Great Acting, Interesting Plot but Unsatisfying Romance (for me)

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I heard a lot of great things about “Knight Flower” so I went in with quite high expectations. For some reason, it’s not quite hitting the spot for me and I am not loving it as much as others. It is still a good drama objectively, but I am not emotionally invested.

Honey Lee (Ha Nee) is amazing, no doubt about that. I don’t think I’ve seen her in anything else aside from a guest role in “Be Melodramatic”. She really is the shining star of the show. She also put on some pretty good martial arts moves and doesn’t look like she’s flailing. The acting in the drama is solid with many experienced and great veteran actors and actresses. Even the younger cast does not disappoint.

There was a lot of buzz about the romance between the leads. It was quite fun in the beginning when they were bickering and fighting each other. I also like them slowly realizing they have feelings for each other. However, towards the latter half, it has become increasingly obvious that ML is so smitten that he started to act like a young boy. Thus, the age gap is more prominent, and I am not a big fan of noon romance. When both leads are not on equal footing in a relationship like in the first half, I start to lose interest. I find the ending to their romance unsatisfying. With very little screen time dedicated to the secondary romance, I actually find that quite interesting.

For the most part, this is a somewhat serious, plot-driven drama. There are many comedic moments sprinkled throughout the drama by the leads and the supporting cast. I find the humor appropriate and keeps the tone light, without being over-the-top. It is quite weird hearing English words spoken by someone who went to Qing. Shouldn’t they be learning Mandarin instead? Nevertheless, it was quite funny. There was one scene when this person called Honey Lee, honey. How appropriate! I’ve never seen a Royal Secretary of Defense be so young and casual in any drama, Chinese or Korean. It’s a nice change in a way.

Objectively, this is still a really good drama. It just doesn’t seem to work on me on an emotional level. I would still recommend it if you are looking for an interesting plot with good acting, fight scenes and decent pace.


Completed: 4/2/2024 - Review #424

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Short and Soothing

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Letter from the Sun” is a soothing and slow-paced drama that introduces the Thai art of weaving. Through the stories of two generations, we learn a little more of Thai cultures and the meaning of patience, dedication and commitment.

The plot itself is very simple. ML travels to Thailand to learn about his mother’s special box after her passing. As he discovers the meaning and story behind this beautifully weaved box, he also encounters a short romantic interlude in his life. There are no plot twists, no angst, but it is quite bittersweet. This drama can be interpreted as very slow, or just the perfect pace if you want something calming.

I enjoy the mix of cultures and languages in this drama. Except for Ayako (ML’s mother), all actors are Thai even though ML and his fiance speak Japanese. I am not sure if there’s a thick accent, but they sound believable to me. Acting is good and cinematography is nice. With only two episodes, I think “Letter from the Sun” did a great job in pacing and storytelling, without feeling rushed or unsatisfying.

If you are looking for something short, soothing and slow-paced, this is the perfect one for you.

I watched this on Thai PBS with English subtitles: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/program/LetterFromTheSun/episodes/93437


Completed: 3/30/2024 - Review #422

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So Good. So Real. So Honest. So Fun. So Everyday Normal Lives.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“Small Town Stories” is one of those dramas that is underrated because it has no popular idol actors, no flashy plot and it’s just about the everyday life of the regular folks. Aside from high school dramas, China is really good at producing dramas such as “Small Town Stories”. Although there is nothing flashy about this drama, it brings me warmth, tears, hope and love. This is definitely not a drama for everyone, but it’s one that touches me.


What I Like:

1. Bai Lang (ML) - I am in love with Bai Lang. I am going to include him in my ‘Male Characters I love… Ideal man!’ custom list. He’s definitely not perfect in the fairytale kind of way, but he’s perfect in my eyes as a regular guy. Bai Lang is smart, hardworking, considerate, caring, loyal, dependable, responsible, and funny. He’s not cute or handsome in the traditional sense, but I love his tan skin and adorable smile. Gao Zhi Ting, who plays Bai Lang, has matured quite a bit. I’ve only seen him in “A Love So Beautiful” as the green flag 2ML. But in “Small Town Stories”, his acting improves, he has more screen presence and is a lot more charismatic.

2. Main Romance - I love the chemistry between Bai Lang and Mu Di. I am a fan of bickering leads who don’t like each other in the beginning, then slowly become friends and then fall in love. This is definitely a slow burn romance and you would be disappointed if you are looking for cute and fluffy love. The romance here is gradual, subtle-yet-not-subtle, but it’s full of fun, laughter, and tears. I like the development of the romance more than the actual romance when they finally get together.

3. Main/Supporting Cast - Every character in this drama feels real to me. No face smoothing, no super white make-up, no backlighting. These characters could be your next door neighbor, your uncle or aunt, or a classmate/friend. The characters are flawed and very ‘human’. They make mistakes, they act irrationally at times, yet you can’t help but root for them and not hate them. Yes, there’s an annoying girl who just won’t take no for an answer, but in the end, she’s still a good person at heart. Ok, she’s just a tad annoying and got on my nerves a little bit. But aside from that, I like everyone in this drama.

4. Acting - I am very impressed with Gao Zhi Ting (ML) and Karlina Zhang (FL). I see a different side of Rain Lu (2FL). Wu Xing JIan (2ML) might be the weakest of the four main leads, but he’s still not bad. I enjoy the acting of the supporting cast, especially Song Jia Teng (as ML’s BFF/Brother), Xu Shao Ying (Cop friend), FL’s family and all the musicians. The cast of “Small Town Stories” is full of veterans and very experienced actors. They really bring the characters to life.

