Reviews

A non traditional “happy” open ended (self) love story

There’s so much that I have already said in the comments section below about this drama that I feel like a review is in order…

If you are someone who needs a drama with a satisfying ending/closure… I would still recommend watching the main leads Miao Miao and ZiQi’s highlight reels online but as for the actual drama itself skip it and go watch their previous drama Moonlight or if you must…watch LGIEF before watching/rewatching Moonlight for satisfaction

The cast was AMAZING, CGI and soundtrack was a 10/10!

Now for hard truths😅

Miao Miao’s pre warning of the ending being a total scam to viewers before being sucked into game is very much true for the ending of the drama..

Yes it’s an unsatisfying “happy” open ending for the leads and yes I can understand China’s censorship of dramas is a contributing factor and I could make up excuses such as a lack of self worth and the story being written by a teenage ZiQi’s point of view as a reason for zero kiss scenes between the leads other than a forehead kiss ( does the rolling credits kiss count)

This story was masked as a traditional “Love Story” but it was definitely a story of “Self Love” which I don’t have any issues with but wished they had titled it so e.g “Self Love in Eastern Fantasy” 😂

In terms of the ending.. you have to remember a few things to find any forms of satisfaction from it..

1. Chinas censorship limitations for the ending
2. The book was written by a teenage ZiQi
3. The ending is not supposed to be thought as an “ending” but a beginning
4. Miao Miao had already pre warned viewers/readers through her online review of the book that we were scammed for the ending..
5. The main leads ending is a constant full circle ⭕️ promise🤞 between them. ZiQi promises to always find Miao Miao and never leave her behind and Miao Miao will forever choose and support ZiQi

Her waking up and thinking everything was a dream and trying to remember who she loved ( full circle ⭕️ ) and her going to the book signing to support him (full circle ⭕️) and ZiQi calling her name despite but not being seen (full circle ⭕️)

I love this couple and will definitely be rewatching their previous drama for closure and more romantic interactions… hoping for a 3rd collaboration between this pair in the future!!

Leggi di Più

JKY como eu não tinha visto antes

Agora que concluí o drama, vou fazer um complemento a minha review: me apaixonei pela OST e a escuto com frequência, mas achei que atropelaram o capítulo final. Deixaram para resolver tudo no último capítulo e não explicaram as coisas direito, além de deram saltos no tempo que, para mim, deu um gosto de história pela metade. Poderiam facilmente irem a 14 episódios para deixar que nos despedissemos do drama de maneira adequada.

Eu estou absolutamente apaixonada por este k-drama! Sem dúvida, é a produção que mais me prendeu em 2024. Ontem, finalmente terminei os quatro primeiros episódios, e agora estou ansiosa pelos próximos.

A trama é incrivelmente intrigante. Cada reviravolta me deixa com mais perguntas e teorias. Os personagens estão bem construídos, e a atuação é surpreendentemente convincente, especialmente considerando que se trata de um drama de fantasia.

Quanto à trilha sonora (OST), confesso que não tenho uma opinião muito forte. Ela não se destacou para mim, mas também não me incomodou. Acho que a história em si é tão envolvente que a música fica em segundo plano.

E agora, sobre o ator Jang Ki Yong: eu não era exatamente uma fã dele antes. Suas outras produções que assisti foram apenas OK, na minha opinião. No entanto, desta vez, ele acertou em cheio! Sua interpretação está impecável, e estou ansiosa para ver como seu personagem se desenvolverá ao longo da série.

Leggi di Più

Hands-down the worst-written BL of all time

This might seem like hyperbole. But let me explain. Physical Therapy isn't the worst-written BL of all time because it would have to have been written, and if it was, it was only by accident. Someone wrote Fahlanruk on purpose.

It's perfectly OK to have a character start out as "bad" and then go through a redemption arc. It's also OK for a character to be victimized in a bad relationship with a psychopath, in which case his character arc is developing the strength and confidence to recognize his worth to free himself and find love and healing.

But here we have a psychopath who's character arc is to ensnare a man through repeated histrionics and abuse until they live happily ever after. The End. Either this was written by someone without enough life experience to have a clue what adulthood and love are, or they are an adult who is an alcoholic abuse-victim with PTSD who is trying to self-medicate by writing the same scene over and over and over again until the audience shares their PTSD.

Everyone in this story is an alcoholic binge-drinker. Every motivation is jealousy. EVERY motivation. Sher and Fahlan are not boyfriends, they are friends with benefits. While it's clear they have deeper feelings for each other, they aren't committed, but still, whenever the other so much as talks to another human (probaby a pet or inanimate object too, but it never came up) a histrionic public explosion involving physical and emotional violence results, with vow to never speak again, followed by another round of binge-drinking, drunken sex, jealousy, explosion, ad inifinitum.

