Reviews

About a great service of love AKA a fateful, karmic relationship

"Past Lives" is a US production. Both the author and the two 'Korean' leads have Korean roots, but they did NOT grow up in Korea, nor do they live there. The story is autobiographically inspired and is dramaturgically presented in authentic dialogues on the one hand and selected, visually impressive sets on the other. It is about the aspect of fate (and or Karma) in encounters as well as pondering platonic love. "Past Lives" is indulging into the emotional world of more or less accountable and sensitive reflection of the protagonists, especially of those two extraordinarily mature, fine young men. You rarely see that. Additionally, as far as camera work was concerned, light and perspectives were chosen with care and thus implemented as supplementary actor, sort of. All this is quite wonderful and has already been widely praised. “Past Lives” is thus a movie well worth seeing.

This movie presents South Korea and an attitude towards South Korea through the eyes of a South Korean girl who during the 1990s emigrated with her family at the age of 12. She then grew up in Canada, tried her luck as a playwright in New York, married an American, received the green card as side effect, and is ambitiously seeking recognition and success as a writer today. “Past Loves” thus has its positive emphasis on life in the US. The protagonist´s family had turned their back on South Korea. However, besides everything else, that has been already mentioned all over the place, I would say, that "Past Lives" is actually indirectly, in a rather subtle, reserved, unobtrusive way, (almost overlooked and hidden underneath the shiny, promising dominance of the US,) about positive Korean specific qualities, too... Therefore…

Generally, “Past Lives" juxtaposes those two ´worlds´ rather dichotomously. THERE South Korea, the country of origin that was left behind - far away and rather in the background, in the camouflage colors of the military and surrounded by plenty of soju. HERE the USA - reduced to a highly stylized New York (and artist retreat on Long Island), that is bathing in beautiful light and selected colors. In several respects, the United States is presented as the unrivalled better choice.
However, we experience these worlds through the eyes of the protagonist. In Nora's eyes, South Korea stands for conservative narrow mindedness, constraints, lack of freedom (which to some extend is certainly true). The USA, on the other hand, for her is the symbol for freedom, creative power, partake (should, could, might as well…). Eventually, those world views turn upside down. These are prejudicial concepts, both of which are not generally correct, e.g. each not representing the whole truth.

So, KOREAN normal everyday life is portrayed as conservative, shaped by her parents perspective and Nora's childhood impressions of the 1990s: the young democracy, already economically shaken by the Asian crisis. Her parents were artists and as such one way or another most probably influenced by the shaky turbulences of pro-democracy movement of the 1980s. They wanted a fresh start. Yet, what remains in Nora's memories? Very vague memories of school days, of what was said at home, of the striking images that remain impressively to this day. Bottom line: 'Men have to do their military service.' 'People are conservative and unsophisticated.' 'Men dependently live at their parents´ home until marriage.´ ´You can´t proceed in life.´
On the other hand, NORTH AMERICA is the much-cited world of unimagined possibilities. For Nora specifically, it is about a liberal world for the arts. She´s dreaming about her successful future, while the ambitious daughter may actually be living a much wanted life in lieu of her parents, too, to a certain extent. However, this ambitious dream is symbolically captured as an aesthetically abstract decal of New York and the Montauk artist retreat. For Nora, the USA represent a possibility to fulfil her dream of international prizes as an author. Thus, the USA as the center of her life is uncompromising and practically non-negotiable. That's okay and understandable.

This South Korea in the movie has a strong touch of Nora´s own prejudices. Apparently, she never emotionally processed or reflected her relationship to her country of origin. A deficit, which may also narrow down the perspective of the audience. Therefore, I would like to stand up for positive 'Korean merits', which only shine through subtly. In fact, though, they are formative for the characteristic poetic quality of the story. They come along in the person of Hae Sung. Thanks to him Nora can finally hold the key to her emotional freedom in her hands. (Whatever she may do with it now...) Thanks to Hae Sung (so to speak) she got her story and thus her tremendous success as a writer and director, too.

