Reviews

Excellent, phenomenal and intense drama!!

To start off with,this drama has a solid plot.The screen play is very intense,grippy and there is not even a bit of nonsense till the end.
The pace is very good and the cat-mouse games between the 3 leads is really interesting.
Ren Jialun as Wei Zhao,is excellent in portraying his role.Being a smart,cunning,complex man with many mysteries,yet has many emotions.He is phenomenal in his acting.
Li Landi as Jiang Ci,is a smart,naive,decisive yet kind girl from Jiang village who comes to capital and gets herself involved in the midst of ongoing political tensions.She is very good in her acting.
Jeremy Tsui,as Pei Yan,is smart,intelligent,cunning,stubborn and yet becomes a reliable friend who stands for Wei Zhao in difficult times.His acting was excellent.
All the characters have their own goals,personalities,and are very complex and are written perfectly.
The sets, costumes,production,locations,screenplay,plot,twists and turns,everything is good.
The last episodes were too good.Thefriendship of 3 of them was very nice.I liked the way they supported each other in difficult times keeping aside their grievances.The emotions were beautifully portrayed.The characters development is Excellent.The war and action scenes were excellent.
Overall,I would like to describe this drama in one word-excellent and phenomenal!!

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More a slice of life drama than a romance

This was one of the most anticipated BL dramas that I wanted to watch in the past year. The story, and the actors that would be playing the parts, really intrigued me. The storyline that involves organ transplantation, specifically the heart, is not a new idea, but it certainly hasn’t been overdone either. There were many parts of the drama that lived up to my expectations. The acting, the cinematography, the dilemma in the story of someone else’s life being sacrificed for your own. And overall I really liked the themes that were presented of camaraderie , family, friendship and living a simple contented life.

However, to call this a romance....is a little generous. I would call it bromance more than anything. I did not feel romantic chemistry between the main couple, though they had good acting chemistry. I know it may be petty, but I was extremely disappointed to not get any kind of affectionate overtures from them until the last episode. And until the last minute they didn’t even kiss each other! Now I understand culturally there is a difference in how romantic couples may show their affection. As well as the characters personalities. But you also have to sell me on some kind of physical attraction in order to believe that these two seemingly heterosexual man all of a sudden are romantically interested each other and want to spend their life together. I would be interested in reading the book and seeing if it differed in this way. Maybe they were trying to keep it rated “G” in order to appeal to a larger audience on television?

That said, I don’t feel like I wasted my time watching it. The child actors were very good and adorable. I liked the themes and the general storyline and how one can change their life for the better. But I would not watch this again, and I definitely would not recommend it to someone as being a romance. It’s more like a slice of life drama.

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"Rebirth" draws more attention on the poster than on screen.

“Rebirth” is a film that looks far more interesting on its poster than it actually is on screen.
While the premise suggests themes of transformation and emotional renewal, the execution fails to support that promise. The script is weak and inconsistent, preventing any real sense of narrative depth or character development. As a result, the story never fully engages or convinces.
The female lead is particularly undermined by poor writing. Instead of a clear and meaningful character arc, she feels underdeveloped and inconsistent, which weakens the emotional core of the film. Without strong writing, the performance has little room to elevate the material.
The central romantic pairing also lacks chemistry. Their interactions feel forced rather than organic, with no gradual build-up of tension or emotional intimacy. The noticeable age gap is never meaningfully addressed within the story, making it feel more like an awkward detail than a deliberate narrative choice.
Direction-wise, the film gives the impression of ambition without delivery. It suggests emotional depth and complexity but ultimately fails to translate those ideas into something impactful or engaging.
In the end, “Rebirth” is a disappointing experience — a concept that looks compelling at first glance but collapses under the weight of weak execution.

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This drama really isn't for everyone

For the most part, I enjoyed it. I went in without any expectations. I didn't really know anything about the plot besides a whole bunch of international students living together. There is hints of romance and some of the plot lines had potential, but there wasn't really a whole lot to it. There was so many ways to make the plot more developed and talk about being an international student, but they didn't do that. I guess the plot to most people is the con, but to me it was bearable. I will add there were very questionable things that didn't sit right at times and if you watch it you get what I mean. I also will add, if you hate laugh tracks, you will not like this sitcom/drama at all.