5. Mini-stories - I really enjoy the side stories of weddings, celebrations and funerals. For the most part (except the last two subplots), these stories are touching yet don’t take away from the main plot and main leads character development. Through these stories, we see the growth of Mu Di (FL) from a self-centered and proud musician, to hitting rock bottom, to slowly realize what makes her happy and what her dream is.


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Last few episodes - I feel that the older couple’s love story, and FL sister/bro-in-law banking fiasco are the weakest subplots of the series. They don’t jive with the vibe of the drama in the first 20+ episodes. They also don’t contribute to the general character development of the leads, the music journey and the event business. I was worried that this amazing drama is going to tank in the last few episodes and I will end up being disappointed. Luckily, episodes 29-30 picked back up and ended on a high note. Those two episodes brought back touching tears, silly laughter and hope for the future.

2. Chinese Government - I wish the drama could have focused on the cultural aspect of the music without bringing in all the government talk. Maybe that’s also why I don’t like the banking subplot as that introduced more government involvement to the drama, and the boring business talk of the new Cultural Street/Development.

3. Dubbed correction - It was great having all the actors use their real voice and with live recording as well. But then, there are quite a few lines that are dubbed over the original. Is that possibly due to censorship? This happens more than once or twice, and it takes me out of the zone and interrupts my viewing pleasure.

4. One-sided Love - There are three different one-sided love storylines in this drama and all three individuals are quite persistent. One just wouldn’t take No for an answer and is annoying as heck. One goes above and beyond to impress the family shamelessly. One is not even friends with the love interest and is obsessed with them and almost ruins 12 years of friendship. If all three of them stop sooner, then one of the other romance storylines would have time to develop and make me root for them.

5. Kisses - There are a few not-so-great kisses. The camera shot these kisses at weird angles and you can't really see much. The ones that you do see are in the last episode but they are definitely for fan service. They’re not particularly romantic and did not evoke any positive feelings from me.



Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. I wish more people would take notice of it. It’s not perfect, but if you are in the mood for small town stories of normal people’s everyday life, this is a good one. However, the city definitely doesn't feel small town as it keeps on showing me scenes of tall buildings and city lights. LOL. So, don't think this drama is about rural life and townsfolks. "Small Town Stories" is about a very interesting event planning company.


Completed: 3/29/2024 - Review #421

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LOVE the first half, but slowly fizzles out........Still a lovely drama!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

What a lovely Thai adaptation of the manga, and it has big shoes to fill after the beloved Japanese adaptation. I saw the Japanese drama a few years ago, and honestly, I don’t remember much. The only thing I remember was how awkward and shy Adachi was.

The early episodes of “Cherry Magic” gave me very positive vibes. It feels very Japanese and very Thai at the same time. I was in love with the first half of the drama. I love Achi more than Japanese Adachi. Achi is shy and introverted but not overly, and definitely, not as awkward as Adachi. Achi actually feels like a normal person. Karan is just as lovely as his Japanese counterpart. He’s a total Mr. Green Flag. But I do find Machida Keita more handsome and I like the more confident version of his character. Karan is sweeter, softer, more sensitive and more smitten.

The sweet, shy and adorable scenes of Karan and Achi in the first half of the drama before they officially got together was so good that I thought I might rate this a 9.0, if it continues on. I cried my eyes out during Karan’s confession scene by the boat, and the subsequent episode telling us all that he’s done for Achi behind-the-scene. My heart hurts for Karan.

Unfortunately, once the leads officially got together, the cringe started. The Japanese vibe slowly disappears and it’s all Thai cringe of sweet nothings. In a way, Karan is very cute but just a little too much for my taste. He’s just too smitten with Achi! I like the more mature and a little shyer version of Karan in the first half.

All the supporting characters are lovely and they don’t take away from the main leads. I find Rock more likable than the Japanese Rokkaku Yuta. Pai is a kickass female character and I love her shipping the leads and being the voice of reason. Min and Jinta are fine but not amazing. In the end, I somewhat lost interest in the idol storyline, the romance between Jinta and Min, and even the romance between Rock and Pai. I feel that these minor plots are not written well and not developed evenly throughout the drama.

Although the ending is lovely and more complete than the Japanese version, it felt rushed to me. A lot happened in the last episode but everything resolves and ends without much hassle.

In the end, I do recommend this lovely drama and I had an enjoyable time. I was hoping I would love this from start to finish, but that didn’t happen. At least we got good kisses and great chemistry!


Completed: 3/21/2024 - Review #419

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Unique Plot with a Deeper meaning, but Execution could be better.

I applaud the writers of “Love for Love’s Sake” for thinking outside of the box and coming up with quite an interesting plot for a short high school BL drama. This drama is so much more than transmigration into a video game, which we’ve seen quite a lot of those from different countries. As we learn more and more about our male lead, Tae Myung Ha, we get to know more of him as a person, and not just a character in the game. The story goes from a cute rom-com, to a darker melodrama.

Towards the middle of the drama, you can slowly see hints dropped about his relationship with Cha Yeo Woon, and a deeper meaning to their encounter and experiences. However, despite having a unique plot, I feel that the execution is not quite up to par. When the drama ended, I am still quite unsure if it’s all a dream? A prank? A real transmigration? The work of god? The work of death? What and why did it all happen? In this case, I wish the drama would be longer so that it can explore the backstory of the characters more, especially for Tae Myung Ha.

The acting of the cast is average at best. I would say Lee Tae Vin (who played ML Tae Myung Ha) delivered the best performance of the bunch. And Cha Joon Wan (who played 2ML Cha Yeo Woon) delivered the weakest performance. The rest of the cast is just OK.

