Disappointed, but loved the concept

I am so disappointed!! I really really really wanted this drama to be on my favourite list but they literally flushed away all the potential just to follow the same old crappy storyline after half (I didn't read the webtoon so I don't really know whose fault is xD)

First of all, I liked the actors, especially the main girl, she did a great job portraying the unlucky side character (and if I found her "haruyaaa" annoying at some point I can only blame the lame script)
In the beginning I thought this was genial. The characters who basically break the 4th wall by becoming self aware and start a quest to set them free from their destined path. I'm totally sold! The really fact that is an invented universe and there is this "shadow" had the potential to make literally anything happen!
The very idea of "mocking" boys over flowers adds a cherry on top lol (because I despise that drama, sorry ?)
The most fascinating part was when the true character came out from Pre-established characters who are usually very flat. I wondered how they would be off the stage? The same? opposite? To me opened an universe of possibilities and questions: if they're able to think outside the storyboard did they became real? Are we all part of a bigger play? How they become self aware? Why there is the manhwa in the library?
Then appears this unnamed side character who somehow gets in the way and succeed (briefly tho) in what the fl constantly failed: changing the story (even tho it doesn't really makes sense...like when he put Dan Oh's watch to Se Mi and it worked (?) Like other times things just appeared from nowhere during the stage part, how exactly did he fool the writer? can he do this because he's a tiny extra? Or because his connection with other characters? We won't ever get the answers to these questions unfortunately ?)
I don't despise the romance per se, but if it's going to be that repetitive and redundant, I'd rather leave it out, it's not like there wasn't anything to say here. Yes Haru is cute but what else? They really did a poor job with his characterization, Baek Kyung has a shitty set up and he's a jerk who can't apologize but at least he has something other than Dan Oh in his life.
And to be honest there was already a love drama between the "protagonists" of the manhwa going on, no need to add another shitty and draggy triangle.
Also, I really wanted Do Hwa to get the girl, he was really a superb character, really funny and honest he made me laugh every time (the fact the author only makes him play violin in front of Ju Da lol), but in the end she chose the hyper flat discount version of Jun-Pyo (his lines are only "my woman here, my woman there" gosh we got it you're the alpha uga uga)
The worst thing tho is that the lesson from this drama seems to be that no matter how much you try, you can't change your destiny - it may be true for illnesses somehow but it's really not a good morale to me ?

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Plastic surgery advertising

First of all, I know this movie is old, but still I can't just considering like a pile of garbage (ノ￣皿￣)ノ ⌒== ┫
We have a fat female lead with weak personality who has a kind heart and foolishly falls in love with her good looking boss (or whatever xD) and after eavesdropping a convo between him and the other girl where he says "she's ugly but she has a good voice so be kind to her because we need her" decide to drastic change her appearance.
Girl, where was your brain when they highkey made you into that Ammy playback voice??? What kind of working contract is that???
WHY DID YOU FUCKING ABANDONED YOUR DOGGO???
Why in the name of the lord of bananas Kong the mighty you got back to that place??! Without some fine vendetta plan??!
The guy is just our typical asshole. He never acknowledge or apologize for his behaviors, but oh he's soooo different inside right? (?) And since he's good looking we forgive him. Go get a plastic surgery on that personality of yours, won't you?
And why the friend continuously called her ugly, monster and so on? What kind of friend do that?
To me this movie has no sense at all, the characters just make weird decisions and says atrocious things like they're talking about the wheater all the time.
There are also two attempt suicide that are inserted for COMIC RELIEF.
I need to pause to let you digest it.

In conclusion, this movie shows how normal is to mock someone for their weight (because fat people don't have feelings you know) and that no matter if you can do something really good and you're a nice person, just change your body in order to grab that asshole boy you had the misfortune to fell for. 2006 was a wild year.

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Kiwi commercials and romanticized abused, YAY

Dear writers, honestly I fail to understand how you expect me to cheer for such abusive male lead when compared to a soft, kind, caring, with wild hair and the cutest smile second male lead.
The female lead must be an idiot, ok with naivety but just how on Earth she developed feelings for someone who treated her that poorly, belittled her, almost raped (it's a bit unclear I'd rather think he made her believe they had sex when drunk), grabbed her wrists several times, imposed his will to her (curfew? oh hell no.) Massive giant red flag to me. He was better off with the gold digger gal imo.
Same dough as his gramps who tricked the fl's nonna just to steal her secret magic herbal pill whatsoever and have a fancy life. Like he could've at least send her some money to thank her, just saying.
I didn't expect such a wholesome story but this is impossible to redeem. I resisted only because of the second lead x_x

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cute and cheesy but

Overall a cute thing to pass the time. I liked that the fl is skilled and not whiny and the dynamics between the couple are cute and funny.
I think the fact he discovers right away her identity made me like it better because his reactions and schemes were interesting xD
This drama won't really dwell into sexuality: she doesn't think he could not be straight based on their attraction, not knowing he saw her. Also the other team guy crushes on her (not knowing her identity tho) but he doesn't ask himself anything. Crossdressing dramas can really be a good trampoline to introduce that kind of conflict, like it happened in kdrama Coffee prince.
But the thing I really couldn't forgive is the fact that they didn't hide her chest with clothes, the actress had eyeliner and cherry red lipstick while disguised and as I want to look over this I really can't believe no one noticed her true identity!!
I appreciate there are no tiring plots like annoying second leads (and I mean the irritating kind, there is a clingy girl but she gets paired with the brother and is pretty much comic relief), nasty parents and such

