Reviews

Within a male dominated spectacularly exclusive golden Jaebeol-Cage women stand up for their rights

The (fictional) Hyowon Group's extended family is among the richest one percent in the country. This clan is analyzed in detail with their personal stories and their dynamics among themselves. It quickly becomes clear that despite all the wealth, nobody is happy here. They are prisoners in a golden cage of their own greed. The peacock cage in the park of the estate is a beautiful allegory for this.

If they were just satisfied with what is, they might be better off. But it always has to be more. "Mine... Mine... I want it... I want more... I don't want to give it away..." Communication is replaced by competition, love and comfort by money and luxury. The price has to be payed by suffering souls. Having lost their grounding in trust, sympathy and kindness, they somehow blindly fight for a substitute. "Mine" thus illustrates their sandbox games including mud fight. Maybe with designer sand - the architecture and furnishings are spectacularly exclusive down to the last detail. You don't have to like that, but it is supposed to impress - and it does.

Still, mud is just mud... And it is disgusting to deal with.

The Jaebeol orbit traditionally is a man´s world. In this respect the KDrama "Mine" choses a unique and inspiring approach: Here concentrated, intelligent and courageous women's power is fighting for liberation from the golden cage. This is possible in South Korea in 2021. Also that one of the female protagonists is in love with a woman. Can women set themselves free from male dominated power structures and constraints? There are some truly beautiful, touching, powerful moments of sisterhood and women's power. Sometimes offensive, sometimes subtle.

If you like, "Mine" is also a contemporary social criticism, quietly hidden behind the curtain of an exclusive and alien world of feudal arrogance. The orbit of the Jaebeol may be far far away from the rest of the world, but with all the interpersonal and inner-psychic dynamics (actually quite ordinary and human) that are in focus here, it comes very close to the themes of 'normal' (South Korean) society - with its social constraints, its strict hierarchical structures and their prejudices that put chains on people of almost every social class. The audience is thus free to choose who from the Hyowon clan household they want to identify with. And whether they want to dare to break free, too, and take a different path (together with one or the other protagonist).


--------------------- SIDE NOTE: --- Jaebeol and their different topics among second and third generation heirs ---

The rise of the founding Jaebeol, like the growth of their companies, was shaped by strong patriarchal hands. Hardworking hands, too. However, this first generation patriarchs are slowly dying out... this being accompanied by creeping processes of change. The founding fathers knew where they came from. Plus, from the very first hour, they had long-standing, loyal relationships with their assistants, secretaries, drivers, foremen that had grown over time (even if they were characterized by dependency)... and over time they have built up a systematic network that takes care of their interests wherever they wish.

Their offspring however is already born "with the golden spoon in their mouth", spoiled by wealth and far away from the ordinary people who work for them and their living environment. These Jaebeol are increasingly preoccupied with their ego, family dynamics, scandals and inheritance disputes. They lack ´brothers in arms´, who shed their blood, sweat and tears - thus they lack someone they can trust. The principle of bribery may still work, yet the reins are now in several, increasingly fractious hands. By now many Jaebeol-Clans have already begun to dismantle their power structures by themselves. And if not, their past machinations are increasingly catching up.

"Mine" documents quite vividly how the Jaebeol families dismantle themselves... how the heirs identify with their (still young!) identity as Jaebeol as if they were feudal old noble blue blood... They haven't really had to prove themselves yet and by their arrogance are already failing in the second and third generation. Additionally, the youngest generation increasingly is no longer interested in the corporate empire, let alone their management...

In this respect "Mine" also represents a new variety of topics within the Jaebeol-Genre in KDramas for the 2020s. ´Competition´, ´cabal´ and ´revenge´ as leading subjects have already been processed back and forth since the early hour of KDrama. ´Justice´ was an increasing topic during the last decade. ´Breaking free´ as a Jaebeol-topic however so far is rather new and rare, yet it might increase in the future...
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Very dark, very painful but exceptional acting from the whole cast!

