Noctis

A Moment Is Forever.. Just As Forever Is A Moment..

I put off watching this for so long because deep down I guess I was scared it would be over once I finished it.. I would never get to experience the same feeling again.. This was one of my most anticipated dramas but it was too short and far too angsty.. Maybe I didn’t want to let go of the emotions it stirred in me..

I was really upset when they decided to drop only one episode per week.. But despite the wait and I waited too long, my fault, this has been a painfully beautiful experience.. This drama deserves to be recognized as one of the best in terms of strorytelling and acting.. I mean, the acting was just phenomenal.. The casting director deserves a raise and all the glory.. Lee Se Young and Kentaro were perfect.. Their performances made it all the more heartbreaking.. This is going to leave an even deeper memory than I imagined..

"That was the moment when I realized that fate really did exist in this world..
I never felt anything like it before..
It was also a moment that I would never get to experience again.. "

"Up until now, I have never believed in fate or miracles..
I used to think they were nothing more than coincidences..
But there she was.. It was a miracle.. "

"Beni now had the look of someone who had completely turned their back on the past..
Her eyes did not shine like they did on that day..
I wonder if Beni remembers how I asked her out.. "

In the present timeline both leads looked like their souls had died.. Their eyes were lifeless as if true happiness no longer existed for them.. It was a sad contrast to their past which had been so vibrant and full of joy until it wasn’t..

"That day, she shouted at me with a look I had never seen before..
That day, a scar was left on my heart.. The scar on my heart read regret.. "

Her so called fiance knew she didn’t love him.. He knew she didn’t want to marry him.. He knew she wasn’t happy.. If she had been given the chance she would have called off the marriage.. He knew all of this, yet he never gave her the chance to leave.. He was like a chain holding her back..
In the first episode she says "I just wanted to leave the nest and try living a life for myself.. " He was caging her back in that nest once again.. She made it obvious.. She made it so painfully obvious how unhappy she was with the reluctance to even look at his wedding suit.. But he was so selfish, so shameless, that he wanted to keep her no matter how broken she was..One of the worst characters in the story.. If there was an antagonist, it was him.. People might not understand why I see him as the antagonist when he had all the qualities of a great husband.. But that’s not the point is it?? Forced love and forced relationships will never have a happy ending.. She would forever live a lie.. SML knew that if the Jungo made even a 10% effort he would lose her.. The only reason he hesitated to propose for so long, even after marriage talks began was because he knew she might reject him.. And that might end up as the final push for her to realize this wasn’t the life she wanted..

"We met again like a miracle.. What does this mean??
What is the meaning of this?? Is this a chance to start over or is this a sign that we need closure?? "

"You know it too right?? That I suck at remembering things.. But why can't I forget my memories with Jungo?? "

"Honestly, I didn’t write this novel with the intention of telling a grand story..
I wrote this novel simply because of my regret toward one person and the memories I couldn’t forget..
My true feelings were written down.. It was with the faint hope that if that person read my book they would understand my foolishness and immaturity back then.."

"Life doesn’t really unfold the way you say it should.. And there are times when it’s better not to say anything..
Thanks to my mom, I learned these things when I was still a little too young.. "

"Reading your book made me wonder.. Does love actually have an ending??
There most definitely is a beginning, but there doesn’t seem to be an end.. "

One of the best scenes of the drama, where it potrays her love for Jungo was when she said

"Even if I was dating you before I met him.. Even if we were married and had three children..
Had I met him, my heart would have sunk like this.. "

"I remembered Jungo’s face.. His face, still in pain because of our clumsiness and recklessness.. Made our love more beautiful because it stopped midway.. Because there was no proper farewell.. "

I love how What Comes After Love incorporates color symbolism in its visual storytelling.. Beautifully reflecting the emotions and dynamics between Choi Hong and Jungo.. In most stories love wins no matter what but here it’s the harsh realities of life that decide the fate of those who love blindly..

Sakaguchi Kentaro.. What an exceptional actor.. With every drama and film of his I watch he continues to impress.. Lee Se Young's career has been filled with ups and downs.. Her previous two dramas were below average.. And the one released after this was also really bad.. I hope she chooses good scripts in the future.. She proved in The Red Sleeve what an exceptional actress she is.. She deserves a much better career..

Most people might not understand why I loved this drama.. No matter how much I try to explain.. It wasn’t just the story.. It was the way it made me feel.. Some feelings defy explanation..

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The best way to describe my feelings toward this drama is that it had the potential to be great but it was held back by the writer’s limited vision and lack of creative effort.. There were too many cringe and unnecessary jealousy scenes.. It was just too much to sit through.. On top of that there were characters who were totally not needed in the story.. The drama would have been shorter and much better if all these stupid scenes were cut..

I really wish they had shown more of the fiery Prince in the drama instead of just a lovestruck puppy.. I get that romance is an important part of the story but the characterisation was all over the place considering how badass he is supposed to be..