I'm not exaggerating - sometimes two cycles could occur in a single episode. It gets to the point that you don't care and stop paying attention to the main couple when they're onscreen until Fahlan has his shirt off, because he looks really good with his shirt off. Their endless jealousy fight is so dull and repetitIve that it would have been more entertaining to watch them argue over whether the toilet paper should hang over or under the roll (over the roll unless you're a bad person). I can't believe the author actually thought she was writing a protagonist with Sher - he's a pissy, horrible narcissistic villain. Really, if someone had run up to him in the finale and bludgeoned him to death with a bat, you would have gasped with the realization that there really is a God and that he loves us.

There are two side couples, who talk about absolutely nothing other than Fah and Sher's relationship, except for their own detours into pointless jealousy, public histrionics, and binge-drunkenness, but at least none of the minor characters punch each other in the face all the time.

A lot of people stuck with it for Ping & Tap, who were initially cute and had potential, but they too went around in circles forever until it was hard to care and then their relationship was so anticlimactically resolved that the reaction is, "hunh?" Ping has been pining for Tap for years, and then once they're together Ping behaves like Tap is a poisonous reptile instead of a loving boyfriend, because I presume the writer saw other ukes behave that way and thinks that's how gay couples work. One of them DESPISES SEX WITH A BURNING PASSION but, and only under the greatest duress, gives into the UNNATURAL MONSTROUS LUSTS of another man in order to have someone to protect and take care of him. Yup, that's how real life works.

That leaves us with Gear & Prince, who manage to get through this with merely one histrionic jealousy scene, and when they finally hook up, they're robbed by horrendous cinematography which almost totally obscures what's happening with lens flaring that would make JJ Abrams jealous. They're still better than anything else in this travesty, however.

There's also Pink, the fujoshi, who is eventually exhausted as a cause for jealousy, then spends the rest of the series obsessing over Sher & Fahlan's relationship, dragging around poor Tar and behaving as if he's ugly even if he's the hottest guy on the show (I realize that's debatable, but catch him onstage in the finale).

Sher is a horrible human being who deserves to die alone, not be redeemed through true love. Does anyone really think anyone this awful is going to change overnight? How long to you give him and Fahlan? Two weeks at best.

This show isn't just bad, it's infuriating. It's a complete waste of time with no countervailing redeeming qualities to balance the endlessly repetetive plot. There are attractive guys, but it would be much more economical to cruise the side-characters' social media, and in the case of the main couple, if you're interested in Sher, SEEK COUNSELLING. IMMEDIATELY. If Fah, well, I have to admit you get a lot of shirtless Fah, but I'm sure you can find that somewhere where you don't have to endure this type of torture.

I don't normally say something like this, but please don't watch this. It's because I care about you and your well-being.

Leggi di Più

Sorry, I didn't have the same reaction to this as I saw others.

So much of it I found cringy. It didn't help that it felt like every 15 minutes someone was giving a patronizing speech about some online issue, and much of the fan stuff was overdramatized and unrealistic. Inept managers, coaches, and sponsors that made me wonder how they are even remotely successful with all this going on. The focus was more about fandoms than playing the game. Like, ultimately, who cares?

I wasn't really a fan of the OTP and didn't find them persuasive. I actually enjoyed JinYang & Ai Jia's relationship a lot better, and felt they had better chemistry and were a more realistically portrayed couple. SiCheng treated TY like a 3 year old, and after the situation with her ex-b/f her accepting being treated like that seemed weird, especially when they're making it out to be male/female equality.

In the end, I thought the best character development and growth, although not given much screen time, was Jian Yang. For all the hate he was getting in each episodes comments, he ended up being the one who respected everyone the most. So, frankly, this drama was extremely disappointing to me, but still enough there to warrant a mid-tier rating.

Leggi di Più

First let me tell you how I met master's sun:

when I first saw the teaser from watching I hear your voice, I thought it's creepy; a pure horror story and didn't make me interested.
Then when I visited this page in mdl I look into the cast when I saw the main girl I was like: " oh the girl from the greatest love, why her?" (don't get me wrong I don't hate her..XD) then when I saw seo in guk *makes me a little happy, but when I knew he was not the main guy I was like "why not him?" In short the cast still didn't make me interested. Then I scroll some more and look into the genre and oh there's a romance in it!! then I was like what? comedy too??? is it possible? it's weird, kinda NEW for me and by that it makes me interested and look into this drama
I'n short I met this drama not because of the teaser, the cast but because of the genre and the comments too!:>


NOW HERE'S MY REVIEW AND LET ME TELL YOU HOW IT BECAME VERY SPECIAL TO ME! :'D

feelings/story:
It made me scream then after some minutes it made me laugh,it gave me the feeling of: NEVER FELT THIS GOOD FROM A DRAMA FOR SOOO LONG! I MISS THIS KIND OF FEELING! IT WAS FUN!!! this is the FIRST DRAMA that made me scared and laugh at the same time. that's how it hooked me!! It made me look forward into days, is it wed? Is it Thursday already? is the eng sub out? where is the preview?

as the episode progress it keeps on getting BETTER,SWEET,FUNNIER and the scary moments lessens :) so for those who are a scaredy cat like me DON'T HESITATE to watch this drama!

this drama also made me cry not only because of the painful moments but also because of the SUPEEEER DAEBAK SWEET MOMENT that made my HEAR BEAT POUND LOUDER, my HEART FLUTTERS, smile like this ^____________________^ crying from OVERFLOWING EMOTIONS!!

ghost? SOME are scary but once you get to know their story it's heart warming :)

acting cast:
after watching few episodes My first impression from the cast CHANGED in just a SNAP!!!

