Frustrating...but weirdly addictive?

OVERALL
This drama has action in excess, enough to make you (and the FL) gasp for air. Watch it if 1) you like fast-paced plots where the villains make the protagonists sweat buckets, 2) you like strong, mature female leads. Maybe reconsider if 1) you have no patience for clichés, repetitive plot devices and 2D characters, 2) you like dramas where the romance is central to the plot, 3) you prefer happy endings.

THE STORY
I've heard good things about this series, and since I was looking for a new historical drama with a super intelligent FL, like Yanxi Palace or Long Ballad, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, Princess Weiyoung doesn't come close to these two dramas (in my opinion). On the positive side, it is definitely watchable until the end. I easily drop dramas when I feel they're not worth it and it wasn't the case. The fact that there's always a new round of problems for the FL to overcome keeps you on the edge of your seat most of the time. Weiyoung is also a likeable character. She's mature and strong (unlike the childish FLs so common in C-dramas), and you definitely want to root for her. The main romance is nothing stellar but it's believeable and a little cute...at least in its beginning stages. But that's it.

The biggest issue with Princess Weiyoung is that it fails to deliver what it's promising. The drama is supposed to be about the quest for revenge of Weiyoung. She's hyped up as this extremely smart girl who can find her way out of any situation and can succeed in anything she wants to. However, Weiyoung doesn't accomplish much herself. Circumstances (or other people) take the lives of those she wants to punish, and whenever she's in trouble, 7/10 times she is saved by someone else. Then there's the plot. FL gets framed AGAIN and AGAIN, as if there's nothing else that can happen to her but getting framed. And not only does she never learn from her previous experience and manage to predict future attempts or protect herself, other characters also fail to learn from previous attempts to frame her and constantly fall into traps (including ML at some point!!!!). Another major issue with the drama is the overuse of the SAME clichés, not once but several times. Couple trouble caused by misunderstanding? Check. Disguise to frame FL? Check. Trying to kill FL by fire? Check. Overall, it just looks like the drama was written carelessly; like people combined common tropes and underdeveloped characters in one day to come up with the series. If all you need is lots of action in full speed though, you might not notice!

THE ACTING
It was fine, especially from the main leads. There isn't much chemistry between them, but it's more due to the plot than to the actors. I must say I'm growing a bit tired of the female villains in historical C-dramas though. I wasn't sure at first, but I'm starting to suspect that there is a kind of acting "cliché" for these characters that is very extra and cartoon-like. Villains don't have to be surreal, they can act like normal people. I hope I can see less obvious villains, with reasonable backstories and some depth, in future shows.

THE MUSIC
It was okay, though not memorable. I have a pet peeve with dramas that put instrumental/songs over characters who are supposed to be playing an instrument but are obviously not playing whatever music we hear. It just breaks your immersion in the show - reminds you that it's all fake.

REWATCH VALUE
Not high. It's not a bad drama, but I honestly don't think I would ever feel like watching it again. There're tons of better dramas to rewatch when I need to.

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Best FL & Worst ML

OVERALL
This binge-worthy drama brings epicness to the least epic historical setting: the Qing dynasty harem. Watch it if 1) you enjoy never-ending catfights, 2) you love strong, smart, complex female leads, 3) you dig Qing dynasty culture. If you 1) hate long dramas (this is SEVENTY episodes y'all!!), 2) can't stand unlikeable male leads, 3) need well-developed, emotional love stories, then think about it. Think hard...and then maybe still give it a try.

THE STORY
For the longest time I shunned this drama. Qing dynasty stories really aren't my style; the costumes, the customs, the fact that the world seems to be restricted to the Forbidden City and women don't seem to have anything else to do in their life than fight for the emperor's attention, well, I'm not a fan. But this drama is rated so high, I had to give it a try eventually...and I don't regret it!

