dramallamareviews

Top Tier Story & Cast

This is an extremely wholesome historical drama.

I highly recommend this for fans of family dramas. This is such a calming & peaceful show, despite all the plotting happening both on-screen & behind the scenes. What allows it to remain so easy to watch, though, is the beautiful & deep bonds that form amongst the Hua family.

This tribe of women has their world completely upended when all the men of the family 10yrs & older are exiled to the North. After having their wealth confiscated, losing their title of prestige, & being kicked out of their home they’re justifiably terrified of their new circumstances. Left alone to their own devices, they’re floundering like newborn babes. Thankfully, with them is the FL, who steps up to navigate them through this storm of life.

She was once the outcast among them who constantly got in trouble with the elders due to her peculiar ways. But now it’s this very “rebellious” personality of hers that the family will have to rely on if they want to survive the hard times. And let me just say, she does a marvelous job of carrying the weight & responsibility of being the head of the family! {From her first scene where she climbs on the ship amidst a raging storm, I knew her bravery was going to be a key element to the story that would hold my attention. And I was right!}

There to help her make decisions on how best to secure them a better life is her new protector, the ML. They quickly form a friendship through some memorable first meetings, leaving both of them feeling happy to finally have someone on their side. Unbeknownst to her, though, he’s leading a double life. The person she’s come to rely on is, in fact, the new masked leader of the capital’s security bureau… the very ones who arrested her family. Whether in his private life or when in work mode, the ML does his best to always help & protect her. And when the truth comes to light & potential relationship-ending secrets are revealed, this duo proves that love can overcome anything.

They’re such a great example of a mature & healthy couple. A beautiful combination of respect, communication, loyalty, trust, & admiration between them makes them total couple goals! Their love is so genuine & pure, free of any angst & drama. The only time there’s real tension is when the breakup happens & we have to watch them try to live with broken hearts for a few episodes (thank you, writers, for only making it last a few eps!!) Their reconciliation is so honest & healing, then they’re solid once more. Neither of them ever tries to manipulate, coerce, guilt, or control the other throughout the whole time they know each other. They’re two intelligent Leads who won’t bow to the pressures of a cruel world. Instead, they live with determination, hope, & an unbreakable love.

I had to gush about them because they’re truly a wonderful couple, but don’t be misled to think the drama is solely focused on them. There’s so much other stuff happening alongside this duo falling in love. There’s the whole storyline of the family business being started, nurtured, & expanded. That is a huge part of the overall drama. There’s also the additional love stories that play out. There’s a great SML who never turns toxic, despite wishing to be more than just friends with the FL (and seeing as how they start the drama as betrothed, he could’ve very easily turned bitter/cruel!) There are great friendships developed among the family members, among them & their loyal servants, among the ML & his trusted “soldiers”. There’s a heartwarming love story between the ML’s precious sister & the SML’s younger brother (these two are so cute!) And there are lots of schemes to smear the FL’s reputation, to destroy the family again, to undermine the ML’s authority. Seriously - so much happens that I’m surprised it still stayed such a calm watch! 🤯

Apart from the Leads’ love story, my favorite part is watching the Hua family bond & become a strong, unbreakable unit. This is truly a heartwarming story of good people becoming even better people by humbling themselves & working together.

Action. Mysteries. Political corruption.
Friendship. Family. Perseverance.

Push play & prepare for an enjoyable ride!

