Reviews

HUMAN AND DRAGON SHENANIGANS

Pros: Loved the first half of the drama which I felt had the perfect amount of truly funny moments mixed in with the plot. I also absolutely LOVED the FL's character, and Zhou Ye's acting definitely made me shed some tears during some of the more emotional scenes. I do feel FL and ML had great chemistry and liked seeing them together. The ML was adorable and was definitely very pretty. Plus, he's a dragon!

Not so great: The second half fell a bit short for me as I just could not take the main villain seriously. There were also way too many long and unnecessary backstories and scenes for all the villains, pseudo villains and the many, many side characters that I feel like they could have cut out. The whole production was also sort of a miss for me - it looked low budget, where some of the scenes are really awkwardly shot, and the costuming (mainly... the hair) and CGI looked hilariously fake, especially when the CGI was combined with human interaction (i.e. that scene of them petting one of the monsters... I could not help but lol). The acting was a bit iffy for the ML and SML ... my main gripe is with the ML in that he's definitely a bit of a wooden board and oftentimes just has one or two of the same expressions (concerned and angry). One more thing - music I felt was decent and times added to the story, but I have to mention that there was this one background music that they play during some of the comedic moments that COMPLETELY took me out because it sounded so ridiculous and I know it's a stock background music from somewhere else (maybe other shows? movies? IDK).

Conclusion: Liked it, but definitely not my favourite. However, it's worth a watch if you're looking for a xianxia to pass the time.

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This movie was incredible. I came to find it through a post online, that stated it was the top earning Japanese film this year (2014). I am from the United States and this is the first time I have seen a film from the Japanese side of World War II produced from Japan. (It isn't like "Letters to Iwo Jima" it was actually made by and directed by Japanese citizens.)
This movie goes in and out of the past and present. I loved this aspect of the story because in this film we get to see the perspective of how the current Japanese generations perceive Kamikaze fighters today. Before I watched this movie I, like many foreigners could not understand the way Japanese pilots during that time could do that- purposely fly into a carrier. Although this movie is mostly fictional, I come away from it feeling like I learned so much. I can't explain what I learned, but when you watch this movie you will understand.
I liked this film because the acting was superb. I read that casting was done on who would play characters best and not on popularity. The characters made me cry more than once, and I cry rarely during films.
Music was lacking but was suitable for the parts I even noticed it.
I would like to rewatch this movie with my family. My younger brother loves war movies & I feel this film will really alter his opinions on Japanese soldiers during the War.
YOU REALLY SHOULD WATCH IT! BEST MOVIE ABOUT WORLD WAR 2 I HAVE EVER SEEN.
*oh and if you are someone who doesn't like gory scenes, this isn't too terribly graphic. Lots of explosions though.

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Thank God I didn't drop it

So when I first watched it on its release day on Disney+, honestly, I dropped it just after 10 mins or so. I thought the story was a bit stupid with weak suspense. But, I watched it again, after the season ended. So can tell I had no interest in it. But God knows what really happened and I started the show once again from the beginning. And omg, I couldn't believe myself. I have this rule called "never watch what u dropped" and most of the time I follow it but this show made me break that rule cuz I loved it.
The suspense, thriller, story and ending was fabulous.
They did a good job in hiding the main culprit till the very end. The mystery plot was well constructed. Scary parts r minimal with hardly anything scaring u but still the ghost plot was well written.
I m so glad that I watched this show again.

Overall, a must watch show

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I tried watching this a while back and made it up to ep10 before putting it on hold. I randomly decided to pick it back up and just managed to finish it...

Story- The plot was simple/light in the beginning with life themes you come across everyday ( one night stands, unwedded pregancy, unwanted marraige). It wasn't really as entertaining as I would have liked it to have been (I dislike former gf/bf plot devices)but the wholesomeness of the latter half(introduction of older Shin Bi) and the added sickness plotpoint towards the last quarter kept me watching. I feel like the reason i wasn't completely in to the story in the beginning might have been the pacing? Oh and the ending was kind of rushed but better than I expected.

