Reviews

I don't think I have ever written as much about a show as I have about Secret Garden.

I even managed to regain my composure after the initial excitement, let some time pass and cool down, in order to look at it with a less passionate, more objective stance. The result is, SG remains my all time favourite, a drama I have watched and rewatched and will watch again until the characters and the script will be integral part of my life - perhaps they already are.



The plot speaks fot itself. There is fun, romance, magic, tragic, twists and literary references. It flows without interruptions, making you laugh like crazy and cry like a baby, at times flooding you like high tide, but it never leaves one dry or unsatisfied: questions are answered, references fulfilled, all spiced up with a little magic.



The script is unique and brilliant. The funny lines are hilarious, the serious ones thought-provoking. Nothing about this script is either predictable or shallow, making the characters come to life and become realistic in a fantasy world.



Which inevitably leads me to the acting, which is outstanding. The main leads have to play the part of themeselves, then that of the other, then that of the other playing the part of themselves. Lesser actors would have screwed up, but Ha Ji Won and Hyun Bin both do a fantastic job, providing laughters in heaps and tears in the same amount. And their love story is just as beautiful as their chemistry on screen is sizzling.

The secondary characters are not mere supporters. They are all interesting, complex personalities who adds to the plot and the dynamic wonderfully.



The music is addicting, even for a K-pop ignorant as myself. Songs and lyrics are never chosen randomly but highlight and define the scenes they soundtrack.



I can't ask more of a drama. In fact, I doubt I'll find something to fully compensate for the end of this wonderful show.

Leia Mais

I was really hooked around episode 8

I'm a Wuxia fan but I always enjoy a great Xianxia, and this happens to be one of them. Xiao Zhan is an incredible talent. Xiao Zhan is a consummate actor, able to play any role and become that character. I had just finished his beautiful & latest drama The Youth Memories 2023 not too long ago, where he played the confident, assertive, and gregarious Xiao Chun Sheng. That drama was a slice of life/coming of age. In The Long Promise, he played Shi Ying, a loner, calm, quiet, and introspective with a tragic past. Very few artists can reach that depth of acting in two totally different types of characters as successfully as Xiao Zhan has.

The overall story is solid and the chemistry between all characters is excellent, it's not just 2D between ML and FL so that's another really strong point about this drama that many other dramas lack... The different relationships between all the characters and their character growth. Loved Gen Qing, Chong Ming, & Yuan.

I wanted to add that at first, I was skeptical about the FL because she's not a big-name star but she stepped up to the plate and played Zhu Yan wonderfully. A young, strong girl, who stands up to bullies even if she has to face adversity, and isn't afraid to show her true emotions. I always found little games like playing hard to get so annoying in other dramas (pet peeve) but that isn't the case in this drama.

Finally, the CGI, cinematography, and fighting scenes are so well done. The usage of natural geological landscapes is stunning. Scenes have a Zen-like quality. My favorite parts are usually the marital arts scenes since as I said, I favor the Wuxia genre. They were seamless and fluid, with great choreography. The color, the lighting, and the movement were done very well. It's just a stunning visual treat from beginning to end.

Highly recommended., especially if you love Xianxia.

Leia Mais

A Heart Healing Romance Among Beautiful Mountains, Where Love, Freedom & Fate Unite Two Hearts

There is something incredibly exciting about discovering a BL that feels completely different from anything else out there, and A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream delivered that feeling from the very beginning. With 16 full length episodes, a rarity in the BL world, I was already excited to start this series on GagaOOLala. But I never expected to become this invested. From the opening moments to the very end, I was completely hooked. Even the title itself is unforgettable, but what makes this BL truly special is just how unique, ambitious and different it feels.

What immediately sets this series apart is its breathtaking setting. Instead of the usual busy city backdrop, the story takes us through lush green mountains, endless tea fields, peaceful forests, and stunning natural landscapes. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. Every frame feels carefully composed, almost like a painting, and the scenery creates such a peaceful, refreshing, almost magical atmosphere.

