This movie is just what you need on a cold rainy day. It’s warm, light and heartwarming like a soft fluffy pillow you want to hug, and you’ll feel good.
Some think the female lead Sumaru is a bit over the top and thus annoying. I think she’s funny and just real. It’s her innocence and naivety. She’s refreshing if you’re a bit reserved or surrounded by people who are too self-conscious or scared to show tneir real selves. She loves and she wasn’t afraid to show it. Wouldn’t it be good to be like her, without fear and reservation. But alas, most of us are jaded and scared due to our life experiences. She meets things and situations head on, even if she knew it might hurt her. Yes, she’s a bit all over the place, but that’s what made her funny and endearing. She’s just what Mr Hirotmitsu/sensei ( the male lead) needed.

Sensei is a mathematician. He loves Math. Math is rigid, structured, consistent, driven by logic. Some find it difficult, boring or mundane. Yet Math brings order to chaos. And here is how the Sumaru and Mr. Hiromitsu compliment each other.

She brought unpredictability into his structured world and made him laugh. Her honesty and courage inspired him to face the things he was running from. And for all her naivety, she was mature enough to encourage him to face his fears and go back to France to finish his studies.

Whilst he taught her to focus on things she wants to do. When she thought she has no chance to gain his love, she still didn’t give up. She did cry a bit. He taught her the realities of adulthood. That we may not always get what we want no matter how much effort we put into it. And that if we love someone, we shouldn’t be selfish. That we should let the other one grow and not be held back by our love.

I probably made it sound like it’s a deep movie with profound or life-changing lessons. No, it’s not. It was meant to entertain.

I felt the last part was a bit lacking, not because there was no proper kiss. I wasn’t expecting one anyway. I like this taboo student-teacher genre but I still think it wasn’t right for him to kiss a previous student in the school.

I gave it 9, because it made me giggle and laugh, a lot. And I liked the heroine. She’s fresh, funny and brave. Her and sensei gave me the warm fuzzy feelings. Definitely will watch it again.

Read More

Story: It is unrequited love for a reason, there’s a few side stories of characters who had unrequited love. For the main couple, the heroine’s love for the main lead wasn’t returned for a few years. He didn’t even notice she existed even though he talked to her once. But he liked her without knowing what she looked like. A bit confusing? Well, there was some catfishing involved. Then there’s a few side stories. There were characters whose love were unrequited at first but had happy endings, or were returned but ended in heartbreaks and some whose love wasn’t returned at all. But rest assured, the main couple had a happy ending.
It’s also a story about fates and destinies. How no matter how people and circumstances will try to tear you apart, eventually love will find and bind you.

Characters/Acting: I love the heroine. Firstly, she looks like a real person, not airbrushed. Someone normal
people can relate to. It was also refreshing to see a heroine who did chase the main lead first but she’s not weak and a pushover. Quite the contrary, she was strong minded, blunt at times and was never desperate for the main lead’s love. She did have to wait for him to notice her but knew when it was time to catch his attention. I also liked it that the main lead started out as this good-looking, popular and a bit well-off guy but due to his family’s circumstances, he fell from grace. But he was still the nice guy that the heroine liked. I also enjoyed the side stories and other couples. They were there to show the varying types and stages of unrequited love. Good acting too. The actress who played the heroine was quite convincing. It made me teary-eyed watching her in the 1st few episodes when she was wallowing in misery.
Music: There’s a couple of songs I liked

Will I watch it again? Definitely.

Overall: A believable story with relateable characters. Quite good actually. If you’re after dramas which has good story line and looks real visually, you’ll enjoy this.

Read More

I’m glad I stumbled upon this hidden gem. An underrated drama. Production doesn’t look expensive and the actors don’t look polished, you can actually see their pores, pimples and other imperfections. But then that’s because it tells the stories of ordinary people, this is the drama’s charm. Romance between the main couple was slow but that’s what made it exciting. Be warned of a bit of a heartbreak in the middle but everything will be ok. The side stories of supporting actors were quite interesting too. My favourite friend was the cute and funny Bai Lin. I really enjoyed this drama even when I had to watch the main couple separate for a while. This made me laugh, giggle, cry and sad, everything a good story should do. Well written, actors were amazing. A must-watch if you want a drama you can actually relate to. I’d definitely watch it again, especially the first half of the series, just to see how the main couple fell in love.

Read More

I really liked this drama and the male lead He Xin Liang is one of my favourite male leads ever. He was just so sweet and thoughtful. Beneath his tough and arrogant exterior was a beautiful person. There was no kiss and normally I don’t like that in a romance drama. But the way this story was told didn’t disappoint me that there was no kissing scene at all.. The last scene when they saw each other again after so many years was one of my favourite endings ever. That look between them, the hug said it all. You could feel the longing, love and promise of a good future. I loved the main theme song too “Who Knows Me”. Can I just be honest though that the female lead did annoy me a bit. She was a child that needed a lot of growing up to do to be able to appreciate our male lead. I think that’s why they were separated for years. She had to go through life and adulthood to know that He Xin Liang was a keeper. Will definitely watch it again.