Acting/Cast- Eugene was really good. I liked that her character was cheerful, independent (when she had Shin Bi) and she was strong. Kim Jae Won was perfect as always and he had a very natural chemistry with Eugene. Both actors had a good parent chemistry with the lovely child actress who played Shin Bi. They all made a believable family.

Music- I liked it and it fit the scenes well.

Rewatch- I wouldn't mind watching this in a couple years.

Overall Wonderful Life offers life lessons and its just a very warm/wholesome family drama.

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Attack on Sanity - The OST

“I suddenly felt that it was all the same to me whether the world existed or whether there had never been anything at all. At first I fancied that many things had existed in the past, but afterwards I guessed that there never had been anything in the past either, but that it had only seemed so for some reason. Little by little I guessed that there would be nothing in the future either… nothing mattered to me.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Watching Satomii get wasted on this script genuinely broke my brain. She brings a natural weight to the screen that the writing seems determined to undermine at every turn. The writers failed her, the director failed her, and the production might as well have apologized in the credits for handing a powerhouse a pile of wet garbage. Her presence is sharp and unyielding, yet the narrative traps her in a world where basic communication is treated like a confession wrung out under torture. I despise noble idiocy, and this show might as well be a masterclass in how to weaponize it against its own story.

The first blow to my sanity was Masaki vanishing (and his reasoning for ghosting). He leaves "for her benefit" and the show is actually dumb enough to have him literally running away from her. It is pathetic. Little bro folded instantly. Muzan at sunrise levels of cowardice. Absolute joke. The writing then leans on the most tired gimmick in the book. He mumbles one last thing while fleeing and she just cannot hear him. What a lazy middle finger to the audience. He decided he was the tragic anime protagonist of her life without asking her permission. He really thought he was pulling a shonen exit.. Naruto running into the night to “protect” her

I think I blinked and she went from seeing the ring from the BF to kissing Masaki. Nothing earned. Every ounce of suffering, every shred of dignity... just gone. A joke. And if that weren’t enough, he’s telling what happened on the day of the accident while the music plays like we are visiting a Zelda fairy fountain. What a mismatch. What’s next… Saria's Song? … Garuda Valley?

Somehow, it gets worse. The script shoves Satomii into the same martyr box at the end because the writers clearly ran out of ideas and defaulted to the most exhausted cliché in existence. It is a total assassination of her potential. Seeing an actress of her caliber forced to play a woman who just waits around for a coward is insulting. She does everything she can to sell the silence and longing, but she is chained to a plot that crumbles like Wall Maria getting bodied by the Colossal Titan. No amount of talent can salvage a story that survives purely by making its characters miserable for no reason other than stalling the plot.
I kept waiting for any semblance of communication. None came. Nada. The writers apparently charged by the Kanji and they couldn't afford to buy an adult conversation. The rest of the cast barely gets anything to do, devoured by a script that is more blackhole than narrative.

One of the main "tensions" … the fire.. Nothing needed to happen. Yuki said did nothing wrong and said nothing right. Masaki said everything by saying nothing. The idiots are not noble. Everything here should have been solved with adult conversations. This isn't Vegeta exploding to protect, this is the script bombing.

By the end, this FL is everything I hate. Satomii is brilliant, sharp, and the script slams her into every wall it can find. Every beat of noble idiocy, every fake martyr moment, every second she freezes while the coward runs is pure humiliation. The writers grind her talent into dust while he gets to wander free. I want to bow in shame and attend its harakiri. I am sure Link can second with the master sword, maybe entertain us with some ocarina. The OST wouldn't have to change to fit.

I have become Dostoevsky. Nothing matters. Nothing.

Every choice, every scene, every insult, every missed word collapses into the same blah void. Past, present, future... meaningless. The show might as well not exist. Satomii’s brilliance gets wiped out the same way Sung Jinwoo wipes out bosses. Hhyped threat shows up, gets clapped in thirty seconds, and vanishes like it never mattered. No weight. No consequence... noise pretending to be stakes.

Dear god.. find a white van... isekai me out of here.

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This story isn't new and I have seen it done better. First of all, for a drama that is only four episodes long, I really was tired of rewatching the same scenes over and over. The premise is good, but the actual show is kind of boring. If you like this type of drama, then I recommend Nine: Nine Times Time Travel. It was much better.

