A romantic story about life beautifully told in a slow-breathed and melodic narrative.

~Everlasting love is about becoming a part of your loved one’s life.
A part of you lives inside them and stays there forever.~

"The meeting and farewell of love and breakup is similar to life, since meeting and farewell is what life is about." - PD Lee Gil Bok

~ Planning intention ~
(you can find this on namuwiki)

It is written as ‘breakup’ and read as ‘love’.
The sweet, salty, spicy, sour and bitter story of our breakup.

Fashion designers design four times a year.
Everyone wants a classic that will be remembered forever, but
Trends are consumed quickly and out-of-season clothes become a thing of the past.

Maybe the same goes for living.
Dreaming of unchanging, eternal love and repeating countless encounters and separations
But no encounter, no love, is permanent.
Eventually, the relationship runs out, the time allowed is up
Separation is a natural and inevitable part of life.
Perhaps living is a journey towards death
And the parting of the ways with those who have been with us.

But parting comes suddenly, without warning or forewarning
Leaving a lot of self-reproach and regret.
So, if you can't avoid it or postpone it
As Versace says, wear the clothes that are most like you
Live the life you want to live, not the life others want you to live.
Even if it's a failed life, even if it's a love that falls short
At least you won't have any regrets at the moment of parting.

Breaking up is not the end,
But the completion of my love, my life.

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"Now, We Are Breaking Up" is a realistic melodrama. A mix of makjang and realism in this case, to be more precise. I think the overall style of the drama is very unique, but can easily be a hit or miss for the viewer.

I loved the work scenes around the world of fashion and photography (if you want to know how the industry works, it will be very interesting for you), the elaborate outfits and elegant staging, the sublime soundtrack & cinematography, the opening, the sophisticated vibe, the character development, the dialogue, the poetic aspect throughout the drama, the different visions on the breakup (it's not just literally about two people breaking up but, much, much more), the depth of their love and how meaningful it was.

Many found it to be nothing more than bland and depressing, but I beg to differ, as I found a lot of hope in it. When I finished the drama, I also felt like I was breaking up with it, which would be rather sad but instead it left a warm feeling inside me.

Their love is very special and maybe not so easy to understand for the audience. If you only view love at surface value, full of butterflies and cheesy lines, this is not the kind of love for you. "Now, We Are Breaking Up" is a melodramatic romance while being a deep, thought-provoking and mature drama that deals with the realities of life.

Jang Ki Yong and Song Hye Kyo did an excellent job interpreting their characters and they were able to portray the nuances well. I could genuinely feel their vulnerability, though it was subtle. All the cast felt very convincing and natural to me, while at the same time having their own charm. It isn't so surprising because they played characters of their age and close to their selves, which also created a great dynamic between them.

Even the way they speaked french was so charming to me, and that is very rare because most of the time it is incomprehensible in other dramas (I'm french for your information). Besides, they never looked so good on screen.

The pacing is certainly slow but over time I found myself really into the story and attached to the characters. And you know what? I loved the fact that everything was happening slowly. There are important life lessons about family, friendship, love, happiness, work... There are also topics such as society's expectations of women, adultery, divorce and illness, all dealt with brilliantly.

This page is already full of hatred and toxicity. So please let me express my love for this drama, as it is a very special one to me, and it is also one for all of the cast and crew.

I sincerely want to give back some justice to it. There is no doubt this drama will please only a minority of people, but for me it was a beautiful drama. It's not the kind of melodrama that will make you feel a ton of strong emotions either, but that doesn't make it any less good if you appreciate it for what it is. I shared my thoughts on the ending and other parts in the comments, so, do not read if you haven't finished the drama.

Last but not least, be open-minded. I hope I can bring some positivity to this page where respect is almost nowhere to be seen, and eventually a sense of warmth for the people who loved the drama. I do not mind blocking anyone who feels the need to attack me, there's more than enough wonderful negative reviews out there to please them. By avoiding social medias, you learn to not care about what a stranger says that could affect you negatively.

Thank you for reading !

Highly recommended press conference : https://youtu.be/7MPkeRirpu0 - the quote at the beginning of my review from PD Lee Gil Bok was taken from this video

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After writing a response to someone in the comments section (at first it was short lol), I had too much to say so I decided to make it a sort of second review. Read it or not, it's your choice.

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An ode to the bittersweet mess of youth.

~If they lose their scales, they'll lose the patterns and colors on their wings, and won't be able to fly~
~Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued is always beyond our grasp, but if you sit quietly, might alight upon you~

(I'll give a spoiler warning when it's needed)

Nevertheless appreciation depends on people's sensitivity, but it's an excellent drama for many reasons and I'm here to explain why. If you can't handle college students being messy, I wouldn't recommend this drama to you. If you like stories of complicated feelings, thoughtful, realistic and mature dramas, then go ahead. The story was incredibly well thought-out, the characters were layered and the drama was visually very aesthetic too. Everything was carefully executed, I love K-dramas because they give us beautiful productions like this, but Nevertheless is pretty much like no other because it was less scripted and more raw. It's deep, complex, artistic, subtle and sentimental. Clear explanations are not thrown at your face at all and the play on perspectives challenges the audience.

The drama is based on the webtoon but the two are different works that have each taken their own path. Nevertheless is a masterpiece because every time you will rewatch it, you will notice new details. The fanbase wrote literal essays because of all the attention that was put into it, it's almost to the point that you can analyze every scene and every line.

Before going in depth :

Cinematography, acting, music : Absolutely on point. The music and cinematography suit the drama perfectly. I know that not everyone is hooked by the atmosphere/pacing but you can't ignore it was perfectly done (personally it was the first time I felt so immersed into a drama to the point of dreaming about it every night). Song Kang and Han So Hee nailed at portraying their character's emotions, their gazes, the way they talked, the subtle gestures...