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS MOVIE CAN BE TRIGGERING AS IT DEALS WITH VERY DARK TOPICS SO WATCH WITH CAUTION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO!

I really don't know how to critique or review a story/plot that was so deeply disturbing and uncomfortable for me. Was it good? I don't know. Was it bad? I don't know. All I know is my heart ached for these characters (specifically the twins and their friend) and loathed everyone else. I suppose in a way that makes it a great story because I was soooo immersed in it; every dark turn made me physically sick.

And that was kind of the problem. There were many parts of the story I hated but did I hate it because of the triggering nature of those scenes? Or is there something to critique about the plot itself? It's hard to distinguish for me. I do think the story flows well. The way they showed the present with the flashbacks of Wolwoo is done really, really well. There wasn't ever a point in the movie where I thought "huh this is jarring". Like I said, I was genuinely, intensely immersed.

I went to watch for Jinyoung. As a fan of his since Got7, I've followed his career pretty much from the beginning, and this was truly something special. He was phenomenal as both Ilwoo and Wolwoo. I forgot he was Jinyoung. I forgot everything and just wanted to jump into the screen and protect these boys. His heartbreak, pain and trauma were more than just believable, like I said, it made me really uncomfortable (due to the nature of the topics).

The whole cast was phenomenal.

So that's why I'm giving it a 10 solely for the acting.

I really can't say more about the plot than this because... there's a reason why the synopsis is so vague. Let's just say that.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are a fan of Jinyoung or any of these young actors. Or if you're a fan of dark, intense movies about vengeance.

Would I rewatch it? Absolutely not. I'm so sorry, Jinyoung, but once is enough. My heart can't take more.

Anyway, I don't know... Good luck if you do watch haha.

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So this is my second time writing a review and I'm pretty bad at this..
I watched it because I was curious when all my friends were talking about how good it was.
It's a really cute rom-com movie. I find myself fan-girling over the Male MC whenever he smirks.

Lots of laughs throughout but there were really sad moments near the end of the movie. It's a fun watch!
I'd recommend this to everyone. xD

Story - A few clichés here and there, but overall it was good. It was a typical plot of how they wanted to break the relationship of their crush by working together.
Character development was well done and I liked how they slowly naturally became friends.

Acting - There was no awkward acting. I thought their heartbroken expressions was well executed.
Poor Vivian Sung had to fall multiple times in the movie since her character was a clumsy one, but all the falls was very natural I believe.

Music - Suitable inserts for scenes and the theme song by Hebe Tian is just awesome!

I'm definitely watching this again!

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It's hell on Earth to keep driving, knowing it's really just a wrong turn.

^Summary of Harumichi's life so far, JK.

STORY - 9 ⭐️
This drama has artfully weaved some historical events (including this COVID pandemic era), cultural references, even social and political issues within this story. About the love story, I wouldn't say that it is something new; there are some cliches; but what I like most are the scenes that made me curious and then find more about it scenes later. Every character was well written, making them real people and have their own depth. I am not sure very sold with the 'love story' between Tsuzuru and Uta but maybe I'm just invested with the main couple's story.

Although presented as a love story in the trailers, it also showed youth's goals and dreams and how some get to fulfill it, some not making it or just taking detours. Some scenes can get preachy about it but over-all, the story's execution is actually good.

ACTING/CAST - 10 ⭐️
There's no denying that the main couple are veteran actors. Don't want to spoil anything but there's this scene that really made me tear up. The young actors did well too and their chemistry suits the theme of first love. Despite not looking like alike, (at least we get the moles right) I can definitely see the young characters maturing into the adult counterparts. Even the supporting characters too had delivered a good performance.

MUSIC - 10 ⭐️
Aside from Utada Hikaru's songs, I find Tsuzuru's music and the drama's sound design and transition faultless. I am no sound or music aficionado but as I watch this with my headphones, I find everything seamless and cinematic. There were a couple of mellow English songs too and it fit well in the atmosphere of the whole drama.