If you don't identify with Nora´s enthusiasm for the US so much, it might be easier to recognize those ´Korean merits´. Hae Sung actually embodies the opposite of what has settled in Nora's mind about South Korea. He stands for a new spirit among the digitalized young generation - even though he is an engineer. She, however, sees what she wants to see, reducing him to military service, close family ties, his clearly structured career and his reserved answers to her questions about marrying or rather not marrying his girlfriend.
Nora overlooks the fact that in his half-hearted answers about marital responsibility he carefully avoids generalizations so as not to overwhelm her with his feelings for her. She overlooks the fact that Hae Sung is indeed the courageous creator of his own world, possibly facing life even more creatively and openly than she dares herself. He chooses to study abroad in China because he wants to learn the language and because it may suit his career, too. He is ambitiously following his career plans, just like she does. Nevertheless, he is open to life´s challenges and ready to completely turn everything upside down. He is actively dealing with what is going on between the two. He prefers not to go for a logical, reasonable marriage. Instead, he takes what his heart tells him, seriously. He wants to sincerely check it out. This makes him vulnerable, too. Actually it was him, who originally went looking for Nora. With courageous creativity he took the chances life had to offer in his own hands. From a practical point of view, HE thought creatively and acted courageously. Nora on the other hand was the one, who, to a certain extent, simply unwinds her program without looking to the left or right.

Back then, when she left South Korea, she just put her feelings away, came up with a new name, learned the new language and left her best friend (and Korea) behind like an old toy. Since then her feelings for her old homeland only slumber unconsciously in her dreams. In her life, which is highly concentrated on her career as an artist, her past and origins have not been given the place they deserve. Hae Sung has to come first to open the door to that forgotten dungeon of her heart.
Still, we don't know whether Nora was able to take the 'little one' in herself by the healing hand - the 12-year-old Na Young, whom she had left alone in the past. All we know is that Hae Sung gave her a chance to reconcile with her roots and a hidden, almost forgotten part of herself. His great service of love was: not forgetting her, not giving up on her; looking out for her; meeting her, too; recognizing her for who she is; reminding her of something else, that she had almost forgotten; and finally letting her be - in an understanding, loving, respectful, ´Korean´ manner. Even if it hurts.
Actually, being himself, he represented another powerful aspect of South Korea, that Nora had so far not realized as such: A finely nuanced, rather emotionally dominated and yet respectful attitude towards life. This in contrast to a rather dichotomously shaped - black/white, good/bad, yes/no -, rather reasonable approach towards life, as it radiates from her 'North America'-concept.

At the heart of "Past Lives" is the probing of the protagonists' feelings for each other. What are those feelings supposed to be? Platonic maybe? Or more than that? And of course the story lives from the attraction of 'What if?'. This careful scanning of a space of potentiality is processed aesthetically cultivated, and stylishly. Respectfully too. Finally there are tears. ´Past Lives´ it is… However, the striking poetic aspect of this story is only made possible (in my opinion) by this very South Korean Hae Sung, who is not afraid to meet the multilayered complexity of emotional depth, confusing affection and difficult challenges in life, and (!) who is also not afraid to back off in respect to a larger context either. Thus he eventually even provided her on the silver platter of his heart with the so much longed for international artistic success...

PS:
Must be the 'In-yeon' they keep talking about throughout the movie...


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SIDE NOTE:
In-yeon = a fateful, karmic relationship
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Bound by fate, kept by love, strengthened by never giving up

Khemjira stands as one of 2025’s most unexpected triumphs, not only within the BL sphere but across Thai television as a whole. What appears at first glance to be a mere romance quickly reveals itself as something far more layered, weaving love, destiny, forgiveness, and spirituality into a production guided by impeccable direction and elevated by unforgettable performances. It’s rare to encounter a series so complete, where every frame has purpose and every choice resonates beyond what the eye can see.