Some things I need to mention : 1. The artistic aspect and the butterflies. The butterflies were real and Nabi's sketches in her room too as Han So Hee herself graduated in art. 2. The way they filmed everything was genius. 3. The modern and realistic take on relationships and feelings that the drama portrays, and not only thanks to the main couple. (we even got representation of lgbtq+ characters!) 4. The way they beautifully captured intimacy, not just sex. Nothing was unnecessary. Not to mention Rio's songs... (though if you want real sex scenes this is not it (obviously), plus they're very few, quite short and only in the first few episodes) 5. The side characters and the diversity in their personalities, just as in real life, and also the friendship between all of them. I even liked the teacher! 6. The internal dialogue and the narration. 7. The struggles of young adults in their twenties were portrayed very well. I'm not in my twenties yet, but I know that people related and I also can feel it already. 8. The poster with Jae Eon lying on Nabi's shoulder says it all. 9. https://twitter.com/mignonxminion/status/1483615011477934081 - (not by me) check this thread if you want! :) you don't have to read everything, just scroll to get a glimpse. beware though, spoilers. I recommend checking only if you have seen the drama.

Stop here if you don't want major spoilers.

To begin with, Jae Eon is admittedly a flirt, but to what extent do people really know him? He did not deliberately hurt people, he never used his past as an excuse, and no one cared about him before as much as Nabi did. There is a great portrayal of what's a toxic person at the beginning and that is Nabi's ex. Jae Eon also was touchy-feely (pretty much his way of communicating) but he wasn't controlling like her ex and didn't abuse her. Her ex, on the other hand, destroyed her self-esteem. Jae Eon told her she's the prettiest (and the happiest) when she works, her ex told her she's the prettiest while having sex. Her ex kept blaming her, has Jae Eon ever done that to her? Never. The drama starts out with Nabi’s agency completely robbed by her ex, yet when she meets someone so passive that every choice in the relationship is hers - she totally crumbles under the pressure. She is also very critical of herself for multiple reasons. This drama is undeniably a fascinating character study, I'll have to omit a lot of details but if you want more, look at the link I put in the comments section. The first episodes are almost entirely told through a distrustful main character’s POV and the audience is left wondering what the truth is. Halfway point leaves you questioning people's POV (especially Nabi's). Later episodes let you looking back at the first episodes with new eyes, which is clever.

Nabi is not you and neither she is a victim of a toxic man, unless we are talking about her ex. Both were responsible for their choices and actions and it's pretty clear that she hurts Jae Eon too.

I know that it depends on one's sensitivity but some people are going way too far. Please try to appreciate these two characters, this is all I'm asking for. People inventing them disorders and evil motivations are ridiculous. Yes, some people actually do that, I even saw people calling out the drama to be anti-feminist. It's also contradictory to view her as a naive and stupid girl while that's clearly not what the drama shows. Those same people made her dirty, sounds like hypocrisy to me. Haters will continue to demonise the drama anyway. I love Nabi and Jae Eon so please listen to what I have to say.

Jae Eon's feelings about Nabi are clear. First, the bracelet he made for her, as well as the butterfly-shaped suncatcher. The scene where he wrapped his shirt around her waist, when he offered to be her partner for the work, the scene where he was worried to the point he called the emergency because she didn't respond (she was sick), the scene of the fight where he loses control of himself and beats the man who hurt her, when he was there the day of her anniversary, his discussions with his mother, Seol Ah and Kyu Hyun, and finally the reveal of his love at first sight. He confirms it near the end by talking to her about how he first met her at the exhibition and how he saw it as fate when he met her again one night, without directly saying who it was, Nabi thinking it was just another girl until she saw the drawing.

Now it's time to go more in depth.

Before anything, you have to take into consideration their conflicting feelings for each other causing the mess that is their relationship, but also : their past experiences and their family's situation. Nabi never saw a successful relationship from her mother while not even having a good relationship with her (but she had her aunt) and Jae Eon had a well off mother who couldn't give him the love and attention he needed, making it hard for him to even love himself. Jae Eon had the same abandonment issues as Nabi, his manifested in aloofness and hers in insecurity.

Jae Eon was interested in Nabi since the first time he met her at the exhibition hall. They met again by coincidence after that night. Nabi knew what kind of person Jae Eon was. Nevertheless, she already fell for him and against all odds, by herself, she kissed him. She knew what kind of relationship she was getting into, there's no need to act as if she didn't. Both were sexually attracted by each other but there was more on both sides. There wasn't really anything wrong with their relationship in the first place. It was quite messy but still they were happy with it and having a good time together - until bad things happened such as gossip, Nabi's ex return, Seol Ah's lie to Nabi and this girl's brother encounter with Jae Eon. Their relationship then becomes unhealthy because of the miscommunication, insecurities and fears. Nabi felt pathetic because she wanted more than what Jae Eon could give and she was confused about his feelings. He didn't want to commit but at the same time he didn't like how Nabi was straying away from him, especially for other boys, while most of the time he stayed with her. He had feelings for her (he started to realize his own feelings when he told her "It's not like that." which is something he wouldn't have done normally) and didn't want her to go, but again, he couldn't have a serious relationship with her and let's not forget that he didn't know himself if she ever saw him as more than a friend with benefits. Once Nabi realized she’s not able to accept that type of relationship anymore she ended it and that’s what it was. Yet, Jae Eon still decided to pursue her despite everything, something he would never do before. Actually, he kept coming back to her until the end. Even though he met another girl when Nabi left, he kept thinking about her and he decided she's the one after his discussion with his mother.

Jae Eon did his worst mistake at that one moment (when he saw Do Hyeok), in spite of Nabi's feelings. Rather than being sincere, he was swept up in emotions and acted selfishly, and Nabi felt it so she did not believe him. The lack of communication between them was still there so they just exploded in anger once again and regretted. This is the best summary I can give. Then episode 10 happened and ended everything in the most beautiful way. The ending was perfect and meaningful.