REWATCH VALUE - 8.5 ⭐️
I am not someone who rewatches dramas but the cinematography and the cast's performance alone could easily make me watch it again if I have the time.

OVERALL - 9⭐️

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When a remake does what the original couldn’t

The Korean remake was much better than the Thai original, at least in my opinion. While there are many differences between the plots, I found this one much more interesting and enjoyable to watch. The original dragged on forever, there were too many couples and no logical continuous story. Korean remake of the series had a much better structure and story development, it also only focused on the main two couples which gave the two relationships time to develop. I also found the two couples in this drama much more interesting.

I think the visuals and the aesthetics are very nice. I really enjoyed the locations as well. I liked the change from engineering students to something a bit more artistic, I think it fit the whole overall vibe of the drama better. I do believe it has a lot to do with the cultural differences between the two countries, but I don’t know enough about that to actually say anything. I still think it was a smart move.

I think the pacing was not the best in certain parts, and scene cuts and changes were not the best at times. But I didn’t find that too bothersome.

Kim Ji Oh & Jung Lee Won: I absolutely loved them! I might be in the minority, but I actually really liked their bickering. I find it cute and funny, it’s not obnoxious or feeling awkward. Kim Ji Oh was obviously the first to realize he is enamored with the other boy. Jung Lee Won was just as in love but was living in denial. I mean, who would want to admit that their sibling was right about something? No one. Jung Lee Won’s reactions whenever something happened that was similar to what his sister wrote were everything! I think the two actors had great chemistry. I loved seeing the two on screen together, either being cute and adorable or bickering and annoying each other.

Ko Yoo Kyeom & Woo Sun Woo: I found the two cute. It was very obvious that Ko Yoo Kyeom was struggling with his feelings. He wasn’t sure how to act around Woo Sun Woo, but he knew he wanted him close. Ko Yoo Kyeom remembered a lot of little details about him. And don’t get me started on him wanting him for his project. Woo Sun Woo didn’t seem to struggle that much, but he still felt very guilty about possibly taking his friend’s boyfriend. I liked the slow progress between the two of them. The chemistry between the two actors was really good too. The longing glances and soft looks. How sweet!

I liked the side characters too. We didn’t really see that much of them, but what we did, fit well within the whole plot. Woo Sun Woo’s relationship with his sister was so adorable! I was really enjoying their interactions. Very typical siblings stuff, I assure you. The friend group was fun too, even the acting teacher!

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The chemistry between the leads is really good, there are a lot of sweet moments between them and several funny moments provided by the female lead.

It is hard to pick only one thing that I like about this. I liked almost everything.

If you enjoy a good amount of romance and comedy, adding to it time travel, a "dont you dare mess with me" female lead, a hot/sweet male lead plus beautiful scenarios and clothes; then there is a high chance you will like this. There is also fantasy, specially in the second half.

I kept checking everyday for new episodes. Usually I dont start a drama till it finishes airing, but I did the "mistake" of watching the first episode and then couldn’t help but watch the new episodes as soon as they came out.

Although I liked it, I felt the ending was a little rushed and the fantasy part made me cringe a little since I am not a big fan of the genre.

For me it’s a 9/10. The only other drama that I gave such a high rating was Empress Ki.

I will definitely rewatch this. Actually I watched some of the episodes 2 times already since I watched first alone and then with my sister.

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Disclaimer: Spoilers for the drama and novel ahead but I will try to minimise them as much as possible. I watched the cut version of the drama (56 episodes in total btw) but did watch some scenes from the DVD version that were cut; I also read the Chinese novel and I will be comparing both in one of the major points below.

I felt so strongly about this drama that I specially created an account to review it. It had the potential to become one of my favourite dramas ever but ended up being an incredibly flawed drama even if Lu Zhao Yao and Li Chen Lan are one of my favourite couples ever. They honestly deserved better. Let me point out what is so flawed about this drama while listing a few good points:

1. The editing of the scenes and the transitions between scenes

This was really just a mess, where random important scenes were cut here and there [I am looking at you ep 19 and 21] and for the last 6 episodes it just felt like random scenes were tacked together (not in chronological order). Nevertheless, I did enjoy the prologue at the start of each episode as it felt like a foreshadowing of what was to come. Also, the rampant use of '5 years later' felt out of place and over-used. Honestly, it didn't seem realistic at all that Lu Zhao Yao established Wan Lu Men and sealed Jin Xian in only 5 years.

