Reviews

So Far The Best Mini Series Out There

Out of all the miniseries I've watched, this is hands down one of the best. It's not cringey or very stereotypical; it's very concise, straightforward, and the actors are excellent. Both are very good looking, and I see a lot of chemistry between them. There are some flaws in the acting, but compared to other minidramas, these actors can truly act. The second couple is also amazing; I didn't skip their scenes at all. I like how it's just 13 minutes per episode because it made it so easy to watch. It's definitely worth binging.

I watched it on kisskh.co just in case someone wants to know where to watch.

Don’t be discouraged by the ratings; this one is really good.

Also, it has a happy ending and lots and lots of kisses too, if that will encourage you to watch this. 🤭

Acting: it's really good
Chemistry: i really like them
Storyline: typical but honestly not cringe
OST: I WANT TO FIND ALL OF THEM COZ IT'S REALLY GOOD TOO
Rewatch Value: i definitely would want to watch it again.

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I was hesitant to watch this at first, I thought it would just be some darker "Just Like Heaven". I sure do not regret my choice to click play. It is beautifully written, both Miso and Kang Soo's stories are so banally touching.
It really makes one thing about life, illnesses, death and the impact it can have on others.
One particular part hit home: "-Will you remember me? -How can I forget you... -I mean, the good times". It is easy when you lose someone to remember the bad and difficult times, which are often the immediate past. We tend to forget all of the beautiful moments because they're further in our memories. One Day was a good reminder as I am guilty of that.
I also loved that there was no romance involved, though we can easily imagine there was.  This fine line between love and care was just perfect, and I like that Kang Soo took the time to appreciate her for what she was, and not only because he was reminded of his wife.
It is a masterpiece in my book (do I have to mention how it can start a debate on euthanasia? and the way to address the visually impaired?) and great if you're looking for some heart-warming human interaction.

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Messy Execution!

The only reason I finished the drama was Li Ji Ah's character, Shim Soo Ryun, and her quest to avenge the death of her daughter. I wanted to watch her journey and I was rewarded when she achieved her goal. The rest...sadly were just fluff, full of over-the top vile, despicable characters from the bullying teens, to the screeching like banshees parents who lacked class, finesse and intelligence. I don't know if this is a culture in Korea but the truly wealthy people do not behave like them. So many unnecessary filler scenes with continuous bullying by the kids as well as the adults that I, like some of the viewers here, constantly rolled my eyes. The exhibited behaviour from most of the characters was so infantile that I was wondering if the writer is a fan of reality TV "real housewives" where people pull each other's hair.

It's almost comical that these rich families are figuratively cutting each other's throat so their children can be the best opera singer. To be a great singer like Maria Callas and Kiri Te Kanawa requires real talent and the truly best diva sopranos in the world are so few that you can count them with your fingers. Children of the wealthy are normally groomed to be the heir of their family's fortunes. So the idea that these families, residing in one building, all obsessed with their children's singing is not only silly and ridiculous but unrealistic.

The breath of fresh air in this drama was Li Ji Ah. Her acting was perfect and she was so classy as Shim So Ryun. Even the way she carried herself, the way she talked , her mannerisms, her clothes reeked with elegance, sophistication and high class. I'll only watch the succeeding seasons 2 and 3 if she's in it.

Season ending sucks!

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Even Jasper's smile can't save this one.....

When you start a drama with zero expectations and even then end up disappointed then it has to be some out of the world mess ....I won’t be exaggerating…. it wasn’t actually supposed to be that bad, but it is.... There are serious issues with the storyline as a whole ….that drag it down to the point that no matter who’s a part of the cast it just doesn’t make a difference ...or maybe it does ...I count is a failure in selection of script by actors !!