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Cute story, bad parenting examples D:

I'm writing this rec for both season one and two because I watched them together like a regular drama (why netflix has to cut things like that /: )

Overall I liked the show, it was mostly light and fluffy, ideal if you don't feel like thinking too much, also it was very pleasing aesthetically, really cinematic!
I was mesmerized with that Seul scenery on the rooftop *_*
The theme of this drama is basically the transition from friends to lovers with teens so it implies a character growth as well (more or less)
Tae Oh was my favorite character even tho in the beginning I felt he was too childish, but I think that flaw blends well with the role and his journey. He was cute and really caring for his friends and very very supportive, I really liked the characterization and the actor really played him well imo.
Also Song Yi was pretty cute, she looked a bit drained (?) but overall she wasn't annoying or dense.
As well the friendship relationship between all the characters was pure and cute.
Ga Rin and Choi Hoon were more comic relief than else, their story lacked in screen time and complexity. Cute, but meh.
Do Hyun was the "problematic" one but I liked the fact that there was not just black or white. Yes, he wasn't there for her when she needed him the most, but he had his own issues and they were as serious as hers. Sometimes in life happens that it's just the wrong moment, the wrong place. It made me sad not being able to blame a villain (?), it's just how life goes sometimes.
That said I didn't like Do Hyun from the start because I knew he was going to be messy: and not the money issues itself, Song Yi too was penniless, but the fact he seen himself inferior to Tae-O especially, the fact he thought a man had to solve his issues by himself instead of relying on his girlfriend. He was ashamed of his status and he thought he wasn't worthy because "he couldn't protect her", while a genuine relationship is made of reciprocation and support from both sides. He was stuck with this ideal of the brave knight so he couldn't see that Song Yi didn't need a perfect guy, just someone whom she can rely on. In the end he clearly understood his mistakes and that are some brownie points to him.
I gave only 5.5 on the story because it was pretty much it, mostly is about Tae Oh trying to replace Song Yi in his heart with that stupid gal and Do Hyun being insecure about himself.
Though I loved the spontaneity of Tae Oh's confession at the pub, without annoying slo-mo or dramatic stares, candles and all that heart shaped and pink stuff they usually decor for their grand confession, it felt sudden? like there was almost no progress for almost the whole second part, because they focused more on the guys finding back the moms (gonna talk about it later. - note that the period here indicates angst) so it's like a time skip but in fact it happen in the same moment. There was a more noticeable transition from friend to love interest in his part, while she jumped from a boyfriend to another. Yes, they both had some feeling from each other but Idk it felt weird and unexpected...maybe it's exactly because I was expecting candles and hearts xD

But let's talk about the parents: we have two moms abandoning their children, a dad telling his son to quit school because of debts, a stepmom saying "I don't like him" referred to her stepson, one that beaten up his son with a golf club because he wanted to be a musical actor and subsequently trying to parachute him into a play with bribes...wtf! Ga Rin's mom and Tae Oh's dad were supposed to be the scary and bitchy ones but they were pretty good compared to these...at least they cared for their kids even in a weird and distorted way.
Both Tae Oh and Song Yi mothers neglected and abandoned their kids in a way that doesn't even make sense, especially Song Yi's mom. I thought she had a serious reason to stay away...idk anything - usually is illness - or maybe she was a criminal (?) idk ...but she just met a guy and neglected totally her daughter while strolling in the night marked with her sweetheart??? I mean she didn't even thought about giving her some money or else to help??? she was on the freaking streets!!! What if Tae Oh wasn't there? What if he was living with his family??
I went through a similar path and the way they painted the mom as sorrowful is making me puke. there's no freaking excuse for abandoning your child! Even if she's not a minor.
Same thing about Tae Oh's mom...even tho she was forced by her gangster brothers (?) to leave...couldn't they just transfer somewhere else together?! And after all that time why keep going on with the lie??? Absurd.
Another character I despised was Se Hyun, and not because she was confident...she was pretty much flat. Who's she? what did she do when she wasn't with Tae Oh? why was she so bitchy and demanding? What were her struggles? She just treated Tae Oh like a carpet most of the time, playing with his feelings because she knew she was pretty, I call that lazy writing, sorry.

I suggest to give it a try if you search something unpretentious, just to fill in or when you're in a slump (lately I'm always in a slump. I don't know if it's me being more selective or dramaland becoming more boring and uninteresting ç___ç)

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Starts lightly, become a mess

It's actually the first time I'm writing a rec on a drama that is currently on air, but I feel I can't bite my tongue anymore.
I'm going to write a lot so prepare your pillow xD
As almost every drama, it starts with a lot of comedy and the premise is interesting enough to make you eat the first 5 episodes. Hurray!
Then, after the half (usually, because it's a common pattern, just like the writer ran out of ideas along the way) there's an abrupt "dramatic" u turn that makes you wonder if it's the same title... when you start to hear "we need to talk" at least 200 times per ep (aren't they supposed to work at some point of the day?? Lol), screaming, crying, throwing trash at the poor guy and so on, you know it's time to let the violinist quartet have their last concert while you throw yourself into the first lifeboat available. Let's say not at a makjang level but winks at it sometimes.