Although you can tell this is a small budget production (wearing the same clothes, the same few sets, limited OST), I have to say the drama does not look cheap.

Overall, I had a decent time watching “Love for Love’s Sake”. I commend this drama (or the webtoon it’s adapted from) for an interesting plot, but just wish the execution, storytelling and acting could be better.


Completed: 2/20/2024 - Review #405

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A Medical drama focuses on Romance, Relationships and Character Development - not medical cases

“Emergency Couple” holds up pretty well even after 10 years. Although most of the scenes are spent in the ER, I would say this is not a true medical drama as it focuses on romance, relationships and character development more than medical cases. The patients help with fostering the interns growth and maturity, which I quite like. But if you want a true medical drama, you might want to look elsewhere.

What I Like:

Choi Jin Hyuk - I always thought he’s a handsome guy but this is the first time I realized what a great actor he is. I hated his character in the first few episodes and couldn’t wait for his character development to happen soon. He was great in making me hate him, and made me laugh and smile when he’s acting adorable, petty and jealous. But I was most impressed with his emotional scenes towards the last quarter of the drama. His eyes can act and emote very well.

Oh Chang Min (ML) - How I hate him in the first few episodes. I wanted to punch him in the face during those early scenes before the divorce. I definitely enjoy his character development the most throughout the drama. He went from an asshole → doctor with a reputation → doctor who couldn’t live up to his reputation → maturing doctor → doctor who cares → a real doctor. He also went from an impulsive sweetheart → demeaning husband → sabotaging ex-husband → adorably-in-love but pushy loverboy → heartbroken but understanding ex → hopeful boyfriend. I actually think he should forget about his ex-wife and go find someone else. He’s too good for her.

Medical cases - They are not too complicated and don’t last too long. Their injuries and treatments seem realistic enough. The drama does not go into the background stories and nor try to make you feel a certain way. The patients do not take the spotlight away from the doctors. If you are watching this as a medical drama, you might be disappointed. But since I am a romance-junkie especially for second-chance romance, I think the amount of screen time for the medical cases and hospital politics are perfect for me.

No evil secondary characters - It’s so refreshing, especially for an older drama, to have a non-toxic love hexagon. No one is forcing their feelings on others. No one is doing or saying anything to drive the leads apart from each other. In fact, they are all too nice.

Acting - Acting is pretty good all around, including those in supporting and minor roles. I don’t really have any complaints.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

Main Romance - I really enjoy the first ¾ of the drama when it comes to romance. I like enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romances. I think both leads have great chemistry together, especially when they are fighting. Because of how much I disliked the ML in the beginning, I love seeing him try to chase FL back and grovel. I also like how FL is taking the more cautious approach to the relationship. However, when it comes to the last few episodes, I do not like how FL starts to change her mind and wants to get back together. Not that I don’t like them together, but I don't like the writing of the process and development. It feels off and not genuine for some reason.

Oh Jin Hee (FL) - I felt so bad for her in the early episodes and was rooting hard for her to be a successful doctor. Even after successfully starting her internship and obviously doing a pretty good job, she just keeps on apologizing. She’s also very wishy-washy with her feelings towards the Chief and her ex-husband. I do not like her character towards the end. I also don’t like how she acts when she’s trying to woo her ex back. I blame the writer for doing a poor job here.

(Non) Romance - As I mentioned above, I do not like FL’s wishy-washy unclear feelings, especially towards the Chief. She was giving out all these mixed signals, asking if the Chief would consider someone who makes his heart flutter or someone he’s comfortable with. Now you got his answer and then what? I know she could still be confused about her feelings or resisting certain feelings, it was still a frustrating watch. The Chief demonstrated in the earlier episodes that he might like FL, and nothing happened for the longest time until the last few episodes. He has no chemistry with FL. I started to question Lee Pil Mo’s (Chief) acting a little because he seemed so restrained, then emotionless and then acted his ass off in a conflicted/embarrassed/shy/heartbroken way in the last episode during that one-on-one conversation with FL. On another note, Chief has so much more chemistry with his ex, Dr. Shim, and seems to be giving her mixed signals as well. I kept on going back and forth whether he still has feelings for her or not, especially, when I am not feeling anything towards FL.

Pacing - I think the pace is pretty good for the first half of the drama. But 21 episodes is way too long. Even though I know older dramas tend to be about 16-20 episodes long and not the 8-16 format these days, 21 is way more than enough. Not a whole lot happened and the romances in this drama dragged on for too long. There’s a lot of talking but not a lot of doing/actions taken.


What I don’t Like/Don’t Care for:

ML’s Mother - OMG… I hated her so much. I really want to believe somewhere in there, all her actions and mean words, come from her love for her son. But it’s really hard to not want to strangle her. I fast-forwarded most of her scenes in the first ¾ of the drama. I have mixed feelings about her character redemption in the end.

FL’s sister - I really don’t care for the sister and her boyfriend. The kid is cute enough, but their story really didn’t add much to the main plot.


Overall, I had an enjoyable time, especially during the first half of the drama. I was going to give this an 8.5 up until the last few episodes when I start to dislike FL more and more. As I said, I do not like how the romance came around and started, and felt that the last episode is just a filler. But seeing that this is a 10-year old drama, I don’t find too many things cringey.