The story line in itself is the main problem with the show ...okay I am not talking about cliches and all ...I know they are a part of every other drama ...so I won’t bother complaining about that

But the whole storyline (I am hoping you’ve read the synopsis and I can safely skip the brief about story) ...like it began well ...I was okay with the fact that ML hid his identity because of course you can’t just go and say I am that ass you were talking to...for like 6 years, after messing her thesis defense …(but man they just dragged it for like infinite time ...if there was something like a patience test then this would be the show they’d ask the applicants to watch as the test.)

And as if this wasn’t enough they even went like ...okay you got to control her life too ...from what job she does to what she’d eat ...freaking everything ..cuz Mr. Penpal knows her better than herself ...great !! Oh well let me not blame all of this on ML’s character when clearly FL is to be blamed equally ...if life decisions are that easily influenced then... I am sorry I have no words.

The first half (more like initial eps and not exactly 12 eps) was still a bit on the fun side and maybe actually likable but the second half ....

(For a show that tries to romanticize lying …I really don’t want to comment on how mediocre acting was ...or how bad things actually went ...but then you see I have to vent somewhere ....so I decided to write a review ...and actually talk about all this)

Moving to other things ...like second leads ...they are no better ….does the writer seriously think that controlling is love. No female character in this show has even the basic amount of self respect….like forget everything else they are just doing whatever their love says or for the sake of some imaginary "bs" that they, in their head, assume... is love …


A rant with a few scattered " SPOILERS" begins now (you’ll be fine if you know the general drama trend of c-romances …cuz there’s not a lot in the show... to actually spoil) ...but still read at your own risk !!


One that assistant in the lab ...a cheerful bubbly girl pretending to be a stone just because of her one sided crush ...oh wait to justify this ...of course he likes her back ...the question is does he even know that she’s a cheerful bubbly girl by nature ...oh heck
And the main point is…. Does she think she can pretend to be a stone for the rest of the time even if he does like her back for being a stone ...what about yourself ...aren’t you more important ?

Another one FL’s friend ...I guess she’s the best in the slot for viewers (more like best of the worst) ...of course even that won’t be tolerated ...they have to mess every character in every possible way ..so yes they did it …

Being honest by the end of the show where everything dragged like anything I couldn’t really care about any experiment or any cliche trope (childhood connection and all) ...only one emotion throughout...anger ...sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself ..but maybe I enjoyed being angry..... enough, to actually finish this …

The only consistency in FL’s character is liking her online boyfriend other than that I really can’t find anything ...at first she wanted to earn money ...all well till there ...suddenly she wants to become a better scientist ...okay still fine ….now she won’t even try to do that properly ...like what the heck ….she’s really unlikable ...the way she is written is as if someone forced the writer to doll up a spineless character to make it look like a really good one ...well according to me it’s a failed attempt at that …(ML will be considered as an example of successful doll-up….but that too unfortunately or fortunately is still doll-up)

I know I already said she has no self respect ...but even I was shocked to see how easily she forgave him....
....hell, they even forgot that some sort of chemistry was supposed to be there ....trust me the moment they officially became a couple I was like ...finally ….but no ...from that point on they had absolutely no chemistry ...or at least I with my own 2 eyes (both working well) couldn’t see it.


Also who came up with that “Forever is for ever” ....that’s the level of creativity that I am gonna mark as my limit of expectation from drama land ...I don’t think anything can surpass this.

This show also marks the limit of fiction for me ...well she doesn’t even know his name and they’re dating ...well trust me even this can’t be surpassed !!

And before I end this review of course I need to mention the highlight of the show ….ouyang’s makeup ...trust me nothing stands out in the show more than his makeup ...okay I get he’s an idol and all, but seriously ...ain’t this too much.

…. I won’t call this a waste of time …(just for the sake of cast) ...cuz I guess it’s okay to lie that much, ain’t it …?

Have a good time if you watch this ...you have my wholehearted best wishes, you’ll need it !!

And anyone who liked the show ...pls take no offence I am just expressing myself ...maybe in a bit harsh manner ..but can’t really help ...I just want to vent my anger ...and I believe this is a good place !

