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Great Premise but Failed to Deliver
It has its charms, but ultimately the lovable cast isn’t enough to push this to its full potential.Pros:
• Our main ensemble was spectacular. You fall in love with these characters and root for them to the end. Their acting was good, and their characters were endearing. They all had great chemistry together as well.
• A great premise. The actual story idea is a fresh one and a good one at that. It has potential, and I enjoyed it for something new.
• A heartwarming story of friendship. This is probably one of the strongest factors this drama has going for it. The brotherhood and friendship in this were beautiful to watch.
Cons:
• Pick a genre. Yes, the friendship aspect was well done, but the rest of the show couldn’t decide what it was. Was it an idol drama? Was it suspense? Was it comedy? Was it romance? Ultimately, none of these genres were explored enough to give this show a solid foundation.
• Pacing. Because of the lack of foundation, I found that I ended up getting bogged down halfway through—even though it was only ten episodes. It didn’t have that special something to keep me going. I skipped through and finished only because I loved the characters and wanted to see the finish.
• Personally, I felt like the ending was odd. They “wrapped up” the suspense angle—which was cheesy imo—and then opened the door for another season? Not sure that’s worth it.
As much as I wanted to like it, “CEO-dol Mart” is a no for me. If you want idol drama, try something like “Imitation” or “So, I Married the Anti-Fan”. Check out my drama lists for more recommendations.
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This review may contain spoilers
A coming of age drama where you don’t care about anyone coming of age
Do not waste your time. It makes me sad to say it when this drama had so much potential, but, for goodness' sakes, don't waste your time. Unwrapped up plotlines, random subplots, lack of character development--and in general lack of likable characters--this fell so short of what it could have been.The high point for this story is Lee So Rin, the FL; everything else leaves much to be desired. I only finished it because of two reasons. One, I truly expected it to get better because I liked the premise and I'm a fan of these actors. Two, I wanted to see who she ended up with... which we NEVER find out. I'm salty.
Anyway, there are so many other amazing options on Viki for a celebrity romance: "So I Married an Anti-Fan", "Sh**ting Stars", "Imitation", "Midsummer is Full of Love", "Intense Love" and "You Are My Glory"--just to name a few.
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Fresh Take on Time Travel Romance
A solidly written, superbly acted, and overall enjoyable drama.I loved the story line, and our FL, as in every drama she’s in, delivered to perfection. The story was engaging from beginning to end, drawing you in with its mysterious fantasy elements blended with a solid rom-com. I loved the aspect of her finding herself as a woman free to chase her dreams in the new age while still having to unlearn the toxic patriarchal values she had been raised in. It made it incredibly rewarding when her dreams come true in “New Joseon”.
Wasn’t overly impressed with the ML. I found his character pretty dislike for the first six episodes… which is half the drama. But he redeems himself, and I ended up really liking them as a couple.
I also struggled with how the ending played out. Did not love the struggle the Joseon Kang Tae-Ha had to experience, and her unrequited love for him was hard to watch after I fell in love with him in Episode 1. But, in the end, they do give us a happy ending for our couple, and that’s all that matters!
I don’t agree with some of the reviews (personally) that this was the best drama of 2023. However, this one was still a blast. It has excellent chemistry, fresh writing, and a solid cast (both main and supporting). I definitely recommend it!
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Pros:
• The overall cast and characters were awesome. Each of the people faced real life issues (infertility, eating disorders, sexual assault, deep insecurity, etc), leaving us with some very relatable flawed people. I especially loved our second couple. They were brilliant.
• The drama! This does a great job parodying modern dating shows, and adds lots of flair itself that is almost cheesy but just plain fits 😂. But it also knows how to get serious and deliver a moment that can—and did for me—have you in tears.
• The writing is also pretty good here. I found that, even when I wasn’t vibing with the main leads, the show itself kept me engaged. And it was paced well to the end.