Read More

I must say I was surprised by this underrated Korean drama. I watched it because I just needed to pass time while waiting for subs of ongoing dramas I’m watching. And I’m glad I started this.
I knew acting will be top notch because of Park Bo Gum. His is one of the most beautiful Korean face I’ve seen, in men anyway. But oh boy, those cute eyes can deliver so much emotion with just one look. I giggle when he looks at the heroine and it makes me teary eyed when his eyes tear up when he’s hurt. Let’s not talk about his smile, it’s quite mesmerising. He played the role of the idealistic short-tempered but kind-hearted prince superbly. He is convincing in every emotions he projected. From being an arrogant prince to sweet lover, an abandoned son to being a smart and firm prince. I specially love the scenes where he confronts the sly villain, the old Prime Minister Kim. You can really feel his anger from all the hurtful things the villain and his minions have done to him and his family over the years.
I loved to watch the prince struggle as he was slowly falling in love with his eunuch. I also liked it that he always trusted her even when she was repeatedly framed up. No major misunderstanding between our lovers.
As Kim Yo-jung as Hong Ra-On/eunuch, she suited the character they wanted her to play. She was just really a supporting character to the prince which the story revolved around. My only complain is her character wasn’t that strong enough. She got bullied repeatedly, slapped several times and she did nothing but cry. I just wish they gave her character a bit of spunk, which would’ve been consistent with a girl like her who grew up mostly among men. But she was also like a love doctor thus the mild sensitive personality.
The rest of the casts’ acting was top-notched. One of my favourite characters was Byung-yeon played by Kwak Dong-yeon. He is the mysterious right-hand man of the prince but was also a spy for the rebels. He should be a lead actor in a series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this drama. It made me giggle, laugh, angry and cry. It didn’t drag and no silly misunderstandings between the main leads. The ending was what it needed, happy but open-ended. The soundtrack was beautiful too. I love all the songs. This drama has all the elements I want in a series. I would watch it again and definitely recommend to Asian drama lovers.

Read More

Another Japanese romance movie that just have the right sweetness and adorable factor. Made me smile, cringe, laugh and giggle. Short and light but left me with that warm fuzzy feeling.
The female lead is cute and just so relateable to me. Another reason why I love this movie. It’s for women like me who are starry-eyed hopeless romantics.
The male lead fit my kind of guy, in fiction anyway. But let me tell you, there are men like him in the real world, not many though. I got one like him. *blush. He’s so adorable when he made the effort to understand and learn what women want in guys and in relationships. If you meet a guy like him, and stays consistent, keep him *wink.
Music was generic but didn’t really bother me.
Ending might be a bit rushed. But then if they dragged it, might be less effective.
This movie reminds me of a Japanese drama- Rich Man, Poor Woman which I also liked. The same setting, a computer/app company. Romance between the boss and the employee. Then there’s the 2nd male lead who wanted to take over the company. Except there’s more romantic moments in this movie.
I will most likely watch this again, probably on a day when I just want to sit down, watch something that will make laugh and giggle.

Read More

Bad idea to binge watch this. Finished the series in 2 days. It was emotionally draining. It was like going on a roller coaster ride. I had a headache after I finished the last episode. So much anger, sadness, disappointment and frustration. Not to add the misunderstandings which weren’t all resolved until the last 2 episodes. The Nang’ek has gone through so much heartaches I’m surprised she survived up to the last episode. It was a consolation that she fought back each time otherwise I would’ve dropped this.
And can we talk about Piak - the pathological jealous wife of the director. She’s on the top list of my most annoying villains in dramas. Her jealous fits started from episode 1 all the way to episode 14. It just went on and on that I fast forwarded everytime she appeared on the screen towards the last few episodes. She did apologise to her poor husband but not to our Nang’ek. To the end she was unapologetic to Jee. Considering that she hired someone to slap the her several times when they were shooting a lakorn.
Urrasaya was outstanding in this one. It must’ve been very hard to be crying in nearly every episodes and so many times. The parts where she had to appear tough towards her bullies was well acted. She did look tough but you can still see all that vulnerabilities she tried to hide.
Mark still looked sweet even on the scenes where he was bullying Urrasaya or when he was very angry.
The Nang’ek’s bff and her love interest were quite boring. I think this was done intentionally to balance with the tumultuous and volatile relationship between then main leads.
If you’re looking for sweet moments, there’s not many. I did feel their chemistry - mostly when they were arguing with each other.
If you can’t handle too much sadness and anger in a drama, this isn’t for you. Or maybe don’t binge watch it. It is a well made lakorn, one of the best I’ve seen so far in terms of casts, acting, storyline and production. But I don’t think I’ll be watching it again. I just can’t handle that much drama. Too draining. I’ll be watching a light-hearted romantic comedy after this, just so I can recover from this roller coaster ride.

Read More