Freespirit1221

So sweet and adorable!

This is such a sweet, soft, gentle, heart-warming and adorable romance series. I enjoyed every minute from the beginning till the end. The chemistry between the characters is so natural and amazing even though there are not really any intimate scenes. I also love every character in this series so much. All of them are beautiful human beings.

OMG I need a season 2 asap! I need many seasons of the 2 couples. I need to see the wedding of Fumiko and Fukami, and more scenes about the future of all of the characters. 10 episodes are just too short!

Also, I noticed that in other dramas, usually only one person in a couple is adorable, and it’s often the girl. But in this drama, both of the leads are so just as lovely as each other! I love them so much.

I may write a longer review later.

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This is the best live-action musical series I have watched so far!

I always have a soft spot for musical films, especially films with classical music. I love classical music, and love the piano the most. So "Nodame Cantabile" is a perfect series for me. It makes me fall in love with classical music one more time and also gave me the motivation to start practicing the piano again. As a piano learner, I'm kind of like Nodame who does not read the music sheet very well. Of course I'm not as talented as Nodame. My level is quite basic. I just learnt it to play for fun, but paused for a long time because I don't have a piano with me, and the teacher forced me too much that made me stressed. So this time I'll buy a small piano and try to practice on my own while maybe looking for a more suitable piano teacher.

Anyway, "Nodame Cantabile" is so special and precious to me. I love every music performance throughout the series. I can feel the love for music in every character in the series. I love most of the characters, except the foreign Maestro character. He's just a perverted old man to me. The way he treats women is horrible, and I don't like his fake foreign look and accent either. I felt annoyed every time he appeared. However, as this is an old Japanese drama and as I love everything else and the music just touched my soul every single time, "Nodame Cantabile" is still a 100/10 series for me. I will re-watch it from time to time.

Besides music, this series is also special because of other reasons. I love our girl Nodame so much and also love her beloved senpai Chiaki. Nodame is so adorable, innocent but definitely not a stupid girl. She's a talented piano genius in disguise because of childhood traumas. Chiaki is also a genius with childhood traumas. I enjoyed watching Nodame and Chiaki's character development through each episode, and I loved the way they helped and supported each other in overcoming their own fears to find their real selves and discover their talents. Their romance is so pure, beautiful, and supportive, and it starts out of the love for music. I specially love the scene in the last episode where Nodame was talking about her dream of performing on the same stage with her senpai as a golden pair with full of excitement. Nodame is just too sweet and adorable! No wonder Chiaki hugs her from the back!

Also, they are so hilarious together. I enjoyed watching Chiaki's reactions and his facial expressions every time he's with Nodame lol. I laughed so much while watching them together. Of course I don't take the violence seriously. I understand that's the slapstick comedy style, as this series is adapted from a comedy manga.

Besides the leads, other characters are also very loveable. My other favorite characters are Mine and Kiyora. I love them as an individual character and love them as a couple as well. Their romance is also pure, beautiful and supportive and starts out of the love for music. Not only a wild and sensitive artist, Mine is also the best boyfriend and also the best buddy! While Kiyora is a strong ambitious and brave woman who dares to dream big and work hard to chase after her dream. She’s also a kind and supportive friend. It’s always nice to see this type of female character in a Japanese series.

Another thing that makes "Nodame Cantabile" so special to me is that there is no drama, no villain, no toxic love triangle, and no misunderstanding throughout the series. I just feel the absolute love for music from every character, as well as their desire and dreams, and their struggles while chasing their dreams. I can see myself in every character's struggle, and they also encourage me to face my fears to find my real self and follow my dreams. As how much Chiaki is grateful to his orchestra at the end of the series, I'm also grateful to "Nodame Cantabile" in the same way. I also feel like it's time to end a part of my life, and feel like it's the start of something new. I will move forward to a new journey and discover myself more in that journey. Although there are still fears, but I will stop doubting myself and start to believe in myself more. :)

There are still many more things to talk about this series but I'll stop now. I'm not sure if anyone will ever read this review but I wrote it to myself as the main purpose. Maybe it's a bit lengthy and boring to others. :)

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Beautiful messages about life

This is one of the dramas that I put into my on-hold list because I got spoiled about the ending when I was watching it years ago. Recently I had some time to pick it up again and watch it with my mom.

I have mixed feelings about this drama. I already knew the plot twist from the start this time, so I didn't have the first time experiece with it like other viewers. I'm sure it would be less fun this way. But I still enjoyed the drama very much and I understand the messages that the screenwriter and director were trying to tell viewers through each episode. Instead, the fun for me this time was to watch my mom's experience with the drama without spoiling the twist. Plus, I paid attention and realized how everything made sense from the beginning, knowing the twist behind it.