It’s not inherently a bad drama and you can probably tell from my rating.. It was a decent drama.. It’s just that the good parts were overshadowed by cringey and unnecessary scenes..

Like I mentioned earlier, the drama feels held back by trying to do too much.. The whole subplot with Wen Zong felt unnecessary.. Nanlu’s attack, his suicide, and the FL’s reaction didn’t really add much.. It just distracted from the main story.. Honestly the drama would have been stronger if it focused more on the core plot instead of stuffing in side arcs that go nowhere..

Overall, it was good for the most part.. I liked the core of the story and some of the side characters too.. Anyway, it’s not exactly surprising that the script turned out to be a mess.. Sorry Song Wei Long, this just felt too all over the place.. I will be watching The Seven Relics of Ill Omen soon... I hope it's not another disappointment..

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Slow mo Musical..

Was the director of this drama a conductor?? You know the person who leads and directs an orchestra?? Because it felt like an orchestra.. Music everywhere with background scores for every single scene.. In some scenes the music was so loud that you cant hear the dialogues.. And The slow motion was overused.. It felt like it popped up every other minute and every scene was in slo mo.. If they had just toned it down this could have been a 16 ep drama instead of being unnecessarily lengthy.. The camera work?? Let’s call it " Dynamic " to be kind.. Rapid jump cuts and erratic angles made the drama even worse.. While the story was alright up until ep 20 it suddenly took a nosedive.. Just went from average to worse..

I watched this for Fan Zhi Xin.. He deserves better scripts because he is genuinely good.. The drama was visually appealing and the main leads did well.. But overall it didnt offer much else.. If you are expecting a proper romance drama.. Better lower your expectations.. The romance was far too sparse to carry the genre.. Watch it for the cast but dont expect much beyond that..

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The Witch Just Didn’t Cast The Spell It Promised..

As we all know.. The story is adapted from Kang Full's webtoon, which naturally had me excited.. The cast was good too so obviously there were expectations.. But sadly it was a disappointment.. Kang Full is known for crafting stories that blend supernatural elements with deep emotional and psychological themes.. I havent read the webtoon so I cant compare the drama with it.. But this felt like an underwhelming attempt at an adaption.. Even the actors let me down.. Park Jin Young who is known for his excellent range as an actor, was totally disappointing here..

The Witch, I guess tries to explore themes of societal judgment, loneliness and self acceptance through Mi jeong’s character.. Being labeled as a Witch, its like a metaphor for how society isolates individuals based on rumors, misunderstandings or events they can’t explain.. Its a concept with a lot of potential, but it felt flat and lacked any real impact..

" Through statistics, I have a life problem to solve.. Thats why I am here.. "

The ML Lee Dong Jin's character is a tricky one.. Not sure if I can praise him.. It’s one of those classic grey area characters.. He’s portrayed as thoughtful, logical and sincere.. But yeah, some of his actions do toe the line of stalker ish.. Especially when you look at them from a more realistic way.. In typical KDrama fashion, he fits the archetype of the quiet, persistent ML who just can’t let go of the girl he loved.. His actions like tracking her down, observing her and inserting himself into her life again are meant to come off as concerned and it was to find a way to give her a normal life and while I understand it is for her own good but it still felt creepy.. I guess because we know his side of the story and his thought process, we have to overlook it all.. He just wanted to love her and be loved by her..

But here’s the thing.. Wasn’t he kind of.. Obsessed??

Apart from few glimpses, for me I didnt see Park Jin Young the actor we know.. Roh Jeong Eui was disappointing as well.. I haven’t seen her in a role where she actually shines.. NJ in Our Beloved Summer was decent but not memorable enough.. Her career at this point is not going anywhere.. She has projects lined up but none that look like the breakthrough she really needs.. I hope I am proven wrong.. For now, Pig Pen might be her only shot at making that leap..

" Risking your life for someone who doesn't even know your name or existence??
Thats a crazy thing to do.. "

I think the only Episode I liked was ep 7.. The rest were just okay at best.. I still can’t put my finger on it but something about the ML's acting just felt off.. That bus scene in Ep 7, I am pretty sure he had flashbacks from the Final Destination movies and imagined all the ways he could die in that bus.. Honestly it was an unintentionally entertaining but tense moment..
I really liked the scenes in Austria too, not because of the story but for the visuals..

The ending was a huge letdown as well.. It wasn’t well scripted and honestly I didn’t feel any real connection between the couple.. It didnt feel like she actually loved him but it was more like an emotional resignation.. Almost as if she said yes to him not because she is in love but out of desperation to stop the cycle of pain and loss.. That’s not romance.. The same goes for the second couple as well.. It didnt feel like love at all.. She felt pity for him because he was carrying the same burden as someone she loves and cares for.. For him he just wanted her not to get hurt because of him..