SO JI SUB? I know him but this is really the first drama that I saw him act. Then I was like omg SO JI SUB OPPA IS SOOOO HANDSOME!! HE IS SUCH A GREAT AND FUNNY ACTOR! HE EVEN MADE IT TO MY OPPA OF THE MONTH!!
GONG HYO JIN? ~omoooooo!! what a great and cute actress I didn't notice her acting skill in the greatest love.. but here in the master's sun it's DAEBAAAAAAAK!!! SHE EVEN MADE IT INTO MY FAVORITE ACTRESS!!!!

as the episode progress: I get closer to the 2 MAIN CAST!!! the CHEMISTRY between them is VERY, VERY, VERY, NATURAL it's SPARKLING AND SHINING!!! just seeing them acting together adds spice in Master's sun! that is one of the ASSETS of this drama!! out of hundreds of love team I've seen THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE BEST! NO ONE CAN BEAT THEM IN MY HEART!! I'm really SHIPPING for this pair the SOGONG couple!! this is my FIRST TIME too, getting addicted to a couple and wishing for them to be a REAL LOVERS AND GET MARRIED! if that happens I would be the HAPPIEST!!

supporting roles:
SECRETARY AJHUSSI? ~omooooo!! one of my favorite secretary!!
kang woo and tae ri yang? you should not miss them too!!
cheap mouth and the sister? they are soo funny..XD
the 2 CUTE KIDS: ~omoooo!! they are soo cute and very lovable makes me want to squeeze them.lol. a very good actors :)
Uncle and the aunt :)
the coffee ghost and trash can ajhussi: they are soooo LIKABLE!
and of course cha hee joo the bitch who is a great actress and made me hate her. lol!!! ALL OF THEM ARE AWESOME!!!


OST?
~kyaaaaaaaa!!! just thinking about the OST!! it's DAAAEBAK!!! I EVEN DOWNLOADED ALL THE OST THAT"S HOW GOOD IT IS!! it even top the charts!!! I like EVERYTHING!! THE MELODY, THE TUNE, THE BEAT, THE VOICE, THE FEELING OF THE SONG, THE SINGER!! It PERFECTLY FITS the emotion!!! the ost saves me from missing this drama by listening to it!

RE-WATCHED VALUE?
PERFECT 10!! I'll never get tired of watching it and 'll definitely marathon this one again!!

OVERALL??
this drama is VERY SPECIAL to me, it's PERFECT, A MASTERPIECE, AWESOME, DAEBAK, AMAZING and definitely MUST WATCH, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who are into ROM-COM!!! BIG THANKS TO HONG SISTER for making an EPIC and MEMORABLE DRAMA!! I'M GONNA MISS THIS DRAMA SOOOOOO MUCH AND also the CAST especially the SOGONG COUPLE!T.T

This is my longest review ever lol.

PS:I hope it helps you to look into this drama! for now, KYEOJJO!:>

Leggi di Più

Sometimes I’m pro embracing mediocrity.

On paper it’s a story with depth about overcoming fear of abatement, fighting for what you feel is right, moving on from past traumas, gaining independence, fighting for your own happiness. In reality all these themes were shallow and barely elaborated on. They were introduced in a few lines and closed in a few lines. There was no real journey, but rather a TLDR version of it.

That said, there was one aspect of the writing that I was extremely grateful for - misunderstanding was not overused as a plot device. More than once the potential misunderstanding either did not happen at all, or was cleared right away through the magic of communication. What’s more, while the plot often leaded to the side of the cliches, the ending of many scenes took a refreshing turn. It balanced the feeling of familiarity with the well-known tropes with surprising small twists driven by the characters’ reactions.

Sadly, no matter how many little scenes and moments I enjoyed here and there, at the end of the day, it is a romance drama, but the romance was not romancing. Kang Hu Yeong was too good to be true, so even though it was fun to fangirl about him as I watched, there is nothing memorable about his character.

Lee Hong Ju was far more enjoyable in all friend and work related setting compared to her scenes with male lead - cannot believe I’m saying it, but the romance was the most boring part of her character’s journey.

Kim Hye Ji easily stole the show for me. She was so dynamic and bright, driven, smart, loyal, but not unrealistically inhumanly perfect. Sometimes she had to work through her emotions, but the fact she actually took time to think about them and what they meant and what she truly wanted the end result of any given situation to be, without just impulsively reacting was great.

Her romance was what kept me glued to the screen. I enjoyed every second of it. It's what gave me true butterflies.

I wish we’ve got more Kwon Sang Pil. He was one of the more relatable characters with fun dynamics. I always crave more female/male best friends representation with no romantic undertones or secret one sided crushes and Serendipity’s Embrace had the chance to deliver in that aspect.