The romance is just as captivating. Qinglang comes from the glamorous world of fame, while Changyang is a free spirited tea farmer who belongs among the mountains. Their completely different lifestyles create such an interesting dynamic, and watching them slowly grow closer feels incredibly natural.

And the chemistry between these two is EVERYTHING. Their interactions feel effortless, warm, and genuine. Changyang is especially lovable. He cooks for Qinglang, feeds him, lets him use his lap as a pillow, and constantly takes care of him. He is the definition of boyfriend and husband material. From his cute and gorgeous looks to the way he treats Qinglang like a princess, he is basically the perfect man. Honestly, if I had Changyang as my boyfriend, I would turn from straight to gay in a heartbeat.

But what really made me fall in love with this series is the writing.

In Episode 3, after Qinglang kissed Changyang, he asked, "Do you like men?" Changyang did not answer yes or no. Instead, he simply replied, "Is it important?"

Then in Episode 4, Qinglang asked again, "Do you like men?" This time, Changyang answered, "Is your name Men?"

There is so much meaning hidden in those few words.

If Qinglang's name were "Men," then the answer would be yes. Changyang was not saying he likes men in general. He was saying that the only person he likes is Qinglang. That is the beauty of poetic writing. Sometimes a single sentence can carry the weight of an entire love confession without ever directly saying it.

And then they kiss. That kiss scene is honestly one of the most beautiful BL kisses I have ever seen. Instead of showing the kiss directly, the series captures their shadows moving across the ocean waves. The water seems to carry the moment across the shore, creating something incredibly artistic and romantic. I have seen plenty of creative kiss scenes, but I had never seen a shadow kiss executed quite like this. It was beautiful and unforgettable.

This series reminds me that great romance is not built on kisses alone. Sometimes it is in the words left unsaid, the meaning hidden between conversations, the small gestures, and the emotions that slowly build between two people.
And speaking of kisses...

If you are watching on GagaOOLala, STAY AFTER THE CREDITS! There are additional scenes at the end of the episodes that you absolutely do not want to miss. Episode 4 even has a post credit kiss by the car overlooking that stunning lake.

Also, make sure you watch the additional Small Theater version on GagaOOLala because WOW. I genuinely do not think I have ever watched a BL with this many kissing scenes. I binge watched all 15 episodes and these two were basically kissing nonstop. It is crazy, hot, intense, and I am completely obsessed. 😭

Another thing I cannot stop talking about is the cinematography. Almost every shot looks like it could be turned into wall art. The camera angles, scenery, lighting, and background music all give the series such a distinctive identity. I have watched so many BLs, but the visual style here genuinely stands out.

Even something as simple as a car driving up a mountain road, filmed from a distance against those enormous green landscapes, becomes incredibly memorable. Every frame feels intentional.

Not only is the title long and unique, but A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream has also given me an engaging story, beautiful music, strong performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a romance that feels both sweet and deeply emotional.

It has such a unique atmosphere that makes it stand out from other BLs airing right now. If you love slow burn romance, gorgeous scenery, poetic dialogue, meaningful little gestures, and couples with undeniable chemistry, please put this one on your watchlist. ❤️

Leia Mais

“Sometimes it’s hard to be a viewer… La la la, la la la, la la la…”

End of review, thanks for reading.

Indeed, I could end my review here, since the above is basically all the drama left me with. But to the precious 18 hours – or something – I’ve dedicated to this show, I owe at least a more in-depth epitaph.

"Something in the rain" would have worked wonderfully as a 2 hour movie: the plot can be easily condensed in so short a time, we would have enjoyed a lovely on-screen chemistry and there would have been still room for the artsy cinematography the drama likes so much to sport. But, alas, the writer and director opted for a long narration, taking one conflict and a half and building this repetitive and aggravating slice of “real” life around it. What in the beginning seemed like beautiful aesthetics meant to create an atmosphere and enhance the plot, turned soon enough to be a trick to hide the lack of it. Because of that, the cinematography became, in my eyes, one of the drama flaws.

