Reviews

Wang He Di and Chen Yu Qi the best couple in this drama !

I started watching this drama because of the lead actor Dylan Wang, whose films I've been watching recently. And it turned out that this drama is one of the best I've watched in recent times, despite the many cuts they had to make due to censorship!
Nice plot, although the beginning and the first episodes in the palace are too long ... it's good that then they moved the main characters outside the city and they could continue the development of the relationship.
The main couple is incredibly cute! They both had very good chemistry, it was felt as their love developed. Dylan Wang as Xiao Duo, at the beginning as stiff, unavailable, but with humorous moments, gradually under the influence of Bu Yin Lou, he turns into a sweet, in love man who wants to protect his beloved with all his might. He can joke, flirt and those beautiful scenes when he stares at his beloved BYL with his beautiful unusual eyes, something fantastic, I love this couple! I really regret that the censorship cut out so many nice, romantic scenes with them! And there was so much positive emotional charge in these scenes!
Chen Yu Qi also played very well, she was intelligent, clever and cheerful. Her relationship with the lead lead was fantastic. They supported each other. I didn't know this actress before, but I really liked her. I hope they will play together in another drama someday.
The secondary characters also did very well. Fans that the plot also had a lot of funny elements, it did the whole drama well.
I lost the most nerves because of the character of Murong Gao Gong, the one who was initially undervalued, unsuccessful and fixated on memories of a girl who once helped him in his childhood, a prince, and then a cynical, psychopathic emperor fixated on an imaginary unrequited feeling for his childhood savior WAS. Ruthless if anyone opposed him. Peter Ho played it so well I wanted to strangle him. It's a pity that he took revenge on the main characters until the very end.
I didn't like that the solution was rushed and in the last episode. Fortunately, it worked out well for the main leads. But there are no scenes between the two main leads after they split up and the final scene ends with the main leads running out of town, but it's unclear if they ran out or not because the episode ends here. I know there was a scene of the main leads out of town on a hill in a beautiful romantic setting, and I don't know why they cut it. This scene would have ended the whole thing beautifully. So I am sorry about that. I recommend it for shaving.

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My Mini Back-story:

Jung Woo-Sung is a must-watch actor. His versatile performances are hard to come by these days.

So if the storyline seems intriguing AND I get a chance to watch him deliver, I'll take that as a nod to dive into the fresh pool. Jung Woo-Sung always has something special to offer to his audience/fans.

Storyline:

Padam Padam has to be one of the most original scripts up-to-date (at least from all the Korean dramas that I've watched thus far). I love how the series does not look down on its' viewers. In other words, the plot doesn't go around in a continuous loop. Most, if not everything, gets resolved and there's no hiding/bickering between characters for too long. Hence, it doesn't make the viewers angry. The main character is very straightforward/honest, so perhaps that explains why the plot doesn't stall also.

The pacing of Padam Padam was just a tiny bit slow for me. However, I don't know exactly what they could have left out, since I believe most of it was necessary. Perhaps, it's just me who finds it a tad slow paced for my taste (especially near the end).

So what does this series have to offer?

a) Pathos driven. It will pull at your heartstrings whether you like it or not. I didn't cry, but I know people who did.

b) Sense of humor/comedy. The comedy nicely contrasts with the emotional/seriousness. There's quite a lot and it's incorporated together really well. It doesn't feel forced. I actually even laughed out loud at some parts (especially the bantering between Gook Soo and Kang Chil).

c) Family Relationships. There are a lot of heart-tugging/tender relationships (especially b/w a father and son, and son and mother).

d) Friendship. I absolutely loved the bromance between Kang Chil and Gook Soo. Those two are my favorite 'pairing' from this drama.

e) Very Romantic. Our two leading stars are not afraid to express their emotions on-screen. They looked sublimely natural together. Love the small/big romantic gestures. It doesn't feel cheesy either.

f) Strong dialogues/writing. This obviously enhances the series' quality.

g) Originality. Like, I've mentioned above.

h) Unpredictable. It's actually quite unpredictable, since there's an element of fantasy involved.

j) Fantasy. There's a touch of supernatural which I was hesitant at first, but it worked nicely. I wish they would have delved more into the 'chicken mutant'.

i) Crime drama. Not your typical gangsters. Phewww!

k) Realistic. One of the most realistic Korean dramas out there, despite it being marketed as a melodrama. The poor characters actually wear the same clothes multiple times. No characters are super 'evil'. Many themes (hope, will, and miracle) relate to our modern society/life. Even the locations and reactions from the characters are realistic. In fact, realism is probably the series' strongest point (aside from the great casts).

Each episode doesn't feel like a separate episode. It rather feels like a whole storybook told from the POV of the protagonist, Yang Kang Chil. And thankfully, he's a well-rounded/flawed character.

Acting/Characters:

I enjoyed most of the characters. I wasn't on the edge of my seat rooting for them, but I am glad that I went on such a wonderful/heart-warming experience with them.

My favorite characters are: Kang Chil, Gook Soo, Mi Ja (Kang Chil's mother) and Min Hyo-sook.

You grow to love these characters as you understand their motives/reverse-psychology tactics. Their reactions are very realistic and each character has distinct qualities which makes them unique. I despise when characters are just written to support the main characters’ existence. Padam Padam is definitely not one of those cases.

