2
Mythical setting, mortal levels of boredom
I probably should have known that this will be as boring as Ancient Love Poetry, but I gave it a try because my favorite Chinese Actress is in it. But after giving it a good go, I had to drop it at 25%. I wasn’t sure if it was her character or performance that was ho-hum, but either way, I couldn’t justify spending my time watching this bore-fest.Gu Jin is also as dumb as they come. Sorry to say, I don’t find this kind of hero endearing at all. Not only is he a wuss, but he gets away with literal murder (though accidental) just because he’s supposedly the son of the Great So and So. His “punishment” is very light compared to his grave “mistake.” If he were in another Wuxia drama, he will probably get at least 20 lashings, or at least a few severe thunder strikes. But his vanilla castigation is to roam the three realms and try to recover the essence that he destroyed. I’m not saying it’s an easy feat, but he seemed to find them with very little effort. The way he went about it, seems more like an adventure, and less of a trip of repentance.
In addition, he is insufferably oblivious and clings to Peacock Princess as if she were the only woman ever to walk the earth. Not to mention, I already surmised who the villains are going to be from a mile away. Very predictable and nothing worth indulging. Besides, Lu Si’s baby-talking in this drama was grating on my nerves no matter how I much I love her. Nice try, but this ain’t for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Apparently, seeing a guy for five seconds is true love now
I really should look at the tags more carefully and ran when “Female Chases Male First” popped up. The high rating blinded me and my friends’ suggestions swayed me into giving this one a try. After watching the first episode, I was ready to drop it, but I didn’t since I did like the FL in “Exclusive Fairytale.” But as the story progressed, the more I got pissed because it gave me a serious case of ISWAK vibes, and I seriously dislike people (not just females) who don’t have the dignity and follow a guy around just because you saw him for like five seconds and decide that he is your forever after.On top of all that, I hate the disparity of a clueless, clingy female chasing an apparently good-looking, smart guy who thinks he’s too cool to be with regular folks. Dropped, as this ain’t for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I came for the hype, stayed for the hush between notes
I almost didn’t pick this up. The title, the poster, the vibes — everything screamed slice-of-life, and that genre and I have a long-standing cold war. But the internet wouldn’t shut up about it. “Best thing since sliced bread,” they said. I caved. And while I won’t echo that sentiment (and don’t get me started on the word masterpiece — it’s been diluted to the point where it’s lost all meaning --- even my 10/10 favorites don’t get that crown), I’ll concede: Twinkling Watermelon is quite good.The beginning is slow, yes, but it earns its pace by laying out Eun Gyeol’s family dynamic with care. Ryeo Un, whom I hadn’t seen before, delivers a quietly compelling performance — a son caught between sound and silence, duty and dream. He doesn’t overplay it, and that restraint makes his emotional beats land harder. Seol In Ah, usually relegated to supporting roles, gets to stretch here. Playing two distinct characters, she’s versatile and surprisingly grounded.
On the other hand, I was less convinced by Choi Hyun Wook. I couldn’t decide if he was overacting or if the writing forced his hand, but the disconnect between his youthful portrayal of I-chan and the subdued adult version (played by Choi Won Young) was jarring. It stood out even more when compared to that with Yun Cheong A — a character, played by two actresses and yet they somehow kept the character’s essence intact across timelines. That consistency made her arc more emotionally resonant.
Now about the time travel mechanics? Just suspend your disbelief. The drama isn’t about that. It’s about perspective — how seeing someone’s past can reshape your understanding of them. Eun Gyeol learns to see his parents not as obstacles, but as people with their own silent battles. The theme of communication runs deep, especially in a story where three characters are deaf/mute. Their condition forces effort, while others (like Cheong A’s stepmother) weaponize silence. The older I Chan’s outburst — “How will I know if you don’t tell me your dreams?” — hits like a gut punch, because it tells you that communication IS important.
Then there’s warmth too: I Chan’s grandmother feeding a band of teenagers despite her humble means, grounding the show in small acts of love. I wasn’t here for the romance, and honestly, I wanted more closure on Eun Gyeol’s parents — how I Chan and Cheong A found each other again after the timeline shift. And the ending? I wish it leaned into earned understanding rather than rewriting their lives into glossy success. A return to their humble beginnings, with Eun Gyeol choosing to communicate and pursue music anyway, would’ve been more honest. The “magic eraser” ending felt too clean.
Still, if you overlook the shortcuts, Twinkling Watermelon is a warm, thoughtful drama. Not a masterpiece — let’s retire that word for a while — but a story that understands the power of perspective, and the quiet revolution of being truly heard.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Spoilers saved me more than the plot ever could.
