Reviews

How a leader of men becomes a follower of a woman.

Li Ni is too good to be true: a brave, patriotic, upstanding and brilliant young general who safeguards the border at the kingdom's farthest reaches with his Zhenxi army. He aspires to live a carefree, adventurous life at his beloved Laolan Pass with his found family of merry men, steering clear of his imperial roots. And no wonder; his royal father and two half-brothers are cowardly, venal, ambitious, duplicitous and so dumb they test the limits of the word. But destiny intervenes when a military governor Sun Jing seizes the capital, holds Li Ni's witless father hostage and the imperial grandson and rightful successor goes missing. As the kingdom descends into civil war, Li Ni leads the intrepid Zhenxi army to try to save the day. He encounters the bold and audacious A Ying, a lieutenant at the helm of the formidable Cui family army. At first glance, A'Ying is an awesome character; strong, independent, daring, ambitious and cunning. While they have different visions of the future, they are aligned in the immediate purpose of defeating Sun Jing. They join hands in an alliance that has each trying to out do the other in terms of being the one to seize victory. Sparks fly between them, suggesting a broader and more permanent union could be in the cards.

The political plot is very loosely based on the history of the founding of the Tang dynasty. The writing reflects a shallow understanding of politics and historical reality and just plain laziness. The writer clearly didn't know what to do with the one interesting and smart villain and thus quickly kills them off. We are then bamboozled with a bunch of very tired one-note villain archetypes who are surprisingly difficult to kill dead despite their limited brain cells. They are so done before too many times villains that they are not worthy of mention. The only good thing about the battle for the throne arcs are the action scenes; they are exciting and bloody. Xu Kai always delivers incredibly agile and powerful fight scenes and with a good action director like this, he really shines. The drama peaks at an epic and consequential battle around episode 32 and that is probably the best place to stop. It took me a long time to get through the final 8 episodes that were unnecessary and as bland as tofu.

In terms of the romance, this drama is anchored by good chemistry and flawless portrayals by Xu Kai and Jing Tian. It errs on the side of being overly generous with the fan service sweet scenes, which I only mildly enjoyed. I may have been more convinced had I not just come off watchingJing Tian beam beatifically up at Feng Shaofeng (Legend of Zhuohua) with that exact same limpid, adoring expressions. The bigger issue is that A Ying as a character is incredibly difficult to like. She is strong willed, reckless and has a most unbecoming need to win all the time and especially when she is wrong. She doesn't even "win" with any great, glorious or brilliant schemes; her kisses are essentially Kryptonite as far as Li Ni is concerned. It is beyond infantile that he would cede an entire city for a kiss! Li Ni's wants are mallaeble as far as she is concerned and she takes it upon herself to meddle in high power politics to achieve the outcomes she wants. When she doesn't like the consequences of her schemes, it is inevitably Li Ni's fault. The "dealbreaker" conflict between them never gets solved; their relationship is bailed out by events, which is an anti-climatic writing cop out that left me convinced they will surely end up divorced. She does not communicate with Li Ni, overestimates her ability to handle problems on her own and is oblivious to the fact that a deranged lunatic is after her even though he captures her many times. To my dismay, each of her near death experiences are just near. We are told this is a smart and independent character but we are shown she is not smart and constantly needs rescuing from her own hubris. Their love story is an utterly soul destroying tale of how a leader of men becomes a follower of a woman. The only love story in this drama that actually moved me was that of Consort Xiao.

This is Xu Kai's best recent drama after a string of disappointments and he does a really good job here playing a character with massive hero complex. As for Jing Tian, I didn't love her character but I am sure a less charming actress would have frustrated me into dropping this. Despite the good acting, the many logic holes, pedestrian sub-plots and cardboard characters make for a smooth but bland cocktail. I can only rate it 7.0. Overall it is not a bad watch for the fantastic fight scenes and squeal-worthy flirty moments.

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This will be a very short review compared to my usual fair. I just felt I had to throw this out there. This was a weird drama for me. There were parts in the middle where the plot became so predictable, the lead female so annoying, the noble sacrifice trope so overused, the dialogue so trite and the romance and music so in your face that had it not been for Lee Jun Ki I would have dropped this puppy.

But just as I started it for LJK and stayed for LJK, LJK (with some help from Lee Soo Hyuk and even, gasp, Changmin) saved this one for me. If at any point LJK and LSH, and most of the other actors too, hadn't sold this to the hilt, it could have been the utterly crappy hot mess that Night Watchman was. But somehow their commitment to the roles, even when they got stupid, saved this drama.

But what also saved it was the last 4 episodes. The quality of those episodes clearly showed the writer DID have a plan. The writer just had trouble filling in the bits between A and B. The first 2 episodes were wonderful. The last 4 episodes were also very good. I could probably find 4 episodes in the middle that were not totally terrible. So if this drama had been 10 episodes it actually would have been pretty awesome. As it is, it's only okay, but brought to the level of better than okay because of the acting. If you love Lee Jun Ki as much as I do, you will still find something to love in this drama despite its MANY flaws.

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Can't wait for season 2

I am someone who has little faith in Xianxia genre. Most of the time they ruin the whole story with unnecessary fillers if it's an adaptation. Plus they change the major part of the story that ends up into a cliched, stupid and predictable storyline. Another thing is annoying stupid female that we usually find in such dramas. And the most important part- Rushed ending!!!!