Other Random Observations:
1. Who knew CPR could be so sensual. LOL 🤣
2. FL was running around looking for ML, no wonder her heart was beating fast! It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because of ML (but of course, that’s what my brain says, not what the drama’s point).
3. I find it a little cringey when FL was trying to seduce ML in the last couple episodes.
4. Does anyone find Song Ji Hyo (FL), Han Ji Min (One Spring Night), Hwang Jung Eum (Kill Me, Heal Me) look alike? OK, maybe just me then. 😁

Completed: 2/11/2024 - Review #402

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An Exhausting Watch! I need a shoulder massage after this. It's too stressful, in a Good way!

Subjective Enjoyment Rating: 8.5
Objective Drama Rating: 9.0-9.5

Disclaimer: Horror is usually the genre I avoid as it’s not really my cup of tea. I am a scaredy cat, though I am Ok with violence. My review is from a novice perspective.


I want to emphasize that this is a very stressful drama-watching experience for me. My shoulders were all tensed up from Ep 1 to Ep 16. I am not sure if it’s because I am a novice and not used to this, or if this drama is just so exciting and full of plot twists. This is a whole new experience for me and I’ve watched many, many dramas in the last 3-4 years, though not this genre.

The acting is excellent - from the youngest to the oldest, from the main cast to those with very minor roles. It’s nice to see Kim Dong Wook play a regular dude, not a CEO or professional. This is a side of him I haven’t seen before, and he’s much more expressive than when I saw him in his last drama, “My Perfect Stranger”. It’s also great to see my beloved Kim Jae Wook, not as the perfect boyfriend but as a stoic priest who really needs to act to show a range of subtle emotions. Jung Eun Chae as the main female member held her own in the trio. It’s so great to see a badass female cop who actually could come in and save the day physically, and not a damsel in distress. Additionally, this drama also has a pretty stacked veteran supporting cast.

Special effects, creepy and scary sound effects, hair and makeup, all added to the overall viewing experience. This is a top notch production and there’s really nothing I can pick on. From a horror perspective, it’s not too scary for me. I think the horror aspects are more visual (violence, gore, blood). It’s less of a psychological horror, thus, I wasn’t really scared at all. But if you don’t like violence and gore, I would not recommend this drama for you. Those exorcism scenes are quite a sight to behold.

Even though I was tense from the beginning to the end (what a crazy, exciting and an emotional last episode), I do feel that the pacing of some episodes is somewhat slow. These are hour-long episodes and at times, they felt longer than one hour. There are also times when not much happened and the main cast was running around in circles. I actually wanted more action. I also don’t feel the urge to keep on pressing the “play” button to go to the next episode.

For someone who is inexperienced in this genre, I do think this is a great drama. I am not going to pretend I have a very enjoyable time, because I was stressed out and exhausted. I definitely do not recommend binge watching this. But if horror is your thing, please do check this out. If you don’t like violence, gore and lots of blood, then skip this one.


Other Random Observations:
1. Hwa Pyung reminded me of Harry Potter, and Park Il Do reminded me of Voldemort. LOL.
2. I keep thinking the three main characters plus all their friends and relatives should all carry a cross with them at all times.
3. Shamanism working hand-in-hand with Catholicism? That’s interesting.



Completed: 2/5/2024 - Review #401

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Frustrating and Unlikeable Characters in a Makjang-like Drama

Subjective Entertainment Rating: 7.25

I would never have watched or known of “Fashion King” had it not been the Chaos Clown Cave Chill Challenge and I was assigned this drama as a MLDer’s least favorite. Because of the low rating, I came in with very low expectations. That should be the mentality if you want to watch this, especially, if you are watching this many years later (2024 for me). But I figured, Yoon Ah In is in it, I can deal with that as he’s always been excellent in everything he’s played.

Plot:
Keeping in mind that this is a 2012 drama, I somewhat excused the physical assault, slapping, throwing things and the not very realistic fist fight. “Fashion King” actually ages pretty well and I don’t think it’s very dated. But it’s more makjang than I anticipated.

1/4 of Drama - Makjang-like introductions to all the main characters. Everything that could go wrong for Kang Yeong Gul (Yoon Ah In aka ML1) and Lee Ga Young (Shin Sae Kyeong aka FL1) went wrong. From broken families to kicking out of the house, to all the adventures getting to and in New York - it’s quite ridiculous.

2/4 of the Drama - I am slowly enjoying how things are developed. Relationships between the four main characters are more defined and the business side of things picked up a little. Feelings are developed and there’s some pining and push-and-pull, along with very muddy former relationships between Jung Jae Hyuk (Lee Je Hoon aka ML2) and Choi Anna (Kwong Yu Ri aka FL2). I probably enjoyed these episodes the most.

3/4 of the Drama - Scheming and getting back at each other continued on. Romance is getting complicated and I am slightly impatient as I realized I don’t want to root for anyone. Everyone should remain single as none of them deserves each other. Even though the drama is about the fashion industry, they don’t really dive right in. It’s a very superficial/peripheral attempt. If you don’t like business dramas, then this is a positive thing.

4/4 of the Drama - Thought I would be rewarded with a little happy romance, but no, happy times don’t even add up to 30 mins. The angst and annoyance I put up with throughout the drama, especially when it comes to romance, was not rewarded at all. And that ending, so many plot holes and everything could be resolved with a few honest conversations.

Characters:
I have a very hard time rooting for our 4 main characters. Yeong Gul appears fun and nice, but is scheming and will use you to advance and make money. Ga Young was spunky and stubborn in the first few episodes, but then she resorted to crying or sleeping all the time. Jae Hyuk is a chaebol man-child who is petty and somewhat naive, but also mean. Anna is a pitiful ex who’s trying to grasp onto something and not sink. If you like flawed characters who make questionable decisions with unclear intentions, then you would love them. For me, I am 70% frustrated and 30% entertained.