(I'll post the rest in the comments section because MDL reduced the characters limit)

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Through its different approach to love, Love Alarm also denounces the excesses of technology.

P.S: My username wasn't taken because I'm team Sun Oh (not that I don't appreciate the character or the actor, on the contrary) but because I wanted to change my username after a long time and it happened when me and my friend named ourselves Jojo and SunOh in a game for fun (I also had a character named Hye Yeong lol), at the time I hadn't even watched Love Alarm but I really liked the name so I kept it. Note that Jung Ga Ram also has a character named Sun Ho (such a close one) in another drama called Mistress and he's now my favorite underrated actor.

If you want to avoid major spoilers, you can skip to the conclusion. (which I will post in the comments section because MDL reduced the characters limit)

This review of Love Alarm was written as the episodes progressed (I binge-watched both seasons in a few days) and I'd like to say that everything I wanted came true and everything I understood about the characters' feelings was confirmed in the end, so I can only be satisfied.

This conclusion is perfect because it's healthy and realistic. That she should end up with Sun Oh was inconceivable, she loved Hye Yeong, not him. Sun Oh found happiness on his own and moved on, such is life.

From the beginning of the story, Sun Oh's character didn't come across as a very nice guy, but he's also somewhat pitiful. He wasn't the person Jojo needed, and vice versa. Is he a monster? No. He actually has a pure heart but that doesn't change his immaturity which turns into toxicity for the people around him. Yes, we can see that he starts to have genuine feelings for Jojo, even though his initial motives were questionable.

On the whole, the drama focused more on the psychology of the main characters and I love this kind of romance, the transition from high schoolers to young adults really makes the difference with season 1, the tone changes (highlighting the contrast), you can feel the characters coming of age and the fact that we've followed them through several periods of their lives gives way to a nostalgic feeling, the music etc. also plays a big part.

Apart from all that there were so many good things, from the cinematography, the music, the sci-fi aspect, to the fact that so many things are represented in the form of drawings (even animated ones) and the whole thing around Jojo's drawings and their meanings.

To the people saying Jojo did not consider Sun Oh's feelings : First, stop watching from his perspective only. You are the one blinded by your biases, only caring about what Sun Oh feels instead of Jojo, Hye Yeong and even Yuk Jo. So blinded that you failed to see his character development. Since you didn't even understand his character and the drama, you couldn't appreciate the perfect ending he was given or anything. Second, https://www.tumblr.com/lucymontero/646944171870109696/love-alarm-lovestruck-in-the-city-and-a-womans this article should be enough.

To the people who blame Jojo for kissing Sun Oh in the beginning : She was on bad terms with her boyfriend and eventually she was able to breathe thanks to Sun Oh. It's true that he was forcing, but she ended up accepting the kiss. They were where no one could see them (well, obviously it's a drama, so it doesn't go as planned), and she was tempted... the way he looked at her, the sexual tension, and it is a real handsome guy, we can't lie to ourselves. When we know that many adults (men and women) have already cheated in their lives, it's not a teenager who lets herself go with this kind of context that shocks. I don't think she felt that way with her ex, far from it. In short, she is not to blame. If you want to blame someone SO much, blame Sun Oh.

What can we expect from a character whose childhood was so painful, whose youth was full of struggles, a traumatized teenager with burdens so heavy to bear? Yes, you could say she acts in an annoying and selfish way, however, unless you are completely biased because of Song Kang and that you have a very superficial view of the drama and her character (did people throw their brain in the bin while watching season 1 or did they forget it all? or maybe they skipped through it because all they cared about was Sun Oh and seeing him end up with Jojo. being offensive here, but that's nothing compared to what I've seen), you will feel nothing but empathy. Don't even make me start on the impact that such an event can have on someone... Survivor's guilt, yes, but it was her parents who tried to kill themselves with her.

Sun Oh's behavior can be explained because of his family situation, right, I do understand that. But if you think it's all Jojo's fault or that what Sun Oh did at the beginning is right but what happened afterwards isn't, there's something wrong with you. Viewing lens, I guess. This drama is not for everyone and I've learned to accept it.

What Deuk Gu says to Hye Yeong, "It was Jojo's will to use the shield and spear. Without it, she would never have gone out with you. It was because of the shield that she broke up with Sun Oh and you appeared on the list of people she could love. The shield being a variable, Jojo's will intervened, and you became a potential love interest. She wanted to ring your Love Alarm, even if it meant using the spear. She was willing to go that far to express her feelings for you. If that's not being sincere, what is?" This moment sums it up perfectly.

What's also nice about the end is that Jojo still doesn't ring Hye Yeong's Love Alarm without the spear and she still has the shield, but they know their love is sincere and it was really beautiful when they confessed their feelings out loud. It reminded me of when Hye Yeong was courting Jojo the traditional way without relying to Love Alarm, and the fact that he wanted to build his relationship with her bit by bit was great. Of course, there's that final scene where we see the moments when Jojo rang Hye Yeong's Love Alarm, they left before it started working but anyway, it was obvious. Nonetheless, it was perfect as a conclusion, for us viewers.

I transcribed two other dialogues that are important:

(the discussion between the two brothers) - Five years ago, I told you that we shouldn't release 2.0. - You don't realize that the Love Alarm you created makes people feel lonelier. Version 2.0 was created for those lonely people. If they'd known that lots of people would love them, there wouldn't have been any mass suicides, 23 lives would have been spared. - Is that really what you think? People only go out with the app's recommendations. Just like we only read articles from our search portal. Just as we only watch movies recommended by the algorithm. - What's wrong with that? - It eliminates countless possibilities. If there's an error in the suggestions, version 2.0 prevents love from being born. - An error? How are you going to prove it? - Kim Jojo. When she installed the shield, the person she loved changed. - Programming bug. - It wasn't a bug. It was Jojo's will. With the introduction of synchronization and willpower, this little mistake changed her life. Do you understand now?

