Ongoing 15/15
Love Destiny
5 people found this review helpful
May 12, 2018
15 of 15 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
It’s very good and sweet. They’re very good at acting and the story line is well done. Also, the music goes so well with the scenes and I could listen to the music on repeat. If you’re looking for something romantic and funny to watch then I totally recommend this lakorn ?? I really liked this lakorn because Bella really acted well playing as two different characters and Pope worked hard to speak in Boran. I liked how this lakorn mainly focused on their love. I’m done with this lakorn but I honestly can keep watching it. If you want to watch with English subtitles then there is a Facebook page where they have subtitles for it. The page is called “SJDK Fan Sub”

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Something in My Room
5 people found this review helpful
by tam
Sep 29, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

oh my god

Let’s keep it short and simple. This was absolutely amazing.
At first it started so light hearted and corny and I laughed at a few of the jokes but then it took this more serious turn a few episodes in. It didn’t throw me off though it just made me want to watch it more.
At first I wasn’t too sure about the main characters chemistry but as the episodes progressed I became obsessed with them. There was something about the way they interacted that had made my heart swell(speaking of this drama made me cry on multiple occasions— not because it was sad per se but it was almost bittersweet?their love was something i could only wish to have someday)
Also the soundtrack was jaw dropping— I think it was a big reason why I cried so much. Overall it was amazing and I wish I could experience love like the two main characters. Definitely recommend!!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Ming Dynasty
5 people found this review helpful
Nov 21, 2020
64 of 64 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Excellent Historical Drama

I really like this show. I’m surprised that it’s not a hit and it’s received quite some bad reviews. I find that the production is of really high quality from the actors to the costumes and war scenes.

It starts off light and funny with serious undertones. The characters are all unpredictable so I don’t know what to expect next (which gives me some suspense).

Towards the middle, things get serious. I thought these fights were really good even though they were typically between the empress/concubine, prince/uncles. The backstabs, the wars, the tactics.

This seriousness continued right up to the end with even the next generation. All in all there are 4 generations of rulers in this series.

In the first arc, you see Tang Wei and the male lead’s journey up until they got married. This arc was funny, sweet and innocent. Then the 2nd arc goes into the male lead’s battle for the throne with his uncles. 3rd arc is his son’s reign, fall and reign again. I personally enjoyed the 1st and 3rd arcs the most and the 2nd arc is really good too (Zhu Yawen is an excellent actor). The 3rd arc had a lot of tough lessons to learn from and Lay portrayed his character as the fallen emperor really well. The emotions towards the last few episodes got me bawling (in a good way).

Favourite characters ? Yu Qian and Xu Bin!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Rainless Love in a Godless Land
5 people found this review helpful
Sep 4, 2023
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

A dream is a wish your heart makes...

Rainless Love in a Godless Land was an ambitious Taiwanese drama that wove together romance, Amis myths, and mind-bending thoughts on truth and reality, memory and emotion. On top of all that the drama brought home humans' responsibility for the blessings of the Earth and our place in stewardship of the environment.

*No big spoilers*

"The end of the world is silent. It creeps up on you, you just don't notice."

Orad, the messenger of the chief god Kakarayan, is also the god of rain. He is helping to gather the Kawas, basically spirits of blessings, to send them back to the spiritual realm. Kakarayan is withdrawing his blessing from the planet which will result in a rainless Armageddon. Tien Ti, a local tour guide, crosses paths with Orad and for what turns out to not be the first time. Her fate and the beginning of the world's end are tied together. When Orad chooses free will over predestination it throws the Bureau of Corrections into crisis management mode.

"Behind every lie is a wish waiting to come true."

I will admit to liking the story more than the characters at times. Although there were a few heartfelt moments, much of the more meaningful romance was shown through flashbacks. A couple of the kisses were the guppy kind with eyes open and lips barely touching which felt awkward given Tien Ti's age and romantic history. Because she wasn't invested in the romance I found it hard to invest in it. Tien Ti often treated Orad hostilely, as more of a servant to do her bidding than a possible love interest. Orad kept his emotions close to his vest until he was truly faced with making every day choices that flustered him. Tien Ti would rail against being treated as special and then turn around and ask for special favors. When she was given a taste of power, she found it to be a more complicated thing than she first realized.