I think it would have worked much better if we had a slower, more emotionally charged ending.. Where the FL gets to process everything.. Her trauma, her fears, her feelings and maybe set it up in a way it feels like she chooses him because she wants to and not to stop another person from dying or getting hurt because of her..

Overall.. The Witch had the potential to be something hauntingly beautiful.. But it got lost somewhere between intention and execution..

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Good Boy was a mixed bag for me.. But I would say my overall feelings are more positive than not.. There are certain things this drama does really well that you can’t help but imagine how great it could have been if the messier parts were fixed.. For what it is though, it’s flawed, sure, but also bold and entertaining in its own way..

Good Boy isn’t a perfect drama.. It’s a good one.. But the slow dragging plot was a real issue.. And the way it handled the health related issues of the ML felt unrealistic.. Not something you would expect from a high budget production with such a strong cast..

The casting is undeniably sublime.. With Park Bo Gum and Oh Jung Se being the standouts.. Kim So Hyun also deserves praise for being a total badass and really making the role her own.. Lee Sang Yi was good too, just as expected from him..

I liked the villain’s characterization.. He is just an ordinary government employee in the customs department, but the power he holds is almost unimaginable.. There was something mysterious about him that made you curious and want to know more..

Now, there were a few things that felt exaggerated and out of touch.. The ML acted very immature in the beginning.. I get that he was desperate but his actions felt too rushed and honestly just made him look foolish.. Once his condition started to worsen why was it so hard for him to just go to a hospital and get checked?? He kept putting it off until things got worse.. It was honestly a miracle he survived that long after taking so many hits.. And honestly they really overdid those scenes.. He was stabbed, hit by a car, beaten multiple times.. That garage fight?? He was completely knocked out.. There's no realistic way he could have survived all that.. They should have tried to keep it at least a little believable..

The fight scenes were a bit of a mixed bag.. They were either too crowded, poorly edited or kept jumping between characters too abruptly.. It all felt a bit choppy.. As for the ML’s fights, they weren’t anything special.. There was no real grace Park Bo Gum as a boxer.. Outside the ring he just didnt feel like one.. There were brief moments where he showed some skill but overall it was pretty underwhelming.. I don’t think he trained even half as hard as Woo Do Hwan did for Bloodhounds.. I am not complaining that he kept getting beaten up but what I am pointing out is that he didn’t fight like a boxer.. For someone who is supposed to be a champion, you would expect boxing instincts to kick in naturally.. But that just wasn’t there..

This is something I have seen way too many times in KDramas and I still don’t get it.. Why do characters always start running during emergencies when there’s literally a car right in front of them?? It makes no sense..

For me, there were two standout scenes.. One was a 10–15 minute sequence in ep 4 where the Dong Ju parkours around a neighborhood chasing the antagonist’s car.. I don’t even know exactly why it worked so well but it did.. It showed his desperation and the whole thing was executed really well..

“To catch the bastard, I have to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee..”

The other one wasn’t just one scene.. It stretched across eps 13 and 14.. There was basically a full hour of action and most of it was Han Na being a total badass.. I really liked that they gave the FL such a strong moment and used it to elevate her character..

“The only way to conquer fear is to advance, no matter what.”

The comedy worked really well.. There were moments that were funny even without trying and I genuinely enjoyed those.. I was expecting the SML to be the third wheel but our dear FL ended up being the third wheel.. I know its probably unrealistic to expect any sequels and they likely won’t happen but I would still love to see more of the squad..

Now the finale, the whole story builds up to a frankly mediocre final act.. It tries to raise the stakes with characters rushing around to stop this or that but it just doesn’t give the impact.. In the end it felt like a sour note to end this story arc..

Overall, it’s not exactly stellar as a character driven story and the dragging plot definitely gets messy.. But honestly?? It’s still worth the time..

P.S. Way too many advertisements.. The least they could have done was make them feel more natural.. It kind of irked me..

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Why is he still single? Well, because he acts like a narcissist..

This is a story about a middle aged single guy who is quirky, stubborn, socially awkward and most of the time unintentionally rude.. Someone who just isn’t like other people.. And then we see how the people around him and the few who enter his life later, deal with that.. That’s basically it..

The story isn’t driven by a strong or fast moving plot.. It takes time to connect with the main characters.. But as the drama goes on what really gives us a satisfying experience are the characters in the story and the nuances in their relationships..

I surprisingly liked the drama, despite the lack of plot, heavy conflicts or major twists and despite it being 16 episodes when it honestly could have been shorter.. I just wish it had a little more substance.. I don’t mind slow paced dramas as long as they have something worth watching.. The premise of this drama is what caught my interest and the main reason I watched it.. It’s not every day you get a story like this..

And frankly I liked that the romance was kept to a minimum.. It’s a romance between grown ups, not teenagers.. So you get fewer dramatic scenarios, more emotional honesty and the emotional chemistry actually works.. And their bickering was fun to watch.. Simply put, it’s a bit childish, yeah but still mature and meaningful..