I loved the casting. I think that was the best part of the drama. It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces. It is pretty rare to see foreigners that actually know how to act. For the most part, most of them are new actors so I wasn't expecting a lot, but I was pretty impressed. Especially with Youngjae and Minnie, it was nice to see them act together in this sitcom, so I'm looking forward to seeing them act again.

I personally enjoyed it with a few exceptions and take my rating lightly because I liked it better then most. I give this drama/sitcom a 7.5/10.

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A Good Series With a Good Plot

i really like this one (as you can probably already tell from my profile pic lol). idk why i love it so much but maybe because of the plot? i just love unrequited love stories and ep 6 really show how hurtful it is to love someone you have no chance with but is constantly giving you hints, making you questioning everything (idk if this makes sense english is not my first language). the amount of times you tried to get over someone and also fall for them over and over is the line that stole my heart in this show. but i do have to be honest the acting could’ve been better but it got better as the episodes progress. overall, i really enjoyed this and i hope gmmtv or any other companies would make more BLs with plots like this ☺️.

oh and also, the ost which is sung by joong IS SOO GOOODDD! 😩

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PLOT: Interesting & fluid, but with a rushed ending
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I picked this show up worried by some of the comments and articles I've read about it. Fortunately, the drama was fun and was almost always consistent (more about this in the "overall" portion).

The story invites us to watch Android Nam Shin III's interaction with humans, asking us to consider what makes us human. Is it our biology or is our humanity measured by a set of values and /or a righteous moral compass? To add to the complexity, we're then reminded that our nature is not set in stone as each character is presented with their own demon to either slay or be conquered by. From those driven by ambition to those trying to find a place in the world, their mix of strengths and weaknesses results in three-dimensional characters learning to navigate an interesting plot.

ANDROID NAM SHIN III: Consistent & well-developed
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Android Nam Shin III (ANM3 for short and played by Seo Kang Joon) is the heart of the show and the star of the story. His role is integral to the narrative and it's his interactions with the rest of the cast that push the narrative forward.

Given that this is a sci-fi show, I'd braced myself for a truckload of inconsistencies. Thankfully my fears were unwarranted since the writers set proper rules for ANM3 and, even better, consistently followed them.

A key to understanding ANS3 is to remember that, as his name implies, he's not just a robot but an "Artificially Intelligent Android". So while Robots are programmable and usually capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous action, an AI Android is a robot with a human appearance controlled by a program that mimics human intelligence. In AI, an algorithm is "trained" to respond to a particular input in a certain way by using known inputs and outputs.

So it's important to regard ANM3's rules as "moral guidelines" and not "rigid commands". Meaning that it's still ANM3's decision whether to follow them or not. This allows room for judgments, alterations, and self-improvement (the last of which is an integral part of his character design).

OTHER MAIN CHARACTERS: Interesting & complex
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Kang So Bong (female lead played by Gong Seung Yeon): She's a strong, well-rounded and consistent character. She wasn't introduced as a goody-two-shoes or a naïve protagonist, which is always a bonus. Disenchanted with life after being betrayed at the peak of her career, Kang So Bong's cynical views on life take a turn for the better after meeting and befriending ANS3, who ironically ends up restoring her hope in humanity.

Ji Yeong Hoon: (Nam Shin's personal assistant, played by Lee Joon Hyuk): Ji Yeong Hoon was a great addition to the show and created a perfect balance of traits and weaknesses. Like Kang So Bong, he struggles with his internal demons on a daily basis. It's clear that Ji Yeong Hoon suffers from an identity crisis, not knowing where Nam Shin starts and he ends, which makes him a complex and sympathetic figure. By meeting and talking with ANS3, he's able to grow into his own skin and accept that, rather than being someone's shadow, there's still time for him to become his own man.

