Reviews

The very reason I watch dramas...

I find myself never bored and happily chasing every episode. Yes there are "dog blood" cdrama tropes but with a male lead like that, I am happy to fantasize and be a little unrealistic. I find myself smiling ear to ear at times and heart wrenching other times, this is the reason why I watch dramas.
Positives)
1-a VERY manly, dominant and charismatic male lead
2-hair & costumes are refreshing (not often seen in cdramas)
3-great pacing, plot is compact
4-good fight scenes (not just posing/slow motion)
5-push pull build up to leads' romance
6-both lead characters are smart, strong and great looking (how it should be in idol dramas)
7-bromance
8-not one tone, there's light + heart wrenching moments
Negatives)
1-I prefer listening to actors' real voice but this is all dubbed except female lead. And can cdramas get rid of dubbing please already? It's 2025, an actor's voice is part of their acting and the only way to improve is to have actors keep using it!
2-CG needs improvement but gets less distracting pass a few episodes (this is only an A+ budget drama)
3-director, cinematographer, and filter need more consistency
I took half point off bc of FL's acting. AB improved but still cannot grasp/act complex emotions, surface level in the first half of drama she did ok.

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loved this!! I think this was the only series wherein I liked all the characters even the antagonists!! Almost all of the main characters were so smart and wise that it was so entertaining to watch their political wars and power struggles especially Deokman's and Mishil's fight for the throne. At first, I didn't like the character of Deokman but as the story progressed, I found myself admiring her and cheering for her success.

I only have two complaints for this drama though; first was the romance side of it. I didn't really like the characters that were paired with her. I didn't hate them, I just found myself rooting for an alcheon x deokman pairing all throughout even though I very well knew that it wouldn't happen. Hehe... Anyway, I'm just in the minority so you might actually like the love story part of it since most people do. :)

My 2nd complaint was the ending. I just think that they could have ended it better. I know the number of episodes was actually extended from its original plan but somehow the ending felt a little rushed and it seemed like there were missing scenes that should have been shown.

However, all in all, I think this was a great historical drama that left a deep impression on me. Plus, the soundtrack is good! It added to the tension and excitement of the drama!

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" Extracurricular " had an interesting story, but there were many flaws for this drama that lessen the enjoyment.

Though the issues that extracurricular is dealing with are not the typical korean school drama presents, even though the angst, drama and having the character hit a low point is part of the korean drama repertoire, the drama did a good job with dealing with them, keeping the pace fast and the cinematography dark and moody. So, the idea was there and so were the elements to make a good psychological thriller, however, the drama didn't succeed in doing so.

First of all, the characters, not all of them, but the main ones, were annoying. Actually, the leading lady was unlikable and not easy to root for, in a drama were you have to like the criminals. The main character was a bit too toned down, with the title of genius being only a tag that followed him, but in reality, or, at least as far as the drama showed us, he was just a boy with a good idea, but lonely and in a desperate situation. The characters overall were acting way too mature for their age and it was difficult to be believable.

Second of all, the drama had its boring moments. The whole action thing got tiring to watch after it followed one twist after the other and the frustrating moments were too much. And yet, somehow, they managed to get the interest hit low beats towards the end. However, the ending was nicely managed. The performances, also, were brilliant from everyone in the cast, even though most of them are young actors.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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From Obsession to Disappointment... That's the plot and my review

In the beginning, I became quickly obsessed with "Nevertheless," even during the torturous wait each week for only one new episode. This series is short so things move pretty fast in the beginning and it's clear that the subject matter is more adult and risqué than usual. What started out as a realistic look at a messy, addictive, and super toxic relationship turned into a much safer story that I lost interest in. This drama struggles with the idea of exploring non-traditional, and non-idealistic relationships while still wanting to play it safe and not cross too many lines. This drama had the potential to be cautionary but sadly turned into another love triangle cliché.

