introvertedkdramalover

Head Over Heels...Then Suddenly Flat on my face

“Head Over Heels” had a fantastic start; charming leads, genuine chemistry and a storyline that pulled me in from the very beginning. The pacing was smooth, the emotional buildup felt natural and I found myself truly invested in the characters' journeys. It had all the makings of a solid drama: laughter, growth, youth, friendship, longing and those little fluttery moments that make your heart skip.
But then came the last two episodes and suddenly, everything felt rushed. Plot threads that deserved time and care were tied up too quickly and the emotional weight the story had built seemed to lose its impact (with the time skips especially). I found myself wanting just a bit more closure, a bit more depth.
Still, I don’t regret watching it. It gave me plenty of moments to smile, sigh, and swoon over. The journey was worth it... I just wish the ending didn’t feel like it was in such a hurry to wrap up.

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Robin Hood Robbing Hearts

To My Beloved Thief is set during the dark days of the Joseon era. The kingdom was ruled by a tyranny whose greed knew no bounds as it caused oppression of the weak resulting in hunger and injustice. He looked the other way as his ministers filled their granaries robbing the weak in plain sight. Amidst all this madness however, arose a Robin hood by the name Gildong whom the weak praised but the rich condemned. The twist is that our Robin Hood is a she. A low-born female physician named Hong Eunjo.

Grand Prince Dowol and Eunjo are the central focus here, with their lives being intertwined through an unexpected switch in bodies. While switching bodies can come off as overdone, here it serves as more than a plot point. I loved how it puts the characters in the other's shoes, forcing the prince to understand what it is like to live as a commoner, and Eunjo to understand what it's like to be trapped in a royal court where political dangers are ever so suffocating. This switch truly brings "walking in someone else's shoes" phrase to life here, and I appreciated how it is through this very experience the prince finally understands why the woman he loves became Gildong.

Unlike most fluffy romances, this is a romance between two people who have a lot that separates them, right down to their backgrounds. A romance where politics and social standing make a normal love story impossible. One where class, danger, and saving their country takes precedence above anything else. Their love never gets in the way of the greater crisis; instead, it strengthens the will they have to fight and overcome it.

This drama boasts excellent acting from its leads. One such example is the fiery nature of Hong Eunjo, played by Nam Jihyun. Also worth mentioning is Moon Sangmin for his role as Grand Prince Dowol; someone who has the grace and power of a prince but also enough kindness to complement her character nicely. And, while I'm at it, another commendable performance is that of Hong Min Ki as Im Jaeyi; whose cold yet warm personality was both frustrating and brilliant.

While the core plot may be somewhat cliché, its twist and turns kept it fresh and interesting. One particular thing I adored about this drama was how the second female lead, Hae Rim was well-written. She was a sweet woman who truly cares about the people; who doesn't get jealous over unrequited love and accepted her defeat in a gracefully dignified way. Better yet, the two female leads are friends and avoid the typical rivalry, with each girl offering support and strength to one another, which felt very appropriate for their respective worlds.

However, not everything was so brilliant; some parts of the plot did seem rather convenient. Im Sahyeong escaping, for example, didn't feel right considering everything he had done; a criminal being left at liberty without being guarded felt like a cheap ploy to push the plot forward. Another cliché was applied in the tense scene where the villains took an eternity to breakdown the door just so that the couple could express their undying love toward each other before they could attack them smh; one surely has to switch off their brain to stomach such scenes lol. In any case, in the grand scheme of things, those rare moments of foolishness were just a drop in the bucket.

The cinematography was okay however, there were scenes that stood out to me; like when the leads accidentally kissed under the blossoming trees and the moment the courtesans successfully escaped from the palace and tossed off their robes into air...how liberating that was.

Finally, this particular drama is like a romance novel which happens to feature politics within its story lines. It is based on empathy and unity of purposes; a love that is built through shared objectives rather than through romancing. If you seek a drama that features interesting characters, background knowledge, slow burn love, and political elements, then this may be the one to pick.

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More Heart Than Humour

Finally court adjourned! I'll be frank, this drama left a huge impression on me...although not always in the way I thought it would. First of all, the cases. These were undoubtedly the major highlight of the drama.