From the opening episode, it becomes clear that Khemjira is committed to charting its own path. By blending horror, drama, and romance, the series crafts an atmosphere both gripping and deeply moving. The story of Khem and Peem, or Pharan, unfolds with a tenderness that feels disarmingly genuine. Their love grows in cautious steps, shaped by hesitation and longing, and it’s precisely this slow burn that grounds their relationship in something recognizably human. Watching the master finally yield to love after so much resistance is profoundly rewarding. And when both characters find peace at last, granting themselves permission to love freely, the experience delivers a relief as tangible as a breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

But Khemjira’s strength extends far beyond its central romance. The writing gives every character depth and intention. Jet and Charn, for instance, form one of the most thoughtfully crafted secondary couples the genre has seen in years. Their easy, playful connection serves as a gentle pause amid the narrative’s emotional weight. Every storyline flows naturally into the next, building toward a conclusion that is as cohesive as it is moving.

And what a conclusion it is. Nearly two hours of uninterrupted storytelling, and not a moment feels superfluous. Every farewell, every reunion, every gesture of forgiveness lands with purpose. Ramphueng’s redemption, her long-awaited reconnection with her son, emerges as one of the year’s most affecting scenes. A character shaped by grief and rage finally finds peace. Khem’s act of forgiveness, more than symbolic, breaks a cycle of hatred and reminds us that love, at its most sincere, is inseparable from compassion.

DMD’s direction deserves particular praise. A company often acknowledged for technical competence but not necessarily for narrative strength, it surpasses expectations here. Pacing, performances, visuals, sound, everything aligns with striking precision. The series treats Thai spirituality and cultural elements with a level of respect and intentionality that elevates each moment, transforming the entire production into something quietly profound.

KengNamping and TleFirstOne prove themselves perfectly cast. Keng’s portrayal of Pharan commands every scene with a calm power, while Namping infuses Khem with tenderness, courage, and a steady emotional depth. Their chemistry is undeniable, but more compelling still is the sincerity with which they portray vulnerability. Tle and FirstOne, as Charn and Jet, deliver warmth and charm that balance the narrative beautifully.

Visually, Khemjira is nothing short of breathtaking. Each shot is composed like a painting, every interplay of light and shadow deliberate. Costumes, makeup, and visual effects are exceptional, especially when you consider that we’re talking about a Thai production, where technical polish is still far from the norm. The spiritual sequences, in particular, are impressively executed, elevating the narrative without ever feeling excessive. The soundtrack ties everything together with emotional precision, enriching the story without overwhelming it. At its core, Khemjira is a meditation on love and destiny, on bonds that outlast time, death, and even karma. It’s a story about forgiveness, renewal, and the courage to choose love despite the pain that often comes with it.

Watching Khemjira becomes an experience rather than a simple viewing. It invites you to feel everything, fear, longing, joy, ache, and few series manage to offer something so complete or so lasting. It’s one of those rare stories that ends but refuses to leave you, filling the heart while leaving a quiet, familiar ache of missing it already. A gift for anyone who still believes in stories that reach the soul.

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A lot better than expected

It's an interesting drama based on the reality of how the kpop industry works. I came to this drama because I know OnlyOneOf as a group. Because of that I thought this drama would be really cringe to watch (they are rookie actors and have no experience in acting), but I was honestly surprised with the overall quality. It's a low budget drama, but it's ok in terms of korean BL dramas.
The story was compressed in 8 episodes of 15 minutes what made it feel too rushed. Things were happening too quickly so they used a lot of flashbacks to tell the story. It was smart in storytelling, but as a viewer it feels like you are being attacked with a lot of information from all sides. But that's my only complaint about the script per se. The adaptation from the webtoon was well done and I honestly think it was WAY more sensitive about the topic than the original work.

Like I said before, they have no experience in acting so I wasn't expecting much, but some of them really have a lot of potential. Hyunbin is an annoying, but really charismatic villain. You can know the actor for a villain is good when you feel angry the moment he shows up. In the terms of acting, I think KB was the best one. He looked evil for real. Eden and Jihoon were good as main characters. Eden did look innocent, but not dumb (so common in BL) and Jihoon was an experienced sunbae, but he wasn't an annoyingly cold character for no reason (also common in BL). The characters were well balanced and the actors did well. Nine did a specially greater work in the scenes he was angry which seems a funny thing to actually happen. I don't know if he rehearsed those parts more or if it was fun to him to manhandle KB, as he's the youngest and KB is the oldest.
Jay was an adorable character and I hope to see more characters like him in BL. A character that will back off after hearing a "no". As any BL fan know, characters in Bl usually thinks a "no" means a "try harder".