What I loved:
- WHAT A CAST. No over the top acting. ( Special mention for kids). Yangzi killed it with her acting skills here. The actor who play Cang Xuan, man he might not be my favourite character but his acting and the subtle emotions that he portrayed throughout the show is undoubtedly the best. What an amazing actor. Another special mention is for the grandpa. What an outstanding character. Every actor from a maid to all the rulers and side characters behaved like the real person not just some extras.
-Female lead is not annoying ( was not a fan of Yangzi as I have always seen her in bubbly, hyper and stupid girl sort of role.) I didn't know she will become one of my favourites.
- Finally all of them have their own voices. (No dubbing).
-Loved the songs especially the one sung by the actress herself. Background music just adds more beauty to the fantasy world of this drama.
-Only few episodes and you won't be able to stop yourself from watching. The story is really good and connects you right away with the characters.
- Three male leads are there and believe me you will find it hard to choose a favourite. All of them acted so well that you just can't ignore their presence.
- Set design, costumes and overall production is really good. CGI is...okay in some scenes but they utilised the money at the right place and those scenes looked mesmerizing. It again proves that an amazing director can bring so much out from the actors and made sure people could connect to the characters.
I was planning to read the novel (if I could find it somewhere) but it is good I went into it without prior knowledge about the novel. I can't believe we all have to wait for a long time for season 2. But this season satisfyed my thrust for an amazing well paced, edited and acted Xianxia drama. It deserves all the praise. :)

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I'm sorry, but I need to like SOMEONE in the show

Maybe I was watching a different show than everyone else, maybe I was in a bad frame of mind, or maybe I just didn't get it, but this show irritated me no end. It was full of unlikeable characters, especially the FL. She was self-centered, self-absorbed, and every other "self" word that you could come up with. This is someone that wouldn't have any friends, because she can't think of anyone other than herself. There was a lot of name-calling, and overall, the relationship between the FL and ML was just toxic. Break up, make up, repeat ad nauseum. Then, at the end, when he is baring his soul to her, she continues to nag him. I just wanted to tell him to run away while he could.

I did like the music though.

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I really wanted to write a review as soon as the series had ended. Since spoilers are not tolerated in a review, I decided to do a pro/contra list in the comment section containing spoilers because there were concrete things that bothered me a lot and I needed to get them off my chest.

I started watching Hwarang because it is a historical drama and I was interested in the story. I am not an expert when it comes to history, my knowledge on Korean history is particularly poor, and so I read some articles on Silla/Hwarang to be prepared a bit. Of course you have to keep the fact in mind that this is a drama, thus fiction. Some things had to be dropped for sure, and some things had to be (re-)invented to create this drama. I’m saying this because I do not want you to have extremely high expectations on this show being historically accurate. It is not. Personally I did not mind, it wasn't TOO bad for me. I will not compare real historical events with this drama in the next lines for several reasons; instead, I will provide summarized impressions of mine and tell you about the things I liked and disliked.

First of all, what _is_ “Hwarang” in my eyes? It is a historical drama mixed with modern elements, comedy, and romance; action, silliness und suspense included. It is partially somewhat of a high school drama embedded in an earlier century I would say, because you will recognize some types and things related to school dramas for sure. The supporting characters are likeable and enjoyable; I wished some of them were more vivid.

At first I was slightly addicted to this show, and I even stopped watching other dramas because I wanted to concentrate on “Hwarang”. The cliffhangers made me wanting to go on with the next episodes badly, Sun Woo was cool, and so were Ah Ro, Ji Dwi and the supporting characters. I was interested in Sun Woo’s development, but I fell for Ji Dwi very soon, and at some point, I was mostly interested in his fate because I started to see the major flaws. My addiction disappeared, but it still was enjoyable.

I had the feeling the makers were not sure on which aspect they should focus on more: The lives of Hwarang and their impact on society, that one love story going on, political stuff in general, Sun Woo’s story or on Park Hyung Sik’s role. I am perfectly aware of the fact that, usually, a story has several plots being connected to each other at some point. I liked nearly all the plots within this series and nearly all of the characters involved, but the plots are unbalanced. I would not go so far as to claim the first episodes not being important or to count them as dispensable fillers, because that is not what they are at all, but at some point, so many significant things happen one after another that all previous events become blurry. Besides, the characters are not given time to reflect on certain things properly, at some point stuff is thrown at you in raw form piece by piece; sometimes it did not make any sense to me. Instead of 20 episodes, the makers should have either made 15 or 30 episodes to avoid a very slow first half being followed by a very fast-paced second half. As it stands, the relationship between fast and slow is deeply unbalanced and harder to digest.

The thing that annoyed me the most is the main couple. It is hard to explain without posting spoilers, it really is. I did not feel it, maybe you will, I don’t know. They would have been off better as separated individuals and not as a couple because the developers wasted too much time on them instead moving on with things that I considered more important.

I liked the equivalences and symbolism. You will stumble upon analogous and opposite equivalences between human beings, humans and things, humans and forces of nature. To me, these things along with symbolism are important because you expand the meaning to create a huge substantial net without organizing a verbal orgy. The “meaning of something” is relevant to this drama. Two other things I liked are the writers’ ability to generate deep, emotional scenes and character development. Unfortunately, all of this has to face neglect soon; equivalences and relationships are created and then thrown overboard; adequate character development is avaliable in small amounts only. Ji Dwi and Ban Ryu’s progression were the only ones to be witnessed visibly.

I would divide this series into two parts, part A and part B. In part A you get to learn the characters, their relationship among each other and their motivations. In Part B things become… beyond good and evil, let’s put it that way. I really wish there would have been more interactions between all Hwarang in part A. I wanted them to talk to each other more; I wanted them to get to know each other better.

The acting was good. Park Hyung Sik and Do Ji Han’s acting skills impressed me the most. Park Hyung Sik’s facial expressions, his speech, his postures and movements are indeed that of a man of high importance, his face is made for this kind of dramas, and Do Ji Han’s emotions were frighteningly real. The others did well too, except for Go Ah Ra (and Park Seo Joon) in some scenes. I had the feeling that this is not her kind of drama, somehow.

Please do not assume I am here to simply bash her or her contribution to this drama, after all she is one of the main characters and I gladly “ship” her with one of the male leads. As I said before I liked nearly all of the characters, but they aren’t all perfect (putting the fact aside that we did not get to know them well enough). Ah Ro appears to be plain in some scenes, which is a shame. I haven’t watched another movie starring the actress so far, so I do not want to judge her acting skills as a whole. Ah Ro started out as an interesting and funny character, but in the further course I realized she was poorly written. Sun Woo is a rather irrational and static being, too one dimensional for too long, too much overkill towards the end. I think I do understand why they portrayed Sun Woo the way he is. I still think the developers gave him too much credit, even though Ji Dwi and some other boys deserved it as much, but the ending was legit, at least.

I am not sure whether the contemporary musical numbers were chosen on purpose to remind the viewers that “Hwarang” is still a drama and not a historical documentary or such, but I considered the music to be really off-putting sometimes. Sure, after five to six episodes you learn to ignore it/get used to it forcefully, but, eh, it should not be this way.