Romance:
The only somewhat consistent feelings in this drama are from Ga Young to Yeong Gul. She has liked him from the very beginning. But towards the end, I questioned if she also has some feelings for Jae Hyuk because she’s bad with boundaries. She might say NO (and sometimes says nothing), but her actions might say otherwise. Or maybe deep down she’s enjoying all the affection Jae Hyuk has for her. Jae Hyuk is like a high school boy who shows affection for his classmate by being mean to her. He would make sarcastic remarks all the time, then give you a smile and then run towards you to apologize and make nice. He does not know how to love properly. I couldn’t tell if he still had feelings for Anna in the earlier episodes. Was he unable to show or he’s just using her? I would have liked to believe that Anna did indeed love Jae Hyuk in the beginning. But how she was discarded like trash broke her and drove her towards Yeong Gul. But her affections for Yeong Gul are probably not 100% sincere. She needed a life jacket, and she found one in Yeong Gul. Yeong Gul, once recognizes his feelings, is the easiest to spot and the more cliche lover. He wants to give Ga Young everything he has, wants payback for those who mistreat her and wants to give her all the best. Yet, of course, he doesn’t use words. If he and Ga Young actually talk to each other, I would not be so frustrated.

Acting:
Yoo Ah In really keeps me in this drama. He’s just so charismatic and I can’t help but draw to him. He’s not the typical handsome type, but no matter what drama he’s in, he’s the center of the attention. I love his acting here. Amazingly, I found Lee Je Hoon paled in comparison to Yoo Ah In a little. Probably because his character is a little more pitiful. But his character also allows him to show much more range than the other 3 main leads. Visually, he does not have the swagger for a rich Director and he walks funny. Shin Sae Kyeong is so pretty and young. But she always has the same crying face. I am not sure if it’s the writing of the character or her acting, I get annoyed when she just stands there and not says anything, and acts all shy. Kwong Yu Ri is so beautiful. She really does give off the high class designer vibe, and the subtle bitchiness in the way she walks and talks.

Fashion:
When the drama is about fashion, they better have some good fashion. And I am having a grand type admiring Yeong Gul’s eclectic and loud style, and also nice tailored suits. As I said, Yoo Ah In looks sexy and dashing in this drama. The ladies also have beautiful outfits. I like Ga Young’s casual style and work outfits, and Anna’s more high-end fashion. But Jae Hyuk in the earlier episodes looks like he’s wearing a suit a size too big for him. I have to say, Lee Je Hoon ages well. He looks more handsome in his 30s than in his 20s.


Ending:
I was going to talk about the ending, but decided to keep this spoiler-free as there are many other reviews about this disappointment. Let’s just say it’s not that hard to locate someone, or give someone a call and not rely on regular postal service completely. Communication can solve a lot of problems.


Overall, this is an interesting watch. I am not sure if I will recommend this drama when there are much better ones out there. Maybe if you are a fan of Yoo Ah In and you miss him now that he’s blacklisted? In a way, the entertainment value to ‘hate-watch’ is quite high for me. I am tempted to rate this much lower just because everyone hates it. But subjectively, it’s a 7.25 and I’m rounding this up to 7.5 to boost the rating a little. Though the characters frustrate me and it’s hard for me as a romance lover to not feel rewarded, this drama is still entertaining in a way and keeps me focused pretty well.


Completed: 1/20/2024 - Review #397

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Unsatisfying execution of an interesting plot; Lacking romantic chemistry

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I am sure I am not the only one who read the synopsis of “Moon in the Day” and liked it, especially for fantasy romance lovers. The plot looks interesting and the male lead is the handsome Kim Young Dae, so I gave it a shot despite mixed reviews. Although the drama is not horrible, the execution and storytelling could have been better. It is wasted potential.

I quite enjoyed the first half of the drama, and dare I say, I liked the dynamics of the leads in the present-day storyline more than the past. Their encounter, the unfolding of the events, and how the leads get to know each other, are all fun to me. It was decently paced as well. But as we entered the second half of the drama, the pacing slowed down and I started to lose a little interest in the present-day timeline. There’s a whole lot of talking (repetitive themes) but not a lot of action. This is when I become more invested in their past lives. The leads’ story and romance slowly unfolded, and though with controlled and conservative emotions, I believed in their tragic love and felt their feelings for each other.

Unfortunately, I do not feel the chemistry between the leads in the present timeline. The romance is too slow burn and there isn't enough shown or conveyed to make me feel that they have fallen in love with each other again. But the time they outwardly expressed their feelings, it was too late and too superficial. Their romance did not move me. The only time I was sad and cried was in the last episode.

The pace is slower in the second half and people seem to talk a lot slower (in both timelines). It also doesn’t help that the formerly miraculous firefighting heroine slowly becomes a damsel in distress. How many times is she going to trip, fall, get into an accident and need someone to help her out. Where was her fire fighting training? Isn’t she an athlete that could fight and protect herself? On the other hand, the villain can do no wrong. No one could ever catch him, and he has all these resources to pull the strings behind the scene. The cops are as useless as ever.

The acting is not bad. But I’ve seen Kim Young Dae acted better in “The Forbidden Marriage” and had much better chemistry with his co-star. Apparently I’ve seen Pyo Ye Jin in several of her past dramas but I had no recollection of her. Her character allows her to convey more emotions than Kim Young Dae, thus, it seems like her acting is better. . The rest of the cast did fine. The veterans definitely shine more than the younger main cast. Lee Kyung Young as ML’s father is awesome and Jung Woong In never disappoints when he plays a villain.