(Deuk Gu talking to Jojo) "It was obvious you liked Hye Yeong. Do you know why you hesitated so much? You've never seen his Love Alarm ring. That's why. Even though you knew it was because of the shield, you doubted your feelings, because his Love Alarm had never gone off. That's why I wanted to stop the new function. People have become too dependent on technology."

Conclusion + quotes from the last episode in the comments section

Thank you for taking the time to read !

Because I felt the need to share this awesome review with a more sci-fi perspective: https://mydramalist.com/profile/imanirine/review/155009

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The story of a woman who confronts an unrequited love with all her heart.

~A missed opportunity turns into a regret. If there are no more opportunities to miss, I'll make sure to create some myself.~
~In a world of misunderstandings, it's dangerous to make assumptions about others. So you should ask the question yourself. You should hear the answer directly.~
~Love has to touch someone's inner confidence. Then love won't be dragged down by the other, but will draw the other to you.~

As usual, JTBC romances are my favorites. I'd recommend it to you if you're looking for a romance that's not necessarily simple and cute, for some it'll be more a source of annoyance and boredom than anything else (it's a slow burn and it's far from being a frustration-free drama), or even depressing because yes, it's sad, but in my case I found it more interesting and I was totally hooked.

I really liked the atmosphere, the meaningful and thought-provoking dialogues, the quotes, the narration, the literature, the calligraphy and photography, the cinematography and music, the tense moments and camera movements, the way they end the episodes, the many well-placed metaphors related to fairy tales (I even read an entire analysis to understand one in episode 8, Lee Soo compared to the Little Mermaid at that very moment surprisingly makes so much sense), even the episode titles, there are so many details I can't list them all.

I'd like to add that never before has a drama made me want to visit South Korea, and Seoul in particular, so much. I felt like I was discovering the city as I watched. They did a great job of blending photography with calligraphy. It's rare that I'm so captivated or even amazed by the work aspect of a drama, but this was more than successful. Just like in "Now, We Are Breaking Up", where the male lead is also a photographer while the female lead is a stylist. So in the end, the match-up was really different. Knowing that here we have a very different male lead, he's cold, withdrawn and solitary whereas the one in NWABU is warm and sociable.

I started the drama during my stay in Brittany (region in France), so I might as well tell you that I've stayed in the travel mood with this drama.

Lee Soo was my favorite character, he's quite a sad and annoying character at first, he has a lot of flaws but that's what makes him the most interesting character in the drama and he has a beautiful evolution. He was even the first one to make me cry. Anyway, I can't even describe how much I loved and understood him, I was bubbling over in his place on several occasions. Even when he couldn't control his emotions and was at fault, I couldn't blame him. Finally, I really liked the fact that they played on the negativity of the two main characters and the fact that they fit well together, they're more or less immature when it comes to love, but their feelings are understandable. I still found them cute despite everything, even in the middle of a confrontation where I often found myself putting up with arguments from both sides.

This is the kind of drama that's best watched from the perspective of trying to understand the characters, or even empathize with them. We can't control our feelings, and not everything goes our way, and this drama shows that very well. Like it or not, the way the characters behave was very human. More than just a love story, it's a drama about relationships, be they family, friends, lovers, the misunderstandings we can have about ourselves and others, the difficulties we go through, the mistakes we make and the regrets that go with them, ... Simply put : life. You have to be patient and not judge the characters too quickly to fully appreciate this drama, because we're all different and nobody is perfect. Of course, it's also a beautiful love story and a drama that warmed my heart, with beautiful morals. It's just not what I'd recommend if that's all you're looking for, the drama shows how complicated love can be etc. If you like slow burn and bittersweet romances with complex characters, this is the drama for you.

Some of the topics covered are very relevant, such as:
- Ex-couple becoming friends
- The impact of divorce and neglect on children
- A child's emotional development and view of relationships (keep in mind that our first example of a relationship is that of our parents)
- And many more, but I won't go any further - you'll have to watch the drama to find out!

OST: The lyrics have a real emotional impact and make so much sense in relation to the story and the characters' feelings, especially as they were really well placed in the scenes.

Side note: Yes, the story is frustrating and one could say it goes in circles, but no, it doesn't drag unnecessarily. Yes, Joon Soo deserves better. No, I do not put all the blame on Woo Yeon, and no, he wasn't innocent. He will find someone, he's a good person. And in the end, the journey was meaningful for everyone.

In conclusion, this is the kind of romance that is clichéd but still stands out from the rest because everything seems so realistic and different from other dramas, right up to the very end. Besides, the way they separated the two halves of the drama is brilliant. The expression "the tables have turned" suits this drama perfectly. No matter how much opinions may have differed on this drama as it's not to everyone's taste, you can't ignore how well thought out, acted, written and directed it is, so it deserves respect for the people who worked on it. More Than Friends is not a slick, superficial romantic comedy with a trite love triangle.

That's why I wanted to review this drama, I think it's interesting to watch dramas that are a little less popular or appreciated by the general public from time to time, because despite the negative reviews, it's often in these dramas that we find our own gems, and this one more than deserves to be defended.

The opening to discover as it does not appear on Viki : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24puJ9PF9U

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Sincere, relevant, unforgettable and ahead of its time.

This is more gonna be a warning rather than a review.

The Interest of Love is for people who are into psychology and sociology, melos and slow burns. This is not a conventional romance but a romance depicting modern korean society. This is the opposite of what you could call "dreamy escape" from the K-Dramas people love and are accustomed to. If you want to learn about the society and adult relationships in Korea, look no further. In fact, The Interest of Love is the adaptation of a critically-acclaimed novel in Korea, named "Understanding Love" which is the drama's korean title.

