Miss Binge-watcher

It felt flat

My rating: 7.5/10

I finished Can This Love Be Translated yesterday, and I’m giving it a 7.5 out of 10.
Not because it was bad, but for the amount of hype around it, I honestly expected more. It was fine. Watchable. But it didn’t hit the way people made it sound like it would.

And I know how deep I can go with a drama when it truly hits me. Crash Landing on You is the perfect example of that. That show had such an impact on me that I actually watched it like a die-hard fan. Scene by scene. Episode by episode. I analyzed everything, because it made me feel something real.

But with this one, I never got pulled in like that.
I love a good romantic story, and on that level this one felt… flat. Like something was missing. It was lacking. It didn’t give me that “wow” feeling, and it definitely didn’t leave me emotionally wrecked in a good way.

The male lead was actually one of the better parts for me. I love a good T-character and he delivered that energy.

But the female lead… I don’t know. I just couldn’t connect with her. I couldn’t put myself in her shoes, and the way her mental health was presented really bothered me. It felt kind of clumsy and overly casual, like they wanted to include something serious but didn’t want to treat it with the weight it actually deserves. If you’re going to imply someone has a personality disorder, you can’t present it like it’s just a quirky character trait. That didn’t sit right with me.

And honestly, it wasn’t even “miscommunication” that got in the way of the relationship. It was more like… she just didn’t know how to say what she felt. And she sabotaged herself.

The moment she started feeling like, okay wait, he actually likes me now, her whole mindset switched into, this won’t last anyway. It’s going to fall apart. So I’ll end it first, before it ends me.

I get what they were trying to do, but for me it felt a bit too forced. Like it needed more depth, more buildup, more emotional logic behind it. Because I kept thinking: why are we doing this right now? It didn’t feel natural enough to be heartbreaking. It just felt… unnecessary.

There’s also one big thing that didn’t land for me: the love story itself. The male lead tried, I’ll give him that. But based on the scenes they had together, I didn’t really understand when or why he suddenly fell in love with her. I couldn’t see it happening. It felt like the plot decided it was time, and that was that.

And maybe I’m hard to impress because the only K-drama I’ve given a straight 10/10 to is Crash Landing on You. Nothing else has touched that level for me, not even My Dearest or Mr. Sunshine. So I’m not saying Can This Love Be Translated needed to be life-changing, but still… I expected it to hit harder than it did.

In the end, it’s a perfectly fine feel-good series. I enjoyed watching it. It wasn’t painful, it wasn’t a waste of time. But it also didn’t really do anything for me. And if I’m being honest, I already know I won’t be rewatching it.

Final verdict: a decent watch, good male lead energy, but emotionally underwhelming and not worth the hype.

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It wasn't awful, but not good either

My rating 5.5 / 10
Hyun Bin was the saving grace.

I thought the story could have been much better, with more fun moments. The contrast between the two personalities was lacking.

The fact that the female lead was made to act as if she were interacting with two completely different people felt stupid. Yes, you can fall for someone's personality. But how can you love one, sleep with one, yet feel next to nothing for the other? They are the same person!

I also didn’t like the female lead’s facial expressions; she always seemed to be questioning life.

And the styling was terrible. I know it was 2015, but the clothing, especially Robin’s, was awful. It felt exaggerated and almost cartoonish, as if the wardrobe alone had to do the work of distinguishing the personalities. On top of that, why name him Robin? It’s such an odd choice. He invented a whole backstory and family for himself, and they were simply Koreans living in Korea. So why would he have an English name like Robin? It just made the character feel even more artificial.

The supporting cast was weak as well. No one was properly developed or given a meaningful storyline. And what happened to the circus? It was introduced as a central element, and then it was basically forgotten. There was no real payoff.

I still don’t understand why this had to be 20 episodes. Where Crash Landing on You could have easily filled ten more episodes, this one felt at least ten episodes too long.

I only gave it a 5.5 because it had potential and I finished it. But overall, it was a pretty hard watch for me.

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Late to the CLOY party, but in Awe!

EDIT: I've re-read my review after 6 months and it honestly doesn't do justice to this series, simply because I relied heavily on AI to put my observations and thoughts in to words. So I've decided to re-write my review in my own words. I'll keep the original one. If you're interested in reading that, you can scroll all the way down. ( But be prepared to cringe a lot).

06.2025

I watched CLOY for the first time in December 2025. My K-drama journey had just begun and I was still dependent on Netflix for recommendations. But something in the CLOY previews they kept pushing on me was off-putting, so I kept clicking next and wasting my time with other fluff. Eight fluffy dramas later, I was scrolling through the catalogue when a CLOY preview started playing automatically.