Without a doubt, Kang Chil’s character stood out the most. He’s such a heart-warming character. He has lots of flaws, thus many ranges of emotions. Probably every emotion that exists can be seen in his character. The reason why Kang Chil is such an expressive character is largely thanks to Jung Woo-Sung. His face contortions and smiles don’t require words to back up his character’s (Kang Chil) unique thoughts. I can’t remember the last time I saw a character with such huge range of complex emotion. Jung Woo-Sung has never failed to amaze me (perhaps in Athena, but that wasn’t the actors’ faults). He really understands his character well and it shows A LOT.

Gook Soo is also an amazing character (too bad Kang Chil is hard to beat). I love his innocence / contemplation of what is a miracle or not. He’s like the archetype of Kang Chil. In a way, they both bring out the best in each other and it is indeed rare to come across such a strong bromance. They truly stick to each other through thick and thin. Kim Bum has improved A LOT from the last time I saw him in Boys Over Flowers. When I first saw him in BOF, I never thought of him as manly, but he has definitely changed my mind. He’s also a very versatile actor. I can’t wait to see him in another project that will do him justice like this one. He’s a young actor that should be used to the fullest potential (like Kim Soo Hyun).

Mi Ja is the epitome of a caring mother. She often uses reverse psychology because she doesn’t want to show her weakness. And I love how she’s so brave / strong even though she’s a single mother. Definitely love the relationship b/w her and Kang Chil. It’s also rare to see a bonding mother-son relationship in K-dramas. The closest one that I’ve come across is Will it Snow on Christmas?

I don’t know why, but I just love Hyo-Sook’s presence. I admit that I wasn’t too fond of their countryside accents at first (shallow me!), but I grew to like hers. Her conversations with Gook Soo were also tender / cute. She really brightens the mood whenever she appears, which is nice for a change.

On a side note, since Ha Ji Min plays a huge role as well, why not talk about her? I personally thought her character, Ji Na, felt unoriginal for me. She's your typical Korean drama girl. I was hoping for a more in-depth characterization b/w her and her father. It wasn't a huge deal in the end though.

Nonetheless, Ha Ji Min played her character beautifully. If a less experienced actress played her role, I think it would have been hard to watch, since Ji Na isn’t a very interesting character to start. The thing that stood out for me the most is how Ji Min reciprocates Woo-Sung’s actions/love. They felt so natural together that it was hard not to believe that they aren't more than just friends in real life. Ji Min and Woo-Sung are probably one of the best/most natural on-screen couples I’ve seen. I’ve already mentioned in my review of The Princess’s Man how I like it how couples give the same amount of effort in the relationship (HATE when the man does everything). And they did just that, or they even went beyond it! One look/one touch, sparks were flying all over the place.

Music:

Originally, the songs didn’t peak my interest, but as the drama and its’ characters pulled me in, I started to take notice.

My two favorite songs are “You’re a Fool” by Brown Eyed Girls (JeA) and “In Order to Live” by Noel.

“You’re a Fool” matches so well with Ji Na’s perspective. The melody pulls at my heartstrings.

On the other hand, “In Order to Live” fits the mood and it makes me palpitate whenever it comes at the end of the episodes.

These two songs make you feel like you’re living a part of these characters’ lives.

The other songs were nice, but they didn’t stand out.

Bonus:

It took me awhile to get into the way it was filmed. First of all, it was shot like an actual film.

The backgrounds/scenes look rather gloomy for my taste. Though, it gave it darker/grittier atmosphere which complemented the tone of the drama. Hence, I slowly came to appreciate the cinematography. It added realism to the storyline.

Did I mention that Woo-Sung and Ji Min look beautiful here? Honestly, beautiful, beautiful couple! Not just in the looks department, but the way they cared for each other.

Love the addition of Tengie!! I'm an animal lover, so maybe that's why.

Overall:

Loved it! Padam Padam is a well-rounded drama if you’re looking for a melodrama that’s realistic (does that make sense?). Not only is it realistic, but the characters are thoroughly fleshed out (with a few minor missing). I loved the concept and the twist of fantasy.

If you’re a sensitive person, you might want to carry a box of Kleenex with you while watching this. Padam Padam excels at bringing one moment of sadness followed by a moment of happiness. The mood transition happens quite quickly, but it’s plausible (can’t really explain it until you’ve seen it). My mom actually cried while laughing at some point (no, she’s not crazy).

It’s quite uplifting and inspirational too. So if you’re looking for a change/originality in K-dramas, be sure to give this a chance. You won’t regret it.

It's not the type of drama that I would watch over right away, since some parts were kind of slow (for me at least).


Overall rating for review: 9.5/10

Purely for entertainment: 9/10 (Why not 10 instead? Padam Padam is a spectacular drama, but I did not obsess over it)

My Dramalist rating (avg): 9.25/10

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Careful diving into this drama, you might hurt yourself from its shallowness.

