This review may contain spoilers
He forgets the past — but carries its weight, one name at a time, until memory becomes justice
"Remember" ist a Film about Revenge, Memory, and the Echo of HistoryAn old man. A revolver. Five names tattooed on his fingers — and a memory slowly fading. "Remember" is no ordinary revenge thriller. It’s a film about guilt, about forgetting — and about what remains when history isn’t confronted, but buried.
At its center is Han Pil-joo, portrayed masterfully by Lee Sung-min. Before his memory slips away for good, he has one last mission. At his side: the young In-gyu (Nam Joo-hyuk), who only meant to drive the old man — and suddenly finds himself an accomplice in a revenge mission that is as absurd as it is moving.
What makes the film so remarkable is its tone: poised between tragedy and dark humor, between road movie and history lesson. This is no hero’s journey, but a moral dilemma — laced with dry wit, laconic dialogue, and a kind of tender melancholy. The camera remains still, the violence understated, almost quiet. And yet it cuts deep.
"Remember" is more than a thriller — it’s a commentary on Korea’s unresolved colonial past. From 1910 to 1945, Korea was under Japanese rule — a traumatic era that still reverberates. Many Koreans were forced into labor, women abused as so-called “comfort women.” And yet, some Koreans collaborated — out of fear, opportunism, or conviction.
The film poses an uncomfortable question: What if those collaborators survived — and simply continued their careers after 1945? What if they now sit in high offices, as businessmen, politicians, patriarchs? "Remember" hints at this — and leaves the audience with the haunting question of whether justice expires. Or whether, sometimes, it needs an old man with a gun.
In Korea, the topic remains sensitive. Official reckoning was long delayed, many archives stayed sealed, many names unspoken. And while Japan still struggles with a clear apology, Korea wrestles with its own culture of remembrance: How do you remember betrayal without losing yourself?
"Remember" doesn’t answer that. But it asks the right questions. And it does so through a protagonist who forgets — and in doing so, reminds us.
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This review may contain spoilers
Worth your time
(Minor spoilers)What got me to start this was knowing the ML from another drama and enjoying his performance as well as the absolutely gorgeous poster. I went in with average expectations, and I was not disappointed. It was even better than I imagined.
Watching Kieta Hatsukoi and this back to back was an interesting experience. This featured a fairly masochistic character, some unhealthy relationship dynamics, and ominous music and shots. It's also somewhat dark but honest about it, with characters who are at times morally grey. But, believe it or not, you can enjoy this and Kieta Hatsukoi.
This was an addictive drama that always made me curious enough to go back and rewatch the recently released episode about six times before the next one was released. I had to pay attention to see what I may have missed. And there are quite a few small details that can be missed.
It was also wonderfully shot, had moments that promised something dangerous, and the music in particular really lended to the eerie/uncomfortable atmosphere at times. The light masochism was also quite interesting to watch. Not to mention they did a great job at building tension between Hira and Kiyoi. You feel those stares.
The way this was shot in particular really lended itself to the idea that Hira views Kiyoi as a King/God. They did an amazing job of making us see him the way he did too. On a pedestal. Above him. Some untouchable ethereal person. He comes into the classroom and a light shines on him while petals fall gracefully around him. He turns to the camera and gives us one smile and our heart stops. Or with symbolic moments such as Hira getting down on one knee to kiss his hand and even that small touch is so precious and he feels unworthy for receiving it from his King.
One last compliment:
The ending shot literally looks like a painting based on ancient times. They literally look like art pieces. I want to capture it and frame it on my wall. Just... Hats off to the person who directed this and the people who filmed it.
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But whatever works because I enjoyed the movie just as much as the first two series. If you want to read more detailed thoughts into this series; how much I liked the look and feel, how I feel about Akiyama and Nao, and mostly what I feel about the mind twisty games and great writing, then feel free to go back and read my reviews if you care to.