As if someone whispered in my ear to “just do it”, I clicked play and never ever looked back. I went in with zero expectations and finished it a day later, surrounded by snacks, tissues, and snot. What a masterpiece of a series this was.

It started quite tame with the introduction of the smart, beautiful, and a bit arrogant chaebol heiress and then the introduction of the highly skilled, handsome, but (seemingly) ordinary soldier. It honestly felt a bit mweh and I almost dropped it. But then came the crazy paragliding accident and I felt the déjà vu hit me like a brick. Could this be the Korean Outlander-ish type of drama? Who doesn’t love fantasy romance with a hint of impossibility?

Of course I knew (even with my then limited knowledge of K-dramas) this would be a very different series because Outlander is a highly sexual and gory watch. Still, the parallels made me stick with CLOY, and friends, I’m so glad I did.

If you haven’t watched CLOY yet, beware of spoilers; it’s impossible to rave about this series without revealing a bit. I won’t get into the story too much, because a lot of other reviewers have done that already. I’ll just stick to the things that stood out to me.

1. The chemistry. This thing between Yoon Se-ri and Ri Jeong-hyeok is the real, real deal. I mean, they did get married irl, right? The moment they met on screen, I knew this was going to be good. At first, he came across as this stoic and aloof soldier, but the first epilogue shows us how mesmerized he was by her. Se-ri is a rich heiress, but still so bubbly and easygoing, it honestly isn’t that hard to like her. I mean, the ducklings were in awe of her also, except for Chi-soo, but he’s like that one crazy uncle everyone has, nothing to take too seriously.

What I loved about their first meeting is that you could immediately see what kind of man RJH is. Very principled, but caring. Even though they were in a tight, crazy spot, he made sure to try and help her. We’ll never know if he’d make the same choice if he wasn’t hindered by the landmine, but still. YSR on the other hand, was so unserious I couldn’t help but laugh, especially when she told RJH they should meet after reunification because he was just her type. Crazy woman, you just landed in NK and you’re joking about trivial things. But I’m getting too much into details, so back to the review.

2. The experience. Even at the first watch you notice that the world the writers created was a rich and detailed one. The few dramas I had seen at this point stayed superficial. But CLOY did a thing to try and portray life in NK as accurately as possible. After watching, I dived deep into the CLOY rabbit hole and found out they interviewed deserters to get to that level of accuracy. It wasn’t only about the buildings, but everything was thought out, from the wardrobe to the dialect to the everyday life of the village ahjummas. I honestly felt like I was experiencing it myself. In the second episode I loved the shower scene, where RJH was telling YSR how to create a sauna-like experience. These are things we aren’t thinking about in the modern world. This also showed the resilience of YSR. She didn’t really accept her fate, but she wasn’t acting overly spoiled either. I mean, she’s a billionaire chaebol heiress, yes she was bragging about it, but there weren’t any extreme expectations from her part. He told her how to assemble the thing, she just did it. Also, the writers did a great thing showing us early on that she wasn’t a helpless damsel, but also not a coldhearted self-sufficient woman. Her breaking down after he brought her the “wrong” candle is proof of that. I often wonder how any other woman would’ve handled the situation. But here I am, once again going into detail.

3. The characters. Every character was fleshed out and had a story. I loved that. It’s as if I fell into an existing world and got to know everyone. Of course YSR and RJH are my absolute #1s but Pyo Chi-soo is a close second. That man is hilarious. His constant indignant bickering with YSR. Through him and his indignation we actually could see RJH fall for YSR. My number 3 is Dan’s mom. She had me cackling like a crazy chicken. Her antics were so much fun to watch. I especially loved the makeup scene, where they went to meet up with RJH and his parents. Dan’s face had me howling. The writers did a very good job picking the actors. All of them seemingly worked well together and the chemistry between all of them was great. I hated Dan, but I absolutely despised Cho Cheol-gang. What a nasty, slimy, unlikeable asshole that was. The show wouldn’t have been as good had not everyone just excelled at their parts.