About the whole plot, I GET that some people will get angry with it. K-pop fans will probably get kinda pissed too. The plot says "the K-pop industry uses gay fanservice to please fans". But is it a lie? EVERY K-pop group will do that and that's set by their company. If you read that and thought "those two (any ship name) don't do that because thy are really close for real", then you know the industry made it work and it already got you. Yes, most idols from same group are probably close, but the fanservice IS REAL, so please don't fool yourself. They will do things on stage, they will lovingly look at each other, they will hug and hold hands and do all that and 80% of the time all this is for show.

All that being said, the whole plot of this is great. It shows how the industry works and how fans respond to it. Now imagine this: companies make their idols do fanservice and among them there are straight people, but there will be queer people too. Imagine working in a place that forces you to PRETEND to be gay as a job, but WON'T ACCEPT you if you ever come out. In this story every main character is canonically queer. Eden even represent a queer kid growing up with a heteronormalized mindset. His first love was a boy, but he never really accepted that part of himself until adulthood.
In the story there's even a part that one of the trainees say there are rumors about Eden and Jihoon as a real couple and he make it sound like a bad thing (as if they weren't pretending to be gay to begin with). In a place like South Korea it' ok if you pretend to be gay, but it's not ok for you to be actually gay. The story is kinda fluffly and soft, but there's a real critique behind it if you pay attention.

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from fun to being overly dramatic

Na Ah Jung (Jeon Jong Seo) works as a guest actress, playing various background roles. She has a gay friend Lee Do Han (Kim Do Han), whom she has known for 15 years. When Do Han needs a wife to appease his family, he asks Ah Jung to be his wife for 3 years. Do Han’s younger brother, Lee Ji Han (Moon Sang Min), is against this plan as he wants his brother to marry for a corporate alliance. Thus, he tries every way to break up their wedding, one being to make her fall in love with him. Ji Han and Ah Jung hate each other at first, but as he's trying, seems like he's the one who starts falling in love...

It started out exciting, I was impressed with the actress Jeon Jong So who played Ah Jung, she's feisty, capable and independent. Her friend/enemy banter with Dohan and Ji Han is great. Their relationships development is comedic and chaotic. Lee Ji Han’s motive didn’t make much sense to me from the start, but it's fine as there were a lot of good stuffs.

However, the character I'm most curious about is Lee Do Han, as an openly gay man. It was intriguing when he’s introduced, but as the story goes, I'm disappointed with the lack of importance given to his character traits.

Frankly, it gets frustrating when the conflict starts. it’s hard to understand why the leads’ react so dramatically and how they made certain choices. Last four episodes were messy, and practically resolved(?!) Well, the cameo saves the ending... XD Glad it's only 12 episodes!

Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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wow! I started this drama off expecting some light fantasy rom com cheesy drama but oh boy was I in for a surprise, comedy peaked at certain points, mainly from interactions with Hye Ja and Young Soo, but the melodrama really was a big aspect throughout the drama especially the last few episodes, a few times I got jumbled throughout the drama there were a few too many things going on that I couldn’t exactly figure it out or understand it. But there were tiny hints hidden throughout the episodes to help to understand the overall drama.
The acting was great, they really managed to convey the emotions and lay it on thick and raw, really outstanding, especially from support characters
Overall this drama was a real game changer with its sudden plot twist, it always seemed to keep me on my toes throughout the drama, it was enjoyable and really made me think how important time is and how you should spend it and the overall importance.

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The Epic Journey of the True Son of Bei Liang.

This show is a wholesome package. From politics to scheming and strategies, romance and comradeship, family bonds and the journey of growth +cute beasts and martial arts manuals :).....This has a little of everything in a way that doesn't overwhelm you.