I will say this: I enjoyed that Nao had further character development in this movie but without losing her essential personality. I know a lot of people have problems with Nao and I was one of them in the beginning. She's so overly trusting and honest to the point where most in our society look at her and just see "stupid" written across her forehead. But I got used to her...I came to actually like her and by the movie's end...I was proud of her. And even more importantly..you can see that Akiyama is proud of her too. Don't underestimate the truly honest!
Also, I loved the ending of this movie. It made me warm and fuzzy all over. Perfect end to a great series. Have fun watching!
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The story revolves around the Dugu Clan, specifically the three sisters: Dugu Banruo (eldest), Dugu Mantuo (second oldest) and Dugu Jialuo (Youngest).
Initially I did not expect much sisterly love between any of the sisters because most sisters in traditional dramas hate each other for no reason. However, Banruo loves the youngest, Jialuo dearly because she practically raised her.It was so touching to see her do anything she can to save her sister. I loved their relationship the most. Banruo is played by one of my top favorite Taiwanese actress, Ady An. She did a WONDERFUL job with her role. Although her role was obsessed with having her "Dugu tian xia" - so obsessed to the point that she's betrays someone quite close to her. Unlike Mantuo, she puts her family safety above all others. Until the end, she knew which side to be on and what really mattered.
Second sister, Mantuo, is the antagonist of this drama. She's VERY VERY VERY annoying. She's also OBSESSED with the Dugu Tian Xia legend but she thinks everyone is against her when really its the other way around. She's willing to betray and back stab (and kill) her family. She fake cries to get her way around and get what she wants. Mantuo may be smart but she doesn't know that everyone else is even smarter and that those people knows who she really is and what she's up to. Yet, she continues to bat her eyelashes as if she's innocent in her wrongdoings. It's hialrious and irritating at the same time. I hate that the actress keeps pouting her lips, its ridiculous. In the end, she was still a pain in the ass. I still can't tell if the actress is good at her role or not because the pouting, baby talking, innocent act were very irritating to me. Like I wanted to slap her. :]
Youngest Jialuo was very carefree and did not let anyone boss her around.. She knows what she wants and its not "Dugu Tian Xia." She, like Banruo, holds her family above anything else. Which means she is willing to follow her father's orders despite protest against marrying ..someone. She and Mantuo is always fighting because Mantuo is a B****. Banruo is always on Jialuo side because she knows how cunning Mantuo is.
Main couple: Jialuo and Yang Jian were very cute once they warmed up to each other. I grew to love them when Yang Jian finally figured out Mantuo was a lying piece of ****..:]
Overall story is all about lies, betrayal, sisterhood, fight for the throne and high ranks in the palace, friendship, family, and love.
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Angsty, Murderous and Twisty
This is definitely a dark, short length cdrama. I’ve written the trigger warnings below. The drama is about the female lead who discovers she is a novel character assigned the role of the villain who dies at the end of the story. With the help of the “Book of Fate” (a book that has the future story written down), she begins to fight against fate to change her tragic ending.POSITIVE:
- Villainous/cunning female lead.
- Heartless/morally grey male lead.
- 100% angst. The plot, the romance, everything is angsty.
- Murderous vibes.
- Lots of twists and turns.
- A pinch of sweet moments. Yes, there are sweet romantic moments but they are very sparse.
- Non cliche path. The writers really went to places that not a lot of dramas dare to do.
NEGATIVE:
- Too dark at times. Some scenes were very disturbing to watch and very emotionally heavy.
- The male lead was great but at the same time I felt something was missing. Not sure if it was the fact that he has a baby face when his character is ruthless or maybe that he needed to have more scenes at certain plot points that were important for his character.
OVERALL:
If you want a villainous female lead with 100% angsty plot, romance and murder vibes, watch this drama.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Multiple attempts of r**e, as well as suicide, abuse and murdering.
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READ THE BELOW ONLY IF YOU’VE FINISHED THE DRAMA!!!!!!!