[Human] Nam Shin (also played by Seo Kang Joon): He's another complex character with an identity crisis who struggles to keep his emotions from running rampant. Though he's somewhat of an antagonist, he doesn't act without reason and, once his side of the story is presented, it's hard not to look at the story from his perspective. He's a man who's living a nightmare, constantly cornered by both enemies and allies. It stands to reason he's not ANM3's biggest fan.

ANTAGONIST: Power-hungry
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There are two main antagonists in the show. One is Seo Jong Gil (Ye Na's father played by Yoo Oh Sung) and the other is Nam Gun Ho (Nam Shin's grandfather played by Park Young Kyoo). Both characters are motivated by greed and, though their actions can be monstrous, they have moments where the human in them comes out and you can't help but pity them. After all, bad people aren't born like that, they are made.

PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Interesting and sweet
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The romance was interesting if you look at it with an open mind. Going by the comment section a lot of people were turned off by the idea of a human falling in love with an AI Android, but if you think about it, it isn't so farfetched.

The show asks if a human is able to fall in love with an Android and, more importantly, if said Android --who isn't capable of feeling emotions-- could learn to love her back? The answer to this question results in a slow-burn romance that's quite sweet and fun to watch. The interaction between A. Nam Shin and Kang So Bong progresses so naturally, that it never feels out of place or forced.

I've got to give the writer(s) credit for how well they weaved the romance into the narrative, because not only was it not distracting, but it added value to the overall story and pushes both characters to grow.

OVERALL: Memorable and highly recommended
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Whether you love, hate or love to hate the characters, the writers did an excellent job in portraying the road each of them took to get to where they are and, more importantly, the reasons why.

Although the story is well crafted, it isn't without some inconsistencies and plot-hiccups, which is why I didn't rate it higher.

Regarding the inconsistencies, most are minimal (personal peeves) and therefore easily ignored. The more glaring ones have to do with scenes involving physics; specifically the wrongful portrayal of the collision between objects. However, those are few and far between and they're used as a way to heighten the action, so they don't really impact the narrative.

The harder to ignore plot-problems become apparent near the end. It felt like the writers ran out of time and ended up solving plot-lines that they'd been slowly building-up in an unsatisfying way. I also deducted points from the rating for not utilizing Kang So Bongs' fighting abilities more, since it was such a big part of her character.

Nonetheless, the show is still an enjoyable ride. Just think about those flaws like badly designed icing on an otherwise excellent cake.

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This drama has way too many repeated flashbacks that could be easily reduced to just 20 episodes instead.

Was initially attracted to this drama due to the main actress as she have acted in "Put your head on my shoulder". She have acted well in this drama too. However, the disappointing part of this romance drama is that there are no kissing scenes at all?!

The make up for the second female lead is very exaggerating(especially her eyeliner). The ending was too rushed. The female lead's mother and best friend really gets on my nerve.

There are way too many consecutive conflicts and the plot feels very predictable messy.....

Therefore gave a low review.

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Cells steal the show for 2nd season

The second season has parallels with the first, but the cells are more prominent when they were more of a side note in the first season. Not just Yumi's cells but all the cells that appear. They provide the most comedy in the second season whereas Wung was the source of it in the first. Personally, I prefer season 1 but season 2 is deeper emotionally.
I've always thought the overall story is more about Yumi's bittersweet relationship with Wung, which is a much more interesting and emotionally packed story arc. I've always hated the going out, breaking up and getting back together storyline which has become a cliché (boring) and it happens here which is why I prefer the Yumi-Wung storyline.
At the very least the show exposes human imperfections and their decision-making driven by these imperfections. Yumi's hypocrisy, Wung's inability to swallow his pride and BaBi's creepy smile and sociopathic tendencies, and the latter made me worried for Yumi's future had she ended up marrying him. That's because Babi's daddy issues would have been exposed even more and his sociopathic tendencies will manifest into domestic violence and infidelity, but let's not go there. Let's be honest, Babi has been creeping around Yumi since the beginning and pounced on his prey the moment Wung was out of the picture; he mentions he doesn't get on with his father which hasn't been fully explored, and they haven't shown enough of what really happened between Babi and Da Eun. There is no way he didn't dip his bulgogi in her gochujang.
In the end, I hope they all end up with who they deserve. Babi doesn't deserve Yumi and Yumi doesn't deserve Wung. The series has an open ending so a potential for a third season which I would gladly welcome, but wouldn't mind if it ended that way coz that's how life is; there is no happy or sad ending, it just goes on until death.