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Well, this is a good comedy drama to pass the time, but I won't say it was impressive, and I probably forget it soon.
If you're in for the "summer readings" then give it a try.
I liked that they tried to put more depth to the prosopagnosia trope (now, this desease is a trend in dramaland and it seem to affect a lot of young ceos LOL can you please not be so obvious when you take inspiration?) by comparing Min Ik to her blind brother (even tho it was a very weak and short moment) and describing it as something scary and anxious. I mean you can't recognize people around you, that could be a setback, especially for someone who needs to recognize friends from foes.
I also liked the fact they talked about how some workplaces are a real hell (this thing was also treated in "Jugglers") for employees as maids, secretaries, drivers and so on, and they have a sort of will of change it.
But they kinda didn't handle it very well, the whole plot about the "robin hood secretary fight club" who sell the bribes their boss get from other people and use that money to cover employees issues is a bit boring, moreover because it doesn't concern the two leads or second leads, at least not entirely.
I liked a lot Veronica Park. I was scared when she was introduced because I thought she would be THAT annoying second female lead character, but her being too extra is, in fact, refreshing and amusing. I liked how she was somehow "naive" (not with love relationships LOL) but supporting towards the female protagonist AND her sister.
Well, what I didn't really liked was how much episodes and focus was spent for the whole "I pretend to be someone else" thing, it's something we saw a lot of time, also in western shows and movies, so I don't think it was needed...the show could've take another road without it and it would have been fine.
I find it hard to cheer for the protagonist if she pretend to be someone else, taking advantage of his illness, in order to obtain his love. It's lame and honestly if you think about it, it never ends well. I especially despise her sharade because she knew he had issues with his family and trust issues...she was too greedy, Our fictional characters are lucky their partner are sooo in love and understanding they come to forgive them, but in real life...well suing is the very least imo.
And the plot was pretty much stark...there are some evident plot holes, especially about the disguise and the assault thing that made me wonder if they thought I was too stupid to realize it.
I mean why in the world the driver would change a lightbulb in his boss office at night and why, when Min Ik finds out, he attacks him instead of saying "I'm your driver" . This doesn't make sense at all.
Also I wont' even try to analyse the medical aspect of it: his illness can be "cured" if he has high pressure or if he sees the one he loves....even sticking to it, there were moments were he was supposed to be excited or nervous (like when he confessed to Gal Hee, when they almost made sex and so on) but nothing happened. Conveniently at the end he has a scare in the elevator and his illness just goes away. I'd rather use the fantasy elements than this.
The last thing got me a bit annoyed it's an aspect of their romance. They were cute yes, but a bit too teenage-style to be 30 something. Min Ik hinted he had other relationships in that "stocking moment" (LOL) but they were awkward just by holding their hands or hugging (while in the first episode, when she was just the secretary I thought they were more chill about touching). I'm not saying I wanted hot stuff or whatever, it's just a bit surreal to see them being too much naive for their actual age.
I would rewatch this? I don't know, honestly. I was annoyed at her lies and I don't know if I want to face that again...but overall was cute and not to dramatic, LOL in the first episode Gal Hee's mother death was comic instead of sad.

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"Desire" to rewrite the second half again! A mess but a hot one!

I will keep this simple. Starting with positives-

✅ The Concept: My first proper dive into the ABO universe, and I will give credit where it’s due... it’s ambitious and intresting. A world ruled by pheromones, hierarchy and biological destiny isn’t an easy thing to pull off, especially in a Chinese production where censorship is a constant obstacle. The setup promised layers of politics, biology, identity, control and even if it didn’t deliver all of it, the foundation was fascinating enough to keep me curious.

✅ Hua Yong: Easily the most consistently written character in the drama. If I have to describe HY it would be manipulative , psychopath and effortlessly cunning! He doesn't chase control, but he is the control. He was the type who smiles while calculating outcomes, who comforts you just to see how easily you fall apart. Everyone else gets lost in their emotions, but not him. Somehow the little black flag was always one step ahead and disturbingly steady.