The Good: Although this drama is essentially about women fighting for attention in the Forbidden City (which I dislike with a passion), the first half of the plot also involves a murder-mystery, which gives it a refreshing twist and makes the repetitive catfights quite bearable. Another thing that helps swallow them well is the fact that FL is just absolutely AMAZING, definitely one of the best I've seen, and the best C-drama FL hands down. What's great about her is that she isn't the typical "innocent, pure" FL that responds to evilness with kindness. She stands between good and evil and when she says she wants justice, she'll do just about anything to get it. As such, she's scheming like the bad girls, and it's super satisfying to see. The drama not only has a number of epic scenes (all linked to the FL - is my girl crush obvious?), but it also has several, really emotional scenes, and a few fun ones too. Finally, the end is a fairly good one (considering C-dramas, especially period dramas, don't typically have well-written endings, that's really a blessing!). It's not rushed and it wraps up everything nicely.

The Bad: Unfortunately, there are pretty massive flaws that keep me from rating this drama higher. The biggest one is the ML, who is absolutely despicable. The emperor is egocentric and tyrannical from beginning to end. He treats everybody like they are from an inferior race, can't empathize or sympathize with anyone and makes few attempts to try to understand others . This includes FL - even though he lets her get away with more "insubordination" than others. As a result, it's impossible to enjoy his relationship with FL. Not fully, anyway. I couldn't imagine why the FL would like him, and even the screenwriters probably couldn't, because it's never clear why (or how) FL falls for him. I almost wish there wasn't any reciprocated love between them (a first in my drama journey!!) and FL was just using him for her own personal goals. That would have made a lot more sense, especially considering she has a second ML - who also isn't that great, by the way, but much better than the emperor - dying for her. Also, while there are GREAT moments in Yanxi Palace, there are also chunks of the drama that are draggy and/or sloppy. About half of it (roughly eps 20-40 and 50-60) felt like a bit of a let down. There is too much coming and going of characters, too many evildoers, less coherent plots, not enough of the FL. There also isn't a big picture anymore (once the murder-mystery ends). I wouldn't say that these chunks are bad, but they're not as good as the other solid episodes.

THE ACTING
Since the drama is mostly about the women in the harem, it really relies a lot on the female cast, and they did great. The main women - FL, Consort Guo, Consort Chun, the first and the second empresses, they are all absolutely fantastic in their roles. Most of them can appear angelic one second and the devil incarnate the next. The makeup artists also did an amazing job; the makeup really helped in making them creepy at times! Male actors also are fine, they just don't stand out as much. There isn't much chemistry between FL and ML, but they got me smiling once or twice (even though I couldn't fully ship them), so it's okay.

THE MUSIC
I wasn't a huge fan of the violin background track that was played excessively in the drama to make you feel sad, but I LOVED the opening music. Although I'm not taking any song from the drama, overall, the OST was fitting and not too distracting from the story, so that's good.

REWATCH VALUE
High. For sure I'll rewatch the drama, there are too many epic scenes that deserve to be seen again. But I will definitely be skipping lots of parts too when I do.

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Unapologetically a comedy, but a good one!

OVERALL
Although clearly targeted at a relatively young audience, this drama has fresh elements and a nice buildup that will keep you wanting more, whether you consider yourself young or not! Watch it if 1) extra comical dramas are what you live for, 2) you prefer your dramas short (24 episodes is short in Cdramaland!), and 3) you like it when the ML likes the FL first. If 1) you are looking for lots of (or smexy) couple scenes, 2) you hate discussions of gender, or 3) plot holes drive you crazy, then maybe skip.

THE STORY
I started this drama sometime ago and dropped it 15 minutes into the first episode because I thought it had everything I hate in a drama, especially blatant incoherence (eg. main girl dresses inappropriately for the setting at first) and bad humor (I absolutely feel too old for slapstick, in-your-face jokes). But I decided to give it another go last week and guess what? Binged it all in 2 days!

The Strengths: The best thing about this drama is the setting - the FL lands in a city ruled by women, but the city where the ML comes from is ruled by men. At first, you don't think much of it, but the idea is absolute genius. It allows for a whole commentary on gender relations and the meaning of equality that is efficient but also fun because the drama can play around with the usual clichés. Another positive point is that the romance, which is pretty central to the story, starts quite fast and doesn't stagnate. A final but important strength is that although this is definitely meant to be a fluff comedy, the drama has several scenes that truly get you emotional; the love triangle isn't all that bad and the political intrigue, while not deep, is still gripping.