Mantra by everyone who signed up for The Interest of Love’s chaos: “Everyone is flawed. I'm gonna sit and watch.”

Like it or not, get it or not, The Interest of Love is a masterclass in directing, acting and writing. The storytelling and attention to detail are really clever, and the mundane beauty of this drama is something no other can match.

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A suspenseful romance that is short but intense.

The drama, in a nutshell: a love story between a businesswoman and an illegitimate son, inter-family power struggles and an arson case.

An excellent script, a crazy plot that's quite original in the way it unfolds, quality cinematography (so high quality that I felt like I was watching a movie), stunning actors and breathtaking chemistry: a most intense and beautiful romance. The plot is exceptional, as it swings between truth, lies, doubt and uncertainty. I haven't seen many chinese dramas, but this one is surely the shortest in the genre without being a mini drama (if you know the length of cdramas, you know what I mean), a perfect length that didn't leave me hungry after seeing the conclusion. Some of the scenes are absolutely magnificent, and you won't be disappointed until the very end (I hope...). For those of you who like to get chills while watching dramas, I've only got one thing to say: Go for it.

There's one thing I must mention: the dialogue. Some of the dialogue is so beautiful that sensitive people like me won't be able to hold back the tears.

Notes aside:
- I recommend reading the lyrics of the ending at least once as they are incredible.
- After the end of each episode, you'll be treated to just one line of dialogue as a preview, under a mysterious air with the coolest music and title screen. I think this kind of detail is important, it makes the whole thing even cooler. It lasts like 10 seconds, and that's enough to get you hyped.
- The presence of a voice-over narrator who intervenes from time to time in the course of the story, I can't say any more but that's another detail I found very cool and well done. It felt like watching a novel.

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A fresh and thrilling tale against demons.

It's as much of a hit as I expected. To start with, the music (both modern and traditional, just like the drama itself), the costumes, the special effects and the fights, the landscapes and settings (the snowy territories especially, what a pleasure), the demons, my dream has literally come true in a drama. I also love the concept which is very video game-like. It felt like watching an anime too, no wonder it's based on a donghua and web novel (there's even a mobile game and a movie).

Speaking of the special effects, I was expecting anything but this, especially in view of the criticisms of this aspect? It looks even better than in the trailer. It's quality and I've clearly seen worse, forced criticism as usual... The fights were also superbly filmed and choreographed. Obviously, this isn't a drama with huge production value either, but I was fascinated most of the time. Xu Kai is way too cool and his mastery of the spear is impeccable, I can't even imagine how much he had to train.

The story isn't original, yet it's pure pleasure (and I've never seen that in a drama, so it's even cooler), it's always dynamic and I've never been bored. It's typically the kind of story I used to enjoy when I was younger, and frankly, it's refreshing. Some people thought it was cringe-worthy while it's just epic, too bad for them lol.

The drama delicately alternates between sweet moments, drama, action... The story developped very well and was very captivating to my taste. As you can imagine, the theme of evil demons versus good humans and the hero becoming all-powerful is far from complex. Nevertheless, I'm glad the drama brought a modicum of nuance. In addition, I loved the diversity of the characters.

Side notes:
- Overall it is not a drama high in emotions with amazing relationships and character development. It is pretty simple in every aspect. Indeed, it is far from an intelligent drama for a mature audience. Still a great and fun drama because it did what it was supposed to do perfectly.

I write this review because it is deserved and especially because there isn't any that really talks about it as it is, appreciating it for what it is and highlighting what's good about it, how, why and for who.

To the people who claim the romance is bad: Tension is not the only form of chemistry, romance doesn't have to be intense. Sometimes romance is a sweet and subtle thing that can be built upon.

If everything about Snow Eagle Lord gets you hooked from the first episodes just like me, and not only Xu Kai, you will have a lot of fun and be able to enjoy the ride. Besides, we never really see him less as some people states here, maybe for a few little parts but it wasn't for no reason. He is, however, the character we see the most, and certainly the most important. Yes, there are a lot of characters. Unfortunately those people are forcing themselves to watch it for him and are not into the drama, so that's just another nonsensical statement.

Snow Eagle Lord, albeit underrated is now my first hit from this genre and I loved everything about it. I couldn't just sit down and watch it get so much hate. Thank you for reading me! I'm glad if my review helped and I'm even happier if it helps you finding your new gem.

P.S: A message to those relying on douban's ratings. Cnetizens are able to lower a drama's rating to a 1/10 by creating thousands of bots for the dumbest reasons, and trust me, they are horrible. Even MDL is much better in comparison.

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"A love so sweet and refreshing, just like Honey Lemon Soda."

Visually pleasing and refreshing, which was exactly what I wanted after seeing the poster and the trailer.

Very undevelopped story and weird pacing, too focused on the "hero saves damsel in distress" thing, which unfortunately might make it look like Kai only falls in love with girls suffering from bullying (since his ex also suffered from bullying) and that he will break up with Uka until he finds another victim.

Don't get me wrong, I know it's not like this, I'm not villainizing him. I'm just saying they made him wrong, objectively speaking.

Acting was fine, it was clearly too soon for Raul to play a main role immediately but I thought he did great in the final scene, and Yoshikawa Ai clearly did too.

I haven't read the manga but I would for sure recommend it because this definitely was super rushed (understandably so, but with 2 hours of movie they could have developped the story more or made more changes to adapt it better into a movie).

The bonus scenes and the song at the end were amazing. Nice soundtracks during the movie too although they are very simple. I thought they fit to the whole vibe and aesthetic of the movie. Overall, it's a decent time pass movie.

Lots of flaws, but nonetheless, I had a good time watching it. 9/10 will be my subjective rating and 7/10 will be my objective rating.

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A realistic and poignant journey of personal growth and self-discovery.