4. The story. Yes, it had a few tropes. Yes, I did discover some minor inconsistencies. Yes, there were some parts I liked less. Even so, I still think it’s a masterpiece as far as romcoms can be one. It had drama, it had humor, it gave butterflies, it made you cry and it was finished. No plotholes, no idiotic and unnecessary plot devices, just a well-written and well-executed story. I loved the pacing, I loved that everything was related, there were no filler episodes. In fact, I think they could’ve gone with two more episodes to properly finish the story. As most dramas, the ending felt a bit rushed, but maybe I just wanted more of these two. I often tell others I’d like to have a mini series which fills in blanks, like the epilogues did in a way. I’d like to have seen the first moments after YSR crossed the border, how did she get home? But also a bit more details on RJH after he was back in NK after living with her in SK. How the hell do you get back from that? It’s only wishful thinking though.

5. The romance. I love me some romance and to me this one was the best of all. Normally in dramas I’m wondering why the leads fell for each other, especially in chaebol dramas. In this one however, it was so organic that you just had to believe it. They were so careful with their love. The yearning was top tier, everything they were supposed to feel for each other was transmitted to the viewer. A few of my favorite romantic scenes are: The bike scene, back from the birthday party, the clam scene, where they’re stealing glances at each other, of course the candle-market scene. This is where I locked in even more. The scene in the field waiting for the train, the chicken and beer scene, their very first real kiss at the hospital, their very first hug in the snow, his confessional monologue at his parents’ place, their teary goodbyes at the border and there are a few more. But my absolute favorite scene is the ring scene on her birthday. Just wow. It made me tear up, while laughing at YSR’s antics once again. My only grievance with this drama is the lack of intimacy. I found out it was due to the timeslot and also the PG12 rating. But come on. How could they have given us such a beautiful and realistic love progression and no hint of intimacy? At times these two were standing like 2 meters apart, it made me want to yank my hair out.

6. The comedy. This was maybe the best of all. The writers inserted the funny moments at exactly the right time. I hate slapstick or just dumb and clumsy humor. In CLOY it was just witty and funny. A little example is when they boat mission failed and she was so disappointed, she was ranting at RJH, accusing him of this and that, I loved how dumbfounded he was. His expressions were everything. But the best of all is the awards scene. I hadn’t laughed that hard in a good while. YSR was so smug and RJH once again dumbfounded, aghast even. Pyo Chi-soo also delivers his crazy comebacks in such a natural but funny way.

All in all, I can’t stop talking about or recommending this drama. You just have to watch it for yourself to understand what I mean. Of course this show won’t win awards for accuracy. But it does what it’s supposed to do. Make you feel butterflies, but in a mature and muted way. It’s not flashy and it’s not overly stylized. Everything was just in balance and felt refined. I truly hope to come across another drama which leaves almost no stone unturned like this one. To date CLOY is my only 10/10 and I wish I could watch it for the first time again and again.

Thank you for reading my review. If you need more insights, or would like to read discussions regarding CLOY, please check out the CLOY subreddit on Reddit. We are pretty active there.

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Old AI review:

Crash Landing on You is only my eighth K-drama, and I was not prepared for how deeply it would affect me. I watched it in one go, cried through most of it, and when it ended, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I am now on my second rewatch and already know a third one is coming. Honestly, it has ruined other dramas for me for now. This is not a series you finish and move on from.

Here is my honest review, even though I'm late to the party.

What makes this drama so powerful is not just the premise, but the execution. The writing trusts silence. Again and again, the most important moments between Ri Jeong-hyeok and Yoon Se-ri are carried by pauses, by looks, by what is not said. The stillness between them is never empty. It is heavy with feeling, restraint, fear, and love. That choice alone elevates this series far above many others.

What becomes especially clear on a rewatch is how carefully this story is constructed. The creators pay close attention to detail, planting moments early on that quietly gain meaning later. There are visual and emotional echoes throughout the series that only fully land the second or third time you watch. It creates that rare feeling where you suddenly understand why a moment mattered, why a line was delivered a certain way, or why a scene felt heavier than it seemed at first. This is a series that genuinely rewards attention.

At the same time, the show knows exactly when to let you breathe. The humor is smart and well timed. It is never forced, never childish, and never breaks the emotional flow. The comedy grows naturally out of character and situation. You laugh not because something is exaggerated, but because the writing is sharp and the timing is right.

Casting is a major reason why this series works as well as it does. The characters are well written, but they only resonate because the actors clearly understand what the story asks of them. The creators have described Crash Landing on You as a pure romance, and that choice is reflected in the restrained performances. The distance between the leads is physical, not emotional. Their feelings are fully visible, but touch is held back on purpose. Behind-the-scenes footage only reinforces this, showing how strong the chemistry actually was. On screen, the actors rely on silence, timing, and eye contact rather than physical closeness, which gives the romance its depth and emotional weight.