"What you see is the deity's will and what god sees as the truth."

Toam, goddess of the cloud, was one of the more complex characters and Alice Ko was magnificent as the morally ambiguous spirit. I found her far more compelling than Tien Ti and a more stylish dresser, too. Fali, head of the Bureau of Corrections, was another character who waffled between good and selfish. A lonely child who had been alone too long, he set into motion many of the characters' actions. Pu Hui was a fun sidekick for Orad though he was a terrible husband.

"When a lie is exposed, what happens to the lie?"

Orad and the Kawas Yaka found out that free will and making your own choices can lead you where you might or might not want to end up. There is a price to pay for freedom. Tien Ti struggled to have free will and make her own choices to alter her fate and the fate of the world. Other times, she was willing to give in to predestination. The drama also showed how emotions and memories are tied together.

"What I wish to see will become what you shall see."

I loved the OST for this drama. I thought the music fit the variety of moods perfectly and truly enjoyed the songs and background music. The drawback for me other than the subdued romance, were the travel office scenes. I didn't mind them at first when they were world building, but as the apocalypse was beginning it seemed surreal to think people were going to want to travel as the water began to dry up and pestilence hit. The use of flashbacks felt repetitive and overused at times. Tien Ti's mood swings could be exhausting as well.

"You are a wish I prayed for"

What is the difference between a lie and a wish? A lie has no future, but a wish might. What is real and what is a dream? Even scientists say it's possible our reality may be an illusion so is it really a lie if we perceive it to be real? Or is it simply a wish manifested? Rainless Love in a Godless Land twisted and turned through myth and perceived reality. I bought into the wish and the lie, hoping that both had happy endings.

9/4/23

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Lychee Light Club
5 people found this review helpful
Oct 5, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
The story is great honestly, of course the main characters aren't in complete sane mind but it's the plot which is served very nicely I expected way worse when I choose to watch it and what I got is great acting, story, effects and properly set story line with explanations and no sudden rushes. Yes it is a little gore but from comments I expected more and with what I saw in movie I am completely fine with it since it isn't all over the movie, it focused more on story and relationships as well revealing each character personality which I enjoyed and could see the efforts.
All in all it is movie worth attention. It even has few twists, I enjoy this kind of movies so I expected it since I like to think deeply trough all details so people who like a little gore or heart warming moments or just some twists in general this movie is for you. It might sound weird how I mentioned heart warming moments I don't want to spoil but the movie is really nice that has all kind of moments. Friendships, love, rivalry, grudge you will see all kind of emotions here that are served well.

Sorry I am bat at reviewing without spoiling but just couldn't let this have no review because maybe some people need a push to watch this and are debating too long so if you're just considering I am here to tell it's worth your time.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Broken Dimension Love
5 people found this review helpful
Nov 11, 2022
27 of 27 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Wonderful mini-show with a sweet love story

This is such a wonderful mini-show. Even if the storyline sometimes jumps a little too much and creates a brief confusion, it makes sense after a short while. I love these stories where someone goes into a novel/manga/comic book and has to complete missions to go back.
Character wise: FL is clever and works on the missions tirelessly. ML (or 2ML in the book) is so cool and it’s obvious why FL falls in love with him instead.
Acting wise: Most of the actors are pretty good but some have a tendency to over-act a bit. That is normal for these shows with short formats. It didn’t ruin anything.
Only thing I thought was that it’s a bit too fast paced. As I am not proficient in Chinese, that is a bit of a problem because I had to slow down the speed to 0,75 and even had to pause every now and then - and I actually read English very well (my 2nd language).
Well, if you like a fast paced, funny and interesting mini-show - with a great love story to spice it up - this is definitely well worth watching.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Shards of Her
5 people found this review helpful
Dec 10, 2022
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
what can i say, it’s really good. the cast is top notch, the storyline is intense and the synopsis is captivating. “Seher” feels she can’t move past that trauma, but she accomplished so much present day which proves she was stronger than she believed.