Baek Wook easily became one of my favorite uncles in the history of kdramas. What I love about his character is the fact they were able to mix him being so extra and hyped, but also professional and good at his job. They never hinted he did a bad job managing the company, he seemed to have created a good working environment. Too often someone with more energy is equated to someone dumb and messy in dramas.

Bang Jun Ho was probably the worst character and it’s not about him being the toxic ex. It’s about him hitting too many tropes simply making him boring. Similar criticism about Kang Hu Yeong’s mom who ended up being one of the most underdeveloped characters I have seen in quite some time. I hate how we got close to zero explanations about that character and her motivations.

Acting wise, I think it’s time for me to accept the fact that Kim So Hyun is unable to have romantic chemistry with any of her co-stars. There is nothing behind these eyes. She looks with more care and love at chicken than Chae Jong Hyeop. I do not claim she does not have chemistry with anyone overall - the romantic one just does not translate on screen. Maybe she should dive into other genres? Chae Jong Hyeop be giving the most romance filled glances, to receive nothing back…

About said chemistry, 2024 and we still get surprised fish kisses. What makes it even worse is the fact Hong Ju kept saying how “sexually frustrated” she is, to then Park Shin Hye her way during that kissing scene. Girl, you are and will be forever sexually frustrated if that’s your game.

Big props for the perfectly fitting soundtrack. While these are not exactly songs I would listen to outside of the drama, they fit the mood and scenes sooo well!

Wide shots were to die for - visually speaking the best part of the whole drama.

Overall, it's so basic, but from the start I knew it would be and it's kind of what made me enjoy it. How this drama just... flows like 4567486754 other rom-coms, nothing stands out, you know EXACTLY what you will get. But sometimes that's how one can relax

Leggi di Più

I haven't seen the Japanese version of 'Liar Game', so I can't compare, but even if I had seen it I probably wouldn't compare. After watching a few episodes of 'Nodame Cantabile', it has become clear that the Japanese and Koreans take quite different approaches to their dramas. Therefore, I am going to treat the Korean version of 'Liar Game' as its own standalone show...

...which was bloody fantastic. 'Liar Game' is the third drama I've given a ten to, in the short amount of time I've been watching dramas, and out of those three dramas it is both the one I believe to be the best and the one that I enjoyed the most. Ten doesn't mean that I found it to be perfect (as perfection is unattainable), but since it has superseded many of the dramas that I've watched - both quality and entertainment wise - I thought it justifiably deserved the highest possible score.

'Liar Game' thrilled me, played with me, kept me guessing and sent my blood pressure rising in the best possible ways. The pacing was on beat and the tightly plotted 12 episodes managed to sail by without the assistance of makjang, noble idiocy, sacrificial lambs or filler. When I say that there was none of that present in 'Liar Game' I mean that there was absolutely zilch, nada, zero traces of any of the aforementioned tropes. The show was able to stand on its own two legs without relying on ridiculousness.

It presented a study of human behaviour - how we react and change (for better or worse) when it comes to trust. I don't see it as being a drama that is about how far people will go when it comes to money. Of course, in the context of the game, money is important, but 'Liar Game' teaches us that humans - people - are more important. It is people that make the choice to lie, cheat, betray and thus put others at risk - not money. Money is just the pretext, 'Liar Game' (both the drama and the game itself) is about all about people and how strong their characters are. It is also people who choose to watch others being pitted against each other, for money, to get an ounce of their weekly entertainment.

The games itself in 'Liar Game' were actually very intelligent and intricate. It might have been a bit boring to watch the explanations and rules of each round, but without them it would be difficult for some people to understand whatever the hell was going on. (The rules were useful when it came to the Poker round because wtf was going on there). Some people have said that they found the games 'boring', but that's besides the point, the interest doesn't lie within the games themselves, but within how the contestants survive the games. Each round served as a perfect backdrop for the deceit and breakdowns that were to follow.

The people in 'Liar Game' were of a brilliant variety. Not much time was spent on backstory (which was both refreshing and appreciated given the 12 episode length of the drama), but I managed to ascertain the personalities, motives and regrets of not just the three leads, but the principle supporting cast as well (Jamie, Ja Dol etc). And that is because LG had both a brilliant writer and a brilliant cast. These people grew into either more beautiful or more hateful as the machinations of the Liar Game got to them. I must add that this drama did really well by breaking the K-Drama trope of a woman being evil if she wears heavy make-up - more specifically, the darker the lipstick the darker her soul. It was excellent to see Jamie retain her grit, intelligence and vampyness whilst also being transformed into a person who has opened herself to being able to trust the right people.

A lot of people have said that Kim So-eun's character - NAM DA JUNG - was annoying because she was too stupid and remained stupid. I beg to differ on that topic; whilst Da Jung is most definitely too trusting and naive - AT THE BEGINNING - she most definitely does mature. Yes, she still trust, and yes she is still a very kind person, but she matures into someone who can both question her allies whilst maintaining her ability to trust them. As each round progresses she becomes more considerate and mature. She might not ever have become a toxic person, but she definitely isn't the same Nam Da Jung that was presented at the beginning of the show. And I think Kim So-eun does a wonderful job at portraying Nam Da Jung's growth, emotional sensitivity, understanding, empathy and her huge ability to love and show human compassion (which is especially evident in the final few episodes). Her performance was consistent, clean and considerate. I'm surprised that she is yet to land a main role on public broadcast.