I am disappointed at the lack of screen time between Ha Nee and her mom. They're more like roommates than relatives...this girl spends more time with the barista than her mom because she's busy having those boys slash satellites around all day...tbh I admit I don't really know in what consists the job of a film producer, but this drama surely made me more confused about it lol

I'm actually very sad, because I think there were a lot of possible paths for this story, (I had some hopes and expectations ಥ‿ಥ) a lot of interesting stuff and interactions left with the time they could find...the drama focuses on the old well known bullshit: a misunderstanding tore the couple apart 14 years ago and a long list of miscommunication issues that could have been literally resolved at episode one if only that female lead would have given us the honor of saying why the heck she disappeared from everyone's life. (I'll rant about the injustice towards the kid and the dad later I promise).
And assuming things on their own (especially on who the father may be) only to act accordingly to that wrong assumption. Jeeez check your facts!

But I liked the back and forth in time kind of introduction for the characters, they revealed bits of them (would have been much more interesting if they kept doing so)

The character I liked most is the gangster daddy, I clearly remember (because I saw it yesterday) a scene where Ae Jung and Dae Oh were sitting in Koo Pa Do's garden and he was very distinguished in comparison to the male lead. And he can cut the finest sashimi. Not to talk about the fruits. LET'S JUST SAY SHE ISN'T WORTHY OF HIM BECAUSE HE'S TOO REFINED FOR HER. At some point I invented an alternative plot with the male lead being the gangster in my mind because a)it was hella more interesting and b) I knew that wasn't even a ship to begin with. Because c'mon, we know from the start that the father of Ha Nee and the ultimate winner of Ae Jung's heart would be Dae Oh, the others are there only to slowly been cooked and trashed. I kinda hoped for Ryu Jin to be the dad, to add a bit of realism (and maybe a real motive to disappear...I mean you did the vertical tango with another guy and got the presento, is a valid reason and it makes also the fl more human and less oh, so innocent) just to make him have a purpose on this drama beside being mad in love with the fl for 14 + years like a fool. (You know like in "when the camellia blooms)
In the beginning I didn't expect him to be such a loser and even the relationship between Ae Jung and him looked different. Can we talk about the fact two grown ass adults had a one night stand and they didn't even talked about it like adults but they was behaving like nothing happened?? I know it's an old story buuut she left him with a freaking post it. The level of selfishness of this woman.
Speaking of Ae Jung...she didn't seem to like any of the suitors tbh, even Dae Oh...I felt like she started to date him just because he insisted and even tho there's a whole flashback explaining at some point she loved him more I don't know, it doesn't resonate with me. Maybe it's just my vision idk.
She irked me so much because of the damage she did to Dae Oh and their daughter: the fact she avoided the topic really made me feel bad for the little girl, it wasn't her place to decide she couldn't met with her dad. It wasn't her place to decide he shouldn't be involved, even if they were apart IT TAKES TWO (2) HUMANS TO MAKE ANOTHER YA KNOW. I felt sad for this girl desperately trying to figure out things on her own and being sad all the time because her mom wasn't willing to open her heart to her, 14 is old enough to know the truth. Ae Jung legit robbed 14 years of their lives to me. (if the guy was toxic or else I could have understand, but it's all based on a misunderstanding for the big fat holy lasagna).
Dae Oh on the other side was too dense...this actor played a really similar character on go back couple (but that was a gem, is not even comparable to this one) funny, seemingly chill even when he's boiling, talkative but mostly childish (he can be serious tho). The fact he didn't get the hint that he could possibly be Ha Nee's dad for 10 episodes left me dumbfounded. I like tho how he slowly and casually built a relationship with Ha Nee, without the "I'm your father but I discovered it yesterday" kind of stiffness. Another aspect I'll gladly follow.
Yeon Woo was so uninfluential for the girl and for the whole story...the usual nice guy who keeps being nice even when the selfish love interest literally poops on his head (it isn't a kdrama without a poop joke (: ) and won't really understand when it's time to move on. I can't be angry with him, he is a pure soul, but too dense to read the atmosphere: get out of the mess, she only saw you as a little bro, it's been 14 years are you going to die alone? She isn't worth your sacrifice. (I kinda ship him with Ae Jung's assistant).

The movie\book was one of the columns of the drama, because is the common point that brings the investor, the writer and the actor together. Sadly it becomes something in the background (the movie studio or wathever has only 2 people working in it, where is the staff to actually make the movie?? Aren't more people supposed to work on the numerous aspect of it? Then what are those lists of names at the end of every movie or tv show? Obituaries? Excusez-moi if I made a mistake out if ignorance but it looks odd to me. Feel free to correct me otherwise).

OH right I almost forgot THEM, a bunch of chicks obsessed with this or that male character who, of course, need to vent their frustration of being in a one sided love (that includes mom\son rejection) on the female lead. Let's note how the second female leads are usually depicted as obsessive crazy stalkers while the second male leads are just suitors.. worst case they are too sweet and "boring". There's a pretty big use of double standards in our society, just saying uh. Jessica and Ae Rin are creepy and made to be not only flat but totally unlikable... they even trespass the private spaces. YW's mom is annoying...only the ripped dress part made me like her a bit...like oh, maybe she isn't an harpy, but heh.