The Weaknesses: Strangely, they're all linked to the strengths. First, the drama leaves the setting hanging. There is no conclusion to the discussion on gender or to anything happening in the fictional world, actually - which is a HUGE plot hole (unless a season 2 is confirmed, but not sure it is). Also, while teasing some deeper themes like character agency (versus writer's decision), the drama never really dives into them and FL can be a bit incoherent at times. It feels like the writing could have been a bit tighter. Secondly, while the romance has a nice pace, there isn't much that happens between the leads; I'm not just talking skinship, even just normal "spending time as a couple in love" scenes barely take place. It almost feels like Romeo & Juliet: the ML and FL are ready to die for one another but barely do anything together. The last thing is the comedy. I'm not a fan of the recent "youthful" comedies that kind of feel a bit...immature? And this drama has LOADS of it (especially at the beginning, it settles down a bit later). It does have fun scenes though, and the comedy being extra didn't stop me from watching until the end, so it's not THAT bad, but still. The drama would have been 100 times better without it, in my opinion.

THE ACTING
In general, I would say it was fine. I first saw Zhao Lusi in The Long Ballad, and I found that I liked her more in this one (probably because her character has more spark). It was my first time seeing the ML so can't say much about him. I particularly liked the 2nd ML's acting. Although I loved the OTP he made me feel bad for him 85% of the time. About chemistry... It's hard for me to feel sizzles in the OTP when the overall mood of the drama is kind of childish, but there are a few scenes in which I felt that the lead actors had good chemistry. The only downside is that some characters felt too much like cartoon characters - not sure if it's acting or directorial choice.

THE MUSIC
Oh My General vibes, 100%. Too much background music, all the time. The actual songs weren't bad though.

REWATCH VALUE
I think I might rewatch this, because it was a fun ride overall. Definitely a good way to pass time. But with some dramas I get the urge as soon as they end, it was not the case with this one.

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Alternative title: Love in Times of Royal Conflicts

OVERALL
This is a feel-good drama, not because of fluff or comedy (there's literally none in here!) but because it has a "good always wins" plot that gives you little frustration, and as a bonus, is actually gripping enough to binge. Watch it if 1) you like strong female leads, 2) you're picky about production and you need good cinematography, 3) you enjoy political intrigues. Think twice about it if 1) you like well-written and emotional love stories, 2) you like when the good guys sweat a bit, 3) you prefer dramas with a light mood/feel.

THE STORY
The best thing about this drama is its production. You can tell this was produced by someone used to film production because they really made clever, significant choices with lighting, sound and décor. All of it converges to create a dark and depressing mood/feel, which echoes the claustrophobic and tragic environment of nobility and royalty. And that's what the story is essentially about; the toxicity of the political sphere in Great Cheng era. (Just needed to fangirl over technical stuff!)

The plot is also, for the most part, quite fine. Political intrigues are coherent and they level up as the drama progresses (which is great because sometimes schemes get dumber as the story evolves). Characters have depth too, even (and especially) secondary ones. The title is misleading, main girl isn't really rebellious (she sometimes even comes off as submissive), but she is definitely strong and mature. Main guy is quiet but he's not the cold brooding type (yay!), he's actually pretty nurturing and kind. The biggest problem with The Rebel Princess is that the romance is meant to be an important part of the drama but it doesn't convince at all. Part of it is lack of chemistry between the leads, but part of it is the fact that the love story is SO underdeveloped. The protagonists go from strangers to lovers in the space of...1 episode? And then spend the rest of the drama being deeply in love. We definitely needed to see the process of them learning to care for one another. Plus, conflicts are important for relationship growth, and it doesn't feel like there's any growth in the OTP because they literally never fight.

Apart from the relationship, another downside to the drama is the way the good guys ALWAYS win. Except for once in the drama, you never really get the impression that they took on a serious blow. This isn't terrible, it makes for a more enjoyable watch, but it feels somewhat unrealistic. The ending (second half of the last episode) is also very rushed and incoherent. THAT BEING SAID, the drama is totally binge material. It's gorgeous and the never-ending schemes keep you watching until the last minute. Even though the OTP isn't swoon-worthy, you still end up rooting for them.