I saw some comments from people saying that there are plot holes (not true) in the drama and some people being confused about the ending. Here are my explanations about the ending and Book of Fate.
How did the Book of Fate fall into the FL’s hands?
FL began to have desires that were different from what the Book of Fate had written. That’s why in the end FL says to the Fortune Writer “You want to control everything. I’m your worst ending”. In the very final scene, we have a little boy that opens another Book of Fate and the new Fortune Writer says “as long as there are desires, I’m here”
How did ML break out of Fortune Writer’s hold?
Just like the FL, he had strong desires that were different from what the Fortune Writer had written. He was always supposed to kill FL, not protect her. As his desire to love and protect her grew, the hold the Fortune Writer had on him lessened.
How does ML regain his memories?
We see the ML getting glimpses of his memories before he kills himself to protect FL. After FL defeats the Fortune Writer, we see all characters forging their own path. Since ML’s desire is to be with FL, he regains his full memories to fulfil his desired path. In the drama it’s mentioned that 3 months have passed, that is more than enough time for him to regain his memories.
Who is the ultimate Fortune Writer?
In the final scene, a little boy gets the book and thus a new cycle begins. The boy is just like the FL that will start fighting with the new Fortune Writer. The point is that everyone in this drama is a book character, so as long as they are book characters there will always be a Fortune Writer that they will fight against. The characters and the Fortune Writer are interconnected. Every story needs a writer. And every writer needs its characters.
The drama also mentions “Zhuangzi's dream of a butterfly”. Fortune Writer also says that in the drama “Am I dreaming or are you dreaming” “Are you real or am I real”. The dream of a butterfly tells the change in consciousness between reality and illusion. To me this shows that FL “awakens” from the novel and becomes her own real self. So from another perspective we can see the Fortune Writer is another part of the FL. Both are playing their respective roles. When you think about it, even though Fortune Writer seems like the enemy, he actually pushes FL to awaken and break free. Otherwise why would FL gain the ability to see the plot before it happens. It's all connected.
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This review may contain spoilers
started with a bang, ended with a whimper
Overall: I was hoping for two flawed and aggressive characters having a lot of consensual BDSM NSFW scenes with eventual character change/growth and...I got none of that. Based on a book which I haven't read. Eight episodes at about 45 minutes. Aired on YouTube (cut), GagaOOLala and iQIYI (uncut).Content Warnings: drugging, attempted sexual assault, non/dub con, death in a flashback, grief, manipulation, blackmail, slap
What I Liked
- that the two main characters were not innocent/angels
- the intro and OST
- I did laugh a couple times with the two bodyguards
- some of the content warnings weren't as bad as I feared (from watching the trailer)
- color symbolism (one character frequently wears red and the other wears green)
- good discussion about marriage equality
- a f/f couple though they didn't have much screen time
- production value*
Room For Improvement
- I heard the novel was 90% nsfw and 10% plot and I honestly would have liked it better if they had kept it that way because the plot they created was cliched and boring
- the BDSM aspect oddly vanished
- the NSFW scenes were mainly flashbacks/short
- multiple dead fish lip kisses
- awful communication skills
- their relationship dynamic kept shifting rapidly for no reason
- the flash forward start was a bit confusing, I'd rather they had shown a flashback from a year ago to set up why they hated each other so much, they kind of explained it later on but not really
- confusing things, they seemed to spend too much time in some parts (like the interviews) but then went too fast/didn't properly explain other things (going from bedroom to the bar, are they on the same level???)
- unrealistic stuff: a super rich person has two incompetent bodyguards, keeping your supplies like that, not stepping on broken glass all over the floor, seems like it took too long for what they ingested to take effect
- them getting frisky with two women and pursuing a woman makes this feel like a "gay for you" trope is around the corner, would have liked if at least one, preferably both had been with other guys
- comedy sound effects
- *bad camera angles
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Maybe Horikita Maki has retired, but Kimura Fumino looked a bit like Maki (in my opinion) in this dorama. It may be her short hair. It may be her high cheekbones and sweet smile. From certain angles, she looked like Maki.