This drama left a deep impression on me. It's a story of ordinary people. The characters are not always likeable but ultimately very human, and I quickly became attached to them. Just as many laughs, moments of joy, as tears. A drama that really explores love, with beautiful philosophies of life. A more introspective male character than usual, which is rare in romantic dramas, a beautiful soundtrack, and finally, excellent actors (Esom & Seo Kang Joon - I'm fascinated by the emotions they convey in this drama, as well as playing their characters over 3 periods of their lives in 12 years while remaining believable and in different mental states). The drama dates from 2018 and you can tell it's not a high-budget production, but truth be told, the fact that it's not a high-budget production makes the drama seem even more natural than it already does.

If realistic stories that delve into the complexities of human emotions and relationships aren't your cup of tea, skip it. When it's less scripted, it's very easy to misinterpret, to dislike the drama and the characters. Why? Because this is real life. It's all in the feels. What you have to do is step back, be patient, look at it from their point of view and empathize. The drama doesn't shy away from portraying the aspects of life and love that people would rather not enjoy watching. People like to judge other people's lives and choices, but at the end of the day, they are human beings just like us. In The Third Charm, there is no villain and no one is to shame. To conclude, The Third Charm has an indie feel and is clearly aimed at a niche audience. If you are into arthouse films for example, I would recommend it.

Not everyone would rewatch this, but I would, I already did, and I will again. For some it will be nothing but frustration and depression, but for me it will be a way to relieve my emotions. This is a drama that I will rewatch whenever I need some time alone. When I rewatched it for the first time, I unexpectedly binge-watched all the 7 last episodes, which is something I never do even if I have the time.

I'm looking forward to the next works from this director and writers. That was a masterpiece and there's so much to say that I will just stop there.

Also, thank you The Third Charm for showing the beauty of Portugal. I have portuguese origins and I go there sometimes for my family, it is such a beautiful country.

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Underdog story as an old-fashioned melodrama in the cutthroat world of fashion.

Review without major spoilers:

1. Fashion King is definitely in my top for romances & melodramas. It is dark, cunning, bold, toxic and complicated. I was so invested, still am, and will continue to be. I feel like I won't be able to move on for at least a week, as I keep thinking about it and listening to the OST, still fully in the mood of the drama. The beginning is straightforward and sets the tone perfectly. The story drags on, but you'll understand why if you like it or if you're ready to fully grasp the poignant message of this drama. The ending was not only gorgeous in terms of cinematography (which is also well thought-out overall) but it was in fact the apotheosis of character development. It was one of the most artistic endings I have ever seen, and it got everyone talking about it nonetheless (despite the controversy). The ending is well explained on the drama, and every time I looked back, I thought the drama was impressive. This is an unconventional story on humanity, and ultimately society. They didn't care whether anybody would love it or not, yet it managed to be popular in SK while it was airing. If you don't mind 1. a makjang-like drama with pathetic main characters, 2. unclear feelings and intentions (in this regard, the characters are rather realistic), 3. things being left off by the writers for you to decide how you feel about it, you might love the drama and the characters. You will find yourself rooting for everyone and no one. You guessed it, the characters are not written in a simple way. Also, even if the drama depicted a cruel, ugly reality, we all know that the real world can be stranger and more wicked, which again highlights how good the ending is. On top of that, I'll give Fashion King the award of the most imaginative, disturbing and ambiguous ending. It is neither completely happy or sad, but scenaristically open (= not in a marketing way like nowadays Netflix/Disney+ dramas). It gives me very mixed emotions, but I am satisfied with it because it is brilliant.

2. If the main characters themselves don't know about some stuff, why shall we? Such mystery is also part of the tragedy. Some will say that I'm not objective because plot holes/loose ends are necessarily flaws, but everything here was intended. Not to mention that loose ends are important for the viewer to feel the story and its characters live on even after they've finished watching. Not everyone gets it, but we need dramas like this, and it's not about them being loved or not. Keep complaining about the characters being unsympathetic, everything being badly written and whatever else you want, there will always be a few who get it and love it. Fashion King stayed bitterly unfair and cruel up to the very end. I truly loved the strong vibe this drama had, it remained firm and snob. To add further informations, the meaning behind the title is surprisingly quite big and there are some genius references, hints at the ending all throughout, which makes up for a rewatch.

3. You might think that I'm exaggerating, but you'll have to reach the last few episodes to realize the tragedy of this story (also explaining why it is "dark"). Like a crescendo, the conflict developed further and further until it reached a boiling point. That's where the angst really got to me and started making me feel anxious. Then it all depends on you whether you are willing to accept it or not.

Reminder: you can't be too naive watching this and some maturity is needed.

4. Because I have a conscience, I cannot recommend this drama easily nor talk about it publicly (well, I kind of do here, but you know what I mean). If you're of the faint of hearts, I beg you to not watch this. Yes, I'm sensitive and empathic but not in the way that I can't watch "difficult" stuff. I'll admit that I expected worse overall, even in terms of lack of communication etc and I thought it would be more of a frustrating watch. Indeed, I didn't really struggle watching this, instead I had a lot of fun. But that's personal. I also like crying a lot with dramas but I barely cried here, it's not really what the drama aims for. I've seen people saying they cried for days because of the ending, but from my point of view it cannot make me cry (though I can't say it didn't give me a sad, lingering feeling). I hope this review will be enough of a warning for you. Even outside the spoiler part, I have to prepare people as much as I can.

5. As far as I know, a lot of people have jumped on the hate bandwagon seeing it as a complete disaster. When the audience hates something this much, the majority won't try to perceive it as a good work and try to understand it. Especially since the rating is so low, it's easy to hate and be convinced about it. But I can't blame them because otherwise I too (for once), would have done the same. If it wasn't for the ending, it would be around 6.7 if not higher. But then, it wouldn't be what it is anymore. People obviously called it pointless, stupid and everything they wanted to after the ending but they are far from the truth.