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A well-told story, wholesome, and beautifully acted by all cast.

A North Korean defector, Loh Kiwan, was struggling to get a refugee status in Belgium and so, at risk of being deported. He also got into a lot of troubles being a foreigner in a new neighborhood. Through trials and tribulations, is there a happy ending for Kiwan?

It was quite an emotional watch. The struggle to survive, with the fear of being deported. What happened was sadly realistic in some cases; the unfair & frustrating bureaucracy some migrants have to go through to live normally. No personal experience, but I know a bit about this from a few people in real life, those who migrated due to various reasons and struggled for their residence permit.

The dialogues were good and to the point. I like the impactful moments when the scenes shift between past and present to explain the context. Kiwan is such a nice guy, I like his character for how he responds to kindness despite his desperate situation, which got me rooting for him. Few unfortunate events he faced in society maybe slightly too dramatic, but not that it gets annoying. Kudos for everyone’s performance, especially Song Joong Ki, WHO? A few minutes going in, I see Song Joong Ki no more, he really disappeared into Loh Kiwan.

- Mar 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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1) The reason I watched this:

I had this drama on my PTW list for a long time, I've delaying it for ages then one day, I decided to go fo it.

2) Storyline/Plot:

As a person who haven't read the manga and have no idea about this drama's story, I believe that the storyline was somehow strong.

Positive points:

*The plot was set up in a good way plus the story's development was meaningful since it gathered rigid events.
*This is the type of drama that won't let you lose interest in its events simply because mysterious twists were always present.
*This drama's storyline was a great mixture between romance, mystery, psychology and even some little horror moments; that's why I would say that the storyline is rich and enjoyable.
*There were some brilliant suspens moments that would fill you with anticipation and expectations.

Negative points:

*There were some unnecessary events or let's say they were "badly expressed".
*Some moments were really annoying to watch.

Story: 8.5/10

3) Acting/Cast:

*Zhou Vic : he has always been my weakness point but seriously he managed to portray the character in a perfect way.
He completely owned the role whether in sadness, happiness, his gloomy or his cheerful character; he knew how to deliever feelings.

*Hsu Barbie : As an actress she had a good show but I can't say the same about her character which took the wrong turn sometimes.

*The chemistry was one of the greatest chemistries that I've seen so far. I enjoyed every scene they had together.
*The rest of the cast was cool too plus their acting skills were good too.

Cast: 8/10
Acting: 8.5/10

4) The ending:

It one of those endings which anyone would love to see on screen. Overall it was good enough.

The ending: 8/10

5) My impression (How did it afect me):

*It's true that I had to skip some parts in order to make the drama's episodes equilibrated but I never lost interest in its events.
*Zhou Vic was simply amazing here not only as *insert shallow feelings* but also as a good actor who knew how to portray his role.
*Although I liked this drama, I can't say that I was obsessed about it.

My impression: 7.5/10

6) Overall:

*If you want a good change from typical romantic comedies then you like this.
*If you like romance mixed with psychology then this is for you
*If you like Zhou Vic then you need to watch this because this was his best role ever.

Overall: 8.5/10.

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A Drama Loaded with Sweetness

This is a Light-Fluffy romance with the perks of having a Contract Marriage and an Overbearing CEO. However, what I liked the most about this drama is that the characters didn't do a 180-degree turn after falling in love. Usually, in most of the Overbearing CEO based dramas, the ML becomes a completely different man leaving everyone to wonder if that is the man the FL fell in love with...

However in this drama, the ML modifies some of the habits, he gains further insight into relationships between couples but his overall attitude and quirkiness didn't disappear. He is still the same guy who gets jealous, who supports from the behind, who apologies... who still have trouble following all the wishes of his wife and tricks her.

