the entire show— one around the middle (if I remember correctly) and one in the final episodes, and they barely last an episode at best (maybe they split it in 2 episodes, but the actual conflict lasts for less than one).
• AMAZING communication: this ties to my previous point of lack of dumb misunderstandings— except for the second lead couple whose entire storyline revolves around the guy being clueless up until the end and the girl not confessing her feelings for him directly to clear it up. When there's a misunderstanding, they talk things through pretty quickly and problems are solved very, very fast.
• The relationship between Xia Rui and Nan Xi, once they realize who the other is, is UNBREAKABLE. Even though they don't officially get together until they're in college, they are both obviously in love with each other and they are 100% loyal to the other. There's a plot with another girl at first (not a villain, don't worry) who really likes Nan Xi, and he over and over flat out rejects her advances because he only likes Xia Rui, no one else. I wish I had read this when I started watching, cause I have serious trauma from dramas where things go right between the main couple and then everything goes wrong, which NEVER HAPPENS HERE. They only have eyes for each other through the entire drama.
• In the same vein, the relationship between Xia Rui and Nan Xi is absolutely amazing. Nan Xi is incredibly smart and does super well in school but struggles deeply with socializing, and Xia Rui is amazing at socializing and struggles with her studies. Because they are good in what the other is lacking, they are constantly helping each other in the sweetest, most wholesome ways. These two absolutely ADORE each other and you can feel it all the time.
• Drunk Nan Xi: Look forward to it.
• Their relationship dynamic is exactly what I love. Exactly. It's perfect. I have nothing more to say.

Now, a much shorter list of what I didn't like:
• The relationship with the second leads is a bit frustrating because you really just want them to get it over with once and for all. However, even when it feels like it's dragging for too long, the fact that their characters are developed in a way that makes it "make sense" for them to not tell each other how they feel makes it somewhat more bearable. Also, this happening at the same time as Xia Rui and Nan Xi are being in love and cute with each other also makes it more bearable.
• I am not one to question the lack of kisses in Asian dramas because to each their own, but there's definitely a disconnect between the way Xia Rui and Nan Xi are towards each other that simply does not correlate with how much Xia Rui shies away when Nan Xi tries to kiss her. It feels out of place for their characters for her to get so flustered about it, when what it would make sense is for her to instantly reciprocate, especially because they're super comfortable around each other otherwise. That being said, there is A LOT of physical affection that is not kisses, and it pretty much makes up for the lack of them. Lots of enthusiastic hugging too.

If there's more I didn't like, it's definitely eclipsed by what I liked cause I honestly can't remember anything else.

In conclusion, I 100% recommend to watch this!

Read More

Cute and heartwarming

This drama is not a masterpiece of flawless storytelling, but it doesn't need to be. It's only 4 episodes, which means any conflict that appears doesn't drag too long, and ultimately has a very happy ending.

I think it would've benefitted from being 2 episodes longer, but it definitely didn't need to be 12 or 16 episodes long. They wrapped up the storylines pretty well in the time they had.

Definitely recommended if you need to watch something easy and lighthearted one night. The chemistry of the actors is incredible, and they really do the whole "we've known each other for years so let's act like it" part very, very well.

Read More

Amazing story that says "no thanks" to cliches by being truly realistic and relatable.

I waited to watch this drama because I wanted it to be close to ending so I could binge it-- and a couple days ago when I started I just couldn't stop.

Apart from the fact that the characters are ACTUALLY relatable and do not lack common sense, there is a very explicit gender role reversal situation going on. Toxic masculinity? Not in our male leads and support characters! They are all incredibly sweet and when it's the case, they compliment the female characters they are with beautifully.

Have you ever caught yourself going "UGH WHY DID YOU DO THAT YOU COULD'VE JUST TOLD THEM HOW YOU FELT" to the screen when watching a kdrama? You will not have that problem with Run On. The characters communicate with each other very well, even when sometimes they have difficulties expressing their emotions properly or may need some time to think things through. And in that vein, the conflicts characters have feel real and you can always understand their decisions even if you wish things were different at the time.

And one very important thing: there are no love triangles, and the drama is infinitely better because of it. I have been watching so many dramas with annoying love triangles that feel utterly pointless, and watching this one cemented my feelings on the fact that love triangles are a nuisance that overstayed its welcome. You can have conflict and compelling relationships without them, and Run On is the perfect example of it.

I can't wait to see what the writer of this drama comes up with next-- because this was an incredible journey.

Read More

Hyenas eat the bones of their preys whether they're alive or dead.

My knowledge of law and how courtrooms operate is incredibly limited, so this review will not comment on how realistically they portrayed lawyers and attorneys, because not only I don't know, but it's also not the reason why I watched this drama in the first place.

This drama begins quite differently than any other I've ever seen: the main couple starts dating very quickly on the first episode, there are kisses, hugs, affection, she goes to his house-- the whole deal. And by the end of the episode, we learn that she's not just a woman our male lead had a meet cute with: she's actually the lawyer he has to face in court. This isn't shocking considering that one rule of kdramas is that if the couple starts dating early, they will absolutely break up soon. The shock of seeing her is what ultimately makes him lose a case that was supposed to be an easy win, and it's a very hard blow on his ego, as well as his emotional wellbeing. After all, he had actually fallen for her.