Cons:
• Needed more romance. For a show dedicated to finding love, the leads could have given us more chemistry, and the writers could have given us more moments to actually enjoy them together in a happy way. Also, the second main leads were awesome. I think we deserved at least a kiss!
• Starts slow. The first few episodes won’t probably grip you. But hold on. I was hooked by episode 5.
• Could have had a happier ending. I appreciated the way a lot of loose ends were wrapped up, but I feel like there should have been more of a healing and joyful end to the show. After all the angst—and there is almost too much of it—I was hoping for a cheesy-grin, squealing as I watch it kind of wrap up.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romcom, this one is a good one to spend your time on. After some flops in the drama department, “Love is for Suckers” was a great change of pace.
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A Revenge Story Done Impeccably
Excellent melodrama packed with amazing, amazing, AMAZING acting (like seriously unbelievably good acting). "Why Her" delivers a story of revenge, heart break, trauma, and ultimately overcoming it through love and friendship.I've seen the critiques of Su Jae's character, but the reality is--we have here a compelling, multi-faced, and very broken woman doing her best to protect herself. I remember watching on of the earlier episodes and seeing her scream through the tears that she would rise to the top and make the ones who hurt her pay. In that moment, I thought, "This would be a super compelling villain origin story", but it made an even more compelling origin story for a deeply wounded but strong heroine.
The mysteries, the crime solving, the political thriller aspects, and even the sweet, sweet romance between the leads--they all made a brilliant drama. If you're looking for a really great melodrama, it's this one.
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Switched Identities in the Midst of High School Drama
A web drama with great pacing and good acting?! Seems too good to be true, but this is “User Not Found” through and through. This drama is a coming-of-age story that shows the importance of finding true friendship and remaining true to oneself.It’s a cute, slow-burn romance, yes, but the story is a lot bigger than just a teen romance. It’s the story of a girl who has to learn to be herself, of another girl who desperately needs to heal and believe in friendship again, of a boy who has hidden himself away from the world, and another boy who has to learn that friendship can only come by trust and honesty. The development of these characters is done excellently. Because it has more than the usual 12 ten-minute or so episodes, this web drama actually paces itself well. It pacts a substantial story in its 22 fifteen minute episodes.
If you enjoy high school dramas, “User Not Found” is a must-add to your list.
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Love That Defies All Odds
A beautiful drama with stellar acting on all fronts. I was hesitant to watch this at first, but I couldn’t get away from it. When I finally committed, it was done in two days.The storyline is fresh and well-executed. I feel like every episode was intentional, lacking fillers and tropes. Even when they (mild spoiler) lose their memories temporarily, it didn’t feel like a cop out. It made sense and pushed the plot—and their love—even farther into what was a truly, beautifully-done finale with a very satisfying happy ending.
The two leads were phenomenal together, with excellent physical chemistry and scene chemistry. They truly were perfect for their roles and deliver them perfectly.
Truly a brilliantly executed drama that is a must add to your list.
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Wasted Potential for this One
For the sake of William Chan, who I love, and the start of this drama, which was excellent, I gave it all I have, but I'm dropping this one. I may pick it up again in the future, but I can't seem to force my way through."A Date with the Future", despite its many strengths, falls prey to the C-Drama pitfall of poor pacing. I have never been so disinterested in subplots in my life. Specifically, the third couple's scenes always left me skipping, and the male lead in that pairing is bland both as a character and an actor, plus he's incredibly selfish. Not sure why we were meant to root for him.
The firefighting aspect was excellent, both the plot and the cast of firemen and the super lovable dogs, but 25 episodes in, and I just can't seem to finish. The leads have great chemistry and a great relationship, but even their relationship seems to have hit a plateau. Their characterizations were well done, but the slowness of writing did them a disservice in my opinion.
In general, this type of a show needed some type of driving force, something exciting and gripping, and it just didn't deliver. It's a big bummer, and probably a very unpopular opinion, but there it is.
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And just like that, 2025 is off to a great start!