The supporting characters are just as strong and never feel like filler. Seo Dan and her storyline add real emotional weight and contrast to the main couple. Her arc deepens the themes of duty, longing, and loss without pulling focus away. Family members, authority figures, and rivals are written as people, not just plot devices. Sometimes they are frustrating, sometimes unexpectedly kind, but always believable. That makes the world around the main couple feel real, not staged.
Then there is the community around them. The ducklings are genuinely funny and warm, not slapstick or forced. They become a chosen family, adding heart and humor in a very natural way. The village women and everyday moments bring grounding and texture to the story. Love in this series is not only romantic. It shows up in care, protection, shared food, teasing, and loyalty. That sense of community is a big part of why the emotional moments hit as hard as they do.

All of this builds toward moments like the ring scene, for example. That scene works precisely because of everything that comes before it. It is quiet, intimate, and understated, yet emotionally overwhelming. There is no big speech or dramatic declaration. Just thoughtfulness, mutual recognition, and a shared moment that says everything without spelling anything out. It stayed with me long after watching because it captures the heart of their relationship.
The only critical points I have are that I would have liked to see slightly more intimacy, not sex or explicit scenes but more physical closeness through touch, hugs, and presence, and that I missed more acknowledgement of Ri Jeong-hyeok from Se-ri’s world, where he is introduced as a bodyguard despite clearly being far more, and where subtle recognition would have added emotional closure.

Even though the series ended a few years back, the community around Crash Landing on You is still active. People continue to discuss details, scenes, and emotions because the series resonates on a shared level. If you love this drama, you tend to recognize that love in others without much explanation.

Of course, there are small flaws, and you notice them more the more you rewatch. Normally, I am very critical of those things. But with this series, I accepted them without resistance. That alone says everything. I fell completely in love with the cast, the setting, the story, the music, and the emotional world it created.

Crash Landing on You is not just a drama. It is an experience. It shows how powerful love can be, how deeply people can change each other, and why connection matters so much in this world. For me, this is a solid 10 out of 10.

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IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE LAST 3 EPISODES, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN MY SECOND 10/10

Like the title of my review states, this drama would've been my second ever 10/10 K-drama if it weren't for episodes 13-16.
I'm aware my review is 9 years too late, but I want to get this off my chest, seeing as thoughts about the drama keep popping up.
I loved it so very much, just to be disappointed in the end. But, if I can objectively help someone else with this review, please read on. Spoilers ahead!

What a refreshing and wonderful story! I was so glad I came across a drama that would tackle everyday life, heavier topics, and just "normal" people. I'm not a fan of overly stylized and polished shows, so to me, this was a plus as soon as I started the first episode.
And that one had me hooked! I loved the introduction of the FL. She was still searching for her place in life, searching for who she wanted to be, while struggling to keep a roof over her head. I found her to be quite endearing, naive, but also, surprisingly, strong.

Yes, she sometimes came across as young and inexperienced, but she also had to put up with a lot of patriarchal shit while growing up. Still, she didn't just give up; she kept going and tried to take care of her own problems and make her life work. Oftentimes we see women portrayed as helpless damsels, or they are forced on us as strong women just to keep the show going. I didn't get this vibe from Ji-ho at all. She is simply a normal girl finding her way in the world, and I loved that and was constantly rooting for her.

I have to say that my favorite character was the ML. I have a thing for the quiet, almost antisocial, tsundere types who secretly have a soft nature. Se-hee wasn't the very loving type, and we'd find out eventually why. But what I loved about this character was that he was consistent. He set boundaries and didn't go over those boundaries. Still, he made sure Ji-ho was safe, even though that was not in the contract or his job.

A lot of reviewers tend to find him off-putting, mechanical, or even unlikable. But we have to keep in mind that A: he was written that way, and B: he went through some shit in his past and he is trying to protect his heart. Not everyone can go through life with their hearts on their sleeves, and not every drama should be about a man lusting after a woman like an overheated puppy. I found Se-hee quite wonderful because he started out as stoic, antisocial, selfish, and inflexible, but we ended up with a hero who learned to open up his heart while staying true to his nature.

Both leads showed remarkable character growth throughout the drama, and then came episode 13.

All of a sudden, it felt as if they switched writers, directors, producers, or whatever when they started working on episode 13. Ji-ho turned into an idiotic, selfish, and toxic girl. I don't even want to go into detail regarding her stupid choices and thoughts, but I will just to get this off my chest.