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‼️ SPOILERS OF SOME OF MY FAV MOMENTS/SCENES INCOMING!! STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED! 😉‼️

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EP.2 - the Hua women walking through that crowd of mockers & gawkers 👑 *why do people delight in the misery of others??*
EP.4 - the grandma begins to see the FL’s strength.
EP.7 - ML’s care for FL after she’s beaten. Hua’s genuine remorse & worry for her.
EP.8 - FL releasing the maids to be free women.
EP.10 - FL & ML’s sister meet.ML saves Hua’s from an assassin as his alter-ego.
EP.14 - ML teaches FL how to use the wrist dart gun & how to ride a horse, swoon….
EP.15 - ML comforts FL when her family is ashamed of her due to rumors.
EP.16 - ML helps the kids learn self-respect. FL’s reaction to ML’s investigation.
EP.17 - ML realizes the young servant he met as a child was the FL.
EP.19 - Grandma’s advice to FL in their last moments together.
EP.20 - FL’s awesomeness in handing out justice. ML’s return & their confessions.
EP.22 - the beauty of the Hua’s at 4th Aunt’s bedside as she’s in distressed labor.
EP.24-25 - Leads’ interactions on their trip. FL’s reunion with the men of the family.
EP.27 - meeting of FL & young 6th prince, all the chaos that ensues.
EP.28-29 - ML’s protection of FL & 6th prince.
EP.32-33 - the FL’s defense of ML against emperor. Her breaking up with ML so the emperor can’t use her as a weapon to compel & use him; “he’s not a dagger, but a person with feelings.”
EP.34-36 - FL’s continued perseverance by building ships & setting off on a maiden voyage, where she encounters a new villainous. Leads working together to bring her down. Their reconciliation after saving each other.
EP.37-40 - ALL the times the Leads prove their strength & loyalty. The proof of the Hua’s growth from the first to last ep. Their continued goodness in the face of constant attacks. The return of the men & the HEA’s. 🫶🏻

Have you watched it? If so, feel free to share your favorite moments with me!

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-⬇️ M O R E 🚫 S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.23 💋
- Together : ep.20 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.33 💔
- BackTogether : ep.36 ❤️‍🩹

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Revenge + Love Done Right

He is a wealthy tycoon.
She is a naive painter.
They appear fine, but they both carry deep wounds inflicted by family.

When she’s sent back in time after a tragic accident, will them teaming up help her exact her revenge? By helping her, will he find relief from his burdens as well?

So revenge dramas aren’t usually my genre but this was so good! I absolutely loved it & highly recommend it. The plot & pacing kept me engaged the whole time.

The Leads chemistry is chemistrying from the first moment she approaches him for help. Watching their story unfold & their bond deepen is so satisfying. And their love blooming made me smile so much!

The ML is a whole green forest. His every action is for the FL’s good. He’s always there to support, encourage, & protect her. He’s the swoon worthy lead us watchers adore. His love is so pure & the ways it helps heal her is perfect.

The FL’s growth is beautiful. Her transformation from timid & naive to bold & confident is girl-crush worthy. Her learning to trust the ML & falling in love with him is such a delight.

Seeing the villains, who are truly wretched, get what they deserve is such a sweet victory. It’s the perfect ending that this beautiful couple deserves after all they endured to get there.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.6 💋
- Together : ep.7 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Romance + Politics

This drama is a good look at the struggles an average person would face upon entering the world of politics. And how important it would be to have one person who’s always on your side who you can fully trust & depend on. Thankfully, our FL has that person, our ML.

They start off as enemies due to all the civil complaints she constantly files, which causes him to work overtime. But then she enters “into the ring” & their interactions increase causing their feelings to begin to change. Once she realizes he was her childhood best friend, she sets out to remove any distance between them. He’s drawn in by her honesty & obvious distaste for injustice. Their past as childhood besties laid the foundation for their adult relationship to flourish & bloom.

I really liked how mature & stable their love was. At no point was it threatened - nobody trying to break them up, no hidden secrets causing fractures in trust, etc. They were simply two adults in love, living their daily life. With lots of smooches & affection [like real life couples do!]