2. Random plot holes/bad CGI/random mistakes

The CGI was bad but was quite typical for a Chinese drama. However, I did notice various mistakes in the Chinese subtitles, as well as some mistakes in some of the lines delivered by the characters e.g. they referred to other characters by the wrong names. Some of the scenes didn't make sense too, for example in some scenes it felt like simply using teleporting will have resolved a major conflict in the drama, but the character in question chose not to do so for some unknown reason. The props moved about randomly as well probably due to poor editing.

3. Changes from the novel [major major spoilers in this section]

The drama decided to change the whole 'possession' aspect of the novel, which is acceptable if they had explained properly why Zhao Yao had the same face as Qin Zhi Yan and how she got her face back later. I don't see how cleansing herself in the pool to purge herself of everything she ate in Qi Zhi Di would have helped to get her face back.

They added a lot of scenes for other characters to lengthen the drama as the novel was not very long. This was done well sometimes, when some side couples were covered more and their relationships explored in greater depth. However, this felt rather pointless as none of the side couples ended up with each other; they even killed off one of the side characters when the guy totally survived in the novel. Sigh, why will you make us care about the couple and then kill that character off unexpectedly?

As for the antagonists, I immensely disliked how they got a lot more scenes. No one cares about the nth scene of Liu Su Ruo moping about Jin Xian or the nth scene of Lin Zhi Yu moping about Li Chen Lan or the nth scene of some random antagonistic character plotting. Although Jiang Wu was portrayed a lot more sympathetically towards the end, I didn't like how he was essentially just a gigantic lightbulb in the OTP's relationship.

Honestly, if you wanted to make the drama longer, you should have included some of the scenes that were cut from the novel of the OTP or just included the long epilogue from the novel. I did however like the proposal and wedding scenes for the OTP that were not inside the novel.

They also made the OTP much weaker both in personality and powers. Li Chen Lan was practically invincible in the novel and Zhao Yao was always a strong badass female character. In the last 20 episodes, they became so weak that it almost felt as though they were not the same characters anymore.

4. The ending [also major spoilers]

Like I mentioned earlier, the last 6 episodes were just a mess and totally not in chronological order. It was kind of a happy ending, but I was really confused about how they resolved the whole conflict and whether the scene where Zhao Yao 'killed' Li Chen Lan was a cop out or not. Also, I thought it was weird that they used the same actor and actress to portray their children because I had to imagine them as siblings instead of a couple??? It would have been much sweeter using child actors with the couple...

So then, you all may be wondering why this drama is rated a 7.0 despite all my criticisms above. It's basically because of Li Chen Lan and Zhao Yao in episodes 5-41, as well as the general good acting across the board. This couple was the best with such good chemistry that I really felt as though they were in love. They really deserved the ending in the novel instead. The comedy was also pretty good and was one of the few things consistent about this drama.

Sigh this was such a major disappointment in the end...

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"The Best Love Is The Kind That Awakens The Soul And Makes Us Reach For More" – The Notebook..

The Best Thing as the title suggests was truly the best in terms of acting, visuals, story pacing, romance development and chemistry.. No doubt about it.. Zhang Ling he and Xu Ruohan were obviously the heart of this drama.. Not just their characters but also them.. Their chemistry was electric and seriously it was that good.. Their relationship felt natural, built on meaningful gestures and honestly they didnt need anything grand.. Every interaction felt real.. Like watching two people genuinely fall in love.. It is truly a gem for its take on romance.. No over the top drama.. Just two people finding solace in each other.. Visually The Best Thing is a feast with the flowers, beautiful scenery and all the beauty you could ask for, including the actors..

