This review may contain spoilers
Lacked In Comparison To The First Season
Where Season 1 had me, I didn't feel it in this 2nd season. The action didn't really hit me, and Jian never felt like Jian from how she ended S1.For the first half of the show, there wasn't any action; it felt more like a buildup, and in comparison to Season 1, those who watched the first season should know what I'm pointing at. The second half of the show gave a lot more action than the first half, but still fell back a lot when you get reminded of the first installment. I went into this show expecting something from that end at Season 1: Jian's significant character growth, Jian being the ladyboss in Season 2. The trailer gave a lot more of her as a Ladyboss than the drama itself; trailers can be really misleading. The writers gave nothing about what she went through and became in S1. Firstly, she just ran from what she promised/her responsibilities into the countryside, where she could likely endanger the people living there with her identity. Her staying in that peaceful environment in the first two eps of the drama ADDED NOTHING TO THE SHOW: NO TWIST, NO DISCOVERY, NO VALUE. Jian of this season felt more like how she was at the start of the first season. The Season 2 focus wasn't on Jian's growth but more on the conflict between Muthehelp and Babylon, and it was saddening to me as the writer never cared about the growth Jian had from the first season.
The writers just killed Bale at the midpoint of the drama. It felt like when he died, he was a side character rather than a tough villain from the first season. I was really disappointed by the time he died, how he died, and the way the scene was directed. Bale was such a compelling villain in season 1, with a menacing screen presence, and he just died like a minor character. The actor really did a great job with his portrayal. They never gave a real face-off/showdown between Bale and Jiman; It was just anticlimactic, given how much potential these two characters had to make the show more engaging. J was an interesting character to me, and I would like to see more of his scenes, BUT the writers gave him an intentional death as a plot device in making Q develop a relentless mind in pursuing Jian and killing Jiman. It was dissatisfying. The fact that Q believed what was told of how her brother died, with what she knew of how dangerous Bale was, was NOT MAKING ANY SENSE.
Pasin definitely did what he had to do to save his son, but he really overdid it. If he chose to help his team, he would have found a way, even with him having the chip in his body. At last, the writers just killed him off (I felt the writers made him kill his team's opponent and him casually dying for redemption), and we weren't told what went on with his son in Jiman's hands. The writers picked what was important and left out some minor things I would have loved to see.
The villains of this season weren't as good as the ones from the former. If I were told to choose which villain had me, it would be K; he never talked much and had one gloomy face, but he gave me a villain feel, at least in comparison to the rest of the named Babylon.
Q didn't feel like a villain/an enemy; she felt like someone who had to do something she doesn't want, and her shooting the gun at the wall instead of her foe in front of Jian says it all. Loved how the misunderstanding between Q and Jiman didn't drag out too long; also loved the interaction they had at the end of the show.
Kusanagi Jin didn't actually get me to feel anything, except at times she feels so comical, like a mentally derailed patient in therapy; she just feels so unserious and weird. She gets me laughing when asking for food when something serious and in need of attention occurs. The actress deserves praise for that performance. I couldn't truly get invested in her character as a villain because she actually did nothing other than bossing others around and talking big. They threw in action into her character at the end, and we see her with the guns killing the red team like flies, going through the leader of the reds and bursting into the door unscathed, pointing guns at Jeong Jiman and Jeong Jian. Everything felt so Hmmmm. She passes the red code leader offscreen. CAN'T THEY JUST GIVE ME THE ACTION LIVE AND STOP DOING OFFSCREEN? She came out unscathed from the red team and their guns, without the writers giving us a hint or a backstory to what she did in the past for her to be this strong; this just feels like A LAZY WAY OF WRITING.
Season 2 really fell short in comparison to the first season, and I shouldn't even be surprised; that is the way most series are.
Jian never made real use of a gun, and that was a problem because she felt like she was in the shell of her Season 1 character who hadn't overcome challenges, even though she had done all of that. But I was satisfied by the forehead shot she bestowed upon Kusangi Jin.
If they ever make a Season 3, please keep it engaging, fast-paced, and juice up Jian's character like it should be done.
Thanks for reading the long Review🩷
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Middle Aged Men On Glasses Are Who They Are; So Don't Mess With Them
INITIAL THOUGHTSThe drama caught my attention right from the first two episodes: the set-up, pacing, and relationships. When clicking the next episode, there was something I would love to see.
The drama would have wrapped up in 8 episodes, or so; the last two/three episodes were unnecessary.
LIKES
Loved the emotional and sensitive growth Kim Min Ji had in her relationship with her dad (Manager Kim). I viewed the relationship she had with her father in the first episode as really rough, as she and her dad never communicated properly; she was insensitive to how her father loved her, and she never really spared a moment in just having an interaction with her dad. It was really sad to me, for how it affected her father emotionally, but she was insensitive to all of that. She found out what her dad meant to her when she was half-dead, kidnapped, escaped, and caught. When her father saved her and they went to their house, the special agents were waiting outside for her father. Just them in that living room, lacking words to speak; the emotions they had within themselves spoke out from the walls. It was touching, heartfelt, and heartbreaking.