The last criterion here is “rewatch value”. To be honest with you: The possibility of me rewatching a series with more than five episodes or so is low. But if I were a person who likes rewatching things from time to time in general, I would probably watch this show again one day just to see the scenes that touched me the most/I liked a lot.

I was not satisfied by the final couple and the final scene, apart from that the outcome was appropriate. I had a difficult time while ruminating about a proper rating. First it was 8,5, then 6,5, finally I decided to rate it as 7/10. Episode 19 was a complete mess, and the final scene was screaming bruh, cliché right in my face, they rushed the ending and too many questions remain unanswered, although it is suggested that you will get the answers.* Nonetheless I liked many things about this show.

To sum up, “Hwarang” offers entertainment, some likeable characters; the plots within are interesting but things are solved poorly. This drama is neither extraordinary nor a must-watch (unless you want to get to see your favourite) and has obviously some major flaws. You can say the makers had reliable tools, but they didn’t know how to use them properly. Give it a try if you want to; after all you can still skip stuff or simply drop this drama if this isn’t your cup of tea. I hope this review is helpful!

*I like open ends, and usually I am fine with some things left unanswered AS LONG AS it has a function and is well presented.

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I thought Korea was going backwards while watching this movie

I was going to give it 0.5 stars, but cannot be given here. I'm actually a fan of one of the actors, and also a fan of ORV. But seriously? You've made the entire cast almost hateable because their acting is so stiff. Let's leave Lee Minho alone because he has had a long career here. But the rest? You gave the women unnecessary and disgusting aegyo. It would be terrible if this movie were to exist. I hope the production team is not that arrogant and does not let their biases and opinions appear in this film. You want to defeat Demon Slayer? Marvel? Or what? Very bad. Absolutely disgusting. Honestly, Marvel didn't give Captain America a magic glove like you did to Hyunsung. And bastard, Tanjiro doesn't use a gun when fighting. And is Jisoo too lazy to run? What's with that teleportation skill? You want to imitate Flash or what, damn director?

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Avoid… a complete disaster.

What a deception! I rarely rate a drama 1 but here we are…

Facts: Princess Agents (PA) incorporated supernatural elements. Rebirth featured fabricated events and storylines. PA was supposed to have a second season and not end on a bittersweet note. Rebirth was intended to be the sequel but became a completely different story from the novel and certainly not a logical follow-up to PA. Rebirth failed to satisfy in the romance department and concluded with a sad, unsatisfying ending that killed both FL and ML.

I never have preconceived notions before watching a drama. I was even excited. I didn’t care about the age gap but wondered how they would shoot the happy ending with a couple very much in love without physical interactions, but why not? I was open-minded; I’ve seen how prude Chinese directors can be and happy endings nonetheless. I never watch FL Tiantian on screen, and most of the others, except, of course, ML. I was curious—the same curiosity I had when Joy of Life S2 aired. Mostly because both stories are my favorite novels and dramas.

Well... that was a major slap in the face. This drama was a complete mess. It felt like the cast was just out of school, reciting lines without conviction or trying too hard. Rebirth’s first episode started with a cliff of corpses (uh?). My eyes rolled so much that I had to grab a bottle of XX (#sarcasm)

They completely missed the mark with the rebirth project—wrong casting, wrong scriptwriter, wrong director, wrong narrative. The PA audience expected logical continuity after the lake ending, with romance, a happy ending, and genuine chemistry between the leads. Instead, they cast a 17-year-old and a lead who is a decade older. She was praised for her knowledge and experience after being cast in PA… She was around 10 and shot only a few scenes as a young teen in PA, probably in just two days. What knowledge? What experience? Was she even allowed to read this novel, since there are references to sex encounters? Their choice wasn't based on her talent but rather her connection to Zhao Lying and PA. ML was hired for his popularity, and Yan Xun was cast based on his looks. There was absolutely zero chemistry between them.

Rebirth was announced as the sequel to Princess Agents. However, what they failed to mention was that all the unresolved questions—such as the supernatural spider-ice power, her origins, her difficult, complex love story with Zhuge Yue, Li Ce's unrequited love, and Yan Xun's complicated first and obsessive love—were entirely ignored. Rebirth took the story in a different direction, with no romance. The forty-episode run ended on a disappointing, sad note, with both ML and FL dead. I am not sure why they chose to kill the main leads… definitive closure for this TV drama? Trying to gain more tears from the audience to end it dramatically?

They fail. Big time. In every major aspect. Casting, script, directing.

I am undecided about the martial arts since some scenes looked like toddlers playing with sticks. Absolutely not convincing.

The only positive aspects are the beautiful visuals and some supporting cast members, although I'm not even sure since most actors and actresses are dubbed… (sidenote: I am so happy the elephant in the room is out in the open, and decades of lies are over, and the voice actors are now recognized and behind big famous names too).

Many fans believe there is a popularity rivalry between Princess Agents and Rebirth. They are mistaken. Comparison is inevitable. Princess Agents was not a huge success when it aired, mainly because the novel's author was dealing with plagiarism issues. However, the cast, script, director, and OST were outstanding. The story was engaging from episode 1. The only issue was the final episode, which, as we know, ended on a bittersweet note with no resolution. It was not meant to have a different ending because season 2 was supposed to follow. Unfortunately, Season 2 never aired for various reasons, and the fans expressed their frustration loudly.

I compare this drama to someone expecting a luxurious meal and getting a sandwich instead… not worth it to watch.

I encourage you to watch Princess Agents and read the novel. Both have different narratives, but both are very addictive. Rebirth? What rebirth? It is certainly not a Phoenix but ashes.

The director, Lu Hao Ji Ji, also helms The Double. He tends to favor sad endings, often resulting in the death of either the female lead or the male lead, or both. Keep his name in mind, as I will, before watching a drama. For those like me who prefer happy endings, I will definitely avoid any drama if he is involved.

Sidenote… On Douban (general rate 2.9), 91% of reviewers rated this drama 1 or 2 stars. They disliked or hated it. MDL rated it 7.5 up to mid-series then dropped to 6… with ratings on both platforms consistently declining each day.