Let me make this clear: I have absolutely nothing against a slow pace that helps the viewer enter the world of the characters. I love small details: a meaningful glance, a trembling hand, a quiet dialogue that says it all, but here scenes are simply overstretched, even the most mundane, irrelevant ones. I have actually timed a scene: a character gets out of a taxi and walks unobserved on the road for as much as 65 seconds (try to count in your head and you’ll realize it’s an eternity). The camera stays still and the character walks. No close-up shot of the face expression, no weird or telling gate, no encounter to be remembered later on, just a walk that bears no significance whatsoever in the plot, except perhaps that it teaches us how people walk in Korea. I could go on describing scenes like this one, there are a handful. When a 2 whole minutes hug came, I truly became restless. And bored.

All the while, most characters are extremely bi-dimentional. No explanation, flashback or insight is given to justify their motivations. They are trapped in this present bubble and immortalized with one or two character traits only. We are left to speculate about their past, future and, at times, present. This show isn’t centered around a meaty plot, but does not focus on characterization either. There’s only so much a believable on-screen chemistry and artsy aesthetics can do to keep my interest alive.

Which brings me to the love story itself. The only positive trait of this romance is it’s realism, at least in the beginning. However, because these two jump from meeting on the road to being madly in love, I was deprived of my favourite part of romance, that is the falling in love process. Worse, episode after episode I started feeling like a voyeur, peeping through the keyhole to spy on an ordinary albeit pretty married couple in its daily routine. Since voyeurism isn’t my favourite hobby, I lost interest very soon in the nth walk with or without umbrella or yet another scene with these two frolicking around with the ever-present music that should tell a story but does not. They have no heart-to-heart chat, they don’t talk about their dreams, their plans, their future together, they hide more than they tell. Why these two people who have very little in common should love each other is not for us to know. Ah, yes! They are both gorgeous, that must be it.
The tension is all built around the opposition of a mother who’s in serious need of good therapy in whatever culture we set this story. Don’t get me started on the ex boyfriend arc and the harassment on the working place: the first goes nowhere and the second takes an eternity to go… where did it go?

Not yet happy, these badly outlined characters are for the most part disagreeable. If I have to watch a slice of life drama, I want to become attached to these people, but here I grew increasingly indifferent to all of them, otp included. The heroine is possibly the one who frustrated me the most and no amount of sociological analysis on the customs of South Korea will ever make me love a grown up woman who can’t stand up for her rights and for the people she supposedly loves. The fact that the author decided to portray a female lead who never learns from her own mistakes put a huge distance between me and her and makes the ending, good or bad, senseless. If it was my fault to expect something different, than I’ll take the blame, but at least I have learned something and will try to be a wiser viewer in the future (i.e., drop the hot potato before it scorches).

Finally, the music! Two good songs repeated ad nauseam and another old-fashioned two that made seaweeds grow in my ears. That’s the ost – an inappropriate definition anyway, since ost stands for “Original Sound Track”, that is, songs or music created on purpose for the show. I doubt Carla Bruni (?), Bruce Willis (??) or even talented Rachael Yamagata met to create this meager ensemble.

It’s extremely ironic and sad that the episode I enjoyed the most is the discussed last one. If only everything had taken place much earlier on, I’d have liked this drama. Unfortunately, as it stands it makes little sense and the prospect of subjecting myself to a second watch is unthinkable.
My dear 18 hours, RIP.

Leia Mais

Perfectly constructed, every episode is just amazing, go watch!

Desperate to fund her daughter’s surgery, Myung Joon (Yoon Kye Sang) kidnaps a feisty child genius Rohee (Yuna), who lost her memories. When his call for ransom remains unanswered, Myung Joon drives to her house only to findher parents were mysteriously murdered.