All this may sound like I don't like him, but I love him! Haha he was most consistent character who stayed true to his nature until the very end!

If the red flags of the BL world had a conference, Hua Yong would be the keynote speaker and Jaemin from secret relationships , Ming from My Stand In and Vegas from Kinnporche would be in the audience!

✅ OST

Now for what didn’t work (oh boy!)

❌ The Second Couple: This was the Achilles' heel. A colossal waste of potential. Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang had a setup that could have explored prejudice, deception and redemption. Instead, we got a subplot that felt like deleted footage stitched together. Their chemistry was barely developed and the emotional moments were rushed.

I do get they were the second couple and won't get 50-50 screentime but this was 95-5! I would have not complained if they listed them as side characters and not mains! And those 5% felt like dry leftovers. we are watching them chase their own tails in perfect circles...no growth, no progress, just filler vibes.

If the original source material lacked depth and scenes for them, then adaptation SHOULD HAVE filled that gap, not AMPLIFY it. I don't think this should be an excuse for the ending they gave us. Marketing them alongside the main couple was misleading because realistically they didn't even appear in few episodes together.

And Shen WenLang's backstory never saw the light of the day! Years of trauma was fed to us in normal day to day conversation with Hua Yong in barely a minute! His hate for omegas just felt like comical gimmick!

Again to the bed rock of my question, if you didn't want to address it , why introduce it ???!!!

❌ Both the alphas Shen and Sheng as characters were flat and frustrating. Considering S-Class Alphas are top of the food chain, they both were easy to deceive.
While I liked their chemistry with the their opposites, as an individual character i don't think they have any distinctive qualities to be remembered.

❌ Editing & Direction: Lighting choices were baffling. The editing felt choppy in the second half. I am sure censorship has a big role to play in this.
The fighting scenes between the two alphas were plain comical. While I appreciated the use of CGI for pheromones visuals, the balance was off.

❌ Writing & Pacing Issues: The drama started off so strong like peak potential, every scene hitting just right. But halfway through it started dragging or maybe it was a "me" issue. Don't get me wrong, there was so much going but yet it felt like nothing was actually happening. We are circling the same plot but never moving forward! I kept watching out of hope, not hype.

❌ All the business talks were boring and like background noise. Again, could have used that screentime for maybe something better!

⚠️ I understand this was ABO universe where consent doesn't work like human world and that is okay but the aftermath was never properly addressed and it took me out a bit! I have questions about the lore behind the NC scenes and it was never explained on screen.

⚠️ Acting: Not the worst I have seen, but far from great. Huang Xing as Hua Yong carried the drama with subtle menace and Li Pei En as Gao Tu was excellent in playing the damsel role a little too well while the other two alphas were hit and miss, mostly miss. You could feel the effort, but not always the conviction.

Overall, the concept was great but with weak execution. But it was a fascinating mess! I know it paved the way for ABO concept in BL world and it will always be remembered for that. However, the flaws cannot be overlooked.

Will I recommend it? That's a difficult question. For the new concept , definitely but go in with tempered expectations. As they say, it's better to be surprised than being disappointed.

Legend -
✅ : I loved it !
❌ : Better luck next time.
⚠️ : It wasn't entirely bad but could have been better!

Thank you for reading my review! If you liked the drama, please take this review with a grain of salt and one of the many opinions! :))

Please note - none of the criticism is a personal attack or HATE on the actors or the whole Desire team. I applaud the effort but somehow it didn't entirely worked for me. :(

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Lost in a long long story..

A good script excellent screenplay and a talented cast that's capable of giving you memorable performances on any given day.. But honestly the cast deserved so much better.. The biggest flaw was the overstretched length.. 40 episodes were simply an overkill.. The story felt dragged..

You had Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi as the main leads.. Two phenomenal actors with undeniable talent and yet couldnt deliver a truly memorable drama?? That's failure on the biggest level..