THE ACTING
Other reviews already mentioned the age situation, so I won't - plus, to be honest, I don't think it matters. Sure, the cast is older than the characters they play, but they look compatible with one another, so what's the problem? In general, the cast did well, especially Zhang Ziyi, but in terms of chemistry between actors (not just between the main leads but also with the secondary cast) I didn't feel much. Dramas like this highlight how acting isn't just about individual performance, it's also about the dynamics with other actors. In this case, they weren't that great. It doesn't stop you from enjoying the drama, though, so I guess it's okay.

THE MUSIC
It was fine, though there wasn't any song I felt like listening to on my own. Honestly, I was just grateful the music wasn't excessive and loud like in some other C-dramas (*cough* Oh My General *cough*).

REWATCH VALUE
It's quite high. Not super high because the drama is lowkey depressing, but it does end well and it is an enjoyable watch so I just know I'll watch it again.

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Could Have Been Better

OVERALL
This is the kind of drama that makes you think you should be a screenwriter because you could do it better. Still, you can watch it if 1) you care more about political action and war than a love story, and 2) you like the smart, calm and composed type of female leads. If 1) you hate when the OTP is separated for ages, 2) you can't stand incoherence and production flaws, and 3) bad acting ruins it for you, then skip.

THE STORY
I started this drama, gave it up, read the novel and then went back to the drama just to see how it changed the plot. Turns out as an adaptation, the drama isn't THAT bad. The novel makes the female lead smarter and is more coherent, but it also has weird stuff going on. The show takes that out and add a few better parts. The biggest issue with the drama is that the romance is SO underdeveloped. I don't get WHY the FL ends up loving the ML and when exactly it begins to happen - when that is super clear in the novel. And it's not just that, every aspect of the love story feels rushed or too sudden. That's ironic, since the romance is supposed to be central to the story - that's why it's called "The General and I".

There are a few changes made that also take away coherence in the plot. For instance, it's not clear why FL avoids ML for a long time - where in the book it makes sense. Some other changes are just a bit annoying. Too much protagonism is given to the young master FL used to follow, in my opinion. In general, I was just expecting the drama to be a lot more about strategies, given that FL is supposed to be a genius strategist. I was also disappointed by the production. Transitions weren't super well made, sound was also kind of off/weird at places.

On the good side, I really liked the FL, and I liked that she could be so useful in war. The drama has such a good premise, but it just feels underwhelming, unfortunately.

THE ACTING
Wallace is okay. I have to say I didn't like him here as much as I did in The Sword And the Brocade, but he was okay. Angelababy completely failed to impress me, but to be fair, even though her acting was not up to par it still worked well with her character, who's supposed to be kind of reserved and calm and expressionless. I don't have much to say about secondary characters. They didn't make a lasting impression.

THE MUSIC
I didn't like how sometimes characters were supposed to play a traditional tune on an instrument but a modern-like instrumental track would play. And sometimes the music felt extra.

REWATCH VALUE
Low. I don't really think there is anything that would drive me back to this drama anytime soon.

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Migraine-Inducing

OVERALL
This drama can be enjoyable if you're good at suspending your disbelief...and your values. Watch it if 1) you like the fantasy genre, 2) you like stories that take you on a journey, going through a gazillion plot changes, 3) you'll be happy with a few sweet love scenes. If 1) immature female leads make your skin crawl, 2) you get confused easily, and 3) you can't stand rushed endings, then skip.

THE STORY
I need to start by saying two things: 1) I know this drama is linked to another one, but I didn't see it, so I'm the new, fresh viewer (not the fan of Eternal Love), and 2) I don't usually watch xanxia, it's not my go-to genre. For anyone not like me, then the following review may not be very useful, but if you identify, read on!

I decided to try the drama out because I saw some clips on YouTube that looked fun and cute. From episode 1, I could tell it'd be a rough ride. Let me start with the good stuff. First, there really are fun and cute scenes between the leads. Not too many, not the ULTIMATE best (see Love Designer for that!), but still good enough to keep you going until the very end. Secondly, not going to give much away, but a part of the drama takes place in the mortal world. That part was definitely the best of the drama. It's more realistic, the characters are more down-to-earth, the plot is more coherent, and it makes you really emotional. And...that's it.