Some of us love slice-of-life dramas because they often mirror our own lives. And I feel it would've been much better if they'd stuck to that until the end, rather than using the miscommunication, idiot damsel, and separation tropes to create some sort of fake climax. Not every story needs to be overly dramatic.

What I hated most from episode 13 onwards:
The fact that Ji-ho stopped communicating directly and clearly. She started speaking in metaphors and keeping her feelings and thoughts to herself. I mean, girl, you know Se-hee is almost a robot. Speak your m-fing mind and tell him what bothers you. The man isn't stupid, but he also can't read minds!

She decided on her own that they should break up because he hadn't uttered those stupid words people cling to. Hellooo: "I love you" means absolutely nothing without actions to back those words up. But noooo, she needed to feed her ego. Even after Su-ji told her Se-hee was planning to confess, Ji-ho still found it necessary to get divorced and leave the man.

I understand some of you will think I only mind what the ML is feeling, but no. Imagine you've been living in hell for 10 years. You kept your life private, only opened up your heart to your cat. Then comes along a beautiful, fresh girl, and she thaws your heart up to the point you decide to give life and love a chance again. Then she ups and leaves you because you haven't said the words out loud. Uhm, okay? And yes, I get that at this point Se-hee could've uttered the words and maybe stopped or appeased her. But remember the boundaries I mentioned earlier? The man was protecting the walls SHE put up. He isn't overly dramatic in showing feelings, so it would be unfair to expect he'd do so at this point.
As I said, consistent.

But here comes the worst. After she left, she was supposed to go find herself; she hadn't really lived her life up to that point. So I get that she planned to travel and see the world. We all understand that, right? What did she do though? She went to the fucking neighborhood sauna, chilled with girlfriends, and wandered around the same fucking city!

To make matters even worse: one random day she decides it's time to start their day one. Absolutely no consideration for the man she left alone, broken in pieces. She baked a cake and thought: hmmm, I'll take this to the love of my life and tell him we're on again. Girl, what?

Forget the previous worst, here comes the worst-worst.
She slides into bed with him. Notices he thinks he's dreaming of her. Doesn't correct him. Lets him think he's still dreaming. Falls asleep next to him. The next day when he wakes up, she acts as if he's crazy. The man wanted to seriously talk to her about what happened and about his feelings, and she went on and on about breakfast. WTF, did one of the writers fall on their head? Seriously.

Look, I'm glad they eventually got back together, because I love happy endings. But this was lazy, sloppy, and we're not young and impressionable viewers. If you write a drama which deals with everyday topics like housing, sexual harassment, trauma, and such, you should stick to that until the end and not fall back on mainstream tropes just to insert unnecessary drama.

Instead of the drama, they could've tackled these points:
- Why didn't they delve into the bruised hands of Se-hee after he beat up Ji-ho's attacker? Maybe that would've opened her eyes more.
- Why did she really turn down the writing contract?
- Se-hee wasn't feeling his ex; he showed her as much by waiting for Ji-ho even after he ran into the ex. Why didn't that sway her a bit?

To me the drama would've been a more "perfect drama" if these were explored:
Instead of forcing a separation in the last three episodes, they could've explored the relationship part better. They were two people starting off as landlord and tenant, got married to make life easier, and started loving each other. They could've shown us how they really took the plunge. I mean, both Se-hee and Ji-ho weren't fans of conventional and traditional Korean marriages. Explore that! Show us how they would've done it better. No slave-like activities at the in-laws.
Respecting each other's Room 19. Really having your own space whilst being together.
I loved that they renewed their contract yearly. They could've dived deeper into that.
Anything, actually, would've been better than what we got.

Anyways, I don't want to rant anymore. This has been the only drama I would've watched back-to-back just like I did CLOY. It left an emptiness in me, and now I'm disappointed at the ending. I'm in no way saying you shouldn't watch, because it started too beautifully and stayed that way until episode 13.
All in all, it's really worth the 9.5 I rate it.

Oh, forgot to even mention the side characters. Loved all of them. I only think that Won-seok and Rang should've stayed separated; they were not meant to be together anymore.

Sidenote: the two first leads made a cameo in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. I read the writer wanted to give the fans some joy by putting them together again, even for something small. Good idea, bad execution.
I wish the cameo was really about Ji-ho and Se-hee. Maybe a collaboration between Lee Young-joon and Se-hee? The form in which we got the cameo left a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyways, I'm done now. Don't let my frustrations stop you from watching this beautiful story.