The political aspect did get a bit tedious for me towards towards the end. (That may be caused by cultural differences so don’t let me saying that stop you from watching!) However, I enjoyed how it all got wrapped up. And without giving any spoilers, I LOVED how they handled the ML & his father’s relationship in the end. So satisfying!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Poignant & Inspiring

Okay, this is another short review simply because I don’t want to give many spoilers! This is a must watch drama, imho, and I think you should see it for the first time without any preconceived notions or expectations. I could gush about the characters and my favorite scenes and the storyline, etc. But I think it’s best to push play with your brain as a blank slate and just let this precious drama write itself for you… {now, if after watching it you want to come back and chat with me about it, feel free ‘cause I’m always ready for some drama-talk! 😉}

This is such a poignant story that shows that the ways we treat people impacts and affects their lives. Through many ups and downs, the main trio form beautiful bonds of friendship with one another. They begin to look past their misjudgments and labels of each other and learn to truly see the person beneath the masks worn for the world. They come to fully trust and depend on one another, which is just so beautiful to witness. Seeing their struggles and triumphs is inspiring, the way they refuse to stay down when life throws its punches but rather get back up every time. This one made me cry at their pain and smile at their happiness.

Interwoven throughout is the sweet love story of the Leads, which is something I encourage you not to miss. Watch this. I don’t know how you’d regret doing so!

“You’re already perfect. You’re the only one who doesn’t know that.”

“When you have a nightmare, all you have to do is wake up. It’s not real. And I’m right here next to you.”

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7 💋
- Together : ep.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 🫶🏻

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You’re Gonna Need to Decide for Yourself…

She’s a painter; he’s a sculptor. Both are strong-willed perfectionists who are unimpressed with the opposite sex. Both are happily single. And then they find they’re becoming happier when together..

Despite this drama having one of my least favorite tropes (clingy, wanna-be love rivals - soooo annoying!), I found myself enjoying it after the first several eps. The FL initially has some serious misperceptions of the ML which irritated me, but once they become friends & he starts breaking down her walls, I got more into the story.

I love the ML’s immediate notice of the FL. He’s the unattainable guy who’s aloof & seemingly cold, but for her he totally melts.🫠 I know some of his actions were questionable & got him labeled as a red flag to many of the watchers so I think each viewer has to decide for themselves the kind of guy he is… & I’ll just leave it at that.

The FL is friendly with everyone & really naive when it comes to the SML’s feelings (which truly bugs me when characters are like that but whatevs), but she has a good heart. Which gets her into trouble sometimes since she allows the female love rival to manipulate & bully her for too long. Plus, again, her total obliviousness to the other guy’s obvious crush on her. {Lord, save me from some characters’ stupidity. 🙏🏻🤣} She’s unfamiliar with all the feelings hitting her so she flounders a bit, but ultimately chooses to follow her heart. Which leads her to him…

They’re cute together, imho (their height difference definitely plays a part in this!) I often rewatch the episodes after they get together when I need a fix of innocent love 😍

Nothing overly complicated or super deep. Just a fairly easy watch about youths figuring out who they are & what they really want to do with their lives, all while experiencing the rush of first love.

Bonus - they both have really solid friend groups which is always pleasant to watch.

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.16💋
- Together : ep.17 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Not Spectacular, Not Horrible

The ML is a cold & level-headed vice-captain of the Fire Rescue Team. The FL is a “sunshine” doctor in the Emergency Department. Their first meeting went awry, leaving them with misconceptions of one another.

When they’re put on a joint task force, will the bond they form amidst an earthquake relief mission survive the coming infectious disease outbreak?

The Leads are super cute together & have really good chemistry. Their story progression definitely drew me in & held my attention. I liked seeing their professions complement each other. Watching them work alongside one another amidst the natural disaster is really beautiful - the way they trust & protect one another… 🫠💕

I’ll tell you straight up, though, that I am not a fan of breakups. Like just…whyyyyy put us all through that?! 🤨 That said, thankfully it came & passed early in this drama so we get to see them happily together for the majority of the show - score! And when a situation arises that could cause them to permanently split, they handle it maturely & easily, which I’m grateful to the writer’s for. 👍🏻

Also, in the vein of being upfront & honest, the SML (role, not actor!) lessened my enjoyment of this a bit ‘cause he just annoyed me that much with his refusal to accept he wouldn’t get the girl. He does redeem himself in the end, though, so yippee for that!