The best thing about this drama is definitely the chemistry between the leads. Han So Hee as the recently heartbroken Na Bi and Song Kang as the manipulative Jae Eon are definitely sexy as a duo. I also admit that Na Bi is annoying at times. Also, even though she is the main lead, she has the least interesting personality of the entire cast, even when listening to her inner monologues. I hated seeing her same wide-eyed expression over and over. Still Na Bi was also super relatable. If you have ever been in a toxic relationship with a narcissist you can probably understand Na Bi and her struggle between doing what she knows she should vs what she can't help but desire. Song Kan is perfectly cast as the charming baby-faced bad boy Jae Eon. His confident smirk is enough to make him very believable as the guy everyone wants, and the guy who can get away with doing whatever he wants. He gave me chills because I definitely know some "Jae Eons" and had my own struggles with one. If you ever come across one, run away and save yourself. Believe me! lol! Sadly in the later episodes, his character shifts in a way that made no sense and his performance seemed much more fake and forced, and Na Bi barely had a character arc.

As for the supporting cast, this drama does a great job of spotlighting other relationships that are just as interesting as the leads. My only issue is that I felt a little cheated when those other relationships weren't as fully explored. It was clear that there was only so far this drama was willing to go with each story, but the performances were still great, and the couples were cute.

Of course, I have to mention the all-star of this drama, the infamous "Potato Boy". Chae Jong Hyeop as Yang Do Hyuk is the 2nd lead MVP that dreams are made of. He's cute, he has a sweet smile, he's understanding, he can cook! If you love "shipping" the underdog Potato Boy will not disappoint. He was exactly the boost the main couple needed before they got too boring and repetitive. I'm also currently watching him in "The Witch's Diner" and he definitely has the potential to become a new favorite of mine. I can't wait to see him star in a full 16 episode drama.

Would I watch this again? I'm torn. I think there are definitely some scenes I could rewatch in the early episodes but the payoff was so disappointing that I probably wouldn't. I liked the characters but not enough to want to revisit them. So much about this drama is about awkwardness so it's not exactly a fun rewatch either. I also had zero interest in the art scenes besides the 2 art pieces that bookend the story. Since Art is what connects all of these characters, that's not a good thing. At least they didn't stretch the story out to make it longer. I maybe even could have been shorter.

Overall this drama should have been much better but playing it too safe was its downfall. I know many romance dramas promote unrealistic scenarios, and I don't want to give away anything, but I feel guilty recommending this drama because it may give people too much false hope in a way that could be damaging. Maybe I am too personally biased about the situation, but it still felt a little irresponsible by the end, and It seems the ending is different than the webtoon version (which I am excited to check out). I thought I might love this drama, but instead, those feelings didn't even last for the full 10 episodes. Nevertheless, I have no regrets and I'm glad I watched it.

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This is a big, complicated story to get into. It's going to take the first 5-6 episodes before you are up to speed with what's going on so stick with it, it's worth it. The story is spread over two lifetimes, in the 1800's and in present day and I felt it was done so extremely well. The story in the present day moves along as they then cut to scenes in history to provide back story at appropriate moments, which are then re-reflected on later to provide reminders so you don't need to be worried about "how am I going to remember everything going on here?!" . I like stories that bring a mix of Joseon and modern day as I feel it adds extra depth and history to the story.

Originally chose this one because of Shin Se Kyung having enjoyed her work in another drama and this only helped enhance my appreciation for her work.

I did Initially think about dropping it simply because one of the reasons I am so interested in K-Drama's is to learn more about Korea and Korean history and this one kicks off in Slovenia. I don't have anything against Slovenia of course, and it actually does end up spend most of its time in Korea. Ultimately I really appreciated the visuals and the contrasting scenes from Slovenia as well.

Kim Rae Won, as the male lead, also pulled off the highly charismatic role brilliantly as well.

I found little to criticise in this one, it's a deeply emotional story that will have you reaching for tissues on a number of occasions and fill your heart with warmth on just as many. You're going to really get involved in all the characters and their stories, their feelings and emotions and the long journey some of them have taken to be where they are, which makes even the "bad" character(s) such that you can empathise.

I struggled with the ending to this one, it's nicely concluded but it left me a bit of an emotional wreck for a few days if i'm going to be honest. I get it, I love it - but line yourself up something warm and fluffy like What's Wrong with Secretary Kim as the dessert for this one.