6. I didn't watch it for being the lowest rated K-Drama on MDL, I just loved the cast, the poster and the premise. I also listened to one of the OST and had this gut feeling that it could only be really good. I kinda always end up defending underrated dramas without forcing myself to. By the way of course there are low rated dramas that I agree on being nothing close to masterpieces whatsoever and it's not just me trying to convince myself that every low rated drama is good. I would never take so much time for a review nor having enough substance (especially in the spoilers part, and even then I had to hold back on details because it was far too long) to make it this long if it was bad and I didn't sincerely love it.

7. I can only respect the trauma that a lot of people had to put up with. While this was a source of entertainment on my side, this was a source of suffering for others. Luckily enough for them, there won't be anything like this again. I don't think you can compare Fashion King with any drama, except maybe What Happened in Bali by the same writers and chief producer. What's for sure is that they are both unique and memorable. Moreover, this is my opinion and you don't have to agree. I can't deny how I feel and what I think, just like you can't either and have every right to be harsh, give it the lowest rating and express your opinion. I find the rating on MDL to be fair, because it serves as a warning (not only that, the drama also warns you from the very beginning in a subtle manner). Anyone who's not too naive knows very well that ratings here are not representative in terms of quality. High rated dramas can be objectively not as good as some low rated dramas and vice versa. Ratings are mostly representative of how mainstream a drama is. I admit 5.8 is extremely low on MDL but I guess that's because a lot of the viewers felt the need to express their anger by rating it as low as possible. I'll add that even within the haters of the drama, I've seen so many different opinions/interpretations and a lot of people who actually understood the message of the drama without necessarily realizing it. It also seems that some people watched it to join the hate train but couldn't assume that they enjoyed it. Another fun fact to note is that there are people who liked the ending and not the rest. In addition, if it managed to make people 1. angry 2. cry for days 3. theorizing and discussing no matter how much they hated it, that says a lot too. It's unlikely to leave you indifferent unless you want to forget about it as soon as you finished because you actually didn't care. What else could the staff ask for? They knew it was going to get a lot of backlash, and I'm sure the audience response was exactly what they expected. Funnily enough, people still watched it to the end. I understand why most would regret watching and call it a waste of time, but I couldn't be more grateful personally.

Say what you like, but to me this is a proof of the greatness of this story. I expected worse actually, because I found many positive and more or less mixed comments here and on other sites when I thought everyone would be hiding. It surprised me, especially as I sometimes see more hatred towards dramas rated around 6.9. I suppose that it's because the drama is old and not popular worldwide, barely anyone knows about it. The rating clearly plays a role as well so again I can only be thankful that it's rated this low. What's more, I found out that the korean audience liked it! The evaluation was actually pretty good overall, despite the controversial ending which led to more mixed reactions.

The rest + the review with major spoilers in the comments section (in progress, I will update as soon as I can) :

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A refreshing, dynamic and modern romantic comedy with cute, bickering characters.

"Always Have, Always Will" is one of my favorite Chinese dramas and unexpectedly one of my actual favorites. I'm not very much of a romantic comedy lover and each of my attempts in the school genre for cdramas have been failures despite the success. However, I found this one very gripping and different.

Full of life, full of color, intriguing, with a fair amount of drama and depth that surprised me, and I got very attached to the characters. It's cute, it's fun, yes, but it's also a beautiful love story. I loved the way the story unfolds bit by bit until the very end, and how the title really comes into its own.

In conclusion, it's an underrated drama that's worth giving a try. The story is full of clichés and conflicts, but it's not done in a way that's annoying at all I think, so rather than saying the drama is cliché I'd say it's unique in its genre. I also liked the fact that the resolution of the memory loss wasn't as clichéd as usual and more realistic. It wasn't just used as a plot twist either, but as a base for the plot.

(https://mydramalist.com/49135-always-have-always-will#comment-14205439) from my friend Kelekat in the comments -> ( "'Dynamic' is by far the most accurate word to describe this drama! The writing, cinematography, styling, all of it. Very well said. The application, usage and execution of the flashbacks are so well done. They aren't just thrown in there. They help us understand our characters actions and behaviors along the way. So much of what's happening in the present would seem petty and trivial without them. Yes, there are cliches left and right in this but how they are applied is extremely original and I'm saying this after watching several hundred dramas since coming back to this one now. I'm enjoying it so much."

After all, this is just my opinion and I admit that I prefer when there's a lot of complications rather than a calm story but I sincerely think it's a refreshing drama overall, thanks to its colorful characters and direction in particular.

Seeing the feedbacks, it didn't appeal to everyone, but I'd still recommend it openly. You might not enjoy it as much, but this drama was a bliss for me.

P.S: please don't skip the opening and the ending~ they're not gonna ruin your watch, just watch them because they're a delight. I don't think I ever skipped them once.

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Blood: A memorable masterpiece in the vampire genre. ~ Ending explained.

I wrote this a long time ago. I tried to make it as insightful as possible. Thank you for reading in advance!

Blood is not your typical vampire story from the get-go because of its take on vampires and the medical setting. It's philosophical and even artsy. It really is a matter of being hooked by the storyline and atmosphere. The music is a mix of old school techno, violon and harpsichord to evoke the atmosphere of Victorian vampires. The main cast and many other characters are kind of edgy from the vibe they give off but it is perfectly fitting to the style of the drama. They were unique and unforgettable. If you cannot handle anything spiritual, you might want to stay away from Blood.

Look back at the whole drama to understand the ending. Blood is actual genius.

Copy-pasted a part of Maryena's review (the one on the top) which I wanted to include here : "The plot was very unpredictable. That's why I liked its story. Also the story was full of moral, humanity and most importantly, Blood is brimming with life philosophies. Add to this the other invaluable life lessons that may be culled from the drama. To name a few, faith in God during adversity, compassion or empathy for the sick and dying; fleeting nature of life and vain things like power and money; moral science or the upholding of the ethics and standards of one's profession."