Conclusion: a major failure.

***

Main Characters:

Novel:
All the events in PA and Rebirth are inspired by the novel, reflecting common practice. They borrow elements and adapt them for each celebrity cast in the dramas. What they notably failed to do in Rebirth was to show how emotionally broken Chu Qiao was when she left Yan Xun for good. She loved him as her first love, remained faithful and loyal, but after they escaped to Yanbei, he lost his humanity and turned his genuine love into possession. He also became jealous when she gained popularity and respect within his army (except among his close lieutenants, who had an agenda). The more he pushed her away with his actions and jealousy, the more he became a selfish tyrant. He was a broken man. He never recovered from her departure. He loved her, but his love was twisted.

Zhuge Yue fell for her because she was his favorite main servant. In the novel, he never taught her martial arts, but they later fell in love. When she left his house, she was about 9 or 10. She stayed confined with Yan Xun for 8 years, then they escaped to Yanbei. That age difference makes both dramas quite different, as Zhuge Yue waited 10 years before confessing his love. It took many years before she could finally admit she loved him.

Li Ce's love for her was never known to her while he was alive. She understood how much he protected her and loved her unconditionally only after his death. He definitely had many concubines, but he loved only two women in his life: one was dead, and Chu Qiao. He gave her everything, but he knew she didn't love him as a man, so he kept his love silent. When he was assassinated, she took over his empire and united it again. She saved his two children, fulfilling one of his last wishes and requests to her. I admit that I cried like a baby reading the chapters

Endings:

Novel: (very) happy
Princess Agent: bittersweet
Rebirth: sad

Novel:
Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue become the king and queen of a northern kingdom, likely Mongolia, although it’s never explicitly mentioned. Their kingdom has no slavery. They have two children and an adopted child from Li Ce. Li Ce's second child is raised to be the future emperor, with strong support from Chu Qiao. After the lake, when Chu Qiao thought he had died, he remained hidden for a couple of years. She remained almost alone for 2 years in the middle of nowhere, managing an inn. It is during this period that Chu Qiao went to the Li Ci Empire for a couple of years. They were separated many times. It takes some time before they live together, and they marry after they become a couple, meaning they had sex before marriage. Their sex life is very happy (lol), and Zhuge Yue never takes a concubine or another wife. The ending focuses on all their grown-up children. It leaves room for a new story, but it never gets concretized. So, indeed, a happy ending for them.

Yan Xun does not die and remains alone in his vast palace. He's an emperor. He married and has an empress he doesn't care about at all, and he also has hundreds of concubines, many of whom look very much like Chu Qiao physically (sleep with them once and discard them). He ends up lonely, filled with mixed feelings for his choices that drove Chu Qiao away, but he also understands that his desire for power, revenge, and jealousy took precedence. He never loved anyone else but her. His love was selfish and possessive. He placed her on a pedestal. In his eyes, no other woman could ever replace her. He remained a virgin a long time (maybe around 30?) until the day his spies told him that she was a real couple with Zhuge Yue. Then he took 2 high prostitutes into his bed, and the long list of concubines and mistresses started. They only ever shared one memorable, unique kiss—no sex. Some see it as obsessive, but I see it differently. I saw a man who lost his soul after the slaughter of his family, and only Chu Qiao was his anchor. His lieutenants, jealous of Chu Qiao, fed him lies, and his jealousy took over… pushing her away. She lived alone in Yanbei for 2 years, and when her own army was in trouble because of Yan Xun, she left and never returned. After that, he met her in person once, but it was brief—mostly just looking into each other's eyes. Both understood it would be the last time they'd see each other. When he realized she loved Zhuge Yue, he tried to kill her on the battlefield—not by himself—by sending groups. If she couldn't love him, nobody would. Of course, he failed. Yan Xun achieved his goal of becoming the emperor of Yanbei and killed thousands of enemies, until the last option to keep the Yanbei empire alive was to sign a peace treaty. Everyone feared him; nobody loved him. He was utterly alone, missing her and thinking of her.

Do not expect love declarations in the novel. This is NOT a romance. However, the three men fell madly in love with her. She was not mentally wired to understand their love. Extremely loyal. yes. Extremely committed, yes. Extremely fierce to protect, yes. For her, love had many faces.

***

The novel has under 300 chapters, and many full translations are available—some of okay quality, others less so. Dissatisfied with what I found, I decided to proofread and edit it myself, but it isn't complete yet. I am also working on other novels like Joy of Life, Word of Honor (BL), and other romances, as well as Xianxia. As a human editor, not relying on AI, I update slowly but consistently. *The link to my blog is in my profile* 😉

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How Creepy!

The second season of Utsukushii Kare is an exceptional drama that left a lasting impression on me. The series features the talented actors Hagiwara Riku and Yagi Yusei, who portray the characters Hira Kazunari and Kiyoi Sou with a great deal of nuance and complexity.

One of the standout aspects of the drama is its unique take on the power dynamic between the two main characters. Initially, their relationship appears to be one-sided, with Kiyoi holding all the power. However, as the series progresses, it becomes clear that there is much more to their dynamic than meets the eye.

The line "How creepy!" is so frequently used that I lost count. At first, it was so off-putting to me hearing Kiyoi "insult" Hira. However, as the series progresses, this line takes on a deeper meaning and becomes a symbol of the characters' growth and development. It is a testament to the strength of the writing and acting that a seemingly simple phrase can evoke such complex emotions.

The last episode of the series beautifully showcases the growth and maturity in the characters' love for each other. It is a touching moment that underscores the depth of their relationship and the series wrapped it up with a good, I really mean it, good scene. The subtle shift in expression from worship to pure desire is honestly such an iconic moment for me.

Overall, IMHO Utsukushii Kare Season 2 is a standout drama in the BL genre and one of the best in its history. The only downside is that this series is too short! But with exceptional performances from its lead actors, a unique power dynamic between its characters, and a beautiful story of love and growth, this series is sure to be one of the best BL series for a long, long time.

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A cliche love story about your pick me ex-idol next door & the ordinary boy she falls for.

***DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion, we don’t have to agree and I’m not here to argue with anyone. This review is kind of long so please bare with me.***

A/N: I went into this drama blind without reading the webtoon or having any preconceived ideas.

Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers, on and off / toxic relationship

General Overview:

I kind of liked this drama because it is really nostalgic and takes you back. The cinematography is beautiful and it seems like it was meant to be a documentary or memoir of sorts recounting Doona and Won Jun’s experiences and how they crossed paths and essentially changed the trajectory of each others lives forever.

An ordinary guy and a superstar girl – that’s a cliche if I’ve ever seen one. I found it kind of tricky getting into this drama because the first 2 episodes are slow and you’re not really sure what exactly is going on because theres not much context but as you keep on watching and bridge the gap between episodes 2 & 3 and really delve into episode 4 & 5 things start heating up and becoming more interesting. I like the relationship between Doona and Won Jun because it shows us what a new adult / young love is and how at times it can be messy especially when there’s a lot of miscommunication thrown into the mix.

Their love story is by no means perfect but it’s also realistic in the way that other people watching can definitely relate to it and look back on their own past relationships / first loves and be reminiscent of a similar time / experience in their lives. Even if you have never experienced something like there are a lot of important life lessons to be learned.

I honestly feel like this drama lacked depth and they could’ve done so much more to better capture the struggle between wanting to live a normal life with your love and choosing to chase/ follow your dreams and be an idol. The ending sucked big time but again, I had already predicted it would be a sad/open ending by episode 5.

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A More Detailed Review (spoilers ahead):

Doona opens with Doona submerging herself in a pool of water and seemingly sinking to the bottom of it and drowning… I believe this is a reflection of how she truly feels on the inside.

The drama follows Dream Sweet Doona, a kpop idol who has fallen from grace and has taken a hiatus from being an idol due to an on-stage accident in which she stated she could no longer sing. We see her smoking profusely in a lot of the shots... we're not sure what's going through her head. Doona appears forlorn and despondent, as if she is fighting to find her place in the world while being neglected by the individuals she most badly wants to hear from. The number one person is P (her agent), who does not respond to any of her texts or phone calls.

As the story progresses we see Doona meet Won Jun and a love/hate dynamic develops between them. She can’t believe Won Jun doesn’t know who she is and that he’s not a fan as she sees him sporting a sweet dream hoodie. Anyways a uncanny dynamic develops between them and Doona finds herself annoying him and asking him out to eat for the fun of it. Won Jun thinks she’s only teasing him and is not actually serious. They get into a spat one night as Won Jun says something that hurts her feelings and sends her over the edge.

From there they make up and you see them hanging out and Doona giving Won Jun advice on love as Won Jun still seems to have feelings for this girl (Jin Ju) from his past. It seems they were almost high school sweethearts and did like each other but in the end things did not work out. Now a year later, Jin Ju has re-entered his life and Won Jun wants to obviously be more just friends but they keep missing the timing. I think this is essential to the plot because Jin Ju is a symbol of the past… and past memories while Doona is a symbol of Won Jun’s present and future. Back then, Won Jun was weak timid and was not able to confess to the girl he liked and win her over. This past Won Jun seemingly no longer exists as he is intrigued by Doona. He enters unfamiliar territory when he is with her and so she seems enthralling and fun to hang around. Even though Jin Ju and Won Jun have all the history and memories, it shows you can only hold onto a person for so much and no more. This was demonstrated when Jin Ju finally starts showing interest in Won Jun and was able to confess her feelings, he had already mentally moved on and was now interested in pursuing Doona.

Insights:

Doona lacks emotional intelligence because she has never led a typical/normal life. She also has trouble controlling her emotions, which I believe is related to her lack of emotional awareness. As someone once said, you have to be good with yourself before you can be good for other people. I think Doona needs to take care of herself and prioritize her mental health. It was very saddening watching her go through these psychotic breaks and moments of weakness completely alone. If “being in a room of crowded people and still feeling alone” was a person, that would be Doona.

Given that Donna appeared to have been groomed from the age of 13 or 14 until her early 20s, my heart ached for her. Doona became codependent on her agent as he effectively made her into an idol. It's obvious that the agent did not view her as a real person, but rather as a product or item. He was a manipulative man who only valued her when she was complying with his wishes. Her agent was simply emotionally absent and only doing his job but Doona misinterpreted it for love and concern. In essence, he exploited her as a tool as Doona only piqued his interest when she brought in big bucks and advanced his career. The moment the flip switched in her head and she told him she could no longer handle the idol life he became very cold and distant. It just showed that his affection for her was conditional on her performing and acting a certain way.

It's clear that Doona is a complex individual who has led a very one-dimensional existence. She had a one-track mind because her life was always regimented and linear. Her walls and fences gradually started to come down when her celebrity faded and she had some alone time without others chasing her, revealing the shell of a girl who genuinely needed to repair her inner child. Her mom dropped her off and was too busy coning others out of their money, so only her grandmother took care of her. She did not regard Doona as her daughter or child, but rather as a paycheck. She seemed more liberated and at ease when she spent time with Won Jun. I feel like hanging out with Won Jun made Doona feel free and ordinary. In a way he came into her life as a blessing.

Likes:

I enjoyed the cinematography and the setting. It was a very cozy and fitting drama to watch in the fall!

I liked Se Jong’s performance as Won Jun. It was refreshing to see a very emotionally intelligent man grace the screen. He literally was such a green flag and gave off the impression of a man who was ready to open his heart to someone who didn't appear to deserve him. Se Jong portrayed his innocence and naivety to perfection. It was endearing, but it also demonstrates how males are capable of feeling emotions and having strong feelings for the person they love. I can understand why he was only able to see the best in Doona because love is blind and gives people rose-colored lenses.

The chemistry between Won Jun and Doona was off the charts, if that's what you were mainly watching for. Warning if you are currently single this drama will definitely make you feel even more so. I felt like a third wheel or like I was intruding when watching some of their scenes because it was a bit intense and caught me off guard.

