Reviews

Wow, the finale!!

A struggling lawyer with a secret dark side gets pulled into the dark world of a notorious criminal. But what leads him to the line of evil and will he survive the ordeal of events?

Evilive is a noir-themed kdrama with a dark vibe, focuses on the advent of online gambling. Those who love watching ambiguous characters dive deep into crime, with suspenseful and thrilling events will love watching it. I was rushing in head first without watching any trailer/teaser because I already know these men have proven themselves from their previous roles. Anyone who've watched them know how ‘good’ Shin Ha Kyun, Shin Jae Ha and Kim Young Kwang are when they are bad.

Evilive does not disappoint. The first scene bait is intriguing and you discover what really happen sooner than you think. They set up its character well: their inner struggle and what are at stakes, such as their family, marriage and most importantly... their moral values.

I was having a big fun with the friendships and bromance among our leads. Ha Kyun and Jae Ha's characters are supporting each other like siblings, while Ha Kyun's and Young Kwang's characters are like enemies to bromance relationships, they both don’t trust each other but they stick together throughout. My only nitpick is that cinematography and action are of mediocre quality, but it doesn't matter much as the premise is very strong, the plot has rarely any dull moment, the characters are peculiar, the storytelling takes you deep into the world of law, crime suspects and unexpected twists and turns, none of it disappoints... To enjoy the drama to the fullest, I recommend you to binge this.

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

Leia Mais

The Best of 'Kiss'

Of all the ‘Kiss’ series this is by far my favorite. The pool scene in the first episode was incredibly cute and then the way they tied it in in the last episode had me swooning. While the story line is a tad cliche, I enjoyed watching Pete and Kao work through all their drama (a lot of it self inflicted). Normally characters as overly possessive as Pete are hard for me to like, but I enjoy Tay's portrayal so much and I know the added stress of dating a closeted person amplifies Pete's insecurities. I am confused about how supposedly no one in the gang, besides Sandee, knows about Pete and Kao when their relationship was outed in Kiss The Series. I'm not sure if the writers forgot or if they were just trying to have added pressure on Kao's reluctance to come out.
One of my favorite elements in the show are the parents (Pete's dad and Kao's mom) . I especially love the relationship between Pete and his dad. I wish every parent would be that understanding and open. They did a good job with Non's character because I really wanted to fight him haha.
There were enough romantic scenes to satisfy me. Sun and Mork’s love seen was so well captured and tender. Pete and Kao are #3 in my heart (after Arthit/Kongpop and Pete/Ae). The drama in the last couple of episodes really had me clutching my blankets and tearing up. Overall well acted, good script, endearing characters. High re-watch value for me. And I have to add that wow Tay really lives up to his name, he is indeed very handsome.

Leia Mais

I really enjoyed this fun yet serious drama - It had me rolling with laughter so many times from episode 1-12
Story: what couldn't be entertaining about young guys turning into grandpa's in the span of a few seconds lol - this drama takes them on the journey to trying to find the culprit who made them old so they can return young again.
Cast: My FAVORITE: Jung Woo (Heechul) <3 I loved him on this drama - and I shipped him with Eun Ji since episode 1 <3 - after him I like Mr.Pink lol - he was so funny (the most comedic one of the bunch I swear lol) - Of course I started this drama b/c I heard Choi Jin Hyuk was cast ;) but he wasn't the reason I continued to watch the rest of the drama - it was a really great drama - it would have been a shame if I had missed it!
Music: Very Entertaining - all of it lol the BGM and the sound effects - hilarious and very fitting to all the scenes -
Re-watch Value: Very High - I seriously feel like re-watching this right away.
Overall it was a very good, very entertaining drama with a great plot.

Leia Mais

Eric has a different feeling that make you wanna watch him. His acting is not amazing but he is good. Han Ye Seul is pretty and she is good at acting. But I think she needs work on her facial expressions more. She use only one for shocked, frustared, sad and angry!

Drama keeps repeating itself all over. it seems like happy ending but a problem come up; they solve the problem, again seems like happy ending *DININININ* -evil background music- another similar problem come up! Only one villian cause so many problems. They can create different problems or they can choose someone else to cause problems for lead actor & actress.

Thay can make this show 14-16 episodes and just finish it smoothly. Ending was good but it could be better!

So many stellar. Yes they need advirsement. Eric use his own drama for his own group = fair enough. But using them so much ANNOYING! I'm trying to watch a drama here!