I found it very interesting to contrast and compare the characters of HA WOO JIN (distractingly attractive Psychology Professor turned ex-con) and KANG DO YOUNG. They were like two ends of a horseshoe: polar opposites, yet very similar. Both men are geniuses, both men are incredible when it comes to lying, both men are fantastic strategists, both men are difficult to trust, but both men have very different goals and very different moral leanings and obligations. Their similarities made them clash, whilst their obvious differences intensified their - sometimes frightening - rivalry. I don't think the tension and fear, that crackled in the air whenever these two men looked at each other, would have been present if Lee Sang Yoon and Shin Sung Rok hadn't played their respective roles. Both men brought an undeniable energy to the screen and they were also able to bounce that energy off of each other. The performances were so natural it never felt like a hero was delivering dialogue to a villain, but it felt as if two enigmatic men were engaged in some fierce contest of the Mind. It was sparkling and wonderful to watch.

I think it would be easy to type-cast Shin Sung Rok as a The Villain after his roles in both 'Liar Game' and Stars, respectively, but he manages to make his villains different. I found a way to empathise with the emotionally scarred, twisted, pathological liar that was Kang Do Young whilst I couldn't have cared less for the utterly selfish bastard he was playing in Stars.

Lee Sang Yoon was very hot as Ha Woo Jin. There was something incredibly magnetic about his performance as the enigmatic rugged Psychologist. His gaze, his manner of speech, the way he held himself all resonated 'genius'. His frosty demeanour didn't come off as arrogant and cocky, but reserved and observant.

The lack of romance didn't bother me at all; it was refreshing to see the female lead being able to develop multiple healthy relationships with the other male characters. It is clear that Da Jung and Woo Jin cared for each other quite deeply and the way they develop that relationship isn't through childish bickering, but through learning who the other person is enough to understand and trust them. I'm not going to deny that there wasn't a huge amount of chemistry between Kim So-eun and Lee Sang Yoon, but not once did I get the urge to scream JUST SHUT UP AND KISS HER at my TV.

'Liar Game' could have been betrayed by its ending, but thankfully it wasn't and it finished on a high. Not everyone got what they deserved, but if they had that would have betrayed the whole message of 'Liar Game' - the real world is not ideal, it isn't a place where people can survive by being too trusting or too suspicious. Sometimes, good people don't always end up with every material thing they SHOULD have and sometimes the villain gets away with it. If 'Liar Game' hadn't been a drama that set out to challenge people's world-view, then the ending would have been terrible, but it wasn't. I was glad to see that the non-villains came out of the experience as people who had grown and changed to have a better understanding of both other people and themselves (this was most notable in the case of Jamie).

In regards to the slight openess of the ending, I totally wasn't bothered by it, and it is quite clear that the writer most definitely intended for the ending to be open in order to run onto a season 2. However, whether or not we get a season 2 is totally up to tvN. What's most important is that the main conflict was resolved, so even if we don't get a season 2 there won't be any loose ends left over. I'm all in favour for a season 2, with the same cast though, because I am so ready to see these characters AND actors on screen again.

Leggi di Più

When I started this drama i expected something that goes in the star treck or star wars direction. Of course i knew it was a drama based on romance and that it would never be anything like that, but when i heard the word "alien" i expected something scifi-like.
And I'm glad i was wrong, because i hate those things. Thats why i first didn't know if i should watch it and i'm so happy that i did.

This drama is the best i've ever watched since boys over flowers.. at least for me. I cried so much at the end, not because of it's ending but rather since it was over. I'm a huge fan of Kim Soo Hyun since dream high, but compared to this drama .. whoo.. he became soo hot. I've gotta admit that the actress was new to me (i've started watching k-dramas in 2012 so don't blame me please~).
But i loved the chemistry between those two.
At first i kinda disliked her character, because she was so arrogant and full of herself, and dumb. But when the story continued you've got to see her soft side and that she was a kind person, but still she was hilarious from the beginning til the end. I laughed so hard, i almost cried.
And the male lead was kinda hard for me too, because i don't really like those characters that act so mean in the beginning and so play so hard to get, even though he has a pretty good reason.
The minor characters where adorable too. I personally loved Cheon Song Yi's little brother. He was so cute and the bromance with Do Min Joon was great.
Even the evil guy was great. I really really hated him to death, which proves how great the actor was.

The soundtrack was awesome. I loved the song "My Destiny by Lyn", but it was kinda annoying after some time. And because i'm (now) a huge fan of Hyorin from Sistar, i loved the track "Hello Goodbye". Thats the two songs that were stuck in my head, even til now.

I would definitely say it is a drama that is worth watching, even if you don't like alien stuff and such. But for rewatching i would say you should wait a while before restart watching. I waited like half a year and i coudn't remember a little things so i rewatched it.