I don't understand why some people say she was frustrating in the first couple of episodes. I think any girl, especially any girl with bad experience in love, would be wary of any guy, no matter how cute or honest he looks, who approaches her and tells her he is her destiny. It is expected of the girl to be cautious, to be in doubt. If she agreed to be with him from the very beginning, I would have thought she was too naive and easy.
The story has the perfect amount of friendship (Makoto and his "rival", Haruko and Mitsue), good comradeship (Makoto and GOD, Makoto and his boss, Makoto and his coworkers), a nice rival (who is not really a rival, and who is just one of the nicest guys ever), present parents (who are there for their daughter). I liked the different tasks Makoto had to do, since it all served for a reason.
I am not satisfied with the ending. I was left with a "this is it??". I think there should be a SP. There HAS to be.
I love the OP and ED sequences. The dance was cute, and the song is pretty. I also like Yamapi's smirk when both of them are sitting in the couch, in the ED sequence. Only that, that same smirk is somewhat bittersweet in the final episode :(
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L'air du temps - The Flow of Time
The movie is Japan-Taiwan co-production that takes us on a journey of Jimmy who after experiencing failures in his adult life embarks on a soul-searching quest to rediscover and meet the love of his youth.While the story itself may not be groundbreaking and unique, the narration is compelling and engaging. From the afterglow of that first love to the monotony of being a 36 year old guy, the movie effectively captures it all.
The movie explores the theme of self discovery and the importance of taking a break. Sometimes taking a break can provide clarity and a fresh perspective on life. Also sometimes detours can lead us to where we need to be!
The color contrast made it easier to differentiate between present and past scenes. The flashback scenes color tones have certain warmth to it reflecting happy memories while the present scenes were more sombre and grey to fit the melancholy vibe.
The cast delivers believable performances. Greg Hsu as Jimmy, a lost soul who evokes sympathy at times and then his energy in the flashbacks to his youth is convincing. Kiyohara Kaya as Ami does a decent job, though she could have been a bit more expressive. Michieda Shunsuke, as Koji, captures the chaotic spirit of an 18-year-old that is both charming and inspiring in his own way!
The cinematography is stunning. Some locations are so beautifully shot that they make me want to take a trip to Japan soon.
While the ending is somewhat predictable, it still has enough engaging elements to keep you sailing through.
Overall, this was a visual treat with few valuable life lessons on the way along .
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Humorous, bold, educational, raw and empowering
This is a show full of flawed but ultimately lovable characters and their struggles in fields of love, sex, health and friendships. It's unlike any other Thai production I've seen and it feels fresh in themes and execution, each episode introducing something new and unexpected. Praise goes to the actors too as this series doesn't lack daring and difficult scenes. The plot is well-constructed and all storylines intertwine nicely without feeling forced and unnatural, each of them carrying a different important message. Even when it's as subtle as a brick, show's heart is in the right place and its straightforward manner is a part of the charm. I highly recommend this series to everyone!Was this review helpful to you?
Just as titled 'Love Is Like a Cat,' but with no cat, only a dog; so, love was missing.
Disappointed, no hate, just my honest review. Watch if: 1. you are a die-hard fan of any of the actors, 2. you are an animal lover, 3. you don't care. Don't watch it for BL content; the entire series is 3 hours long, with BL content comprising hardly 10 minutes, and only in the 7th, 11th, and 12th episodes. There's no chemistry; it felt like they kissed each other just because there were no girls around. One main lead was Thai, and they used a translator for a single reason. Acting was average; Dog Cafe had only one dog, and the entire series revolved around the dog more than the human main leads. Extra characters for unnecessary drama; I didn't feel anything. It's way too slow until the 10th episode, and the other two episodes were rushed just to ensure the male leads ended up together.Was this review helpful to you?