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A beautiful story

I watched Goblin 10 years after it first aired, and I have to say, I loved it. It won't share the 10/10 spot with Crash Landing on You, due to a few details I'm not completely happy with, but all in all it was a well-written, beautiful story.

Let me start by saying, I absolutely get why some viewers ditched the drama or are still vocal about the age gap. It isn't something we should accept as a society in real life. But let's keep in mind that it's a drama, it's fiction, and it's fantasy fiction at that. As soon as I accepted that, I finished it and enjoyed it.

In my opinion, my review is too late for writing about the story itself, so I'll just stick to the aspects that stood out to me.

1. They stretched the history of Kim Shin becoming the Goblin a bit too long and kept coming back to it too often, in my opinion. I understand they wanted the viewer to really understand where the Goblin came from, but it wasn't that complicated a history, like some of the Joseon-era, heavily political dramas out there. To me, they dedicated too much time to this, whereas they could've invested that time to flesh out other parts of the story some more.

2. I found Eun Tak to be quite irritating, but I also expected it, her being 19 and all. If I look back on my life, I also wasn't that bright with my decisions at that age. Nineteen is truly a limbo between adulthood and still being a teenager. Because of this, I understood her overly childish behaviour to be rooted in past trauma and her need for confirmation on multiple levels. Eun Tak was taking care of herself for 10 years already. Her age might have been small, but her experiences weren't. And her childish behaviour must have stemmed from feeling safe enough with Goblin to let loose a little. And childish or not, she knew how to communicate her feelings and wasn't stupidly impulsive.

3. Goblin wasn't a toxic man. Some dramas have these male leads who are bordering on abusive. Goblin wasn't that. He at least did his best to push Eun Tak away, albeit in an awkward way. Imagine living all these years, seeing everyone you came to love or appreciate die around you. Of course you'll become aloof, maybe even cold, simply to protect your own heart. Some would argue he could've been less mean to Eun Tak. But he understood his fate, and all of a sudden this girl proclaims to be his bride.

Her being part of his life meant he could finally retreat into nothingness. And then he starts to have feelings he wasn't expecting to have. He wasn't expecting to like her or want to protect her. So the struggle between wanting to leave and wanting to stay starts. He was pushing against her and against himself at the same time.

Furthermore, he also understood he's immortal and she's not. How would that even work? It's not crazy he tried to keep her at a distance. And even so, he at some point in his 900 years on earth was human too, so he experiences human emotions. Of course he doesn't know what to do with his feelings for "some little girl". Loving her unconditionally meant dying and leaving her behind. I think lots of commenters failed to see that struggle, because they stayed hung up on the age gap.

4. People were mostly raving about the bromance in this drama. Yes, it was quite endearing, but it wasn't my main reason for liking and sticking to the drama. The story itself was unique and interesting. I loved how every character had his or her own story. What I liked less was that they didn't flesh out the stories enough. The 16 episodes could've been distributed better. Also, I hated that they waited until around the 14th episode to introduce the main villain. Of course we saw him at work earlier on, but that final reveal felt very rushed. I really loved the relationship between Grim Reaper and Sunny and was sad to see they didn't get to be "more" the first time around.

5. I feel I have to properly address the age gap. First off, my 13-year-old isn't allowed to watch this one just yet. Because an age gap of 20 years isn't remotely normal and I'm absolutely not condoning it. I cringed more than a few times, especially because Eun Tak was written to have feelings for Goblin, but still was calling him Ahjussi and acting like a 16-year-old. The uniform wasn't helping either. As most have pointed out, they should've let the story start with her being in college. Maybe then we wouldn't all feel the ick. I'm glad they didn't "consummate" the relationship until she was an "adult". But even so, when you turn a legal age, you're not miraculously an adult. The actress did such a great job that the romantic parts were an uneasy watch. I wish they had her act more mature at times, it would've been less uncomfortable.

All in all, to me the story itself was quite beautiful, because it didn't feel like a fluffy romantic drama as most are. It also kept the same vibe throughout, and the consistency of the tone made me eventually like it very much. There was never a promise of a happy ending, and even though there was some gore and a hint of romance, it wasn't the main focus. At least not for me.

I think the writers tried to challenge mainstream dramas with this tale of an immortal. It made way for other dramas to follow suit. And even though they also challenged morally correct romance with this one, I think they pulled off a well-written, interesting watch. I gave it a 9, simply because I couldn't get behind the age gap.

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Very, very bad. But I did it to myself

Okay, in all fairness, I did choose to watch this all by myself. Even the title is so cringe worthy. Still I gave it a shot because of the short episodes.