Leia Mais

A drama that I wanted to watch mainly because of First and Kha, but you can't imagine how much I liked Dunk and Joong. So I have new favorites haha. I started watching the drama as soon as it came out and I was eagerly waiting for the next episode every week. I finally finished watching the last one exactly on the day it came out, at the train station (yes, you read that right) and I had to do something to keep from crying because I seriously almost cried the last episode. I didn't want my fav series to end :(. I applaud the guys for their acting, which is probably getting better every year, and I also applaud the whole great idea of the series (even if it was quite hardcore at times, as some said). I also have to mention the great soundtrack, which I listen to 24/7 and am totally obsessed with (my beloved sis too). Well, that's probably all for the drama and I definitely recommend it to you if you love action with a bit of action.

Leia Mais

Dramas are an escape from the reality not a tool to express your jealousy

I want to start saying that I don’t watch a lot of dramas in general , but sometimes when life becomes a bit hard a like to watch dramas that makes me escape the reality and for me this drama became really fast my comfort show because for me watching a drama ( whatever genre it is ) is a good thing to do when you feel unhappy, for there, in a drama, you may find encouragement and comfort. And S&F its just like that, i really like the chemistry between the leads, i love how the characters are presented and I especially love the beautiful landscapes that are shown and especially in the episode 6, and i am positive that as the story progresses we will see even more captivating things. As for the acting, I love how both leads act, they are really natural and their chemistry is through the roof, but then again i feel like Yu shuxin has chemistry with everyone, she just have that talent, same with Xu Kai.
I will write another review in the end.

So to the people that are just not grown up enough to be sincere please at least be grown up
To not leave negative comments and reviews without even watching it and leave your jealousy aside and move on!

Leia Mais

I picked this one to watch as a bit of a wildcard, some times I just like to step outside my watch list and try something different. I picked this one for an obscure reason - the lead actress has an uncanny resemblance to Chae Soo Bin (Where Stars Land, I Am Not A Robot) and I was curious! The description, if anything, was the one thing that had put me off from watching it previously - it sounded a bit... light weight - but oh boy was that wrong.

First couple of episodes are a bit awkward because they're focusing on all the "prettyness", pretty boys and pretty girls and even at the introduction ceremony at the university they are openly talking about how pretty the new freshmen are, it just felt a bit uncomfortable for me and I was happy it didn't last - but it did serve to set a tone initially.

The main female lead, as a child, was considered by her peers to be ugly and overweight. When she stepped up to fix the weight problem and became slim, they just found other names to call her and focused on their opinions of her face. This kind of long term bullying has a big impact on kids and you can see it has had a huge impact on her throughout the entirety of the show - any time you're thinking "oh jeez just say it already" or something, you need to reflect back on this history very carefully because it's completely undermined her way of thinking throughout her life.

As she gets older and looks to go to University she gets cosmetic surgery and completely changes her look - coming out the other side of that, she's now stunningly beautiful and that's essentially where the story kicks in.

Throughout the story, a lot of complex issues are covered, mostly those facing young women relating to cyber bullying, dieting, peer pressure, self confidence and many more.

The characters are great, even the one that starts looking like the nasty girl proves to have layers upon layers and a very detailed backstory that explains how someone gets to be the way they are today and some of the underlying non-obvious reasons for it. Towards the end when they were focusing more on that character, I was desperate for that character to just reach out and ask for help.

There is some irony that as I understand it, the female lead in reality also had plastic surgery and there are those commenters online who have been sadly shaming it. I've also seen comments that they felt the male lead was quite wooden but I actually liked the representation of that character - the put a shy guy inside a handsome body, someone who didn't know how to socialise and didn't know how to be around others because he always kept to himself. As someone who has always been that way myself (the shy bit, certainly not the handsome bit) I can only say I saw a lot of his manner reflecting my own personality and the way I would have reacted.

I also really liked a lot of the secondary characters, and the ML's mother was probably my favourite, the storyline of her reconnecting with her son and daughter was very touching and handled superbly by the author.

The OST didn't have any particularly memorable tracks to it unfortunately.

This story has a lovely slow burn romance throughout and I was utterly hooked from the start to the finish, watching it in two days flat. I totally recommend this one if that's the kind of story you're looking for.