Even though I already knew the twist beforehand, it didn't stop me from crying a lot in the last two episodes. I think the team did a great job in casting Kim Hye Ja for the female lead role. She's the star of this drama. Her acting is amazing. I would totally believe her if she told me she's really a 25-year-old young woman trapped in the body of an 80-year-old lady. Her voice is also beautiful and soothing. I think it had a big impact on making me tear up in the last episode. I also loved the acting from the others, from Han Ji Min, Ahn Nae Sang, Lee Jung Eun and especially I was really impressed by Nam Joo Hyuk's perfomance in this drama.

There are a lot of relatable messages in this drama, aiming at both young people and the elderly. I think the core and strongest message is to encourage people to embrace life and love themselves more, to live more in the present and enjoy every moment we are living.

Besides that, I can feel the struggles of young people while chasing their dreams and trying to survive in this modern capitalist world. I see the importance of a healthy bonding between parents, between children and parents, between family members, friends, and lovers. I see different types of loneliness that young people and the elderly would experience. I think this drama also did a great job in raising more awareness about aging and how the elderly view the world and other people around them.

The drama also touched a few issues in the society, such as scams and fraud targeting the elders, elder neglect, and toxic abusive parents who bring nothing but misery to their children and never deserve to be parents in the first place. It also touched a bit about the corrupt Korean police and government in the past who would frame and kill off innocent people for their own purpose.

There are a few things I didn't like in this drama. Most of them were from the comedic scenes in the drama. I think Hye Ja's loser brother had too much screentime. I mean, a lot of his interactions with Hye Ja and her close friends were funny and I enjoyed them, but at some point, it was a little too much. I also didn't like that they paired him up with one of his sister's best friends. This trope was not new in kdramaland anymore. However, I think I know the purpose of his character in this drama, so it didn't bother me very much. Without him, the drama would be much heavier and full of sorrow.

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Hong Kong and Teresa Teng's songs - Perfect combo

When they showed Tesera Teng and her songs in the end, I cried a bit. She was the reason I discovered this movie. I think her songs were also a great inspiration to this movie. Basically they even used the name of a Teresa Teng's song for the title: "甜蜜蜜" (Tian Mi Mi) and used some other songs throughout the movie. I'm pretty sure most of her fans would watch it.

I always love to see Hong Kong's life in the 80s and 90s, and it's interesting to view it in a story about Chinese people coming to Hong Kong for a better life during that era. Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai's perfomances were amazing, as expected. Even though I didn't really sympathize with the leads' romance, I'm glad they ended up with each other. Let cheaters be together. Xiao Ting deserved to be with a better man who loved and cherished her wholeheartedly.

My only issue with this movie is that: Why did this have to be a cheating love story? Why didn't they just let them be single lonely souls who found each other in a big city?

I guess AIDS was a big issue in the 1990s era. It was also mentioned in a few old Hong Kong films that I've watched. I remember it was also a big issue in the 2000s. People used to be so scared of it. Now I think the fear of it has lessened but we have new serious issues to fear of.

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Unbearable

I put this one on-hold for years, after watching one third of it as a kid on TV, as I couldn’t find which platform to continue. Finally finished it and I must say the only good thing in this drama is the little kid. She’s very adorable. The child actress is amazing. Jung Da Bin was literally so cute and talented as a child actress. She’s still very talented now.

Except for the little kid, the plot and all of other the characters are unbearable. Although this is considered a childhood drama of mine and I discovered Lee Min Ki through it, I couldn’t rate it high. This drama is very problematic. Nothing is connected with each other. It was very tiring and irritating to watch.

I started this drama because Eugene was my favorite actress back then, but I couldn’t stand her character for just a little bit. By the way, Eugene is still one of my beloved actress now.

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I love spicy food but didn't enjoy it much

I know this is supposed to be an inspiring series for office workers to try their best and work hard at their job, but what's so wrong with wanting a work-life balance? To be honest, no one really wants to work. We work mostly for the money and the benefits it brings to us, right?

The character Ryusuke might appear as a lazy young person according to the propaganda all the companies have told us, but I think that's a wise thing to live like him. As long as I fulfill my tasks at work properly, I'm free to relax and live my life how I want to and nobody has the right to ask me such questions as 'what do you go to work for?'. Obviously it's because of money! Anyone who tells you that it's not is a hypocrite, and they are trying to gaslight and manipulate you to make you work harder than you should. If it's outside working hours, that's my business and please mind your own business and stop teaching me how to be more passionate about work. You don't live to work, but it's the opposite. I've been there and it's exhausted both my physical body and soul. I want to be more like Ryusuke and enjoy my life more. I'm trying to create a work-life balance for myself but it's not so easy. Seriously, I think it's one of the hardest things to do. Not many people can do that.