I’m going to first mentioned my most memorable aspect, that is Yuna as Choi Rohee! Yuna’s performance was such a delight! she stole the show with her vast range of emotions and also strong nuances in her micro expressions. It's magical how her emotions tore me apart. I laughed and cried for her! In one scene, I cried so hard and still cry however many times I watch the scene. T.T, I also love The Kidnapping Day for the solid storyline. It blends different genres expertly, giving me a high-stake, angsty, funny and endearing feel altogether. It’s a found family through kidnapping, but it never delve into Stockholm Syndrome as Myung Joon and Rohee dynamic is equal. Myung Joon is silly but caring, while Rohee tends to dominate, but as a child, she’s yearning for family love.

I enjoy how unpredictable and unconventional the mystery unravels. The investigation isn’t drag, the police make progress, obtain evidence, etc. We are rewarded with clues and twists constantly without them being overwhelming. It's rare to experience a drama that’s perfectly paced & each episode is juicy like this. For me, it’s the best release in 2023 and will always be one of my tops of all time! Wonderful!!

-Oct 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

Leia Mais

Family’s Honor tells the story of two families; the noble Has and the nouveau riche Lees.

The Ha family follows traditions that one doesn’t encounter often in modern day dramas and that was one of the most interesting concepts of the show. From holiday celebrations, weddings and funerals, to the etiquette that they practice in their everyday life and their conducting behavior, they give this drama a strong beginning just by being in it. Add one of the most adorable grandfathers that you’ve ever encountered in kdramaland and you have a winner.

On the other hand, the Lee family is crude and they happen to be the owners of the most kitsch sitting room that I’ve ever been unfortunate enough to behold, BUT Park Shi Hoo plays their eldest son so who cares about the golden armchairs?

The plot is mostly focused on the romantic relationships that involve the members of the two families and there are interesting sub-plots here and there that make Family’s Honor a smooth ride despite its long length.

What could be a drawback for some viewers, is the personality of the Ha daughter. Yoon Jung Hee did an amazing job with her part and she’s not your average kdrama heroine, but I suspect that her constant melancholy and seriousness might be considered a tad tiring after a while. Fortunately for her (and for us) Park Shi Hoo plays one of the two men who are after her heart, and his character has such an outgoing personality and charisma that you can’t help but root for the unlikely pair.

The entire casting was spot-on anyway. From the main to the secondary characters I can’t possibly bring myself to imagine other actors playing their parts; they practically owned them.

Not much to say about the music, I hardly ever notice it, but I did find myself whistling the ending song on my way to work the other day, and I almost chocked when I heard a traditional Greek song playing in the background.

Overall I’m giving it a high rating for originality, a well written plot and endearing characters.

Leia Mais

My initial impression of this drama was that it was going to be badass, but less aesthetically appealing than other dramas because of its small budget. That's why it took me by surprise when the director used his limited budget to his advantage. Granted, the camerawork and special effects weren't that great, but I actually did enjoy this drama.
Story: The premise was a little cliche for my taste. Two twin brothers who feel at odds and are polar opposites? Not exactly a twist. But somehow the writers managed to infuse a scattering of random cliches and use them to create an original and action packed story. It wasn't perfect, but at 4 episodes long, this drama special was a nice watch when you want a break from the cutesy rom-coms of dramaland.
Acting: None of the actors were very well known, and you could tell they were new to their jobs, but that didn't affect this drama the slightest. They all had a very nice stage presence.
Music: Was there music? I honestly can't remember. *shrug*
Rewatch value: The second time is never as good as the first, so I don't think I'll be rewatching. I might skim through it again if I'm bored, but I wouldn't watch it all over again.
Overall: Nice story with nice actors. Not exactly a forgettable drama, but not exactly something I will remember forever.

Leia Mais

Many people have already reviewed it in detail.