Leia Mais

Remarkable drama! One of the rarest and best for me. Drama which deeply touched my heart and I know it'll stay with me forever. Everything, absolutely everything was just perfect. Honestly, I personally can't believe how much I cried and cried, smiled and smiled for this drama. I was invested in its story and characters I believe more than 100%. So I had to write a review, first for me and my emotions and then for you my beloved friends.
Story is one of the bests in a history of sageuks dramas. A hero kind drama with a beautiful bromance between Dong Soo and Woon, unforgettable friendship between all characters, mesmerizing sceneries, full action. In the beginning I didn't believe I will enjoy this much, but once I get into it, which didn't take me long, believe me I just couldn't stop watching it. I wanted to see more and more. Amazing twists, best villains, fighting, all that was perfectly combined leaving me no time to even think about something else. Every scene and every second was precious to me. Why it needed to move me so deep, just why?

Oh how many awesome, amazing characters are in this drama. In fact, that is the essence of this drama. Characters, their interactions with each other, characters developments, choosing their own paths of life, forgivness, regrets, sadness, repentance, happiness. And that's what moved me to the bones. I became very attached to characters, that I asked myself if I am okay, that it's just a drama, but something more in me was telling me that this is not some ordinary sagaeuk drama I used to watch most of the time. It is something different, very different.
Dong Soo is a hero, a protagonist of this drama. In fact, the are two. Dong Soo and Woon, since their lifes are followed from the younger days to the adult ones. Dong Soo choose to became a kind and persistent man towards his dream to become the best Swordman of Joseon, while Woon who wanted to end his unfortunate life, choose an easy way and became an assassin (I called it easy because it was the easiest way, he just wanted to escape the unhappiness he had no matter where and what). And from that moment on their lives became one cruel fate which they couldn't avoid.
Jin Joo was an amazing character! I loved her so much. Brave, strong and independent. Her sad life was indeed sad. I became so attached to her that I could feel what she felt, like her character was alive and was standing beside me telling me about her shitty life. Her fate really played with her, but she couldn't escape it.
That monk girl or Ji Sun - no comment. Seriously. I felt like she was there just like that.
Besides main leads, there are many stellar actors and characters. Whom I loved the most are definitely Cheon Soo (Sky Lord), Ji and Swordmaster. Cheon was a BEST villain ever, although I never felt like that, since his story was very moving and sad, that I just couldn't hate him. His love towards Ji was a painful, unrequited one which was just sad and I cried and cried. She loved Swordmaster, but never had a courage to actually go to him, because she knew what her fate is. Their story was really painful and it touched me to the core. I'll NEVER EVER forget them, their longing, regrets and sadness. I swear, I've never in my life cried this much for a drama, never. I guess this drama stroke me right in the heart!!!

************* SPOILERS******************* ABOUT: Jin Joo; Woon

Okay, I personally believe Jin Joo's ending was some kind of a ridicilous one. It seemed like writers forced a painter on her, just to pair her up with someone. Even now I can't understand how Dong Soo forgot when she kissed him and asked him to marry her when they were younger. And the beginning of their story was leading that they'll end up together, but when they got older he fell in love with that monk girl. It does not make a friggin' sense to me, seriously. She was a brave, strong and kind character and I just adore when a girl knows how to fight. She is not hiding behind someone, waiting to someone protect her and that's what I respected the most about her character. Also, I somehow, without knowing became very attached to her character, that when first she lost her mother I cried a river, then when she lost her father I cried a river again. She just ruined me emotionally. I loved how she, the only one didn't hate Cheon, she considered him a friend, and he liked her too. I loved her when he called her &quot;child&quot;, but when he died my heart broke. When she cried for him I cried with her together. Hehehe you can imagine how 'beautiful' sight it was. :P
Oh and how much I have to say for Woon-a. I FRIGGIN' LOVE HIM! He was the most unselfish person I've ever seen in my life. His endless love for a Dong Soo and Cho Rip really never ended. But that animal Cho Rip betrayed him. Ufff I hated him at the end I wish he was dead instead of my beloved Woon. He choose his life path and became an assassin, but he never felt like he belongs in Hok Sa Cho Rong. His body was there, but his heart and mind was with Dong Soo, Captain and Swordmaster. His character was the strongest. I actually felt his pain, longing and love that he missed. Plus, his performance was phenomenal, even though he was 18 years old back then. JUST BRAVO!
In the last episode, I knew that something will happen to him and I was praying that everything goes well, but that curse that followed him right from the time he was born did really take his life. Oh how much I cried when he said to Dong Soo: "You were my safe place, you've always been Dong Soo-ya. Now you don' t suffer anymore because of me." With those painful, tearful, sad words and the moment when he throw those swords and let Dong Soo kill him, I just couldn't take it anymore and bursted in tears, and cried who knows how long after that. One more precious moment is after that when Dong Soo is drinking and trying to forget about him, but in every new glass he sees him, more vividly than the previous one. Those moments are the ones I'll never forget in my life.