Started with a promising premise. All humans, regardless of how famous, smart, or well-off, need love and healthy relationships. Instead of seeing true growth from our leads, we get an ill-advised relationship that was doomed to fail because the deep-rooted issues were never addressed.
Filmed with soft tones and moody vibes, you couldn't escape the shallow interactions and conversations between most of the characters, especially the FL and ML. Doona's persona (looks and vibes) appeared cartoonish, with just enough emotion and doe-eyed stares to take you along for the ride. She insists on wearing crop tops because, you know, when you abandon the K-pop industry, you want to be sure you still look the part and don't get me started on the creepy groomer vibes from the person she's obsessed with.
She meets a seemingly well-grounded, sincere guy who really wants to be her friend and help. Unfortunately, the way it's written, his mind's intellect, and his heart's good nature were no match for the urges in his pants. She needed therapy, not a boyfriend. We get the ending we did because it actually makes sense!

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From the moment I finished the novel last year to when Pursuit of Jade finished airing, it has been a long wait.. This has been one of my most anticipated dramas of 2026.. Well, did it live up to my expectations?? It’s sort of muddy waters.. Because I loved the drama, even though it wasn’t exactly what I pictured.. I just felt it could have been more.. The Lin’an arc like most people said, was the best part of the drama.. They took their time developing the relationship and the romance, building the characters.. It was all done very well.. But once the story moved out of the town, it all just got messy.. Not because the script was poor, but because of the storytelling.. It wasn’t nearly as gripping as the novel.. Still, it was a pure delight to watch the main leads and their journey on screen..

Need to mention this.. Honestly, they did Zhang Ling He’s character pretty dirty once he went back to being the Marquis of Wu’an.. All he really had were some witty BGM moments and slow mo scenes but nothing with real weight or charisma to match the reputation of a ruthless marquis.. Not to mention the lack of screen time.. They should have utilized him more and given him scenes that showed the Marquis in his full glory.. And the war?? The battle scenes were very poorly done.. Not one noteworthy fight.. Add the bad CGI to that.. It was disappointing.. Even so, ZLH still did an outstanding job..

Tian Xi Wei.. She was really, really good as Fan Changyu.. Her character development from a common woman to a General felt rushed, but it wasn’t bad.. I think she got better action scenes than ZLH.. And her attires were really beautiful.. She gave a brilliant performance, the camera really loves her..

The rest of the cast are incredibly phenomenal.. Special shoutout to Deng Kai and Snow Kong.. I really didn’t expect them to be this good.. Especially Deng Kai, he was terrific.. The others were solid too.. They are another big reason why the drama worked so well.. When you have a good story to tell, it helps when the people telling it are all doing it well..

Okay, the romance.. I gotta say, it was something else.. The chemistry and intensity between the main leads were just amazing.. If you have watched it, you would know.. There was that sense of yearning right from the beginning, then the sexual tension building up.. And the intimate scenes in the last phase of the drama?? Intense, really intense.. I am just a bit disappointed that the “I can’t do it anymore” scene didn’t make it to the final cut.. If you have seen the leaks, you will know what I am talking about..

Slightly off topic, but I have seen quite a lot of edits of Sui Yuan Qing, romanticizing his character.. He is the same person who slaughtered an entire town and let his men rape those women, serious psychopathic issues.. And people are making edits for him.. Like, how?? why??

The cinematography was okay.. I mean the overreliance on CGI/AI kind of ruined it.. I don’t know.. The visuals should have been better.. The music was good.. It sort of fit the tone of the drama and elevated a lot of scenes..

Now, the middle phase of longer shows are usually boring.. Because the writers have to tie everything together to set up the final phase and sometimes they rush through it.. Here though, they managed to minimize the damage.. The pace never feels draggy or cramped.. My mind did wander at times but not enough for me to call it boring..

The last phase, storytelling wise, was good.. It was set up for an epic conclusion.. But nothing really happened.. We didn’t get a war or a proper battle, not even one good action sequence.. Everything got resolved so quickly.. Why?? Why couldn’t you give us an epic conclusion?? You had the cast and the story right there..

Overall, despite all its flaws this is a 9 for me.. Because it just worked where it mattered.. I loved the romance and the chemistry.. Also the yearning, the evolving relationships.. Loved the main leads. The Lin’an arc was just bliss to watch.. The drama didn’t fail in any way, it just could have been more.. I had a great time.. I was happy..

P.S. Read the novel.. It’s the best way to enjoy the story..

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The idea is better than the execution

This series is a hot mess, to be honest. I was looking forward to it for a while before it aired. I like the cast in other things and I really was excited to see a bit more frankness and reflection on the toxic aspects of the BL industry. I have been watching BL dramas intermittently for years and I really hate the romanticisation of assault and rape as well as toxic fan behaviour in response to fan service. I so wanted this to be an intelligent exploration of the importance of respecting boundaries and consent both on- and off-screen and how taking fan service seriously can really objectify the actors in a way that hurts. This series sort of gets a third of the way there I think.

The plot is a bit messy and fragmented at times. The focus is generally on the lead couple and their relationship. However, their relationship evolves at an odd pace. Nubsib being in love from the beginning was kind of annoying to me, I prefer a bit more evolution personally. Although the first scene with them both is genuinely well-performed. Gene seemed to be attracted but unsure and that never fully went away or evolved into something more secure. Consent was really well-explored with them and a constant communication in their relationship which is rare in BL and I really did like. But, to be very frank, there was often little else to their relationship. There was mutual attraction and respect, but minimal evolution and growth. Although the child actors performances were genuinely excellent, the history of the characters and their shared childhood is an overused trope and was executed poorly, in a very ‘info dump’ kind of way.