I liked the ML’s character growth and how he grows not because the drama forces him to but because life and relationships finally reach him.. How he becomes more self aware about his own problems and slowly comes out of his shell.. It felt more real..

The supporting characters were rather interesting and each had their own quirks.. That short story arc with the photographer was interesting too, but it felt a bit disappointing in how it concluded.. I really thought they could have done more with it, because she herself was an interesting character and would have been a nice addition to the group..

Overall, there’s nothing fancy about this story but it will relate to a lot of people.. It’s just a good story with some fun characters trying to get through life in their own ways.. Definitely worth a one time watch..

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To Be Loved Like That..

I will be honest, I went into this fully expecting to be underwhelmed.. I thought it was just another overhyped drama people were exaggerating about.. But wow, I was so, so wrong.. I can’t believe I almost joined the smooth brain squad..

The romance in this one is beautiful.. Like genuinely beautiful.. The storytelling is well paced, Xiao ZhiYu and Hu Xiu had such a natural dynamic and great chemistry and it all just felt so good.. And honestly, to be loved the way Hu Xiu loves, God..
I also have to mention this, I loved Lu Yu Xiao's performance here.. No wonder why she is highly sought after..

What also got me was the second couple’s storyline actually being good.. That rarely happens.. Usually the second lead story feels like filler but here it was genuinely interesting to watch..

The cinematography is stunning, beautifully lit and it almost feels like watching a movie rather than a drama.. And the OST?? Absolutely beautiful..

But what I appreciated the most was the ending.. A proper happy ending.. Not some last minute reunion, not a memory loss miracle, not cringe worthy forced emotional moments.. Just a real, warm, satisfying conclusion.. This is what happy endings should look like.. More dramas seriously need to take notes..

There’s honestly not much to complain about here.. I mean, there were some obvious flaws in the plotline and some major ‘ how does that even work?? ’ moments with that AR game of theirs, but I don’t think it matters anymore.. Overall, a really good and satisfying watch.. I honestly wish more dramas had endings this satisfying..

I didn't really want to go deep into the plot or anything.. Everything that needs to be said has already been said by people far more eloquent than me.. I just felt like dropping a few words because this one deserved it..

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Don’t Overthink It.. Marry You Is Here Just to Make You Laugh..

Marry You is a breezy, feel good Kdrama that doesnt aim to be top tier but sticks to its purpose and delivers.. Its a short and light comedy drama that knows how to make you laugh.. Sure it had its flaws but the main leads and the humor made it worth watching.. The main couple's interactions were cute..

I think MDL is the only place where its getting so many negative reviews.. But its worth noting that Marry You has been performing consistently well on several streaming platforms and has received positive feedback on X..

The finale?? Simple, cute and a fitting end to the story.. Overall its a good drama thats worth your time.. Dont let the negativity on MDL sway you.. No offense but some people seem to criticize every drama unless it stars their bias..

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A Twisty, Unpredictable Tale..

Nine Puzzles is a meticulously written thriller with one of the most powerful ensemble casts of the year and a top notch screenplay.. Its mystery in its purest form.. The writing is incredibly layered and superior, giving not just the main leads but also the antagonist so much depth.. The slow yet effective reveals and backstories in the narrative just keeps you intrigued throughout..

The backbone of the drama is its excellent writing and direction.. And of course the two insanely talented leads, Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Ku.. Their performances were nothing short of brilliant.. The same goes for Park Gyu Young.. She was really good but she stayed under the radar, because of the two masterclass actors..

So the drama, its a slow burn but totally worth it.. The core essence of any mystery drama lies in the questions why, how, who and getting those answers.. But just as important is how those answers are revealed.. Nine Puzzles nails that aspect brilliantly..

The shift in dynamics between Hansaem and Ena is one of the drama’s highlights for me.. What begins as a relationship defined by suspicion slowly evolves into something built on trust and quiet loyalty.. I like how its not done in a grand revelation but through a series of small, human moments.. And even though romance doesnt officially exist between them, the tension is clearly there.. Its not the dramatic moments or something but the smaller things.. I loved how they were with each other.. But removing the romance subplot was the right thing to do.. It turned out well..

" Perfection.. In Good Or Evil.. Is denied to Saints And Sinners alike.. "

The antagonist here isn’t portrayed as purely evil but as someone shaped by pain and loss.. She is not a chaotic killer.. She is calm, methodical and that's what makes her terrifying.. It suggests that she has completely detached from anything remotely human.. Her actions come from a place of deep grief.. Grief for a lost self that never got justice.. The way she dies, the way she chooses to end it all shows that her mindset throughout the drama likely sways between a sense of righteousness, believing her actions are justified and inner torment as she grapples with the moral weight of what she has done. It’s tragic..

I love it when a drama is so good, so impactful that it makes you fall in love with the very idea of dramas all over again.. Nine Puzzles is one of those.. It reminds you why we keep coming back to these stories.. Sure there were flaws.. But honestly I couldn’t care less..