If I were to write down everything I feel about this drama it would probably turn into a 10 page letter.. So I am going to focus on the last phase of the story instead which I really didnt like.. The last 10 episodes were probably the biggest reason why I think the drama underperformed.. There were a lot of unnecessary story directions towards the end with the rival store being one of them.. Was that even necessary?? Couldn't they have tied up the loose ends without introducing that subplot??

Then this drama too like many other dramas introduces that character who is after a married woman.. Trying to make her his.. But what's truly baffling is how in one episode he tries to sexually assault the FL and the next moment they are somehow friends?? Then he joins them in the fight?? And after that he gifts her something and she accepts it in front of her husband?? In just a few episodes this bad guy is reformed and asking for another chance.. So she gives him a job at her shop and keeps him close?? What was going on here?? Meanwhile LYX gets another FL who is perfectly fine cozying up to another guy...

Overall.. Watch it for the cast and some comic moments but dont expect anything too grand.. Its just an alright one time watch..

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If you feel like watching a cute, fluffy, funny and easy romance drama - then you're dead on with High School Love On!
I really, truly enjoyed watching this drama. Not because it's deep or serious is super original story-wise... but simply because I've always had fun watching it - you can lean back and enjoy, just don't expect it to be more than it is: a nice and simple high school drama, with lots of fluff, cute scenes and fun.

STORY
It's a high school drama about an angel that became human and two guys that become interested in her romance-wise. Nothing more to add here, read the plot.

ACTING
The acting of the three main actors was perfectly good. I've always had the feeling that the actors enjoyed themselves and had fun while filming, especially Kim Sae Ron who acts impressively good for her young age.

MUSIC
Not the best soundtrack ever and highly repetitive (although that is usually the case with K/J-dramas...), but still cute and it always fit the story.

REWATCH VALUE
Definitely high for me! Simply because I became a total addict to this drama and there was always just one episode per week, so I always rewatched the episodes to help my addiction.
Also, I'll definitely rewatch the series some time later... whenever I feel like watching something fluff, easy and funny...

OVERALL
I loved it! The feeling I got from it was a bit Coffee Prince - like. Like the actors themselves really enjoyed being these characters and having fun with each other in comedic scenes. Every week when this drama aired, it was like coming up for fresh air and it totally put me in fangirl-mode... I'll miss it a lot!

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Disturbing story of suffering people.

It's hard for me to wrap my head around what I have just seen and what exactly I was supposed to get out of watching this show.

The idea behind the story and the issues presented were extremely interesting, but at some point I had a feeling as if too much was happening in too quick of a pace with too much of over the top action. It moved from dark psychological school thriller to dark action flick? I felt like instead of giving us a cohesive story, the writer wanted to outdo himself by writing more extra and shocking scenes and plot lines one after the other.

The biggest problem I had was the fact some characters did not feel grounded in the story. Gi Tae and Hae Gyung were the two that stood out for me the most and I failed to understand them and their motivations. The change from school bully and teen delinquent to whatever Gi Tae became at the end seems random. Hae Gyung's introduction to the plot and her obsession over the case were also questionable.

On the bright side (if you can even call it that), all the characters were bad people, morally gray at best. While it was refreshing and interesting to watch a show where there are no heroes and no one to truly root for, it can also make you feel depressed and overwhelmed.

Some plot lines that were introduced led nowhere and were mere devices to push the characters into a corner, hence never got a proper closure, like the whole side story of Ji Soo's father or the guy Gyuri's parents worked with, that clearly was interested in her.

But then, truth to be told, the whole drama had no closure and clear cut ending. The last few scenes literally presented more new questions than answers. With that heavy of a story, leaving viewers without proper explanation may be risky. I myself feel as if my brain was just turned into pudding and any attempts to understand the ending or certain plots would lead me to more confusion and frustration.

The acting was quite a masterpiece. All the lead actors aced their roles, which were not easy to pull off. To sell a story, performers often use their own experience as a reference, but with crazy stuff happening in this show, it's hard to even imagine what the characters would feel, not to mention act it out. On other technicalities, it was beautifully shot. While the pictures were gruesome at times, I still enjoyed the camera work, use of colors and shadows and the transitions between the scenes.