I really like the synopsis, so I will also copy it here in case some of you didn't read it : "Park Ji Sang is a doctor specializing in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in the best cancer research hospital in the country. He is also a vampire. Despite seeming cold and unfeeling, Ji Sang masks his soft heart and inner pain and yearns for closeness with people. He believes very strongly in the sanctity of human life and suppresses his thirst for blood to treat terminally ill patients and save lives. (his internal conflict >>>)

Among his colleagues is Yoo Ri Ta, a hotshot physician who entered medical school at the age of 17 and is also the niece of the chaebol group chairman who owns the hospital. Ri Ta is highly capable but snooty and prideful, yet Ji Sang finds himself falling for her. He also gets drawn into a conflict between good and evil as he encounters Lee Jae Wook, a two-faced hospital chief who gains everyone's trust with his gentle demeanor, but inwardly harbors a dangerous ambition for power and a talent for cruelty."

Side note: The romance was sweet and the support between the characters was very refreshing, as there was no useless toxicity between them. Finally, a real team with real teamwork.

Special effects: You must keep in mind that this is a 2015 supernatural drama from KBS2. However, the fights were so well choreographed and I LOVED it when they transformed. It was so cool and original.

Acting: All the cast is commendable, truly. Ji Jin Hee's Lee Jae Wook is one of the best villains I have ever witnessed. Ahn Jae Hyun's Park Ji Sang is by far my favorite vampire and his little smirk was everything (also like the tone of his voice and his facial expressions were so captivating to me?). Moreover I appreciate how stoic he is because when he cracks, it accentuates the shift and gives a real intensity. On the other hand, Rita is a fun character. People blaming Ahn Jae Hyun and Goo Hye Sun must have a personal problem with them or their characters. As AJH's first main role, it must have been very hard first of all. Please watch the press conference to have an idea of what they went through. I couldn't bear GHS in BOF because I couldn't bear anything at all in this drama, it was way too cringe for me. But here I loved her (I mean she's not the most likeable in the first few eps tho but she did a great job at that lol). Please pay attention to their emotional changes all throughout. If the drama is not for you, just drop it and get a life.

For more details on GHS's acting in the first episodes :

https://www.soompi.com/article/704949wpp/blood-team-voices-their-concern-regarding-criticisms-of-goo-hye-suns-acting

Teasers I felt the need to share as well as a press conference :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWCjhD3BqTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MogMyyGLhY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVMYcYEAOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkpcA9AgtZs

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Remember the last episodes when Park Ji Sang was talking to Chief Jung and the conversation between Dr. Choi and Dr. Jung about him. That he could live without a heart and he has to die to cultivate the cure for 20-30mins. And because his blood is auto-genesis, he can live again. Because this is a theory and not been proven that's why everyone is concerned that it might fail. He is not that affected much with the sunrise because they could have injected the decomposed blood already and it won't react anymore to a dead infected and because he is of pure blood he can heal faster. Him being alive at the end means the antibody worked, and it was successful making him stronger than ever even as a human. So Yoo Ri Ta is all in to the experiment and when Park Ji Sang died of course they have to revive his body and observe him. It can take longer before his body will be totally cured and by the time he woke up Yoo Ri Ta is gone to Kochenia already as planned. So when she saw Park Ji Sang there it is as if she already knew that it was him but was too amazed to react or in a dreamy state when she realized that the cure was real. The end.

So, this is the logical explanation. But if you don't mind me sharing more of my thoughts :

By the end, he is human. His heart stopped beating, but he transcended humanity. His blood is enough for him to live and that's what saved him. He'll die as a human. The writer certainly knew that only a few people would understand and love the drama for what it really is "beyond the surface". They could have shown everything that happened in between to give the viewers clear explanations, but it would then ruin the atmosphere, all the build up, and the theme of the drama would become meaningless. Blood stayed true to itself. It was supposed to feel like a miracle.

From the beginning, they try to find a cure (Ji Sang's mother). This is how it ends. Ji Sang and his mother's dream to make him human became a reality.

The drama started in Kochenia (note that the very first scene is important), and ended in Kochenia.

Remember the dialogue between Rita and Ji Sang on the rooftop, it also fits perfectly.

The reference to Beauty and the Beast.

The vampires came from Kochenia originally. But them appearing at the same place, at the same time where Rita is... strange right? Now remember Jae Wook's monologue before he died. He represents the devils (the painting at his home is quite self-explanatory already) whereas Ji Sang represents the angels. Blood is a battle between light and shadow. Look at the main poster now. Ji Sang's sudden appearance as Rita's savior was brilliant (just like in the past!).

All in all, this is like 10 parallels in one scene. One (and most) may say that it's a stupid ending and that it doesn't make any sense, but it really does. I found it really beautiful. Not to mention the scenery was gorgeous and Ji Sang became even more handsome?? I really love Rita too... she made me cry hard before this scene came - Ji Sang's reaction to Hyun Woo's death was also heartbreaking. Both had an awesome character development throughout the drama and suffered so much.

Vincenzo was written by the same person, and it only confirmed my thoughts about Blood with biblical references being placed here and there. I clearly don't love it as much as I love Blood but it was really good. Vincenzo is definitely not as serious, but it gave me good laughs. I still find the robot in Blood to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen in a drama though.

Honestly, it couldn't be more obvious with all the religious things in the drama, even in the poster you can notice crosses. When I first saw the ending, I wasn't even confused. It was a surprise yes, but somehow, it immediately made sense for me. By always seeking too much rationality in fiction, you lose yourself and miss a lot. Blood is the best take on vampires to this day, and it is not only a vampire series for teenagers like Twilight.

Yet, even though I said it is obvious, it is all very subtle.

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Very insightful analysis from a Korean philosopher : https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?memberNo=134246&volumeNo=1335670&vType=VERTICAL

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