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Condensed from my blog, I am writing this review: I cannot begin to do this drama justice. From beginning to the end, I was totally immersed into the story; wrote several blog posts and never missed a minute to watch the drama raw, live, as well as subbed.
My Only Complaint
The ending probably wasn't what any of us wanted. Our OTP should have been given more time in the last episode. We, the viewers, felt kind of cheated. I would have preferred at least one episode showing us Crown Prince/King Seong and Solnan as King and Queen; the birth of their first son would have been a nice touch too; however, we can blame that on the fact that the drama was unfairly cut in the last weeks.

I think we can all agree that 5 more episodes would have made this drama perfect in its execution. But overlooking that, I found this drama addicting and oh so satisfying. I never thought I’d watch a drama so soon after Ugly Alert that once again, exceeded my expectations ten-fold! The acting was stellar and some of the scenes are ones you may never see again in a saguek drama. Well worth the 54 hours of my drama life; wait, I think it is more because I've re-watched episodes again! Highly recommend it for the story, for the romance and especially the STELLAR acting.

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hot garbage

this isn't orv. it doesn't follow the novel, it doesn't follow the manhwa. it feels like I've read 50 shades of grey and some random girl made a vampire fanfiction of it and brougt it to the cinema with the same name and characters. but historically speaking this has not happened: 50 shades of grey got its own film and twilight despite being its insipration never used the same names of those characters, so why must this have to happen with orv? i say webtoon loves the sound of money but they are not read to lose exactly twice the revenue with the shit in going to unload with this live action the fans never in heaven asked. we novel readers know the importnce of the story being read through the phone, the value and singulairty of the characters and stories told, the themes and moral of the story, the director and actors are simply demonstrating the exact opposite. I'm really disappointed that this will be part of the legacy of this fandom but in the end I hope this film gets trashed for good.

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Between Fan Service and Outdated Storytelling

“I expected nothing, and I’m still disappointed.” (Dewey, Malcolm in the Middle)

If anyone still wondered whether it was possible to produce a drama without a tangible script, Perfect Crown provides the official proof. Gathering bankable names (actors, idols, models) has never guaranteed quality, and this project is a sad reminder of that fact. To finance its luxury cast and grand sets, MBC pulled every possible lever: omnipresent product placement, a Disney+ partnership, and a premium royal packaging clearly designed for export. Between IU’s loyal fanbase and Byeon Woo-seok’s meteoric rise after Lovely Runner, this drama is above all a luxury marketing product built for return on investment. A veteran director, Park Joon-hwa, was placed at the helm, but he is unfortunately weighed down by a script that feels like it came from an internal network writing contest—often a warning sign for narrative disaster. The result? A porous, bland, and tedious story that feels like a poor remix of a past hit such as The King: Eternal Monarch. To survive Perfect Crown, one must abandon all expectations and choose a side: complete detachment or outright mockery. You can probably guess which one I chose.

Perfect Crown follows the trend of dramas attempting to blend sageuk (historical drama) conventions with modern storytelling sensibilities. We are placed in a uchronian society where Korea has remained a monarchy. Yet, by necessity or modernization, it has evolved. This is not a constitutional monarchy but a neo-feudal one, as Prime Minister Min Jeong-woo (Noh Sang-hyun) belongs to the hereditary elite families that control political power. Seong Hui-ju (IU) is a commoner, but also the daughter of the country’s most powerful chaebol, running an empire comparable to LVMH. Her goal is to marry Prince I-an (Byeon Woo-seok), whose elder brother, the former king, died under mysterious circumstances three years earlier. Due to succession issues, the throne passed to a child king aged eight, under the influence of Queen Dowager Yoon Yi-rang (Gong Seung-yeon). All of them have known each other since childhood, having attended the same royal academy. Finally, another key figure is Yoon Sung-won (Jo Jae-yun), the queen’s father and head of the royal court. If you’ve seen Alchemy of Souls, you can already guess where this is going. It reeks of recycling and imitation.