My take- watch it for entertainment, for comedy, for visuals, for a low stress plot, sweet chemistry, slow burn nostalgic romance.
The best part is that there is no rush, all stories (including the support characters ) have a conclusion. The highlight is the proposal and wedding which most C dramas rush. Here it is done elegantly so we feel their joy and when their story ends we come out of their world feeling happy.
For viewers who like a slow-burn character driven love story (we can say slowest of the slow-burn until episode 24 when they confess and then its all sweet and fluffy moments making it worth the wait) it is recommended.
For Miles Wei fans who have been waiting since You Are My Secret (July 2024) for a romcom of his, (probably the last one of this kind from him) this is a must watch!
For anyone who have watched him in Flourished Peony and Love Beyond The Grave who want to see him in a green flag role.

It delivers exactly what it promises: a fluffy, satisfying romance with a definitive happy ending.


Realistic rating 8-8.5

Leia Mais

A pleasantly beneficial KMovie infusion. Quiet. Tender. Full of consolation & healing impulse

"One Day" is a beautiful KMovie. Quiet. Tender. Full of consolation and healing impulse. In addition, the story expands the usual dimensions of perception - human being sees ghost; man builds relationship with ghost. The extraordinary situation facilitates extraordinary closeness, opens up new perspectives and allows the male protagonist to look behind the obvious.

The female lead character is visually impaired in life, yet specialized in sensing touch instead. The male protagonist, on the other hand, finds himself in a stage of his life, where he prefers to avoid his feelings, because they might overwhelm him. His inability to face the grief over his deceased wife, his feelings of guilt and being lost completely block him. By the way, the female protagonist is also blocked: she is in a coma.

The process of rapprochement between the two triggers a healing process, which is captured tenderly and lovingly, reaching out to the side plots, too. The KMovie knows how to touch. It might come along in an unexcited manner, yet with the perseverance of water, dealing with the stone...

After seeing the movie for the first time, I had no idea what had happened to me. It had pulled me into gentle inebriety. I had actually been sucked in and completely lost the distance.
So I couldn't write anything about it at first. I knew, l would rather want to see it again sometime in the near future. And again, it might not have been my last encounter with “One Day”. Why? Because of the overall gentle tone, the particular radiance, and the unique look&feel of this story. Because it's good.

“One Day” is not a blockbuster, no. However, in my eyes and according to my feeling, it offers a pleasantly beneficial KMovie infusion. (With wonderful acting, too.)

Leia Mais

A dish best served... twice?

I first watched this drama last year as it aired, and even though some elements were a bit hard to follow at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I watched it with my sisters and we looked forward to it every day.

Now, I'm currently watching it over again with my mom, and let me tell you... it's almost a completely different experience.
In a good way. When you know what's going to happen already, you can concentrate on the smaller details you didn't catch the first time that'll make you go "OHHH NOW I UNDERSTAND".
It makes you realize just how much hard work and attention to detail was no doubt put into this drama. Ad it'll be just as, if not more entertaining then the first time you watched it.
So trust me, if you've only seen this drama once, watch it again. This rewatch is a pleasant surprise.

Leia Mais

when hurt people hurt and love each other (we need a season 2)

Overall: an angsty series with good tension, but a few too many unanswered questions for my taste. 5 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI, first episode link https://www.iq.com/play/gray-shelter-episode-1-1yzhwhotbkc?lang=en_us

Note: see a comment with spoiler for my thoughts on the ending

Content Warnings: parental abuse

Timeline Notes (the flashbacks weren't very clear)
- episode 1 starts in the present and then at 6:05 the rest is flash back
- episode 2 starts in flashback, goes to present at 10:30, flash back 19:25-20 and then returns to the present (the package is from his bio dad at the beginning, not step dad)

What I Liked
- a more serious vibe
- tension
- good for the girlfriend for not putting up with that
- acting
- production value