In conclusion I really really really wanted to like this drama but they threw to much poop on me to pretend my nose isn't about to fall for the smell.
I'll watch only for Koo Pa Do's storyline (that is really poor written omg it has no depth. They wronged you so much. ) while fantasizing for the rest of the time about an ex mobster with an honor code who slowly falls for an energetic, stubborn girl with anger issues who works as a private investigator (plus ghosts to make it more visual). The main point would be redemption (because he really did bad in the past and it's indirectly related to the fl. Cliched but it goes well for conflict), prejudices and rebuild. I'm totally ready for this. And there won't be noble idiocy nor sudden breakups. Only slow cooking with some sugar here and there to keep the sauce tasty ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ

Ps. I loved the barista: she is mysterious and charismatic, classy, if they added that she reads the future in the liquor glass bottoms I would have been sold...but she's more like a guest star.
Ps2. I need a spinoff with Dong Chan and Ha Nee. They're cuteness overload (♡ω♡ )
Ps3. That samsung shell smartphone is all over the place nowadays uh? She was supposed to be poor....uh did I say all 4 men are filthy rich? Because they are (θ‿θ)

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Beware because this is basically me ranting a lot. If you feel like trying this drama park your brain somewhere and retrieve it after you finished because ugh. If you liked it and don't agree well good for you xD, I just felt my pride as a woman very very hurt by this drama.
This drama is basically some 50sog bad written fanfiction (while that novel was already a bad written fanfiction lol) but the "smut" parts are so cringeworthy and straight up uncomfortable to watch I actual had chills on my spine, facepalming and rolling my eyes like a freaking ferris wheel all the time lol
The male lead is what is called a basic f#ckboi, the female is a brainless spineless girl who's constantly oblivious of her surroundings and she apologizes even to someone who just forced a kiss on her. The plot....what plot?! Lol

If this would have been a psychological thriller that depict the risks of being captured by sexual predators and become prisoner in a dangerous mental state (aka brainwashed) then it would be a great start, but unfortunately this thing is supposed to be a romantic fantasy. (??)
So the main leads accidentally meet in a coffee shop, he saves her from one really persistent guy who was trying to hit on her (the 4th in 2 minutes of drama) and there's this moment when their eyes met and the time stops. He asks her on a dinner and she accepts. During this date we get to know that he's 30 and she's 20, but I swear everything about him screamed 20 yo (the amazing thing is that the actor himself is 30 but he looks so young! To me wasn't a good choice but okay, some have baby faces or they're immortal, dunno. Good for them xD) and here's the first red signal: she got asked if she drinks wine and she just seem incapable of saying what's really in her mind, she thinks "gosh I never drank wine" but she does it. In front of a stranger you just met?? That's really dangerous!
She faints after one glass and she wakes up at his house. And he just confess that he loves her (love not like, yes) and asks her to be his girlfriend. She accepts because...idk he's handsome I suppose. In the real word there are two options: is fu#king up your mind to get into your panties or he's a creep. Either way, your spider senses should be tingling in that situation. The fact that it was promised some dark past when he's actually serious got me dumbfounded because I was waiting the time she discovered she's been played all along, he's a drug lord, a killer or idk he sells young naive girls like her. But no, his corny and cringey sentences are really sincere. Lol
But the girl...oh she's another level of irritating. Spineless and in constant search for a validation: the perfect victim for a sexual predator. Every man in this drama just violate her space and she's petrified looking down - well that could be a realistic reaction because even the strong ones can unfortunately experience that panic...the point is that she had this reaction also with his lover: she clenches her fists, shut her eyes and turn her head every time he makes a move on her, the sex scenes looked like he's just raping her or in the best cases, using a sex doll. I don't know if it was the actress who couldn't get in this role or she was requested to be this much passive but I swear that was so uncomfortable! I get the passive type thing, but she was shaking like crazy unbuttoning her shirt and it wasn't even their first rodeo!! How can you call that consent? She looked like she was doing any kind of stuff (even the wine thing) just because she didn't want to disobey him. Gross.
Also! I was really annoyed how she apologized basically for being alive: she was FINE if he was ashamed to date her publicly (it was just her thinking it but still you can't be fine with something like that), she apologized to a couple of guys who forced themselves on her, she apologized for not being a "fine lady" and she was fine he disappeared for weeks with not even a text (my cells screamed he's so shadyyyy but it turned out to be yet another damn young CEO) This girl needed a consultation not a possessive dude that only says "gosh you're cute" and awkwardly pat on her head like she's a pet.
Oh and in the final episode he said something like "we already broke up so I don't need to listen to what you want"............. That really was a calling for a well placed pointy shoe on his jewels at 100km\sec speed. Destroy them so he can't fool anyone else. (I'm usually against violence, but these guys just drained my tolerance)
And yes, I decided to go in with the thriller part and it has a happy ending, she successfully escaped his grip, got him jailed and gained a bit of self respect.
Ps. Also what's that random "youtuber-like" music?? Lol

I really apologize if this rant hurts your feelings about this drama but my pride was hurt too watching this thing xD