Now for the bad. The absolute worst of this drama is the FL. She acts like a five year old 95% of the time (the 5% she doesn't is when she's in the mortal world). I have a lot of difficulty understanding how she's supposed to be attractive to the ML...which leads me to ML, who's too expressionless for my taste. That makes everything worse because he's like a statue and the FL is like...a prepubescent child. It just felt so weird to root for them. And then there's the issue of the FL being dehumanized a few times in the drama, which really brings that weirdness to a whole new level because not only is she demoted to an immature child, but also to an animal and an object. And then there's the fact that the plot jumps from one problem/world to the next and they don't seem to be connected at all, which is confusing. And then there's the fantasy elements that aren't explained well. And then there's the rushed ending. And then there's the flashy surreal visual effects... There's just too many issues that were hard to digest, I couldn't fully enjoy it.

THE ACTING
Despite hating her character, I still liked Dilraba's acting the best, just because she makes it seem so natural. I was not too impressed by Vengo, though it could also be the role. He definitely seemed better in the mortal world part. I need to see him in something else to confirm. I can't say much about their chemistry because, like I said, the romance made me feel kind of awkward at times, given how they depicted the FL. I don't have much to say about second leads either. They weren't particularly endearing, except maybe the demon lord.

THE MUSIC
...yeah...

REWATCH VALUE
Low. I can just watch YouTube clips to jump straight to the worthwhile scenes.

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Heaven & Hell in One Drama

OVERALL
This drama manages the impossible! Somehow, it has the ultimate best AND the ultimate worst. Definitely watch it if 1) you are looking for an OTP with great chemistry and lots of smexy scenes, 2) you're a fan of good humor (there're some priceless scenes in this drama, and when I say priceless, I mean it), 3) you like a female lead that's mature and outspoken. Maybe pass if 1) the guy putting the girl down isn't your thing, 2) annoying mothers aren't your thing, 3) never-ending business drama isn't your thing.

THE STORY
So here's the thing. To be honest, about 60% of this drama is bad. First, for half of the drama, the interactions between ML and FL are very problematic. He keeps on putting her down all the time, but it's supposed to be cute? Then there's the issue of the work drama that never ends. There's always something bad around the corner, which...gets tiring and repetitive. Then there's FL's mom that is the most annoying character ever (even if she does redeem herself). And I'm not even getting into ML and FL's communication issues or the antics of the second leads. So many negative points with this drama.

So why watch it? Because the remaining 40% is GOLD. Once things start moving between ML and FL, their dynamics, chemistry, their skinship, everything has got to be some of the best I've ever seen in a drama. A-MA-ZING. And it comes with some pretty epically funny scenes. I really liked the FL's character too. She's not manly and she's not necessarily the smartest, but she still comes off strong because of how frank and straightforward she is. So this is a case of the 40% being well worth the trouble of watching (or skipping) the remaining 60%.

THE ACTING
Pretty good! I first saw Dilraba in The Long Ballad and became a fan. She makes each of her characters different, but we still feel like it's her; she's a natural. I really liked ML too, of course, and ADORED their chemistry. Second leads were fine too, but the guy more than the girl - she sometimes felt too much. This isn't the kind of drama in which characters make you feel really emotional, though, and I feel like that's a minus.

THE MUSIC
It's okay, but nothing I feel like downloading and listening to by myself.

REWATCH VALUE
Not gonna lie, I'm 200% going to watch this again, and more than once...but with lots of skipping!

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I don't often give a rating above 8.5/10 but...

OVERALL
A drama about psychological healing that successfully combines comedy, drama, mystery and romance. Watch it, no ifs...but I guess keep it for later if you really, REALLY don't like characters with flaws.

THE STORY
I LOVE dramas that normalize mental health issues, so I was really hoping this one would be good. It did not disappoint. It's not really about psychiatric illnesses or psychiatric treatments per say. The drama is about accepting your psychological issues and thriving in live despite them. The Strengths: 1) the grabber in episode 1 is EPIC, probably the best start of a Korean drama I've ever seen, 2) the dip in gothic genre is extremely innovative for Kdramaland, and although the show doesn't completely go gothic, it's still cool, 3) there is literally NO loophole in this drama, it's so well-written everything that happens has a reason to be, 4) the clever use of fairy tales for symbolism and allegory is just AMAZING, 5) the characters have real and coherent character development, without going from 0 to 100 (they are imperfect from beginning to end, but still have improved), 6) the depiction of mental health issues was carefully researched and is appropriate (though not perfect), 7) the romance feels organic and natural (not forced by the plot at all). I feel like many Kdramas could learn from this one.