**************SPOILERS END***************

Although this drama had a million sad moments, moments that simply brake your heart, I didn't regret one thing. I simply lived with this drama.
Also OSTs are amazing. For every scene they put the right ones. Epic for epic, sad for sad, happy for happy ones. Oh and I think that each song is connected to some characters. Just by looking at its lyrics you can connect and say &quot; Oh that song is meant for this and that character.&quot; I'm still listening the whole album and keep rememebering how precious moments are in this drama.

I'd gladly rewatch it, even I know I'll go through the same pain again, but nothing will stop me to rewatch this masterpiece. All in all, this drama showed me how strong and powerful friendship can be, and that the one who loves more is the weaker one. Unwritten rule, but totally true. This drama will always, I mean always have a special place in my heart.

Leia Mais

DISCLAIMER: I have never seen the other versions of You're My Destiny.
Honestly, this is one of my new favorite dramas. The acting, direcing, writing, sets, costumes-- all stunning. We finally got a few REAL kiss scenes from Bie (who's a great kisser) and Esther (who's a good kisser compared to just about every other Thai actress).
STORY: Amazing. The storytelling was consistent, thoughtful, and heartfelt. I usually find melodramas cheesy (let's face it, You're My Destiny is a melodrama), but this one was able to make me laugh and cry without overdoing anything. I especially loved the character development in the last four episodes; it's obvious that both Wanida and Pawut changed, but they were still fundamentally the same people. The family values were sweet, and Taya was totally hot (poor second lead...). And no NANG RAI!!!! Thank goodness, everyone in this drama were logical, NORMAL people and not crazy psychopaths!
The story was a little out-there, but that's the point of You're My Destiny; Pawut and Wanida were brought together by fate.
The only complaint I have was with the ending. Sure, everything was satisfactorily wrapped up, aside from the aunt and her son (I'm not really even sure why they were in the drama... even the other characters seemed to forget about them), but the way it was wrapped up felt very abrupt. They should have split some of the wrap-ups between the last two episodes instead of spending three episodes being completely unproductive story-wise.
ACTING/CAST: I mean, Bie's cute, but I honestly think Esther and Taya were the standouts in this drama. Esther often plays the innocent pushover role, but when she transformed into the later Wanida who wasn't a pushover and who was willing to fight for her man, that's when her acting really shone. Taya was adorable and hot for one, but he also did a very good job of portraying his one-sided love for Wanida. You could tell he had feelings for her just by the way he looked at Nid. And his abs...
MUSIC: Lots of variety to this soundtrack, great OST by Bie. I especially loved the "Smile" song that Bie sang in English... that one made me bawl my eyes out when they played it at the end of episode 13, which is a first for me.
REWATCH VALUE: I would definitely rewatch this one, in spite of the slightly disappointing ending. The acting, directing, and story are just too good to limit to one watch.
I HIGHLY recommend this drama for anyone who enjoys beautiful dramas that avoid the Thai drama stereotypes, and loves heartwarming stories with happy endings.

Leia Mais

First impression: stands out more for its ambition than for consistently polished execution

In its opening episodes, Sammy’s Children’s Day presents itself as an ambitious entry within the BL genre, leaning less on the comfort of idealized romance and more on a narrative shaped by contrast. Setting the story in the 1980s Kowloon Walled City is not just an aesthetic choice, as it defines the entire viewing experience. The environment is chaotic, violent, and unpredictable, and that energy carries directly into the tone, which blends crime, humor, and melodrama in ways that aren’t always perfectly balanced, but are almost always engaging.

The narrative structure stands out for its relatively brisk pacing. Unlike many slow burns that take their time laying the groundwork, the first episodes here quickly introduce conflicts, relationships, and even major turning points. This creates a double-edged effect: on one hand, it keeps the viewer engaged and avoids any sense of stagnation; on the other, it weakens the emotional impact of certain developments, which arrive before the audience has fully connected with the characters. Even so, there’s a clear intention to develop the central relationship gradually, building a steady tension that keeps the story compelling.