The trio as a team was one of the funniest, most serious, emotional, and grounded moments in the drama. They were just the imperfect, lovable team, with a well-blended chemistry between each one of the three. Their dynamics add humor that doesn't feel misplaced, but comes effortlessly. That moment when they were shown to us as they met as three ordinary men in glasses drinking cups of alcohol was just unforgettable. When I watched how the show ended, I just had to replay the whole scene. They brought many emotions while I was watching this drama, and I had a hard time moving forward.
I loved how they were there for each other; even when it was hard, they always made a silly excuse to save their friend, Manager Kim. These kind of thick-and-thin friends don't always come, and I was glad to watch their story
Each actor nailed their roles, the team(good guys), the enemies (secret agent), and down to the villain. So Ji Sub gives a very good emotive performance of a man yearning for the sight of his daughter; I was also impressed by the child actor's performance and the villains that made my blood boil so many times.
DISLIKES
The last three episodes were forced down the throat and weren't needed; the North Korean delegation coming to South Korea and the writers unrealistically granting Ju Gang Chan power to control both the South and the North for his comeback against manager Kim just felt forced, and I was not sold at all. The drama should have wrapped up everything in episode 8, both in the emotional aspect with his daughter and different characters' closure and their endings.
It felt superstitious and fantastical regarding Kim Min Ji waking up from her coma half-dead, and there was no medical treatment given to her, no side effects- she was just fine
FINAL THOUGHT
I can't help but feel certain characters, like the North Korea man sent to kill Manager Kim, and also the man Ju Gang Chan broke his teeth and it got replaced with golden teeth; I believe they could be utilised within the chaos, not bringing them in when the chaos ended.
Things wrapped up neatly with a good closure between characters; the closure between Manager Kim and the North Korea agent was refreshing, even the closure between Kim Min Ji and her Crush was just sweet. The last team trio moments were hilarious, both eating at the sushi place without their glasses and picking just one pair of glasses after testing more than 20. They were hilarious, funny, and unserious. The smiles between the special agents (Kang Guk Cheol ) and Manager Kim at the end never felt like acting; it felt like they just became at ease and laughed on set, and also Kang Guk Cheol giving a gift to Min Ji, while putting on a casual face, was touching I would say.
They are just middle-aged men in glasses, when you don't mess with them.
Rating 8.0
Thanks for reading
Goodbye
Was this review helpful to you?
Great casts, is the life of the show.
A office rom-com that is thrilling, interesting, and fun due to the great casting, incredible performances, with lovely camedarie, good humour and engaging office investigations. While the plot isn't compelling and incredible the casting performance were the life of the showWhile I love all the casting, the main couple casting, was impeccable, with sweet romances, cozy hugs, chaotic energy investigations which were my gripping effects each week and my highest motive to binge this every week.
Loved the ride.
I need Shin Hye Sun and Gong Myoung casted in a great script
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Press Play; The Fun
I think you should go tap the play button and check this out, if you are looking for something entertaining, fun, hilarious and sometimes emotional, something that doesn't go with a rom-com genre or anƴ usual genre. This just feel innovative, I don't remember watching this kind of plot before and that was what made everything more interesting .I didn't think I would stick through with this while I started and here I am savouring the ending I never really wanted this to come to an end this early. Will miss this a lot, almost every moment was hilarious and fun, but some moments just hits emotional. Can't count the number of times I laughed aloud, had smiles and made empathy with few characters.
First of all, I loved the unique plot: about housing. A man who wants to embezzle 17.8 billion won to save his boss (who was like a father to him) from prison. I don't remember watching a similar Korean genre and that made it hit differently. Finally not a rom-com, supernatural or action, Just something lighthearted, emotional as and thrilling.
I think I love this show a lot more than expected, the fake family that turned it a strong bond that surpasses that of a real family. The way Hae Gang and Tae Man expressed their father and son love, when Tae Man was just someone who helped Hae Gang when he was much younger and raised him into he is today, just feels genuine even with the less backstories given. The chemistry between the leads, that doesn't need to be shouted aloud, from their gaze, care and talks, Love it all.
The show had an interesting villains, that actually suprised me a lot, I thing it's the actor behind the face that perfected the villain. The actor did an amazing job with the portrayal of a villain, that laugh, shout, cry, mockingly pity and all other emotions, was a great depiction, the villain had this perfect portrayal of comedic, yet menacing looks that actually clicks right each time.
Talking about the chemistry he had with he had with the ML Hae Gang, when he just behaved so unserious, the interaction and dialogue they had when Hae Gang found out Lee Chung Won embezzled the money was fun and interesting, them sipping drink from the straw staring at each other was PEAK.
They were characters I became invested in unknowingly, I never expected that I would love Suk Jin, at first I thought of her as a troublemaker and fault finder, but I think it stems from her righteous zeal to help the residents and I warmed up to her without knowing.
I enjoyed the Kang sisters relationship, whatever things that caused conflicts between them was for the other protection. and It was endearing watching them trying to protect each other.
I love, loved the ending I was busy eating everything up Lee Chung Won being arrested and Hae Gang and his team openly exposing his crime, seeing him in that state of true anger was the first time I saw that real pain form the character, and the actor portrayed it so well. I would have loved to see the more story between Ha Jeong and her other pair. Seeing the come together after three years was for the old times and had two new member, even them meeting with the residents again was heartwarming. They must have being thrilled meeting the President LOL Hahaha. Would have loved the story to delve more into things esp at the ending episodes but with the limited twelve episodes the story did a good job.