The premise might feel trope heavy but it was unique in its own way and the actors brought it to life in a way that was so natural.. I loved how he peeled Shen Xi Fan's layers.. Her indecisiveness, her blaming herself for everything that happens.. Its messy, its human, and it grabbed me right in the feels..

The Chinese medicine backdrop isnt just pretty window dressing.. I was surprised by how much it mattered.. It underscores the theme of healing, both physical and emotional..

The first 12 eps were a solid 10 for me.. But eps 12-16 were a bit irritating.. They added cliche scenes that didn’t quite fit the drama I had been enjoying until then.. Problems were bound to arise obviously.. But her indecisiveness and how it felt like she was leading him on despite knowing she shouldn’t, was not what I expected.. But whatever irritation I felt just vanished after that phase.. And honestly even when it was frustrating, ZLH made his character so good that I didn’t even care about anything else..

That being said, she totally deserved the ML.. After everything she endured.. The love she received wasn’t just a reward, it was something she had rightfully earned.. Her struggles, growth and the emotional toll she carried made her deserving of a love that was unwavering and pure.. Despite her flaws and mistakes, she never stopped trying in her own way.. In the end their love felt justified,earned rather than simply given..

“No matter what happened in the past, good or bad its part of who you are..
Accept the past, and focus on the present and the future.. ”

“In my eyes, every day you get better and more deserving of love than the last..
So from now on just focus on loving yourself.. As for the rest, leave it to me.. ”

Her friends and the rest of the supporting cast were too good not to be mentioned. However the second couple's story felt underdeveloped and lacked a strong sense of fulfillment.. I suppose that’s because the ep count was shortened.. Causing some of their scenes to be lost along the way..

The parents deserve their own spotlight.. They were truly outstanding.. Man they were really good.. Ep 25, with all the nervousness, anxiety, fear and pain felt so raw.. They were too convincing and natural.. Truly commendable performances..

The director deserves praise as well.. Each episode was beautifully executed.. They completely made up for any shortcomings the script had..

The FL’s mother having breast cancer felt like a story arc designed to give the ML closure for the pain he endured from his own mother’s death.. Back then he had to face that pain alone.. Watching helplessly as she withered away.. But now he had the chance to do for the FL’s mother what he had long wished he could do for his own.. Help her face it, fight it and bring her out of it safely.. At the same time, it was also for the FL.. To make her realize that she wasn’t alone.. No matter how bad things got, she had people who would stand by her.. Unwavering and ready to support her through anything..

" But In my heart, you are the most beautiful scenery in this world..
Xifan, Falling in love with you is the luckiest thing l have ever done..
Loving you is the best thing I have ever done.. "

Overall The Best Thing is such a lighthearted drama.. No complicated stories.. Just two people falling for each other and finding their way together.. Slowly but steadily, in a way that proves no distance is too far for them.. Its neither rushed nor dragged out.. It takes its time.. Allowing you to feel every step of their journey.. By the end you can’t help but feel happy because they made it.. And it feels truly earned.. The Best Thing isn’t just a title.. Its a promise.. There’s a reason everyone is obsessed and the drama more than justifies it..

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180 Degree - Right In The Feelings

This LGBTQIA+ series is all I ever visually dreamed of, not in a "how handsome the actors are" or in a "the romance is so explicit" but rather the entire CINEMATOGRAPHY was ON POINT. So good, that I´d even forget my doubts about some part of the story. It´s a heavenly gift for everyone who not only watches the series for the plot but also for the techniques of filming and editing. It’s BREATHTAKING!
(TW: age gap, loss)

Story >> 8.0 >> 9.0
As I said before, I still have a few doubts about the plot. Nothing extremely bothersome tho. All in all, I loved the portrayal of this kind of “unspoken” story and all the time they took to emphasize on the characters conflicts and true, growing emotions.

Acting/ Cast >> 9.5
The relatability was archived by extremely good acting and an incredible production team. I hope I can expect more of this top-notch acting in the future because it felt unreal. Especially Nike´s performance was drawing my attention.