Something that I absolutely loved about this drama is that their romance and feelings for each other seem to be the driving force of the plot one way or the other, but in a way that does not seem forced or annoying. He's everywhere in her life, and she's everywhere in his. I want to say that he fell for her way harder than she did for him because I think it's true, but I also feel like because of the nature of our female lead's personality you can never fully know how she truly feels about someone and to what extent she cares about them. She definitely fell for him without wanting to (and who wouldn't, honestly).

That being said, even though the sexual tension is off the charts, the actual physical contact is quite limited with the exception of the first episode. However, there's a kiss around the middle of the drama that's so intense it's worth like ten kisses instead, so I can't really say I minded the lack of physical contact/affection in this one. Also, the lack of it made sense in the context of the show, so it's not like you find yourself feeling like they should've kissed at certain moments when they didn't. There aren't really moments that warrant a kiss or a hug or whatever it may be-- except maybe at the end. I definitely could've used a kiss at the end.

One thing to know going in, is that our two main characters are not pure and sweet angels, they are two smart people who can be gigantic assholes when they want to be, both to each other and to other people. A lot of people have categorized this drama as "mature", and I suppose it is fitting-- especially because our leads are two grown adults. It's very different from many other popular dramas, and even though at times it may seem that the romance between the leads is not the main theme, it's so intricately weaved into the storylines that, like I said before, their feelings for each other always end up seeming to be the driving force of the drama.

I don't usually watch law dramas because it's not what I'm interested in, but Hyena completely stole my heart. A great story that pulls you in from start to finish, with a solid beginning, great middle and a very satisfying ending.

Read More

Beautiful drama about life, family and friendship.

When I first saw the trailer for Navillera, I figured I should just wait until it was done so I could binge it-- after all, what drew me in to it was that Song Kang was one of the main leads and I wanted to enjoy it without having to wait.

And then the first episode came out.

The story and the charcters pulled me in immediately, and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to do anything but wait for Monday and Tuesday every week so I could watch the new episodes the day they aired. Apart from Deok Chul's illness, which is still heavily foreshadowed, there aren't many twists or plots you can't see coming, but that does very little to affect the overall enjoyment of this drama. You know what's going to happen, but you develolp such a bond with these characters through the course of the episodes that you can't help but be on the edge of your seat wishing for them to succeed, to find their happiness, and to accomplish their dreams. And thankfully, they all do-- but that does not take away from its realistic ending.

Deok Chul is a person with Alzheimer's, and he knows, his family knows, and we know that it will only get worse, and it does-- and it breaks your heart. Not only for him-- who, by the way, will become your grandpa and you will love him with all your heart if you watch-- but for all the people who have to deal with this unforgiving illness in the real world.

This drama leaves you feeling like things will be okay, and even though you might feel like your time to do something you love has passed, it's never too late to follow your dreams in any way you can.

Read More

If you're here purely for Kim Seon Ho, this drama isn't for you.

I've never written a review before, but bear with me here.

I will focus less on going through everything about this story's plot and more about the fact that seems to have infuriated a lot of people, which is the fact that Kim Seon Ho's character isn't the main romantic lead. The reason why I decided to watch this drama is because I love Nam Joo Hyuk since I watched Weightlifting Fairy, and I had recently finished watching The School Nurse Files, where I absolutely adored him as well. I don't mind Kim Seon Ho as an actor, I neither like him nor dislike him (though I'll say I lean more into liking him than anything else) which is probably why my enjoyment of the show wasn't tinted by the fact that he wasn't the main love interest, and I was looking forward and throughly enjoyed the happy ending we got.

All of that being said— and you can call me biased because of this— I never really felt like Han Ji Pyung had any chance of being a real second love interest for Dal Mi. I don't think there was ever a love triangle; Dal Mi definitely was fixated on the boy from the letters but ultimately never really liked the Han Ji Pyung she met (romantically, that is), and the revelation that he was actually the one who wrote the letters changed nothing about those feelings— except maybe making her disappointed in the fact that it wasn't actually the real Do San who wrote them.

I think Dal Mi liked Do San from the moment she met him and the fact that she thought he was the boy from the letters was simply something that added to her initial attraction. She said it herself that the moments where Do San didn't seem to be the boy of the letters stirred something in her that she really liked.

I don't think there was ever any competition because like I said, there was never a love triangle. And I totally get people being disappointed that Ji Pyung didn't end up with Dal Mi, but a drama where that happened would have to have been a completely different story from the get go.

As I said in the headline, If you're here purely for Kim Seon Ho, this drama isn't for you. But if you're here for Nam Joo Hyuk, then it absolutely is.

It has emotional, funny, frustrating and intense moments that made it very enjoyable for me to watch, and after watching Record of Youth which left me feeling so utterly disappointed, this was a soothing balm for my soul.

Read More