This is where the conscience of this drama lives. I love how this drama explores the cracks of our society by showing us the stories of migrant workers who only wanted to retain their dignity; people with disabilities who can barely maneuver through a world designed to ostracize them, celebrities stripped of their humanity the second that scandal breaks. These moments never felt like filler, they provided the heart of this legal drama and I appreciated how honest they were.

Kang Dawit’s story was the drama's foundation. Following him from careerist to a man transformed by the people that he was representing was easily the most engaging story arc. It was earned, believable and given emotional weight by his subdued acting, which held the whole drama together, even when the drama itself began to falter.

And though I did appreciate what the show was going for with characters like Gippeum-who, while an inspiring fighter for justice, can at times be overwhelming. Without forgetting the over the top acting from Nan Hui and Jun U which I found loud and jarring. I would most of the times fast forward some of their scenes which I sometimes found clashing with serious tone of the cases. On the other hand, Jang Yeongsil's understated development-which is a huge part of the show's charm. He went from a timid, wallflower-like figure to a person who takes the reins in a quiet, confident way.

Overall, Pro Bono is very much a mixed bag but definitely one that needs to be sifted through if you want to see law dramas with more heart and soul in them than normal. Go into this with lower expectations as for the humor; look for the cases, the development of Kang Dawit, and the truth behind what it actually means for people's lives to collide with the law.

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Deceive The Eye.

Every episode of this drama felt like a painting created by our female lead, Sarah Kim. Just as a masterpiece speaks differently to each viewer, every person who encountered Sarah walked away with a completely different impression of who she was.

The acting is generally decent, but Shin Haesun is the undeniable star. She delivers an impressive performance as the ever-shifting Sarah. She seamlessly slips into multiple personas, masterfully blending into the high society. You truly believe she is whoever she needs to be.

The story itself is gripping, a cleverly constructed puzzle box. The writers clearly put thought into tying the complex narrative together, and the interrogation scenes are a particular highlight. The sharp wordplay crackles with tension, especially when Sarah taunts Detective Park with the unforgettable question: “Is it a con if there were no victims?” It’s a moment that cuts to the very heart of the drama’s theme.

At its core, The Art of Sarah is a sophisticated exploration of greed. It masterfully shows how anyone, even the elite and knowledgeable, can become a victim when driven by desire. Often, the ones being deceived are just as desperate and grasping as the con artist herself. The drama also cleverly critiques how society equates material possessions with class and worth, providing the perfect playground for Sarah’s schemes.

However, like a painting viewed up close, a few brushstrokes feel unfinished. There were a few loose ends, most notably the mystery of the male remains found in the reservoir. While the central story felt complete, such unresolved questions prevent it from being a flawless masterpiece.

In the end, I truly appreciated Sarah’s carefully curated “work of art.” It was layered, deliberate, and full of surprises. It may not have been perfect, but its ambition and its unforgettable central performance made it a memorable portrait.

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Worth The Wait

This is a love story told with calm and restraint... the kind that gently makes you wish it were your own.

At its center is Lin Yunsen, whose feelings for Nie Xiguang begin quietly and become complicated through misunderstanding. When they cross paths again in Suzhou, the story shifts toward healing and second chances. This is not a romance driven by dramatic gestures, but by patience, timing, and emotional honesty.

Nie Xiguang stands out as a female lead with grace and self-respect. She knows her worth and does not tolerate disrespect, no matter where it comes from. Lin Yunsen, on the other hand, offers a steady presence. He waits without pressure, supports without expectation, and allows Xiguang the space to regain confidence on her own terms.

What truly holds their relationship together is communication. They speak openly, share their pasts without judgment, and give each other room to grow. The story moves at a deliberately slow pace, occasionally pausing for business-heavy conversations and frustrating side characters, but these moments ultimately serve to highlight the leads’ emotional clarity and growth (in my opinion).

The acting reflects this subtle storytelling, carrying meaning through both dialogue and silence. Warm friendships, especially those formed in Suzhou, add balance and comfort to the story.