Room For Improvement
- there were 2 main issues that were alluded to but never directly explained that I wanted the answers
- that friend was a huge a**hole for ratting him out to his dad, can't believe the main character apologized to him
- could have shown things a bit more directly, I thought that beep was his phone going off, didn't realize someone was leaving the apartment which gave important context and showed 1 character was slightly less of a jerk than I thought he was
- they needed to make the flashbacks/present differ more, it made things needlessly confusing in the beginning
- pacing was slow at times and then the end felt rushed/incomplete

Leia Mais

SCIENCE NEVER LIES BUT HUMANS DO

Thailand never fails when it comes to Horror. Ghost lab is a simple story of two doctors trying to prove Ghosts exist. The visuals and horror scenes were scary :) THAI Horror is not just a genre, it's an emotion. There weren't many jumps scares but it was an epic thriller-horror and I enjoyed it so much. It was so nice seeing Nychaa, Ice Paris, and Tor together. The acting, cinematography, music, and direction were amazing. I loved it. The ending is so beautiful. The movie not only focuses on Ghosts but also on the human mind. The chemistry between Tor and Ice is raw and interesting. The movie is worth watching and I recommend it.

Leia Mais

Oh my dear Kami-sama,
I have never seen a live action bl done so well and Tanaka Kei plays our awkward main character to perfection. I love the way he portrays this man suddenly being confessed to by his boss and his best friend. Sure he isn't married and has constantly been rejected by woman, but God (the director) has given him two potential love interests. It's a hilarious comedy and you will find yourself cringing at all the right times. The ending will leave you smitten and happy you watched it. I also find his honesty as a straight male Japanese man, finding out that too men like him refreshing because he's speaking out what society has made him believe male on male relationships are like. So it is even more refreshing when we see his perspective change and truly look at these men who are in love him at face value. But overall this is hilarious and a great watch, and if your'e bored and want to spend 48 minutes and 11 seconds of your life, laughing your heart out, watch it in the link below:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59hsx0

Leia Mais

Perfection is rare

I started this because of liking both the leads, and they OWNED this. My eyes are still damp from the powerfully moving final few minutes.

It might be a simple story, but it was well told and PERFECTLY acted by the two leads. The movie was FULL of surprises for me, from hearing a voice that "like Faye Wong, but not" and finding out it was Leah Dou :), to the way the story and the story-within-a-story messed with perception and reality, to such emotional effect at the very end.

Award ceremonies get A LOT of criticism for their decisions, and most of it is 100% justified. But sometimes, they get it just right, and these two outstanding actors being made joint winners for this film was not merely the RIGHT decision, it was the only possible one. When trying to decide whether to score this a 9 or to go higher, I realised that was no substantive reason to dock any points, and in terms of its overall impact, if I could score it higher than 10, I would.

Leia Mais

By chance, I happen to watch the animation movie first of this story. It was too beautiful and I searched a lot about the manga and found out that there is the live drama made as well. I was so happy to find the series (even though it's complete, it's still raw. But luckily I understand Japanese a little bit, so I get most of it). After watching the anime, reading the manga and watching the drama, I felt like I couldn't get enough of watching Suzu and Shusaku's life together (I still can't move on yet.) The story is just beautiful.

The setting of the drama is in Kure, a naval city in Hiroshima province. The story told about Suzu's and her new family life during the harsh time of WWII. (it touch a little bit about the Atomic bombing at Hiroshima). It was very interesting to see how the Japanese lived and what they felt during the war. Personally, I was born from a country which was used to be occupied by the Japanese. The textbook only taught about one side view of the war. Being the oppressed or the occupier. It was interesting to see it from the other side of the view and learn that no one wants to go to war and war really does not benefit anybody (the one who starts always is the person from the above not the people).

I'm not very familiar with the casts. But they sure did a wonderful job. The act feels really natural and the story is not being forced at all. I can say very confidently that even if you read the manga, you won't be disappointed or being bored with this drama.

Leia Mais