Overall I enjoyed this. The plot/pacing was good & the teamwork/friendships of both Leads’ coworkers was really nice to watch. The secondary love stories of their colleagues were entertaining as well.

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.5💋
- Together : ep.5 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.6 💔
- BackTogether : ep.9 ❤️‍🩹

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Sweet Fluff & Cute Love

When a studious, young woman agrees to tutor a wildly popular superstar, neither have any idea how much this arrangement will change their lives…

I really enjoyed this drama, though I found the ML annoying & childish at first. But I liked him more as he matured & worked to better himself, for both his career & to be able to love/protect the FL better. He has a closely guarded secret - he’s mostly illiterate. He can usually hide it, but sometimes he epically fails. Thus his request for the FL to tutor him & help him prepare for an upcoming role he wants to play. And so their chaotic but sweet story begins…

The FL is such a kind soul. She’s recently been betrayed by her bf, the cheater. I admired how, despite her pain, she remained sweet, mature, & strong. The ML rescues her from multiple awkward encounters, endearing himself to her. As they spend time working together & cohabitating, their partnership quickly turns to friendship & mutual attraction.

This is a very healthy duo. They respect & fully trust one another, never letting outside opinions influence their decisions regarding each other. The FL does leave when her presence impacts his career, but the ML chases her down & lays her fears to rest. And the way he proudly announces his love for her to the public is ACES! He defied everyone for her & it was so sweet!! 🫠🫠 I really enjoyed this drop due to their relationship. It’s silly & fluffy & cheesy which makes it a very easy watch.

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.15💋
- Together : ep.15 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Enjoyed More than Expected!

An arrogant ace lawyer suffering from a centuries-old curse + a lonely low-ranking civil servant who comes into possession of the cure he needs. Can they work together well enough to break the curse?

I held off on watching this because of the OW drama with the ML’s g/f (who is hecka annoying, delulu, & toxic), but now I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner because holy wowza - the Leads totes make all the drama worth it! 😍

Some of the tropes between them:
- professional lives (he’s a top dog while she’s bottom of the totem pole)
- incompatible “social status” (he’s from a prominent & rich family while she’s orphaned & poor)
- opposite personalities (he’s apathetic; she’s friendly)
- He’s dating her HS bully (who lied so he treats FL coldly for it)
- She’s crushing on SML (who rejects her then pursues her)
Throw in a curse they’re not sure they believe in, past lives neither remembers, workplace shenanigans, + a psychotic k!ller & they’ve got a LOT to deal with. 😱

The Leads have amazing chemistry & I loved their chaotic journey! The ML is hilarious with his love-spell actions, he made me laugh so much. The FL is precious with her attempts to make friends & just do her job well, despite all the opposition. And them together? Woo buddy - the heat! 🔥🫠

Every longing glance. Every brush of their hands. Every “accidental” touch. Every hug. And every.single.kiss! The Leads sucked me in with every scene & I adore them for it. 🫶🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7💋
- Together : ep.11 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.13 (sorta) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.14 ❤️‍🩹

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Cute & Cheesy, but Still Sweet

The FL has a secret - if she kisses a man, she’ll turn into a dog! To break the curse she’ll have to share another kiss with him while she’s in canine form. Things get messy when a drunken mistake has her kissing her coworker who seems to dislike her instead of her crush.

But this ML also has a secret - due to a traumatic incident, he’s deathly afraid of dogs. So not only does she need to win him over, she also has to help him overcome his fear or she’ll be stuck as a dog forever!

This is a fun & easy watch. The past life snippets add some angst until it’s all revealed, then there’s tension over whether the Leads can save both her family & their love. It adds some drama to a humorous & sweet love story.