This is my second Jdrama and I'm starting to think they're not for me. Not a problem at all, but sometimes you need a palate cleanser and I'd hoped Jdramas could be that, because Cdramas are way too long.

Anyway, I went in with zero expectations and left with even less than that. This drama was so bad and cringey, but such a guilty pleasure. I was cringe-laughing the whole time.

All I can say is, I'm glad it was finished and I can't wait to forget about it.
Verdict: Nothing special, bad acting, ugly wardrobe, bad production, rehashed storyline.
I only rated it a 4 because it did serve as a palate cleanser and I did get to laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing.

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It missed the wow factor

This will be a pretty short and straightforward review.

I loved that there were no unneccessary plot devices. Bad writers could've inserted lots of fillers, but they didn't and I'm very grateful. The drama missed all the idiocy I'm quite allergic to. No miscommunication, no memory loss after an accident, no noble idiocy that goes on forever, no seperation in the final episode, no leaving stuff unanswered.
Also the chemistry was great and I Iiked the OST. I loved that the ML turned into a puppy after they got together. Normally the FL acts all flirty and cute. In this drama the roles were reversed and I liked that very much.

Still I rate this only a 8.5, because it missed the wow factor for me. It was a cute watch, but nothing special.

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Beautiful slice of life, too much "Western" influence

I went in with no expectations whatsoever. I just needed a palate cleanser after Flower of Evil.

Melo movie did not dissapoint at all. It seems I love shows which have no definite starting point or end, really a slice of life.

What made me love this one even more, was the fact that the topics were so "real life" topics. We had career-wise struggles, careers which took of because of past disappointments, relationships that fell apart without the drama, mental health, death and mourning.

I pretty much loved everything about it and oftentimes found myself thinking about the way my life was going.

But, even though I was very drawn to the story and the lack of over the top drama, I still felt like there was this underlying level of Western cinema lurking. Can't really put my finger on what it is, but that feeling ruined it a bit for me.

I know this doesn't make sense, even if you'd ask me about ot, I couldn't put it in to words, so sorry about that.

The feeling didn't stop me from finishing it, but I probably won't rewatch this one. All in all a solid 8.

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I wish I could've loved this drama

When I first read the synopsis, I thought I was getting some sort of adaptation of the movie Life as We Know It. I was so thrilled, because I was looking for a drama that wasn't just about romance.

The first episode was okay. The introduction of the characters was nothing really special, but I didn't mind. The little actor who played Woo Joo is truly the best. What a talented little kid he is. At times I even thought they used AI to alter his expressions.
All in all, episode 1 was a promise.

After episode 1, the story started to progress a bit. And then it went downhill.

Seeing the type of drama, we as viewers already expected the ML and FL to become an item, so I was unpleasantly surprised when they introduced some idiotic love triangle, starring a so-called perfect 2ML, who lacked any depth whatsoever. And why were they even focusing on this so much? The camera kept doubling back on "romantic" moments between FL and 2ML.

Honestly, just why?

Why couldn't this have been a show about two people who weren't remotely ready to become parents, struggling to keep it together? Why wasn't this about exploring family dynamics outside of conventional families? Why wasn't this a slice-of-life (à la Something in the Rain) type of drama highlighting the real-life struggles all parents go through? Why didn't we get a drama exploring real enemies becoming partners due to a greater good? Also, FL was struggling money-wise, how in the hell did she "manage so well" after having another mouth to feed, and pay for daycare?

The characters: After Woo Joo, the ML is the better character. At first he seemed like an asshole, but he was pretty consistent. He knew how to communicate his needs and feelings. Getting to know about his trauma made him more relatable. And due to that trauma he is kind of neurotic, wanting his surroundings to be just so. (I recognize this, because I am the same, we have issues, believe me). I hated that they didn't explore this more. All of a sudden this neurotic person just accepted his fate/new surroundings and went about his day as if nothing happened. Then we have a FL who was written so flat that I didn't really understand what made her tick. I truly feel the character lacked something. I found her at times to be really aloof or uninterested.
I hated that she took on the role of guardian, but then just forgot about being said guardian all the time. Yes, we all have to work, but come on. What would she have done if uncle wasn't there?

Maybe the actress lacks experience, I didn't really see or feel her pain, even though her whole world imploded. Also there was no chemistry. Not between ML and FL, or FL and 2ML. The common denominator being FL.