The acting was inconsistent and I think some of that is about the script itself. The script had minimal meaningful dialogue and the character development is poor. There were several times where Nubsib is asking Gene to listen to him and then proceeds to say nothing. It’s stupid and impossible to act properly. The dialogue was not character-driven and was often more about saying something about the industry which made it feel fake and preachy, rather than raw and relevant/human.

The villain of the story should have been the industry with toxic production staff being controlling and manipulative for money and fans crossing the line over and over, hurting their faves in the process. We do have some of that, particularly towards the end. However, there is also Aoey, who is clearly unwell and is extremely toxic. His character is necessary, his characterisation is not. It feels like cowardice to create a villain out of him because it means fans can see his character and call him the villain, rather than see the villainy of the fans in the series and reflect on themselves and their fandoms. There are too many villains. It dilutes the message of the toxicity in the industry and is a much weaker plot device that is overused throughout the story and makes it unnecessarily melodramatic.

The sound design and soundtrack was often irritating and distracting. There are times when sound effects and music are not only unnecessary but also damaging to the scene. If it adds nothing to the tone or mood, or if it distracts from the tone or mood intended, don’t use it. Loads of post-production sound and music does not make a bad story, script or scene better, it can only do that to a good scene, it can always make it worse.

This series really is variable. The final episode is really good. But a lot of it is unnecessary, draggy or distracting.

If you watch BLs it is definitely worth a watch, there are enjoyable parts and it is somewhat educational. You might skip or speed through parts, to be honest, but I still think it has some valuable stuff to say, even if it could have been said better from a storytelling point-of-view. However, if you don’t I think you could safely give this a miss.

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Glorifies dysfunction, abuse, and harassment.

This was the most dysfunctional, twisted, depressing “romance” that I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching. I should have dropped it but I kept holding out hope that it would improve. It didn’t.

I know I’m in the vast minority but I honestly don’t care. The more I watched this, the more depressed and angry I became. Not a single couple in here had true love. Every single one is going to continue in their dysfunction. The “happy endings” are an illusion. None of those couples are going to stay happy or stay together. It’s impossible given their immense character flaws.

Characters should have flaws, and they can even have horrible ones, but they should improve over the course of the story and none of these characters did. They were all either abusive or abused and fully intended to stay that way. Not one of them knew how to respect the other’s wishes or accept “no” for an answer.

CHARACTERS

Eun Chan
She was immature and selfish. Yes, she worked hard, but she also quit the moment it got emotionally difficult. She got angry over the stupidest “offenses,” and demanded respect that she hadn’t earned. She had no thought for how she made the people around her feel. That’s not carefree - it’s thoughtless and disrespectful.

Childish and child-like are not the same thing. Childish is thinking and behaving like a child. It’s not something an adult should do. She had no filter. That’s childish. She threw tantrums and couldn’t control her emotions. That’s childish. Those are not admirable qualities in an adult. Her perpetual optimism, her innocence, and her ability to take joy from the small things in life - that’s childlike and those are good qualities.

I was fine with gender bending at first but she took it way too far for entirely selfish reasons, but at least the show acknowledged that. I give it points for that. What she did was not okay. But I won’t harp on this since it’s the one thing they got right in the show.

Then she was happy that Han Gyul gave up his dream for her but she was unwilling to return the favor. This sort of reverse sexism is not okay either. There’s absolutely no reason she couldn’t study and become a barista while also getting married. There’s nothing bad about relying on someone else, especially in today’s economy. No, she shouldn’t become a princess and sit back and let him do and pay for everything, but she doesn’t have to be completely independent either. She only wanted to be independent for herself, for her own selfish reasons. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to be a burden to him, it was because she wanted the security of being self-sufficient. She didn’t want to feel scared or guilty again like she did after her father died. Being independent for those reasons wouldn’t be bad except that she did it with no regard for Han Gyul’s feelings.

Her complete cluelessness about sexuality and the sexual desires of men is, unfortunately, a common theme in Asian dramas. Are Asian women really that clueless? Do they really have no idea what they’re doing to men when they refuse a man’s advances so vehemently? Do they really feel no sexual desire themselves? I can’t believe that’s true and I really hate that women are depicted that way in nearly every drama. I can forgive it in the historical dramas but not the modern ones.

Han Gyul
He was abusive - physically and verbally. Only fourth-graders tease and belittle their crushes. Emotionally mature adults don’t. It’s completely inexcusable that he verbally abused her in front of other employees and customers. Not only was it disrespectful toward her, it was a poor example for his employees, and thoughtless toward the customers and how it might make them feel hearing that.

It’s commendable that he was willing to love Eun Chan despite the fact that he thought she was a guy, but if he’s not genuinely gay, then that probably would have lasted only until the clothes came off. Sexuality isn’t something you change just because you decide to. Making it seem like he could is belittling to homosexuals who genuinely struggle with being unable to change their sexuality even if they want to.

That he kept hitting on a girl who was a) taken, and b) had sort of made her feelings clear, was not okay. It was another instance of a character not taking “no” for an answer.