The two characters (sheng hua and Chen Xi) are stuck in a universal boomerang where the same trauma occurs present day. this seems tragic, but the universe is trying to give them a second chance to defeat their oppressors. the promise they made as teens to give life a try until adulthood becomes the statement which provokes them to finally avenge their past and defeat that part of them that hides and allows the same trauma to repeat.


The friendships of Chen Xi is complicated but genuine at best. even though they’ve made big mistakes, they stayed by her side. that’s seriously enough to show that they do genuinely love her. (the acting from the friends, again top notch). Although Chen Xi runs away from the people in her life as a normal reaction to discomfort, she keeps an open heart for forgiveness. Her past partner, also deserves props for trying but her current partner Hao Ming/Chiang Yu was probably my favorite cast member of the show. he’s rooted in integrity, sometimes maybe to a fault, but he (just like Chen Xi’s brother) practically lives to protect her. a true “ride or die”.
the soundtrack (intro) song matches so well with the events and more so exudes the feeling of protection and love from Hao Ming who falls in love with Seher and is motivated to become a better person after meeting her. it’s truly a beautiful song and show. worth a rewatch as i’m still attached to the characters..

“don’t push yourself too hard. when you’re in pain don’t be afraid to ask for help. even if you feel stuck in the past, be good to yourself.”

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Invincible Stepmother
5 people found this review helpful
Dec 17, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Simple Life in the Village

This drama is short and simple. It does not elicit any strong emotions, but serves a bit of humor along with warm emotions, which makes it great for those who do not have a lot of time for drama-watching, but want their fix.

Story: The main lead is omnipotent, but that is part of the drama’s charm. It’s a feel-good story about making the best of your circumstances, helping those in need, and having fun along the way. Each episode is its own mini event that is usually solved within the next seven minutes. This makes for a fast-moving series that does not linger on any one event or emotion. Blink and you miss it.

Characters: Chi Yue is an actress, who transmigrated into an old village. She believes she’s going back some time soon, so she doesn’t get attached to anything or anyone, but she can’t just watch her step children being abused or her friend suffer. She uses her knowledge of the modern world and her acting abilities to change the fate of herself, the children, and those she cares about.

Romance: Present, but also not. Ji Hong may be the Male Lead, but he has all the characteristics of a Second Male Lead. He's kind, compassionate, and always ready to help. He also has no chance whatsoever to win the Female Lead's heart. Chi Yue sees him as a friend she can rely on and that is all.

Overall, the drama was a good way to kill a couple hours. It’s a story about a woman solving her problems and taking care of her stepkids. Very cute.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The Bridal Mask
5 people found this review helpful
by Dana
Apr 7, 2017
28 of 28 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
A small word of warning to potential watchers, especially the ones that love the fluffy dramas: This is the type of kdrama that delights in twisting the knife after it stabs you in the gut to prove a point. The Bridal Mask may not break you, but it sure as heck will try. There isn't a ton of comedic relief, unless you prescribe to action peppered with dark humor, and the plot tension is almost constant from the start. Fortunately for me, I'm the kind of disturbing person that likes all of that stuff, especially when it's paired with beautiful visuals and a solid OST to boot.

Story:
At its heart, The Bridal Mask pits conflicting concepts against each other in poignant ways. Themes such as the importance of identity, fate vs. choice, devotion to a cause vs. personal desires, and the need for revolution dominate the storyline. Each and every character suffers for what they believe; the story demands that they prove their loyalties time and time again, no matter what side they're on. There are occasional imperfections and the story sometimes becomes obvious, but my enjoyment didn't lessen.