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At first glance this drama may seem absurd and too extra. But on a closer look, you'll find how there some depth into it.
I loved the fact that Kyohei and Sunako were so alike in their opposite situation: she closed herself up because she was called ugly, he did the same because he was too beautiful that people only got close to him for his appearance (is extremized a bit but it works here). They had a way of understanding each other right from the start that made their relationship kinda realistic in a total nonsense context with a sparkle of supernatural.
Another thing that this drama exceed is to show how gradual is to change, how difficult is to overcome your fear and basically defeat yourself. I applaud at the fact they didn't do the makeover thing, or they did but everytime they make her ladylike, is just to understand and accept her being the horror-onna.
Also instead of focusing on her exterior look, it focused on the inside, and the guys just stopped at some point to change her appearance, Kyohei got even mad for it because he completely embraced her true self and that's rare to see in fictions where the ugly duckling usually after a makeover get her confidence boosted and every problem is solved magically. You may think that being and hikikomori just because someone rejected you would be too much, but actually it shows how much words can affect each other. Sunako is presented as a really introvert yet caring, perceiving and very sensitive girl so those words and the rejection from the whole class just because she was into creepy aesthetics made her lose herself. Being scarred is not something that can improve with make up or shiny clothes, it's a journey and who walks through that path must have the strength and the will to do so, that's why the guys and the cousin were fundamental in her process.
I would have appreciated more depth in the other three boys but it's a 10 episode drama, that would've been to much filler I suppose xD
Still the mixed manga styled comedy it's a bit cringe to watch and there are few plot holes here and there but the main message and the cute protagonists just overcame those. I recommend it!
Ps. Also it gives a little more sense of conclusion, while anime and manga have some sort of open ending xD

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This drama is such a waste of great ideas. I mean trot music? What's that? I was so intrigued because those are not the typical melodies we get to hear in dramas (not from people under 40 anyway) and the girl can really sing. I replayed each song she sang because she was really spot on.
That said the first episodes got me. There were few clichés but bearable, the male lead was a total piece of trash and I got the second lead syndrome right away, because the second male lead just sparks with his weird vibe and charisma. Actually I think he would have been a better choice for first lead, their interactions were weird, funny and unusual. Then something changed. The ceo who couldn't remember his own password and mistakenly took other people's stuff, who was all flirty and easygoing (also kinda mysterious) became the boring third wheel of another damn triangle. The girl who told him he was weird, crazy and psycho just had a little tiny crush for some episodes and became all nice (I particularly liked the scene when ceo and the shady boss of the bar contracted her purchase because she has temper and she's not sexy and she just yelled things and run away lol it was so funny hahaha I laughed a lot also when the gangsters buried the ml and the fl run away after a call and forgot about him xD)
I love the interactions between Byul and both male lead, but more with Jang Joon. He was such an housewife lol
And that's all I think was memorable about this show. There were some pretty good inputs like the older unni, the gangsters who love trot misic and that assistant (I loved him in go back couple) but they just took the time they found and became flat and boring pretty fast. Also some characters (male leads in particular got a complete u turn in their personalities like if you watch the first episode and then the 10th you won't recognize them lol)
The premise of the father running away made no sense, especially because at some point she supposedly paid off the debt (we don't get to know much about it tbh), she just entered the company like that and boom. First single. Broadcast. Of course the other people thought she was a gold digger or smth. I don't feel like hating the second lead, even tho they won't really get punished (as usual it all ends up well even for the antagonists who just plotted and plotted against the protagonist)
It's like at some point they ran out of ideas and they just put into the cauldron every possible drama typical trope: amnesia, triangle, noble idiocy, bitchy female second leads, an old secret between the parents and so on. What a shame, really. This drama could have been a gem!

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First episode got me hooked. I almost gave up 2019 because there was barely anything that kept me intrigued, but I thought with Camellia and this that things were going better!
I liked the fillers with the case after case format, and the fact that they successful blended thriller and romance. The slow burn made it evenly distributed through the drama and you don't have the impression of watching 2 different series.
The concept for the killer wasn't that unique tho, but it could've worked very well. The interesting part was how the killer planned the grasshopper thing to make himself an alibi. It's just that the pace was odd (they revealed those too early imo) and some tiny holes kept bothering me at a point I really couldn't ignore them like: how did the killer traced back all his victims? I mean his plan was to rob their wallet to lure them in dark places (and who sane in their mind would just enter those tbh) but how did he knew where to strike? What the metro police did those 2 years? They investigated...what? Both side leads where kinda unnecessary...the girl was just bitching because no one believed in her (tho I think the male lead was a dick not to tell her the reason to break up. Is this noble idiocy in reverse? Lol) while she was unprofessional and she put her personal feelings into the investigation (and seriously, 3 episodes on that damn telephone booth), the male side cop was intriguing at first...it was purposely suspicious but then he became just the trigger for the ml jealousy...meh. I thought that maybe he too had lost someone because of the ghost, but unfortunately they didn't delve into his character.
Also those are the worst cop and criminals I've seen in all my life. Cops that let criminals that they've been chasing for 3 years escape so easily (actually it even happened offscreen lol), criminals that keep their phones while on the run, fingerprints on cigarettes, coins and wallets. Like seriously those are legendary thiefs? XD
Female lead was annoying but I accepted that in her pov cops are untrustworthy (but why she couldn't judt trust the ml remained a mystery as why they go on night duty to sleep and how the ml lived after selling his house) and she was blinded by her sister's death (presumed lol) .
But usually autistic people are followed by professionals, they said she was taking care of her ALONE by the age of 10 and that's absolutely impossible xD
Overall wasn't that bad, but I was so excited at first that my expectations skyrocketed and I felt hard the disappointment twt I had a lot of theories, involving people like the nurse friend, the caretaker, the mysterious lady with red shoes, the other cops, that mystical door with the abandoned project of another line and it was very simpler than what I imagined xD

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“miracles don’t exist. it’s the little heroes inside us working together. The donations that quietly pile up. The small acts of kindness done by kind people. It’s just the result of all the good deeds you’ve done. You just think it’s a miracle”