The young Moon Ga Young is totally adorable as Mimi. Chang Min does well as the really cute and tormented Min Woo. No amount of good acting could make this short drama good though.

The music is pretty good.

I won't rewatch this, but I think it is rewatchable considering it is only 4 episodes.

It is only 4 hours of your time and you may like it more than me. However, I don't necessarily recommend it.

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While watching this movie, I got so absorbed in it I was unaware of my surroundings. Just when I thought I lost my interest in revenge stories, this movie wakes it up again. It also explore how society deals with its kids, specially at that difficult age.

The story is simple. A teacher's daughter gets killed, and the culprit are her students. She teaches them a vicious lesson, one they might never get up from, and they will certainly not forget.

Ignorance is when you think you know it all. Thats why teenagers tend to be ignorant and look down on adult. I liked that she managed to show them who's boss. But in doing so, you feel that she lost her humanity. She didn't teach them out of care, she hates them but just doesn't want that crime to be forgotten. The children themselves, their thirst for attention blinds them from the crimes they do. They have no conscience at all. To be look up to as cool, they take it on the weaker, like cowards. It reminds me of an essay I read some time before where it says that children are more dangerous than adult, because they have no morality. They can do the worst of crimes and not realize its atrocity. Basically when they do those kind of crimes, they should be punished like adult and face the consequences.

The acting from Matsu Takako was top notch. I specially liked Kaoru Fujiwara;s acting her. The cast is generally great. Okada Masaki's character was plain annoying, because he was meant to be lol.

I loved LOVED the direction here. The use of flashbacks, the skip from one flashback to another (as if watching an old family video) during conversations and monologues, the lighting and effects, the colours of them moving, was used effectively and perfectly. I think its what made the movie stand out and what absorbed me in that movie. The music used is no exception, setting the mood perfectly.

As a psychological thriller, it carries the task perfectly without being a burden to watch. You're never thinking "I just want to know the ending of it". It might not be to everyone's taste, but Its definitely worth the watch ;)

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"The Bride of the Water God" divided opinions, we had people who loved and find it the best drama ever, and people who hated and thinks it's the worst drama ever. It's a 50/50 situation. I personally found it a disappointment, but even though it was not the best I've ever seen, it's not the worst.

*Get ready for a long review *

"The Bride of the Water God" had an excellent base story, but then they decided to turn a melodrama with a not-so-lucky ending into a romantic comedy, it just went wrong.

Story: The initial plot was simple, a God who comes to earth with a goal and ends up falling in love with a human and that love is forbidden. But as the drama progressed the writers simply abandoned the initial premise and it started to be a bit difficult to keep up with what was happening, leaving to the very end to really solve the loose endings. The story had a predictable ending, which for a moment, left me with even more questions than when I had first started to watch.

If you like the main couple, even if you don't like genre, you will probably still watch it anyway. The main couple in "The Bride of the Water God", had little to no chemistry, something that made me very annoyed at times, because sometimes they seemed like two robots acting, something that improves a little in the final episodes.
In CEO Shin's arc, the stories improved a bit, so much so that the only reason I continued to see was for him and for Moora and Biryeom, who had more chemistry than the main couple. CEO Shin has a complex but really interesting story.

I have to admit that my two favorite characters throughout the drama were Moora and Biryeom, although Moora was supposed to be the bad one, her relationship with Biryeom stole, at least for me, the spotlight from the main couple.

Cast / Acting: Personally I think the two actors who got the main roles were not the best choice. I had already seen Nam Joo Hyuk in other dramas, and he is someone with a lot of potential, but who was not prepared for this role. Not that he was bad at all, but there were times when it was a little cringeworthy to see him. I think a more experienced actor would be able to handle better such a complex 3000-year-old God.
Shin Se Kyung, I can't say much about her, because it's the first work I see of her, I don't think she is such a bad actress as people are saying, but she isn't an excellent actress either. The biggest problem I see in her is the fact she suffers from something that I like to call stone resting face, th emotionless face expression, making her tries of demonstrate some emotion seem very forced and unnatural, it's something that I think she should work on for her next drama.
The biggest surprise for me in this drama was undoubtedly Krystal, because I always thought she wasn't a good actress, but I was completely mistaken, which made me quite happy.