The Weaknesses: Really, the only thing that bothers me is that for around 2-3 episodes in the second half of the drama, things just feel a bit off. Maybe there's a slight decline in the overall coherence, maybe it's the acting (see below). It's very short-lived though! Another thing that may bother some (but not me): the romance isn't particularly fast-paced and there isn't a whole lot of skinship (aka kisses and more). It's still totally great!

THE ACTING
Great performance by the two leads, SYJ and KSH. I recently got to know Yeji through Save Me, and since then also watched Lawless Lawyer, and I got to say, she delivers every time. In this drama in particular, she blew my mind. She kind of overshadowed KSH's performance, and even the actor playing autistic Sang Tae (who was amazing too!). I think I have a girl crush haha The child actors were amazing (most of them are, don't know what they feed them), and some extras also grabbed my attention. The one downer in terms of acting comes in the second half of the drama. I won't say much more so I won't give anything away, but I feel like one person overacts WAY too much at the end of the drama, which almost ruined these 2-3 episodes for me.

THE MUSIC
Pretty cool, though nothing I felt compelled to add to my playlist by the end of the drama. I want to highlight the creepy tune that came in everytime our female lead did something psychopath-y. I loved it!

REWATCH VALUE
High, but I'm not sure it's very high? I shed too many tears in this drama to feel like watching it any time. It'll probably be for when I'm not too happy but not too sad - the perfect mood for it.

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OVERALL
A sloppy drama, that somehow builds expectations with its promising message and context but doesn't deliver. Watch it if you want a mix of modern-day and historical plots and you are looking for supernatural and a refreshing way of integrating vampires into the world. If you hate clichés, unnatural dialogues and scenes that don't quite make sense, skip.

THE STORY
While the context of the drama was interesting (ie. vampires as a different race living among humans) and the message was honorable (ie. accept difference), there were many many things that were unforgivable in this show, starting with incoherent characters and ending with incoherent plot elements (especially the historical component, which serves no purpose in the drama). One thing that particularly got to me is that usually, some dramas overuse silences (when characters pause before saying something), but in this one, they were underusing them, which often gave the impression that characters were doing a 180 or being way too emotional. Oh, and also, how can people from the lower class in Joseon not bow down to the nobles? The drama has a good intention, but it's quite sloppy, sadly.

THE ACTING
Yeo Jin Goo is just as amazing here as in other dramas, but he was overqualified for the drama and that played against him. He was throwing all his emotions in his scenes, but Seolhyun was not very expressive, Jonghyun was expressive but not as much as him, and the whole show seemed so light that it just looked like his character was too much, all the time. Since his character was not very likeable, that was not helping at all. Seolhyun was ok, but pairing her with Jin Goo, who's a veteran actor, was not a good thing. I want to see her play in something else before I decide if I like her acting or not. Jonghyun has lots of potential and he's on the right track. There wasn't much chemistry between the trio, though. Secondary leads were fine.

THE MUSIC
I'm usually either happy or indifferent with soundtracks, but the OST for this drama really wasn't my style. There's only maybe one song I thought was just ok.

REWATCHABLE VALUE
Very, very low. The drama's too frustrating to want to watch again.

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OVERALL
A perfect blend of thriller, crime, action, romance and drama, all wrapped up in a nice, philosophical theme. Don't think about it, just watch it.

THE STORY
So…just when I’d finally gotten over the scare of White Christmas, I had to fall onto I Remember You / Hello Monster. The theme at the core of the show, Nature VS Nurture, is the same, this time taken to higher levels (partly because it’s a lengthier drama, partly because of great writing and directing). Characters are complex, especially the ones on the dark side. The main female lead is how I like to see them – independent, smart, to-the-point style – and the love story is, without being central to the show, well-developed and innovative (a relationship based on mutual support instead of romance). There is quite a bit of suspense in an unexpected way (because the viewer knows everything that’s going on sooner than the protagonists), deep messages, brilliant dialogues and gripping crime stories that are all kind of connected and leading to the root of the plot. I absolutely have nothing bad to say about this show, other than that the last episode did feel just a tiny, a very tiny, bit rushed, and the beginning was maybe a little awkward at times. The ending was brilliant and 100% coherent with the entire show though. I want season 2!!!