Overall, I think you should go watch this if you have nothing to watch and you just want something fun entertaining and new. I haven't watched Ji Sung in a show before and I have heard of his wonderful performances, seeing it firsthand is always better, the other cast also did a great job and to our villain an applaud and award.
I think I found this story more engaging than I expected making me stick around till the end which I haven't mostly done 2026, so It's a big win. I enjoyed this family and residents a lot.
Rating 8.5
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Well Written With Great Acting Performance
COMMENTARYThis drama immediately caught my interest from episode one, and I stayed with the drama until the finale. Some may find the beginning quite slow, but that is the buildup, and if you by any means drop it for this reason, I think you should by all means go back to it again till episodes 5 or so.
This writer deserves an award, or something sort of; I loved the skillful blend of romance, political schemes, household schemes, family drama, and even angst. The pacing and how the plot goes with the villains, side characters, and main characters are all entertaining.
Review in Detail (SPOILER AHEAD)
I just love how the plot starts, the whole process it went through, and even the end; I found it unique. I haven't watched many C dramas, but with the little I have watched, I haven't found a plot quite similar to this. Watching this commoner and a woman fallen from grace become an official was something new and refreshing.
Fu Ting Yun's journey from a woman fallen from grace to a woman well praised, known, and sought after was at times painful, angsty, and dreadful, but it was filled with love and support. Watching her being poisoned (to death) by her Grandma was painful and unbearable; it shows how little value she had to the Fu household and also how most wealthy and officials treat their families when they reach a tough path that involves sacrifice, and most times sacrifice their kins while claiming it was for the greater good, and we saw it more than once—loved how she stepped away from the the thinking of a wealthy daughter into a commoner who fetches water, washes clothes, dries grains, and a lot more. She had perseverance and devotion in waiting for Zhao Ling for five years; she knew when to listen to her husband and when not to. She was a woman of her own making, and she didn't need to rely on her family to rise to power. She was also a source of light to many women. I always love the story of a strong woman.
The process by which Zhao Ling went from a salt smuggler was stressful, painful, and needed every bit of hard work and perseverance, and Fu Ting Yun was his strong hope and light and passing through this path. When he became an official, his character became different from when he was a commoner, and overtime him, being an official weighed down his mind to the brink, where he had constant headaches, as shown by him constantly touching his head, leaving his beard unshaven, and even feeling disconnected from his family, friends, and lover. All this stems from his unwillingness to explain some details, share his burden, and remove some weight from his shoulders, and sure, his excuse was to protect her, but I couldn't quite agree with him. Fu Ting Yu is a strong woman who doesn't need your protection, but needs to stand beside you to fight against the foe. At some point in his journey, I asked myself why he pushed himself in this way and whether it was worth it. I find all this realistic in the right sense.
I really love this couple they have being through so much and they deserve a happy ending, Love the unwavering love and support for each other, they have been through so much hard times and peril, their happiness feel deserves, they made me smile, swoon, angsty and teary, but I'm happy they ended living a peaceful life away from politics, giving birth to a girl and raising her in peace.
From Ganlin to the capital hasn't been easy for them both, and I believe it was the trust, support, love, and care they had that brought them through.
The actors had really good chemistry on-screen; the tension was all there, and the tearjerker scene had the most tension.
Yu Jing Xu was a spineless man, that could have left his father wings, he just had to keep depending on his father and gaslighting himself that his father will bring him back to the office, I couldn't even feel pity for him while he was being used, deceived and manipulated by his father and his mother, I would have cut off from them early rather than staying in a home where I'm one of the castaway piece.
Yake's realization and letting go at the end made it my first time seeing her in a good light, and I loved as it wasn't long before she left the man-eating house. Sadly, she didn't leave with her son, but I guess she wants to live for herself, selfishly, leaving her son under the care of that man-eating house.
The sisterhood between Yake and Fu Ting Yu was broken because of greed, jealousy, and lack of communication. I felt that Yake thinks in a one dimensional manner, that is, rising to become a woman of the society, blending to the group of officials wives, with her husband being her source, their is nothing really wrong with that thought, but she is a backstabber and one that is greedy, she please in your front, only to go behind and stab you, that clearly showed the line of how selfish she actually is. Whereas Fu Ting Yu is someone who wants to rise to a woman where no one can decide her fate, she comes to people with sincerity; even if she schemes, it's not against her own. That is the difference between these two sisters and why they drifted apart.
The relationship between Yake and Yu Jingxiu was really unhealthy, but at least it wasn't toxic. I felt he married her out of desire/he thought she had gentle, womanly features e.g taking good care of books, while she married him because she wanted to lift her status. There wasn't any mutual support/assistance, or talking about real feelings. If they had a mutually supportive relationship like Yu Jing Xu's parents, they wouldn't have had this unhealthy relationship, but they would have been so down.