Overall, not a drama for everyone. Gore, death, pain, suffering, abuse, mental and physical struggle - it's a perfect combination to get yourself in a depressive state or murderous mood. I took my sweet time watching this drama, not being able to watch more than one episode per day. But then binged watched the last three just to get it over with. While, in some weird way, I enjoyed the process of watching, I also feel exhausted and happy it's finally over.

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Promising start, lackluster ending.

Although it was flawed and predictable, the first half of The Princess's Gambit was entertaining and showed great potential. I was impressed with the gorgeous costumes, the actors' chemistry, and how cut-throat the schemes were. Our main characters, Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye, were both intelligent and calculating, and I loved their cat-and-mouse dynamic. It felt like the start of a real enemies-to-lovers romance, their interactions being the highlight of each episode for me. I also appreciated that despite their obvious attraction to each other, their priorities were focused on their missions: Jiang Taohua's fight for her survival and her brother's safety, and Shen Zaiye's desires to dismantle the corruption in the court and seek revenge for the wrongs that were committed in the past. With such a premise, I was so sure this would become one of my favorite dramas of the summer.

Unfortunately, the second half of the story came and it took an uninspiring and lazy turn. Suddenly, there was a noticeable shift in the tone for the characters and a drop in consistency for the storytelling. The plot lost its clear direction and stalled, hindered by an unnecessary trope. Miscommunication, lies, and a lack of trust between the main characters caused the story to lose its momentum, diminishing the drama's overall engagement. And the character development... what character development? Jiang Taohua — who started out as a powerless but resourceful heroine that could overcome any obstacle thrown her way with just her wits and bravery — regressed into a helpless damsel in distress in this latter arc. And Shen Zaiye — who spent years plotting and was hard set on vengeance even if he had to tarnish his own reputation and become a villain to accomplish this— suddenly became fixated on solely Taohua and uncharacteristically sidelined his own ambitions until the last remaining episodes. The change in their personalities, shift in their goals, and losses of their sense of self were painfully disappointing to watch unfold.

The plot took a nose dive, and that should have been my cue to drop the drama, but I loved the characters and I wanted to believe that the scriptwriters could salvage the narrative by the end, so I stayed. Regrettably, things didn't go as I hoped and when I finally reached the last episode, I was just happy that the drama was finally over. I learned that a few of the main reasons why the drama felt so disjointed was because there were too many people involved in the scriptwriting process and the drama had deviated significantly from the novel — which made so much sense based on what I've watched. I was left pondering what the drama could've been like if the scriptwriters had stayed faithful to the source material. Perhaps we wouldn't have such a polarizing reception of the drama?

My final thoughts: The Princess's Gambit suffered from a weak script and poor directing. The actors did the best that they could with what was given to them. Sadly, their efforts were in vain because this ended up being a very mediocre drama filled with cliches, choppy editing, and plot holes. While certain aspects of the drama were still enjoyable and commendable, it fell short of becoming great. I feel bad for the actors, because I liked them as individuals and initially I also thought that they were magnetic on screen together. There was so much wasted potential. They deserve better, and I hope they can reunite in a future project, one with a higher quality script.

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No Way Out: The Letdown..

The drama had a slow start.. With the production quality being average right from the beginning.. The first four episodes were particularly disappointing and didn't hold my interest.. It wasn't the pacing that was the issue.. But rather the lack of any real engaging content.. Honestly the only reason I continued watching was for Greg Hsu and his character.. Who should have made his appearance sooner..

One of the most frustrating parts of the storyline was how unrealistic it was for the wife to wait 13 years to file for divorce.. He was a convicted serial rapist and murderer.. No court would have denied her divorce petition in such a case.. And she would have obviously got the child's custody as well.. This plot point was not only illogical but also stupid..