Shine On Me is not a fast watch, but for those willing to be patient, it offers a deeply satisfying and emotionally grounded romance.

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She Fought, She Loved, She Won… But the Drama Fell Just Short

“The general who commanded both her life and her army.”

The Legend of the Female General was an okay watch for me. The story set out to be empowering and in some ways it was. We got to follow He Yan’s journey as she fought against all odds to become the first female general of Wei. What struck me most was how she had to constantly disguise herself, bending her own identity just to keep moving forward. She didn’t have much free will, but what she did have was resilience ;an unshakable determination to live life on her own terms.

The drama touched on so many different aspects. There was comradeship, which I really enjoyed watching develop. It wasn’t easy for He Yan to gain the trust of her fellow soldiers, but over time, their loyalty to her felt genuine and heartfelt. Then there was the romance, which honestly melted me a little. He Yan fell in love with Xiao Jue(the “moon”)and in my eyes, she won. I loved how supportive he was of her, even back in their school days when he thought she was a boy. His attention was always on her and those expressive eyes said more than words ever could.

Family was another thread running through the story. Though her own relatives mistreated her and wanted her gone, He Yan always seemed to find true family wherever she went. Friends turned into siblings, comrades into a home. That part really grounded the story for me...(Ride or Die Buddies).

Still, I can’t say the drama completely won me over. For some reason, it just didn’t have that extra spark that makes a show unforgettable. I enjoyed it, I appreciated the acting but it’s not something I’d call a must-watch. It was good, just not one that’s going to linger in my memory for long.

In short, The Legend of the Female General was well-rounded, heartfelt, and empowering, but it stopped just short of being truly memorable.

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WELCOME TO NIRVANA!!!!

Tbh this show was amazing! I feel like the mission was accomplished though not in the way everybody wanted but think about it. What I understood from this drama is that every character was yearning for their own version of Nirvana but it will cost you something that you hold dear. From the beginning that is 20 years ago, both the brothers wanted something but fate would not allow them to get what they wished for. The Emperor wanted his father's love and acknowledgement but at what cost? His nirvana was his father's love and getting the throne was his wicked way of having something common with his dad on the other hand, Prince Qi wanted to live like a commoner but at what cost? Pei Yan's mother wanted power so bad but at what cost? Pei Yan wanted Jiang Ci's love in his wicked obsessive way but at what cost? Jiang Ci's kind of nirvana was to be free and roam around the world but it sadly later cost her so much loss and my guy Xiao Wuxia, (may you rest in peace) wanted to free his people from slavery and clear his father's name not knowing that his enemy is the Emperor. I feel like my guy won; the people of Yueluo were freed, Jiang Ci is free doing whatever she wants and got to the truth that he most wanted...THIS WAS HIS NIRVANA! In my opinion, it's not a sad ending but a realistic ending. Just think about it...What would have happened to Jiang Ci if the emperor or Xiao Wuxia stepped out of that temple alive? What of Yueluo people? This was a well played match...CHECKMATE EMPEROR!!!

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Trigger Pulled, but the Aim Was Off

Trigger kicks off with a gripping premise—what if South Korea, a country known for strict gun control, suddenly got flooded with illegal firearms? It’s bold, timely, and pulls no punches with its action or social commentary. The first few episodes had me fully locked in.

But the more I watched, the more I questioned the villain’s logic. Moon Baek’s entire revenge plan stems from his mother abandoning him... and somehow that turns into punishing an entire nation? I get the trauma, but the emotional leap just didn’t feel believable. It made him feel more like a symbol than a person.

On the flip side, Kim Nam-gil as Lee Do was such a solid anchor. Quiet, thoughtful, and the only one who felt like he had a moral compass in all the madness. And yeah—watching that reckless reporter get his downfall? Lowkey satisfying. He was basically chaos in a suit.

The pacing dips near the end, and while it raises good questions, some resolutions felt a bit too neat imo. Still, Trigger is the kind of drama that sticks with you. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely a ride.

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CRYBABIES WHO THROW HANDS

This cast understood the assignment. I applaud the dedication they put in their physiques, footwork, and fight choreography which were convincing enough to sell the boxing world, and I say this as someone who knows nothing about boxing. Not only that, I was also impressed by the emotional control played out by the leads. They knew when to go hard and when to pull back.