Another big thing I couldn't stand in this series is how it's propagated that carbohydrates are unhealthy to our body and bad for diets. That's kind of an eating disorder that might mislead a lot of people, especially young ladies, who want to stay skinny and think that's healthy.

As a person who loves spicy food, the only thing I like in this series is the spicy food and the philosophy behind why people are eating them. It sounds interesting and it makes sense, although I'm not sure if it's true in my case. Maybe it's true at some point, and it does feel refreshing after eating spicy food. However, I have to admit the food in the show doesn't look so spicy to me. Tabasco is not spicy at all and the food looks kind of pale. It still looks delicious though, and the way the characters eat even makes the food look tastier, but it just doesn't look spicy. I heard from a friend who's been living in Japan for a while that Japanese people can't really handle spicy food, and hot sauce in Japan tastes like ketchup. I hope I will visit Japan someday to try some spicy food there and clarify that. :)

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Kahoko and Hajime are really cute, but I don't like the concept of family in this drama

The only two things I love in this series are Kahoko and Hajime, and them as a couple is the cutest thing ever! Unfortunately, they didn't get enough screentime, as this is a family drama, and that's what I dislike about this drama.

Except for those two, I find all of other characters so annoying, especially Kahoko's mom. I couldn't stand her and there were too many scenes of her!

I don't like the concept of "family is family, we should stick together no matter what". As a person who grew up in a dysfunctional family, I think it's not really that necessary to stick to your family members if they hurt you, and it's totally fine to cut off with toxic blood-related family members.

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Silly plot and illegal romance

I gave this 5.5 out of 10, because I love the main cast. Also, most of the supporting characters are quite good and enjoyable people, except for the Geisha lady and the cheating husband. I specially like the grandmother and the male housekeeper, and the female employee who is close to the female lead.

I’m okay with the 10 year age gap but please at least make the male lead 1 or 2 years older. He’s underage and immature. The romance in this series is illegal lol. If anyone disliked them and reported them to the police, the female lead would be arrested. Also, the plot is dumb and annoying too.

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The cast’s acting is impressive but the plot is such a shame

Not a good movie to be honest, but the acting from the cast is phenomenal, especially Park So Dam. Kang Dong Won is the reason I knew about this movie in the first place and he also nailed the role. His appearance makes my viewing experience more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the plot is a such waste of the actors’ talent. I find it boring and dragging, especially in the first half. The second half is better, but also mainly because of the cast’s acting. This is supposed to be a horror movie but the scary parts are too few and mild. 

Kim Yun-seok’s character is also very annoying with his rude behavior. He plays a Priest and keeps insulting his deacon, Kang Dong Won’s character. Do they really think that would make him a cool or funny guy? Because I don’t find that cool or funny at all. That’s bullying.

Not to mention that they sacrifice the piglet. Poor little creature! And that’s the deal breaker for me. 


5.5 out of 10 for the cast’s efforts.

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A fun action drama, with good bromance and slight side romance

After years of watching Kdramas, the plot of this series is quite predictable. I can easily tell who is the real villain from the beginning, the plot twists aren’t very surprising, the villains aren’t evil and smart enough, and there are a few things that feel a little bit inconsistent to the characters’ personality. However, in general, it’s a good series. It has good action and comedy, and the slight side romance is fun and adorable. I enjoyed the interaction between the 2 brothers.

What makes this series good is the acting. It is perfectly casted. Everyone did great with their job in bringing the story to life. Yeo Hwa is the kind of female character that perfectly fits Honey Lee. Also, except for the villains, most of the characters are quite likable. There are a few supporting characters I like besides the leads: Bi Chan, Suho’s boss and his youngest daughter, Suho’s brother, Yeon Sun, the business lady, the little girl, the husband, and the business lady’s male employee.

The character that let me down the most throughout the series is the King. I think he’s quite a coward and just like Yeo Hwa said, he hasn’t tried to do anything for the poor suffering people but only waited for 15 years. He also doesn’t do anything to repay what Yeo Hwa and her deceased brother have done for the country.

And the years are also way too long. If it were reduced to 10 years or even below, I think it would make more sense and fit the characters’ personality more.

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A heartwarming slice of life series - Hiroto and Michito are the best brothers ever!