“Love Scout” has set the bar so high for 2025. I felt like 2024, in my opinion, was a year of drought for good dramas (with “Lovely Runner” and “Blossom” as two huge exceptions), but this right here gives me so much hope!This show was a masterpiece romcom. What a story, and what a cast! The character development in our FL was heart-wrenching but oh so beautiful, and when the healing came, I wept with joy. This drama should be the golden standard for writing conflict in a couple. The situation came, and they took a break (not a break up) until she was ready to handle it. Then, they were stronger than ever.
The cast was awesome! Our two leads? Phenomenal… and with AMAZING chemistry. The ML’s daughter, Byeol? Absolutely the most lovable kid. Our second ML and FL? So adorable and so easy to root for in their subplots. And the quirky office staff? Well, same here. This was a great ensemble that delivers a solid performance.
The journey of healing shines so brightly through every bit of the show, and the writers give us an ending that truly does wrap everything up so beautifully. I was quite literally squealing like a little kid during some of those moments.
If for any reason at all you’re hesitating to watch this one, do yourself a favor and pull the trigger. “Love Scout” is a gem and making my all time favorites list.
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Highly Disappointed
Couldn’t finish. Gave it all I had, but I just couldn’t finish.I can’t exactly put my finger on one specific thing that made this drama weak. But, in general, it falls flat. The tropes are painful. The acting of the female lead is somewhat grating. The random plot twists are inane.
Raphael is the one bright star, but he can’t save it.
Bummed out, but I won’t be finishing it. It had great potential, but it was poorly executed. Definitely don’t recommend.
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Another hit for this summer!
What can I say? This was phenomenal. I am still in shock because it’s been years since I watched so many good historical dramas in a row (for me “Prisoner of Beauty”, “First Night with the Duke”, “Coroner’s Diary”, now this).“Legend of the Female General” lives up to its name. Do you have to let the suspension of disbelief kick in for them to think she’s a man? Heck yes. But honestly, I got used to it. I’m a big Mulan fan so this was so down my alley. This show has a stellar cast, excellent production quality, and great writing.
He Yan and Xiao Jue are a couple for the ages. They go up in the same league as the Dou Zhao/Song Mo couple and Qiao Man/Wei Shao couple (“Blossom” and “Prisoner of Beauty” respectively). Their chemistry is on point and their fierce determination to fight for each other is beautiful. Even when misunderstandings threaten them, they resolve it quickly and are stronger than ever. The kiss scenes were well done so I would have liked to see more of them, but, for once, I didn’t mind the slow burn. It felt natural and captivating to watch.
Don’t get me started on some of the most beautifully executed battle scenes I’ve seen in a long time.
This makes three dramas to make my all time favorite list in the last five months—which has never happened. Don’t sleep on this one. Cheng Lei, Zhou Ye, and the rest of the cast delivered a masterpiece.
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A fresh romcom that sucks you in!
Initial Review at the Halfway Point (Will Post Concluding thoughts after Finale):I don’t really know what I expected from this, but it’s been a blast so far. I’m really optimistic heading into the second half.
Pros:
• A fresh dynamic of the leads — We’ve got a role reversal drama here that took me by surprise. Our ML is NOT the normal K-Drama male lead, and, frankly, I’m here for it. Our FL? She is not our normal female lead, and, again, I’m here for it. The female is a domineering boss with secrets to spare and plenty of hurts while our ML is a cocky employee who has a thing for strong women (not that he’d admit it) and is more in touch with his feelings because he was raised by and around strong women.
• Chemistry — Oh my goodness. The chemistry is there. It is so there, and do NOT get me started on the kiss scene in episode 4. Good grief. These two are dynamite together. I can’t wait to see their dating era.
• Subplots — To my surprise, this show has kept me engaged so far in basically all its subplots. That is no easy feat.
• Production — Just wanted to shout out the overall production of this. The acting, directing, music, cinematography, etc. is very very good.