The OST in this drama was normal, none of the songs excelled for me, it suited the mood, but it was no big deal.

My biggest problem with this drama was its slow pass, everything went by very slowly, the drama focused more on things that did not matter more than on those that really mattered, making the drama very annoying at times. And with that, the episodes became very repetitive without much to add to the story development. (Habaek did something bad, So-Ah was annoyed, he did something cute and she was already okay with him again, this is a summary of almost every episode). On the other hand the cinematography and the special effects were quite good, it was sad that they focused more on fancy effects than on the actual plot.

Will I watch this drama again? Probably not anytime soon. If I recommend to watch it? Yes... if you really don't have anything better to do. This drama is not the worst I've seen, but neither is the best, I think it left much to be desired for how hyped it was.

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Colorful Love is everything it needs to be and more

I started watching this because I was looking for more josei manga to read and it was easier to find information about the show than the manga - which was because it was actively airing at the time. I didn't expect much and was blown away by how this show succeeds at every single thing it sets out to do!

MINI REVIEW: Colorful Love is a light-hearted, fun-loving celebration of differences. The 'hook' is that the main male lead dresses and acts without regard for typical gender roles; stylist Meguru enjoys wearing frills and dresses and bright nail-art and makeup, while model Kira prefers long sleek skirts, see-through blouses and an occasional harness. This is not the only area in which the show feels fresh and progressive, and it handles much more than simple romance, without ever keeping you on your toes too much - it mostly remains upbeat and harmless. Besides that, the actors are all skilled and/or charismatic, the characters are all likeable (flaws included!), and the directing, lighting, styling and even the editing are all incredibly well-done and perfectly tailored to the tone of the show.

FULL REVIEW (some spoilers here, but nothing big):

Our main couple is Wako and Meguru. They were two high school besties who have always liked each other but never really said anything. Meguru endured a lot of bullying due to his "feminine" appearance and interests, while Wako thought he was just the cutest thing ever and stood up for him - helping him to become confident in these aspects of himself as an adult. They accidentally reunite at a photoshoot - Wako works as a member of a josei manga magazine editorial team and Meguru is, among other things, a stylist for absurdly self-absorbed model Kira. Kira is half of our secondary couple; Wako's more serious but not unkind boss and editor-in-chief Asahi is the other half. The show revolves around these couples, their trials and tribulations in their blossoming relationships (some sooner than others) and the struggles they face personally and at work.

STORY
The story is clear, set up very well through fun, brief flashbacks and there's nothing wrong with the pacing. One or two episodes may be spent elsewhere, outside of our main storyline (mostly surrounding the characters' jobs and the developments that occur professionally affecting them personally and vice versa), but as they tend to further develop relationships between characters (including platonic ones!), I find it hard to deduct points for that.

It was an incredibly smart decision to add a secondary pairing that was essentially invented for the show (scroll down for some notes on the source material). Firstly, because a fair share of romance drama viewers prefer to see the pre-relationship will-they-won't-they development, and Wako and Meguru's mutual enthusiasm for each other was never going to let them stay apart for more than a few episodes. Asahi and Kira's relationship fills this void, slowly and convincingly developing over the course of 9/10 episodes. Secondly, because this is where this drama, the script, and the performances really truly shine. Kira-"sama" is turned into this confusingly charming clown of a man, so self-absorbed he can't tell he is absolutely 100% embarrassing himself, to the point where you can't even question it and find yourself unironically enjoying everything about this man, even as he winks at the camera and throws his jacket onto an assistant's head to invite more pictures of his chest. Then, having established this bizarre figure, we introduce realistic, older boss lady Asahi who won't allow him to get away with shit-talking staff or trying to flirt with/intimidate her, so she punches him in the stomach and he is immediately struck by cupid's bow. He's not the brightest though, so it takes him a bit to catch up.