Finally a drama that succeeded to keep my attention constantly through all of it. This drama is very unique in its own way, without using some over the top or incredibly original tropes (that means that even simple plots can be interesting if well written and well executed!). I love the concept of the single mom having to deal with her bills, her past and also her neighborhood (and the fact it's not even set in Seul for once xD )
At first what hooked me was the mystery, then I fell in love with almost every character in the drama (I didn't liked the bully ajummas because they remained bully ajummas till the end and they caused a lot of problems for that poor girl for no reason. Tho, I liked how the whole block was some sort of a family and they finally got close but they stepped over the line several times to me D: )
Most of all, Hyang Mi. She is some sort of dark character, she blackmails more than one character, giving them a motive to be the killer, but ultimately you can see how this character is three-dimensional and deep, even if she may be not a GOOD character (I really liked this "grey zone" she felt like a real character! That said: I didn't liked a lot of her choices). She had reasons for being as she was and her habits where forged by the environment she grew up. I especially liked when she told Jessica "you and me are the same: if you get lucky you'll become a Jessica, if not a Hyang Mi".
Her relationship with Dong Baek was also a cool surprise (usually the trope "we knew each other from childhood" is boring, but this time gave emphasis to how people in the same situation can take different roads) - and I felt really sad when she was waiting for her in the bar.
Yong Shik was a pure gem. I loved him, even if in the beginning was a little pushy (?) but he meant really no harm. It was a refreshing male lead (and not a ceo!! Incredible!), supporting and patient. In many other dramas there would have been a LOT of stupid misunderstandings.
Both Dong Baek and Yong Shik are flawed characters but I liked them with those - I understood when Dong Baek came from, why she was the way she was (as I said before I could feel a connection to her, that's why I probably understand better some choices she made)
Jong Ryul was also a complex character, but his trying to be the father actually got me on his side: he didn't know she was pregnant and he didn't just turn the car and went back to the city. It's just that he didn't know how to approach him. I felt his pain and I think he had the right to know it or a better chance to be a father. (I appreciated they didn't drag the love triangle for more than 2 eps because it was unnecessary xD)
In the end the drama gave me a satisfying mystery in the first part (because they insinuated a lot of possible suspects beside the killer, a 3D characterization, a fluffy romance and finally a warm overall sensation.

The only things that left me "meh" where:
- Dong Baek's mom: from someone who suffered the same condition as Dong Baek and Hyang Mi it was a bit overcoating (?) She abandoned her because she was running away from an abusive husband and had no means to let the both survive. Just that some people don't have such noble soul, they just throw away their children like that. Probably there's a bit of a subject matter because I felt really connected to Dong Baek.
Also the fact that they miraculously saved her from kidney failure was idk, it was a bit given? At some point I thought "oh maybe the mom knows about the killer / is related to, or there some reason she was in danger, like she's the daughter of a married man (?) something like that xD
- Yong Shik's mom: I understand that she felt scared for the son but eventually the neighborhood accepted the two. There's nothing wrong in taking care of "someone else's son" - but I think this concept includes also the culture factor, divorcees and single parents are demonized as I saw in many other dramas (emergency couple treated pretty well this issue)
- Gyu Tae and Ja Young: I would have shipped them if the only reason to divorce was the alleged affair, but they just couldn't stand each other so having them back together got me a bit like the writer just wanted to give them all an happy ending (Gyu Tae wasn't happy at all, not that happy ending means everyone paired xD)
- Why tf Dong Baek should go alone in an abandoned mall, knowing that some psycho killer is watching her??? mmh I would have used idk, Hyang Mi's phone to lure her

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Honestly I don't know where to start with this. Maybe it's my fault, for having such high expectations after reading the synopsis. I waited a lot before starting it because I read a lot of negative comments about it, but I liked Won Jin Ha in Just between lovers and I was really looking forward to her next project.
This drama felt so off in many aspects, primarily because it's not really clear what it wants to be: rom com? sci fi? thriller? comedy? Well, not that mixing genres is necessarily a bad thing, but it was like..."compartmentalized"? There are comedy scenes, romance scenes, sci-fi scenes but they don't blend together...it just jumps from a scene to another and you're left with the feeling you're watching 3 different dramas at the same time.
One thing I really disliked in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (from the same writer) was the unnecessarily abuse of violence for "comedy" purposes. This time is Mi Ran's ex boyfriend that got beat up to a pulp several time. Was he a douche? Absolutely. But let me repeat myself: a woman who abuses a man is not different from a man abusing a woman. It's not a "strong woman" trait. It made me uncomfortable seeing the man getting abused in almost every scene.
Another thing that felt off was the way the two leads adjusted to their new life, there was some heartwarming sibling scene but I didn't feel any real grief from a guy who lost his father "yesterday" (knowing he died on a stroke while still searching desperately for him I don't know, I would have been devastated), somehow they adjust and beside of the "keep your temperature at 31° or you'll faint", it becomes an office rom com at some point. Even his ex was quickly left aside (well compared to those old dramas where the guy keeps wavering till last episode I suppose I prefer it this way LOL) I probably would have left out some of that unfunny comedy with the broadcasting staff and the ex to explore more the consequences occurred to them and their families.
I mean there was this premise earlier when we see some of their "99 life", where I felt this sadness slowly creating the atmosphere between both leads and their relatives, and when they reunited instead of a moment of pathos (with the only exception of when Nam Tae reunited with his sister) there is this chaotic scene with everyone screaming like crazy, crying loudly and objects falling noisily on the floor. Ruined to the core.
The romance was plain flat, they went to 0 to hero in half episode and it felt odd till the end: the first kiss was sudden and completely uncalled for, as for Dong Chan's reaction when he got jealous of the ex-boyfriend (in the police station, when Mi Ran hit him AGAIN - I cringed because they barely know each other, it was too soon for me). Just like that, to me there was no building, no climax and at some point I realized I didn't even cared about it much.
The mystery part was messed up and completely uninteresting, I found myself skipping a lot and I didn't even felt "lost" for doing so, the plot was too predictable.
In the end, I just finished it for the sake of the cast (Won Jin Ah mostly)
The idea wasn't bad, but was really wasted.
Also. If Mi Ran never actually even kissed Hwang Byung Shim, do they count as a couple?? To me is even a mystery how laws of attraction worked in this drama LOL