This is the story of Xu Feng Nian, the much anticipated future lord of Northern(Bei) Liang. But that doesn't mean he will be under the limelight throughout the show. Each and every person he meets has a character arc that could impress us in the long run. The story is very well developed. The pace may not be uniform but the overall effect is heightened due to this.

This is a show which you must definitely watch once completely before forming an opinion because everything( even what you might think idiotically unintelligible and frustrating) make sense eventually at various check points in the story.
'Once' you finish it I am sure you will hurry to rewatch it and gather clues on what is yet to come.

Can't forget to raise a toast to the stellar cast and their solid performance. Although we have only seen little of some, their roles are too consequential to the storyline to be ignored in the upcoming seasons. So although season 1 has given a worthy closure to the first part of the story, I am looking forward to even brighter follow up seasons.

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I originally started watching the drama because of the male lead, but I fell in love with the heroine. A lot of people criticize Gypso for over acting, but it fit her role as this dramatic character who dreams of becoming a superstar. She was quirky and fun and I loved her. Push was fantastically attractive and cute, but his character was a little too serious for me to love. It made me blush, scream and cry like a good drama should. It had it'a slow moments, but overall it was great. I totally recommend it. Also if you have a Push thing check out ugly duckling perfect match, his character in that was to die for!

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*Ladies and gentlemen please be warned that you need a tissue box near you when you watch this movie. It is a necessity. And also prepare to look like a mess. *

Story:
You don't understand how amazing this movie is. To people who have viewed others who went to jail with disgust or contempt. Young lady/man you better go and watch this. It will change your thoughts/feelings on this matter. The theme of this movie is not a light one. But the director made it work. A woman who is convicted of manslaughter for accidently killing her abusive husband. Gives birth in jail and chooses to raise her baby boy, Min Woo. But heres the catch, she can only keep him for 18 months. Then afterwards he is sent to adoption. Seriously she made the right choice. You should see the baby boy (absolutely gorgeous), his always smiling and filled with life. There's also the inmates, each with their own story to tell.

Acting/Cast:
The acting was perfection. Whoever played the role for baby Min Woo is the best! I'm a sucker for babies!
Kim Yoon Jin is such an azmazing actress. Her betrayal of Jeong Hye is flawless. I could not imagine someone else even playing the role. She's a woman who loves her baby boy above everything and anything. I love her.
Na Moon Hee, Lee Da Hee, Kang Ye Won, Jung Soo Young, Park Jun Myun are all very commendable actresses. There are others as well but their the main ones. Everyone had this atmosphere, where they feed of each others energy. It was amazing!

Music:
*tears* When they all sang together, I felt like angels were singing. Especially the ending songs, I couldn't stop crying. Music is a very important part of this film.

Rewatch:
You must be all wondering why on earth I haven't given a 10 for this. There is only one reason, I don't want to have another cry fest.

Overall:
10/10. What is there more to say. Except GO AND WATCH IT NOW!

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When I read its story and saw it had just one episode, I decided to watch it immediately. I am glad I did. It was a pretty good episodic tale. I love stories which have ghosts in them and if it is a ghost played by Park Shin Hye, of course I had to see it!

While the story is nothing extraordinary, it was pretty engrossing. It was well written and cute overall. It has the right amount of humor and emotions in it. The ending was particularly good. I really wish this was a full length drama. I hope they make something similar because that would be so good!

The actors acted well and the musical score was also good. I really enjoyed watching this and wish that there could be more such kinds of one-episode dramas made. It is really worth a watch. Definitely recommended!

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A drama that deserves more respect and love.

This drama was full of fantastic stories and great actors, but the romance was not the focus here and that's probably why some viewers felt disappointed - they were expecting a light medical romance. Instead, they got some heart warming family dramas, gritty medical dilemmas and a surprisingly sharp critical insight into the highs and lows of the Chinese medical system.
Everything here was expertly done. All the guest actors did an excellent job and the medical cases kept me glued to the screen. The romance wasn't the focus but it was good and left me with a smile on my face. I loved how we got to see the lives of the medical staff, but not to the point that it became a medical soap opera.
If you are looking for a good drama that is full of strong storytelling, this drama is for you.