Overall, this is not a must-watch but do so if you are a fan of the leads, or if you are a really big fan of fantasy romance. I am OK with the ending and feel that it’s quite reasonable. I might not have guessed the result of the end of the present-day timeline perfectly, but I definitely anticipated how the whole drama ended in the last couple minutes. It’s actually quite typical for this genre.


Completed: 1/15/2024 - Review #396

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Short but Sweet - Captures the Fun and the Feels

I saw a few posts on the feeds praising “ BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen”, so I decided to check it out. I’m glad I did. It’s an adorable drama about unrequited love in the world of filming a BL. Japan is known for some of the cutest and fluffiest BL dramas, along with some quirky ones.

I really like being able to hear each male lead’s inner monologues. Oftentimes, you only get one perspective and maybe another perspective in the very last episode. These monologues greatly enhanced my viewing pleasure during both comedic and more emotional scenes. I also appreciate that both characters are pretty similar in personality. I was worried that Hajime is the typical naive, innocent and introverted character, and would be too shy to utter any word. Luckily, he was just starstruck in the beginning, and is able to actually hold a conversation like a normal person. Akafuji, on the other hand, is not the typical superstar but a crazy stan. I feel that because they have a pretty balanced personality, they are on equal footing in regards to their romance.

This drama special starts with a lot of comedic and typical Japanese over-the-top manga adaptation moments. But eventually it dives into the emotional side of each character. One of the reasons I really enjoy this special is because it has 2 of my favorite things - unrequited love + those mini heartaches, and the guessing of whether he likes me or not. Both of these elements give me all the feels I need and especially in a manga adaptation comedy.

The acting of the leads is good. There isn’t anyone annoying or super loud. I do find the suits too big on the guys and they look too old in these oversized suits. Does anyone find Hajime in glasses looks like Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter? LOL. Ok, maybe it’s just me.

This is a short 3-episode fun watch with a lot of laughs, a lot of feels and a lot of cuteness.


Completed: 1/14/2024 - Review #395

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A decent rom-com of unrequited love and second-chance romance. Miles Wei does what he does best.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I am a fan of unrequited-love-turned-romance and also second-chance romance. So, “I May Love You” is the perfect drama for me at the moment. It’s an easy-to-watch rom-com to kill time.

I have conflicting feelings about the female lead, Tang Xin. Her first introduction to us viewers isn’t quite what I was hoping for and I was a little worried. She appeared to be obsessed with ML, Tang Yu, a little stalkerish with her wall of photos, and seemed to be a little clingy. I understand she’s been in love with Tang Yu for 4 years, but still, those pictures creeped me out. But on the other hand, I liked her assertiveness and her straightforwardness when confessing her love. I might not agree with her dishonesty in a way, but also understand where she’s coming from. Luckily, I like her more when stood her ground and focuses on her career. She let Tang Yu grovel and try to win her love without giving in too easily.

I love seeing a male lead miss his chance of love and have to grovel and win the affection of the female lead. However, that push-and-pull and Tan Xin’s stubbornness lasted too long. It was fun at first, but then towards the middle of the drama, it became very repetitive and I slowly lost interest in the main romance. I eventually just look forward to the secondary romance, which is cute and sweet. I adore that couple and wanted more screen time for them.

Miles Wei is the usual Miles Wei. He has played similar roles many times, but you can’t deny he looks quite handsome. At least he is not a total cold CEO and does show his lovable side once he’s in love. I know this is not a big budget production, but they have got to give Miles Wei and Huo Chen Dong better suits to wear. Their suits look like UNFINISHED products from fashion design students, or unfinished products from Project Runway contestants when they ran out of time after Tim Gunn told them to stop. They are ridiculous! Miles can use a few more suits and not repeatedly wear the same ones. He’s the CEO of a film production company afterall. The makeup of the female lead isn't that great either. Her foundation is too white but her lips are too bright. On the other hand, 2FL looks really pretty.

On a positive note, there are many lovable characters in this drama and no annoying ones. I adored ML’s mother and his sister. They are so cute and are the best wingwoman for ML. I was worried the sister would be another annoying spoiled princess, but she’s so lovely. We only have good and supportive parents, and good and supportive friends.

Aside from the mid-drama slow pacing due to the back-and-forth of the main romance, this is a pretty decent and light-hearted drama to watch. I don’t think it’s a realistic portrayal of the industries, so don’t think too hard but enjoy a cute and fluffy drama, with decent quality and number of kisses and an adorable supporting cast.


Completed: 1/12/2024 - Review #393

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Being a Martyr is a RED flag!

“Usokon” features a pretty common fake marriage/relationship trope. It doesn’t give us anything unique but does offer a comforting, familiar and cute contract relationship. This is a pretty easy watch and very binge-able. The pacing is good for a short drama (12 episodes, 20 minutes each).

Takumi (ML) and Yae (FL) are both likable characters, well, only to a certain extent for the female lead. Their contract relationship is fun and interesting, and the chemistry is pretty good. I was rooting for them all along. The first two episodes hooked me in, especially when we see the perspectives from both leads. Except for one annoying ex who showed up towards the end, the rest of the supporting cast contributes and supplements the main romance/plot pretty well. Acting is not too over-the-top for a J-drama.

The drama was going so well until the last few episodes when they introduced ML’s ex-girlfriend to the story. What a nosedive! The biggest issue is how Yae dealt with the meeting with the ex. Yae already has this martyr-like annoying personality when she was first introduced (such a big red flag). I thought there would be character development for her and she would behave less like a martyr. But no, she continues on to make one of the dumbest decisions ever, when it was made VERY clear to her how Takumi feels. At this point, I don’t think she deserves Takumi at all.