Meanwhile our leads, Gun Woo and Woo Jin? Soft hearted, borderline crybabies. But it works for I loved how they balance brutal fights with genuine warmth, making them easy to root for. The respect they share for boxing and the understanding they possess made this whole chaotic experience quite the heartwarming one.

Baek Jeong on the other hand,…he was so infuriating, in the absolute best possible way. He managed to make me riled up with nearly every scene however, all this was forgotten when the leads landed a punch on him. Pure bliss.

The premise is pretty straight-forward: threats, illegal boxing matches, money, and a touch of drugs. If I have one critique, it's that nothing here feels particularly new. You've seen this kind of setup before. However much I found this drama predictable it doesn't mean it was boring. What keeps it engaging is the back and forth. Both sides take hits, even if the antagonists often feel one step ahead.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The illegal fighting and drugs were great fun but it was our loveable, sensitive pair of crybabies that make you want to watch. It's predictable yes, but when there is so much emotion, so much heartbreak, you will look past it. Definitely recommend to those who enjoy their action with a side of real, genuine tears.

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Perfect Genes, Flawed Humanity.

This drama was absolutely thrilling to watch, but also deeply unsettling. It takes you into a world where children aren’t born naturally but are created in labs through the fusion of a “perfect egg” and a “perfect sperm.” The sperm is selected from men with high IQ, strong genetics, or specific talents (whether athletic, musical or intellectual) depending on the kind of child parents want, just so they can look good to society (you know, brag about how my child is in an Ivy League school).

But here’s the chilling part: what if, years later, that child doesn’t turn out to meet those expectations? The answer is horrifyingly simple—they’re returned. Yup, “refunded,” like a defective product. Those children, labeled as defects, are eventually k!ll3d...luckily a few of them survived. But they’ve had enough. Tired of hiding, they decide to live openly, standing together as victims of a twisted mindset. They rise up to bring down the very organization that created them, fighting for nothing less than their freedom.

Watching it was thrilling(the cast really did an outstanding job), intriguing and refreshing, because the story feels so original, but at the same time it was scary. It left me questioning: could there really be humans like this? How far, or rather, how low can people go when it comes to pride, vanity, and control?

It’s one of those dramas that grabs you not just with its suspense, but with the disturbing moral questions it leaves behind.

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The ML Yearned, FL Hesitated while I...Yawned

I feel completely robbed after watching My Royal Nemesis. They really should have stuck to developing the central love story. While I saw a beautiful shift in Cha Segye's character after he fell hopelessly in love, I can't say the same for Shin Seori. She kept her walls up for way too long, remaining guarded even after countless reassurances from Segye. However for this, I solely blame the pacing of the script for making her deal with a lot; sick grandma and transmigration.

Plot-wise, it was a lot! We got patches of a family feud mixed with frustrating love rivalry from the second female lead, who quickly became an absolute eyesore. It was exhausting watching such a clever woman resort to unnecessary antics over a man especially when Segye countlessly told her off. She got redeemed in the end (good for her I guess), but as a viewer who had to tolerate her, I was just pissed.

Then there's Segye's cousin, Mun Do who I lowkey pitied him because his character was just so boring and predictable. All he ever did was plot over Segye. His entire existence boiled down to: What did Segye do? Who did he meet with? How many times did he poop? Ugh! As if that wasn't enough, how he quickly met his end was so anti-climatic. The only genuinely interesting plot thread was Shin Seori's transmigration arc; I absolutely loved that twist however I'd have preferred if they expounded more on the rules of such occurrence.

On the bright side, I liked the top notch acting. Despite Mun Do being predictable, the actor was a great villain who oozed an intense, evil aura that not many can pull off. Our lead couple also killed it. The yearning from Cha Segye was masterclass; his delulu gaze and that hand kiss... which made me constantly wonder why Seori was hesitating to give this man a chance! Nonetheless, I loved how LJY portrayed Shin Seori, flawlessly maintaining those Joseon-era speech patterns and mannerisms despite migrating to the modern world. And their roadside fight? Iconic.