I thought the villains were really interesting; I never really expected the Yu family to actually take on the role of the villain to the end. They were cutthroat, scheming, and resolute; they do not care what means they take to achieve their goals. It was interesting seeing how they and the main characters were perfectly matched. And I loved how Fu Ting Yu and the Yu woman had their last conversation.
The show realistically portrayed how a human heart can be harsh at times. Yu Jing Xu's father always wanted his son to take the blame for him, which was really bad, and he then gave empty promises to please his son. I really liked how the son refused to be the scapegoat at the last part of the show.
I love how the show makes some characters make a difficult choice; Like when the emperor told Zhao Ling to put the blame on his wife and escape all accusations, while he enjoys power and wealth. That would be a very tempting choice for major characters in this drama, but not for Zhao Ling. I knew the choice he would make. It was predictable, and yet that was my first teardrop in this drama. I believe it was the way it was portrayed: he said everything like he was going to poison, THE ANGST, then he took the cup, held her by her jaw, and said I did not take you out of Biyun Nunnery to bring you into another Biyun Nunnery and then he drank the cup and took all the blame. THE ANGST, THE CHEMISTRY, THE TENSION WAS REALLY GOOD.
The villain's accidental death was just sooo unsatisfying and undeserved. He should have gotten a lot more punishment than that sweet death. Yu Jingxiu's mother's ending was good, like she doesn't have to die. It was good seeing her live as a commoner; her losing her senses was better. I'm sure she would have committed suicide if she were sane.
I didn't even care/connect with A Sen when he was getting married; I felt his part was rushed and underdeveloped, and him avoiding Zhao Ling, his brother, after not seeing him for five years DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
FINAL THOUGHT
I loved the ending, and seeing the closure shown in some characters was a delight; seeing Yake teaching at Gan Lin showed she's turned over a new leaf, and watching Wu Youde managing the business means she achieved her dreams of being free, not under the restraint of a man,
Loved, as Zhao Ling stepped away from the court; The court is a very awful and dreadful place to be, where your friends today will point swords against you tomorrow. Loved, as they showed that Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun had a child and they are living peacefully.
This drama brought me different emotions and feelings, and I enjoyed them all, and I think this has to do with the actors' performance. They all did great; I applaud the main characters and villains of this show, and even the side characters held their own and displayed their range.
This is a drama I would definitely recommend to someone who loves historical C-dramas, as I do slow-burn, family drama, court politics, schemes, angst, wits, friendship, trust, jealousy, betrayal, and a lot more; the drama has all these in the right amounts.
Rating 9.0
Thanks for reading this Long Review.
If you managed to stick around till now🩷.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Incoherent Writing; Spookiness Got Lost Halfway Through
The part I loved most was the leads being together with some kind of awkwardness that feels realistic in a way.I think the problem I had with this drama was that it was never shown clearly why/how they fell in love. They met a few times and likely helped each other in the few times they met. Then the writers decided to add something to show they have some feelings for the other......Jealousy, them seeing the other with their opposite gender, and acting all weird and jealous. The writers forcibly tried to convey to the viewers that they already have feelings, and I wasn't even into that. The question is: if they weren't the Male lead and the Female lead of the story, would they have gotten feelings in that short amount of time, and why couldn't they fall in love with the another opposite gender they have had a lot with........why must the ML lead/FL lead catch feelings for the other if they haven't done anything special/ something that attracts them together.
I believe leads should have at least ins and outs, ups and downs, quarrels, bickering, something special to make the story a lot more believable.
In the first half of Spooky in Love, the spookiness wasn't even spooky; the second half of the show completely forgot it was even supposed to be spooky in the first place and went for "the" love. I thought of this as a missed opportunity and bad writing; with the mystery and ghosts and how they solve the cases for those wandering spirits, the leads could have formed feelings that are actually conceivable and, in a way, could make the show engaging.
MANY CHARACTERS WERE ONE-DIMENSIONAL
Let's start with Ma Gong Uk. This character was centered around his love for Yeo Ri, and it felt like he had no other thing going on in his life; he even ignored the advice of his grandma and fell in love with a woman he met a few times. The writers said he was a prosecutor, but I didn't even get how we could say he was a prosecutor when all he did was sit in his office all day long and think about the woman he loves and keep thinking about whether he will call her or not; he felt like an office worker. Then the show suddenly remembers, "we said he was a prosecutor, didn't we? Let's try to throw the viewers something like, Him organizing and evaluating some file", but all that doesn't look like what a prosecutor ought to (only) be doing.
No Lies, at times I got really happy when the leads' near kisses got interrupted, and I am saying MAN GET SOMETHING DONE AND STOP HOVERING AROUND THE WOMAN.
Cheon Hari's screen time, or whenever she was shown, was all about how to bring down Yeo Ri, and it gave me an annoying feeling, like she had no prospects except her thinking her problem was just how to take her down and own a business she never contributed to........SO ONE-DIMENSIONAL
Her mom was way better than her; she schemes, hides under a facade, puts on a cool face, wears false smiles, which really made her a better-written character in comparison to her daughter, and I loved her ending.
Kang Min Hwan is the kind of character who doesn't dare to show/confess to the woman he likes all his life, and when she is into someone, he gets angry and jealous. The way I wasn't even surprised he killed his brother and committed another murder was real; his end was well deserved.