I only made it through two episodes of A Shop for Killers before the lukewarm feeling settled in—the kind that tells you the drama isn’t going to give what the posters promised. Jinman barely showed up, which was already disappointing because his presence is the only thing that seemed capable of grounding the chaos.The production itself is sleek, polished, clearly made by people who know how to stage a fight and light a room, so I gave it a decent rating out of respect for that. But the writing? Not so much. The whole premise becomes implausible the moment you realize it expects one man—and his niece, who wants nothing to do with his world—to somehow dismantle a massive organization.
I even skimmed ahead hoping for resolution, only to find more complications and an open ending that feels like bait for season three. Nothing in the spoilers convinced me to continue, and honestly, I’m relieved I stopped. Some dramas reward patience; this one just asks for it without earning it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
After watching a quarter of the drama, I was not motivated to watch it for a few reasons: mainly, the ML's annoying fake laughter and secondly, the FL's sickly-looking character. The over-the-top antics of the villagers and the one-dimension caricatures in the drama did not aid in supporting my need to watch this drama. Then knowing there was all the ill-fated and illogical coincidences, ML losing memories, FL losing baby, SFL losing her man, SML losing his love, really did not entice me to continue. Was this review helpful to you?
If boredom were a misdemeanor, this drama would have plead guilty by episode three
I picked up this drama expecting a trifecta: noona romance, a strong female lead, and Hwang In Youp doing his best tender-eyed puppy impression. Unfortunately, it delivered on exactly one of those—barely. If you tuned in for sizzling chemistry or any semblance of emotional payoff, I hope you brought snacks, because you'll be waiting a while.Let’s talk about our leading lady. There’s cold, and then there’s clinical detachment dressed as trauma response. This woman isn't so much strong as she is icy with a superiority complex. Yes, she’s competent. Yes, she’s had it rough. But her “strength” comes laced with a quiet menace that makes her less magnetic and more… repellant. I don’t need my FLs to be saints, but I do need a reason to root for them beyond “she's better than the corrupt men.” That’s a low bar, and this drama still manages to trip over it.
At the end of episode three, I tapped out—frustrated, underwhelmed, and mildly annoyed at myself for ignoring the warning signs (read: that moody black poster practically screamed this is not your fluffy noona romance). I kept waiting for “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” vibes and got legal jargon, steely glares, and a romance that felt like a footnote in a courtroom PowerPoint.
Humans are flawed, sure. But there’s a difference between complex and flat-out unlikeable, and this FL leaned so far into the latter that even Hwang In Youp's soulful glances couldn't salvage it. If you came here for healing, warmth, or anything resembling a K-drama heart flutter—you’re in the wrong courtroom. Case dismissed.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My Dearest? More like My Detachment.
I gave this drama a solid shot — halfway through of part one, even. The emotional core never quite clicked for me, and the female lead didn’t help matters. She was written in that frustrating mix of arrogance and self-righteousness that makes empathy hard work. I could see what the show wanted me to feel, but I just couldn’t get there.Visually, yes — it’s stunning. The production is polished, the cinematography is rich, and the atmosphere is undeniably crafted with care. But I’m not someone who gets swept up by aesthetics alone. Then I heard about the double amnesia arc in part two and immediately checked out. Once is lazy; twice is punishment.
I get why others might call this a masterpiece — but I don’t use that word lightly. Personally, I wouldn’t even call my top-rated dramas that — feels like artistic blasphemy to Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Let’s just say this drama might be great for others, but for me? It was a gorgeous miss.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Dropped halfway through the series. I'm struggling with this drama, not because it isn't good. But I have never wanted to take so many knives out of my cupboard because of so many characters. Typical dramas have one or 2 hateful characters (usually a spiteful mother-in-law or an annoying SFL). But this!!!!! I wanted to smash the heads of Yeo Joon's so-called-friends who accuse others of leeching when it fact they are the worst ones do so. If there is an award for the worst family, Yeo Joon's parents take the cake. (Maybe tied with the psychotic mother in IOTBO).And all those girls who are just jelly and abusive toward So Bin because Yeo Joon didn't choose them should just go to hell. Even though they are kids, those who made fun of So Bin for not having a mother are just plain mean. The professor who pilfers her student's work without crediting them, as if it was her privilege shouldn't be teaching. It's like they put every scumbag in one drama and it is making my blood boil!!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Came for the actress, stayed for… actually no, I left.