I also have to say the OST of this drama was so beautiful as it really elevated most of the lead couple cutesy scenes.

In the end, I finished it purely because I'm a sucker for a yearning male lead and Heo Namjun as Cha Segye aced it. Sadly, Seori's lingering doubts and insecurities meant that by the time she finally let her walls down, I had already emotionally disconnected from the romance.

This had the potential to be the rom-com of the year for me, but it fell short. I probably would have rated it a 6, but their undeniably cute scenes and great OSTs in the final episodes managed to pull it up to a 7.5.

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BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Girigo follows a group of high school students who download an app that grants any wish. The catch? Once the wish is fulfilled, the user only has 24 hours left to live.

I found the show not that scary. What it does instead is drown everything in blood. The frequency of the bloody scenes was just too much. After a while, the gore stops being shocking. You see someone slit their throat and you just shrug because the bloody mess doesn't give you the chills anymore.

The acting was decent; No one embarrassed themselves, but no one blew me away either.

But the real strength of the drama was the plot. I especially liked how the wishes were connected to shamanism. It's refreshing to see a phone app used as a medium to pass on curses. It makes sense because the characters belong to the digital era. The writer did a good job of tying the origin of the curse to the lives of the main characters and making the backstory feel like an important part of the story.

I also appreciated the drama’s logic behind the curse, which I found more frightening than the horror scenes themselves.Each person only gets one wish, and once that wish is granted, death follows within 24 hours. Since none of the characters know the price beforehand, their wishes are driven by personal wants. That made their choices feel believable. It also made sense that none of them used their wish to stop the curse. Doing that would mean sacrificing their own life for everyone else, and realistically, most people would not make that choice. That selfish but human reaction made the story feel realistic,despite the supernatural setup.

Honestly, I found Girigo to be a solid watch. It won't exactly have you sleeping with the lights on, but the concept is actually cool.It was truly a fun way to kill an evening.

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Caught Between The Rat and The Real One.

It was interesting how all of this was inspired by the Korean folklore "The Rat That Ate Fingernails,” yet they turned it into a chilling psychological study of trauma, identity theft, and imposter syndrome without relying on supernatural tropes.

I had fun, ngl, and a lot of that was because of our duo, Noja and Moonjae. They had this bickering, humorous buddy dynamic despite being at odds with each other: one was a loan shark/private detective whose money was laundered, while the other was a traumatized writer.

Despite the duo being great with their deadpan comebacks, I couldn’t help but be impressed by Noja, portrayed by Sul Kyung Gu! He stole the show with his raw and chaotic energy. The rogue car fights where he landed some brutal punches on the paid goons, the insane police car chase, and the scene where he crawled out of the hole he was buried in were all so thrilling. He brought high stakes and grit to the story.

Ryu Jun-yeol brilliantly handles the dual roles of the 'Rat' and the 'Real' protagonist. He balances the imposter's bold, calculating nature against the genuine human's paranoid, guarded demeanor and slouched body language.

The directing also elevated my experience, especially in how they portrayed Moonjae’s panic attacks through the constant zooming in and out and swirling lighting.

However, Episode 9 was my least favourite from a directing standpoint. We spent about three-quarters of the episode in darkness because of the poor lighting during the nighttime chase in the mountains, which made the action scenes feel draggy.

The pacing also took a huge hit in the same episode, as the police were busy cursing in the dark and fighting amongst themselves, prolonging the chase and giving the criminals ample time to escape lol.

In the end, it was a fun watch, but the pacing dipped from Episode 8 onward. I loved the twists, the car chase, the amazing depiction of the cost of stolen identity, and the leads’ brief alliance.