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Actually, first episodes had me hooked. I liked that the heroine was more like an "anti-hero", selfish and a bit rude, the contrast between thriller and comedy was interesting at first, but then...I don't know, I got confused. There was too much stuff in there, and none of that was developed the right way.
The comedy was horrible. The gang (the poop liquor and the beatings. UGH just NOPE), the monk (I mean what's the point of introducing a new irrelevant character at almost the end of the show??), the abused father...what's funny in that? I can save the gay misunderstanding only because both male leads had great chemistry LOL
DBS's mother was the worst mom I've ever seen so far, mine included. She abused the poor husband and told her daughter to force herself on the male lead :/
Also it bothered me a lot that DBS never took her job seriously (well it's HS in the first place who hired her just to have a children-sized desk in his office -.-''') or seriously get a thought about her powers and responsabilities.
The thriller part was the one that got me disappointed the most. Basically the culprit is a random psycho dude and he has really nothing to do with DBS except for they live in the same area...
I think this show could have been something but it just tried to be so much things and failed everyone, except maybe the fluffy romance

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Well, this is a good comedy drama to pass the time, but I won't say it was impressive, and I probably forget it soon.
If you're in for the "summer readings" then give it a try.
I liked that they tried to put more depth to the prosopagnosia trope (now, this desease is a trend in dramaland and it seem to affect a lot of young ceos LOL can you please not be so obvious when you take inspiration?) by comparing Min Ik to her blind brother (even tho it was a very weak and short moment) and describing it as something scary and anxious. I mean you can't recognize people around you, that could be a setback, especially for someone who needs to recognize friends from foes.
I also liked the fact they talked about how some workplaces are a real hell (this thing was also treated in "Jugglers") for employees as maids, secretaries, drivers and so on, and they have a sort of will of change it.
But they kinda didn't handle it very well, the whole plot about the "robin hood secretary fight club" who sell the bribes their boss get from other people and use that money to cover employees issues is a bit boring, moreover because it doesn't concern the two leads or second leads, at least not entirely.
I liked a lot Veronica Park. I was scared when she was introduced because I thought she would be THAT annoying second female lead character, but her being too extra is, in fact, refreshing and amusing. I liked how she was somehow "naive" (not with love relationships LOL) but supporting towards the female protagonist AND her sister.
Well, what I didn't really liked was how much episodes and focus was spent for the whole "I pretend to be someone else" thing, it's something we saw a lot of time, also in western shows and movies, so I don't think it was needed...the show could've take another road without it and it would have been fine.
I find it hard to cheer for the protagonist if she pretend to be someone else, taking advantage of his illness, in order to obtain his love. It's lame and honestly if you think about it, it never ends well. I especially despise her sharade because she knew he had issues with his family and trust issues...she was too greedy, Our fictional characters are lucky their partner are sooo in love and understanding they come to forgive them, but in real life...well suing is the very least imo.
And the plot was pretty much stark...there are some evident plot holes, especially about the disguise and the assault thing that made me wonder if they thought I was too stupid to realize it.
I mean why in the world the driver would change a lightbulb in his boss office at night and why, when Min Ik finds out, he attacks him instead of saying "I'm your driver" . This doesn't make sense at all.
Also I wont' even try to analyse the medical aspect of it: his illness can be "cured" if he has high pressure or if he sees the one he loves....even sticking to it, there were moments were he was supposed to be excited or nervous (like when he confessed to Gal Hee, when they almost made sex and so on) but nothing happened. Conveniently at the end he has a scare in the elevator and his illness just goes away. I'd rather use the fantasy elements than this.
The last thing got me a bit annoyed it's an aspect of their romance. They were cute yes, but a bit too teenage-style to be 30 something. Min Ik hinted he had other relationships in that "stocking moment" (LOL) but they were awkward just by holding their hands or hugging (while in the first episode, when she was just the secretary I thought they were more chill about touching). I'm not saying I wanted hot stuff or whatever, it's just a bit surreal to see them being too much naive for their actual age.
I would rewatch this? I don't know, honestly. I was annoyed at her lies and I don't know if I want to face that again...but overall was cute and not to dramatic, LOL in the first episode Gal Hee's mother death was comic instead of sad.