I really loved the grandmas; they really loved their grandchildren, and Ioved as Yeo Ri's grandma never tried to subject her to another man when she brought Ma Gong Uk; she just accepted him, even if she was unsettled. I guessed she truly accepted him for who he was.
The ending was predictable; when things were going on, I was like "Next, Next". The show definitely spends its time on unnecessary things, like their time in Singapore. I still loved some parts in the end, like the spirits she brought to the afterlife, and them giving their all to save her. It was touching and heartwarming; she reaped what she sowed, and even her little interaction with Ji Hwan was somehow bittersweet.
I wouldn't recommend this drama to anyone; you could preferably go rewatch older K-dramas.
I thought the ML had better chemistry with his prosecutor partner than with the FL.
Rating 5.5
Was this review helpful to you?
Supernatural with the mix of other genres at its best.
The narrative of the plot doesn't attend only to the supernatural; it draws on other genres to create a mix of something clearly binge-worthy.When family relationships, friendship, teammates, and comedy blend with something supernatural in a natural and likeable way.
Each of their relationship was impactful and touching.
Eunie and her grandma's relationship was a gem.
Mr Seo and his daughter's relationship was gold.
Mr Seo and his wife's relationship was silver.
The villains were an interesting one, they had bonds, sorta of familiar relationships, and love for each other, and I just gave that to the secondary villains, to the primary villains, they made my blood boil, their calm and all-assuring performance was well done, I give them for that.
A drama where the sources tell you mostly supernatural, but the in-depth tackles something more than supernatural snd villain arcs, it tells there is even a quiet family bond, that can create a villain
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Dedication of love: Love bonded in sacrifices.
When the main criteria is love.Love devotion, was the main theme of this spectacular series. It tells you love don't bloom from nothingness or constant glances, It builds on actual substance before it blooms to those valley of flowers.
The main characters tale of love differ from their own building, but each of them were interesting had their serious likes and some dislikes, not all have to like the love between a particular character, because love is what causes you to defy the world.
Many seem no to like their stay in the void, but not for me, their stay in the void was about the building of their love, not really about the demonstration of their fight scenes, when they had their stay in the void, their love was constantly building on hopelessness despair, raising a child, old age, flirtness and more.
The void depicts the main origin of the story where the story gives us a highlight of what happened in the past and is affecting lives in reality, the void was the building essence of the story.
The OST was fantastic, it wasn't underwhelm scenes, it's uplifts all those romantic, fight, emotional scenes.
The fight scenes was an excellent masterpiece of all ages it was raw, well defined, and real
All the characters of the show played a significance, their wasn't one playing an insignificant role.
The guest stars was stunning, Chang Hau Sen as Han Ba was interesting an fun. We also hot Gong Zi Shang form My Journey to you and she literally brought her character of MJTY, to the show.
We also saw Xia Shi Guang as a powerful fox and his portrayal as that love driven character was touching and heartbreaking, but he played it in an amusing stance.
The villain of the story was well written but has flaws, bother he villain and the dragons.
How did the villain and the dragons exist in the thrive by and small mortal world, no reason on why the villain wants the mortal world destroyed, we had an overpowered villain which is interesting but it felt really undying and sophisticated, when the villain falls the scripts actually comes up with something that brings him back to being alive, It was great, cuz our main character has to be that exhausted fighting a villain.
Overall the drama was a well written love story, where love literally occurs with our main characters, side characters and guest roles, and the execution was nothing void of phenomenal. The beautiful fight scenes, OST, romance, supernatural elements, where converging to a common points and it was killing a typical undying villain.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
FUN! FUN!! FUN!!!
I laughed really hard while watching this. I kept food, snacks, and water out of my mouth while watching this to prevent choking. The characters were unserious and highly comedic; the villain had something comedic in their mannerisms, in the way they were presented, fought, and at times died. I couldn't control my laughter and smiles for at least the first half.The cast was amazing; it felt like each of their roles was best suited for them. Ao Rui Peng portraying Li Changshou was natural and amazing, and it felt like himself. A character made for him, where he doesn't need to be stressed with his posture or mannerisms.
Likewise, in my opinion, Ai Mi's portrayal of Li Chang Shou's junior sister was the funniest character in this show, and I loved how she matched her senior brother and understood the meaning of his eye signs. The character Ao Jia was hilarious, funny, and interesting to me when he had big dreams of saving the dragon clan, beating himself in a fight against Li Chang Shou, and portraying the girl character Ke Le'r; in my opinion, if I were not a viewer/audience and I was just part of the characters, I would have also thought that was a girl.
It was hilarious seeing modern devices innovatively transform into something similar with the same functions in an historical drama. The mobile phones, image recorder, and washing machine- seeing Li Chang Shou make use of them felt new and refreshing.
With all that said, the second half, around episode 20, declined in the funny aspect compared to the first half. With all the tragedy, wars, crying, and fights going on, don't get me wrong, there were occasional funny moments in the second half, but I didn't laugh as much, as the story lost its focus on being funny and became more serious. But still, the chemistry of the senior-junior relationship between Li Chang Shou and junior sister was great, Loved after 3 years staying in jade division, she learnt her senior brother and understood all his micro-expressions and helped him in so many over-dramatic scenes, adding their master to the chaos made Jade division more fun than the other divisions, they were so hilarious, unserious, and loved each other.