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Perfect

This is a drama that is performed perfectly by the writers, directors, actors, actresses and all the supporters in this drama.
I won't talk about how sad the ending of this drama is, but I will talk about how the production team of this drama packed the storyline from the first episode that made our feelings sway (in a good way). The extraordinary emotional play of the actors made the audience laugh in some scenes, made the audience feel annoyed in some scenes, and made the audience feel deep sadness in some scenes. This drama takes the love story to a higher level compared to other romance dramas that I have watched. I really agree that this drama can match the quality of the Romeo and Juliet story.

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I never expected that I would come to love this drama this much. Since I don't watch this genre often I didn't want to watch this drama for 3 years.
But I just finished all three seasons within 3 days.

It was really inspiring and enjoying to watch how the teacher, Nakama Yukie portrayed, was able to change the student's view on school, live and teachers. I noticed that teachers like her are quite rare (well I don't have one) and I guess that's also a reason to watch this drama because you'll get hope and you'll have your lessons for your live through this drama.

I really liked the chemistry between Nakama Yukie and Matsumoto Jun who portrayed Sawada Shin and I guess I'm not the only one who would have liked it if there was more.

The main teachers and students each got their own episodes in which we get to know more about their background and how they gradually change to the better.
I also liked the close relationship between the main 5 students (including Sawada Shin) and the teacher.

All in one, it was great drama where you learn about the importance of friendship, family and school (If you didn't already know it).

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This is a historical espionage story full of twists, filled with adorable characters, main or supporting or even antagonists, has fair share of comedy, lots of adventure, friendship and just enough romance to die for, and so much heart that I want to recommend it to everyone.

Our main character Yuan Zhong Xin is a playful cunning street savvy guy, who tends to scheme and compete against Zhao Jian, a proud independent smart girl. They are the kickass otp I've been waiting for, it's so much fun to see two people on the same level, whether against each other or working together. Wang Kuan is also pretty intelligent, but tends to be rather straightlaced. Xiao Jing is a cute innocent girl who's generally the peacemaker, Xue Ying is the simple minded brawns, and Ya Nei is the one with connections. The former three are all smart in slightly different way and devise plans, while the latter three all have their shining moment, and generally follow the plan.

The group go from a ragtag team to slowly getting to know each other, go through life and death and betrayal, to a highly effective team that's always there for each other. It's an incredibly emotionally satisfying journey to watch them grow, the camaraderie is awesome, you can ship any characters you want, since most have some fantastic moments. The supporting characters and antagonists are all very memorable with their share of humanising moments, no matter their allegiance or goals. The antagonists are often temporary due to all the twists, and they tend to be pretty smart, which is refreshing. The familial relationship is incredibly touching as well, like Yuan Zhong Xin's relationship with his brother, Zhao Jian's awesome dad, Lu Guan Nian's mentoring.

The plot is very unpredictable, and this is an original script! Which is so rare in this day of (web) novel adaptations, especially for a historical, and one that's so heavily reliant on a good script. I do think the last two arcs aren't as well done, second last arc have some draggy bits, and the twists could feel little forced at times, while the last arc felt a bit rushed towards the end (There's 5 scriptwriter for the series). That doesn't change that there were a lot of choice dialogues, some awesome ones that still applies today, like Zhao Jian's rather feminist values, or Wang Kuan talking about soft power. It also doesn't lessen the heart of these kids that wants to give their all to protect people they love, and the country they vow to protect.

The filter was a little off-putting at first, since I associated with low budget not very good webdramas, this drama is certainly low budget, but the story and acting was on point! It actually quite fit the bright, idealistic, adventure atmosphere of the drama once you get used to it The costumes aren't necessarily historically accurate, but that's okay, it's an idealistic drama about young people in Song, and they all fit their respective characters, which I liked. The music is pretty decent, the fight scenes is sometimes okay, sometimes really lackluster, but it does add in some unintentional comedy.

If you want a fun adventure drama with a lot of heart, please give this drama a try!