I give him props for not giving into his grandmother’s unreasonable demand that he break up with Eun Chan. I also like that he didn’t act like a typical rich brat-prince. He didn’t understand the value of money to those who don’t have it, but he also didn’t flaunt his wealth or act like poor people were lesser beings. He was clueless about the personal lives of his employees but this is a flaw that he did seem to correct over time. He worked hard at the cafe and didn’t sit back doing nothing just because he was the rich owner.

He probably grew more than any other character in the show.

Yoo Joo
Ugh, what a hot mess. She couldn’t decide wtf she wanted. She walked in the gray with Han Gyul, knowingly toying with both Han Gyul’s and Han Sung’s feelings, and unwittingly with Eun Chan’s. She had left Han Sung for DK, then left DK for Han Sung, but stayed friends with DK despite the obvious insecurity this caused Han Sung. She did only what she wanted with no regard for others’ feelings whatsoever.

She was materialistic and admittedly selfish. She was also childish and annoying. But, she was kind to Eun Chan most of the time, even after Han Sung “cheated” on her with Eun Chan, which was admirable.

But, she stayed confused throughout the entire series. When it seemed she’d figured herself out and proposed to Han Sung, then she started resenting the restrictions of the relationship and the pregnancy, and went on an all-night binge with her friends, again, with no regard for Han Sung’s feelings or the welfare of her unborn child. She made no progress as a character whatsoever.

Han Sung
He was as much a hot mess as his girlfriend and only changed because he was forced to. He didn’t really get over Eun Chan. She rejected him. Threatened with losing Yoo Joo on the heels of losing Eun Chan was too much for him. It wasn’t that he loved Yoo Joo that much, but more than he just couldn’t handle being alone. He couldn’t fully accept Yoo Joo as she was, but couldn’t live without her. That’s not love. That’s codependence.

Min Yeop
He was a doormat that couldn’t take “no” for an answer. He was also manipulative, but that’s because Ha Rim taught him to be that way. “Angel” treated Min Yeop like sh*t and while he stood up for himself briefly, it was only to get her back and then he went back to putting up with her crap.

I don’t like to disparage other cultures but the trend of playing hard-to-get in Asian cultures is detrimental and dangerous. “Angel” made it very clear that Min Yeop’s advances were unwanted but he didn’t stop. Having him succeed in getting her through such methods only perpetuates this harmful trend. Because of this, men don’t know when “no” really means “no.”

Sun Gi
Hot af and I loved that he spoke Japanese when he was angry, but he also didn’t know how to take “no” for an answer to such a stalker degree that he drove his ex into hiding. Twice! That’s restraining order level of harassment. It is not okay.

“Angel”
She was a straight up bratty b*tch and everyone let her be that way. She cared for absolutely no one but herself and saw others for only what they could do for her. She “fell for” Min Yeop only after he stopped pursuing her and once she wrapped him around her finger again, she proceeded to continue to treat him like sh*t. She was a despicable human being.

Grandmother
One of the only characters to have a redemption arc. She started out as a horrible person, despising Eun Chan because of her social status and her appearance. Thankfully, she was able to eventually see past that and respect and like Eun Chan for who she really was.

Eun Chan’s Mother
By far, the most grounded and balanced of the characters. She knew her flaws and worked to fix them. She knew her limitations and stayed with them. She knew her responsibilities and performed them. She kept her priorities straight.

STORY
This is a true slice-of-life series. There was no plot or throughline whatsoever. All the tension came from petty arguments between the characters. It was depressing and infuriating.

OVERALL
Yes, it had a happy ending but it was anticlimactic and for me, unrealistic. Or rather, too realistic. All of these relationships are ones that we often encounter in real life and maybe that’s what most people like about it but it’s precisely what I hate about it. If I wanted the crap of real life, I’d walk out my front door. When I engage in fiction, I want something better than real life. It doesn’t have to be Disney perfect but this was just a futile story. Like I said at the beginning - all of these couples are going to continue to have problems. They’re not going to be happy.

I did not enjoy watching this. I don’t recommend it. It glorifies dysfunction, abuse, and harassment.

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Potatoes might save the world but they couldn't save this drama !

I’ve been hyping this show like it’s the second coming of comedy gold - raving about how a drama set in a potato research lab turned into my weekly dose of chaotic fun. But as they say, don’t count your damn potatoes before they sprout.

Turns out, all that initial charm? Just a smokescreen for a half-baked storyline. The strong character sketches we were promised early on quickly dissolved, leaving behind personalities so watered down, they twisted themselves out of shape just to drag the plot along.
The writing has been inconsistent for ages - barely throwing us crumbs of actual plot while drowning in slapstick. And I let it slide because hey, at least I was laughing... until I wasn’t. When the humor dried up, all that was left was a messy script and characters who lost their spark faster than a firework in the rain.

Mikyung? Sis gets mad at Baek Ho but barely flinches when her ex - the walking red flag who trashed her life - shows up. Like, why are we reserving all the cold shoulders for the guy who’s actually on your side, and giving your villain-era ex a free pass? Where’s the wrath? The fire? The “watch me burn your memory to ash” energy?