Now if I liked it so much, why didn't I give this 10 out of 10 or even a 9.5?? Maybe I was just too Puzzled after that last Puzzle piece.. I mean are we getting another season?? Probably not.. Then what was that puzzle?? Was it connected to the one they solved?? Or is it a completely new one?? A copy cat?? If they do give us a second season.. Great, I am all in.. But if not.. Was that last tease really necessary??

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Well, where to start.. The story is no new invention obviously, but that’s not really a bad thing.. I don’t think the drama ever aimed to create something new.. It gives off a Legally Romance vibe, which honestly doesn’t work at all in its favor, because Legally Romance set a high standard that’s not easy to achieve..

There’s not much to talk about in this drama.. Nothing new to be exact. The story was good up until the last episode.. Nothing extraordinary, but still a fun watch overall.. The chemistry between the main leads was nice.. I loved how their relationship developed.. Some scenes were beautifully shot.. Their first kiss, the proposal scene and some moments like that..

Honestly I don’t think Chen Jing Ke fits well in that college age role.. He looks a bit too mature to fit in.. They tried hard with the costumes, but nah it just doesn’t suit him.. I think more mature roles would suit him better, he has a hard edge to him that’s hard to ignore.. Sun Zhen Ni on the other hand, fit the role perfectly.. She is one of the actresses I hope achieves huge success in her career.. Yeah, her acting feels a bit rigid at times but she definitely has potential..

The drama had way too many characters whose stories went nowhere, the ML’s cousin and his friend, the FL’s friends, FL’s brother and Shi Yun.. Because of that ending it all felt meaningless.. I also don’t think the drama was very logical when it came to the business aspects.. It was pretty clear they didn’t do enough research on how shares and ownership actually work.. But anyway, not going to dwell on that..

Now the third act of the drama, where it all spiraled out of control.. First of all the SML’s villainous arc made no sense.. He had no reason to do it, he was not that sort of a guy.. You hear two people talking about their past lives, the logical conclusion would be to think they are two whackjobs or may be look for answers, but obviously not get depressed about losing something you don’t even remember having..

That was one of the most absurd endings I have ever seen in a drama.. Everything was wrapped up beautifully and then they went and ruined it all in a matter of 15 minutes, like completely destroyed it.. I understand censorship and all that but there were better ways to end the final episode or even the entire third act.. Sure it’s a happy ending, the leads are together but at what cost?? Their relationship felt like a consolation prize.. Even if that’s how they wanted to end it, they should have added at least one more episode in the present, to show that she achieved something.. With her character, you can tell she might seem happy but that regret will always be there.. I enjoyed the drama until that last episode, but after that it just spiraled.. Really disappointing..

Yeah, I am happy for Xue Jiao and Zhi Hua.. They got the chance to experience a life they missed the first time, something many people can only dream of.. They lived and loved with all their hearts and they had the opportunity to enjoy every pursuit of life and happiness together.. If this was an outright romance drama, that conclusion would have been satisfying.. But she lost everything, didn’t she?? Her parents, her brother, they are still struggling and she is too.. But yes, she found her better half, so silver lining and whatnot..

Overall, even with all the criticism about the ending, it was a good watch.. But obviously, the conclusion would have been decent if they had just stopped about 30 minutes into episode 23 but yeah " censorship ".. If I am to end this on a positive note, I would say I hope they found success in their current life and it’s not just their love story that had a happy ending but every other aspect of their lives, especially hers.. God knows she deserves it, even if we don’t get to see it.. And to the writer, I hope you have nightmares about that ending for a long, long time..

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I will add Road to Success to the list of stories that don't have to be perfect, original or free of cliches to work.. The story itself follows a predictable path and the path itself is not very imaginative but the journey is still heartfelt and enjoyable thanks to the passionate cast.. I absolutely enjoyed the scenes with the kids and also the ML's Family..

The praise goes where it's deserved.. The kids in the little savage tribe, their antics and growth are the reason this drama worked for me.. Along with our dear ML and FL, Esther Yu and Chen Jing Ke.. Let's be honest, the script itself feels like it took pieces from several different stories and stitched them together.. We have seen it all before..

The FL, Lin Wan Xing carries a lot of the emotional weight but we still get the usual Esther Yu, I am sad, I am exhausted, but I am still cute.. Chen Jing Ke was alright but he still felt flat in certain scenes.. His voice also felt a bit artificial at times.. It was like he was trying too hard to sound strong or stoic and it just felt out of place.. Their chemistry was good though.. Their partnership and the way they helped each other pull themselves out of their mental mess deserve credit..

Some things in the story just felt illogical.. Like they only mattered when the plot needed them to.. Once they served their purpose, everyone just seemed to forget about them.. Someone wrote an Email ID and password on the classroom board for her to find which actually contained some useful information but nobody bothered to find out who wrote it.. They also never seemed interested in who left behind the puzzles that led them to her grandparent's classroom.. These are pretty important things yet everyone just moves on.. I mean who left the photos and the keys?? Shouldn't they at least try to find out?? But no, they just forget about it until something else happens and the script suddenly decides it matters again..