As much as I love my romance stories, the true strength of The Bridal Mask is the star-crossed relationship between our antihero lead, Lee Kang To, and his childhood friend, Kimura Shunji. Their layers are explored with every major plot point, and their symbiotic link powers so many feels. It's about more than just two best friends. Their internal priorities matter. Their family ties and conflicting heritages matter. Their decisions matter.

There isn't a straight-up vanilla hero in this drama. At the beginning of the story, Lee Kang To voluntarily works for a government who oppresses his neighbors and family. He stops at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means torturing an innocent person (this includes women, y'all) for information. Japanese and Koreans alike demean him and (in some cases) torture him for his choices, and the chip on his shoulder feeds into the man he is. Even placing Kang To aside, the other leads have inner demons and misconceptions, some of them more apparent than others, and the show doesn't let these characters spiral into wasted opportunity. It absolutely brings them out to play to enhance the themes of the story. This is MY JAM.

Acting/Cast:
I had no expectations of the cast, having never met them before in other dramas, and I remember the moment it happened - the moment I knew it was true love. I lay in bed at nearly two in the morning, tears streaming down my face because of a side character - A SIDE CHARACTER - over his seemingly insignificant yet incredibly moving part in the story. And that's the kind of drama The Bridal Mask is.

The crew spare no expense in acting talent when it comes to the cast. Joo Won, Park Ki Woong, and Han Chae Ah especially shine in their parts, and the stress they must have endured is evident. Some of the scenes they pull off are incredibly difficult and draining. The supporting cast also provide the perfect setup and delivery for the plot and main cast.

I would rate this section a full 10/10 if one principal actor - Jin Se Yeon - fulfilled her role completely as a lead actress. She begins with fire and conviction, immediately catching my attention, but she doesn't quite reach the talent level the others have. This isn't her worst performance in a drama (by far), but the other cast carry her in a few scenes as we reach the climax of the story. Ueno Rie (played by Han Chae Ah) is, by far, the better of the two female leads, both in character complexity and acting talent. If you're looking for a lady badass, she'll be the one to watch for.

Music:
The Bridal Mask has an excellent soundtrack and score. My love for it could be blurred by nostalgia, but I enjoy its blend of eastern and western flavor, which carries through in the drama itself. It’s exactly the type of soundtrack and score that I look for in a drama, and the instrumentals especially are my favorite.

Rewatch Value:
I don't normally rate high-tension and emotional dramas "well" in the rewatch value category, if it can be called that. I think a drama can be better for having a low rewatch value if the message and takeaway value are long-lasting. The Bridal Mask is an exception for me, though. When I'm in the mood for angst and antiheroes, which is often, it's one of my first stops.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Mi wo Tsukushi Ryouricho
5 people found this review helpful
Dec 12, 2017
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
A very heartwarming dorama. I wasn't expect that, since the summary  tells that it is about the difficulties of a young girl to be a cook in a  chauvinistic world. And it is but it is also about the kindness of  people, how they help each other in small but significant ways; it is  also about family and to care about someone else's well being. And of  course, it is also about overcoming the difficulties in life with the  help of people who loves you.

I am adding Kuroki Haru in  my list of favorite actresses. Whenever role she plays, I just want her  to be happy And when she is, her happiness is contagious. And she is so  gentle, so Japanese-lady-like. My other favorite in this dorama was her  mistress (Yasuda Narumi), who loved her as a mother. Her love for her adopted daughter, and for her son was beautiful. Her sad smile was so poignant...

There  is a little reunion of members of "Juhan Shuttai", which made me really  happy (4 of them!). Starting with the MC, who again works hard in what  she loves XD And is spite of working again with Nagayama Kento  (Nagata-sensei), I was rooting for Komatsubara-san since the very  beginning. I loved when there is respect and a little bit of teasing  from the love interest XD

I love the setting, since historical  stories set in Edo period are most of the times my favorites. The food  that are shown look mostly so tasteful (and there is a little culinary  demonstration of the main recipe of the day at the end of each episode,  performed by the amazing Kuroki Haru). The other time, when I was eating  with other people and they were "ohhh my, so delicious" I laughed  internally because that's what happens every time people eats Mio's  food).