The Leads are adorable together. He liked her at first sight which is such a sweet scene when it’s shown. And while her feelings don’t come until later, they’re no less genuine than his. I loved seeing their friendship develop & their bond deepen. His obvious affection for her makes me swoon. His care for & protection of her, even when he learns her secret, is perfection. He’s such a green flag! 💚

Their chemistry is aces. I absolutely loved watching the curse get broken. And all the many kisses that came after…🔥🫠 They’re total couple goals with the way they choose each other, appreciate one another, & each cherish their love. 🫶🏻

The secondary characters brought a lot of heart & humor to the scenes as well. Big fan of the ML’s nephew - his bond with Leads is so cute. 🙃

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8 💋
- Together : ep.8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.11 (memory erased) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.13 ❤️‍🩹

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Sweet & Super Cheesy

Once a legend in the mob world, the ML is now a CEO whose company offers a fresh start to ex-convicts. His past, however, doesn’t want to let him go.

Inspired by her childhood friend, the FL is a content creator for children. She’s trying to make her young viewers happy with no strings attached, which can lead to conflict with her employers.

After many embarrassing, comical, & painful misunderstandings between the Leads, they form a friendship & gain an understanding of one another. The bond they once shared as children is just as firm when they’re reunited as adults.

This was much more fluffy & cutesy than I was expecting. A bit OTT at times for me, but you may think differently. It’s not that I didn’t like the characters, they just acted more innocent & naive than I would’ve liked given their ages/life history.

The quirky crew of former mobsters bring lots of comedy to the screen. The second couple is adorable. Finding out everyone’s pasts that lead to their present lifestyle choices is good to see.

And the Leads are great people. The ML’s protectiveness for his crew & overall caring nature are swoon worthy. And his voice… 🫠! The FL is very strong & kindhearted, accepting the guys warmly despite their pasts.

Together they’re so sweet. Their interactions are like those of young teens discovering the first taste of love. Their connection is true & their bond deep. They’ve only ever had eyes for each other & seeing how that plays out with the wanna-be love rivals is satisfying. They’re a couple who faces a lot together so they deserve the HEA they fight to obtain 🩵

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.10 💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 💝

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Didn’t Love, Didn’t Hate

A centuries old Gumiho & an urban myth tv show producer. He’s policing unruly supernatural beings while looking for the reincarnation of his first love. She’s searching for the truth of her parents’ disappearance years ago & suspects he might be connected to the mystery. As their lives collide & truths are slowly revealed, will they finally get their HEA?

I watched this years ago & wasn’t really a fan due to the ending of one of the main characters (which I won’t spoil here, iykyk!), but I gave it another watch recently & while I still dislike that part, I enjoyed the show overall the second time through.

It’s a well done story with good pacing + a cast who plays their roles well. The complicated bromance draws you in & the star crossed lovers aspect holds you. The mysteries, both past & present, keep you guessing a bit & add some angst/tension.

And the Leads. Ooh. The Leads have very good chemistry, yummm… 🔥🫠 I enjoyed their transition from suspicious “enemies”, to cautious partners, to tentative friends, to BOOM - “I’d let the world burn for you” lovers. 🫶🏻 I’m glad that, once the mystery of the past was unraveled & both Leads were aware of their history, that any drama between them was done. They were 100% solid & devoted to one another, despite the obstacles between them. They had some big stuff to overcome, but they never hesitated or faltered in their choice to be together.

So while it’s not my favorite drama, it’s still a very good drama that’s worth watching.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.4(past),5(present) 💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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A Fateful Encounter

Brought together by fate, a woman who seemingly has everything & a younger man who seems to have nothing decide to give up an ordinary life to be together. Will the world allow their love to blossom?