P.S. The original creator wrote an epilogue on weibo after lots of messages were sent his way when the drama finished. This drama actually only cover half of the story (he wrote like rough outline of the story, not a script), but the latter half could be hard to write and get pass NRTA due to what it covers (more politics involving Xia). He's in the middle of adapting a well known wuxia novel, and still have two more project, as well as probably Joy of Life s2 now that s1 seems to be doing pretty well. Anyways, I'll spoiler the gist of the short epilogue in the comments for those that finished the drama and need it.

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If Kurosawa Bunzo had given his family the same level of care Karamazov no Kyodai was created with, we might have been talking about a heartwarming comedy here. This atmospheric, psychological ride is a Japanese gem for 2013 thanks to the meticulous way it was built.

In particular, the cinematography is rock solid. The shots inside the Kurosawa house are some of the most gorgeous and use interesting angles to bring out the dark veil hanging over the place. Beyond those deliberately called attention to by the story, decorations and objects often appear in the same frame as characters--acting as mute symbolism for the person or their situation. This aspect is easy to miss the first time around and is a good reason for a re-watch. Some viewers might find them unsettling or even irritating, but occasionally disturbing clips and images appear between stops in the action. I find them instrumental to the feel of the story.

Music is also masterfully utilized, with the orchestrations displaying delicious moodiness. Vocal tracks will be easily recognized by most everyone, as the bulk of them are classics. The lyrics of these songs (like Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones or Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit) could not have suited the situations they were used in better. Honestly, the first time Paint It Black played over a scene, goosebumps came. I also need to give a special mention to the sound effects team, because sometimes a noise would halt the music. For instance, when Isao is talking to Mitsuru at the bar, the sound of his glass settling on the table signals an eerie silence.

All of the brothers were played well, each actor filling their role believably. If I had to pick a favorite though, Ichihara Hayato would win the contest by miles. His portrayal reminds me of a tragic hero from a Gothic romance, tortured and barely keeping it together; but on the outside he's everything you'd want your son to be, handsome, elegant, and successful in his career. Ichihara-san is especially good at acting with his eyes and often made incredible blocking choices in his scenes. It'll be a blessing if he can get more meaty roles like this; he's a magnetic presence on the screen. On the other side of the spectrum is the cartoon-ish detective, who unfortunately was present during all of the scenes inside the interrogation room. His voice drove me crazy, because he kept speaking in this strange purr that sounded more suitable for a villain in a child's anime.

I'll end by saying that while this is a story of pain, abuse, and ultimately murder, it's an easy watch...if you can handle that. The episodes are short and hook you in, especially if this genre is your bag. If you're anything like me, you'll end up eager to get to the end and watch most of it in one go; once you're there, you might just not see the end coming.

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According to the recommendations in MDL, this one is similar to "Juhan Shuttai", which I can totally understand. It is about work and the heroine being inspired by it and inspire people around her.

I think Ishihara Satomi was spectacular as Konno Ecchan. She has that bubbly personality that fits the character. Her laughs always made me laugh, they are so silly and contagious. Her clothes were beautiful and fit her like glove. I love the various hairstyles and accessories she wears throughout the episodes. Since I am a huge fan of nail art, I was a bit disappointed to see that her nails were simple done, nothing fancy. I get that her character is based on a girl who loves fashion, but it was also a bit unrealistic that she wears a different outfit every day, wears a different piyamas every day, and has a elaborated hairstyle every day. Oh well, at least she repeats the shoes...

But more than anything, I liked how hard she worked (even though Proofreading wasn't her vocation) and how her work inspired her co-workers to give it all. Maybe Proofreading is a bit tedious, and I don't think it involves all the research they did, but I wanted so much to work in that Editorial, it looked so much fun. Reading books and researching, to check that all facts were correct. With a calm work group and a nice boss. What more to ask??

There is more romance than I thought it would be, but I wouldn't watch this for it (in my humble opinion, I think she falls for the wrong guy...not that he is a jerk, quite the contrary, he is the nicest, but she has more chemistry with another guy). The beauty of this show is the characters and the the motivation to and for work.

I loved the OP sequence and song, catchy and fun and kinda girly.

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