The OST is lovely, it helped to keep the tone light.

For  rewatch value, yes, I would watch it again, specially when the SP is  subbed (there HAS to be a SP... when I finished Ep 8 I was like, WHAT?).  Besides, it is very short, with 8 episodes only, of 35 minutes aprox  each ep.).

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 13, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

"This is all your fault."

Who's fault is it, and how far back does it go?

Bulgasal is the story of people whose lives intertwine again and again from the Goryeo period to the present day. It shows emotions like love and hatred enduring over a very long time... or perhaps forever? It has monsters, sword fights, and fist fights, but it also has romance, family bonds, regrets, and dreams.

I can't believe more people aren't praising this show. Why is it so underrated?

The plot might have intimated some people because it's very complicated. It has a mystery element, history element, past lives, shocking twists, and will make you reflect on many different things. However, if you pay attention to the story then it all makes sense and the reveals are paced perfectly to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is not a show you put on in the background. This is a story that requires and deserves your full attention. The ending is also very deep with many different layers. I've watched the show three times and I'm still finding new details in the ending.

The acting is done at an elite level. Lee Jin Wook and Kwon Nara have AMAZING chemistry as the main couple. I really hope they act together again in the future. Even though this is a romance show without even a single kiss, they look at each other with such intensity that it made me feel hot. We at least get some romantic hugs, even though there's no kiss. I love how Lee Jin Wook is such a mature and manly actor, not like the 'puppy dog faces' in other k-dramas. Lee Joon was also great with his flamboyant acting as the main villain.

Moving on to the fine details... the soundtrack is excellent. The atmosphere of the music matches perfectly with the show, and there's a nice variety of different genres and sounds. The cinematography is gorgeous. It's such a colorful show, with stunning landscapes in the mountains, meadows, and beaches. It is definitely the prettiest looking k-drama I've ever seen.

The director, writers, and actors all should be congratulated. This is a beautiful, romantic, and thoughtful story.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Cherry Blossoms After Winter
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 14, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

The happiest of endings

I love a happy ending, and “Cherry Blossoms After Winter” has as good an ending as any BL in the fantasy sector of the genre. Credit to the casting - Ok Jin Uk as Hae Bom and Kang Hui as Tae Sung, the two main leads, are a pleasure to watch and listen to, and their characterisations meld well with the mellow dramatic tone of the series where even the early conflicts with the high school bully threaten but don’t overwhelm the central love story.

In the now familiar fantasy BL world of privileged young men (for whom a university education constitutes no financial hardship of any kind) and whose friends are the most supportive in the world, the pathways to happiness are riddled with the bumps and misdirections of their own characters, not the world in which they live. Through gradual steps and confessions, doubts and then resolve, the young couple find reciprocated love and begin their life journey. Even the sudden last minute appearance of parental concern about how the wider world will treat the happy young couple is not a problem so much as an opportunity to showcase love as the ultimate decision-maker.

Feel-good stories such as CBAW look simple but require care to pull off. Credit to the production team; across the board, from Director Yoon Joon Ho, as much as in the wardrobe & makeup, the sets & lighting, camerawork & editing, this looked to me to be a team effort. It’s appropriate, in a metaphorical sense, that Tae Sung decides at the end that he is going to study to become a cake maker; the whole show has the pleasant feel of a cinematic confection.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Love Me, Love My Voice
5 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2024
33 of 33 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

in Mo Bao Fei Bao we trust

Initially I had zero intentions of watching 'Love Me, Love My Voice' as fluffy dramas are number one representative on my already miles long dropped list and more often than not they just bore me to death the second the leads start dating. However there is one exception : Mo Bao Fei Bao novel adaptations. Watching her modern work adapted on screen guarantees for a nice watch without much trouble and yet has enough drive and likable characters to keep watching until the end. LMLMV is just that - I would almost say it's the pinnacle of everything nice she's ever written. In that it also suffers from missing any sense of "drama" which makes it a hit or miss for each individual viewer in my opinion.