The Leads have a chance encounter while in Cuba (such a meet-cute!) They share a magical time together, where moments become memories neither will ever forget. He’s immediately smitten & wants more time with her, but real life calls them both back home. Unbeknownst to either of them, their lives are about to collide once again in Korea when the ML gets hired on in a company under the FL’s leadership.

Honestly, there’s a lot of potential for drama-trauma in this show. There are so.many.people who believe their opinions should dictate how the Leads live their lives, constantly trying to manipulate & control the main protagonists. And OhEmGee, such toxic mother’s (except the ML’s)!! 😡 I legit wanted to scream at them. They made me so irritated that I actually started skimming through their scenes just to preserve my sanity….

But oh, the Leads…🫠 Their interactions are so precious & wholesome that they made up for all the icky stuff surrounding them (& Manager Nam - loved him!)

The ML is so pure & devoted in his total adoration & pursuit of the FL. Their age difference concerns her, as well as her status as a divorcee - she fights their connection due to feeling unworthy of him. But he steadily & sweetly breaks through all her barriers & shows her a love that heals & soothes. And she in turn protects & encourages him at every turn. Their romance is so beautiful & their chemistry can melt your screen! 🔥

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8💋
- Together : ep.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.15 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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Cute & Easy Watch

If you’re wanting a fairly easy watch that you don’t have to invest a lot of brain power into, I say give this drama a try.

Despite the toxic love rivals/ coworkers & all the drama they insist on stirring up, I still enjoyed this show. It’s a sweet love story between a top idol in the wold of dubbing who keeps his identity a secret from the public + the fan who’s inspired to chase her dreams because of him. Through the randomness of life that often happens, the FL ends up working for the ML, thus starting their journey to their well-deserved HEA. 💕

I have no knowledge beyond what I’ve learned in dramas when it comes to the world of dubbing, so I can’t speak for the accuracy of that aspect of this drama. I do know that watching this furthered my fascination with the people who do the dubbing IRL. Honestly, before watching Asian dramas, I had no idea dubbing even existed for tv shows/movies. The thought just never entered my mind. I knew it was done for video games & the like, obviously. But it truly never occurred to me that it also plays a huge role in the things I watch.

Anyways, I found this to be a cute, fluffy story that I like to rewatch once in a while to see the Leads fall in love all over again. As mentioned above, the love rivals bring some annoying drama to the scenes, especially the female. She’s hecka toxic & delusional. I’ll never, ever, EVER understand people like her who can do such despicable things while calling themselves a friend & professing to love someone. That’s. Not. Love!

Okay, sorry, moving on….

The Leads are super cute together. They have immediate chemistry, but the ML’s hidden identity adds some issues between them once the FL discovers the truth (which happens early on, fyi.) I appreciated that they didn’t draw that trope out too long so that the couple didn’t have a huge break up later down the road. After they get past that bump, there’s one more that does cause them to split but it’s resolved in the very next episode & then they’re 100% solid from there on out (see spoilers below for more info on that). Thank goodness, that’s how I prefer my shows to go. 🤗

The secondary couple is a bit… odd. I didn’t dislike them, per se, but I also wasn’t real invested in their story. They weren’t a nuisance, but I also would’ve enjoyed the drama just as much without them.

The Leads have a lot of cute & memorable scenes that I enjoy rewatching from time to time. They’re just one of those easy couples that aren’t ashamed to show their affection so we don’t have to watch fish kisses or a level of awkward shyness better fit for a preteen to experience, not a fully gown adult. 🤪 From their roles as coworkers to their romantic relationship, this duo acts their age & responds accordingly in whatever the situation may be.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.10 💔
- BackTogether : ep.11❤️‍🩹

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“I Create Opportunities Even in Hellish Situations”

A struggling student is determined to improve his grades despite his track record & inability to successfully study. To overcome this “flaw”, he forms a study group at his new school. But the school hierarchy isn’t okay with this new change, so the ML finds himself constantly having to defend & protect his new friends from the countless bullies. Thankfully, what he lacks in an ability to study he makes up for with his dynamite fighting skills. Look out, suckas, there’s a new her in class!