THE ACTING
I’ve always believed that the best way to see if an actor is skilled is to see him (or her) play a complex villain. In this drama, the two actors that stood out, tremendously, were the two villains. They sent chills down my spine. A-ma-zing. But I have to say, all the actors were very good. The child actors were so talented.

THE MUSIC
Awsome! The instrumental tracks kind of felt like Sherlock’s (the British TV show) but fitted perfectly with the mood of the drama. And then the OST *swoon*. I’ve been listening to Dear Cloud’s Remember and Baechigi’s Shower of tears (feat. Ailee) almost daily for weeks now.

REWATCH VALUE
Rewatching as we speak, with my parents. I don't even care if I can't sleep well at night. Definitely high!

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OVERALL
An okay drama to watch with low expectations. Do not let Kim Sohyun and the awesome soundtrack deceive you. It has a lacking plot and stagnating characters, and you will spend most of the time watching it with the urge to slap someone.

THE STORY
So, imagine you have the choice between the story of a girl with no self-confidence who learns to take control of her life and not be tramped on, and the story of a girl with no self-confidence who gets trampled on again and again, and gets saved by someone, again and again. Which one sounds better? Well, the writers of School 2015 think it's option B. The drama had zero character development, and gave the bitter feeling of things being uselessly repeated, over, and over, AND OVER again.

I am particularly frustrated with the production crew of School 2015 because their original premise was very promising. Different from other School dramas (I frankly think it shouldn't have been part of the School series; it's like an apple among oranges), but promising. There was intrigue, meaty characters, school drama. But they just had to completely ruined it one third into the show, sacrificing all the plot for the sake of a very bad love triangle (one couple was coherent and the other didn't make sense, and if you know anything about Kdrama geometry you can guess which one wins in the end).

THE ACTING
Why did I watch the drama until the end? For Kim Sohyun and for Go Eun Byul. The former was awesome playing two separate characters, and the latter was the best character for me (because I am a fan of characters who aren't all bad or all good but somewhere in between). Other actors played quite well as well. Jo Soohyang was amazing as the irreversible bully, but her character was one of the never-evolving ones, unfortunately. Sungjae was quite impressive as Taegwang, especially since he's a rookie actor. Well, Taegwang was impressive, period. Nam Joohyuk was the only one who didn't really strike me as good, but he wasn't bad either. Poor guy had to play a lousy character too, so I don't hold it against him.

THE MUSIC
A.MA.ZING. That's probably another reason why I watched the show until the end. To get acquainted with the soundtrack and download it. All. My favorite is Baechigi's Fly with the wind (ft. Punch).

REWATCHABLE VALUE
I want to rewatch it for its epic beginning; for the mysteries and the dramas of the beginning, for Go Eun Byul. But just thinking about the latter half of the drama...*shudders*. Probably won't rewatch unless I can't think of anything better.

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OVERALL
Good drama, but one that had the potential to be a lot better. Watch it if you’re looking for some good action, but also some good comedy and a cute couple. Don’t watch if you want serious/mature couple stuff and lots of supernatural (unfortunately, the girl who sees smells is primarily a girl, and she sees smells on occasion – at least, that’s what it looks like in the show).

THE STORY
Maybe because I was put off by the weird title, I had low expectations for this drama. Maybe because I had low expectations, the show really hit me hard when I started. And maybe because I was so in love with the beginning of the drama, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the last few episodes.

There are three sides to The Girl who sees smell: the action, the comedy and the romance. The action was absolutely awesome until roughly episode 14, with great suspense and an antagonist that goes into my top ten villains headed by Queen Seon Deok’s Mishil (forever and always my favorite). In the last two episodes though, things lose all coherence, including (sadly) our awesome antagonist. The comedy is quite alright, and relies a lot on the character of Oh Chorim (Shin Se Kyung), who I really liked, and a little on Moon Gak (Yoochun). The comedy starts out pretty good, then dies in the second third of the show, then is somewhat revived at the end, but the characters’ personality pretty much die halfway through the show and never come back. Finally, there’s the romance, which, to my taste, was not so great, neither at the beginning nor the end, but since everything else was cool, it was forgiven.