Then there's the whole part with the FL's senior, our antagonist and the reason behind both the FL and ML's downfall.. That entire arc felt rushed and was handled without a drop of care.. And then there's the conversation between the ML and that psychologist.. I mean what you discuss during counselling is supposed to be confidential, right?? But here the FL is sitting outside listening to everything they are saying.. How does that even make sense?? Where is the privacy?? I get that the writers wanted the ML to confess his thoughts to the FL, but this was such a stupid way to do it..

The football aspect of the drama was well crafted, at least on the field.. But just to be picky, it lacked realism at times.. You could often tell they were just running around without a ball.. It felt like the scenes could have used a bit more effort.. And the ML, bro was supposed to be one of the top international youth football coaches and his advice before the match against the strongest team in the group was 'Eat well, sleep well and step onto the field with a calm mind..' Meanwhile the other team came in with two actual game plans to beat them.. Seriously?? Let's be honest, In that first match against the top team he literally did nothing to help..

Then as expected from a youth sports drama, we get some really annoying parents.. But the worst parents in this drama aren't exactly the student's parents, they are the FL's.. Not trusting her is one thing but not letting her see her grandfather one last time?? That was just evil.. Thankfully we also had one family that was absolute gold, the ML's.. Especially his dad.. He was such a fun character..

Overall, it's a pretty decent drama.. You will definitely love the kids.. My rating is honestly for them.. I have ignored all the other flaws.. It's the kind of feel good drama that gives you a sense of comfort..

P.S. Two things..

First, It still feels a bit weird calling them 'Kids..' They are in the story, but in real life most of them are like 20-24 years old..

Second, It's honestly kind of sad that it's been so long and I am still waiting for an Esther Yu character that can match, if not top Yun Wei Shan from My Journey to You..

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Park Hyung Sik.. Dark and Vicious..

The best thing about Buried Hearts is Park Hyung Sik.. He might not be considered as the best actor out there but but his performance here?? So So good.. Saw a whole new side of him.. I would say he was the antihero.. Cold and calculating.. This might just be his darkest role yet.. He really had the vibe of a psychopathic killer in his darkest moments.. I loved the Park Hyung Sik I saw in this drama.. His dark vibes and murderous eyes were enough to elevate the drama's story.. He was phenomenal and the reason to watch this drama despite its flaws..

The first few episodes were good.. But honestly it felt like nobody was in control of the story. Not even the writer himself.. It was just spiraling out of control with no clear direction. The drama leaned heavily on exaggarated tropes. Honestly we didn’t get anything new here, its the usual chaebol dysfunctional family with secrets, betrayals and secret kids. They tried to juggle one too many twists and that i would say was one factor that made this drama feel weak..

Let’s put it this way.. It lacked originality..

Another disappointing aspect for me was the romance.. There was undeniable chemistry between the couple.. But it felt downplayed to prioritize the thriller element.. I see it as a missed opportunity.. But man their intimate scenes were tryuly INTIMATE..

Yeo EunNam's a complex character.. Most people wont like her and thats understandable.. Her decision to marry someone else and why she broke DongJu's heart, by the time we reach episode 10, the reasons just feel irrelevant.. Her character stops developing at a certain point and it honestly feels like a wasted opportunity.. Its almost like she is not relevant anymore.. That’s what happens when you cram too many twists into a drama.. You forget to properly develop some important characters..

The fact that she wasn’t ready to give up the shares at the beginning was a key moment for her character.. But again, the reason behind that decision gets completely undermined later on.. Throughout the drama, she only ever truly laughed when it was with the ML or because of him.. He was her source of happiness.. It took her a while to come to a solid decision.. But in the end, she chose the ML.. Then again that too gets underplayed..

The supporting cast was good.. Huh Joon ho as Yeom Jang seon who is the manipulative antagonist was too good with his chilling duality, Friendly one moment Sinister the next..

The cinematography was slick.. If you are someone who appreciates the framing and visual composition in movies or dramas, you will notice that this is a carefully crafted series.. With scenes so elegantly framed they could make you pause just to admire certain shots.. Some frames speak for themselves, quietly telling a story in a single shot.. This might be a controversial opinion but you don't get such attention to frames in dramas like this..

Like I mentioned at the beginning, this drama started off strong but lost steam as it went on.. The writer honestly seemed clueless.. If I were to start listing everything that went wrong in the second half, this review would be far too long and frankly, it wouldn’t be worth it.. Honestly, it was Park Hyung Sik who carried the show.. This is just another formulaic script that heavily relied on its ML..

And what was that ending?? The male lead literally abandoned his ambitions, his love, and just left.. He worked so hard for 16 episodes, only to walk away like that?? Dropped everything he strived so hard to achieve?? They really went for a poetic touch in a drama like this?? Everything fell apart the moment he left. What was it all for then??