A great slice of life series to start off the year of the snake. Happy New Year!

I really love the bonding between the two brothers and how their life has changed for the better after Lion comes to live with them. The ending is just perfect. I’m so happy for all of them, after all the hardships they’ve been through. Seeing how Hiroto and Michito move forward with their life for their own happiness and not for others anymore, I feel like a proud mom. :)

There are only a few I don’t like about this series:

+ They say lions being caged in the zoo is better for them than letting them live freely in the wild. I disagree with this idea, but it’s understandable as many people think that way. Maybe I’m the weird one to think that a free lion is happier than a caged one.

+ How the stepsister (Lion’s mother) and Lion treat Hiroto (the older brother):

I think the stepsister is very selfish to do what she does in the series, at least to her stepbrothers. Hiroto is too kind-hearted and think too much about other people, and sometimes it’s a little bit annoying to see him like that. I feel like the stepsister knows that and takes advantage of her stepbrother, who only lives with her for a few years in childhood, then one day she suddenly cut off with the whole family. I think she should be more grateful that Hiroto and Michito accept her as a family member after all the things she has done to them, not take it for the granted. I believe that not because someone is your blood-related family, you’re allowed to treat him however you want. I don’t agree with the idea of “family is family”.

On the other hand, in my opinion, Lion is very rude to Hiroto. He shouts at Hiroto when Hiroto tries to speak to him very gently. I understand that he’s a kid and that he’s physically abused by his father, but still his mother should tell him to behave more nicely to the people who treat him nicely. Again, this is due to his mom’s ungrateful mindset. She never tells her son to be good to his uncle, she just takes it for granted that his uncle should take a good care of her kid.

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Full of cliché but I quite enjoyed it. It’s my guilty pleasure!

Full of cliché tropes and the plot is so cringe but I quite enjoyed it, mostly because of Satoh Takeru’s acting. I want to see more of him as Tendou-sensei! 😭 I love both his cold-hearted and soft side while being around the female lead, as well as his side as a dedicated doctor.

I also love the kind-hearted people in the hospital and their heartwarming stories.

I want to see more of Kisugi and Sakai’s romance too. I wish they had more scenes together, instead of the subplot between Tendou’s older sister and the young nurse guy. To be honest, I don’t really care about their story.

The great acting and chemistry is what makes me enjoyed this drama, not the plot. As I have stated above, the plot is full of cliché and cringe moments, but it’s as expected from a series adapted from manga. I don’t think I would support this romance if it happens in real life. The female lead is an idiot and doesn’t have any self-respect for herself. She’s just following around a grumpy man all day expressing love for him. I don’t really like this idea. She should have her own value and love herself more, instead of trying to convince a man to love her. Not to mention there are other annoying things, for example, suddenly the dead ex’s twin sister appears and confesses to the male lead, or the ridiculous rich kid patient that falls for the female lead? 🤡

Anyway, I still enjoyed this drama and it’s my guilty pleasure.

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A great Sci-fi Action Movie

First movie of 2025.

Overall it’s a great sci-fi action movie. I enjoyed it. I haven’t read the manga or watched the anime, but I heard that it’s quite a solid adaptation as well. The plot was great overall, and the acting was excellent.

There were a very few things I didn’t like about this movie. The first thing is the relationship between our superhero lead with his family. I’m not satisfied with how it progressed throughout the movie and how it ended as well.

The second thing is the relationship between our teenage villain and his loved ones, and the ending of them. Why did they have to kill everyone around him? I really pitied him and I think he didn’t think he had an ending he deserved. Of course what he did is wrong, no one can deny that. However, I think the real villain in this movie isn’t him, but the society. Those people around him, except for his loved ones but they were also too miserable, are the one who turned a kindhearted lost soul into a monster. I think the movie should point out that at least.

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A litter bit disappointing, but the couple is still adorable

The only good thing I want to see is the interaction between Buchou and Hotaru as a lovey-dovey newly married couple, and I believe other viewers watch the movie because of that too.

However, the movie’s main focus is around some kind of a stranger woman that I don’t even bother to remember her name, and couldn’t care less about her story. She and also all other characters are annoying, and she is the worst, and the plot is weird and stupid. The movie is supposed to be their honeymoon trip, but then it’s ruined for someone not important and not relevant at all. It would be okay for me if they put the woman's story as a very side plot, not playin a big role in the plot like how it is. It just doesn't make sense.

I still give it 6 out of 10 just because of the moments between Hotaru and Buchou. They are still sweet, adorable and funny as before. It's finally a happy ending for their love story, although I expect to learn more after that. I want to see their baby!!

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