He was her black knight, on so many levels. Totally recommend this without reservation.

My final words - Red Bean Bread right back to the cast and crew, that final slide was perfect.

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Totally underrated urban professional life romance revenge and crime story

It had me sitting up over here in Europe every night, combing the net for the next airing of new episodes.

Although it took some getting used to the FL squeeky voice I do love the main couple and found them convincing since episode one.

The couple fights huge social gaps. This drama actually shows a piece of how some of the working class people in China live. The expectances they face. From their families and friends. The shallowness they are met with when it comes to money high society people.

Wang Ju An, heir to a share of a group called Ansheng is called back to China to be Anshengs new CEO at Shanghai.

He faces internal and external oponents, has to clean up and rationalise overcome company structures, eliminate devious employees.... and accidentally meets the woman he falls in love with.

Su Mo, a uni graduate who messed up her own brilliant carreer opportunities by taking the blame for her former boyfriend's cheating in exams, can only make ends meet as a sales person at a dress shop. When she loses that job she applies at Ansheng. And finds herself rejected at first.

As she is upright she faces Wang Ju An and explains. But neither humiliates herself. Nor ask for extra favors. Impressed - nobody dares to stand up to him- (which he neeeds so badly!) he hires her. And that's how it all begins.

Bad acting, other reviews say. WHAT bad acting? It's Vengo Gao at his best. Sporty, nonchalant refined society man... so convincing. Foil fencing like a mad devil! Jumping the carpet in 3 leaps just to mark a point. Competitive, bold, secretive, scheming... vulnerable, loving, protective... it's all there.

The rest of the cast is not less convincing. FL stands her ground when CEO is being "emotionally stupid". She gets his feet back to the ground. And stands by her miserable beaten and framed man, when he is at his lowest.

They are toooo ollld... reviers say!
"Crap they are!" I say. To be a CEO at a huge company it takes a certain age. The Cdramas China is so used to with teenage CEO's and giggeling secretaries are much, but neither interesting, nor convincing. Nor real.

"The Outsider" shows mature actors, cinvincing characters... who sometimes do act foolishly. But WHO of us... doesn't do that every now and then?

I like the lead couples interactions. Second leads are funny oposites. Until tragedy hits. Wang Jian is starred in such an endearing manner... everybody would like to have a little brother like him. Developing from lazy beans into determined young man. Deeply in love with the brainer cousin of Su Mo.

I loved this drama. Do give it a try. To see Vengo Gao have mimics, smirking, sneering, being shy, being coy, being angy, menacing, concentrated, cooking, fencing, DANCING, (yes, he dances!), tearing up, (yes, he is emotional here, showing the entire bandwith of emotions involved with the grandezza of a great actor), going down on one knee, is already worth it all.

The way the actors are being dressed was great. Wang Ju An can wear anything, from that needle stripe business suit to his fencing outfit... and last but not least that sand colored outfit with those matching Chelsey boots... he wears them all to perfection. Cudos to Vengo Gao being an international Haute Couture model.

To me this is a "watch and repeat". Definitely.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

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It is crime physiological fantasy drama about a man who last his loved one,
Oh Hyun-jae (Jang Hyuk) was a genius profiler who cracked many cold cases using his unsurpassed profiling skills. One day, his fiancee was killed in an explosion set by a serial killer and Hyun-jae lived in seclusion after that. Five years later, a new murder takes place using the same method as that serial killer. While investigating the case, team leader Hwang Ha-young (Jin Seo-yeon) meets a detective from the countryside, Cha Soo-young, who has a photographic memory (Choi Soo-young). She introduced Soo-young to Hyun-jae and they work together to go after the serial killer.
Now they both team up to catch the real culprit behind the these murders.

I was so impressed by this drama that I waited patiently everyweek to watch this drama from last one and half months was one of my most exciting months of all time,
This drama has everything from perfect story to perfect cast and the acting of the actors was so amazing that it felt so real and our villian so amazing the way he kill people was so good and brutal by a cycle break wire (awasome).
What ever I need this drama has everything thing,
So I will recommend to everyone whoever is reading this review please watch the drama you will not regert my words I can guarantee you about this.