It’s really unfortunate because I was enjoying this drama so much, right up to this point. I like how the childhood friends reconnected, getting involved in the fake marriage, trying to keep this a secret, faking it in front of everyone, slowly falling in love and even the return of the other childhood best friend. All these are the makings of a classic fake relationship and I am eating all this fluff and cuteness up.

Unfortunately, I need to dock points because I was annoyed how it all went down in flames in the last few episodes.


Completed: 10/14/2023 - Review #366

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Perfect for Romance Lovers - Light and fluffy drama with a few good kisses and natural hugs.

It’s hard not to compare “Exclusive Fairytale” to “When I Fly Towards You” since both dramas star the same main actress, Zhang Miao Yi, came out in 2023, and are both coming-of-age, high school to adulthood dramas. I think “Exclusive Fairytale” is a more rom-com-like drama with more (not a lot) adult jokes and content. “When I Fly Towards You” is more slice-of-life, sweet and pure teen drama. Both dramas have very sweet and green flag MLs , are very likable and low-stress, and are perfect for when you are looking for something light and sweet.

Main actress, Zhang Miao Yi, has a very similar role in both dramas, and she’s very good at it. It’s a talent to be able to play such a teenage character and not be annoyingly cute or naive. She’s perfect for the role. I really enjoy her dynamic with male lead, Ling Chao. They are childhood friends and have been together since they are little. Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and I really enjoy their bickering but caring friendship, to sweet and fluffy romance. However, I did find the transition from friends to lovers a little fast. I would have liked to see more of Ling Chao’s perspective during his year away from Xiao Tu, and how he really couldn’t wait for Xiao Tu to join him. Nevertheless, their chemistry is great with lots of kisses and skinship. For us romance lovers, we are blessed with some pretty good kissing and very natural hugging and hand holding.

It’s my first time watching Jun in a drama, and I have no idea who he is. Apparently he’s a Korean pop idol, but has quite an acting resume before he turned an idol. I find his acting a little stiff in the beginning for the drama, but he seems to have gradually relaxed and performed much better later on. I couldn’t tell, but was he the pop idol that Jiang Juan Juan chases? I can’t tell from the posters since I don’t follow Jun’s kpop life. I think Jun’s fans would be happy with his performance, and he looks quite handsome both as a teen and as an adult. Well, we also had a fan service shower scene and him acting ‘sexy’ (it was hilarious). Not sure if fans like how enthusiastic he was with his kisses. LOL

The secondary romance is lovely as well. These friends have enough screen time to tell their story but not too much that they take the spotlight away from the leads. Jiang Juan Juan is a typical secondary female lead in a teen drama. She’s the best friend that we all want in life. Jia Si Wen is the adorkable and nerdy student who falls for the outgoing girl. I quite like the portrayal of their romance and their challenges. I find the drama handles their relationship quite maturely and realistically compared to other secondary romance in a youth drama.

This is also a lovely drama with super adorable and supportive parents. Both sets of parents have been friends and want them to get together (except FL’s dad with some reservations). They reminded me of the family dynamic in “Go Ahead” of how close the two dads were in the drama, and how close the parents are in this drama. ML’s mom is more impatient and can’t help but try to teach Ling Chao how to pursue Xiao Tu. The rest of the supporting cast is lovely as well. We have a very sweet high school teacher who is smart enough to use jokes and sarcasm in communicating with the kids. The college dorm mates are fun and also don’t take up too much of the screen time. They are there to advance the plot. I appreciate the drama in not force-feeding us side romance plots in pairing up all the dorm mates with a love interest.

The pacing for this 24-episode drama is pretty good. However, at one point, I do wish the high school days would be over soon. Those days were OK but I wanted to move faster so that I can see how romance develops in college. We all know nothing can really happen in high school, and there aren’t enough ‘romantic’ scenes between the leads. There are only a few side glances from the male lead and not quite enough romantic undertones for me. Besides the usual high school stuff, this part of the drama is predictable.

I would recommend this drama if you are looking for something with no angst, no misunderstanding, sweet and fluffy with a decent amount of skinship. There aren’t any big plot twists but sometimes, you just need something comforting to watch. This is exactly the type of drama I need at this moment, and I have a very enjoyable time watching it.


Other Random Observations:
1. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a ML kneeled down, let FL sit on his knee while he wipes poop off her shoe!
2. I love the final high school montage with a quick reminder of the high school scenes. The monologue is a little cringey though.
3. The coordinates of the heart-shaped island is so cute and romantic. Reminds me of the math formula in “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”.
4. The flashback of ML’s “surgery” is unexpected in a youth drama and hilarious!
5. Was that the high school teachers and their kids watching the fireworks?



Completed: 9/23/2023 - Review #358

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A decent watch for a low budget web drama

“Love Class 2” is an impulse watch on Viki and I really didn’t have high expectations. I also did not watch the first season. I know this is a lower budget web drama with novice actors. So, I was pleasantly surprised that the acting is not half-bad and the drama is a little less cutesy than I imagined. The drama follows 3 couples and their romance stories.

Lee Hyun reunited with his former tutor and crush, Kim An in college. Kim An disappeared out-of-the-blue 2 years ago and Lee Hyun has been trying to find him. Their story is unexpected in a way that it was more serious and less fluffy than I thought. The reason why Kim An disappeared and his relationship with a ‘family’ member are interesting and developed well enough given this is a very short drama. The acting for these 3 aren’t bad, but I was quite disappointed in their kiss scenes. LOL. I guess because J-min/Lee Hyun is an idol?