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Ok so this review is dark and full of spoilers. aand I'm going to vent a lot my frustration so you may hate me if you liked this drama. Then just don't blow your bubble and stop reading now. xD
I found this drama on netflix and at first it was our typical, full of cliché (and occasionally cringeness) love story: marriage contract between a poor thing who has a desease and the only donor compatible: the youngest and richest CEO of CEOs history that every woman would like to approach - but for some reasons he doesn't seem to be attracted by anyone, and rumors have him being in a triangle with his secretary male assistant and his male actor friend.
Asians are rather conservative about lgbt so none of them is actually gay, or at least bi. Bi would be a nice plot twist.
But instead we had a really shitty plot twist that will make your jaw drop underground.
Well the signals were there and some bells happened to ring for me, but I know that dramas are often a bit extra, so I wouldn't imagine what was going to happen.
First of all: she had to beg him several times because even tho he was on the donor's list (it means he signed himself in) he didn't want to agree to save her life. That's quite nasty for a premise even for the tsundere archetype to be honest.
Then as they start to "fake" their marriage (he asked her to marry him in exchange of her life, basically. She tought he was gay and needed a cover up - but that's her assumption, not a deception.) he starts to be a bit too controlling: he stated she - a grown woman - was forbidden to drink alcohol (not getting drunk, just to drink a beer for instance), was forbidden to wear skirts over her knee and things like that.
Actually the very alarm for me went on the moment she was walking at the mall with her friend and some guy stole her wallet, only to come back minutes later scared with that same wallet intact, begging forgiveness. How did her hubby knew? Wasn't he supposed to be at work, doing all that office stuff? (seriously I am always amused to see how much free time heads of conglomerates have to roam around instead of directing thousand people in dramaland. And they just sign stuff or scold people when they're rarely seen at their workplace LOL)
Some time passes and they spend lovely time together, they say cheesy stuff and flirt all the way.
And then the ugly thruth: we get to know that the marriage in fact was the masterpiece of the dick moves to approach a girl you like: he stalked, photographed her, got reports about her FOR TWO FREAKING YEARS and planned ahead the whole marriage thing by bribing doctors and forging documents about her having leukemia, when she was just anemic!! That would be GENIAL if only this drama was tagged under "thriller". But it's a rom com instead. How romantic! Let me spread some rotten flower petals here.
Because asking her for a coffee was too mainstream? We get to see in flashbacks she wasn't a cold, difficult to approach person, the exact opposite!! In fact he fell for her because they met by coincidence and she helped a stranger (him) without asking anything in return.
Even with his turbolent past with a severe father and a uncaring mother (she was a real bitch, let me say it moreover because she seemed a poor victim of the father too when she tried to steal his son's company at first occasion. wtf.) I think that's not logic at all. And also why his loyal assistant didn't warn him about the consequences, about how frong this was?? He planned to deceive her and confess the truth only when she had already fallen for him so she would forgive his actions: yeah sure, feed that to the dogs.
If only that she did exactly as he planned.
She discovered the truth, she got angry, she told him how suffocating is his behavior, HE LOCKED HER UP IN THE HOUSE WITH TWO GUARDS "FOR HER SAKE" when she wanted to leave and after couple of episodes they're back together. No consequences, no therapy.
Not to mention he begged her, telling her he wanted to change and after all that, she discovers he bought her apartment in secret. Psycho much? Hello? You didn't learn anything from all that mess?
But let's being serious for a second here because yes it's a fiction, it's a drama so "over the top or die trying" is our national anthem but I felt rather disturbed to see how lightly all the matter was treated. The friends, from both sides, just said: "oh, that's not cool" and that was it. Leaving aside the fact he didn't yell or hit at her, he, in fact, abused her. This was plain domestic abuse. He said what every perpetrator say in this circumstance "it's for your own good, I did it for you".
For the rest of the drama I kept being disturbed by it, I kept thinking the target of this stories are teens and they are easily influenced by everything around them. (It's not an asian only thing, I can use "after" by Anna Todd as another bad example.)
I just don't think it's a good idea showing manipulative characters justified and forgiven like that, without at least some therapy. Yes, he's a victim of his father too and I am prone to be more comprehensive, but it's not enough for me to excuse him or giving him a second chance right away.
I think it's also disrespectful towards all the people out there who are abused by their partner, trapped in this nightmare.
You may think "yeah but it's just fiction!" and I may agree with you except that seeing often those things as normal and romanticized even is very harmful for young minds. If he wasn't rich and handsome would you be on the same page as now?
Here's a really fitting example of what I'm trying to say: we're all educated that pink is a feminine color. A boy would be ashamed to wear pink (Jia Fei was more convinced that Wen Li was gay because he liked that very color) but isn't it just a pale hue of red? That's how our brain works: we get used to things and finally think they're normality. Ling Yi Zhou himself is a perfect example: he's so used to be manipulated by his father he thinks he's normal to treat his partner as some pet.
I was sad to see people willing to cheer for them at the end, while they were so severe to the second fem lead girl who basically did the same thing to Ling (she ipnotized and drugged him to forget his wife so she could stand a chance. This reminded me of Tom Riddle's mother. She tricked a guy to love her with a potion and when he woke up he left her pregnant with the dark lord. That would be a great lesson for both An Ran and Ling Yi Zhou).
I liked how Xia Lin and Chu Yan's friendship developed and that left me with the infamous second lead syndrome. He started as a bitchy rival, then he learned to respect her as a person and they become friends, they talked about stuff and helped each other: sometimes she rescued him, sometimes he rescued her. The true example of an equal and sane relationship.
For me the perfect ending would have been her escaping with him and the controlling dude being on therapy and then after few time trying again to have a relationship with another woman in the right way (or die, while trying to kill the girl and his friend who "stole" her), I think I will pretend that happened and forget about this whole stuff right away.
if it wasn't clear enough I won't recommend this at all xD I would rather keep watching the same old stuff full of clichés without abuse :/

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