All in all, I was truly disappointed. The writers had such a good chance to introduce something new. Instead they went for the most basic trope imaginable and executed it in the worst way possible. Truly a shame.

That being said, I also want to address the production. Did they hire rookie interns to do the editing?

Things I noticed: 2ML and FL went on a date, we see them driving at night on their way to the date. Once they arrive at the place of the date, it's daytime again. We see ML and FL at a park with the baby. The baby is quietly playing somewhere while they talk, once the camera pans out, the baby is gone. The baby just made a mess of uncle's house, the baby is dirty all over. When uncle carries him out of the house, his clothes are miraculously clean again. I'm sure there were more, but I stopped noticing so I could finish the drama and go on with my life. But it's 2026, these mistakes aren't supposed to be this big.

Anyways, I'm not going to keep on writing. If you don't mind dramas where the focus shifts mid-drama, give this a try. Otherwise, just sit this one out and go on about your day.

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What a fun drama

I watched this drama 15 years after its release and expected to cringe a lot.

Boy was I wrong. It had me on a crazy rollercoaster, wanting to know what would happen next, like immediately.

All I can say, it had me hooked and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

This drama really showcased Hyun Bin's talent. He was a very convincing Ra-im. I found out he lost weight for the role, but the mannerisms, the gait, even his stares and sometimes shy gaze. Ugh, he's a wonderful actor.

I must say (I forgot her name) but FL was great too! As Ra-im I oftentimes found her to be too passive, but as soon as she crept in the role of Ju-won, hats off.

I forever hate how dramas tend to cram a lot of progress in the last episode, this one did it too, but I could forgive it because the story remained consistent. The nasty mother remained nasty and thus held her end of the bargain to never accept Ra-im.

Again, I really enjoyed this one.

Only thing "bad" about this was the hair and some of the outfits, but that was '10 fashion for you.
All in all, solid 7.5.

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It didn't captivate me like most people said it would

Eventhough the cinematography is beautiful, and the cast does great work, I still can't think of a reason why other viewers are calling this a "masterpiece".

I would like to think I'm missing something due to a language barrier. ChatGPT made me realise that Korean, oftentimes isn't translated as should.

So the deep love that is supposed to be transmitted through dialogue and looks alone is a little lost on me.

The story in itself can be intriguing, but sometimes too long winded with all the political plots.

This is only my tenth K-drama, and I've seen some I really didn't like.

This one isn't that bad, but I can't really say it's the best. It was an enjoyable watch for me, but not anywhere near a masterpiece.

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Love the story, hate the visuals

I finished Her Private Life and I’m giving it a 7.5 out of 10.

It’s a 2019 drama, the same year as Crash Landing on You, and honestly… that comparison made it even harder for me not to notice the difference in quality.

Because story-wise? This drama is super fun. It’s really watchable, it’s light, it’s entertaining, and it’s the kind of series you can easily binge without forcing yourself through it. The romance works, the vibe is cute, and the chemistry between the male lead and the female lead is genuinely really good.

Also, the cast? I liked them. I enjoyed the leads, I enjoyed the supporting characters, I enjoyed pretty much everyone. And yes, I even teared up at one point, because the story still has those classic K-drama emotional moments that get you.

But… the production completely distracted me.
The whole time I kept feeling like I was watching a low-budget series, like they didn’t have money. Not even in a subtle way. Visually, it just didn’t look good. At some points it honestly felt like something from 1998, and I don’t even mean that as an insult, it’s just how dated it looked to me.

And don’t even get me started on the wardrobe.
I don’t know who was in charge of styling, but every outfit had me wanting to claw my eyes out. Like seriously, I was so annoyed. It was one of those things where you’re trying to stay in the moment, trying to enjoy the scene, and then you see what they’re wearing and your brain immediately goes: why… just why?

And I’ll admit something petty too: I was also really distracted by the female lead’s hair color. I’ve seen that kind of look in Korean dramas before and maybe I’m just tired of it, but I don’t like it. I love natural jet black hair. It’s rich, it’s clean, it’s classic. That fake-looking shade just doesn’t do it for me, and it kept pulling my focus.

So overall, that’s where I landed:
The story is fun.
The chemistry is strong.
The actors are enjoyable.
But the visuals, styling, and overall production quality bothered me so much that it lowered the whole experience.

It’s not a bad drama. I had moments where I genuinely enjoyed it. But I also don’t see myself rewatching it, because I was constantly distracted by how it looked.

Final verdict: great chemistry and an easy, fun story… but the production made it hard for me to fully get into it.

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