Despite his limited screentime.. Greg Hsu a.k.a Mr. Smile was the highlight of the entire show for me.. His undeniable charm and compelling presence stood out.. I was glad to finally see him at the end again.. Hinting that he will have a significant role if there’s another season.. He absolutely deserves his own drama.. And with rumors that he might be getting one.. I am hopeful we will see more of him.. Especially since his character's still alive..

One another major disappointment was the music.. None of the scenes had good bgm.. Which was disappointing..

Overall.. There really weren’t many good things to talk about.. Just an average drama with a half baked story and poor execution..

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Idol & Inconsistency

Good chemistry. Fake premise. A lawyer drama that forgot the law, a murder mystery that ran in circles, and a finale that wasted its last shot. The romance carried this harder than it should have had to.

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I signed up for the ultimate Seong-deok fanfic, saving your bias from a murder charge. The cards were on the table. Se-na is an ace attorney. Ra-ik is an idol in handcuffs. Idol I did not bait and switch me. It promised a lawyer with a murder to solve and then spent eleven episodes refusing to actually show her being a lawyer. Every single beat of potential legal tension evaporates into nothing. Her profession is decorative, it is a typo, it is a fanfic device to justify proximity to her crush. You could have swapped her law background for a barista apron or florist shears or a sushi chef hat or walking dogs and nothing would have changed. Same scenes. Same dialogue. Same total absence of stakes. The script treats her profession like it was a typo that slipped past casting. Watching her do literally anything legal is like staring into an empty room waiting for fireworks. Nothing happens. Court scnes? nah?. Not an investigation she drives. Not a clever legal pivot. Nothing. Nada. Ugh.

The murder mystery is limp. Toxic substances in Ra-ik’s and his friend’s blood appear and then vanish. Who gave it to them? Why? Was it overlooked by sloppy investigators? Did someone cover it up? The show doesn’t care. Eleven episodes of circling the same evidence, pretending it counts as tension. They even run away to a cabin right after Ra-ik is indicted like being officially charged means nothing. Cozy romantic fantasy replaces stakes. I am furious.

Se-na dating her client? Ethics evaporated. Prosecutor Jung Jae-kwang suddenly grows a conscience after one conversation with Se-na. His father Kim Min-sang is cartoonish. Obstruction of justice is a casual hobby. These are not plot choices, they are insults to anyone who knows how justice works. The whole thing is nonsense. The story pretends consequences exist while actively ignoring them.

Romance is infuriatingly effective. Confessions, letter in the morning, Se-na running out late at night to deliver a hat. Cute, impulsive, human. The lawyer-suspect tension should create stakes, danger, stress, legal fireworks. Instead, it is proximity to justify romance. Chemistry doing the emotional labor the story refuses to do. I am charmed and furious at the same time.

The ML and 2FL conversations are pointless. One episode he’s in love, next episode he’s not. Watching it feels like staring into a void while someone waves their hands. Surface-level, invisible, whatever their contribution is, it is nothing. 2ML, the prosecutor, is vapid, and his one personality pivot is laughable. Watching actors try to make sense of this vacuum is maddening.

Han Do-hee as the ex-girlfriend does good work. She acts bitter, brittle, dangerous. But the writing refuses to earn it. Accidental harm escalates to premeditated murder mechanically. I believed her rage, her resentment, her self-pity wrapped in cruelty. I wish the writing cared as much as her acting.

Kim Jae-young and Sooyoung are the only reason this drama limps along. They give weight, pulse, emotional grounding. Without them, it is rubble. With them, it drags itself to the finish line. They fight the script with everything they have. Watching them is thrilling and enraging because everything else refuses to exist.

Park Chung Jae, played by Kim Hyun-jin, exists to pine and hand over evidence. It is infuriating watching him fight a script that cannot write him a single proper motivation. Side characters barely have motivations. I have seen cardboard targets with more interior life.