I thought Ha Young’s portrayal of Jin Ju was endearing. Her character brought so much light even in darkness and was one of the best to come out of this drama. Ha Young is seriously so charming on screen and has one of the best smiles I’ve ever seen. Her story was so tragic and she smiled and pretended to be happy on the outside to conceal the fact that she was actually breaking inside. She has strict parents which I’m sure people on here can relate to however the emotional and physical abuse she faced daily was so uncalled for. I liked how Jin Ju handled it with grace and eventually left her home situation. I was lowkey rooting for her and Won Jun in the beginning because she seemed like the of ray of sunshine he needed in his life. To me their personalities seemed more compatible than Won Jun and Doona but they took too long to confess how they felt. Even though her and Won Jun did not work out I am glad they are still friends… and you never know they might have missed their timing now but they could always reconnect years from now.

I also enjoyed the performances of the supporting cast. I-Ra and Jung Hoon were cute and I am happy they got together in the end. The friendship dynamic between everyone was refreshing and I’m glad they still met up to hang out and drink together rather than the friendship being lost after everyone moved out of the building.

Dislikes:

I must admit that Suzy's performance was not the best and fell flat for me. I believe she could have put more effort into truly selling the role. She mostly just posed in the scenes and kept on smoking and sighing which got really repetitive. She seemed to be in unfamiliar territory and did not have a similar experience to channel when playing Doona (a pop star fallen from grace) This led me to believe that she had never really had a had first-hand experience with despair, mental health concerns, and depression / loneliness as an idol. This role was clearly daunting for her and it showed.

In the 3rd act conflict when Doona saw her ex (the agent) and dropped Won Jun’s hand not once but TWICE I was pissed. Like that was an immediate red flag! And then she legit got in the car with the ex and didn’t like that he wasn’t reassuring her and saying all the things she wanted to hear then she opened the door, threw herself out of the car and hurt her foot?! That was absolutely psychotic and batshit crazy. Then she wants to come crawling back to Won Jun and playing the victim?! LOL this was so toxic and messy but at the same time realistic portrayal of young (blind) love. But more seriously, in those moments I questioned if Doona actually had any care or sympathy for Won Jun or his feelings. She was saying one thing but her actions always consistently proved otherwise. I guess this is what people would call a contradictory character but to me it was apparent she needed to work on herself because her behavior was deplorable.

The miscommunication between the leads was absolutely unnecessary and they could have fixed their issues with a simple and honest conversation. When Won Jun asked her if she’s back bc her agent didn’t want her I was like damn! Get her again for me. Being the other person, who appears to be someone's fallback or backup plan in case they can't get the main person they're seeking, is a tragic situation. The exchange between Doona and Won Jun eloquently encapsulated how awful it is.

I was irritated by the agent's attempt to minimize Won Jun's significance. He pretended to be concerned about Doona's welfare, but his true motivation was to use her as a means of generating income for himself. He presents himself as superior to everyone else and shows pretends like he has no concern for those so-called "kids." Mind you he's in their business 25/8 and suggested they break up immediately. In my opinion, the agent acts like a whiny boy who gets upset when he doesn't get his way in a situation.

9 episodes seemed too short but also too long because if you think about it this drama could’ve easily just been a 2 hour movie lmao… there’s so much unnecessary dragging out of the plot.

As I reviewed my episode ratings, I realized that I only ever gave one episode an 8/10, while the others received ratings between 4/10 & 6/10. Tbh, this drama suffers from a severe lack of depth and overcompensates by focusing too much on ridiculous relationship drama. It does far more showing than actually telling. Then again, there is only so much they could fit into 9 episodes. Realistically speaking this drama only needed to be about 5 or 6 episodes long, after that it became tedious and started to drag on.

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Quotes I liked:

“𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨. 𝙎𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙊𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮.”

“𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩.”

“𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘.”

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Final Thoughts:

Overall this drama is the definition of a friends to lovers, toxic love story with miscommunication at the forefront. It’s comforting and nostalgic in the way that sometimes you just need a soft drama you can watch without focusing too much on a heavy plot.

Doona is champagne problems coded, a total disaster waiting to happen. I think a lot of people only like this drama for the “steamy” or “hot” kissing scenes, which feels like a very one-dimensional way of viewing it.

Chemistry alone is not enough to sell me on a drama or make me rate it highly. If that were the case, what would even be the point of watching and reviewing anything? Additionally, the ML also had chemistry with the SFL, but that often gets ignored because toxicity tends to be more “entertaining” for viewers.

Should you watch it? It depends on your taste. If you enjoy cliché, predictable, toxic romance dramas, you might like it. It feels similar to Nevertheless. It’s slow at the start and not everyone will stick around long enough for the relationship to develop. If you do watch it, brace yourself.

Would I rewatch it? Absolutely not. Once was enough. Most of the conflicts could’ve been solved with one honest conversation, but instead everything was dragged out unnecessarily to seem deeper than it actually was.

To me, people see stories like this in real life but often romanticize the toxicity and ignore how exhausting it is to constantly want to be chosen with the same intensity you give someone else.

What frustrated me most was that both characters had flaws, but Won Jun still tried to understand Doona and give her a chance. Meanwhile, she was emotionally unavailable, immature, and kept hurting him because what she actually needed was therapy, not a relationship. Even knowing it wouldn’t last, she still used him as a placeholder, which made her behavior difficult to watch.

Still, there are some lessons here. This drama can serve as a warning about getting attached to emotionally unavailable or toxic people. It’s easy to ignore red flags when you’re lonely or emotionally invested, but recognizing those patterns matters if you want to avoid repeating them.

Doona and Won Jun both lack secure attachment styles. She leans dismissive avoidant and he leans anxious. Combined with her abandonment issues and emotional instability, the relationship becomes draining to watch. Realistically, what they both needed was professional help.

On a brighter note, another takeaway is learning that not everything is meant to last. Sometimes people meet at the right time, not for forever, but for a chapter. And that’s okay.

I ultimately scored Doona a 6/10, as the drama sits firmly in the realm of mediocrity despite a few notable moments.

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Once again, this is just my opinion, you can watch it & see for yourself!

Thanks for reading and happy watching!

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

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"There's no way you can be lost if you don't set a destination"

Mr. Plankton told the story of three wounded people finding love and reconciliation down a messy, uneven path. Woo Do Hwan can make any role compelling and he had some heavy lifting to do in the early episodes of this drama, thankfully he’d been working out.