This is a really well-made drama. From the story, to the special effects, to the cast - it was all very well done. The pacing is good as it’s constantly moving the plot forward without much time to “slack”. Only having 10 episodes keeps it from dragging in the middle or relying on lots of filler scenes. Something’s always happening or about to happen so it keeps the viewers’ focus. And the fight scenes are just… whoa. I won’t even attempt to do them justice with my messy review, you just need to witness the awesomeness of the scenes for yourself.

Be warned this is bloody & gory. They don’t pull their punches (pun intended 😉). This drama is filled with fight scene after incredible fight scene. It’s dark & disturbing because it’s realistic in the horrors of HS (though I sincerely hope no HS is as bad as this fictional one!) It delves into the horrific world of bullying & how much damage it can cause. It tells the heartbreaking stories of so many youth who don’t necessarily want to be bad, they’re simply trying to survive & made the wrong choices. I loved seeing so many of the bully figures redeem themselves in the end - proving that sometimes people just need a chance to change & someone to show them the way while believing in them to succeed (like the ML & the wonderful teacher do here).

Alongside the gritty, though, is the geeky & cheesy to shed some light & bring some balance. It’s heartwarming & freakin’ hilarious because the ML is so totally clueless about everything that you can’t help but adore him. Kudos to Hwang Min Hyun for bringing this role to life so spectacularly! And, honestly, a round of applause for the rest of the cast too because they all did phenomenal in their respective roles. Villains, heroes, & grey characters alike! 👏🏻

The study group’s motto (taken from the ML) is:
“I create opportunities even in hellish situations”

They live up to this standard. Their perseverance & determination in the face of such huge adversity is admirable. The teamwork & bonds of friendship that develop are a joy to behold, not just between the initial five, but those outside the study group as well. The teacher is included in this, too, as she fights to protect her students & seek justice for her late mentor. {And can I just say that the scenes of the students protecting her are freakin’ awesome?!}

All it takes is one single person to make a change. One small spark to start a flame. One small ripple to create a wave.

Evil can’t be left to rule the masses - these students are brave enough to stand in its way. And I heard there’s a confirmed 2nd season so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them next….

*****As a complete side note: this cast is overflowing with gorgeousness so if the spectacular fight scenes & wonderful storyline don’t do it for you, then the amazing eye candy will 🫠*****

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Cherish Your Youth

I held off on watching this drama for quite awhile due to the simple fact that I’m not a fan of love triangles, which this show very much has. I kept seeing snippets of it via social media, though, so I finally caved & pushed play. And while the triangle definitely lowered my rating some, I’m still glad I watched it because I ended up enjoying it more than I expected to.

It tells the story of a quirky college freshman who has no time for extracurricular activities/clubs because she’s solely focused on making money to support herself + her mother & younger brother. So she initially turns down her bestie’s request to join the university cheerleading squad, but when she’s bribed with money if she joins, she quickly signs up. The catch? She must keep it a secret that she’s being paid. She thinks it’ll be easy money… then she officially meets the captain (whom she’s already had some not-so-good encounters with). He’s more serious & mature than her, so their personalities constantly clash. Not to mention that he’s very passionate about the squad, while she’s only in it for as long as it takes to get paid. So the viewers are left with an all too familiar question of: will this duo resolve their issues & misunderstandings so they can have a happy ending or are they destined to be each other’s college-love regret?

As the story plays out it presents the viewers with lots of different things. It has some truly hilarious parts that left me giggling at the chaotic cast. It also had heartwarming moments that remind you how beautiful & precious life is. There are realistically sad moments too that caused my heart to hurt a bit for the characters’ pain. They experience both losses & wins throughout. The plot has enough secrets & mysteries to keep you invested in seeing how it all finally plays out. There are villains & there are heroes, each with a story to tell. We witness the characters’ trauma & how they grow. There’s life-long friends & the birth of new friendships. There’s the angst & excitement of many new loves.