Cons:
• Slow start — This wasn’t a huge dea, but the pilot is a bit slow for a romcom. In fact, it isn’t until episode 4 that we really get to know the FL’s character (this begins as a male centric narrative and part of the story is the mystery around her). If it would have dragged out longer, I would have been annoyed.
• A potentially very messy love square — Already I find it weird as heck that the ML allowed his ex girlfriend to move into his apartment in episode 1. For the fist five episodes though, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Now it looks like we are about to dive into a very messy love square that has not been introduced very well so I have fear that it could do some damage in the last half. Here’s to hoping not.
Anyway, I am PUMPED for the second half.
Final Review:
This show was a gem, a literal gem. They handled the dynamics of all the shifting relationships with incredible finesse, and the writers/cast truly delivered a stellar second half. The ex-GF drove me crazy, but I actually have to admit they handled her downfall and eventual subtle redemption very well.
Our couple’s dating era was PEAK. And NO messy breakup!! The scene where Ki Jun is defending Inah in the police station had me in tears, and the finale had me cheesy grinning over and over. We got an awesome ending—starting in a similar way it began—with our two leads now a bickering couple. It was adorable and so wholesome. Well worth the watch. It’s my fave K-Drama of the year so far.
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Could this be a sleeper hit?
Final Review (episode 8, 11/26/25):Dropped but still a pretty good show. Just not for me. Honestly I’m not even gonna go ahead write a review because I don’t think it’s fair to be negative. It’s not a bad show. It just lacks the umph to get me through the last half, and I feel bad for our ML who deserves the world. The quirky and fantastical feeling is gone, and I’m mostly just frustrated and unengaged. That’s pretty much it.
Could this be a sleeper hit in the last few months of 2025? Initial Review (episode 6, 11/12/25).
Wholesome. Funny. Fantastical. Romantic. “Spirit Fingers” has its flaws, but wow… its strengths are many. This is an adorable coming of age romcom with all sorts of fresh elements making it feel new and exciting.
Pros:
• Ensemble Cast. Its cast is just amazing. You’ll fall in love with all of the Spirit Fingers club members. Our leads are well written, and our ML is an absolute psycho… a lovable crazy psycho lol. He has made me laugh so hard.
• A fun plot that just gives a fantastical, quirky feeling that keeps you coming back. The romance is sweet and engaging. In fact, there’s multiple couples to root for.
Cons:
• Our two FLs are driving me crazy now. Seriously, ladies… you both have two AMAZING men absolutely hung up on you and you’re both stringing them along. As of episode 6, I’m getting pretty annoyed with this.
• We have an awesome ML, but I would love to see him fleshed out a bit more.
Pumped for the second half.
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Falls Very Short
I wanted to love this drama with all that was within me. This era of Chinese history fascinates me, and “Fall in Love” is one of my favorite Asian dramas of all time.It has stuff going for it. Great costuming, an intriguing plot, SHAWN DOU , etc. But the romance is so appallingly annoying that I couldn’t bring myself to finish. I’m so sad about it. But the constant misunderstandings and even the willingness of both characters (especially especially especially the FL) to hurt the other is more than I can take. The toxicity borders on abuse, and the absolute lack of logic is maddening.
I was going to keep trying, but I soon found out that it wasn’t going to get better until the very end, and I wasn’t willing to watch twenty more episodes of it. It falls prey to poorly executed tropes and far too drawn out angst. The writing is infuriating.
It’s a no for me.
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Failed its Potential
I almost quit this one about 8 episodes in, but I decided to keep trying because I’m in between shows and I love Ryan Ding. I thought things were looking up after that. We finally saw some chemistry with the leads. The ML was finally getting likeable… Etc. But, ultimately… I couldn’t.I’m at ep. 23 and I can’t bring myself to finish. The plot has changed into the day to day aspects of their job; the villains who were compelling in the first half are nowhere to be seen. The actions of the ML are odd, and I just don’t get them. Not to mention, we finally found out the backstory… and it’s just ridiculously unbelievable. Overall, I’m bummed, but it’s gonna be a no from me.
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