Leggi di Più

Could have been better....

A drama full of shortcomings but surprisingly they ain’t enough for me to drop this drama. I have mixed feelings about this one, here are my opinions:

1.Story : A typical fantasy drama with flawed script-writing and editing. The drama started quite well, with a certain amount of funny moments. Scenes in Academy are fun to watch but after Ep 12 or 13, it isn’t that fun anymore.
Pacing became a problem after Ep 12.At times, I feel like the story was progressing too slowly but at some moments, they were cut abruptly.They wasted so much screentime on 2nd Couple and Love Triangle stuffs,so main story didn’t progress until ep 20.
Then they have to put so many important parts in a few episodes, thus unnecessarily rushing the important scenes.

2. Acting : Acting is quite decent. Xu Kai, as always, is impressive and cheesy. He more or less carried the whole drama.Wu Jiayi, though criticized by a lot of Netizens, I don’t find her acting that bad.

3.CGI effects
Effects are mediocre but after watching so many C-dramas, it no longer matters that much to me

***Plot Holes***(These contain spoilers)

1. Why doesn’t Su Youlian look surprised at all when she knows Li Xuan’s identity?
This is very poorly done, she should show certain emotions (Maybe it was cut), still it isn’t acceptable.

2.Why would Su Youlian need a rope to go down the mountain when she has wings?
Poor Logic but hmm...

3.Li Xuan’s friends were surprised when they knew that it was Xiao Feng Ming behind the murder but after a few seconds they said Xiao Feng Ming is in power and even Lord Zi can’t beat him, so aren’t they talking things like they knew the real perpetrator is Xiao Feng Ming?
I would take this as a bad editing

4. Where is FL’s master when Li Xuan’s identity is known?
That’s unacceptable, he was literally the most annoying character and I want to see his reaction but hmmm disappointing

Overall, I would rate it as an average drama, it isn’t that good but not a trash either.
It could have been a lot better, but still disappointing.

Leggi di Più

A KDrama that began politically sharp and atmospherically rich collapses into the banal. WHY?

At first glance, Tempest delivers everything one expects from a high‑budget political thriller: a gripping story, two charismatic leads, and a production that brings cinematic quality to the small screen. Jun Ji‑hyun as former diplomat Seo Mun‑ju and Gang Dong‑won as the enigmatic mercenary Paik San‑ho carry the narrative with a presence that works both in action and in silence. Direction and cinematography rely on clear, elegant images that convey tension and atmosphere in equal measure.

The series scores with a genre mix of political drama, action, and character study. Particularly striking are the variation on the bodyguard motif, the international dimension, and the women at the head of politics—not as decorative figures, but as strategic actors. Seo Mun‑ju embodies a form of strength that is quiet yet unshakable. Paik San‑ho, meanwhile, breaks the macho mold: respectful, restrained, emotionally intelligent.

Tempest tells of Korea’s desire for security autonomy—and of the bitter realization that such independence is hardly attainable within the current geopolitical order. It shows how deeply international power interests penetrate national politics, and how self‑determination shatters against invisible dependencies.

BUT:
A finely tuned orchestra that began with complex tones was, in the second half, drowned out by an unmotivated, deafening rock band. The carefully developed threads were not woven together but torn apart in a “very American‑like,” loud and metallic, black‑and‑white blockbuster finale.

What remains is the impression of a missed opportunity. A KDrama that began politically sharp and atmospherically rich collapses into the banal. WHY?

A pity for the outstanding cast, who deserved more.

Leggi di Più

This Drama Gave Nothing New… and Still Kinda Ate

This one lands right in the middle for me. Not the kind of show that leaves you speechless, but definitely not something I’d call boring either. It’s solid, the kind of drama that doesn’t wow you with big twists or surprises but still keeps you watching all the way through.

At first glance, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a revenge drama. The female lead loses everything in an over-the-top conspiracy, disappears, and returns with a plan to take down those who wronged her. You’ve seen this setup before, probably more than once. And this show doesn’t pretend to be different. It embraces the formula completely. That might be a turn-off if you’re tired of the genre’s repetitive structure, but if you’re someone who enjoys these stories even when they’re predictable, like me, then this one is worth checking out.

What really helped my experience was keeping expectations low. I’ve seen flashier revenge dramas with bigger budgets that ended up being directionless messes. This one, though more modest, knew what it wanted to be. The plot follows a straightforward path, with no major surprises, but what stands out is the female lead. From the start, she’s clear about what she wants and never wavers. She doesn’t get emotional to the point of being reckless, and she doesn’t let anyone, not even the male lead, distract her. There’s never a moment where she reverts back to being helpless or confused. Her clarity and focus carry the whole story.

One of the most refreshing elements was the relationship between the leads. I’ll admit I had a bit of bias going in, expecting the usual love-hate chaos, especially since the male lead is from the rival family. But to my surprise, their dynamic was calm and surprisingly grounded. No forced angst, no dramatic blowups just for the sake of tension. Their connection builds gradually and feels natural within the context of the story. Even though the plot isn’t offering anything new, the chemistry between them gives the drama a lot of heart and kept me invested when the rest felt familiar.