I thought this drama was over-dramatic, but that's the charm; it doesn't have to be serious or less dramatic. The plot was silly and predictable, as the ML always has 98-99% assurance before executing his plans. The unpredictable part is that we do not know his plans; they come as a surprise to the audience.
It's not every year we get this kind of drama, so it was refreshing watching this plot. I would recommend this if you are looking for an easy watch, where you have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the play.
Do Not Eat while watching this to prevent choking.
Have a great time watching
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I think this is a rom-com with chaos as its mix
I enjoyed this to a certain point, let me take you through what the plot following a prosecutor who almost loses her life in the hand of a powerful gangster she has been investigating, at the end of her life she is saved by man, unknowing to her he was a boy she saw when she was much younger in her school days life and also met him in the latter part of her life, when she had grown older. He also had another identity as the second in command in the gangster group that almost took her life.He gets her into hiding in the countryside as he retires from being a gangster as his reward for completing his last task (ending the girl's life). I believe this is where we follow them through the story as she finds her lost memories, gets a boyfriend, makes true friends, gets jealous, and gets protected.
Going into what I love about this story.
I really loved the relationships that were formed between Eun Sae and the characters in the countryside. At first Eun Sae was at odds with many people in the village: Tae Ha's grandma, the shaman (Cho Maeng Suk), Kim Pil Seung's mother(Paeng Hui Ja), and many others, but over time, amidst the conflicts and the quarrels, strong relationships grew, and true friendships were found. There was something heartfelt in how these people who found nothing but quarrels with Eun Sae were willing to root for her. The relationship between Tae Ha and his grandma was touching; everything he did and did not do was for his grandma. Likewise, his interactions with others in the community, they loved him and were willing to understand. Even the moment he went back into being a gangster while being forced, they just hugged him and comforted him; that was the peak of the true relationship.
At the end, when the community gathered to beat the Bad Guys, that clearly shows what their bonds were like. The fights were so hilarious.
I find people dislike the actress's acting and her character; I am not one of them. I felt the actress really put effort into her character and portraying it convincingly am really not sure of an actress that could fit the role better than her. Her character (Eun Sae), even while she woke up in a hospital bed at the start of the drama and behaved like that, wanting a handsome man as her boyfriend, I believe that was what she wanted, as in he life as a prosecutor or even before she became a prosecutor. Eun Sae lost her memories, but she carried the characteristics from her inner self, which she never really revealed.
Tae Ha was one of the greenest ML if you ask me, he loved one girl his life, he protected her at the risk of getting caught and killed, he became her boyfriend for her own safety and tried not to past the boundary, even while she fell in love with him later in the story he waited for her to recover he memory for her to make the choice she won't regret later on.
Tae Ha has been through so much since young, but it all stems from the undying love he has for his grandma and the unwillingness to let her die. I found his love for his grandma so heartfelt. She was his Achilles heel, but he doesn't care.
WHAT I FOUND NOT GOOD.
THE SCRIPT WAS LACKING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
The second couple wasn't fleshed out at all. Why did Su Ji push Gi Jun away? I did not get any of that: no flashbacks or backstories, then at the end Gi Jun had a realization of what the girl meant to him, and Su Ji accepted him, and they planned marriage. IT HAD NO REAL IMPACT ON ME AS THE VIEWER.
I would have loved to see Jung Sun Won and Hyang Seon dating or building feelings for each other; something was already happening before the show ended, I felt it would be more interesting.
Tae Ha's behavior as a 14-year-old trained gangster puts me off at certain times
Final Thoughts.
I think this is the kind of drama I would watch for the fun and for some hilarious moments between people in the villages and how they form a bond from everyday quarrels to genuine care.
The script made its character overly exaggerate at some moments and it should have ended sooner than the 12 episodes given. Baek Saengil reveal of being Tea Ha Father was out of place and seem to came into the story for Baek Saengil to kill himself, as the Tae Ha never knew at the end of the show. I guess it would have given him more peace at mind not knowing his father.
Done and Dusted 7.5
Was this review helpful to you?
It Was Good
Southern anecdote starts its story in a city where a series of strange cases often occur, with supernatural and surreal elements. Given the Introduction to the main premise of the story, Southern Archives, an undercover organization under the alias of a famous company, dispatches a great duo of its agents to investigate. Following the adventures of the two agents and all the disasters they made, problems created, and solutions they ought to provide.What I like in this show.
Their relationship, specifically their brotherhood, immerses an out-of-the-world depiction. Considering how much we didn't get much build-up/backstory in their brotherhood, it still felt amazingly realistic and tugging at one's heart; their performance gave the live, intensity, and power to their brotherhood. The brotherhood was touching, angsty, conflicting, and most of the time heartwarming. Even amidst the backdrop of the conflicts surrounding their brotherhood and personal lives, we could see the thin line of love and deep connection with care. Their relationship with their mentor is one to be mentioned; the mentor and student relationship was nonchalant, playful, lighthearted, and most times heartwarming, while looking underneath all the precious, truthful facade, the trust, responsibility, and care outshone all the playfulness and put that tender warmth in my heart at every one of their peaceful family period of the three.