Peace out
Aniket Yadav
@theaniketyadav

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This movie could have been so much more... Spoilers!

My gripe with this movie is that it had the perfect setting to turn into a romantic or social message. But in the end, it ended up being neither. The main character does grow in some sense, but not entirely.

One example: The ML went through harassment himself while dressed as a woman, but he never directly addressed why he was wrong, just saying, "I am sorry," even when he got a stage to say it out loud. He apologized to several women, but it didn't feel like he understood why his previous behavior was problematic. His realization seemed surface-level. In addition, it is really hard for me to believe that he grew up with a sister and was raised by a mom and ended up doing what he did.

But the comedy was good and you can never go wrong with this guy! His acting was A+!!!

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If you like the american tv series 911 you will like this!

Just as i said in the title, if you loved the american tv series 911 or 911 lonestar you will absolutely love this!

As a huge fan of the american series 911 I without a doubt had to watch this and i am so glad i did, it was fantastic, i loved the mix of Fire Fighters, Ambos and Police!, the stories were so bloody good and had me on the edge of my seat every episode, the characters were so loveable, besides the bad guys i didnt dislike any of the main characters! The drama felt way too short with only 12 episodes, i just didnt want to stop watching it, i was already hooked but the last few episodes made it so i couldnt look away!

SMALL SPOILER!

The end of episode 12 was a really bad cliffhanger and the only reason im okay with it ( as hard as it is waiting ) is because its already been confirmed for a season 2!

END OF SPOILER!

Seriously dont even think about it, just go and watch it, you wont regret it!

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It's Gwanhee's Inferno

The worst season so far. There were no games, no real challenges, no cooking or any other meaningful activities. The participants were not genuinely interested in anyone else but themselves. Most of the girls and guys have no personality whatsoever. Gwanhee being an exception although I really disliked how much screen time he had. However, now that the show is over it makes sense that they have focused so much on him - the others are so one-dimensional. Like someone mentioned in the comments, without him you wouldn't have a show and no one would be watching it. I also think the producers did him dirty - I doubt he is such a POS like they made him out to be. It's just that they had nothing else to work with.

It was frustrating to watch nothing happen. All they did was talk, talk, talk. Drama and more drama that became so messy and lead nowhere. The ending was predictable because there was no challenge. The contestants did not manage to develop any sort of bonds with others in the group, especially not with the ones they claimed to like.

The whole show lacked substance because of how shallow most people seemed to be. I also have a feeling there were some major budget cuts for this show or it is just that people involved did not want to get their hands dirty. Literally.

Don't waste your time on this.

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A Classic

This series will be a classic in future, with its cinematography, story line, strong acting and musical arrangement.

The first few episodes were slow to develop. But, once it gets to episode 5 or so, it gets exciting with Hu Ge using his wits to turn the tables and defeat his opponents. Hu Ge's role is literally Mei Chang Su in a Western suit in 1990s in Shanghai. Bao Zhong is as intelligent and scheming as Mei Chang Su, with the added advantage that he plays a charming lady's man in perfect health that oozes sex appeal.

What I enjoyed about this show was that the characters are not one dimensional. I don't think I have watched a drama where I hoped all 3 of the FLs would attain the happiness that they so deserve. Even the "villains" had some positive quality that made you want to root for them, be it Wei Zhong, Qiang Zhong or Lu Mei Lin; which is the reality of life, that no one is truly all good or all bad.

The music (they must have paid a lot for royalties) added to the mood and I hope some fan can compile all the music scenes into one video.

Go watch this show!

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Beautiful and intriguing

Park Chan Wook director is back in 2022 Cannes and won the Best Director award this time around. His signature touches are so precise that it looked like beautiful portrait shots with extremely fine details for each and every of the scenes and frames, even the editing and transition is extraordinarily stylized. He has the ability to find the beauty of the broken love in this wicked romance story which works wonders, where even a subtle affection comes in great effect on a person's mindfulness, and reaching it through extreme means might be of utmost importance. The broken ones will definitely understand the intention of this film where protecting that little love in this shattered world is what all we had left.

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