And the side characters? They were elite as chaotic roommates - a comic relief dream team. But instead of letting them thrive in their lane, the writers decided to toss them into emotional subplots no one asked for. For what? To fill 20 more minutes of runtime? Peak mismanagement. They deserved better. We deserved better!!

As viewers, we got roped into a subplot that actually had depth - convincing, well-executed, promising. Only for it to get tossed aside with the most lazy, nonsensical exit imaginable. It’s like the writers got bored halfway through and hit “wrap it up” with zero remorse.

The ending? Don’t even get me started. It disappointed me in ways I don't have the energy - or desire - to unpack. Just know it felt like betrayal with a smile. And I am mad like very mad !!

In the end, it wasn’t the plot holes or the slapstick that ruined this show - it was the forced friendships and unnecessary reunions that nobody asked for. You had the perfect romcom recipe, and you still managed to burn it. Bravo.

I barely have anything else to say, so I’ll just wrap it up like this:
Watch it for the laughs, the chaos, the absurdity - whatever floats your boat. But don’t make the mistake of hoping for a satisfying payoff. Drop it whenever you feel like it, guilt-free. That’s that.

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“Can people eat cat food?”

I've been waiting for this drama for a long time and I was worried it wouldn't hold up to my own hype. Well, I worried for nothing because this drama is delivering on so many levels. It was a mistake to watch this while it's still airing because I simply could not get enough.

The story isn't necessarily original, warm FL & domineering CEO ML, but the chemistry between the cast is perfect. Each character plays their part perfectly as if written for them personally. The main couple is so good that when they're apart it's almost painful waiting for them to share the screen again.


What I Love:

- Heart Flutters! This drama is delivering on all the heart flutters you want out of a rom-com. The chemistry is off the charts. It's as if the 2 leads are magnets! I can't get enough of them being together. Not only is the romantic chemistry there but the comedy between them is there too. I'm having so much fun watching their relationship and characters develop. (Also, they kiss quite a bit. Lots of steam here)

- The ML seems cold but you find out pretty earlier on that he's actually pretty silly. Unlike a lot of dramas, it's not the FL that brings this out in him, he's already silly on his own just in private. We see this early on when he's with his uncle/best friend. He's serious and cold about his business but not in his personal life. It's more that he's a bit shy and protective of himself when it comes to his personal life.

- The FL is very sweet and warm but don't let that fool you. She is smart, capable, and often the hero. Even though she's quiet, that doesn't mean she's at all stupid. Bullying her doesn't work. But because she's warm and sweet as a viewer I keep worrying for her, as if someone is going to tear her down and break her spirit but she proves over and over that she's not that type of FL. I find myself constantly cheering her on.

- The FL's best friend is the friend we all deserve and more. I love how supportive and fierce she is about the FL. She will literally fight someone's mom for her friend and I love to see it.

- The ML's best friend/uncle is also a favorable character. He protects and loves his nephew dearly. Everything about their bromance is fun and supportive and I enjoy watching them interact.


What I Don't Love:

- There are 2 semi-annoying characters who don't want the leads to be together but they're not unrealistically evil. I think this is good because it shows them as real people. They are jealous like real people are but not devilishly jealous. They try to gain favor the way real people would but they don't go around trying to ruin lives to get what they want. I do feel like they use these two as fillers towards the backend of this drama which did impact my rating slightly. It's just frustrating to watch the SML not getting the hint that Ke Lan just isn't into him. He's quite dense when it comes to women. Even though I find these 2 characters annoying I don't have hate for them. More of an annoyance with them than anything else.

- There's something that happens with the main couple that I really dislike because the FL's reason is frustrating and frankly so is her mom for letting her daughter make the decision she did. These episodes really upset my feelings for this drama. When the leads are together there's so much magic. When they are apart this drama feels quite slow and sad but that's because the leads are just so so good together.

- There are a few slower episodes. Some are "build" episodes and I don't mind these but there are a couple of episodes towards the end where I would have preferred seeing more of the MC together. Although what happens between the MC is necessary for them to be together long-term (mostly on the ML's side of things), I wish the issue didn't take up so much time. I wish we would have seen the main couple together more in the end, after everything was resolved.


Note-worthy:

There's also the ML's ex who obviously wants to get Yu Hao back but she's also not an evil character, just a regretful ex trying to win him back. There's really nothing outlandish about her actions other than trying to separate the MC. The MC handles her really well. As a couple, they are mature about her. Also, the way Yu Hao goes about dealing with his ex is mature, compassionate, and respectful of the relationship they once had.



Would Recommend
Would Re-watch (with some skipping)

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Short and sweet!

Aww it was such a pleasant and heartwarming story that there's a still on my face as I just finished it and here to write review so I can convey my emotions properly. It was short in time but not in content, in just 8 episodes of mare 16-20 minutes give you a lot pleasure it's short but properly executed, the cinematography, acting and the music is topnotch.

You explore a lot, in every episode you see a different story, different emotion and it's very interesting and fun too watch, I won't spoil you anything but I can definitely assure you that you'll enjoy every minute because of it's uniqueness . So it's great watch I had great time, you won't regret it watching....