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Stability in Unstable Times

This drama clearly showed that even in the midst of crisis, survival is possible...particularly when one is held together by a sense of family, even when that family isn’t blood-related. Tae-poong, the male lead, faced the sudden death of his father, who ran a trading company called Typhoon Family. Coincidentally, his father died on the same day the South Korean IMF crisis hit, leaving many businesses in shambles and some completely closed.
Determined, Tae-poong took over his late father’s company and worked to guide its employees toward stability amid the economic storm. The drama did a commendable job of illustrating how each employee’s life was disrupted by both the IMF crisis and the loss of their boss and yet many still chose to return to Typhoon Family to support their new captain. Bold, right?!
What stood out most to me was how the employees collectively gave their all to stabilize the company, even under severe financial strain. Each individual revealed distinct strengths from sales and accounting to networking and language skills highlighting the value of teamwork during uncertainty. The female lead, Mi-seon, was portrayed as a smart, hardworking, and resilient trader who faced criticism from a colleague simply for being a woman in the field, the nerve! Her perseverance and eventual recognition reinforced her position as a capable professional and, quite frankly, a boss lady.
Beyond the workplace, the romance between Tae-poong and Mi-seon was genuinely charming. Their chemistry felt organic, and their mutual support (both professionally and personally ) added emotional warmth to an otherwise tense narrative.
Another notable aspect was how the drama portrayed different forms of family and personal hardship, including single-parent households and children without parental support. These narratives added emotional depth and grounded the story in social reality, making moments of success feel genuinely earned.
That said, the drama isn’t without its shortcomings. The recurring “loss-win” cycle repeated setbacks followed by recovery at times felt overly repetitive and slowed the pacing. This may be a deal breaker for some viewers; however, within the context of an economic and business drama set during a financial crisis, the repetition felt thematically justified, as it reflected the unstable nature of businesses at the time. Additionally, while Mi-seon eventually earned respect in the workplace, the early depiction of sexism was difficult to watch. Although it was addressed later, those initial episodes were particularly frustrating.
Overall, this was a heartfelt drama that thoughtfully explored resilience, teamwork, love and family in all its forms. It remains both emotionally engaging and intellectually grounded, making it well worth watching.

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Just Smile and Wave, We Have Alibis

I'll admit it: I completely judged this drama by its title. I went in thinking this was going to be a melodrama about marriage, cheating, broken families, and people making terrible romantic decisions. But boy, was I wrong!

The affair was merely the opening act. Everything that came after? Absolute chaos.

What I loved most was how the story of that one fateful night, March 30, was told from multiple POVs without making me feel like I was watching the same events on repeat. Each perspective added something new, and the emotional contrast was chef's kiss as one character is experiencing passion while another is experiencing pure terror. Same night, same people, but completely different experiences.

And this is where the cast really ate.

It was amazing watching the characters through the different POVs. Made me appreciate the actors a little bit more because they really did shift their performances to fit into whichever character's perspective we were watching. A seemingly calm, cool and calculating person in one POV was nearly sh*tting themselves when looking from another perspective as they tried to cover up all their secrets.

Kim Hyesoo as Park Kyunghee was especially entertaining as she plays a popular YouTuber, who will do whatever it takes to protect her carefully curated public image, alongside her husband and partner in crime Jae Hong, played by Kim Jihoon.

The contrast between their polished public personas and their private panic was hilarious. The fake smiles in public? Psst! All a façade as the moment they get behind closed doors? These two were fighting for their lives to maintain that highclass lifestyle, and honestly, watching them run around in circles, creating alibis to cover up their secrets and then complimenting themselves was one of my favourite parts of the drama.

Pure peak dark comedy!

The directing and cinematography were also really well done. I loved how the director took the long shots where absolute chaos would be unfolding on one end of the frame while, somewhere else, there were the nosy neighbours casually lurking around under the very convincing excuse of "exercising" haha. That contrast between the madness happening in one corner and everyday life continuing as normal in another added another layer to the dark comedy and it realistically shows how everyone is going through their own little crisis while the rest of the world is just… existing.

This drama was honestly such a pleasant surprise ngl. I had a lot of fun watching it even though waiting a whole week for new episodes felt like torture! Then again, it was all worth it in the end as initially, I was expecting an affair drama but what I got was a delicious little mess of secrets, panic, betrayal, dark comedy and people desperately trying to keep their lives from falling apart.

I would for sure recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark comedy thrillers with a fantastic cast, layered storytelling and characters who are one bad decision away from making everything infinitely worse.

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