Music >> 8.5
I really hope that other thai LGBQTIA+ series could make use of soundtracks and background music like this series does. Not that there was any specific soundtrack that I liked, but they just all fit the mood well and did not bother me in the slightest, which is rare.

Rewatch Value >> 8.0 >> 7.5
It is so beautiful to watch, not even question if I´d rewatch this. I definitely will sooner or later!

100% RECOMMENDED if you are okay with the main characters' significant age gap.

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Head 2 Head? More Like Living Rent-Free in My Head

This series honestly sneaks up on you. What starts off feeling like sharp banter, rivalry, and chaos slowly turns into something way heavier and endearing. I didn't even realize when it happened- one moment I was entertained, the next I was deeply and emotionally invested. My only complaint is how short the episodes are and the occasional abrupt scene cuts which actually did not bother me as much, because JeromeJinn, they make it completely worth it.

Jerome and Jinn are pure chaos in the best way. They started off as rivals who were constantly at each other's throats- insults, glares, nonstop competition but let's be real, that was just them flirting in denial. Every argument, every petty moment, every attempt to one-up the other was just unresolved feelings screaming for attention. Their chemistry is insane. The trailer calls them each other's nightmare, but all I see is them being each other's world. These two walk into a room and the gravity literally shifts. Their entire world just... orbits around each other. Unintentionally, intentionally- doesn't matter. Whether they are racing, arguing, or simply existing in the same space, it's always them against each other and them with each other, basically always them together.

Spoilers Alert!!

What really elevates the story is how it handles the darker elements. The dreams, visions, and accidents don't exist just for shock value, they slowly change the tone of everything. There's this constant sense that something bad is coming, and J's decision to not tell Jinn becomes its own source of tension. I understand why he does it, but watching him carry that weight alone is painful. The fear is quiet, personal, and suffocating, which makes it hit harder than any dramatic twist. Also, I get why some people feel the dreams are repetitive but isn't that the entire point of the series? Every dream sequence builds on the last. They're not just repeating for the sake of it; they're accumulating. Each one adds a new layer, getting heavier, more serious, and disturbingly real.

I have a lot of favorite moments- like a lot, every episode it just adds up. If I had to mention one of my absolute top favorite then one is Jerome's realization. J admitting he never hated Jinn and that he does not want to forget about the diary- oh my god, that whole scene. The way it played out, the atmosphere, the tension, the way they looked at each other, every word he spoke... and especially the vision of the future that followed, where they softly held each other's hand in the air as they looked at each other- that felt like a promise, like something they didn't have to say out loud because it was already written between them and to top it all off, "Not a Crush?" playing in the background blended so perfectly with the moment- it was perfect. My heart genuinely could not handle it. It was raw, it was beautiful, it was them. Every single second of that moment just cemented why I am completely, hopelessly obsessed with this series.

Also, I cannot not mention the hospital scene after Jinn's head injury. It's painfully beautiful. J is drowning in guilt, convinced the accident is his fault, while Jinn sees it as life being unpredictable and refuses to let J carry the weight of fate itself. What breaks me is realizing Jinn’s biggest fear isn't death- it's J slowly destroying himself with guilt. Even the suggestion of breaking up isn't cruelty; it's desperation. And that kiss? Not romantic... pure panic. A wordless don't say that. Then the line, "But if something happens to me one day, I'll believe you did your best."
This... this has my heart. Jinn isn't asking J to stop caring- he's asking him to stop hurting himself. I have so many more favorite moments and scenes that if I start listing them, I might actually fill every single page of that diary- you know the one that was first Jinn’s and now belongs to Jerome >_<

And then there's FarmVan- a whole different flavor of emotional chaos. Van hijacks Farm's space, steals his snacks, takes his bed like it's his own. And Farm, my sweet, soft, painfully in love Farm. He lets him. Every. Single. Time. Their chemistry is explosive and so is the tension between them. Every glance, every touch, every little flirt makes my heart do somersaults. But here's the thing- Van's insecurity is real, and he's constantly sabotaging himself. He tries, at least with Farm but it's never enough to stop him from hurting Farm in the process. And Farm... my sweet, soft, endlessly patient Farm. He loves Van so fully it hurts.