Hae Jo and Gi Ho run a boys for hire service, picking whatever jobs Hae Jo thinks will be fun. Hae Jo was emotionally abandoned as a child due to a mistake at an IVF facility and seems to have no love to give. The entrepreneurs take on a job of “kidnapping” a bride which goes south really quick and ends with Hae Jo discovering he has three months to live. He decides to search for his biological father to try and make some sense of his life and in the process kidnaps another bride for real. Soon he has the first bride’s villainous gangster groom after him as well as the second bride’s loving groom.

The first few episodes were difficult for me because I had real concerns about the lack of consent on Jae Mi’s part when Hae Jo kidnapped her. Despite having a past, it came across as problematic. Of course, eventually their shared loved and Woo Do Hwan’s gorgeous face and body convinced her to help him on his parental quest, but that doesn’t negate the kidnapping. Jae Mi’s fiancé, Heung, became hopelessly entangled in their lives. I actually liked Heung. While he had mommy issues due to an overbearing mother, he was a good man who genuinely loved Jae Mi and didn’t deserve to have a front row seat to Hae Jo and Jae Mi’s burgeoning love story. Gi Ho, who became embroiled with the gangsters searching for Hae Jo suffered greatly for his loyalty and friendship which went all but unacknowledged.

Now that I’ve stated the things that didn’t work for me, here’s what did. I’m a sucker for reconciliation stories and found families. Once everyone was mutually onboard the crazy train without a destination, the story worked better. Hae Jo discovered that his family was not the only one with problems. Heung began to develop enough confidence to defy his overbearing mother. Jae Mi came to understand that she had worth. And all three would have their eyes opened to the love all around them.

Woo Do Hwan’s performance was mesmerizing even when Hae Jo behaved liked a self-centered jerk. He has a way of making any character sympathetic and did the same here which was a momentous task as Hae Jo spent much of his time hurting others. Oh Jung Se had the difficult job of making a middle-aged man who could not stand up to his mother likeable. Heung was such a compassionate character that he could set aside his own feelings and respect Jae Mi’s choices. The character that downgraded this drama for me was Jae Mi. I found the writing for her and the acting grating. Jae Mi spent much of her time yelling or acting childlike which caused me to hit the mute button numerous times per episode. All three characters were complicated and flawed, having been wounded by their parents. All three were on a journey towards love, growth, and forgiveness. Though much of the growth was understandable, there was some that felt unearned.

Mr. Plankton was an uneven drama with moments of humor, sorrow, and love driven by Woo Do Hwan’s compelling performance. The specter of Death lingered in the shadows from beginning to end. Hae Jo’s vision of what was important cleared as his final days approached. Family isn’t always what we’re born into, sometimes it’s what we make it.

“Never set a destination. Just let your instincts take the lead for you. That way you’ll never lose your path.”

11 November 2024

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A "romantic comedy" with barely any romance or comedy. The business aspect of the drama takes up about 90% of the plot. There was no romance plot development till the very last minute of the last episode. Absolutely frustrating. Most of the characters are extremely unlikable. The second half of the drama gets very convoluted and dumb and by the 15th episode I was very angry and didn't even want to watch the last episode. I only gave this drama a chance because of Siwon and Kang Sora, and if you're in the same boat and thinking of starting this drama because of them, save your time and don't watch this.

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I don’t understand, why all the hype with this drama?? The only reason I watched it, was because I’ve read all these highly rated reviews.,
The main female character was ANNOYING and she’s such an airhead.. Her, running after the guy who hardly looks at her, was humiliating to watch and frustrating.. How can you think that’s cute?? It’s like she had no self respect or dignity..
The poor swimmer friend, he was great and sweet and completely loveable, unlike the lead male!
I honestly fast forwarded through most of the episodes because I got too annoyed to watch it.
The only characters who I thought were great, were both in support roles, her best friend and the swimmer.
Girls just a heads up, it’s NOT cute running after a guy who doesn’t even look at you!

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A Dream Within a Dream: Not Confusing—Just Smarter Than Average

Some viewers struggle with A Dream Within a Dream because it doesn’t follow the usual formula. But that’s not a flaw, it’s intentional. This drama asks you to engage with nuance, not just react to surface-level tropes. A Dream Within a Dream isn’t trying to fit into a neat box. If you go in expecting a straightforward love story, you’ll be confused. But if you’re open to something layered, emotionally complex, and structurally bold, you’ll find a drama that rewards attention and rewatching.

💫 Let’s Talk About the Heroine

Too many viewers get stuck feeling sorry for Nan Heng and overlook the true emotional core of the story, Song Yi Meng. She’s one of the most realistically strong females leads in Chinese drama, not because she’s cunning or hyper-competent, but because she’s deeply human. She’s smart, but not infallible. kind, but not self-sacrificing. Her strength lies in how she adapts, how she processes each new revelation, and how she makes decisions that balance survival with integrity.

From the start, Song Yi Meng is shown only the side of Nan Heng that reinforces her fear and distrust. She doesn’t get the luxury of seeing his inner turmoil the way the audience does. What she sees is threat, manipulation, and the looming shadow of a fate she’s trying to escape. And yet, she never sells out her family, friends, or even Nan Heng to protect herself. She navigates a world designed to test her, and still chooses compassion over cruelty, discernment over desperation, and love over fear.

🎭Exceptional Acting That Elevates Every Scene

Liu Yu Ning

Liu Yu Ning’s performance is powerful; he begins as a divine threat and gradually unravels into someone heartbreakingly human. His micro expressions are razor-sharp, a flicker of pain, a restrained smile, a glance that carries centuries of grief. He doesn’t overplay emotion, he lets it simmer beneath the surface, and that restraint makes every breakdown hit harder.

In action scenes, he’s magnetic. His physicality is fluid and commanding, never stiff or ornamental. Whether he’s wielding a sword or simply standing still, he looks like someone who belongs in a myth. And when he speaks? Every line is delivered with intention. He doesn’t just recite, he inhabits. His voice carries weight, his pauses are deliberate, and his emotional control makes even the quietest scenes feel charged.

Li Yi Tong

Li Yi Tong portrayal of Song Yi Meng is exceptional. The character is unpredictable, emotionally layered, and sharply funny. She had the difficult task of playing two versions of herself, one who naively falls for Nan Heng without knowing the full consequences, and another who is self-aware, burdened by knowledge of the original script, such as what happens to her, her family, and the cost of loving him. As her real feelings for Nan Heng deepen, she’s caught between foreknowledge and vulnerability, and Li Yi Tong navigates that tension with remarkable finesse.