I just couldn’t digest the fact that they thought an open ended finale like that would make viewers happy.. They sabotaged the drama themselves.. They should have given us proper closure to this story arc.. He achieved his objective.. He got together with the girl he loved.. Then he takes a break with her.. Sail away.. Far away.. End it there.. After that sure, throw in your post credit scene about the chairman’s son killing the grandson and aiming for the company.. Is it really that hard?? Kdrama writers often drop the ball when it comes to writing satisfying endings.. And Buried Hearts is just another victim.. Such an ending to a drama that will never get a second season is unacceptable..

Overall Buried Hearts isn’t going to excite you, keep you bolted to your seat, or stir any real emotions.. There’s a clear lack of focus throughout.. But I would still recommend watching it for Park Hyung Sik.. For Dong Ju and Eun Nam and their chemistry and whatever little romance they had..

" They ruined the show.. Ruined the Characters.. Seon U should have stayed innocent.. Taeyun deserved better.. Taeyun was the only kind soul in the whole drama.. Killing him was just nasty and cruel.. Dong Ju and Eunnam deserved a wedding.. We deserved to see their wedding.. "

16 episodes for what??

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Surprisingly okay, good enough for what it is.. Nothing fancy, nothing new.. A solid cast and strong performances are let down by inconsistent direction and an uncreative script.. The end result is a drama that feels as though the production team’s main goal was simply to finish the whole thing and say goodbye.. I couldn’t help but feel that it could have benefited greatly from a director willing to interpret rather than just record.. A missed opportunity..

While this drama is neither horribly bad nor average, it is a dull mix of stale stereotypes and recycled plot devices.. I am okay with these mid tier, cliche tropes as long as they are used in a way that drives the narrative without overwhelming it, but that balance isn’t here.. If not for the solid cast carrying this poorly written script, this could have been a much worse drama.. That said, it does manage to get pretty good in a lot of parts..

We are all exhausted with the constant reuse of childhood connection tropes, fake marriages, contract marriages and the whole lot.. We keep craving something different.. But, but, but.. Even with all that, I don’t want to be too harsh on this drama.. I guess this whole review is going to sound contradictory.. Because even though I want to join the rest of the voices out there, I honestly don’t hate the drama the way a lot of people did..

Halfway through the drama, it’s pretty easy to guess how the rest of the story will unfold.. Who the antagonist is, how everything connects to his parents death and all of that.. You don’t even have to be smart to predict it, we have seen this exact setup way too many times in way too many dramas.. But then they went and trivialized everything.. The business takeover, the financial fraud, all of it was treated like child’s play.. Everything was resolved far too easily and way too quickly.. There was no cleverness, nothing that made me go, 'Wow, look how they handled that' These were serious crimes.. Hell, the man murdered so many people.. They had a perfectly strong story right there to build toward a solid ending.. Instead of writing a proper conclusion around that, they chose to focus on the stupid fake marriage angle.. I started getting worried when the murder plot and the uncle’s involvement were being unraveled a bit too fast, which obviously meant they were going to waste the last two episodes tackling the ex-bf and those subplots.. And honestly, that was never going to help the drama end on a high note..

In short, the drama was directionless.. Some moments felt like a calm walk through a quiet park, but the rest felt like being lost in the woods without a map.. Things were moving, but there was no goal, they just moved.. Can I absolutely write this drama off as bad?? No, but that’s precisely the problem.. It’s not that there is nothing redeemable here, it’s that the drama never does anything with its redeemable parts.. It has so much potential, yet it simply never delivers on it..

I think a lot of people will agree with me on this, the second couple felt more appealing.. Their story was raw.. There wasn’t really any romance to speak of but the subtle emotions and small, honest moments between them worked so well.. I guess there was more to their story that we could have dug into.. And special appreciation to Bae Na Ra, I want to see him in more projects, hopefully as a lead sometime soon..

Overall, Would You Marry Me is a drama you watch solely for the cast.. While the story is disappointingly uninnovative, it still has moments you can enjoy.. You won’t be shocked by who the villain is, you won’t be shocked by the conclusion, the drama does nothing you haven’t already seen before and done better.. I had quite a lot more to say here about the FL’s ex, her ex-inlaws and her mother, but this has already turned into a rant of conflicting thoughts..

So, this whole monologue was to say that while I have objectively given this drama an 8, whether it deserves that really depends on your emotional response.. I recognize its script and structural flaws and I might find it average if I were to rewatch it on another day.. But ratings are a mix of instinct and emotion and I am comfortable sticking with my 8..