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This turned out to be a big dissapointment. I have to say that I really love the idea of the Joalert. Before it was aired, when I read the plot I thought that it was indeed a cool idea and that it would be a great drama. I was thinking that the love alert would have many paths to take( you could make a romantic story or go from romantic to something really fucked up). Indeed, they do throw in some protests or mass suicide or a rapist but they were just a few seconds from a long time of basically nohing.
I see no sense in Jo Jo s family story and trauma. It s true that I haven t seen until now in a drama a kid that survived that kind of a thing but, again, it had almost no connection with the story. Scenes must mesh together but in Love Alarm they are like different stories put blindly together. The evil cousin and aunt, her difficulties and how the cousin kept saying that she killed her parents were ABSURD.
How Sun Oh stole, really stole his best friend s crush was a really bad move, it s hard to love him after he did that as a character. He s lucky that he is better looking so it makes you forget how childish and unacceptable his actions are. I understand a love triangle but that usually happens after each guy crushes on the girl but kinda not knowing about the other or they are enemies. In the end only they fight over her. Here? As soon as he hears about Hye Young s crush, Sun Oh goes immediately and kisses her because??? On what basis did he fall for her? He didn t for fuck s sake. It s something that leaves you stupid. Like what the hell did just happen?
What s the purpose of the scene where after the accident she couldn t contact him and went to his house and everything? I found it useless. Just time lost that could ve been replaced with some full of sense scenes. And after that the breakup. Why? Why?? Jesus.
I really liked Deok Goo though.
Another thing is the 8 episode release. Again. Why? Can t we have it the old kdrama way with 16/ 20 or whatever? I really hate the Netflix involvement here.
In conclusion this is bad. Really bad. I m not sure if I ll watch the sequel (if there will be one). God, I m so upset over it

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I stumbled across this show on Youtube and I have to say, it's scary how well Youtube knows me ...

I absolutely adore this show! In the beginning it felt very much like the stereotypical Asian young-love-drama (e.g. how the two protagonists meet), however, it's done in such an over-the-top way that it's ironic and funny again.

The story is very light-hearted with almost no drama, and definitely no melodrama. The characters are well designed and wonderfully flawed - all of them. Even the male lead (who often is portrayed as flawlessly perfect in dramas) has a number of weaknesses that are believable. Sure, some of those are a bit cliché (the anti-social science genius with an 187 IQ but no idea who the Four Heavenly Kings are; neither in mythology nor pop-culture), but it's still done in a fun and adorable way. A great part of the show is actually about Gu Weiyi trying to eradicate his weaknesses in secret in order to appear cooler and more appealing to Situ Mo. These are often shown in little extra scenes at the end of (almost) each episode and are absolutely fun to watch.

I had a few miniscule issues with the show though, the biggest one being the portrayal of the rigid and overall nasty "Haigui" (=Chin. slang for people who return to China after studying abroad). According to most C-dramas, Haiguis are usually arrogant and aloof. Since I've seen this so often I guess there must be an iota of truth behind this stereotype, though I believe if you're an arrogant Haigui you probably were arrogant before going abroad ... The level of rigidness the Haigui in this drama displays tops even the infamous German rigidness - take it from a GBC ;)

Oh, and lights ... I've seen way worse, but still: PLEASE TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE A ROOM! And if you're working at a laptop, and all the overhead lights are on already, do you really need to turn on another desk lamp? #SaveTheEnviroment

Sorry, I got side-tracked ... Here are my top 3 reasons why I recommend this show:
3. All characters are well-crafted and have their individual flaws that they try to overcome, which makes them all the more loveable and relatable. And like in real-life, there are no cartoonish evil people.
2. Since I am horrible at detecting on-screen chemistries, I'll say this instead: the two lead actors work very well together and are visually a cute couple. What's also great is the way they used some of these actors' features like the immense difference in height between the two for comic relief.
1. It has one of the funniest love-confessions I've seen so far, although you'll have to wait till EP 11.

Wow, I wrote way more than I intended ... if you made it this far, THANK YOU very much for reading! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get a Roomba and name it Yuanyuan (find out in EP 7).

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A Strange Love Story?

What a morose show of human frailties in relationships. This show started and was promoted, as the story of Ji Ho and Se Hee. The beginning was interesting, and I looked forward to watching how they would break through the walls and become a real couple. The contract marriage concept is not new, but I’ve never seen it before with two completely dysfunctional people.