From start to finish everyone is a wholesome and nice person, there is not an ounce of trouble in sight. If anything the one and only 'villain' in this drama is hesitation, more on that later.
Funny enough it feels like it could be the poster child for the ideal idol romance drama that people tend to long for in the comment section of other romance dramas they watched but disliked certain points of. You hated how the love triangle dragged on? - good, cuz there is none here! You hated the evil SFL? - again, you won't find any such character here! You wanted the leads to get together early? - how does the first third of the drama sound for you?. - I think you get the point.

Generally there is a good mix of friendship, career (with friends) and love growing slowly.
This is why I like Mo Bao Fei Bao's work. Although I never rate her dramas over 8, they're still a safe bet and that's how I felt about both Go Go Squid 1 + 2 too. I actually see quite a lot of similarities in character set up of GGS2 and LMLMV. She definitely has a blue print for characters at this point and it works. But if you put them up against each other GGS2 has more plot and therefore I personally prefer it.

Now to the good and the boring:

Another one of MBFB tricks is to have multiple couples develop relationships at various points of the story, so even if you are bored with one pair you'll still continue watching because that one couple you really like isn't together yet. At least that is how I felt because the idea of the second lead couple really did pull me through to the end, otherwise I would have probably not continued after ep18-19.
The fact that there is no real plot aside from them slowly growing their love and working on their career in a very relaxed manner, means we got other things instead - a much needed change of scenery, trips, good food, a few emotional musical performances and so on. In terms of friendship I would actually rate this drama higher because it's just fun to watch them interact and have a good time. All of the cast members have good chemistry with each other and especially on a friendship level they play of each other's energy well. In terms of acting I have no complaints but it did take me a little to get used to seeing Tan Jian Ci as this ever-so-perfect guy. Last time I saw him was in "The Centimeter of Love", where he played the annoying brat little brother of the FL, where he also looked very different from what he looks like now. I think I read he lost 20lbs since that drama so no wonder I had troubles recognizing him...

Fluff is spelled in all caps for this drama and there is no way around it. I could only enjoy it by not thinking too much and looking for any sort of character growth or depth. At first it didn't bother me too much but by episode 24 I did find myself fast forwarding a lot for a few episodes because I started to get annoyed with the FL, who is the embodiment of every idol romance writer's hot fever dream. Grandma Core fashion for female leads is nothing new but damn, you cannot tell me a 22 year old is that PURE and INNOCENT. At some point it all really did feel like the dream of a 12 year old girl when it comes to the main's romantic story also because of how much the ML doted on the FL right from the start, when she really did nothing except being shy. Like why was she the "chosen" one, after being single all his life? - even hearing a song doesn't explain that.

Hesitation really is the one and only villain in this drama because had it not been for that all three - potentially even four - couples would have gotten together much earlier and the story would have been concluded within 12 episodes. The main couple gets together early but the FL is still super shy and hesitates a lot. Her anxiety is delaying most of the romantic progress and although the ML is very caring and understanding, it made me get frustrated with the FL at several points. As a person who experienced first love at some point too I could only understand her to a certain degree because even within the relationship she remained coy and towards the end I actually felt she was regressing in terms of maturity. It's not that she made stupid decisions or anything but her behavior was often very child-like and naive, which made her even more unrealistic of a person than the already flawless ML.

I know I said I shouldn't think too much about the plot in order to enjoy it, but a part of me can't not do that. I mean even if she was some pure as snow, untouched virgin. You cannot tell me a 29 year old doctor and famous VA has also never had a girlfriend? Come on! But I guess this is another reason why it should be the poster child for modern idol romance dramas. I think I'm just either too old at his point to mindlessly enjoy such a idealistic story or I watched too many similar ones already.