Also, I never could hate Van. He made me furious, but he also made me care, and that balance is hard to pull off. I understood what he was doing and why he was doing it, even when I couldn't agree with his choices. And honestly, that's what makes this series so strong- it's incredibly consistent with its characters. No one suddenly acts a certain way just to push the plot forward. Every messy decision, every bad call, still feels rooted in who they are. Nothing feels out of character, and that's what makes all the emotional beats hit so much harder.

Also, shout out to Mai who has been third wheeling, actually no fifth wheeling so hard I am convinced he deserves financial compensation and also a partner at this point. He has really suffered enough. I adore his friendship with them. And while we're at it, I absolutely love the mums and their friendship too- warm, grounding, and quietly perfect.

And I am in love with the OST, especially "Turns Out It's You". I have had it on loop for months. The lines- "I told myself no, but turns out it's you. I told myself don't, but you are the one." that is literally J and Jinn in TWO LINES. It screams them. In fact the song bleeds them. I don't think this is ever getting out of my playlist. Also, "Secret Crush" is just as good and this is J's POV. And "Not a Crush?" is Jinn's POV. I love all the osts including Friend Next Door and all those unknown background music which I still don't know the names of.

This series might not be perfect, and I am sure it has it's flaws, but for me, it's nothing short of perfect. It has a way of pulling me in and making every moment feel unforgettable. I'm so damn in love with this series. This series made me a fan of SeaKeen and now I am absolutely smitten by them. Highly Recommended!!!

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Fun fact: this movie came out on my birthday. But then of course, we had to wait a little to finally be able to see the subtitles. A love story? *reads the plot* Love it. The actors? *checks the cast* Yes, two of my favorite South Korean actors, both such beautiful and talented human beings. The decision has been made - I'm watching this!

I have a thing for love stories set in the 90's or the early 00's: how the set design is specifically made to reminisce the flip phones, dvd's, etc. I even noticed how the filming style varied a lot in this movie, from shaky to cinematic and professional. So even the little details stood out to me. Now, the main characters and their relationship seemed to genuine. They had amazing chemistry and character development. People gave this film a lot of backlash because of the sad ending, but I found it quite contemporary. The writers of the story didn't want to sugarcoat anything. This movie depicts how relationships in the real world work: people might have a strong belief in fate and how it brings humans together, but love doesn't last forever. Personally, I was balling my eyes out and had a thought that life is, indeed, so unfair sometimes. I'm still convinced that the main male lead Hwang Woo Yeon had the biggest character development. From a stupid jock to a mature and sweet teacher, we all wish him true happiness and to look back at everything as memories that shaped him. Even the female character Hwan Seung Hee changed from someone unapproachable to a loveable and hard-working woman. In other words, the story is important, but I though that observing the main characters was more fascinating. So if you're still on the hence whether this movie should've ended on a bad note, take your time to rethink if it would've been better with a happy ending.

Overall, this exceeded my expectations. I definitely recommend watching this and myself, I'll go and rewatch this movie sometime in the near future!

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I watched this movie yesterday and there is no review yet so I wanted to write one.

"The Palace" is about two friends Chen Xing and Lui Li, who are palace maids, and their relationships with the 13th Prince. This movie is mainly about Friendship, Loyalty, Betrayal and Love. There is also misundertandings and a stealed identity.

One character turns into a mischievous and schemeful woman that betrays those who trust her. I like how they explain the origin of her behaviour - she wanted to have power and freedom in a place and period where she is fated to serve others.

Another character is portrayed as a pure and innocent woman who stays true to her love and friendships. She tends to make sacrifices and resign to her fate. Sometimes I was annoyed about this while other times amazed.