CHARACTERS/CAST
- From what I can tell, Yoshikawa Ai (Wako) is the most talented and emotional, giving a very accurate performance of a young working woman who escapes into entertainment media the second she's done with work, without allowing herself to become completely engulfed by it (her apartment, however, is mostly merchandise). Besides that, her comedic chops are amazing, from drooling over cute boys to hissing at Meguru's bullies. I wish every #relatable jdrama protagonist could be like this, instead of the fumbling embarrassing mess they're usually made into.
- Itagaki Rihito (Meguru) is perfect for the role, definitely the standout in terms of how he seems to have jumped right out of the manga.
- Mizuno Miki (Asahi) was perfect for her role too, a very convincing and occasionally conflicted straight man to Kira and a mentor figure for almost everyone else. I just love her. I love cool 40+ year old main female characters in romance dramas. Someone quick rope her into another role like this! Except she's the main character this time!
- Kira's over the top antics stealing almost the entire drama makes it a crime to forget about Kiriyama Ren (Kira) - I have no clue how he kept a straight face during any of that. The comedy alone would have sufficed, but the more genuine moments were completely believable too.
- Oda Oideyasu (Sakai-san) is hilarious and he constantly corrects everyone on language, without being particularly mean-spirited (except towards one character LOL). He gets a special mention for not only being hilarious, but displaying such an earnest sensitive side surrounding his single fatherhood and his daughter. That got to me.
- Nagato Takato (Yuu-tan) is the perfect children's TV show host - his switch into someone who was poisoned by the bullying during his upbringing, who was desperate to see Meguru fail, super believable. I was kind of worried he'd be a gay villain, but he's just gay! A bit of a villain for two episodes, but he joins the gang. I love to see it. Him and Meguru connect over being bullied for being gender non-conforming in different ways! It was handled well imo.

The MUSIC is cute. Does what it needs to. The OST did not change my life. But I don't think this is very important.

In terms of REWATCH VALUE, I have literally already rewatched several episodes multiple times. By accident! I am already planning to make different friends who don't usually watch jdramas watch this one with me - it's so easy to recommend because it's funny and light-hearted but never in a cheap, vapid way.

SOURCE MATERIAL ('My Androgynous Boyfriend').
- The manga has gorgeous art and pretty much the exact dynamic we see between Wako and Meguru. They've already been together for several years when the manga begins, while the show follows their accidental reunion after going their separate ways as close friends in high school.
- Kira exists in the manga, to be beautiful and vaguely arrogant, but not much more. In the show, Kira steals the spotlight everywhere he goes; he's a bizarrely self-absorbed comic relief character who doesn't really care about anyone at first, but changes and grows into someone you can almost take seriously sometimes, because he's so, so serious about initially-uninterested Asahi.
- Asahi does not exist in the manga. Wako has a boss, but she's quite different. Asahi is the closest the show gets to a true straight man, but she never feels like a buzzkill.
- The show's structure, pacing, and the addition of Kira and Asahi, the creative liberties that were taken to improve the show (as opposed to blindly sticking to the manga), really elevate the show, while Meguru and Wako feel perfectly in-character, making it a faithful adaption in spirit AND an improvement from the source material.

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Amazing Cast. Amazing Storyline. Amazing Everything!

I love Feng Bao Bao and I am sure everyone loves Feng Bao Bao; no questions there. However, Zhang Chulan's character is what people would be at first like "meh", but you really need to give him attention, listen to what he says and what he does. He has such a way with words and emotions and if you think he is just being silly, there is more to him than that. There are several scenes where he delivers such amazing lines that you might want to go back and listen to them.
There are several other characters that are so good in this show like Wang Ye! It would be so exciting to find out about what he is seeing regarding Wang Chulan, and Neo Hou is perfect for this role. Bi Wenjun's character is so good and watching him fight the first time with Zhang Chulan was a treat! The brothers of NDT, the elders and even the Sinisters are so fun and interesting. The storyline is very well written, and it would be exciting to explore Baobao's origin in the future episodes. For those who are thinking whether they should or should not be watching this, I would say YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD.

REVIEWER IS VERY EXCITED AFTER FINISHING THE 12THE EPISODE.