Nevertheless, it was relaxing to watch for the most part and although ep24-27 were where I felt the most boredom, and started to nitpick, it did pick up again once the characters all went on another trip and did stuff outdoors.
I see a lot of people say this drama might not be made for binge watching but there is no way I would have ever gone to pick it up back up had I not watched it within 4 days.
I'd rate it a 7.8/10 and I will remember the fun character dynamics, but less so the actual romantic story.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition
5 people found this review helpful
by Ggrosz
May 30, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

A hidden gem

I came across this short film after watching Wuliang. I never thought a short film would have much impact and my expectations were low but like Wuliang, I was surprised that a short film like this would be on same level as any good full length film.
The story will have you stay and watch with anticipation. Focusing well is needed to have a better grasp of what it is all about. The acting is excellent, the screenplay was great, and the narration, although theres quite a bit compared to any full length film, is good and necessary. I believe due to the shortness of the film, the narration was necessary. I hope the director of Wuliang and this film continue directing this kind of film. I am out of words for how good this and Wuliang film are. The lack of adequate promotion for these two films caused a lot of people to miss this great hidden gem.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
To My Star (Movie)
5 people found this review helpful
by Mil
Jun 29, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Yes you earn some stars

In appearance To My Star is exactly the same as the other 6 or 7 BL Korean dramas in this “miniseries” format, but in reality it is much more, I am not saying that those other series are bad or not very entertaining or anything like that is simply that they have repeated the formula ad nauseam and it seems that they do not create these types of stories because they have something to contribute and it is simply because they are popular and point to a booming market at this time. Despite all this, if it is a miniseries/film which limits some aspects by having a short duration, I think it is superior to its peers.

The story, Seo Joon and Ji Woo have very different lives seen from one angle and very similar seen from the other, one is a celebrity who is struggling with defamation and harassment, the other is a not very successful chef; both men live lonely lives, have small social groups and have a hard time trusting people, but once their paths cross, things will never be the same for either of them.

One of the cliches of these Korean BL series is that the characters always end up living together for one reason or another, and this is no exception, Seo Joon and Ji Woo are forced to live together and in the first instance receive a kind of lesson humility on the part of the other, even though Ji-woo's personality is not very pleasant initially, Seo-joon is intrigued by him and does what he can to get along especially when he realizes that he is a trustworthy person and out of the facade Ji-woo is a good boy so he doesn't make things too difficult either.

Having established this point, the characters actually coexist a lot not only due to the fact that they live in the same house but also because they start working in the same restaurant since Seo-joon is looking to learn new skills while solving his problems with the press, gradually learning from each other and they feel hopelessly attracted.

One of the successes of the series is the rhythm, unlike others the revelation of feelings does not happen in the last chapter more or less a two thirds of the narration the characters begin to develop feelings directly, which makes the plot more interesting.

After going through their respective dose of drama, the characters can finally be together and in fact lead a peaceful and beautiful life, as the two complement each other in many ways.

The acting is good, the chemistry is one of the best I've seen in the Korean BL, the personalities of the characters feel natural, at no point are they over-acting and you manage to connect with them, plus their dramatic moments if it feels genuine. And despite its short duration, they still include important topics such as the fragility of fame, the harassment of famous people, loneliness, extortion and how easy it is to lose or win the love of the public by mere rumors. Even so, the character of Ji-woo deserves more development. There are a couple of things that are not clear about his life at the end of the series.

The production quality is also good, although this is a section in which it is difficult to find a Korean series on any subject that fails, in that sense they are very neat, at least for productions that go out to the international market, the photography, the assembly and the ost comply, they make the story more enjoyable and the dialogues are very good, they are not uncomfortable or anything like that.

In general, I like this story a lot, although it is nothing to write home about or something that has never been seen, it is well told and well acted, I managed to connect with the story and the characters.

And bravo for a kiss well given, generally I do not care if the series has kisses or not, but if it is going to include them, do it well, make it look natural and credible.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?

Recent Discussions