The performance of most of the actors and both actresses, from the seamlessly tailored main casting to the amazing supporting casts and even the scene catchers from the guest actors, really contributed the most to this show; if they hadn't given this outstanding performance, the drama wouldn't have been given this popularity and rating.
Ding Yuxi displayed a new range of acting skills in this role, tackling a challenging task of depicting a multifaceted character to its core: depicting a psychopathic savage character, and the opposite cool character with a deep sense of warmth, pain, care, and regret; he really carried the role on like any other role I have seen him play. Zhang Xin Cheng designs his own space taken this role as one of mine best and unforgettable role up I have watched him played, though not given a wider range to showcase a vast embodiment, he showed clearly his dedication to the role and clearing all my uncertainties on his take, bearing, sustaining and immaculately depicting the emotional complexities the character had to offer, Zhang Xin Cheng was definitely more than a meet of an eye, would definitely love to see him in more projects in the future.
Even with the CGI not being well rendered, and the special effects giving a less than okay vibes, that feels okay, each of the few fight, their sequences and the neatly choreographed work subsequently continued to amaze me, following an emmaculate wireworks that felt absence through the dedication of the cast and crew, from the close hand to hand combat to the knife clashes, to much more, they were done mostly done precisely. The only thing is they should have given more attention to the fight scenes.
The plotline showcases something less convoluted, but gradually and steadily draws an overarching mystery that culminates in a whole process of thrilling suspense and seeking answers (leaving me quite disoriented and disturbed while watching the show, but you could find it interesting), that carefully unravels things, leaning closer to the end.
What I didn't quite enjoy
It was befitting to say the conflict between the brotherhood of the character was well emphasized (which is a downvote for me), and seemingly prolonged. The ending episode was a little rushed, as more details ought to be added seamlessly. Given how much conflict the brotherhood/bromance bore, they could have wrapped everything up in 30 eps, with the inclusion of the rushed ending, and mended everything well.
Conclusion
The drama was an extremely good watch for me; the ending gave a nice closure to some viewers, but that's not the case. I went into this expecting something that included more adventures rather than the bizarre cases, but everything amounted to a really great watch for me. With a great performance from the stunning cast, showcasing their due dedication where it matters, and even the villains stole scenes from the show, the plotline was overbearing at times, but it lets you understand everything as you watch more towards the end
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Loved the mystery more than less
General RemarksI love how the mystery made me click to the next episode as each episode ended.
I love how mysterious and concealed certain characters were. In my opinion, it created intrigue about certain characters, particularly the villain. I felt the villain was the most compelling character of them all. He got me thinking about his motives and goals in taking the main character's identity. It evoked sympathy, and I loved that he chose revenge instead of wallowing in agony over his lover's death. I loved how the show manipulated the audience using flashbacks from different characters' POV. This tells you that seeing isn't always believing
.
The start of this was strong; I believe that made many of us click for more as the episode went by. Ryu Jun Yeol really put in effort in portraying every bit of frustration, fear, and despair in his character Je Mun Jae. I love the close-up shots of him, hinting at his frustrations. He also portrayed another contrasting character, namely the mouse. It was a fantastic portrayal
Sul Kyung Gu's character, No Ja, has a menacing and dangerous look, like a thug, but deep down he has a kind soul, as he refuses to kill his enemy. Though it angered me that he couldn't kill them when he had beaten them down, I thought it shed more light on how he is moving away from being a thug. His kind heart also extends to helping Je Mun Jae.
It irked me at the way No Ja was begging his enemy not to bury him alive; LIKE THAT DOESN'T EVEN MATCH HIS CHARACTER. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I thought some mysteries were better not shown, as some seemed too unrealistic for a non-fictional show,
I liked the friendship between No Ja and Je Mun Jae, although it came too fast. It was realistic, as No Ja never completely trusts him, as there was a seed of doubt in his mind that sprouts at any word that can make him easily distrust Je Mun Jae.
I didn't like the main character; why was he always hasty every time, and why did his panic disorder come at a critical moment?
I loved the open ending, as we can all make our theories and deductions (for season 2)
Was this review helpful to you?
Beautifully crafted, terrible issues.
A blend of supernatural, fantasy, romance plot done.How was it? A well-flavored, curated dish was brought to me, it was actually good, only to find out the plot pushes me away. The flow of the plot, I find it deliciously great, remarkably done, I felt in constant need for more, but the need for the plot to give me more was a big fail, to my big appetite. The plot sneered at my face by turning a general into a love puppy, "even if his general's plot was not the main point of this drama".
Dilraba was a powerful head of ghosts (spirits formed from obsessions). Now, the plot makes it DELICIOUS "I found it delicious, and from the beginning she's gone down to the mortal realm to make deals (granting humans their wishes at the cost of their obsessions).
Now seeing Dilraba in this powerful, badass role, it was amusing. I found her nailing this cold, expressionless role perfectly, and her transmigration to this soft, cute, bubbly girl with one of each of the five senses was showing her versatility in her acting career.
The supporting characters are making their waves into my skull
Miles Wei gave in a spirit infatuated in love for about 300 years, and like he was the main man for this love infatuated character, not thinking of any actor playing this better.