As for the male lead himself, I liked how he was written. Yes, it’s a little odd at first when you realize he’s falling for the woman who used to be his dead brother’s wife, but the show doesn’t dwell on that awkwardness. Their past connection feels more like a detail than a major plot point, which makes it easier to move on from. What really works is how he supports her without trying to control the narrative. He helps when she needs it but never tries to take over her mission or become the savior. That balance makes their relationship feel respectful, and honestly, it’s a dynamic I wish we saw more often in this genre.

Where the drama falls short, though, is with the villains. Don’t get me wrong, they do enough to keep the revenge plot moving, and their actions are definitely evil. But they never feel truly menacing. There’s no standout antagonist who makes your skin crawl or really pushes the lead to her limits. They’re just... there. Functional, but forgettable. Luckily, what the story lacks in villain energy, it makes up for with strong visuals. The cast looks incredible from start to finish. Styling, outfits, presence — all very much on point. Even when the tension dips, it still feels fun to watch because of how well everything is presented.

So, would I recommend it? If you're looking for something fresh or unforgettable, this probably won’t hit the mark. But if you're in the mood for a straightforward revenge story with a strong female lead and a well-balanced romance, it’s surprisingly satisfying. It doesn’t waste your time, it doesn’t go off track, and it delivers what it promises. Familiar, yes, but sometimes that’s exactly what works.

[Also, credit where it’s due: Fifty percent of why I kept watching was Wu Jun Ting’s voice. I could listen to him talk all day. Completely hypnotic!]

Leggi di Più

" A piece of your mind " had two things nailed, the cinematography and the performances.

The game of light, colours, and nature was just brilliant, with a nostalgic note, beautiful sceneries from Norway, and melodic pieces of classical music and piano to paint the perfect picture of an idyllic and tranquil picture. The pace of the drama was equally perfect for the cinematography, as it was calm, with nice notes of drama here and there.

The performances were excellent from all the actors and actresses in the cast as well.

However, the story was messy and confusing. The script offered little to non information about the cryptic gadget that used a person's voice and character to communicate with the loved ones once that person has passed away. The characters were equally mysterious as well, with some background stories coming through from the flashbacks that the drama offered, but, overall, it was difficult to understand them, know them, and, thus, sympathize with them. The message that, I guess, the drama wanted to pass on, that there is some comfort after a loved one dies, was beautiful. However, the romance was boring, as the characters seemed wrapped up in their past and didn't really invest in the relationship.

So, overall, five out of ten.

Leggi di Più

Story
The story was slow paced & really boring. It did progress, but it progressed quite slowly which was a drop for me. There wasn't even much of a story. I usually do love music genre dramas but this one didn't intrigue or interest me in any way which was disappointing. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't find myself to sadly.

Acting/Cast
As many know, Joy is from Red Velvet and this was her first drama. I didn't really have any high expectations because I do know some Kpop idols aren't really experienced in acting. Joy, however, was quite decent in her role. I don't get the hate that was being thrown at her for her "rubbish" acting - It wasn't that bad. Lee Hyun Woo was also adorable in his role. The problem was the chemistry between both of them. I didn't find the bond exciting or anything, it was merely boring and unrealistic.

Music
The OSTs for this drama are really sweet to listen to. I just finished the drama & I will definitely download them. I guess for me, this was the only good thing about the drama itself.

Rewatch Value
I hardly rewatch dramas unless they were exceptionally excellent. So in this case, I definitely won't.

Overall
If you are struggling whether to watch this drama or not, I'll say give 1 or 2 episodes a try. If you don't like it, I suggest dropping it because it doesn't get better. But if you do like it, keep going! Don't let my review discourage some of you because everyone has different tastes :) Hope my quick review helped! x

Leggi di Più

I write this review with a heavy heart because I know what this show means to a lot of my friends who I love. But please allow me to explain in detail why Healer didn't quite hit the spot for me. If I could sum up Healer in one word it would be anti-climactic. Here's why:

Three genres are featured prominently in this drama: action, drama, romance. None were explored to their full potential. Plus, where the cliches of one genre were challenged, they ran amok in others.

The action scenes were well choreographed and exciting to watch, but were often pulled up short and were too far in between to have full effect. Just when my adrenaline started to flow and I'm about ready to forgive less involving aspects of the show, they were over.

Which brings me to the weakest, but most prominent, link ... the drama. I spent a good portion of this show, from ca ep 6 to at least the 3rd quarter of ep 14, being bored. These episodes were mostly dedicated to the back story of the parents, for which I never developed an interest. I never became invested in any of these characters enough to care about their story. I cared about the characters in the present and wanted more of the focus on their individual & common journeys, independent of what happened to their parents in the past. There's a reason why they urge you to keep flashbacks as a driver of story to a bare minimum in screenwriting 101. Flashbacks are intrusive and passive, and should only be used as a function of character (for eg, recalling a memory), not story. An entire story hinged on flashback yanks us out of the present action and keeps the plot from moving forward, which is exactly what happened in Healer (and many other K-dramas. Why some Korean writers can't seem to grasp this very basic rule of screenwriting, I don't know.).