This isn’t a bad drama, and I can see exactly what it’s trying to do. The commentary on toxic fan culture, boundary‑crossing “supporters,” and the way the entertainment industry flips its loyalty the second an idol stops being profitable — all of that is valid, necessary, and honestly refreshing to see addressed so directly. Celebrities are humans, not emotional vending machines, and the show makes that point clearly.But the execution doesn’t always land. The scenes meant to highlight how dangerous obsessive fandom can be feel oddly muted, and the company’s reaction — treating criminal behavior like a PR hiccup — ends up more frustrating than impactful. The message is strong; the delivery wobbles.
The mystery element doesn’t help. When I can identify the killer before the story even settles, the suspense loses its footing. Predictability isn’t fatal, but it does make the viewing experience feel flatter than it should.
I’m not angry at the drama — just quietly stepping away before mild disappointment turns into irritation. I’ll give it a respectable score for the actress and the intention behind the commentary, but this isn’t something I need to push through.
Was this review helpful to you?
Forced chemistry is not a plot twist.
Started off promising—Tang Fan was sharp, the cases had some intrigue, and Sui Zhou had that quiet authority I usually like in an imperial guard type. But somewhere around episode 6 or 7, the tone started slipping. Sui Zhou softened way too fast, and not in a layered or earned way—just felt like they dulled him down to make room for buddy vibes. The tension dropped, and so did my interest.Tang Fan stayed clever, but the drama kept throwing him into weird filler scenes. That whole chopstick revenge arc with Dong Er? Way too many scenes for something that didn’t matter. It felt like they were trying to force enemies-to-lovers trope between them, but it didn’t land. I don’t mind light moments, but this was narrative padding that stalled the mystery.
This isn’t a bad drama. It’s just one that mistakes chemistry for proximity and tension for soft smiles. The “pairing” feels more like a studio mandate than organic storytelling — a half-hearted wink to the censors rather than something the plot needed. Mysterious Lotus Casebook had a similar balance of male camaraderie and female side characters, but it trusted its central dynamic to carry the weight and let female characters exist without forced romantic framing. The bonds there felt natural; but here, they feel like PR damage control. I wanted to love it, but at 15%, I could already tell this case wasn’t worth solving, at least for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Olympic-level talent, gold-medal whining
I just couldn't continue with this one for some reason and it's no fault of the actors. Because I've seen both main leads in other works and I enjoyed those ones (The Forbidden Marriage and Eye Love You). I don't have a problem with Tae Joon's characterization, it's the Tae Yang's that I'm not on board with. I mean, I am not expecting a perfect, strong Female lead with no weaknesses, but it's just frustrating for me to see how this young lady who was once the darling of the tennis world, wastes her talent by hiding her tail between her legs. Then she somehow feels that her ex-friend bullying her is justified of what happened in the past.I can sympathize with people who are victims of injustice or maltreatment where they have no recourse to defend themselves, but it's another thing when the FL inflicts this suffering upon herself. And when I found out what REALLY happened in the past, how everyone ostracized her and sees Tae-young like an infectious disease, I just lost it. It's so easy to blame someone else for your misfortune, and this "sucks-to-be-me" pity party is one I refuse to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
A drama I respected more than I felt
This drama is undeniably well-crafted. The cinematography is polished, the visuals are intentional, and the acting holds its ground without slipping. On a technical level, everything is exactly where it should be.But even with all that craftsmanship, the connection never formed for me.
From the early episodes onward, I kept waiting for that internal shift — a spark, a pull, something that would make the story feel like more than a beautifully assembled experience. Instead, I found myself admiring the work while feeling completely untouched by it. It’s the multi‑million‑dollar house effect: flawless finishes, elegant design, nothing to critique… yet no sense of belonging.
By episode seven, the realization settled quietly. The narrative had already laid out its trajectory in the first episode, and without emotional stakes, the journey felt predetermined. Not frustrating, not disappointing — just distant. Continuing would have turned that distance into fatigue, and I didn’t want to force myself through something that wasn’t meeting me emotionally.
Despite that disconnect, I still gave it a decent grade. The effort is visible, the production is strong, and the respect for craft is clear. It simply didn’t reach me, and that’s enough of a reason for me to bow out.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Same actor, same letdown.
This is the second Zhao Yi Qin drama that left me emotionally unmoved, despite its glowing reviews and dreamy premise. The story, inspired by the classic Liang-Zhu romance, had potential, but once again, Zhao’s performance didn’t pull me in—and the open ending only added to my frustration. I’m not here for ambiguity masquerading as depth. If you’re wondering how I feel about this one, just refer to my review of his other work: the summary remains unchanged. https://mydramalist.com/755723-hard-to-find#comment-22557646Beautiful visuals, decent pacing, but ultimately forgettable. I wanted to care. I didn’t. And I’m not sticking around for a third try.
Was this review helpful to you?