THE ACTING
Shin Se Kyung, man. What a surprise. I always thought she was okay in historicals but bad in everything else, but boy is she good in comedy. I am seeing her in a whole new light. Please, people, never give her a melo or makjang drama, ever again. And then I have to say, Nam Gong Min!!!! This dude, who knew he could act soooo well! I was really impressed. These two were the big stars of this show. Romance-wise, no chemistry between Se Kyung and Yoochun, but they were lots of fun together, so it was forgiven.

THE MUSIC
Mmm…not for me, but okay I guess.

REWATCHABLE VALUE
Can’t say I won’t rewatch this, but there’ll be some skipping parts from the middle to the end.

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OVERALL
Watch if you're looking for a drama with a good social critique but don't want to give up on comedy. Keep it for later if you're craving to see love stories.

THE STORY
Like many people, I started watching Angry Mom with a preconceived idea of what the show should be about – 50% comedy, 30% real/serious stuff, 20% romance. Angry Mom turned out to be far from my expectations – 60% real/serious stuff, 25% comedy, 5% romance – but I’m very far from disappointed. Yes, I can’t lie, I’m sad there was no love story for Kang Ja (the mom), because I think she deserved it and there was room for it in the story. But the drama is an extremely well-thought social critique of the Korean educational environment, with well-written, complex characters who, for the most part, evolve throughout the story, and relationships that evolve as well. There’s tragedy, there’s comedy, there’s suspense and a touch of action; all genres mashed up naturally so nothing feels forced. Most importantly, there’s hope. Angry Mom’s message is that we can against corruption and bullying, so we should fight against it.

THE ACTING
Great. Everyone was just great. I love Kim Yoojung and Kim Heesun, and Ji Hyun Woo is in my to-stalk list since Queen In Hyun’s man, so no surprise there. The villains, all good actors I already respected, no surprise there. But Ji Soo is a surprise, and one I’ll be stalking too. Even Baro and Lizzy were quite good. I liked them all!

THE MUSIC
Some people complained throughout the drama that the music was weird and did not fit with the story. I disagree. Or I agree, sometimes music and scenes were “mismatched” when we compare this drama to others, but it was clearly intentional, and I found it rather innovative and refreshing. I don’t need overly dramatic music in times of action or suspense, and sometimes I found that the music was a good indicator of what characters were feeling or of what would happen in the future. So…I liked!

REWATCH VALUE
Definitely high.

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OVERALL
Save yourself the trouble, don't watch.

THE STORY
A. Mess. Characters and a plot. A complete mess. Do not let the beginning fool you. Except for the first 2-3 episodes, there’s no passion. There’s not even romance per say, characters just play push-and-pull and get involved in relationships without love. Plus, though it seems like it might have been intended to confuse us as to who the female lead will end up with, there’s no doubt whatsoever who she ends up with from episode 1. The comedy also leaves much to be desired. Not sure what got me to finish this drama. Other than Annie Chen, that is.

THE ACTING
Nothing stellar, but I’m still a fan of Annie.

THE MUSIC
No good.

REWATCH VALUE
Low, quite low.

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OVERALL
Nothing special. Watch it if you're desperate to watch something light.

THE STORY
The impression I had while watching Fabulous 30 was that it was made by people who didn’t take the story seriously. The characters had some depth, but they chose not to dive deeper into them. The relationships had the potential to be complex and real, but they chose to leave them at a superficial level. And, to top it all, they had to make a 76-episode drama 80% about every random possible thing BUT the main couples, keeping us from really seeing any romantic scenes between the characters. A waste, no matter how I see it. I must also say that the main girl’s (I think Xu Wan Ting was the main out of the three best friends) story was quite boring. Her friends had way better love lines, but these were not explored as much.

THE ACTING
Meh. I always thought Jennifer Hong was good and Vivi Lee was not bad, but the others did not impress me. Chemistry-wise too, didn’t feel much.

THE MUSIC
Mm…there was a duet I liked. I’d say it’s okay.

REWATCH VALUE
Not watching 76 episodes again for just a few episodes that really were worthwhile, no. Unless I get desperate.

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