Min Woo and Ma Roo are best friends, and Min Woo had a crush on this BFF for a very long time. Unrequited love is one of my favorite tropes, so I am happy to follow their journey. The story is simple and predictable, but not bad. Acting was only so-so for these two young actors. I find Ma Roo overacted and Min Woo underacted. They do make up for the amazing kiss scenes that were somewhat unexpected. I didn’t think shy Min Woo had it in him to give me that. ;)

Last but not the least, Joo Hyuk, college senior, fell in love with teaching assistant Sung Min, at first sight. Joo Hyuk is quite persistent and launched his courting attack on Sung Min quite early on in the drama. I was a little less invested in their story, compared to the other two. I didn’t think Sung Min, who is the oldest of all the characters, would appear to be the most inexperienced in love. I guess you can also call his confusion cute. But this older couple does not disappoint in the kissing and intimacy department. I am not going to say it’s not a little fan service during their intimate scenes, but nonetheless, I am glad to see Korean BLs are not as shy in that area (still not as provocative as Thai BL, but it’s an improvement).

The last episode is totally fan service and not necessary. They could have wrapped everything up in episode 9. Overall, for a low budget web drama, it’s pretty decent with acceptable acting from the young and inexperienced cast. Oh, the actual class is interesting and I bet it’s the most popular class on campus.


Completed: 9/10/2023 - Review #352

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Amazing Friendship, Exciting Badminton scenes but dragged down by Outsiders' side plot

“Racket Boys” is one of those dramas that is universally praised as amazing. To have an 8.8 MDL rating is no small feat. It has been on my PTW for a long time but I just couldn’t find the right mood to start watching it. Even now, it took me two tries to get into it. I blame this on a slow first episode and not a very fun start. But nonetheless, this is a great drama but with some areas I am not a fan of. Let’s start with what I don’t like first.

What I Have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like:

1. Slow Start - As mentioned, it took me 2 tries to get into it. The introduction of Papa/Coach Yoon is not really that exciting. He does not seem like someone I want to root for but of course, I expect some type of character development later on. Nonetheless, the first 15-20 mins did not suck me in, but I persisted and binge-watched the rest with no problem.

2. Villagers/Adult Storylines - This ‘negative” is the main reason I am not rating “Racket Boys” 9.0+. I like the story of all the villagers interacting, caring and loving our young badminton players. But I fast forwarded all the scenes regarding the City hikers and the redevelopment. I don’t care for them, and they have nothing to do with my beloved players. In fact, those scenes happen during exciting badminton matches and cutting back-and-forth between villagers and matches annoy me big time. The drama could have given me more screen time for the players and for me to get to know their backgrounds/families more. I do like some of the villagers' storylines, especially with Grandma and her playroom and the mural.

3. The White Wolf - I don’t dislike the White Wolf storyline but am not sure how I feel about him being away from the boys in the latter episodes to wrap up the story of the other player. I knew we would eventually see this player on the screen since his name was mentioned so frequently throughout the drama. I just feel if we take away that side plot, it would not have made a difference.


What I Like:

1. Racket Boys - I love all the boys! They are the stars of the show and the reason why everyone loves the drama. They each have distinct personalities and complement each other so well. I love that the drama focuses on their friendships and how they support each other through disappointments, rivalries and successes. There’s no jealousy or childish arguments. They are a joy to watch! I enjoy the rivalries between teams and that nothing really malicious happens.

2. Yoon Hae Kang - Hae Kang is an interesting male lead and I enjoy watching his development. He appears cocky and arrogant, but deep down he is the sweetest kid with a kind and gentle soul. That becomes evident right from the start of his introduction to viewers. He works hard for the scholarship and never brings up how poor his family is. He is always so sweet to his younger sister and immediately shows his kindness when he first moves to the village and meets Grandma Ki. It’s lovely following his journey of being a lone wolf to be the best of friends with other players is heartwarming. Personally, I would like to see him pitch a few innings to show me what an amazing ace he was, but we never got the chance.

3. Badminton Play - If you are a fan of badminton, this is an excellent drama. There are so many badminton scenes and matches, and all look so good and realistic. In the first episode, I thought the badminton play was a little subpar compared to “Love all Play'' and “Nothing But You”. But these are middle schoolers and college or pro players. But after the initial episodes, the badminton play improves a lot. It shows the hard work all actors put into their training. I love all the badminton scenes. However, I can also see some viewers might find these scenes a little excessive.

4. Other Characters - Aside from the Racket Boys, I also enjoy watching the coaches' stories. I knew Coach Yoon had to improve after the first episode, and I am glad to be right. He has changed as a coach and it’s nice to see the hard work he put into coaching the kids. It's nice to see the opposite of Papa Yoon, his wife, Coach Ra. Their styles are so different, and their journey of growth as a coach is different. The two female players might have a smaller role, but they are in no way inferior to the boys. In fact, the drama shows us the top female player of the country in Han Se Yoon. Even the villagers are sweet and caring. Oftentimes we see villagers or country folks as boisterous and irritating and I am glad that none of them are annoying to me.

5. Guest Stars - Since the writer of “Racket Boys” is the same writer for “Prison Playbook”, it’s probably not that hard to invite PP actors to guest star in this drama. It’s lovely to see so many of them just showing up for a scene/episode here and there. Hey, if Lee Kyu Hyung is reprising his role in PP, I am very happy that he’s moving to the countryside 😉

Overall, this is an excellent drama about these young badminton players. It’s a story about friendship and growth first and foremost. I strongly recommend this if you are a sports or badminton fan, or a lover of such teen dramas.


Completed: 6/3/2023 - Review #314

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