What's more, characters were inexplicably killed off or shipped off when they no longer suited the writer's purpose. This was glaringly obvious. There was no cohesion in how one plot line flowed into the other. Just '(s)he is getting in the way of where I want to take this story so bang! you're dead!' When the sex scandal case concluded, I was like 'Wait, what just happened? That's it?!!' And have you ever noticed how women in K-dramas are *never* killed off? No matter who they are or what situation they find themselves in. Oh, the men are fair game, but the women always manage to escape with their lives. ::eyeroll:: ... because this is such a cliche of the genre.

Finally the romance, it was nice. I agree with other viewers who commended the absence of the usual unpalatable cliches as well as the relatively good characterisations. I really applaud this evolution the romance genre seems to be having in recent K-dramas. They're finally starting to acknowledge their characters as sexual beings, rather than strip them bare of human desire. My only complaint? People will make bold statements ... about kissing, holding one another, making love and what have you, but words aren't followed up enough with actions. It's all just big talk. There's still that air of fakeness and lack of emotional depth in romantic relations. That lack of natural, comfortable, spontaneous intimacy (one drama which came close to what I'm looking for is It's Okay, That's Love). Oh there were some fine moments, by all means, but they often felt ... stilted. Staged. Contrived. Awkward. And even if this were only a minor complaint (it's not, not for me), the romance itself took off too late, almost in the last quarter of the drama, and stayed around for exactly two episodes and change, before focus was returned to less involving narrative arcs. Romance has always been a 'back-up' genre for me. When all else fails, it tends to keep me going, until hopefully things pick up again in other departments. That didn't happen here. Basically, every aspect of the drama that could've and should've kept my interest, short-circuited. There's no doubt the romance was cute, there's no doubt the characters had chemistry, but it wasn't executed to satisfaction.

A more worthy drama to me is Nine, in which the same combination of genres were better executed. I can't remember being bored watching Nine. I was on full alert, wondering what would happen next, how will the characters react? The plot wasn't without its holes, but the pacing maintained its momentum almost from beginning to end. The romance was evenly spread, so that when it wasn't being featured I didn't miss it, but just when you started to crave it, it appeared. I was able to enjoy Nine in spite of its faults whilst Healer became untenable because of them.

In closing, I would be remiss not to mention the 'villains' (with the exception of Secretary Oh). I've never seen a more pathetic lot. All these imbeciles knew to do was snare. Imagine a whole barrage of goons not able to break down a door being blocked by one man ... and other absurdities. In terms of moronic villains, Healer could be Cruel City's cousin, the drama in which a pair of slight 100 lbs women in 6 inch heels, who couldn't fight, outran & outfought seasoned criminals. To say these bumbling idiots were cartoonish would be an understatement. And as per usual dramas give the South Korean police a very bad name. If I were a police officer watching this show I would be offended. Neither one nor the other presented any real threat or challenge to the good guys, which only served to discredit whatever battles they won against the Farmer and his farmhands. It's really hard to suspend belief when they make it sooo easy for the good guys to win.

By the time Healer drew to a close I didn't even care that the ending was rushed, because the show had already gone downhill for me long before that.

There were things I DID like: the score and the soundtrack. The characters and the acting. Yoo Ji Tæ can do no wrong for me, an incredibly charismatic actor. I didn't think Park Min Young was that bad. Ji Chang Wook is one to watch. And I liked the mild-mannered, unassuming, but creepy Secretary Oh. That little smirk of his, with his hand raised to his mouth. It was a nice flair. I appreciate these little quirks and habits that make a character stand out. And it was rather effective too. I wouldn't want to be trapped alone in a room with that guy. So kudos to the actor.

While I liked these things, if sloppy storytelling keeps pulling me out of the narrative and have me asking too many questions, instead of sucking me in with the action and the drama and the romance, then something is wrong. Healer, in some ways, is quite different from the average K-drama, but in other ways it's all pretty much the same.

Leggi di Più

Romance is a bonus book uses books to paint the story of a woman who didn't give up and tries still to survive. The drama at first, was really sweet and "cozy", as we watched the leading lady strugle to get by after her life has turned upside down after her divorce. The friendship dynamics were top notch and the subtle romance was just enough to ignite one's imagination. Also, the office story was really good as well. So, if you like books, you'll probably love the first part. However, halfway through, it was clear that the drama didn't have anything else to say. You'll just watch the characters live their lives with nothing interesting happening to them. The small twists were blunt and the romance lacked intensity. Also, I really hated the fact that the leading lady was always thinking of her daughter at first, but she just forgot about her after a while and it was like she never existed. I mean, what happened to her? Why wasn't she part of the story anymore?
On a more positive note, the performances were good and the bookish refrences nicely done. The side characters' stories were interesting as well. So, 6 out of 10, because I loved the first part, but the second one was boring.

Leggi di Più