I really liked this show, but the storyline drove me crazy. The Bok Nam scenario was a disaster, just embarrassing and maybe even sickening. It takes up half the show and means nothing. Ji Ho, a college graduate at the top of her class falls into the trap of an obviously creepy younger guy? She tells him about her marriage arrangement and doesn’t even think twice about it. She has little self-control, except with her fake husband. Even though she has already given thought to something being strange about Bok Nam, she sits there on a park bench and drinks beer with him. She marvels over his ability to woo the girls with his cheesy lines. It makes me think she would fall for any guy that has a good line. She’s impulsive and reckless but strong of character? It just doesn’t work that way. They have made her look easy and that’s not attractive on her. It was just as easy to see where this was headed. But, then came the fake husband to the rescue. So, what does this normal sane woman do? She goes back to work at the same place. Sits on the couch with her husband in a conciliatory position and listens to Bok Nam’s dribble. Bok Nam even goes through his stalking and manipulative thoughts, but still, they sit there and listen to him calling them names. But suddenly, Bok Nam is a nice guy again and Ji Ho is apologizing to him. Really? YOLO? Demeans her husband, calls her stupid for being with him, and stalks her, and he is a nice guy again? Wait, he is even giving her love advice? Why in the world would she care what Bok Nam thinks? It makes her look even more clueless and less attractive. Bok Nam spends all his time hitting on Ji Ho and telling her how much he likes her. She knows it, her husband knows it, but she still goes back to work with him on a one-on-one basis. This says all you need to know about Ji Ho’s character. To say a 30-year-old top college graduate can’t find any other job is just not workable. It’s not a matter of whether she has any love for her husband or what he thinks about her seeing Bok Nam, it’s a matter of pride and self-worth. Just come back and let him talk smack to her non-stop? No wait, bring the contract to Bok Nam for him to review. This really makes sense. Everything Bok Nam says she thinks about like it was wisdom from the Dalai Lama. If this wisdom were coming from one of her girlfriends it would have made more sense. But 24-year-old Bok Nam has a special spot in her life? He seems to be wealthy, why not just stay with him and void the marriage contract? Just go the whole way into the abyss. I take so much time talking about the Bok Nam issue because it is a springboard into what follows. All the Bok Nam scenario means is she has no redeeming values.

She meets the female CEO of a new production company (Se Hee’s Ex but we aren’t supposed to know it yet) and spills all her thoughts and dreams on the first night of drinking soju. Jumping around drunk and having a good time was a little strange with somebody you were expecting to work for. Without even being told we know who the female CEO is. Ji Ho is strangely happy just being around this woman. Acting happier than she ever has before. Gay? Straight? Who knows, but it doesn’t make her look more appealing.

I tried so hard to like the female lead character Ji Ho, but she doesn’t feel like a genuine person to me. She develops a head-down mumbling approach to Se Hee that drives me crazy. By episode 14 I can already tell how this will turn out, not well. Their relationship will just keep getting worse, slowly makes the story fall apart. The story started with these two and the story was even promoted with these two. They have no chemistry, and she seems miserable. What’s the point if it just falls apart? She liked Bok Nam well enough until he moved on, which by the way, she seemed disappointed.

Episodes 14 through 16 are just grueling. Watching her stare at the walls in her Room #19 mumbling to herself like the world is against her. She seems to expect something from him that she can’t give herself, unable to tell him she likes him while he sits in Room #19 unable to even comprehend the world much less express his feelings. With every minute I watch the show becomes less appealing. She asks Se Hee’s ex to go on a date with her. Now that’s not too strange, is it? Is it the subtitles making it appear this way? Did she really ask this woman on a date? She is never happy. I’ll be honest I don’t even understand all her mumblings. Ji Ho told everybody else except Se Hee that she loved her husband. I’m beginning to believe there is something wrong with the subtitles. She talks about how deep her love was for Se Hee to her father-in-law and her mother-in-law. Ji Ho never told Se Hee she liked him or loved him. She decided to sleep with him one night then fell asleep on him. The next time he asked, she rejected him. Granted he was a strange individual, but all she did for him was mess with his head, and leave when he started to have feelings for her.

As you would expect, the ending was just as weird. After a year or so in a hospice, or whatever that place was, she goes to his old place to make her move with a day one cake. Has she run out of girls and guys to woo her? She only looks halfway disappointed that he no longer lives there. But finally, the nicest part of the show. A chance meeting at the house on the roof. The chance meeting is nice, and she tells him she loves him, but he’s asleep. Couldn’t they even make him awake for that? Run Se Hee, she could change her mind tomorrow.

Subtitles: I hate to beat a dead horse, but I really think the translation may be off on this one. I think this was one of those shows that were difficult to translate. Nothing she mumbled made any sense.

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This is a makjang drama featuring all the possible common kdrama cliches you can think off, the main offenders being: amnesia, a bitchy ex gf, a second male lead trying to get the female lead, a time skip, and the worst case of noble idiocy I've ever seen in my kdrama watching journey of some years.

The drama starts well, the humor although over the top, is hilarious at times and the story and characters seem to be a good enough reason to continue watching, that is until the male lead's hereditary disease manifests and he loses his memories of the last 3 months as a symptom, those months are conveniently the ones he spent with the female lead of course.

As if that event wasn't dramatic enough, right after the male lead gets his memories back, he decides to go on the noble idiocy route and break up with the female lead apparently to protect her from the sadness of knowing about his disease instead of discussing it with her. But no, that's still not all, right after they break up, she turns around to go back to him but gets hit by a car on the way and loses their baby. That was when I simply couldn't handle anymore ridiculousness.

What comes after is a time skip and after that a bunch of frustrating episodes filled with misunderstandings caused by the male lead's noble idiocy that is still going strong after 3 years. Oh my God.

The only good things about this drama are the acting, some funny scenes and the ost.

This could have been a 16 or 18 episodes drama had they not dragged the noble idiocy plot device for so many episodes, and that could have perhaps, saved the drama from being so hopelessly frustrating in the second half.

Still I powered through those difficult episodes because of the male lead's heartwarming relationship with the female lead's mother and because, despite everything, I grew fond of the characters.

Side note: also the ending was so cheesy, and childish lol

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