And there’s the underlying message about choosing to chase your dreams no matter the obstacles & not wasting your youth since you only get to live it for a short time.

Now, for the main trio.
- The FL: I found her to be quite unique. I feel like generally girls with her personality & brand of crazy are relegated to side-character status, so it was refreshing to see such a quirky girl as the lead female. I quite enjoyed her as she was a strong young woman who didn’t let others push her around. How she handled her ex? Ha - you go, girl! She was determined to provide a better life for her family so she willingly sacrificed her own happiness to help them, which is both admirable & heartbreaking to watch. She did take this to the extreme & was quite controlling/bossy to both her mother & brother, but her reasoning is later explained & then you just want to give the poor girl a hug. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, nor to work hard for what she wanted. And while she didn’t enjoy hurting people, she didn’t allow their feelings to manipulate her into doing things she was truly against. Yeah, she frustrated me at times with the triangle drama, but overall I found her to be relatable in her flaws & commendable in her strengths.. 🫶🏻

- The ML: I know some may think differently, but he’s totally green, IMHO. Yes, his hesitation in confessing is frustrating & makes him seem a bit flaky, but when you take into account why he was hesitant, it’s kinda admirable (even while still annoying). He truly wished to protect the FL so he wanted to keep his distance until the danger surrounding the squad could be resolved. I was so happy when he finally allowed himself to follow his heart despite the risks, because he was so good for her. I know he screwed up & reacted poorly towards her a couple times, but again, take into account the why behind his reactions & it all makes sense. PLUS he took responsibility & apologized for messing up, which takes a lot of maturity to do. He was also super cool in his refusal to let her “take the heat” for dating him, her captain, when that camera crew was around. And one of parts that made me absolutely love him is how he handled their “break up”. Honestly, he’s total aces in my book for that (iykyk). 🫠

- The SML: look, I’m just going to be straight up honest here & say that I don’t at all understand the obsession with this character. To me, he’s a total red flag. He’s a very selfish & self-centered guy. (FL’s brother says it best with his response when the SML tries using him to get closer to her. I was totally cheering for the brother in that scene!) For the majority of the drama he’s very obsessive & manipulative, one of the love-rival types who’s just seriously annoying to me. He doesn’t care about the FL’s lack of interest in him or how his actions affect her. After the FL again rejected him, he started dating out of spite which is super unfair to his new gf. That does not say “good guy” to me. Yes, he had his moments where you could see his potential to be better, but he almost always ruined it with his usual immaturity. Until the last episodes, everything he did was selfishly motivated so sorry, not sorry, I just didn’t like him. 🚩

As for the rest of the squad, I’m glad we got to delve into each of their stories a bit. It helped them seem more like real people, rather than just filler side-characters. It also is a great reminder that every single person has a story of their own to tell. While we’re the MC’s of our own life stories, we’re just the side-characters in someone else’s, while they get the MC role. It’s important to remember that the world does not, in fact, revolve around us & our individual lives. 😉

Also, the moms were a total bonus. It was fun to watch them reconnect & navigate through their rivalry, history, & all it brought with it. They were such opposites as parents, but they both unashamedly & completely loved their children. They had their good points & their bad points which just shows that mothers are human too.

One last thing I’ll mention - I have no idea why they’re called a Cheerleading Squad. Maybe it’s just lost in translation? In my country, they’d be labeled a dance team. Which honestly is no big deal & doesn’t take away from the plot at all, I simply mention it because I was really confused in the first several episodes while I waited for them to do some actual cheering. Or at least some stunts in their routines like I expect cheerleaders to do. But there’s absolutely none of that so I’m just throwing that out there so you don’t go in with those same expectations as I did, haha.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.11💋
- Together : ep.12 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.14 💔
- BackTogether : ep.15❤️‍🩹

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