Zhang Ai, she was no better for making me grow more curious about her money-love character, and I was really debating whether she is gonna be good/bad; her character was proving an enigmatic presence, with constant moves for me in this show.
The mortal world arc was a major world-building. In their love story, I loved it a lot; it was, in fact, my best and the real giver of my rating of this series. It showed more of their relationship, the growth of their dynamics, and the introduction of the characters. My major love of this series
He Si Mu's dynamics with the young child in the initial story were lovely. When the young child cried at the mention of He Sim Mu leaving soon, I was very sad, for that young child draws me into his emotions naturally & in an innate manner. He deserves an award.
The battle scenes were raw, interesting, dwelling on the moment of how the crew members delivered me an outstanding performance. It was innovatively interesting how we see Arthur Chen make a bet with himself to step out of the enemy's zone alive. He killing the many soldiers felt real, cuz he isn't just a general, he is a trained killer. The slaying off the general's head was exceptionally done, Showing it isn't just about strength, skills or supernatural concepts, it is the use of strategy, your brain cells, using the senses in you skull to devise a means that isn't about using fantasy, physically strong to the extent of being prenatural, a means that is realistic, human, believable.
The ost is unbelievably compelling, scarily strong, hauntingly mixed with the occurring scene. It makes me more focused on the immediately occurring scene.
❌General turned into a pedantic love puppy.
We have this strategical general who is battle-wise strong, and we have a ghost queen, their love starts in the mortal world with schemes and tricks and I found it more fun, upon entering the world of spirit I question myself, "why did he bother entering", what could he possibly help her with in such a dangerous an assassinating world, now the possibility of him surviving without the help of He Si Mu (Ghost queen) was 0.001%, that just means he was trying to be dependent on the woman he loves, that could be good to some, if you may say he doesn't know the dangers, then why bother entering a place with supernatural elements when he doesn't have any supernatural powers which he knows nothing about, means certain death. Then he became a pest to the Ghost queen, trivial affairs with no work to do, "Hey, why don't you go to your mortal world and do your job?" I'm pissed. That's all.
Rating this 7.0.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I wishes it could have been better.
What I disliked:Few participant: The show tries taking a turn from the normal high school drama, but the turn wasn't good in the aspecct of leaving 5 students playing the game, for how few the numbers of the game player was, it created less thrill to me, the death was once and all, the last death happened because she was a big villain that deserved death, not because you were innocent, the death was created to get your attention into the show for those who love horror and suspense tag.
With how few the student participating actually is and only the main characters made a wish, the story wouldn't definitely want to leave half of the main characters dead.
The concept was nice, but wasn't a strong pulling force: Expected something more, like the students forced inot the app or entered accidentally, not expecting you having a choice to make a wish and coincidentally with most of the main characters playing the game they all made a wish which was lame and dumb.
A student actually writes down their birthday and everything and tells the app to grant their wisha and you say they thought it was a joke 'I find it a joke", when your birth calendar has been written purposely, and you then wish for the death of your friend in the so-called phone and you don't believe in the app, it sucks. They could have just made them real villains
Talking about some ridiculous concept, it was already reluctantly okay with the the premise, but then the wish could actually stop, at some incidence I mean does the writer actually wants to save the children.
Pacing Inconsistencies: The minor problem that I actually found heart wrenching the pacing was bad the writers were wrong they jumped from a real suspense moment of searching the house of an occultist into flashbacks on one of the leads and it continued through the end I mean are you actually playing me down in seeing my etching suspense.
Pick up one: Stop playing some rom-com in my suspense-horror, we didn't come for those hectic romance, you could have stopped in EPS one since the horrors haven't yet come by then and not stretched out to the romance to the end, they can play the real rom-com at the end of their struggles.
What I Loved:
The actors performance: As young as the actor they were the light of this show, the performance carried out by each of them was noteworthy and I was overwhelmed by distinctive villain and saving roles.
The suspense was a real hook, the horror was okay and the lighting gave in a lot for those horror.
Overall If wishes could kill is a drama I can't rewatch (I don't basically rewatch dramas) it had some horrors in to that, it gave me some flinching jumpscares, with plot holes that kills me and I find it had not to get tired but I basically enjoyed it.
P.s Netflix better stop their greedy nature the series have come to a close, their is no need to foreshadow that their is gonna be S2. The ending was really okay.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lovely, Loving the series
Okay i am up to episode 8 and I keep loving the series, really love the interaction between Li Pei Yi and Xiao Huai Jin, well i could say the tag slight romance should be there. The fight scenes are really great, but I wasn't happy as Xiao Huai Jin can't fight. If he could fight would be very glad, well i could say Xiao Huai Jin is too smart as in a genius, and Li Pei Yi is smart and really skilled at fighting.Love the calm. composed male lead
Love how smart the male lead is
Love the fight scenes of the female lead
Love when Li Pei Yi and Xiao Huai Jin make their chemistry
Really, a great investigative story came of Wang Xing Yue. Stayed for the smart male lead and skilled fighter female lead.
This is story is very great.
Was this review helpful to you?
78
164
17
1
4
1
5
3
8
1
20
4
1
1
1
3
4
7
32
25
1