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It was a great storyline but a little bit rushed

The story and music was great, it's like a future story or story of another world or another universe just like us with some differences. Actors were all great and acting was also nice. After watching ep 1, it started to make me curious and attacted to the characters.
With my imagination I can tell what happened in this story, so it was good for making pictures in a person's mind. That's what I liked.

There were some places from where some important parts were cut off which seems a little off but I think it's production team's idea for upcoming stories about second leads. The most hilarious thing for me was ending, it just ended in the middle of the conversation without any warning. That's what make me more curious about knowing this story more.
So, I believe it's also some kind of trick they used to make people curious about next.

Overall, I liked actors, acting, scenes, storytelling, cinematography but was a little bit confused and curious about editing some important clips in latest episodes and the ending seems to come out of nowhere or can be said a little rushed.

In the end, I would like to thank all the actors, directors, producers, writers and all staffs and people involved in this project who gave a new perspective to think and expand our understanding of some extraordinary mind.
Thank you so much.
Hope all of you can keep doing great things like this in your life.

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An old concept portrayed in a creative way

The story is centred around CCW, a magician by profession. He is also predestined steward of great 2000 years old spirit. Endowed with ability to see spirits, he has become quite famous. He has learned to use ghosts (which obviously only he can see) in creative and ingenious ways to perform his acts.

GSH is a hard-working, high empathy cop working to correct wrong done to people. In my opinion, Jin Ki Joo has improved her acting a lot compared to last KDrama I saw of her (Secret Life of my Secretary). I wish she goes on to become top league actress.

OST wise, it's nice. Just not noteworthy till now. Cinematography is quite good. As it's shows about magicians, of course, they would some eye-catching sequences.

Overall, a fun enjoyable drama. If you are fan of Park Have Jin, of course, you have to see. If you are looking for something moderate serious tone, please go ahead and watch.

It was a stellar show till episode 10. Post that it has become victim of predictability. The historical arc, I thought there would be more substance to it. But alas, it doesn't.

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My heart was not prepared

If you’re looking for a feel good movie that will give you a rollercoaster ride, this is the it!

This movie has been on my To Watch List since it came out and I’ve been putting it off for whatever reason(s) and finally watched it and I have to say, wow. Just wow. The acting is amazing, the OST equally amazing (the choice for the last song was *chef’s kiss*).

It’s also really visually pleasing and kind of has a bit of an indie feel to it a bit with the filming style which I wasn’t sure I would like but it really worked and almost made it more realistic? If that makes sense?

I need to go watch something light and fluffy now. I’m a blubbering mess, but in a good way.

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So close to becoming my favorite.

The show is about the male lead having a phobia and the female lead (at first) being the main trigger to his phobia. Over time they grow closer and y'know. I feel like other than that, there's nothing else.

I personally find this show pretty light to watch, meaning that you could either watch to past time or just to watch while doing something in the background. Not something to get really attached to. I RARELY see any dramas about germ phobias at all! As this was my first one. And I haven't watched the Korean version of this but I could say that the story was pretty good!
I personally think the last two Episodes were boring, I won't spoil but their were boring to the point where I looked off my computer screen for some time to do other things.

I also have to point out the second lead, a lot of people state that he's annoying and they hate him but it's eh for me really. I do agree he was annoying at times but he wasn't that bad.
(Edit 7/23/21: Nevermind, I remember me skipping/looking away whenever I saw him on screen 85% of the time)

The relationship between Renqi and Shaung was so cute! Loved them! I do find their relationship kind of draggy though.

The acting was amazing to me! I think Jasper played his role really well, especially in Episode 20, their was a scene where I really LOVED Jasper's acting at that moment.

The music was AMAZING!! I loved it so much! Pretty light and catchy!

Am I rewatching?
It's an 8 since I would re watch but not ALL episodes, some episodes were really useless to me.

In total, would've been my favorite BUT some episodes were meaningless and the last two episodes got me bored. I have to add about the side couples, they were okay. At first, didn't care for either as I thought they were annoying but I like both of them! The more you watch this the more the plot is predictable at this point, will miss this show though! Been watching since it aired :)
Give this is a try if you're looking for a light rom com! Nothing with action or gore much. Though you probably will find yourself bored of it episodes later.

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