Sunny Happiness is one of these rare t-dramas, 25 episodes and NOTHING exploded. the last 4 or 5 episodes do get a little "one life to live" but it fits with the plot, which is very entertaining, so it's cool. another thing that really grabbed me was that this is probably the ONLY believeable reason i've ever seen for a contract relationship. there was good reason to pretend and good reason to actually make a contract, so that was refreshing.
Mike and Janine turn in really impressive performances for this type of story. they are emotional w/out being over the top and they are believeable. the supporting cast, like yong yong's family tend to be relegated to traditional t-drama antics and they do thier fair amt of wailing, but it never quite reaches the epicness of say fated to love you or hi my sweet heart.
the one thing (or more specifically four things) that i really just never got into were the two other couples that got a surprising amt of screen time. Wang Lan and her producer were dull to watch. there didnt seem to be any emotion in it and the same for the brother and his chick. little bro is cute as a button, but he just never gets off the ground. it's like he's groggy throughout. in all honesty i'd give their sceenes a minute or two to grab my interest and when it didnt i would fast forward.
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This review may contain spoilers
The guilt we carry
I love the 37 and 17 year old Ha Nis. I canbonly imagine the older Ha Ni feels, the guilt that made her punish herself that completely changed her core. The contrast between the younger Ha Ni and the older Ha Ni is so vast that when the two characters start merging into older Ha Nis character it is an event to look forever to.I enjo watching this drama and patiently wait for 2 episodes a week on Netflix. The change in both Anthony and Yu Hyeon is also amazing. I love Yu Hyeons dad, he is a better character than the dad in Protect the Boss whch also stars Choi Kang Hee (Ha Ni). I like Ha Nis mom too and although Ha Nis nephew is still not as good as young Ha Nis acting, I find him cute
Characters I don't like and almost hate are Ha Nis sister and high school friend. I hate the Auntie aka sister in law of the dad. I also don't like the grandmother but can understand her
The ending is a bit rushed but still good. Happy Ending as the 37 Ha Ni finally moved on
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My thoughts on the Heart Killers:
The Heart Killers was an unexpected gem! Initially, I started watching because I was a fan of FirstKhaotung, but I quickly found myself captivated by both couples, especially Dunk. I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up liking him in this series. At first, I wasn’t sure how well he’d fit the role, but he truly nailed it. Dunk was perfect for his character, and honestly, he quickly became one of my favorites.One of the things I loved about the series was how we saw the characters grow throughout the story. Take Fadel (Joong), for example. He starts off as someone who keeps everyone at arm's length, scared to love because he’s afraid of losing those he lets in due to his painful past. You could really see the emotional toll this had on him, but over the course of the series, we watched him grow, open up, and become more vulnerable. It was a beautiful character arc that added depth to the story.
The chemistry between the couples was undeniable, and the devotion they had for each other was so heartwarming. They literally went to prison for each other😆🤭. The series was truly a rollercoaster of emotions, and it will definitely be missed.
I also have to give a special shoutout to Dunk – you can really see how much his acting has improved. He’s grown so much, and it’s exciting to see how much potential he has for future roles.
Overall, I loved The Heart Killers, and I would recommend watching it. It’s a series filled with great performances, emotional depth, and unforgettable moments. Definitely worth the watch!
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Very Thai Romcom BL
Maybe I am the only one in MDL who enjoyed watching Hidden Agenda. It was nothing extra ordinary in terms of storyline. It was simple, cute, romantic, something that can make you feel giddy. I would say for first time BL watchers this might be a good start. Now why I liked Hidden Agenda so much is definitely JoongDunk. They have such great on screen [and Off screen] chemistry that all their dialogues felt so natural. I enjoyed it a lot. Sure the ending part was quite unreasonable for Zo to behave like that with Joke but other than that I really liked it.Was this review helpful to you?
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