It’s in the dynamic between He ChuSan and Xia LiuYi that the series finds its strongest footing. Their contrast isn’t treated as a simple trope, but as a driving force of the narrative, exploring differences in personality, social standing, and worldview. Their chemistry works from the start, largely supported by performances that balance intensity with lightness. Even within a violent setting, the series allows space for humor and more spontaneous interactions, which humanize the characters and keep the story from becoming overly heavy.

From a technical standpoint, Sammy’s Children’s Day shows above-average care in certain areas. The cinematography and production design play a key role in immersion, with framing that enhances both action and quieter, more intimate moments. In contrast, the fight scenes reveal clear limitations, whether in the lack of polish in the choreography or in editing choices that disrupt the flow. The dubbing can also be distracting at times, creating a disconnect between dialogue and performance that undercuts some of the more emotionally charged scenes.

Overall, the opening episodes build a series that stands out more for its ambition than for consistently polished execution. There’s a strong identity taking shape, supported by a striking setting and characters with real dramatic potential. At the same time, issues with pacing, tonal balance, and technical finish suggest a production still searching for its footing. If it manages to better align these elements as the season progresses, Sammy’s Children’s Day has all the potential to move beyond a strong first impression and establish itself as one of the more interesting entries in the genre.

Leia Mais

In all forms of art, "The Art of Negotiation" is my new favorite!

Yoon Jun Ho, the face of a man who shows no fear, has nothing to lose.

The storyline was full of wonders and intricacy that kept me on my toes with all the political intrigues and calculated machinations by Yoon Jun Ho. The way the M&A team side-stepped attempts at their goals and thwarted their potential ruination was exciting to watch.

I have noticed that except for Yoon Jun Ho, all the M&A members ask questions a lot! Mr. lawyer, Sun Yeong, explained judicial terms and conditions and the financial advisor, Min Jeong, let the intern, Jin Su, know about the financial terms, problems and awareness in a way that you can't help but listen and try to understand every bit of it.

That intern was not there for no reason. He was there in every situation as a representative of the audience. Just like the viewers, he was also a newbie in this industry and learning things. So, whenever he questioned terms, he also questioned for normal people like us, and naturally, that's how we got our answers out of curiosity without wasting time in storyline.

They didn't do wish-whoosh-wash extravagant camera angles, stunt work and over-the-top pop bgm but they slowly but steadily built the plot with intricate details of how the corporate world works. This was a drama of great mindwork. Fighting with people not with fists but with knife-sharp brain skills.

The twists and turns had me open-mouthed and several times I found myself gasping in frustration and disbelief. Every time I thought "there's no way out of this situation", they proved me wrong in every episode, leaving me in awe of the characters as well as the plotline and how well it was written. I couldn't even imagine how it would end till the end of the episode. They made sure episodic problems were solved and characters from there were well-used when needed; what an intelligent move!

Just the way I like brainless shit comedies, I also like smart, clever, intriguing plots like this. Loved how the camera and storyline span from one character to another character seamlessly. The little, unnoticeable details they put in and made a bigger purpose out of it was brilliant!

Last but not least, the choice of soundtracks was also intriguing. They retained a suspenseful tension throughout the series.


When the mood got tense, the lyrics-

"The world is a deep, dark ocean

Of greed, loss, and betrayal

Hang onto your sweet emotions

'Cause money takes the heart

Money takes the heart"

-filled the air with utter satisfaction!


Overall, if you are looking for a fast-paced business drama, it's definitely not for you, but if you're looking for an out-of-the-box thrilling ride of how negotiation in the business world works, then you're welcome to the world of betrayal, greed and revenge of "The Art of Negotiation".

Leia Mais

I think the best thing about the drama is the superb acting of both actors and especially Song yi, she delivered the emotions perfectly. She ate every sad scene in the drama all I can say is BRAVO.
Cheng lei did so good in comedy !
The story is good for me since it’s romance and the storyline is good I loved that they let the excitement and mystery till the end which make the viewer watch till the end.

The chemistry is so good I felt everything with them they did great.

The side characters are well written And the actors did the best !
I gave it 10 coz It’s the only drama that made me excited and waited for every episode since the beginning !

Leia Mais