What makes her performance even more compelling is her comedic timing. She brings a brand of humor that feels distinctly 80's 90's Hong Kong, quick, clever, and emotionally agile. Humor is notoriously hard to play, especially in a drama this emotionally charged, but she nails it. Her tonal shifts, her misdirection, her ability to pivot from satire to sincerity in a single breath, they’re masterful.

💞 A Love Story That Feels Earned

One of the most refreshing aspects of A Dream Within a Dream is how it builds its central romance, not through forced tropes or exaggerated tension, but through quiet, intentional intimacy. The love story between Nan Heng and the Song Yi Meng unfolds organically, shaped by trust, vulnerability, and emotional growth. It’s not rushed. It’s not manufactured. It’s earned.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s not the kind that screams physical attraction every time they share a scene. Instead, it’s the kind of closeness that feels like two best friends slowly realizing they’ve become each other’s home. There’s a tenderness to their connection, a shared language of glances, silences, and emotional weight that makes every moment between them feel grounded and real.

And when the Song Yi Meng finally chooses to love Nan Heng, it’s a quiet resolution. Her trust in him is unwavering. No back-and-forth mistrust, no last-minute misunderstandings just to stretch the plot. Their connection doesn't lean on dramatic declarations or surface level chemistry, it grows from shared pain, mutual respect, and the quiet realization that, despite everything, they choose each other. Theirs is a relationship that feels lived-in, like two people who’ve been through the worst and still find comfort in each other. It’s subtle, satisfying, and deeply human, the kind of storytelling that respects both the characters and the audience.

🧠 Writing That Asks You to Think

Some viewers say the writing lacks emotional logic, but that’s only true if you’re expecting conventional payoffs. A Dream Within a Dream isn’t built for easy consumption. It’s a drama that questions its own structure, and in doing so, asks the audience to think more deeply about character, consequence, and emotional truth.

The dialogue is masterfully constructed. Every scene unfolds with intention, layering emotional tension, character insight, and thematic callbacks in ways that feel organic. You don’t just follow the plot, you start caring about every character, even the ones with limited screen time.

And the humor? It’s woven seamlessly into dramatic situations, never feeling out of place or forced. It’s clever, culturally resonant, and often used to highlight emotional absurdity rather than undercut it. Near the end, the writing revisit earlier themes, especially the concept of scene reset, with such precision that it brings the entire narrative full circle. It’s not just a callback; it’s a culmination. The story doesn’t just end, it resolves, emotionally and structurally, in a way that rewards viewers who’ve been paying attention.

🎬 A Finale That Actually Delivers

Unlike many dramas that leave secondary characters dangling in ambiguity, A Dream Within a Dream gives every major character a proper send-off. We see where they end up, what choices they make, and whether they find peace. It’s rare to get that kind of narrative closure, and ADWAD does it with elegance and intention.

🎶 Sound That Speaks

One of the most underrated strengths of A Dream Within a Dream is its music. The soundtrack isn’t just beautiful, it’s narratively precise. Every lyric is paired with its scene like it was written for that exact emotional beat. Whether it’s heartbreak, revelation, or quiet defiance, the music amplifies the moment without overwhelming it. It’s rare to see a drama where the OST feels like part of the script, but here, it absolutely does.

🔁 Rewatch Value That Keeps Giving

This is a show that rewards multiple viewings. On your first watch, you’re caught in the emotional whirlwind. On your second, you start noticing the patterns. By the third, you begin to understand each character’s position in the loop, what they know, what they fear, what they’re trying to change. Every rewatch offers a new perspective, a deeper understanding, and a fresh emotional angle. It’s storytelling that evolves with you.

📚 Let’s Talk Comparisons

So many reviewers on this site throw shade at and rate down A Dream Within a Dream, while praising The Prisoner of Beauty with a kind of disingenuous enthusiasm.

Let's be clear, there is obviously a bias at play, one that colors their entire viewing experience. They watch ADWAD through a lens of skepticism, picking apart characters and storylines that are simply too complex for them to understand or appreciate.

TPOB is fine. It’s an average romance story with familiar emotional beats. But it doesn’t take risks. It doesn’t challenge genre. It doesn’t ask you to think about storytelling itself. A Dream Within a Dream does all of that and more. If you rate TPOB higher, that’s a matter of taste. But let’s not pretend it’s because the writing is stronger. ADWAD is simply operating on a different level.

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extremely adorable and sweet - green flag guys

Overall: this is an exemplar of a romance series. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4626/monster-next-door-2024-e01 and WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/album/y1ocjz3bjta0prm

Content Warnings: past death, grief, manipulation

What I Liked
- their dynamic was lovely, very considerate of each other
- mutual want and ongoing physical affection
- sweet and caring moments
- respecting boundaries
- good consent
- supportive friends
- supportive mom/grandfather
- characters were fairly intelligent
- funny moments
- the short flashback in ep 2 set up a character's reluctance well
- Almond & Latte cameo from Knock Knock Boys
- how Diew looked at the book Monster Next Door in the library
- good calling out infantilizing a romantic partner
- the drama between the leads was realistic, they both made mistakes
- talked about how introvert/extrovert are not fixed traits, it depends on who you are with/the situation you are in and can be flexible

Room For Improvement
- bad voice over to set up a character
- plot felt a little drawn out in some places
- nonsense stuff: I'm sure those working in the library would notice students doing that and put a stop to it (and then the explanation in ep 12 was cringey), a university class with 3 students
- some choppiness
- continuity errors, complete daytime and then night in what was happening at the same time, messy hair to perfect hair
- not a turtle expert but that cage looked pretty small for that turtle
- a 3rd side couple was teased but we didn't see their relationship development
- the 'did you get your period' line
- 17 minutes of moping in episode 11
- too much drama in episode 12 should have cut it to just 1 issue, the mom having the epiphany from the random mom/daughter when it could have come from talking to grandpa/Diew
- time jump in the finale was not needed and felt they could have had a better ending scene for the 2nd couple

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