The strengths are few and mostly visual: sets, both interior and exterior, costumes (modern fashion, hanboks, etc.), all serve the aesthetic ambition. The color grading and Mercedes sponsorship further amplify the glossy, bling-bling atmosphere. At times, it feels like IU simply stepped out of Hotel del Luna and into this role: similar acting style and princess-like wardrobe. Park Joon-hwa, known for hits such as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Because This Is My First Life, and especially Alchemy of Souls, is clearly out of his comfort zone here, as the script is too thin and forces him to fill time during the first six episodes. Both palace intrigue and romance require patience—too much patience. What is sold as a dream quickly turns into a narrative nightmare in the first half of the series. Perfect Crown is not even a love story at first, but a marriage that resembles a corporate merger. As a result, chemistry feels entirely manufactured. Everything relies on the actors’ physical appeal, which is overplayed to the point of narcissism. One of the biggest flaws is the complete lack of suspense, with most key elements revealed within the first three episodes. The only redeeming sequence early on is a nighttime urban rodeo scene—short, but genuinely engaging.

The pacing is nonexistent, with unnecessary scenes piling up endlessly. The goal seems to be constant visual stimulation: everything must shine and dazzle. Around episode seven, the drama finally wakes up with a first twist. Without spoiling anything, the narrative then shifts toward the theme of romantic karma, but it is so poorly handled that it becomes tedious to follow. Everything is predictable, overacted, and feels like an empty shell or a luxury counterfeit. Even halfway through the series, there is still no real suspense, no credible antagonist, and above all, no romantic magic. It feels like a visual scam the viewer is forced to endure. It is far from The King: Eternal Monarch, which, despite its flaws, at least offered a dreamlike quality through its iconic pairing of Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun. Byeon Woo-seok shows no evolution since Lovely Runner, and beyond displaying his abs like in a commercial, his acting remains limited. IU, meanwhile, is on autopilot, overacting much like in Hotel del Luna, except this is no longer the same character. Their romance feels fake, forced, and painfully mechanical.

We are also clearly not in the territory of Under the Queen’s Umbrella, where the dowager queen is reduced here to something as threatening as a Yorkshire terrier facing an elephant, and the royal conspiracy feels like a ridiculous operetta-level villain plot. The sense of danger is artificial and becomes laughable. Steven Noh is also wasted in a role that offers far more potential. In a particularly lazy move, we are even served the classic nighttime truck accident explanation for a past death—again. It is time to stop excusing everything under the label of “it’s just a romance drama.” For example, whether one liked Queen of Tears or not, there was at least a real story, a real antagonist, and committed actors. The same applies to The King: Eternal Monarch: imperfect, but at least emotionally engaging. Here, between a constantly crying child king and dialogue worthy of a telenovela, the viewer is not exactly spoiled. Secondary characters are also treated carelessly, despite clearly deserving more depth over twelve episodes. Near the end, the queen undergoes a sudden moral transformation in a surreal scene (with all due respect, excessive soju consumption is harmful). The result is a parade of mediocrity, often pompous and artificial.

Perfect Crown wants to be a prestigious royal romance, but ends up as a catalogue of flashy clichés wrapped in premium aesthetics. A drama obsessed with its own image, incapable of delivering any genuine emotion. Behind the crowns, costumes, palaces, and luxury cars, there is only an enormous narrative void, further weakened by internal contradictions. Apart from two or three episodes, it tells almost nothing meaningful—a dull, self-contained exercise in déjà vu. It is excessively manichean, filled with worn-out tropes, devoid of sincerity, and overall quite disheartening. I didn’t come here to watch a couple relying solely on their looks, but to be told a story that, even if imperfect, would still feel engaging. Instead, it is often sluggish, easily watchable at double speed without missing anything important. Aside from a couple of brief twists that momentarily create doubt, the script is fully transparent. It is clear the target audience is not particularly demanding—more interested in packaging than content. I wanted to be lenient and give it an average score, but the final episode completely sinks it. At least the OST is salvaged—that’s something.

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