Idol/fandom moments land sometimes. Goldys waving flags, obsessive fans, parasocial ugliness, constant pressure, glimpses of real fandom intelligence, morse code in a song that makes me laugh and groan at the same time. It is absurd, ridiculous, but it works in the narrow context of fan energy. Still, it is another reminder of how lazy the rest of the writing is.

The finale is such a waste. Her father’s case barely matters, shoved into a single episode, literally a five-second footnote. Se-na finally functions as a lawyer and it barely matters. Romantic awkwardness happens after the relationship is established, which creates weird timing. The rest of the finale should have been ten minutes tacked onto episode eleven. Everything else is random fan-survival footage.

Idol I flashes brilliance constantly and then immediately smothers it. Se-na could have been a powerhouse lawyer. Ra-ik’s suspense could have carried fire. The investigation could have delivered tension. But the show chooses fanfic logistics over stakes, romance over logic, chemistry over plot, flashes of fandom insight over coherent procedural. It teases you, riles you, makes you believe something might happen, and then refuses to be anything other than padded, sloppy, frustrating nonsense.

It is maddening. It is infuriating. It is exhausting. It could have been sharp, biting, thrilling. Instead, it is chaos wrapped in cute gestures, fan service, and actors refusing to let the nonsense collapse entirely. I am furious and I cannot stop thinking about it.

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call hr

...basically an HR training video disguised as a romcom. The writers took the usual cold lead trope and used it to justify blatant corporate abuse. It is wild that they expect us to find sexual coercion and retaliation romantic. Really, it is just a rich guy throwing a tantrum because a woman walked out of his bedroom with her dignity intact. It is a symphony of ego where arson is sold as extreme home renovation.

The lead claims to hate his father, but I watched him copy-paste the old man’s abusive tactics for the entire second half. He just did it with better skincare.

The blue dress situation was the peak of the rot. The writers expect me to swallow the idea that a man’s history can be wiped, yet his brain sparks back to life because of a fabric color.

t is a special kind of stupid. It isn't about the dress being important. It is that the writers were too lazy to find a human way to reconnect these characters. They chose a wardrobe change over actual development. It turned a reunion into a shallow fashion show where the logic is as thin as the thread holding the dress together.

It did not help that the leads had the collective chemistry of two damp sponges. I did not feel any undeniable force pulling them together. They just looked like coworkers contractually obligated to stare at each other while a ballad played. When there is no heat, the fate and destiny stuff feels like a lie. I did not see a spark. I saw a production schedule.

Watching them navigate the memory loss was like watching a rehearsal where everyone forgot their lines and just decided to pose for a catalog instead. By the end, when the amnesia made him reject her because he reverted to his pre-infatuated self, I actually laughed. It was so bad it was honest. It was a slap in the face to anyone who invested time, but the fourth-wall credits and the supporting cast kept me from totally hating it. The drama is a mess. It has that nostalgic, cliché energy that makes it a decent enough way to kill time between shows that actually have a soul.

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Poor Hyun Bin. I don't even know where to begin with this review. Let's see...if you drop the first four episodes and the last four episodes, then it is a pretty decent drama. The writing is just horrible. I can't write spoilers so I can't go into it all, but if you want to know more, then PM me. First, the female lead character is horrible. I can't stand her from beginning to end. Selfless my ass. Everything she did was selfish under the guise of selflessness and she is stupid. The male leads in one person may sound interesting, but it is the stupidest thing I have ever had the misfortune to watch. What was the purpose of the circus or any of those characters that add nothing to the story? What is the purpose of the cousin or whomever he was trying to out Seo Jin? What was the doctor's purpose? Forget it. I'm done.
EDIT: OMG...I forgot about the over used hypnosis. Great idea, poorly executed.

Hyun Bin is great and some of the side actors are good. I don't know what happened to Han Ji Min. Did she always act that horribly and I just didn't notice? Sung Joon was beautifully "bad".

The music was ok sometimes.

I will never ever rewatch this.

Don't watch it. Watch something else!!!

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