I liked the evolution of the characters and the contrast between them, but I would have liked some mixings. Not black and white characters but grey characters. Even so, I think that the fact that they are black and white makes the story more epic and memorable.

What I loved most was the photography. All scenes were recorded beautifully and each frame is like a photo itself. Great casting and costums.

I think "The Palace" should be more popular. I haven't watched any of the dramas named "The Palace" that are set in the same years so I don't know if the storyline is very similar or not.

I recommend this movie.

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Hidden Pearl

The story is not new, but the execution is great. I've seen a lot of C-dramas. This is not to be missed. ML and FL not only paint wonderfully in ancient costumes, but can also play. This was the first story I saw them in, but it certainly won't be the last. FL is beautiful, smart . ML is persistent, handsome and cunning. The chemistry, the humor, and the visuals are also great. The music with the heartbeat and the insertion into the series is perfect. Even though it's only a miniseries, I would watch the characters for a longer time.
Congratulations for the team.

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It's the best one I've ever watched but what a shame that it doesn't have a season 2 yet .

Like ohh my god I really can't express this , but I can't resist to write , I want to write and express my feelings about this particular series .
I swear it's the first series that made me cry like a fool .
I'm so impressed by Stay with Me; it's better than I ever imagined.

I am completely obsessed with Shu Yu and Wu Bi! The way they fell in love, fought, and found their way back to each other was pure perfection. Hands down, this is the best drama I have ever watched!

I know I’m late to the party, but I just finished this drama and I am completely overwhelmed by how deeply attached I’ve become. Wu Bi’s fierce possessiveness and jealousy made my heart skip a beat, while Shu Yu’s adorable teasing perfectly balanced their dynamic. Their love was so profound that they were truly ready to sacrifice everything for one another. The finale proved this beautifully: when the brakes failed, Wu Bi intentionally steered the car to take the brunt of the impact himself, choosing to risk his own life just to shield Shu Yu from harm. I understood Wu Bi’s devotion through every single episode. It’s hard to put into words exactly what I’m feeling right now, but watching this masterpiece was worth every second.

I’m convinced that when Shuyu said 'I love you, Ocean,' he was actually telling Wubi. It’s obvious that Wubi is the reason Shuyu moved on from Ye Wan Wing; he knew his heart belonged to Wubi all along. They were inseparable, and I’ve never seen Shuyu smile like that with anyone else. The way Shuyu changed Wubi’s life is indescribable. They were truly meant for each other, meeting at the perfect time when they needed each other most.

Shuyu finally realized that he is the most important person in Wubi's life—a truth captured perfectly in Wubi's smile. Wubi did everything in his power to protect Shuyu, proving that genuine love has nothing to do with external beauty or gender. Instead, true love is built on the time spent together, mutual care, and a constant, comforting warmth. It is defined by selfless sacrifice, where a single embrace provides complete comfort, and finding joy in fulfilling the other person's wishes is the only reward that matters. ..

I never thought I could fall so deeply in love with a bromance series, but this show completely shattered the thought of mine that bromance can't compete with BL dramas. I am so incredibly grateful to the friend who recommended this masterpiece!
It’s not just a cute show that makes me blush —it resonates with me on a profound level. The scriptwriter, the director, and the lead actors deserve endless praise for bringing this majestic, outstanding project to life. You can truly see the deep meaning and immense effort behind every single frame.

It is deeply frustrating that strict censorship regulations have prevented the production of Stay With Me Season 2. As dedicated fans, we deserve a proper resolution to the story of Su Yu and Wu Bi, especially since the audience is so emotionally invested. It is well-known that the cast is eager to film the sequel, making it highly disappointing that industry roadblocks are holding it back.
While Zhang Jiongmin continues to secure roles in various new dramas, it feels unfair that his partnership with Xu Bin for this series has been completely stalled. Leaving an audience hanging for over three years is incredibly disheartening for a fandom that has supported the show from the very beginning.
I’ve actually cried over this because I am so deeply attached to their story.

What I wrote is way too short to express what it made me feel .

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