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I was honestly intrigued by the premise of the drama, which is why I decided to give it a try.. It wasn’t all bad, there were some nice parts, especially how the so called husband comes back after being killed and the curiosity around how they would explain that situation.. But overall it’s a drama I wouldn’t have regretted skipping.. I couldn’t connect with the characters because they felt bland and for most of the drama nothing happens.. It drags on slowly.. While the story had interesting elements, it never felt engaging.. That said it’s still an easy and quick watch, though the twists and turns become predictable after just two episodes.. I stuck with it to see how they would wrap things up but the ending was far from satisfying..

The mystery elements aren’t inherently bad.. With sharper writing and the right execution, it could have been brilliant.. Unfortunately, here they feel careless and wasted.. Yamashita Mizuki delivered a good performance while Hagiwara Riku often felt like a newcomer still learning the ropes, which is disappointing considering he isn’t exactly a newbie..

Major spoiler..

I don’t think she actually killed the real Mana.. It’s more about the guilt of losing the only person who truly cared for her, even though there was nothing she could have done to prevent it..

Overall, an average watch.. The drama had potential but it didn't click for me.. It's a shame because I thought I could have liked it much more given the mystery element was interesting.. By the end, it’s clear the ML has feelings for the FL.. I just wish they had given a proper conclusion to their story at least.. Sadly, the final episode and overall conclusion were quite unsatisfying..

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Dear Hongrang is a total feast for the sageuk fans.. Top tier acting, well paced story and aesthetically pleasing cinematography, absolutely sublime.. But what really stands out is the OST.. Goosebumps kind of good.. Lee Jae Wook is back in his element.. He served.. He had one of the best entrance scene, simple but perfect.. The powerful soundtrack, the family tension, that chilling look in his eyes.. It was the kind of scene that makes you sit up and pay attention..

At first glance the narrative might feel familiar for this genre.. But once The Snow Man is introduced, it becomes clear there is something sinister and haunting underneath all the family secrets, forbidden romance and political schemes..

Lee Jae Wook deserves all the appreciation in the world for his performance here.. He has always delivered outstanding performances.. But in Dear Hongrang, thanks to a well written script and a character that fits him perfectly, he truly shines.. And Jo Bo Ah smoulders and brings Sim Jae I to life.. Her performance was heartbreaking, tender, emotional and quietly powerful..

Every time I see Kim Jae Wook in a drama, he just blows my mind all over again.. He is extraordinarily talented.. Which makes me wonder why isn't he getting Main Lead roles?? Why are we not seeing him in more dramas?? He is such a great actor.. Its a shame his screen time was limited here too..

For me, two aspects stood out as the most intense and impressive parts of this drama.. Both in terms of its execution and the acting.. Absolute perfection..
First, The action scenes.. The action here is really fantastic and the camera work makes the swordplay totally engaging and awesome.. Grounded enough to not feel over the top but just enough to wow you.. Lee Jae Wook, unsurprisingly, was amazing.. He has truly outdone himself in those intense action moments.. Ep 10 was just pure brilliance..
Second, the romance development between the leads.. Their relationship isn’t a fairytale.. It’s messy, raw and painful.. And I guess that’s what made it feel real.. It was a gorgeously melancholic portrait of yearning and emotional fragility..

I didn't like the SML from the beginning.. His character was questionable.. One scene after the SML finds proof that the ML is not Hongrang, he says
" Once you know that he is an imposter, you will return to your usual self.. It may break your heart to know you have been deceived.. But do not worry.. As always I shall be there for you.. "

For me this is SML's character defining moment where he shows his true face.. His obsession with the FL..
Her usual self?? The one who risked her life just to earn money to search for her brother?? The one who woke up crying from nightmares, haunted by guilt and grief?? He wasn’t trying to protect her.. He was thrilled at the idea of breaking her spirit just so he could " be there for her ".. Even if she was suffering and in pain, for him it doesn't matter.. He just wanted her all for himself.. And when she confided in him about her feelings for the ML, he still didn’t tell her the truth.. He could have saved her from that agonizing shame.. From thinking her love was something forbidden.. But he chose silence because if she knew, he might lose her.. So he just let her suffer.. That wasn’t love, it was selfishness and he was a pathetic person..

He also says.. " I am not trying to protect her.. I intend to claim her.. "

For people talking about second lead syndrome for this guy, you people are sick.. He was as evil as every other villains in the drama.. Sim Jae I nailed it when she said,
" It is but an obsession for what you cannot have.. That is your truth.. "

The last three episodes were intense, story heavy, emotion filled and action packed.. All the revelations, the prince’s monstrous crimes.. The horrifying complicity of the father and the painful backstory that tied it all together.. It was painful and tragic.. The ML finally got his revenge and it was satisfying to watch.. But there was no happy ending for the main leads.. Terribly predictable, that was not a surprise for me..

Overall, Dear Hongrang was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.. There is a deep sadness imbued in all the scenes of this drama.. The ending was sad and emotional but honestly it was never going to be a happy one for them.. I just wish Jae I had a child.. Because now her life feels as lonely as it was before.. I wanted her to have something more to live for.. Something that’s truly hers..

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